US4207382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fluidized air-depolarized electrodes and related apparatus and methods
Assignee: Alcoa Corp
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Filing: 1978-08-31
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Granted: 1980-06-10
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Expires: 1998-08-31
Abstract
Abstract Improved oxygen-consuming electrochemical cells are provided with a fluidized-bed oxygen absorber (1), wherein electrolyte-wetted carrier particles (3), especially electronically conductive catalyst particles, are oxygen-enriched, and a substantially bubble-free fluidized-bed cathode (12), wherein the oxygen transported by said carrier particles is electrochemically reduced. Carrier particles comprising activated carbon may provide sufficient surfaces area per unit weight to assure adequate oxygen transport. An intermediary oxidation-reduction couple may be included in the electrolyte to facilitate these oxygen-absorption and electro-reduction steps. The oxygen absorber (1) may be either separated from the cathode (12) or may form part of the same compartment (28), in which case an oxygen-permeable electrolyte-impermeable membrane (23) must be provided through which oxygen from ambient air may readily pass and be rapidly picked up and transported by the fluidized carrier particles (3). The fluidization of the carrier particles (3) in the oxygen absorber (1) and the cathode (12) may be effected in a moving vehicle by an air interceptor means (6) which utilizes the pressure of airimpinging on such a vehicle to effect air flow in the absorber (1) and fludization within the cathode (12) without recourse to any significant auxiliary power.
Inventors
- 👤 Solomon Zaromb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M12/00; H01M12/04; H01M12/06; B; B60; B60L; B60L50/00; B60L50/50; B60L50/60; B60L50/64; C; C25; C25B; C25B11/00; H01M8/00; H01M8/18; H01M8/22; H01M8/225; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An air-breathing oxygen-consuming electrochemical cell comprising a fluidized-bed oxygen absorber and a fluidized-bed cathode, a current-collecting means forming part of said cathode, said absorber and cathode comprising fluidized wetted carrier particles, an oxygen-transfer means within said absorber for exposing said wetted particles to oxygen from air so as to permit rapid enrichment of said particles with oxygen without resort to bubbling air through or mixing air with a continuous liquid electrolyte phase, said oxygen transfer means comprising an oxygen-permeable electrolyte-impermeable membrane whose outside surface is exposed to air and whose inner surface is readily accessible to said fluidized carrier particles, near which inner surface said particles become rapidly oxygen-enriched, means for bringing the resulting oxygen-enriched particles towards said current-collecting means of said cathode where part of the oxygen carried by these particles is electroreduced, whereby said particles become partly depleted of oxygen, and means for returning said oxygen-depleted particles to said absorber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An air-breathing oxygen-consuming electrochemical cell comprising a fluidized-bed oxygen absorber and a fluidized-bed cathode, a current-collecting means forming part of said cathode, said absorber and cathode comprising fluidized wetted carrier particles, an oxygen-transfer means within said absorber for exposing said wetted particles to oxygen from air so as to permit rapid enrichment of said particles with oxygen without resort to bubbling air through or mixing air with a continuous liquid electrolyte phase, said oxygen transfer means comprising an oxygen-permeable electrolyte-impermeable membrane whose outside surface is exposed to air and whose inner surface is readily accessible to said fluidized carrier particles, near which inner surface said particles become rapidly oxygen-enriched, means for bringing the resulting oxygen-enriched particles towards said current-collecting means of said cathode where part of the oxygen carried by these particles is electroreduced, whereby said particles become partly depleted of oxygen, and means for returning said oxygen-depleted particles to said absorber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein said absorber and said cathode are in separate compartments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said absorber and cathode are contained within the same compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
144 words
An air-breathing oxygen-consuming electrochemical cell comprising a fluidized-bed oxygen absorber and a fluidized-bed cathode, a current-collecting means forming part of said cathode, said absorber and cathode comprising fluidized wetted carrier particles, an oxygen-transfer means within said absorber for exposing said wetted particles to oxygen from air so as to permit rapid enrichment of said particles with oxygen without resort to bubbling air through or mixing air with a continuous liquid electrolyte phase, said oxygen-transfer means comprising means for bringing said wetted particles in direct contact with air in an air-fluidized bed within said absorber, whereby said wetted particles become rapidly oxygen-enriched, means for bringing the resulting oxygen-enriched particles towards said current-collecting means of said cathode where part of the oxygen carried by these particles is electroreduced, whereby said particles become partly depleted of oxygen, and means for returning said oxygen-depleted particles to said absorber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
An air-breathing oxygen-consuming electrochemical cell comprising a fluidized-bed oxygen absorber and a fluidized-bed cathode, a current-collecting means forming part of said cathode, said absorber and cathode comprising fluidized wetted carrier particles, an oxygen-transfer means within said absorber for exposing said wetted particles to oxygen from air so as to permit rapid enrichment of said particles with oxygen without resort to bubbling air through or mixing air with a continuous liquid electrolyte phase, said oxygen-transfer means comprising means for bringing said wetted particles in direct contact with air in an air-fluidized bed within said absorber, whereby said wetted particles become rapidly oxygen-enriched, means for bringing the resulting oxygen-enriched particles towards said current-collecting means of said cathode where part of the oxygen carried by these particles is electroreduced, whereby said particles become partly depleted of oxygen, and means for returning said oxygen-depleted particles to said absorber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said particles are wetted with an electrolyte comprising an intermediary oxidation-reduction couple for facilatating oxygen-absorption within said absorber and subsequent electro-reduction within said cathode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus of claim 4, comprising also an ambient air interceptor means for intercepting air impinging on the front of a moving vehicle and utilizing the pressure of said impinging air to effect air flow through said absorber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein fluidization of said particles within said cathode is effected by gravity flow of particles carried over into the upper portion of said cathode by the air flow through said absorber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein each electrochemical cell comprises a consumable metal anode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus of claim 8, wherein said consumable metal comprises aluminum, zinc, lithium, sodium, calcium, or iron.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell consuming a hydrogen-rich fuel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a chlorine-generating anode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus of claim 1, comprising means for replacing defective catalyst particles in said cathode by fresh active catalyst particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cell of claim 4, wherein said particles are wetted with an electrolyte comprising an intermediary oxidation-reduction couple for facilitating oxygen-absorption within said absorber and subsequent electroreduction within said cathode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus of claim 4, wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a consumable metal anode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus of claim 14, wherein said consumable metal comprises aluminum, zinc, lithium, sodium, calcium, or iron.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus of claim 4, wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell consuming a hydrogen-rich fuel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus of claim 4, wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a chlorine-generating anode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus of claim 4, comprising means for replacing defective catalyst particles in said cathode by fresh active catalyst particles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-06-10 | 1983-12-10 | 1984-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-10 | 1987-12-10 | 1988-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-10 | 1991-12-10 | 1992-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |