US6087029A — Water recovery using a bi-directional air exchang…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 75 words

A humidity control system for a metal-air battery, comprising: at least one metal-air cell; said at least one metal-air cell positioned within an air manager; said air manager comprising at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and humidity control means in communication with said air manager for maintaining the humidity level of the air entering said air manager substantially equivalent to the humidity level of the air leaving said air manager.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 75 words

A humidity control system for a metal-air battery, comprising: at least one metal-air cell; said at least one metal-air cell positioned within an air manager; said air manager comprising at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and humidity control means in communication with said air manager for maintaining the humidity level of the air entering said air manager substantially equivalent to the humidity level of the air leaving said air manager.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

The humidity control system of claim 1, wherein said humidity control means comprises a housing.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 118 words

A method for controlling the level of humidity in a metal-air battery having an air exchanger, said air exchanger having an air inflow path, an air outflow path, and a membrane positioned between said air flow paths, comprising the steps of: drawing the air through said air inflow path of said air exchanger into said battery; circulating the air through said battery for an electrochemical reaction; forcing the air out of said battery back through said air out flow path of said air exchanger; and transferring the water vapor between the air in said inflow path and the air in said outflow path through said membrane such that the level of humidity within said battery remains substantially constant.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 118 words

A method for controlling the level of humidity in a metal-air battery having an air exchanger, said air exchanger having an air inflow path, an air outflow path, and a membrane positioned between said air flow paths, comprising the steps of: drawing the air through said air inflow path of said air exchanger into said battery; circulating the air through said battery for an electrochemical reaction; forcing the air out of said battery back through said air out flow path of said air exchanger; and transferring the water vapor between the air in said inflow path and the air in said outflow path through said membrane such that the level of humidity within said battery remains substantially constant.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 97 words

A humidity control system, comprising: at least one metal-air cell: said at least one cell comprising an electrolyte reservoir; said at least one metal-air cell positioned within an air manager; said air manager comprising at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet and said air manager comprising a fan; and humidity control means comprising a hollow fiber membrane, said humidity control means in communication with said air manager such that the humidity level of the air entering said air manager is substantially equivalent to the humidity level of the air leaving said air manager.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 97 words

A humidity control system, comprising: at least one metal-air cell: said at least one cell comprising an electrolyte reservoir; said at least one metal-air cell positioned within an air manager; said air manager comprising at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet and said air manager comprising a fan; and humidity control means comprising a hollow fiber membrane, said humidity control means in communication with said air manager such that the humidity level of the air entering said air manager is substantially equivalent to the humidity level of the air leaving said air manager.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

The humidity control system of claim 4, wherein said hollow fiber membrane comprises silicone rubber on polysulfone.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The humidity control system of claim 4, wherein said hollow fiber membrane comprises polyamide thin-film composite on polysulfone.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 101 words

A humidity control system, comprising: at least one metal-air cell; said at least one metal-air cell positioned within an air manager; said air manager comprising at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and humidity control means comprising a housing; said housing comprising an ambient air passageway for a first flow of air in a first direction and a battery exhaust passageway for a second flow of air in a second direction such that the humidity level of the air entering said air manager is substantially equivalent to the humidity level of the air leaving said air manager.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 101 words

A humidity control system, comprising: at least one metal-air cell; said at least one metal-air cell positioned within an air manager; said air manager comprising at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and humidity control means comprising a housing; said housing comprising an ambient air passageway for a first flow of air in a first direction and a battery exhaust passageway for a second flow of air in a second direction such that the humidity level of the air entering said air manager is substantially equivalent to the humidity level of the air leaving said air manager.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

The humidity control system of claim 7, wherein said humidity control means comprises one or more membranes such that said ambient air passageway and said battery exhaust passageway are separated within said housing by said one or more membranes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said first and said second flows of air comprise counter-current air flows.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said first and said second flows of air comprise cross-current air flows.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a water-vapor permeable polymer.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The humidity control system of claim 11, wherein said one or more membranes comprise water vapor permeability of at least about 50 barrer.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a polymer that is selective for water vapor transport over oxygen transport.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The humidity control system of claim 13, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a water-vapor/oxygen selectivity of more than about 80.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a hydrogel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 35 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a material selected from the group comprising of cellulose hydrate (regenerated cellulose), ethyl cellulose, polyamide, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylmethacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate, and poly-vinyl alcohol.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said housing comprises a rectangular shape with two identical halves and wherein said ambient air passageway and said battery exhaust passageway comprise a central channel through said housing.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

