Oxygen plenum configurations of components in low cost planar rechargeable oxide-ion battery (ROB) cells and stacks
View Patent ↗An ROB stack ( 10 ′) contains a plurality of stacked ROB cells ( 10 ) made from: thin metal bipolar housings ( 13 ) having air inlets and exits and horizontal channels for feeding air between the inlets ( 16 ) and exits ( 17 ), the channel having top ridges and also grooves ( 25 ) for containing active material ( 34 ); a porous air electrode ( 21/39 ) next to the air channels allowing air contact; a metal electrode ( 36 ); and an oxygen ion transfer membrane ( 37 ) acting as electrolyte; wherein the plurality of all the assemblies form vertical air inlet and outlet plenums.
1. A rechargeable oxide ion battery (ROB) stack comprising:
a plurality of stacked ROB cells, each ROB cell comprising an electrically conducting metal bipolar housing having a thickness of from about 0.1 cm to 0.75 cm, wherein each bipolar housing comprises openings for vertical air inlets and vertical air exhaust inlets, each bipolar housing further including a recessed portion for housing a cell membrane, wherein each cell membrane comprises:
a plurality of channels and grooves defined between the channels, wherein the grooves are filled with a porous active metal material defining a metal electrode which stores or releases oxide ions;
a porous air electrode disposed adjacent the channels allowing contact with a fluid flowing through the channels; and
an electrical contact disposed on the channels; and
a dielectric perimeter seal disposed between the bipolar housings wherein, in the plurality of ROB cells, the vertical air inlets and air exhaust inlets form air inlet plenums and air exhaust plenums which allow air contact with adjacent ROB cells, and wherein the channels and grooves prevent air contact with any active material.
2. The ROB stack of claim 1 , wherein dielectric contacts are disposed at far edges between the bipolar housings.
3. The ROB stack of claim 1 , wherein the bipolar housing is stamped.
4. The ROB stack of claim 1 , wherein the bipolar housing is hydro-formed.
5. The ROB stack of claim 1 , wherein the bipolar housing is electroformed.
6. The ROB stack of claim 1 , wherein the bipolar housing is 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm thick.
7. The ROB stack of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter seal allows no more than 3 vol. % total air leakage.
8. The ROB stack of claim 1 , also having vertical auxiliary gas plenums, which horizontally feed an auxiliary gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen gas and steam through the active material.
9. The ROB stack of claim 1 , having a total cell thickness of from about 0.3 cm to about 2.5 cm.
10. The ROB stack of claim 1 , wherein the bipolar housing is not milled or cast.