Reveo, Inc.

Northwestern University

Inventqjaya Sdn Bhd

Evionyx, Inc.

Revco, Inc.

Evlonyx, Inc.

Reves, Inc.

Tsepin Tsai

Sadeg Mustafa Faris

Wayne Yao

Muguo Chen

Yuen-Ming Chang

Thomas J Legbandt

William F Morris

Scott A Barnett

Lin-Feng Li

Wenbin Yao

Michael Rabin

George Tzong-Chyi Tzeng

George Tzeng

Karen Tom

Aditi Vartak

Erica Perry Murray

An energy conversion system, comprising: a reservoir container including at least two chambers of inversely variable volume for respectively storing a quantity of fuel and receiving a quantity of exhaust; a means for decreasing the volume of the first chamber while concurrently increasing the volume of the second chamber; at least one energy conversion device; first means for communicating fuel between the at least one energy conversion device and a first of the chambers in the reservoir container; and second means for communicating exhaust between the at least one energy conversion device and a second of the chambers in the reservoir container. The reservoir container may be transported to a recharging/refilling station or recharged in-situ. A particular application for metal-air fuel cell power systems is shown and described.

Fuel containment and recycling system

A rechargeable electrochemical cell system is provided. The system includes a plurality of cells, wherein each cell is comprised of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode electrically isolated from the second electrode. The cell system may be discharged upon application of a load across a discharge circuit, which is formed from the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The cell may be recharged upon application of a voltage across a recharging circuit, which is formed of at least one of the first electrodes and at least one of the third electrodes.

Electrochemical cell recharging system

A metal air cell system comprises a frame structure configured with variable airflow paths. The variable airflow paths provide alternatives between direct open loop airflow and semi-closed loop air flow, wherein air is at least partially circulated around the cell components. This is particularly useful for operation in different temperature environments. The open loop mode is useful for high temperature environments, and the semi-closed loop mode is useful for low temperature environments.

Metal air cell incorporating air flow system

Fuel cells (e.g., air-depolarized fuel cells) are stacked, supported and electrically interconnected into a battery structure with a connector block. The anode and cathode elements of each fuel cell are provided with conductive terminating elements (e.g., plug connectors), preferably extending in downward &ldquo;U&rdquo; shaped configuration from the upper ends of the anode and cathode elements respectively. The connector block comprises a series of conductive apertures, positioned and sized, to accommodate the conductive terminating elements of the anodes and cathodes therein. When the conductive terminating elements of the anodes and cathodes are slidably engaged with the conductive apertures of the connector block, the connector block mechanical support the anodes and cathode so engaged. The connector block preferably comprises a electrically conductive elements to electrically connect the anodes and cathodes of the stacked cells in a desired electrical interconnection (serial, parallel and mixed serial and parallel segments). The interconnection between terminal conductor elements and the respective apertures further serves to support and orient the cells in a minimal volume and permits selective rapid cell removal for replacement or servicing. The cells are also provided with keyed members for keyed interlocking with a support tray having co-fitting keying elements to provide full structural integrity for the stacked cells. Lateral end elements extend between the connector block and support tray to complete an open enclosure and provide a support base for air circulating devices such as fans. Air is circulated through a duct defined by the connector block.

Fuel cell support and electrical interconnector

An oxygen enrichment system is provided. The system includes an electrochemical cell for generating oxygen from ambient air. The electrochemical cell extracts oxygen from ambient air based on hydroxide conduction. A mixer is provided in fluid communication with ambient air, and an outlet provides oxygen enriched air to a user or air-breathing apparatus. In further embodiments, a purification system is also included. The air enrichment system may be employed with suitable batteries to provide a portable air enrichment device.

Air enhancement system

Flat plate fuel cells, particularly air-depolarized cells, are stacked and electrically interconnected into a battery structure with a connector block and tray. The anode and cathode elements of each cell are provided with extending terminal conductor elements (e.g., banana plugs), preferably extending in downward &ldquo;U&rdquo; shaped configuration from the upper ends of the anode and cathode elements respectively. The connector block comprises a series of conductive apertures, positioned and sized to accommodate the terminal conductor elements of the electrodes therein and the connector block comprises electrical interconductive elements to electrically connect- the electrodes of the stacked cells in a desired electrical interconnection (serial, parallel and mixed serial and parallel segments). The interconnection between terminal conductor elements and the respective apertures further serves to support and orient the cells in a minimal volume and permits selective rapid cell removal for replacement or servicing. The cells are also provided with keyed members for keyed interlocking with a support tray having co-fitting keying elements to provide full structural integrity for the stacked cells. Lateral end elements extend between the connector block and support tray to complete an open enclosure and provide a support base for air circulating devices such as fans. Air is circulated through a duct defined by the block and between the fuel cells.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for extending path-length of metal-fuel tape during discharging and/or recharging operations so that a supply of metal-fuel tape contained within a cassette device or on a supply reel can be rapidly discharged and/or recharged in an improved manner. During discharging operations, a plurality of discharging heads are selectively arranged about the extended path-length of metal-fuel tape so as increase the rate at which electrical power is powered from the system. During recharging operations, a plurality of recharging heads are selectively arranged about the extended path-length of metal-fuel tape to decrease the time required to recharge the metal-fuel tape transported through the system.

