An apparatus for facilitating electrochemical cell bypass control includes a first electrode configured to act as a first configuration anode in a first configuration, a second electrode configured to act as a first configuration cathode in the first configuration, and a voltage controlled variably resistive bypass coupled between the first and second electrodes, the bypass configured to resist electron flow from the second electrode to the first electrode via the bypass when a voltage from the first electrode to the second electrode is less than a threshold voltage and to provide reduced resistance to the electron flow from the second electrode to the first electrode via the bypass when the voltage from the first electrode to the second electrode is greater than the threshold voltage.
An apparatus for facilitating particle suspension concentration control in a fluid fuel mixture for an electrochemical cell includes a fuel mixer including: a fuel mixing passage, at least one high particle concentration input in fluid communication with the passage and configured to provide high particle concentration fluid fuel mixture to the passage, at least one low particle concentration input in fluid communication with the fuel mixing passage and configured to provide low particle concentration fluid fuel mixture to the passage, and a fuel output configured to output a fluid fuel mixture from the passage for use in an electrical power generator, and a high particle concentration flow regulator configured to control particle flow from the high particle concentration fluid fuel mixture through the at least one high particle concentration input into the passage. Other apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed.
Provided is a method for dislodging material from a surface of an electrode. The surface of the electrode is generally covered by a liquid electrolyte. The method comprises forcing a mass of gas onto a surface of the liquid electrolyte, thereby causing movement of the liquid electrolyte in a direction generally parallel to a plane of the surface of the electrode. The movement of the liquid electrolyte imparts a force to the material on the surface of the electrode thereby causing the material to dislodge. Also provided is an apparatus for dislodging material from a surface of an electrode. The apparatus comprises an electrode generally covered by a liquid electrolyte, a body containing the liquid electrolyte with at least one liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet, and at least one gas inlet. The at least one gas inlet is positioned such that the at least one gas inlet and the at least one liquid outlet are separated by a volume in which a portion of some of the liquid electrolyte at or near the surface of the electrode is present, and a pressurized gas source operably connected to the at least one gas inlet.
Systems and methods for energy storage system are provided. The system includes a particle regeneration subsystem for applying electrical energy to regenerate metallic particulate fuel; a fuel storage subsystem for storing metallic particulate fuel, the fuel storage subsystem in fluid communication with the particle regeneration subsystem; and a power generation subsystem for producing electrical energy from the metallic particulate fuel, the power generation subsystem in fluid communication with the fuel storage subsystem; a bearer electrolyte for transporting the metallic particulate fuel through the particle regeneration subsystem, the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem; and a control unit configured to independently control flow of the bearer electrolyte between the particle regeneration subsystem and the fuel storage subsystem, and the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem.
H01M 8/22 - Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elementsFuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
H01M 8/0656 - Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants by electrochemical means
H01M 8/18 - Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
H01M 8/20 - Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible
5.
Apparatus, systems and methods for high efficiency metal particle regeneration
A method for generating a metallic particle slurry in a regenerator, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating metallic particles on a surface of a cathode by applying a forward current for a forward current period; (b) displacing the metallic particles from the surface of the cathode by applying a displacement force for a displacement period; (c) dissolving residual metallic particles by applying a reverse current for a reverse current period; (d) providing a plurality of regenerator cells; and (e) establishing an airlock by isolating aqueous electrolyte between cavities of regenerator cells.
Systems and methods for energy storage system are provided. The system includes a particle regeneration subsystem for applying electrical energy to regenerate metallic particulate fuel; a fuel storage subsystem for storing metallic particulate fuel, the fuel storage subsystem in fluid communication with the particle regeneration subsystem; and a power generation subsystem for producing electrical energy from the metallic particulate fuel, the power generation subsystem in fluid communication with the fuel storage subsystem; a bearer electrolyte for transporting the metallic particulate fuel through the particle regeneration subsystem, the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem; and a control unit configured to independently control flow of the bearer electrolyte between the particle regeneration subsystem and the fuel storage subsystem, and the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem.
H01M 8/22 - Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elementsFuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
H01M 8/0656 - Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants by electrochemical means
H01M 8/18 - Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
H01M 8/20 - Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible
A method of charging a metal-air fuel cell. The method includes a step of orienting an anode chamber horizontally. The method further method includes a step of providing metal particles suspended in an electrolyte to flow through the anode chamber in a downstream direction oriented horizontally. The method further method includes a step of allowing a bed of the metal particles to form on the anode current collector. The plurality of particle collectors perturb the flow of electrolyte through the anode chamber and encourage settling of the particles one of on and between the particle collectors. The method further method includes a step of maintaining uniform formation of the bed.
H01M 12/06 - Hybrid cellsManufacture thereof 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
H01M 8/22 - Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elementsFuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
A regenerator cell for regenerating metallic particles is provided. The regenerator cell includes: a housing for containing a quantity of electrolyte; an anode; a cathode; a cavity at least partially defined by the housing, the cathode and the anode; an inlet port for supplying electrolyte to the cell, the inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; and an outlet port for expelling electrolyte, particles and/or gas from the cell, the outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity.
