Metallic Power, Inc.

Teck Cominco Metals Ltd.

Other

Industrial Research Limited

Zinc8 Energy Solutions, Inc.

Stuart I Smedley

Jeffrey A Colborn

Donald James Novkov

Martin De Tezanos Pinto

Martin Pinto

Stephen R Des Jardins

Kent I Smedley

Ronald Gulino

Boguslaw M Wozniczka

David Robert Bruce

Carolyn Mary Henderson

Wolf Tivy

Vlatko Materic

James William Evans

Bernardo A Gutierrez

Kenneth D Vail

Charles M Holmes

Raymond H Alstadt

Ethan T Alger

Jesse Rosen

Jerry Dennis Wilson

Frederick R Grochulski

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.

Metal-air fuel cell

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.

A process for the separation of carbon dioxide from gas mixtures is disclosed in which a metal oxide sorbent, which is used to capture and release carbon dioxide, is recycled. The process incorporates the regeneration of the carbon dioxide capture capacity of the metal oxide to maintain a high capture capacity over many cycles. The regeneration involves hydrating the metal oxide and then heating the resulting metal hydroxide under a gas atmosphere that is effective to suppress the dehydration of the hydroxide so that dehydration occurs at an elevated temperature. The regeneration may also be used independently from the carbon dioxide separation process to produce, from a metal hydroxide, a metal oxide having an enhanced resistance to attrition and fragmentation.

Gas separation process

An intrinsically safe electrolysis system for generating hydrogen gas includes an electrolyzer containing an electrolyte and providing an outlet for generated gasses. An enclosure encloses the electrolyzer and a portion of the gas outlet. A safety interlock mounted within the enclosure and outside the electrolyzer includes a radiative element and a thermal switch, the thermal switch connected in series with a power supply for the electrolyzer and mounted in a proximity to the radiative element so that when a rated current is applied to the radiative element, the thermal switch in response to receiving heat from the radiative element changes state to provide power to the electrolyzer. The electrolyzer may generate hydrogen or oxygen gas as a fuel supplement deliverable to an internal combustion engine via the gas outlet. The electrolyzer may be mounted within a vehicle compartment that may serve as the enclosure.

Intrinsically safe electrolysis system

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.

Discrete particle electrolyzer cathode and method of making same

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.

Methods and devices for controlling flow and particle fluidization in a fuel cell

A method of producing metal particles through electrolysis. A cathode having a plurality of active zones on a surface thereof is at least partially immersed in a reaction solution. 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. In order to promote the formation of good quality particles, a turbulent flow of the solution is maintained past one or more the active zones, and the current density in the active zones is maintained greater than about 5 kA/m. The particles may be dislodged from the cathode after they have achieved a desired size.

Method of production of metal particles through electrolysis

A system for maintaining a concentration range of an electroreducible metal species undergoing electrolysis within a predetermined concentration range comprises a first container containing a body of an electrolyte solution in which a metal is partially dissolved, a second container in fluid communication with the first container, the second container containing a second body of the solution, and a means for exchanging solution between the containers. The second container is configured with a means for electrolyzing, and a means for sensing the concentration of, the dissolved metal in the second body. During electrolysis, if the sensed concentration is within a predetermined range, the second body is circulated through the electrolyzing means; if the sensed concentration is outside or nearly outside the range, the solution is exchanged to maintain the concentration within the range. Optionally, the system includes a means for sensing temperature of the second body, and a means for maintaining the temperature within a predetermined range responsive to the sensed temperature by exchanging, cooling, or heating the solution comprising the second body. A method comprising these steps is also described.

Controlled concentration electrolysis system

A system for filtering particles within a multiphase fluid that comprises a particulate phase is disclosed. The system comprises a first plurality of substantially parallel, substantially planar thin slabs separated by a predetermined distance to retain particles having a maximum cross-sectional dimension greater than the predetermined distance, and provides at least one flow path for at least part of the multiphase fluid. In one application, the system is used in connection with an electrochemical power source and components thereof, wherein the multiphase fluid comprises flowable fuel.

In-line filtration for a particle-based electrochemical power system

A fuel cell system is described which comprises a power source and a fuel storage unit. A flowable fuel is contained with the fuel storage unit. A first flow path delivers fuel from the fuel storage unit to the power source. Some or all of this fuel is deposited into the individual cell cavities within the power source. A second flow path delivers fuel that is not deposited into the cell cavities to the fuel storage unit. A third flow path delivers unused and/or partially used fuel and/or reaction products and/or spent reaction solution from the cell cavities back to an optional reaction product storage unit and/or the fuel storage unit and/or to the second flow path. The system may further comprise an optional reaction product storage unit, an optional regeneration unit, an optional second reactant storage unit, an optional controller, and an optional power converter.

Fuel cell system

A system for measuring available energy in a metal fuel cell is provided. The system comprises first componentry for measuring an electrical property of a mixture formed from one or more reaction products dissolved in a reaction medium. The electrical property may be such as to bear a known relationship with the concentration of the one or more reaction products. Using this known relationship, second componentry estimates the concentration of the one or more reaction products, and, responsive thereto, determines the available energy in the fuel cell.

Method of and system for determining the remaining energy in a metal fuel cell

An improved electrolyte-particulate fuel cell where the fuel cell includes an anode, cathode, a bottom surface area formed by the anode and cathode where fuel flows from top to bottom, and a screen where the screen is located near the anode's bottom and has a surface area greater than the cell's bottom surface area.

Electrolyte-particulate fuel cell anode

A method of and system for flushing one or more cells or components thereof in a particle-based electrochemical power source is provided. Reaction solution is delivered to and withdrawn from the one or more cells when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation.

Method of and system for flushing one or more cells in a particle-based electrochemical power source in standby mode

A fuel cell system for providing primary and/or auxiliary/backup power to one or more loads for which a primary and/or backup power source is desirable to enable equipment to function for its intended purpose. The system provides power to the one or more loads upon the occurrence of power outage condition, which includes a disruption in the delivery of primary power to, or power demand condition by, the one or more loads. A controller senses outage of primary power to, or demand for primary power by, the one or more loads, and, responsive thereto, operatively engages one or more fuel cells to provide power to the one or more loads.

Growing community of inventors

Escondido, CA, United States of America

Stuart I Smedley