The present invention relates to an aqueous electrochemical energy storage apparatus which comprises an electrochemical energy storage device comprising an electrochemical energy storage device with an inlet and outlet and respectively connected to an external fluid circulation apparatus that facilitates the fluid circulation entering and exiting the said energy storage device, to regulate the physical, chemical, and electrochemical conditions within the said energy storage device. The present invention also relates to a method for optimizing or restoring the electrochemical performance of an energy storage device, enhancing various performance and greatly extending the service life thereof by upgrading the electrolyte inside and outside the energy storage device.

A lithium air battery comprising a plurality of unit cells which have different diameters, each unit cell comprises: electrodes including: a disc-shaped positive electrode having a first air flow path passing through the positive electrode in a vertical direction of the lithium air battery and one or more electrolyte flow paths on the positive electrode in a horizontal or vertical direction of the lithium air battery; and an negative electrode having a second air flow path passing through the negative electrode in the vertical direction to coincide with the first air flow path; and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The unit cells are stacked in the vertical direction within a stack cell tank such that a diffusion layer is disposed between the respective unit cells. A lowermost unit cell has the greatest diameter and diameters of the remaining unit cells, which are sequentially stacked on a lowermost unit cell, gradually decreases vertically in an upward direction so that the unit cells have a stepped structure.

An electrochemical-type power supply source is provided with: an electrochemical stack generating electric power, in the presence, internally, of electrolytic fluid, provided with a number of distinct groups of galvanic cells and of a corresponding number of electrolyte inlet pipes for introducing electrolyte into respective groups of galvanic cells and with electrolyte outlet pipes for extracting electrolyte from respective groups of galvanic cells; a main tank, fluidically coupled to the electrochemical stack and containing electrolytic fluid; and a recirculation system, defining a circulation path of the electrolytic fluid between the main tank and the electrochemical stack. A valve system that can be coupled to the electrolyte inlet and/or outlet pipes and operatively controllable to modify hydraulic and electric characteristics of the circulation path, in response to a power delivery condition by the power supply source.

A redox flow battery is provided, including an ion-exchange membrane, a current collector plate, and an electrode that is disposed between the ion-exchange membrane and the current collector plate. The electrode includes a main electrode layer in which an electrolytic solution flows from a surface on the current collector plate side to a surface on the ion-exchange membrane side, and the main electrode layer includes a plurality of main electrode pieces which are arranged in parallel in a plane direction.

A method of generating an electrical current and a multi-cell electrochemical device. The method includes extracting oxygen from an aqueous ambient environment surrounding an electrochemical system; transporting the extracted oxygen through a selectively oxygen-permeable membrane to an enclosed electrolyte configured to surround an anode and a cathode in the electrochemical system, wherein the electrolyte is separated from the aqueous ambient environment; transporting the oxygenated electrolyte to the cathode; reducing the oxygen at the cathode; and oxidizing a metal at the anode. The device includes a metal anode; a cathode; an enclosed electrolyte configured to surround the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrolyte is separated from an aqueous ambient environment surrounding the electrochemical device; and a selectively oxygen-permeable membrane configured to extract oxygen from the aqueous ambient environment.

A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells stacked via separators, each one of which cells has a solid electrolyte plate interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. The separator is constituted of an uneven member that includes a first abutting portion, a second abutting portion, and a connecting portion, the first abutting portion abuts on one fuel cell of the two adjacent fuel cells, the second abutting portion abuts on the other fuel cell, and the connecting portion connects the first abutting portion to the second abutting portion. At least one abutting portion of the first abutting portion or the second abutting portion has a section modulus greater than a section modulus of the connecting portion.

A battery comprising a fluid electrolyte, a casing configured to contain the electrolyte, an anode placed in contact with the electrolyte in the casing, and a cathode placed in contact with the electrolyte in the casing. The battery comprises a temperature control device configured to modify the temperature of the electrolyte, a circulating device configured to circulate the electrolyte in the casing and between the casing and the temperature control device. Also, a method for regulating the temperature of a battery in which a fluid electrolyte is circulated in a battery casing comprising an anode and a cathode, and through a temperature control device configured to modify the temperature of the electrolyte.

A fuel cell stack seal structure of a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell single cells that are stacked, each of the fuel cell single cells including a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separators holding the membrane electrode assembly between the pair of separators, includes inner peripheral sealing members and an outer peripheral sealing member at peripheral edges of a pair of separators, in which the inner peripheral sealing members close a gap between inner peripheral ribs that protrude at least towards a mutually facing sides of the pair of separators, and the outer peripheral sealing member that closes a gap between outer peripheral ribs that protrude at least towards the mutually facing sides of the pair of separators. The inner peripheral sealing members and the outer peripheral sealing member form a first closed space between the inner peripheral sealing members and the outer peripheral sealing member. The outer peripheral sealing member has a notch that communicates the first closed space with the outside.

A method of generating an electrical current and a multi-cell electrochemical device. The method includes extracting oxygen from an aqueous ambient environment surrounding an electrochemical system; transporting the extracted oxygen through a selectively oxygen-permeable membrane to an enclosed electrolyte configured to surround an anode and a cathode in the electrochemical system, wherein the electrolyte is separated from the aqueous ambient environment; transporting the oxygenated electrolyte to the cathode; reducing the oxygen at the cathode; and oxidizing a metal at the anode. The device includes a metal anode; a cathode; an enclosed electrolyte configured to surround the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrolyte is separated from an aqueous ambient environment surrounding the electrochemical device; and a selectively oxygen-permeable membrane configured to extract oxygen from the aqueous ambient environment.

In a power generation cell, first bypass stop protrusions for preventing bypassing of an oxygen-containing gas are provided between an end of an oxygen-containing gas flow field in a flow field width direction and an outer peripheral bead. An end wavy ridge includes curves recessed away from the outer peripheral bead. The first bypass stop protrusions are provided between the recessed curves and the outer peripheral bead. A first metal separator has first support protrusions for supporting a cathode, between the recessed curves and the first bypass stop protrusions.