BATTERY HAVING AN AIR MANAGER WITH A MOVING PLATE VALVE

摘要

A gas consuming battery is provided with an air regulating system for regulating the flow of air into the battery. The battery includes a gas consuming cell having a cell housing with air entry ports for the passage of a gas contained in the air into the cell housing. A first gas consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The air regulating system includes a valve having a moving plate disposed adjacent to another plate. In an embodiment, the moving plate and the other plate both have one or more apertures therethrough that at least partially align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The air regulating system can also include an actuator for moving the moving plate relative to the fixed plate to open and close the valve. A sealing medium including a fluid containment layer and a fluid partially contained with the fluid containment layer is disposed between the moving plate and fixed plate to provide enhanced valve operation and sealing effectiveness. The fluid containment layer includes a porous material, and the fluid has a maximum wicking height, on a vertical strip of the porous material, that is equal to or greater than a maximum interfacial dimension between the valve plates.