Metal-air fuel cell battery system employing a plurality of moving cathode structures for improved volumetric power density
US6335111B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 1, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 1, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In an air-metal fuel cell battery (FCB) system, wherein a plurality of movable cathode structures are mounted within a compact housing through which metal-fuel tape is transported along a predetermined path while an ionically-conductive medium is disposed between the metal-fuel tape and each movable cathode structure at points of contact. In illustrative embodiments, the movable cathode structures are realized as rotatable cathode cylinders, and transportable cathode belts. The ionically-conductive medium is realized as a solid-state ionically-conductive film applied to the cathode structures and/or metal-fuel tape, as well as ionically-conductive belt structures transported at the same velocity as corresponding cathode structures (e.g. cathode cylinders or belts) at the locus of points at which the ionically-conductive medium contacts the moving cathode structure and the moving metal-fuel tape. By virtue of the present invention, the volumetric power density characteristics of FCB systems can be significantly improved, while the likelihood of damage to the cathode structures and metal-fuel tape is substantially reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.