Battery with a Moveable Membrane Separating a Cathode and Anode Cavity
In one aspect of the invention, a rechargeable battery has a cathode cavity formed in a cathode housing and a anode cavity in a anode housing. A moveable membrane is disposed between the cathode cavity and the anode cavity. The cathode cavities are filled with an electrolyte.
1 . A battery, comprising:
a cathode cavity formed in a cathode housing and an anode cavity in an anode housing;
a moveable membrane disposed between the cathode cavity and the anode cavity; and
the cavities are filled with an electrolyte.
2 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein the moveable membrane is flexible.
3 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein the moveable membrane is rigid and a perimeter of the membrane is attached to a flexible material that connects with the cathode housing, the anode housing, or combinations thereof.
4 . The battery of claim 3 , wherein the membrane comprises NaSICON, β″-alumina, solid electrolyte material, or combinations thereof.
5 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein the moveable membrane is rigid and a perimeter of the membrane comprises a protrusion that is guided by a slot formed in the cathode housing, the anode housing, or combinations thereof.
6 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein the moveable membrane is rigid and a portion of a perimeter of the membrane forms a hinge with the cathode housing, the anode housing, or combinations thereof.
7 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein the cathode and anode housing comprise a conductive material.
8 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein a compressible mechanism is disposed within the cathode and/or anode cavity.
9 . The battery of claim, 8 where the compressible mechanism is closed cell foam.
10 . The battery of claim 9 , wherein the closed cell foam comprises up to 50% of the volume of the cathode cavity.
11 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein the cathode and anode cavities comprise substantially no direct contact between active materials and volume containing gas or vapor.
12 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprise a mixture containing sodium, nickel, and chlorine.
13 . The battery of claim 1 , further comprising at least one heating element adjacent to the cathode or anode housing.
14 . The battery of claim 12 , further comprising a layer of thermal insulation surrounding the at least one heating element and the cathode and anode housing.
15 . The battery of claim 1 , wherein a cathode housing of a first rechargeable battery is in connection with the anode housing of a second rechargeable battery.
16 . The battery of claim 14 , further comprising an electrical insulator between the cathode housing of the first and second rechargeable battery.
17 . The battery of claim 14 , further comprising an electrical insulator between the anode housing of the first and second rechargeable battery.
18 . The battery of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connection to a downhole generator.
19 . A rechargeable battery, comprising:
a cathode cavity formed in a cathode housing and an anode cavity in an anode housing;
a fixed membrane disposed between the cathode cavity and the anode cavity; and
the anode and/or cathode cavities comprise compressible mechanism;
the cavities are filled with an electrolyte.
20 . The battery of claim 19 , wherein the compressible mechanism comprises a foam.