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US4616170A
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Arrangement and method for operating an electrochemical storage device
Assignee: RUPERT URSTOGER FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
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Filing: 1984-07-25
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Granted: 1986-10-07
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Expires: 2004-07-25
Abstract
Abstract In an electrochemical storage device such as a zinc-bromine or zinc-chlorine accumulator containing groups of electrochemical cells connected in series to a load, nonuniformly distributed deposits of the active electrochemical material on the electrodes are removed by a complete discharge of the cells. While the storage device energizes a principal load, the cell groups of the storage device are discharged in a cyclic sequence via an auxiliary load and disconnected from the series circuit of the cell groups no later than the time at which the respective cell group has attained its operational use limit. The disconnected discharging cell group is further discharged via the auxiliary load until the nonuniformly distributed deposits on the electrodes of the cell group are totally removed. The cell group is then recharged and reinserted into the series circuit of the cell groups or, alternatively, reconnected to the series circuit and then recharged. The method of operation enables the energization of a load by the storage device while the device is being regenerated.
Inventors
- 👤 Rupert Urstoger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/44; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/52; H02J7/56; H02J7/875; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
A method for operating an electrochemical storage device in which electrochemically active material enters into solution during a discharging process and is redeposited on electrodes of the storage device during a charging process, said storage device having a multiplicity of groups of electrochemical cells connected in series to a load, discharging means being operatively couplable to said storage device for breaking up nonuniformly distributed deposits at the electrodes of the storage device by completely discharging the cells of the storage device via a resistor, energizing means being operatively connectable to the storage device for recharging the cells thereof, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preliminarily discharging via the resistor one of the cell groups of the storage device while maintaining said one of said cell groups in a series-connected circuit including the other cell groups of said storage device and the load; (b) monitoring the operating condition of said one of said cell groups; (c) disconnecting said one of said cell groups from said series-connected circuit upon detecting a predetermined state of discharge of said one of said cell groups, the others of said cell groups and said load being maintained in a series-connected circuit with each other; (d) upon the disconnecting of said one of said cell groups in step (c), further discharging said one of said cell groups so that deposits on the electrodes of said one of said cell groups are removed; (e) recharging said one of said cell groups and reconnecting same in a series-connected circuit with the others of said cell groups and said load; and (f) repeating steps (a) through (e) for each of said cell groups in a cyclic sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
278 words
A method for operating an electrochemical storage device in which electrochemically active material enters into solution during a discharging process and is redeposited on electrodes of the storage device during a charging process, said storage device having a multiplicity of groups of electrochemical cells connected in series to a load, discharging means being operatively couplable to said storage device for breaking up nonuniformly distributed deposits at the electrodes of the storage device by completely discharging the cells of the storage device via a resistor, energizing means being operatively connectable to the storage device for recharging the cells thereof, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preliminarily discharging via the resistor one of the cell groups of the storage device while maintaining said one of said cell groups in a series-connected circuit including the other cell groups of said storage device and the load; (b) monitoring the operating condition of said one of said cell groups; (c) disconnecting said one of said cell groups from said series-connected circuit upon detecting a predetermined state of discharge of said one of said cell groups, the others of said cell groups and said load being maintained in a series-connected circuit with each other; (d) upon the disconnecting of said one of said cell groups in step (c), further discharging said one of said cell groups so that deposits on the electrodes of said one of said cell groups are removed; (e) recharging said one of said cell groups and reconnecting same in a series-connected circuit with the others of said cell groups and said load; and (f) repeating steps (a) through (e) for each of said cell groups in a cyclic sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the disconnecting of step (c) is executed upon the attainment by said one of said cell groups of its operational use limit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein steps (a) through (e) are performed automatically under the control of a programmer unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the recharging of step (e) occurs prior to the reconnecting of said one of said cell groups to said load and to others of said cell groups.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the reconnecting of step (e) occurs prior to the recharging of said one of said cell groups.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said resistor is realized by the resistance of an operating component requiring electrical power to perform its intended function.
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) | 1989-10-06 | 1990-04-07 | 1990-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-06 | 1994-04-07 | 1994-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-06 | 1998-04-07 | 1998-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |