Patent ID: 8906563
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An electrochemical cell comprising: a permeable fuel electrode configured to support a metal fuel thereon; an oxidant reduction electrode spaced from the fuel electrode; a second oxidant reduction electrode spaced from and opposing the oxidant reduction electrode, with the permeable fuel electrode being positioned between the oxidant reduction electrode and the second oxidant reduction electrode; an ionically conductive medium for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes; a charging electrode selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant reduction electrode, (b) a separate charging electrode spaced from the permeable fuel electrode and the oxidant reduction electrode, and (c) a portion of the permeable fuel electrode; a gas bubble flow generator selected from the group consisting of (a) the charging electrode, and (b) a sparger spaced from the charging electrode, the gas bubble flow generator being configured to evolve gaseous oxygen bubbles that generate a flow of the ionically conductive medium during a charging operation; and one or more flow diverting surfaces configured to establish a circulation path that directs the flow of the ionically conductive medium at least partially through the permeable fuel electrode; wherein the oxidant reduction electrode is immersed in the ionically conductive medium with an air space associated therewith to provide a gaseous oxidant thereto, wherein the one or more flow diverting surfaces includes a flow diverting surface configured to direct the flow of the ionically conductive medium upwardly and then laterally over a top of the oxidant reduction electrode and the air space, to a side thereof opposite the fuel electrode.