Devices, systems, and methods for molten fluid electrode apparatus management

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a reaction chamber and positive electrode reservoir configured to contain a positive electrode material. An electrode material distribution system is configured to manage the transfer of fluid electrode material between the positive electrode reservoir and the reaction chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molten electrode battery comprising:
 a reaction chamber comprising a solid electrolyte positioned in the reaction chamber to form a positive electrode region on a first side of the solid electrolyte and to form a negative electrode region on a second side of the solid electrolyte, the negative electrode region containing negative electrode material;   a positive electrode reservoir:   positive electrode material within the positive electrode reservoir and the positive electrode region; and   an electrode material distribution system configured to regulate a flow of fluid positive electrode material from the positive electrode reservoir to the positive electrode region such that a volume of the flow is in accordance with an electrical current flow through the molten electrode battery.   
     
     
         2 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode material distribution system configured to increase the volume of flow in response to an increase of the electrical current flow through the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         3 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of flow is in accordance with a concentration of negative electrode material within the positive electrode region. 
     
     
         4 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 3 , wherein the electrode material distribution system is configured to increase the volume of flow in response to an increase of the concentration of negative electrode material within the positive electrode region when the molten electrode battery is in a discharge state and is providing power to a load connected to the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         5 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 3 , wherein the electrode material distribution system is configured to increase the volume of flow in response to a decrease of the concentration of negative electrode material within the positive electrode region when the molten electrode battery is in a charge state and is receiving power from a power source connected to the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         6 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of flow is in accordance with a concentration of reaction products within the positive electrode region, reaction products formed by the negative electrode material and positive electrode material. 
     
     
         7 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 6 , wherein the electrode material distribution system is configured to increase the volume of flow in response to an increase of the concentration of reaction products within the positive electrode region when the molten electrode battery is in a discharge state and is providing power to a load connected to the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         8 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 6 , wherein the electrode material distribution system is configured to increase the volume of flow in response to a decrease of the concentration of reaction products within the positive electrode region when the molten electrode battery is in a charge state and is receiving power from a power source connected to the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         9 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the current through the molten electrode battery is a discharge current when the molten electrode battery is in a discharge state and is providing power to a load connected to the molten electrode battery; and   the current through the molten electrode battery is a charge current when the molten electrode battery is in a charge state and is receiving power from a source connected to the molten electrode battery.   
     
     
         10 . A molten electrode battery comprising:
 a reaction chamber comprising a solid electrolyte comprising lithium and positioned in the reaction chamber to form a positive electrode region on a first side of the solid electrolyte and to form a negative electrode region on a second side of the solid electrolyte, the negative electrode region containing negative electrode material comprising lithium;   a positive electrode reservoir;   positive electrode material comprising sulfur, the positive electrode material within the positive electrode reservoir and the positive electrode region; and   an electrode material distribution system configured to regulate a flow of fluid positive electrode material from the positive electrode reservoir to the positive electrode region such that a volume of the flow is in accordance with an electrical current flow through the molten electrode battery.   
     
     
         11 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 10 , wherein the electrode material distribution system configured to increase the volume of flow in response to an increase of the electrical current flow through the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         12 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 10 , wherein the volume of flow is in accordance with a concentration of negative electrode material within the positive electrode region. 
     
     
         13 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 12 , wherein the electrode material distribution system is configured to increase the volume of flow in response to an increase of the concentration of negative electrode material within the positive electrode region when the molten electrode battery is in a discharge state and is providing power to a load connected to the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         14 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 12 , wherein the electrode material distribution system is configured to increase the volume of flow in response to a decrease of the concentration of negative electrode material within the positive electrode region when the molten electrode battery is in a charge state and is receiving power from a power source connected to the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         15 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 10 , wherein the volume of flow is in accordance with a concentration of reaction products within the positive electrode region, the reaction products comprising solid lithium sulfide products (Li 2 S). 
     
     
         16 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 15 , wherein the electrode material distribution system is configured to increase the volume of flow in response to an increase of the concentration of reaction products within the positive electrode region when the molten electrode battery is in a discharge state and is providing power to a load connected to the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         17 . The molten electrode battery of  claim 16 , wherein the electrode material distribution system is configured to increase the volume of flow in response to a decrease of the concentration of reaction products within the positive electrode region when the molten electrode battery is in a charge state and is receiving power from a power source connected to the molten electrode battery. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 containing a positive electrode material within a positive electrode reservoir;   maintaining a negative fluid electrode within a negative electrode region in a fluid state at least during a discharge state, the negative electrode region formed in a reaction chamber on a first side of a solid electrolyte;   maintaining a positive fluid electrode within a positive electrode region in the fluid state at least during the discharge state, the positive electrode region formed in the reaction chamber on a second side of the solid electrolyte, the solid electrolyte extending from the negative fluid electrode to the positive fluid electrode; and   transferring, during the discharge state, fluid positive electrode material from the positive electrode reservoir to the positive electrode region at a volume of flow in accordance with an electrical current flow between the positive fluid electrode and the negative fluid electrode.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transferring comprises increasing the volume of flow in response to an increase of the electrical current flow. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transferring comprises transferring fluid positive electrode material from the positive electrode reservoir to the positive electrode region at the volume of flow in accordance with a concentration of negative electrode material within the positive electrode region.