The humidity control system of claim 17, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a flat sheet shape and wherein one of said one or more membranes is positioned between said two halves of said housing.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 75 words

The humidity control system of claim 17, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a flat sheet shape and wherein a first one of said one or more membranes is positioned on a first side of said ambient air passageway adjacent to a first battery exhaust passageway and a second one of said one or more membranes is positioned on a second side of said ambient air passageway adjacent to a second battery exhaust passageway.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 75 words

The humidity control system of claim 17, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a flat sheet shape and wherein a first one of said one or more membranes is positioned on a first side of said battery exhaust passageway adjacent to a first ambient air passageway and a second one of said one or more membranes is positioned on a second side of said battery exhaust passageway adjacent to a second ambient air passageway.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said housing comprises a hollow casing.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The humidity control system of claim 21, wherein said hollow casing comprises a tubular shape.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The humidity control system of claim 21, wherein said hollow casing comprises a rectangular shape.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The humidity control system of claim 8, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a plurality of hollow fibers.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 22 words

The humidity control system of claim 24, wherein said plurality of hollow fibers comprise said ambient air passageway within said hollow casing.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 22 words

The humidity control system of claim 24, wherein said plurality of hollow fibers comprise said battery exhaust passageway within said hollow casing.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

The humidity control system of claim 24, wherein said ambient air passageway comprises a space within said housing not occupied by said plurality of hollow fibers.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 26 words

The humidity control system of claim 24, wherein said battery exhaust passageway comprises a space within said housing not occupied by said plurality of hollow fibers.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 140 words

A humidity control system for a metal-air battery, comprising: a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell; said housing having at least one air inlet for ambient air and at least one air outlet for exhaust air; a fan positioned in communication with said housing to force the air into said air inlet and out of said air outlet; and an air exchanger positioned in communication with said housing; said air exchanger comprising at least one air inflow path and at least one air outflow path and further comprising at least one membrane for defining said air flow paths; said air inlet connected to said air inflow paths and said air outlet connected to said air outflow paths such that the ambient air entering said housing and the exhaust air leaving said housing have a substantially equivalent humidity level.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 140 words

A humidity control system for a metal-air battery, comprising: a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell; said housing having at least one air inlet for ambient air and at least one air outlet for exhaust air; a fan positioned in communication with said housing to force the air into said air inlet and out of said air outlet; and an air exchanger positioned in communication with said housing; said air exchanger comprising at least one air inflow path and at least one air outflow path and further comprising at least one membrane for defining said air flow paths; said air inlet connected to said air inflow paths and said air outlet connected to said air outflow paths such that the ambient air entering said housing and the exhaust air leaving said housing have a substantially equivalent humidity level.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 22 words

The humidity control system of claim 29, wherein said air inflow paths and said air outflow paths comprise counter-current air flow paths.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 22 words

The humidity control system of claim 29, wherein said air inflow paths and said air outflow paths comprise cross-current air flow paths.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 40 words

The humidity control system for a metal-air battery of claim 29, wherein said inlets comprise a length in the direction through the thickness of said housing greater than a width in the direction perpendicular to said thickness of said housing.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

The humidity control system for a metal-air battery of claim 29 wherein said membrane comprises a water-vapor permeable polymer.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 27 words

The humidity control system for a metal-air battery of claim 29, wherein said membrane comprises a polymer that is selective for water vapor transport over oxygen transport.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 18 words

The humidity control system for a metal-air battery of claim 29, wherein said membrane comprises a hydrogel material.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 39 words

The humidity control system for a metal-air battery of claim 29, wherein said one or more membranes comprise a material selected from the group comprising of cellulose hydrate (regenerated cellulose), ethyl cellulose, polyamide, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylmethacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate, and poly-vinyl alcohol.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-11	2004-01-10	2004-07-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-11	2008-01-10	2008-07-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-11	2012-01-10	2012-07-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Water recovery using a bi-directional air exchanger for a metal-air battery

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