Metal-air battery

A battery system comprising:

• a plurality of metal-air batteries each having:
• a housing;
• at least one cathode disposed in the housing between an air space and an electrolyte space;
• at least one metal anode disposed in the electrolyte space;
• an air path leading through the housing from an air inlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the air space, to an air outlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the air space;
• and
• an electrolyte path leading through the housing from an electrolyte inlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the electrolyte space, to an electrolyte outlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the electrolyte space;
• and
• at least one of:
• a common air supply device for producing respective air flows through the air paths of the metal-air batteries;
• a common electrolyte supply device for producing respective electrolyte flows through the electrolyte paths of the metal-air batteries;
• and
• a common control device for operating the metal-air batteries.

A vehicle comprising:

• an electric-motor drive having a power supply, and one of:
• at least one metal-air battery having:
• a housing;
• at least one cathode disposed in the housing between an air space and an electrolyte space;
• at least one metal anode disposed in the electrolyte space;
• an air path leading through the housing from an air inlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the air space, to an air outlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the air space;
• an air supply device for generating an air flow which follows the air path and acts upon the at least one cathode;
• an electrolyte path leading through the housing from an electrolyte inlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the electrolyte space, to an electrolyte outlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the electrolyte space;
• and
• an electrolyte supply device for producing an electrolyte flow which follows the electrolyte path and acts upon the at least one metal anode and the at least one cathode;
• or
• a battery system including:
• a plurality of metal-air batteries each having:
• a housing;
• at least one cathode disposed in the housing between an air space and an electrolyte space;
• at least one metal anode disposed in the electrolyte space;
• an air path leading through the housing from an air inlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the air space, to an air outlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the air space;
• and
• an electrolyte path leading through the housing from an electrolyte inlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the electrolyte space, to an electrolyte outlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the electrolyte space;
• and
• at least one of:
• a common air supply device for producing respective air flows through the air paths of the metal-air batteries;
• a common electrolyte supply device for producing respective electrolyte flows through the electrolyte paths of the metal-air batteries;
• and
• a common control device for operating the metal-air batteries;
• wherein a power electronics for the power supply of the electric-motor drive is coupled unbuffered to the one of the at least one metal-air battery or the battery system.

A method for operating a metal-air battery, comprising:

• generating at least one of an electrolyte flow and an air flow depending on a current power requirement at the metal-air battery;
• wherein the metal-air battery includes:
• a housing;
• at least one cathode disposed in the housing between an air space and an electrolyte space;
• at least one metal anode disposed in the electrolyte space;
• an air path leading through the housing from an air inlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the air space, to an air outlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the air space;
• an air supply device for generating the air flow which follows the air path and acts upon the at least one cathode;
• an electrolyte path leading through the housing from an electrolyte inlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the electrolyte space, to an electrolyte outlet of the housing, which is fluidically connected to the electrolyte space;
• and
• an electrolyte supply device for producing the electrolyte flow which follows the electrolyte path and acts upon the at least one metal anode and the at least one cathode.