Battery resetting process for scaffold fuel electrode

摘要

An electrochemical cell includes a fuel electrode configured to operate as an anode to oxidize a fuel when connected to a load. The cell also includes an oxidant electrode configured to operate as a cathode to reduce oxygen when connected to the load. The fuel electrode comprises a plurality of scaffolded electrode bodies. The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell system and method of resetting the electrochemical cell by applying a charge (i.e. voltage or current) to the cell to drive oxidation of the fuel, wherein the fuel electrode operates as an anode, and the second cell operates as a cathode, removing uneven distributions of fuel that may cause premature shorting of the electrode bodies to improve capacity, energy stored, and cell efficiency.

主权项

1. A method for managing a plurality of electrochemical cells using a controller, wherein each of the electrochemical cells comprises a fuel electrode comprising a series of permeable electrode bodies arranged in spaced apart relation for receiving electrodeposited metal fuel; an oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; a charging electrode; and an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes; the controller comprising logic to implement the method, the method comprising:
determining for each of a plurality of the electrochemical cells whether a maintenance operation is needed for the electrochemical cell, whether to bypass the electrochemical cell, or whether to charge or discharge the electrochemical cell; controlling charging or discharging each of the plurality of electrochemical cells that are determined to be charged or discharged; electrically isolating each of the plurality of electrochemical cells for which the maintenance operation is determined to be needed from each cell determined to be charged or discharged; connecting each cell for which the maintenance operation is determined to be needed to a maintenance subsystem; and performing under control of the maintenance subsystem the maintenance operation on each cell for which the maintenance operation is determined to be needed while electrically isolated from each of the charged or discharged cells.