Metal-air fuel cell battery systems having mechanism for extending the path length of metal-fuel tape during discharging and recharging modes of operation

Disclosed are various types of metal-air FCB-based systems comprising a Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem, a Metal-Fuel Discharging Subsystem, and a Metal-Fuel Recharging Subsystem. The function of the Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem is to transport metal-fuel material, in the form of tape, cards, sheets, cylinders and the like, to the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, or the Metal-Fuel Recharge Subsystem, depending on the mode of the system selected. When transported to or through the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, the metal-fuel is discharged by one or more discharging heads in order produce electrical power across an electrical load connected to the subsystem while H O and O are consumed at the cathode-electrolyte interface during the electro-chemical reaction. When transported to or through the Metal-Fuel Recharging Subsystem, discharged metal-fuel is recharged by one or more recharging heads in order to convert the oxidized metal-fuel material into its source metal material suitable for reuse in power discharging operations, while O is released at the cathode electrolyte interface during the electro-chemical reaction. In the illustrative embodiments, discharge and recharge parameters are detected, recorded, and processed in order to carry out discharging and recharging operations and metal-fuel/metal-oxide management operations in an efficient manner.

Metal-air fuel cell battery system having means for recording and reading operating parameters during discharging and recharging modes of operation

A highly conductive polymer based solid gel membrane is disclosed. The membrane is especially well suited for use in such electrochemical devices as, for example, aluminum/air, zinc/air, Zn/MnO , Ni/Cd and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as in electrochromic devices such as smart windows and flat panel displays. In accordance with the principles of the invention, anion- and cation-conducting membranes are formed. The gel composition of the membrane contains the ionic species within its solution phase such that the species behaves as in a liquid electrolyte, while at the same time, the solid gel composition prevents the solution phase from diffusing into the device. Methods of forming polymer based solid gel membranes of the present invention are also disclosed.

Solid gel membrane

A refuelable and rechargable metal-air FCB based power supply unit for integration into a device/system for generating and providing electrical power to at least one electrical-energy-consuming load device disposed therein. An external power source is used to recharge the metal-air FCB subsystems embodied therein. A control subsystem automatically transitions between discharging mode (wherein at least one metal-air FCB subsystem supplies electrical power to the electrical power-consuming load device) and a recharging mode (wherein the external power source is electrically coupled to at least one metal-air FCB subsystem to thereby recharge the metal-air FCB subsystem(s). The metal-air FCB subsystem(s) are refueled by manually loading and unloading metal-fuel from the metal-air FCB subsystem(s). Preferably, electrical power provided to the at least one electrical power-consuming load device is supplied solely by electrical power generated by discharging metal-fuel in the metal-air fuel cell battery subsystem(s). In addition, the metal-air FCB subsystem(s) preferably has a modular architecture that enable flexible and user-friendly operations in loading of metal-fuel, unloading of consumed metal-fuel, replacement of the ionic-conducting medium, and replacement of the cathode.

Refuelable and rechargeable metal-air fuel cell battery power supply unit for integration into an appliance

A novel fuel cell battery construction having arrays of different type metal-air fuel cells. The first type-cells are preferably formed by a cathode structure having a plurality of first-type cathode elements, and an anode structure having one or more anode-contacting elements on an anode-contacting element support plate. The second-type-cells are preferably formed by a cathode structure having a plurality of second-type cathode elements, and an anode structure having one or more anode-contacting elements on an anode-contacting element support plate. In one embodiment, the first-type cathode elements and corresponding cells are optimized for discharging operations, while the second type of cathode elements and corresponding cells are optimized for recharging operations. Alternatively, the first-type cathode elements and corresponding cells may be optimized for low-power discharging operations, while the second type of cathode elements and corresponding cells are optimized for high-power discharging operations. In addition, each cell is preferably independently activated (i.e. enabled) using a transistor-based power switching element operated under the control of a switching controller. The power switching device elements may be controlled to produce selectable output characteristics (voltage level, current level, etc.) during discharge operations, and control recharging cells during recharging operations. In addition, the power switching elements may be used to produce high-frequency electrical currents for generating stepped-up voltages, which are subsequently rectified and low-pass filtered.

Electro-chemical power generation systems employing arrays of electronically-controllable discharging and/or recharging cells within a unitary support structure

A metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) electrical power producing module for supplying electrical power to a host system that incorporates a module housing with a multi-element discharging head enclosed within the module housing and a recess formed therein into which a metal-fuel card can be slid for discharging. The module housing has a pair of electrical terminals for contacting the power terminals of a host system.

Metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) electrical power producing module with multi-element cathode structure and insertable metal-fuel card(s)

A device/system having an integrated refuelable and rechargable metal-air FCB based power supply unit for generating and providing electrical power to at least one electrical-energy-consuming load device disposed therein. An external power source is used to recharge the metal-air FCB subsystems embodied therein. A control subsystem automatically transitions between discharging mode (wherein at least one metal-air FCB subsystem supplies electrical power to the electrical power-consuming load device) and a recharging mode (wherein the external power source is electrically coupled to at least one metal-air FCB subsystem to thereby recharge the metal-air FCB subsystem(s). The metal-air FCB subsystem(s) are refueled by manually loading and unloading metal-fuel from the metal-air FCB subsystem(s). Preferably, electrical power provided to the at least one electrical power-consuming load device is supplied solely by electrical power generated by discharging metal-fuel in the metal-air fuel cell battery subsystem(s). In addition, the metal-air FCB subsystem(s) preferably has a modular architecture that enable flexible and user-friendly operations in loading of metal-fuel, unloading of consumed metal-fuel, replacement of the ionic-conducting medium, and replacement of the cathode.

Growing community of inventors

Peekskill, NY, United States of America

Tsepin Tsai