The Aluminum-air battery Aluminum. It's recyclable, easily stored, noncombustible, and it stores a lot of energy. No wonder the aluminum industry is interested in developing products that use aluminum as a safe, dependable, nonpolluting source of power. An aluminum-air battery is high on the list for Alupower Canada Limited, Ontario and Alupower Incorporated, New Jersey. A cell fuelled by aluminum generates power through a simple electrochemical reaction between the metal, placed in a saline or alkaline solution, and oxygen from the air.
Electricity is produced as the aluminum oxidizes.
The cell consists of aluminum plates, an air cathode, and an electrolyte. To recharge the cell when the aluminum is consumed, the plates are replaced and more electrolyte is added. In a larger unit, the reaction product can be removed, then recycled through the aluminum smelting process back to metallic aluminum. A major goal is to produce a compact, mobile, high energy and high power density aluminum-air fuel cell. There are many possible uses for it - from emergency power supplies to power systems for boats and submarines and as a source of electricity in remote areas.