Cylindrical metal-air battery with a cylindrical peripheral air cathode

Abstract

A cylindrical metal-air cell has a cylindrical housing, an axially extending cylindrical air cathode adjacent an interior surface of the housing, and a plurality of elongate plenums defined between the oxygen electrode and the interior surface of the housing. Isolating passageway are positioned between the ambient environment and each of the plenums, and an air moving device is operable to force air through the isolating passageways and into at least one of the plenums. The air moving device may be a micromachined blower controlled by a circuit integrated into the housing of the blower.

1 . A metal-air power supply, comprising: 
 a generally cylindrical housing having opposite ends and defining a length and an axial direction between the opposite ends;    an axially extending oxygen electrode adjacent an interior surface of the housing;    a plurality of elongate plenums defined between the oxygen electrode and the interior surface of the housing;    a plurality of isolating passageways that at least partially define a communication path between the ambient environment and each of the plenums; and    an air moving device operable when on for forcing air through the isolating passageways and into the plenums, the isolating passageways being operable while unsealed and the air moving device is not forcing air through the isolating passageways to restrict airflow through the isolating passageways.    
     
     
         2 . The metal-air power supply of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 an anode surrounded by the oxygen electrode; and    a cap at covering a first end of the oxygen electrode to contain the anode within the oxygen electrode; and    wherein the isolating passageways are defined between the cap and the interior surface of the housing.    
     
     
         3 . The metal-air power supply of    claim 2   , wherein the cap is positioned between the air moving device and the oxygen electrode.  
     
     
         4 . The metal-air power supply of    claim 3   , wherein the air moving device is within the housing.  
     
     
         5 . The metal-air power supply of    claim 1   , wherein: 
 the plurality of isolating passageways is a plurality of first isolating passageways;    the metal-air power supply further comprises a plurality of second isolating passageways proximate to a second end of the oxygen electrode and each of which at least partially defines a communication path between the ambient environment and at least one of the plenums.    
     
     
         6 . The metal-air power supply of    claim 5   , wherein said first and second isolating passageways collectively provide an isolation ratio of at least 100 to 1.  
     
     
         7 . The metal-air power supply of    claim 1   , wherein said passageways are formed by elongate recesses in said oxygen electrode.  
     
     
         8 . The metal-air power supply of    claim 1   , wherein said passageways are formed by elongate indentations in said housing.  
     
     
         9 . In a metal-air cell including an air electrode positioned within a housing, an air manager comprising: 
 an air pathway defined within said housing and extending adjacent to said air electrode;    an inlet and an outlet at each end of said pathway communicating with an environment outside said housing; and    a micromachine blower mounted to force air through said air pathway;    said cell generating a power output of 0.5 watt or more when said micromachine blower is operating, and said blower drawing no more than 10% of the cell's available power while moving air at a rate of 30 cc per minute or higher.    
     
     
         10 . The metal-air cell of    claim 9   , wherein said cell is generally cylindrical and said air pathway includes a plurality of elongate cathode plenums extending axially between said housing and a generally cylindrical cathode inserted within said housing.  
     
     
         11 . The metal-air cell of    claim 10   , wherein cylindrical cell is “AA” size.  
     
     
         12 . The metal-air cell of    claim 9   , wherein said cell generates a power output of 1.25 watts or more when said micromachine blower is operating, and said blower draws no more than 10% of the cell's available power while moving air at a rate of about 75 cc per minute or higher.  
     
     
         13 . The metal-air cell of    claim 12   , wherein said cell is “D” size and shape.  
     
     
         14 . The metal-air cell of    claim 9   , further comprising a control circuit integrated into a micromachined enclosure of said micromachine blower, said control circuit controlling the operation of said blower.