Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02651610 2009-01-29
Docket No.: HydrePh=-COIPR
AIR CELL ENERGY SYSTEM AND USES FOR SAME
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present inventicn relates to energy systems and
more particularlq, relates to a metal/air fuel cell or battery
which can be used to generate hydrogen and/or electricity based
on its configuration, and whose outpat generation can be
suspended and metal air cell life exlr-ended by providing an
electrolyte filtering and removal system.
HACKGkOUND IIvFORMATION
[00021 h7etal-air cell batteries are widely known and their
use in svste:ns that do not need fossil fuels to provic.e energy
becoming increasingly mote promitient giver the recent
significant rise in fossil- fuel costs. See Exhibit A attached
hexeto anci incorporated herein by reference. Examples of uses
for metal-air cell batteries include, for example and without
limitation, electric cars, electric generators and hydrogen
producing electrolysis units.
(0003] Metal-air cell battQYies are comoact and are verv
environmenta'_ly benign. Se-=reral types of metals such as
alumin:im (See Ex~ibit B attached hereto and fully incorporated
herein by rEference! or maanesium are typically utilized to
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produce electricity from the reaction of oxygen in r_ite air or
water. Once the metal anode is consumed by its reaction, the
battery will no longer produce electr_city and the anode or
cathode must be replaced to reuse the battery. The byproduct of
such batteries is hydrogen and water, both of which are
environmentally friendly. One of their disadvantages, however,
is that they continue to consume the anode/cathcde even waen not
in use, thereby greatly reducing the lifespan of the battery and
making it generally unsuitable for use in applications such as
automobiles, which require only intermittent power.
[0009] Accordingly, a need exists for a sys-em which u-*__lizes
a metal-air cell battery as either a source of electricity to
charge batto_ies or -oro;ride power for some other application,
such as a hvdroge7 genPrating unit, and/or which utiyizes the
hydrogen byproducL= directly such as to power an engi.r~e to
pro=~ide moti.ve =orce. In addition, such a sys-er.1 shoula provide
for easily inter-changing and replacing the battery using quick
connect fittinqs and the like and wherein the electrolyte
solution in the battery can be filtered and rerr~cved during
periods of nonuse to extend the life of the battery by stopping
the electricitv generation in the syste:n when not in use.
BRIEF 97-SCRIPTION OF THE DRAUJINGS
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[0005] These and other features and advantagEs of the preserft
ir.venti;;n will be better understood by reading the following
detailed descriptiorE, taken together with the drawings wherein:
[00061 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an air cell system
according to the present invention;
[00071 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an a'_r cell system used
to generate electricitv according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an air cell sys_en
according r-o the present invention in use in a vehicle hydrogec
on demand sysrQn ac:;ordirig to one eralood-ment of the present
irvelt ion; and
[0009] E'''G. 4 is a block da.acr&3n of an electrolyte filter,
storage and purnp syster- for use wi th ari a:.r cell according to
one aspect of the p=eser_t inveritiiori.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBGDIME\1TS
[0010] The present invention features an air cell system 10,
figure 1, also known in the industry as a fuel cell, which is
adaptable and useful for multiple applications including for
providing power to an electricity ut'_lizing systera 12 (such as a
generator or the like) or for providing hydrogen 14 to a
hy--Jrogen utilizing system 1.6 such as an automobile combustion
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engine or an electrical generation systeni, as will be detailed
further below.
[0011] The air ce'1 system 10 includes an actual metal/air
cell batte=y 18 which makes use of a typical aluminum or
magnesivm air cell. The metal/air cell 18 is ccupled to an
electrol~tte filter/pumps/storage unit 20 that is shown in
greater detail in figure- 4. As is well known in the industry,
an aluminum or magnesium a_r cell opera-tes continuously once the
electrolyte, typically salt water, is inserted in the bat;.ery.
The chemical reaction between the electrclyte and the anode and
cathode eontinues un-zi= e:ther the ancde or cathode is exFendcd
or there is no more electrolyte. Ac,co_ciingly, one aspecr of --he
present invention conV.ernplates providing the storace and filter
ur.it 20 coupled to the metali 1ir cell 18 * o serve mult iple
parposes.
