Bob Galyen

A cell management system and method for balancing energy across a plurality of cells coupled to a circuit bus. The system can include a transformer, two transformer switches, and for each cell, a first switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the transformer and the cell, and a second switch pair allowing removal or inclusion of the cell in the serial connection of cells. The system can include an energy storage device, a switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the transformer… Show more

A cell management system and method for balancing energy across a plurality of cells coupled to a circuit bus. The system can include a transformer, two transformer switches, and for each cell, a first switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the transformer and the cell, and a second switch pair allowing removal or inclusion of the cell in the serial connection of cells. The system can include an energy storage device, a switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the transformer and the storage device, and for each cell, a third switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the storage device and the cell. The system can include cell, bus and storage device sensors and state estimators. The system can include a controller that controls the transformer switches, cell switches, and storage device switches based on the sensor readings and states. Show less

Filling a mat-immobilized-electrolyte battery with electrolyte by injecting the electrolyte into the battery container beneath a galvanic cell element pre-placed therein such that the electrolyte rises upwardly through the element.

The present invention comprehends a method of filling a mat-immobilized-electrolyte type, Pb-acid storage battery with electrolyte wherein a predetermined quantity of sulfuric acid sufficient to wet substantially the entire internal surface area of the mats and electrodes is metered into an empty cell container. Thereafter, an unformed cell element is inserted into the pre-filled container and therein progressively immersed into the acid at a sufficiently slow rate as to achieve substantial… Show more

The present invention comprehends a method of filling a mat-immobilized-electrolyte type, Pb-acid storage battery with electrolyte wherein a predetermined quantity of sulfuric acid sufficient to wet substantially the entire internal surface area of the mats and electrodes is metered into an empty cell container. Thereafter, an unformed cell element is inserted into the pre-filled container and therein progressively immersed into the acid at a sufficiently slow rate as to achieve substantial completion of the initial pickling reaction in the region of the electrode adjacent the front of electrolyte as it advances toward the top of the element. The immersion rate will preferably not be substantially greater than the rate at which the electrolyte wicks up into the mat so that the initial pickling reaction occurs essentially on either side of the wetted portion of the mat. Under these conditions, any gases generated during the initial pickling reaction, as well as any air in the mat, can freely vent from the element via the pores in the unimmersed portions of the mat. Such venting of the gases through the unimmersed portion of the mat and displacement thereof upwardly out of the element by the moving front of the electrolyte virtually eliminates the formation of pockets of gas or dilute electrolyte within the element. Show less