Refuelable electrochemical power source capable of being maintained in a substantially constant full condition and method of using the same

• US 6,706,433 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ZincNyx Energy Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey A. Colborn, Martin Pinto, Stuart Smedley
• Inventors: Smedley, Stuart, Colborn, Jeffrey A., Pinto, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang-Foster, Susy
• Application Number:
  US09/969,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 429/15, 429/27, 429/49, 429/51, 429/68, 429/70, 429/72, 429/80, 429/81, 429/101, 429/229, 141/102
• US Class Current: 429/404
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/02 Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/691 Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings; Cleaning battery or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/70 Arrangements for stirring or circulating the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5022 Arrangements for moving electrodes or separating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5077 Regeneration of reactants or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A refuelable electrochemical power source includes one or more electrochemical cells adapted to employ particulate material electrodes. The one or more cells include a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a flow path in the cell cavity through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and a fluid mechanic device adjacent or within the flow path capable of filling the electroactive zone or maintaining the electroactive zone in a constantly full or maximum electroactivity condition. A method for filling or maintaining one or more cells of a refuelable electrochemical power source at a constantly full condition includes providing the above-described apparatus and constantly, periodically, or intermittently circulating particulate material and fluid through the flow path in the one or more cells, past the fluid mechanic device, so that the electroactive zone of the one or more electrochemical cells is maintained in a constantly full or maximum electroactivity condition.

Claims

1. A refuelable electrochemical power source, comprising:

at least one electrochemical cell, the cell including a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a flow path through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and a fluid mechanical device for creating at least one vortex that allows particulate material to pass from the flow path into the electroactive zone.

3. A power system comprising:

a source of particulate material and fluid;

the refuelable electrochemical power source of claim 1 or 2; and

an interconnector for interconnecting said source of particulate material and fluid and said refuelable electrochemical power source.

2. A refuelable electrochemical power source, comprising:

at least one electrochemical cell, the cell including a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a flow path through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and fluid mechanical device means for creating at least one vortex that allows particulate material to pass from the flow path into the electroactive zone.

4. A method of providing particulate material to one or more cells of a refuelable electrochemical power source having at least one electrochemical cell, the cell having a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, and an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, the method comprising:

allowing particulate material and fluid to flow along a flow path; and

creating at least one vortex that allows at least a portion of the particulate material to pass into the electroactive zone.

5. A method of providing particulate material to one or more cells of a refuelable electrochemical power source having at least one electrochemical cell, the cell having a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, and an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, the method comprising:

a step for allowing particulate material and fluid to flow along a flow path; and

a step for creating at least one vortex that allows at least a portion of the particulate material to pass into the electroactive zone.