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US 2016/0261012 A1Published application
Zinc-air battery
AssigneePhinergy Ltd.
InventorJonathan R. Goldstein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A zinc-air cell, a battery which is a low weight, low volume, or higher energy system, or a combination thereof and an apparatus for recharging the same are disclosed.
Claims35
A zinc-air cell comprising
- a zinc-containing anode;
- at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell;
- a casing in which said anode and cathode are positioned, said casing further comprising an alkaline electrolyte fluid;
- an inlet and outlet in said casing, whereby said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit exchange of said electrolyte fluid in said cell with an electrolyte fluid located in an external reservoir;
- and
- wherein said anode and cathode are electrically connectible across a load.
3 more elements
An apparatus for charging a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery, said apparatus comprising:
- a reservoir comprising a zinc-containing electrolyte fluid;
- an export feed operationally connected to said reservoir;
- a fluid drainer;
- whereby:
- said apparatus is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired;
- said reservoir of said apparatus is located externally to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired and said export feed allows for the delivery of said zinc-containing electrolyte fluid from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired;
- said fluid drainer is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery and facilitates draining of at least a portion of an electrolyte fluid located in a discharged or not fully charged zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery;
- and
- said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to said external reservoir or to a discharge reservoir;
- said apparatus further comprising and operationally connected to said zinc-air cell comprising:
- a casing;
- at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell placed within said casing;
- a slurry consisting essentially of zinc and electrolyte solution placed within said casing;
- a separator positioned between said porous structure and said slurry;
- at least one current collecting electrode placed in said casing and in contact with said slurry;
- an inlet and outlet in said casing;
- whereby said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit exchange of said slurry, introduction and exchange of electrolyte fluid or a combination thereof in said cell with a slurry, an electrolyte fluid, or a combination thereof located in said reservoir.
14 more elements
An apparatus for charging a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery, said apparatus comprising:
- a reservoir, said reservoir comprising:
- i. an alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide;
- and
- ii. solid phase zinc oxide;
- an export feed operationally connected to said reservoir;
- a fluid drainer;
- whereby:
- said apparatus further comprising and operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired;
- said reservoir of said apparatus is located externally to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired and said export feed allows for the delivery of said alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired;
- said fluid drainer is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery and facilitates draining of at least a portion of an electrolyte fluid located in a discharged or not fully charged zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery in said device;
- and
- said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to said reservoir or said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to a second discharge reservoir;
- wherein said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery comprising:
- a casing;
- at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell placed within said casing;
- an anode placed within said casing;
- an inlet and outlet in said casing;
- whereby said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit introduction and exchange of said electrolyte fluid in said cell with an electrolyte fluid, located in said reservoir,
- wherein:
- said apparatus further comprises a regeneration unit operationally connected to said reservoir, said regeneration unit comprising:
- a cathode for zinc deposition;
- and
- an anode for hydrogen oxidation;
- and/or wherein:
- said zinc-air cell further comprises an agitator.
22 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.