US 6,706,433 B2 · Refuelable electrochemical power source capable of being maintained in a substantially constant full condition and method of using the same

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.

Claims5

Dependent claims

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/969,370Filed 1 Oct 2001 · continuation

Priority

8 Mar 2000

Published

US 2002/0045075 A118 Apr 2002

Granted

16 Mar 2004

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H01M 6/5077
Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature: regeneration of reactants or electrolyte
H01M 6/5022
Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature: arrangements for moving electrodes or separating…
H01M 8/04186
Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration: of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
H01M 12/06
Composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type: with one metallic and one gaseous electrode

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

Life of this patent

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

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5