The bipolar electrochemical battery of the invention comprises: a stack of at least two electrochemical cells electrically arranged in series with the positive face of each cell contacting the negative face of an adjacent cell, wherein each of the cells comprises (a) a negative electrode; (b) a positive electrode; (c) a separator between the electrodes, wherein the separator includes an electrolyte; (d) a first electrically conductive lamination comprising a first inner metal layer and a first polymeric outer layer, said first polymeric outer layer having at least one perforation therein to expose the first inner metal layer, said first electrically conductive lamination being in electrical contact with the outer face of the negative electrode; and (e) a second electrically conductive lamination comprising a second inner metal layer and a second polymeric outer layer, said second polymeric outer layer having at least one perforation therein to expose the second inner metal layer, said second electrically conductive lamination being in electrical contact with the outer face of the positive electrode; wherein the first and second laminations are sealed peripherally to each other to form an enclosure including the electrodes, the separator and the electrolyte.

Bipolar electrochemical battery of stacked wafer cells

A rechargeable device (20) that stores and discharges hydrogen is described. The device stores hydrogen in a solid form and supplies hydrogen as a gas when needed. The solid storage medium (36) may be metal hydride in a ground particle form that avoids the need for compaction or other treatment. Dividers (28) partition a container into separate chambers, each provided with a matrix (26), formed from an appropriate material like a thermally-conductive aluminum foam, which forms a number of cells (27). For proper chamber size, the ratio of chamber length to container diameter should be between about 0.5 and 2. Metal hydride particles (or other hydrogen storage medium) may be placed within the cells, which help prevent excessive particle settling. The container is provided with a hydrogen transfer port (32) through which hydrogen gas passes upon either discharging from or charging of the metal hydride particles. A filter may be placed within the port to allow hydrogen to flow but prevent particles from escaping. A heat transferring surface (23) is formed by, for instance, a channel that is thermally coupled with the aluminum foam. Fluid flows through the channel (40) to deliver or remove heat during the respective hydrogen discharging or charging processes.

Apparatus and methods for storing and releasing hydrogen

A metal hydride reactor including at least one sealed chamber, the chamber being divided into two compartments by a partitioning wall made of a material permeable to hydrogen gas but impermeable to metal hydrides, the compartments containing different metal hydrides. In one embodiment, the metal hydride reactor including a sealed vessel rotatable about a central shaft, the vessel being divided into a plurality of sealed chambers by at least one sealing wall along a plane containing the central shaft and extending diametrically thereof, each of the sealed chambers being divided into two compartments by a partitioning wall made of a material permeable to hydrogen gas but impermeable to metal hydrides, the compartments containing different metal hydrides, and each of the compartments having a heat conducting surface facing exteriorly thereof.

Metal hydride reactor

U.S. patents filed on the topic of nickel/metal hydride (Ni/MH) batteries have been reviewed, starting from active materials, to electrode fabrication, cell assembly, multi-cell construction, system integration, application, and finally recovering and recycling. In each category, a general description about the principle and direction of development is given. Both the metal hydride (MH) alloy and nickel hydroxide as active materials in negative and positive electrodes, respectively, are reviewed extensively. Both thermal and battery management systems (BMSs) are also discussed.

https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/2/2/10/pdf

Reviews on the U.S. Patents Regarding Nickel/Metal Hydride Batteries

The present invention relates to a container such as a container having non-cylindrical geometry, for uptaking, or storing, or releasing, or uptaking and storing, or uptaking and releasing, or storing and releasing, or uptaking, storing and releasing at least one gas, comprising at least one opening for allowing the at least one gas to enter and exit or at least one opening for allowing the at least one gas to enter and at least one opening for allowing the at least one gas to exit said container, and a gas-tight mechanism capable of storing the at least one gas under a pressure of from 1 to 750 bar, especially preferably from 50 to 80 bar, inside the container, said container further comprising a metallo-organic framework material comprising pores and at least one metal ion and at least one at least bidentate organic compound which is bound to said metal ion, as well as to a storage system and a fuel cell comprising said container, and to a method of using said container or said fuel cell for supplying power to power plants, cars, trucks, busses, cell phones, and laptops.

Gas storage system

This invention discloses a heat exchanger comprising a compact of hydrogen adsorption alloy formed by a process of coating surfaces of fine particles of hydrogen adsorption alloy composed principally of a metal hydride with a dissimilar metal by plating and either by a process of compression molding of the coated alloy or by a process of filling a heat-conductive porous material with the coated fine particles of hydrogen alloy followed by a process of compression molding thereof. By this arrangement, it becomes possible to improve such disadvantages of conventional heat exchanger using hydrogen adsorption alloy as a decline of heat conductivity caused by micronization of the hydrogen adsorption alloy as a result of repeated uses or a decline of filling rate of the alloy caused by collapse and dispersion of the fine particles of the alloy compact eventually bringing about a decline of the heat exchanging function.

Heat exchanger using a hydrogen occlusion alloy

This invention relates to a novel heat exchanging unit with a hydrogen adsorption alloy of which thermal conductivity is kept high over a long period of use. Particularly in order to solve problems occurring at the time of forming a heat exchanging unit, by forming a compact of a hydrogen adsorption alloy and inserting a heat transfer element in the compact, such as insufficient heat transfer due to a small spacing produced between the compact and the heat transfer element, surface irregularities, decline in function due to micronization and scattering of the compact, difficulty in build-up, etc., there is disclosed a heat exchanging unit comprising a heat transfer element and a hydrogen adsorption alloy fitted to an outer periphery of the heat transfer element and solidly molded.

Heat exchanging unit with a hydrogen adsorption alloy

An alloy comprising Mischmetal, cobalt and nickel is effectively usable for occlusion of hydrogen.

Alloy for occlusion of hydrogen

A device for the storage of hydrogen, comprising a container, two porous plates opposed parallelly to each other across a fixed distance and fastened to the inner wall of the container, heating/cooling members disposed one each outside the porous plates and separated by a fixed distance from the corresponding porous plates, and an alloy capable of storing hydrogen placed in the spaces formed between the porous plates and the heating/cooling members

Device for storage of hydrogen

PURPOSE: To obtain an alloy capable of occluding much H in the form of hydride and of easily releasing H by heating, under reduced pressure or by other means by substituting specified metals for a prescribed amount of Ni of a misch metal-Ni alloy. CONSTITUTION: This MmNi alloy is represented by the formula (where Mm is misch metal, A is Al, Cu or Mn, B is Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn or Si, x is 0.1W2, y is 0.01W1.99, A≠B, and x>y). In case of x 2, the release of occluded H becomes difficult. In case of 0.01>y>1.99, the alloy shows characteristics close to those of an MmNi alloy contg. A or B alone, and high pressure is required for hydrogenation. This alloy has said advantages, and the occlusion and release of H are performed perfectly reversibly. COPYRIGHT: (C)1982,JPO&Japio

Hiroshi Suzuki

Papers

Heat exchanger using a hydrogen occlusion alloy

Heat exchanging unit with a hydrogen adsorption alloy

Alloy for occlusion of hydrogen

Device for storage of hydrogen

Misch metal-nickel alloy for occluding hydrogen