[00121 Firs., l:tie elec--ro'vte filter, pump az-id stc=rage unit
20 includes a filter which serves to remove any aluminu:n or
magnesium material contained in the electrolyte which is the
result (byproduct) of the reaction within tre air cell 18. By
providing one or mo_e pumps 24, the electrolyte 26 may be
circulated between the air cell 18 and the storage unit 28 to
filter out any ai-urninum, r.agnesium or other particles which
might serve to reduce the life of the air cell 18 or contaminate
.it and make i.t work less sufficiently.
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[0013] The presant system aiso c4ntemplates a conl.rol signal
30 provided to Yonrrol the =unctions of the water purr.r!si 24.
Fo-- examole, wheri t.ae systeni of the present invention is usa-d in
a vehicle and the vehicle's key is turned to the off posltion, a
control signal 30 could be received and utilized to activate one
of the water pumps 24 to drain the electrolyte 26 from the air
cell 18, thus stopping the reaction within the air cell 18 and
conserving the 14-fe of the air cell 18. Ccnverse].y, when rhe
vehicle's ignition key is turr.ed on, a water pump 24 could be
used to reverse the flow, fill the air cell 18 with electrolyte
solution 26 thus causir.g the air cell 18 -:o begin and continae
producing hydrogen and eleci r:'Lcity.
[0014] As shown in one elubod:_nenw in figure 2, the metal/air
cell syste.a 1C may be utilized to produce hydrogen 35, a normal
byproduct of the netal air battery 19. By proyidic:g the
nydrogen output 35 of the meta7. air bal.Cery 18 tc a proton
exchange membrane 32 and in addition providing a source of
forced air 34, the proton exchange meirkbrane 32 (as described in
greater detail in Appendix C attached hereto and fully
incorporated hereir by reference) utilizes the hydrogen fuel as
well as the oxygen =rom the forced air input 34 to transform the
chemical energy expended during the electrochemical reaction of
hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy 36 and water 38. An
excmplarv FE[-I men.brane irict.ides the copolymer NAFIDiq by Dupont
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de Netr.ours Company. See Appendix D attached hereto and
incorporated fully herein by reference for fur:.her information
rPgarcii.ng this product. Ac:cuidirigly, by capturing the proc."uct
of the reaction within the met al air battery (namely hydrcgen
gas) and then introducing it through the PEM nembrane, the
ccnsumables in the metal layer battery are utilized with greater
efficiency by increasing the line output ;voltage and amperage',
without having to increase the surface area of the anode or
cathode within the metal air battery. Another feature of this
invention is the provision of -eiectxieal and/or l5.quid/gas
disconnects 33, 37 whi_ch a---ow the metal air battery 18 to be
quicklv aiid eLiic,.i.eriL1y removed from the system 1.0 and rep?aced
when the anode ar.u or cathode are either f.ully expended or
reduced in effici-ercy So as needing to be changed.
j0015] ?n ar:other embodiment of the metal air '-batteri system
10, Figure 4, 9.n Use in a vehicle hydrogen cn demand system, an
electrolysis unit B, 51, powered by electricity 49 froir a=uel
cell 18 separates hydrogen and oxygen from water 50. The
hydrogen 52 created from the electrolysis unit as well as the
hydrogen 54 created from the air cell 18 is stored in one or
nore tanks Di or D2 and utilized 56 as hydrogen input to an
engine 58 in an automobile or other vehicle. Appropriate
electror_xcs are used to control hydroqen flow rate, pressure
switches and in;cctors, to control the floc. and speed of the
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hydrogeri sent to the automobile's engine. In a hybrid
s=tuat i.on, -ni.x.inc hydT:ugen wl.t}: gasoline can i ncrease thn
engines efficiency by 15% or more. Thus, both the electrical
and hydrogen outnut of the metal air battery systeff. ray be used
in multiple applications at the same time.
[0016] Accordingly, the present ?nvent?on provides a rneta-,
air battery system incorporating quick connect coupling for the
battery; a metal air bat-:~ery electrolyte filter/pumpistorage
device to disable the metal/air battery during periods.wnen the
battery is not needed; and the ability- to harness the
electric'ty anci/ux- hvdrogen output of the metal air ;e1 ] ei tt-er
alone o~ through a PEM nembr.anc- tc produce additional
e_'ectrici.ty or to utilize the hydrogen for other p-arposes
includ=ng pcwering a vehicle.
[0017] Modificaticns and substitutions by one of crdinar.;; sKi.1.1
in the art arc considered to be within the scope of the present
invention, which is not to be _imited except by the allowed claims
and they are legally equivaler.ts.