Systems and methods to overcome limited efficiency of energy storage and recovery processes in fuel cells are provided. The system include a particle regeneration subsystem for applying electrical energy to regenerate metallic particulate fuel; a fuel storage subsystem for storing metallic particulate fuel, the fuel storage subsystem in fluid communication with the particle regeneration subsystem; and a power generation subsystem for producing electrical energy from the metallic particulate fuel, the power generation subsystem in fluid communication with the fuel storage subsystem; a bearer electrolyte for transporting the metallic particulate fuel through the particle regeneration subsystem, the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem; and a control unit configured to independently control flow of the bearer electrolyte between the particle regeneration subsystem and the fuel storage subsystem, and the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem.
H01M 8/22 - Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elementsFuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
H01M 8/0656 - Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants by electrochemical means
H01M 8/18 - Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
H01M 8/20 - Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible
A fuel cell having a cathode, cathode chamber, anode and anode chamber. The anode chamber is at least partially defined by an anode current collector. The cathode chamber is at least partially defined by the cathode. The anode chamber includes one or a plurality of anode flow channels for flowing an electrolyte in a downstream direction. The anode current collector may include a plurality of particle collectors projecting into the anode chamber to collect particles suspended in the electrolyte.
H01M 12/06 - Hybrid cellsManufacture thereof 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
H01M 8/22 - Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elementsFuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
A regenerator cell for regenerating metallic particles is provided. The regenerator cell includes: a housing for containing a quantity of electrolyte; an anode; a cathode; a cavity at least partially defined by the housing, the cathode and the anode; an inlet port for supplying electrolyte to the cell, the inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; and an outlet port for expelling electrolyte, particles and/or gas from the cell, the outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity.
A regenerator cell for regenerating metallic particles is provided. The regenerator cell includes: a housing for containing a quantity of electrolyte; an anode; a cathode; a cavity at least partially defined by the housing, the cathode and the anode; an inlet port for supplying electrolyte to the cell, the inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; and an outlet port for expelling electrolyte, particles and/or gas from the cell, the outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity.
Systems and methods to overcome limited efficiency of energy storage and recovery processes in fuel cells are provided. The system include a particle regeneration subsystem for applying electrical energy to regenerate metallic particulate fuel; a fuel storage subsystem for storing metallic particulate fuel, the fuel storage subsystem in fluid communication with the particle regeneration subsystem; and a power generation subsystem for producing electrical energy from the metallic particulate fuel, the power generation subsystem in fluid communication with the fuel storage subsystem; a bearer electrolyte for transporting the metallic particulate fuel through the particle regeneration subsystem, the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem; and a control unit configured to independently control flow of the bearer electrolyte between the particle regeneration subsystem and the fuel storage subsystem, and the fuel storage subsystem and the power generation subsystem.
A fuel cell having a cathode, cathode chamber, anode and anode chamber. The anode chamber is at least partially defined by an anode current collector. The cathode chamber is at least partially defined by the cathode. The anode chamber includes one or a plurality of anode flow channels for flowing an electrolyte in a downstream direction. The anode current collector may include a plurality of particle collectors projecting into the anode chamber to collect particles suspended in the electrolyte.
H01M 12/06 - Hybrid cellsManufacture thereof 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
H01M 8/0258 - CollectorsSeparators, e.g. bipolar separatorsInterconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
H01M 4/86 - Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
15.
Discrete particle electrolyzer cathode and method of making same
A system for producing metal particles using a discrete particle electrolyzer cathode, a discrete particle electrolyzer cathode, and methods for manufacturing the cathode. The cathode has a plurality of active zones on a surface thereof at least partially immersed in a reaction solution. The active zones are spaced from one another by between about 0.1 mm and about 10 mm, and each has a surface area no less than about 0.02 square mm. The cathode is spaced from an anode also at least partially immersed in the reaction solution. A voltage potential is applied between the anode and cathode. Metal particles form on the active zones of the cathode. The particles may be dislodged from the cathode after they have achieved a desired size. The geometry and composition of the active zones are specified to promote the growth of high quality particles suitable for use in metal/air fuel cells. Cathodes may be formed from bundled wire, machined metal, chemical etching, or chemical vapor deposition techniques.
Improved fuel cell systems comprise a fuel delivery system having a fluidization apparatus and a fluidization pump for creating an electrolyte flow suitable for fluidizing at least a portion of the fuel particles located within the fluidization apparatus. Due to the presence of the fluidization pump and the fuel delivery pump, the degree of fluidization of the fuel particles can be controlled independently of the overall electrolyte flow rate provided to the cell stacks. In other words, the mass flow rate of fuel particles through the fuel cell can be varied independently from the total flow rate through the fuel cell system. The fluidization of fuel particles can facilitate suitable mixing of fuel particles and electrolyte and can prevent fuel particle agglomeration, which can clog the fuel cell piping system. In some embodiments, a splitter element can be positioned within the container to divide the fuel and electrolyte flow exiting the container into multiple flows, which prevents the blockage of one pathway from completely starving the cell stacks of fuel and electrolyte.
H01M 12/06 - Hybrid cellsManufacture thereof 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
patents
