Zinc-air battery

1. An apparatus for charging a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery, said apparatus comprising:

a. a reservoir, said reservoir comprising:

i. an alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide; and

ii. solid phase zinc oxide;

b. an export feed operationally connected to said reservoir;

c. a fluid drainer; and

wherein:

said apparatus is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired;

said reservoir of said apparatus is located externally to a device containing a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired and said export feed allows for the delivery of said alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired;

said fluid drainer is operationally connectible to said device containing said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery and facilitates draining of at least a portion of an electrolyte fluid located in a discharged or not fully charged zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery in said device; and

said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to said reservoir.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pumping element, which pumping element facilitates delivery of said alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired, or which pump facilitates draining of at least a portion of an electrolyte fluid located in a discharged or not fully charged zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery in said device, or a combination thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a power supply for applying voltage which power supply is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a first controller for the application of said voltage such that said voltage may be applied concurrent with or following said delivery of said zinc-containing electrolyte fluid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for modulating fluid pressure, fluid flow, fluid capacity, electrolyte temperature, voltage, current, the zinc concentration in the electrolyte solution applied, or a combination thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising and operationally connected to a zinc-air cell comprising:

a. at least one zinc incorporating structure as the anode of said cell;

b. at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell;

c. a casing in which said anode and cathode are positioned further comprising an electrolyte fluid; and

d. an inlet, and outlet in said casing, wherein said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit exchange of said electrolyte fluid in said cell with an electrolyte fluid located in an off-board reservoir;

wherein said anode and cathode are electrically connectible across a load.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising at least a first separator positioned within said cell between said anode and said cathode, wherein said zinc incorporating structure is a porous structure, or wherein said zinc incorporating structure is a conductive substrate comprising a zinc coating or zinc plating, or wherein said electrolyte fluid is potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, or wherein said cell further comprises at least one auxiliary electrode, or wherein said apparatus is operationally connected to a battery comprising two or more of said zinc-air cells, or wherein said two or more zinc-air cells are hydraulically connected.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising and operationally connected to a zinc-air cell comprising:

a. at least one zinc-containing anode;

b. at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell;

c. a casing in which said anode and cathode are positioned, further comprising an alkaline electrolyte fluid;

d. an inlet; and

e. an outlet;

wherein said inlet and said outlet are located within and traverse said casing, wherein said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit exchange of said electrolyte fluid in said cell with alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide located in an off-board reservoir and wherein said anode and cathode are electrically connectible across a load.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising an electrically floating metal substrate coated with an electrocatalyst, which facilitates hydrogen evolution in the presence of zinc, thereby preventing buildup of particulate zinc within said casing, or wherein said alkaline electrolyte fluid is potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, or wherein said cell further comprises at least one auxiliary cathode placed between a zinc electrode and an air electrode, or wherein said apparatus is operationally connected to a battery comprising two or more of said zinc-air cells, or wherein said two or more zinc-air cells are hydraulically connected.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising at least a first separator positioned within said cell between said anode and said cathode.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a flow regulator, which flow regulator controls the flow speed or pressure of electrolyte fluid conveyed from said reservoir or fluid conveyed to said reservoir, further comprising a filter, which filter is operationally connected to said fluid drainer and thereby filters electrolyte fluid conveyed from said air cell, said export feed and thereby filters electrolyte fluid conveyed to said air cell, or a combination thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second discharge reservoir such that said drained electrolyte fluid from said discharged or not fully charged zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery is conveyed to said second discharge reservoir.

13. A method for recharging a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery, said method comprising:

A. contacting a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery with an apparatus for charging a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery, said apparatus comprising:

a. a reservoir, said reservoir comprising:

i. an alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide; and

ii. solid phase zinc oxide;

b. an export feed operationally connected to said reservoir;

c. a fluid drainer; and

wherein:

said apparatus is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired;

said reservoir of said apparatus is located externally to a device containing a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired and said export feed allows for the delivery of said alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired;

said fluid drainer is operationally connectible to said device containing said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery and facilitates draining of at least a portion of an electrolyte fluid located in a discharged or not fully charged zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery in said device; and

said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to said reservoir or optionally said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to said second discharge reservoir

such that:

i. said export feed of said apparatus is operationally connected to said zinc-air cell and electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide can thereby be conveyed from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell; and

ii. said fluid drainer is operationally connected to said zinc-air cell and electrolyte fluid from said zinc-air cell can be conveyed out of said zinc-air cell thereby;

B. promoting conveyance of electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell via said export feed; and

C. promoting conveyance of electrolyte fluid from said zinc-air cell to said apparatus via said fluid drainer.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said air cell comprises a zinc anode, said electrolyte fluid conveyed from said zinc air cell contains zinc oxide and said method strips accumulated zinc oxide from said anode.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said zinc-air cell comprises a zinc plated metal anode, said electrolyte comprises zinc oxide and said method promotes re-plating of said anode with zinc.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a scrubber operationally connected to said reservoir.