A single-electrode battery subassembly includes a separator comprising an electrolyte. The separator has a first surface and an opposing second surface. A single electrode is disposed over the first surface of the separator. A removable, electrically inert substrate disposed on the second surface of the separator.

Example biosensor devices having wake-up batteries and associated methods are disclosed. One example device includes a biosensor that has a first electrode for insertion into a subcutaneous layer beneath a patient's skin, and a second electrode coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a first battery to apply a voltage across the first and second electrodes, the first battery at least partially electrically decoupled from the electrodes. The device also includes a second battery having an anode material coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a portion of the second electrode. The second battery is activatable upon immersion in an electrolytic fluid. The device also includes a wake-up circuit to receive a signal from the second battery and, in response, to electrically couple the first battery to the first and second electrodes to activate the biosensor.

A process for converting post-explosion gases of an inhabitable level, low-oxygen ambient environment to a breathable mixture for human consumption comprises receiving a flow of post-explosion gas with oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and methane. The oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide are removed from the from the flow of post-explosion gas to create both a mixture including oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide; and a residual stream including nitrogen and methane. The oxygen is removed from the mixture of oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and concentrated in a primary oxygen storage canister. The nitrogen is removed from the residual stream and stored in a nitrogen storage canister separate from the oxygen storage canister. The methane is vented back to the inhabitable level, low-oxygen ambient environment. The stored oxygen and nitrogen are metered through a breathing mask at a habitable level of 19-21% oxygen to a user.

Example biosensor devices having wake-up batteries and associated methods are disclosed. One example device includes a biosensor that has a first electrode for insertion into a subcutaneous layer beneath a patient's skin, and a second electrode coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a first battery to apply a voltage across the first and second electrodes, the first battery at least partially electrically decoupled from the electrodes. The device also includes a second battery having an anode material coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a portion of the second electrode. The second battery is activatable upon immersion in an electrolytic fluid. The device also includes a wake-up circuit to receive a signal from the second battery and, in response, to electrically couple the first battery to the first and second electrodes to activate the biosensor.

A solid-state thermal battery system is disclosed herein. The system includes a stationary thermal storage medium that can be charged by adding heat to the thermal storage medium. Actuated heat engines can be utilized to discharge the solid-state thermal battery, converting the heat stored in the thermal storage medium into electricity. The heat engines are actuated in a manner that reduces thermal gradients in the thermal storage medium to increase the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the thermal storage medium is contained in a main chamber of an insulated container. The heat engines are stored, when idle, in an ancillary chamber adjacent to the main chamber and moved into the main chamber by an actuation system to begin discharging the solid-state thermal battery. The heat engines follow a path during discharge to dynamically move between regions of the thermal storage medium to reduce thermal gradients induced therein.

A solid-state thermal battery system is disclosed herein. The system includes a stationary thermal storage medium that can be charged by adding heat to the thermal storage medium. Actuated heat engines can be utilized to discharge the solid-state thermal battery, converting the heat stored in the thermal storage medium into electricity. The heat engines are actuated in a manner that reduces thermal gradients in the thermal storage medium to increase the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the thermal storage medium is contained in a main chamber of an insulated container. The heat engines are stored, when idle, in an ancillary chamber adjacent to the main chamber and moved into the main chamber by an actuation system to begin discharging the solid-state thermal battery. The heat engines follow a path during discharge to dynamically move between regions of the thermal storage medium to reduce thermal gradients induced therein.

A process for converting post-explosion gases of an inhabitable level, low-oxygen ambient environment to a breathable mixture for human consumption comprises receiving a flow of post-explosion gas with oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and methane. The oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide are removed from the from the flow of post-explosion gas to create both a mixture including oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide; and a residual stream including nitrogen and methane. The oxygen is removed from the mixture of oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and concentrated in a primary oxygen storage canister. The nitrogen is removed from the residual stream and stored in a nitrogen storage canister separate from the oxygen storage canister. The methane is vented back to the inhabitable level, low-oxygen ambient environment. The stored oxygen and nitrogen are metered through a breathing mask at a habitable level of 19-21% oxygen to a user.

A solid-state thermal battery system is disclosed herein. The system includes a stationary thermal storage medium that can be charged by adding heat to the thermal storage medium. Actuated heat engines can be utilized to discharge the solid-state thermal battery, converting the heat stored in the thermal storage medium into electricity. The heat engines are actuated in a manner that reduces thermal gradients in the thermal storage medium to increase the efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, the thermal storage medium is contained in a main chamber of an insulated container. The heat engines are stored, when idle, in an ancillary chamber adjacent to the main chamber and moved into the main chamber by an actuation system to begin discharging the solid-state thermal battery. The heat engines follow a path during discharge to dynamically move between regions of the thermal storage medium to reduce thermal gradients induced therein.

A self-rescuer device comprises an intake pump that creates a gas stream. The gas stream enters a first sieve that separates carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxygen from the gas stream to create a mixture. The remaining gas stream flows to a second sieve that separates nitrogen from the remaining gas stream and vents the residual gas to outside of the self-rescuer device through a residual output. The separated mixture is directed to a gas processor separates the oxygen from the mixture. A nitrogen storage canister coupled to the separated output of the second sieve stores the separated nitrogen, and an oxygen storage canister coupled to the separated output of the first sieve stores and concentrates the separated oxygen until a purity threshold is met. Habitable nitrogen and oxygen are metered from their storage canisters and supplied to a user through a breathing mask within an exterior mask shell.

A single-electrode battery subassembly includes a separator comprising an electrolyte. The separator has a first surface and an opposing second surface. A single electrode is disposed over the first surface of the separator. A removable, electrically inert substrate disposed on the second surface of the separator.