Electrolyte system and method of preparation thereof

Abstract

This invention provides a system and a method for safe production of electrolyte at required concentration on site on demand where occasionally only water is needed to be filled up. The system includes two main units: a saturated electrolyte unit and a diluted electrolyte unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for producing an electrolyte for a metal air battery, said system comprising:
 a saturated electrolyte unit comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet; and   a diluted electrolyte unit comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet;
 wherein a first outlet of said saturated electrolyte unit is connected to a first inlet of said diluted electrolyte unit such that saturated electrolyte can be transferred from said saturated electrolyte unit to said diluted electrolyte unit; and wherein said first outlet of said diluted electrolyte unit is connected to said metal air battery. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first inlet of said saturated electrolyte unit, a second inlet of said diluted electrolyte unit or combination thereof are connected to a liquid source from which liquid can be transferred to said saturated electrolyte unit, to said diluted electrolyte unit or to a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said metal air battery is used for operating an electric vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said liquid source is located either on the vehicle's board or external to the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said metal air battery is an Aluminum (Al) air battery. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said liquid is water. 
     
     
         8 . An electric vehicle comprising the system of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle drives on metal air energy and wherein water is transferred to said saturated electrolyte unit, to said diluted electrolyte unit or to a combination thereof for electrolyte generation to allow additional driving range. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An electric vehicle comprising the system of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle drives on metal air energy and wherein solid is added to said saturated electrolyte unit for electrolyte generation, to allow additional driving range. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said liquid further comprises stabilizing agents, wherein said stabilizing agent comprise stannates, nano-sized ceramic materials or combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said saturated electrolyte unit comprises solid KOH and a KOH saturated solution or solid NaOH and a NaOH saturated solution; wherein the weight ratio of (solid KOH:KOH saturated solution) or of (solid NaOH:NaOH saturated solution) is between (1:20) to (100:1). 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein by mixing saturated electrolyte supplied by said saturated electrolyte unit with a liquid supplied by said liquid source, within said diluted electrolyte unit, said diluted electrolyte unit comprises an electrolyte composition suitable for said metal air battery operation. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for producing electrolyte for a metal air battery, said method comprising:
 preparing a saturated electrolyte solution from a solid ionic compound and from a liquid in a saturated electrolyte unit such that said unit comprises both said solution and said solid;   transferring a portion of said saturated electrolyte solution from said saturated electrolyte unit to a diluted electrolyte unit; and   adding water to said diluted electrolyte unit, wherein said water mix with said saturated solution within said diluted electrolyte unit to form a diluted electrolyte composition at a concentration suitable for a metal air battery.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said adding water step is conducted prior to, during or after said transferring step. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said diluted electrolyte composition is transferred from said diluted electrolyte unit to said metal air battery. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said metal air battery is an Aluminum (Al) air battery. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said water further comprising stabilizing agents, wherein said stabilizing agent comprise stannates, nano-sized ceramic materials or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said saturated electrolyte unit comprises solid KOH and KOH saturated solution; or solid NaOH and NaOH saturated solution;
 wherein upon depletion or consumption of said solid KOH or solid NaOH, more solid KOH or more solid NaOH is added to said saturated electrolyte unit.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein after the solution preparation step the (solid:saturated solution) weight ratio of (solid KOH:KOH saturated solution) or of (solid NaOH:NaOH saturated solution) is between (1:20) to (100:1) in said saturated electrolyte unit. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said electrolyte composition further comprises materials for enhancement of metal air battery performance. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a step of solid addition to said saturated electrolyte unit when solid is depleted or consumed. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a step of liquid transfer from a liquid source to said saturated electrolyte unit, to said diluted electrolyte unit or to a combination thereof upon demand. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said liquid transfer from a liquid source to said saturated electrolyte unit is conducted upon depletion or consumption of said saturated solution and wherein said liquid transfer from a liquid source to said diluted electrolyte unit is conducted upon depletion or consumption of said diluted solution. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said liquid source is placed on a vehicle operated by said metal-air battery or placed external to said vehicle operated by said vehicle, or in a road-side station. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled)