JP2016196358A - Electrode cartridge delivery system and electrode cartridge delivery method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrode cartridge delivery system and electrode cartridge delivery method capable of preventing both a deterioration in charged electrode cartridge and a decrease in operation rate of a metal air battery by improving the delivery efficiency of the electrode cartridge.SOLUTION: The electrode cartridge delivery system includes a plurality of electrode cartridges which can be reused by charging, a plurality of discharge sites with a battery housing for a metal air battery arranged, a plurality of charge sites with a charger arranged, conveyance means for conveying the plurality of electrode cartridges from the plurality of charge sites to the plurality of discharge sites, and an information processor for determining the plurality of electrode cartridges delivered by the conveyance means. The information processor performs delivery processing for determining a discharge site of a delivery destination sequentially from an electrode cartridge having a long lapsed time after charging among the plurality of electrode cartridges with reference to elapsed times after charging of electrode cartridges which are not used after charge completion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to an electrode cartridge delivery system and an electrode cartridge delivery method. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrode cartridge delivery system and an electrode cartridge delivery method that can be attached to and detached from a battery casing of a metal-air battery and that becomes a negative electrode of the battery when attached.

A metal-air battery is an example of a battery in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are provided in the electrolytic solution. A metal-air battery is a battery in which an anode is constituted by a metal electrode and a cathode is constituted by an air electrode. Since the metal-air battery has a high energy density, development and research for practical use are being promoted.

An example of the metal-air battery is a zinc-air battery. FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of a conventional zinc-air battery, and FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a battery reaction in the zinc-air battery. The zinc-air battery 121 has a structure in which a zinc electrode 111 is provided as a negative electrode in an alkaline electrolyte 115, and an air electrode 112 is provided as a positive electrode between the air flow path 113 and the electrolyte 115. As the (discharge reaction) proceeds, electric power is output from the zinc electrode 111 and the air electrode 112.

In the battery reaction of the zinc-air battery 121, metallic zinc constituting the zinc electrode 111 reacts with hydroxide ions in the electrolytic solution 115 to form tetrahydroxozinate ions, and electrons are released into the zinc electrode 111. In addition, the tetrahydroxozincate ion is decomposed and zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide is precipitated in the electrolytic solution 115. Further, hydroxide ions are generated by the reaction of electrons, water, and oxygen in the air electrode 112, and these hydroxide ions move to the electrolytic solution 115. When such a battery reaction proceeds, the zinc metal of the zinc electrode 111 is consumed, and zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide accumulate in the electrolytic solution 115. Therefore, in order to maintain the power output from the zinc-air battery 121, it is necessary to supply metallic zinc to the zinc electrode 111.

As exemplified by the zinc-air battery, in the metal-air battery, the metal electrode is oxidized and consumed along with the discharge. On the other hand, it has been proposed to use a negative electrode structure including a metal electrode as a cartridge (fuel cartridge) that can be detached from the battery body (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In such a metal-air battery, discharge is performed by attaching the fuel cartridge to a battery body (discharge device) provided with an air electrode. After discharge, the fuel cartridge is replaced by a new fuel cartridge. Discharge is possible (mechanical charging method). The spent fuel cartridge is attached to the charging device and regenerated by reducing the oxide of the negative electrode metal.

In the mechanical charging method, when the user has only the discharging device, the discharging device and the charging device are provided in a separated place, and the used or recycled fuel cartridge is transported between the discharging device and the charging device. Will be. For this reason, it is required to efficiently deliver the fuel cartridge to the user.

As for the delivery of consumables such as a toner supply body, a delivery system that collects consumables replenishment requests and determines a delivery route, and a management system that accurately supplies and collects consumables are known (for example, (See Patent Documents 2 and 3).

JP 2005-509262 A JP 2003-206032 A JP 2004-325915 A

When multiple discharge sites (battery housings for metal-air batteries) and multiple charging sites are placed apart, the individual discharge sites and individual charging sites can be There has been no method for efficiently delivering a fuel cartridge (electrode cartridge) in terms of time and energy. In particular, the electrode cartridge as a delivery item is characterized in that the state changes to unused (before discharging), used (after discharging), and regenerated (after charging), and the elapsed time after completion of charging becomes longer. There is a restriction that the performance deteriorates due to self-corrosion (oxidation) of the electrode active material. On the other hand, since it takes several hours or more to charge an electrode cartridge having a practical discharge capacity, the operating rate of the metal-air battery is reduced when charging is started upon receipt of an order for the electrode cartridge. Resulting in. For this reason, a delivery system that considers only the transport efficiency, such as selecting the charging site closest to the discharge site of the supplier as the delivery source of the electrode cartridge, is not sufficient, and the operating rate of the metal-air battery is reduced due to waiting for delivery. There is a need for a new delivery system that can prevent delivery and complete delivery before the charged electrode cartridge is degraded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described situation, and can improve the delivery efficiency of the electrode cartridge, and can prevent both the deterioration of the electrode cartridge after charging and the reduction in the operating rate of the metal-air battery. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode cartridge delivery system and an electrode cartridge delivery method.

As a result of studying a method for improving the delivery efficiency of the electrode cartridge, the present inventors have found that the electrode cartridge has specific constraints such as deterioration over time after charging and a long charging time. It was found that it is necessary to build a delivery system that takes into account the information specific to. Then, at least the post-charge elapsed time of the electrode cartridge that is not used after the completion of charging is referred to, and the above-mentioned problems are solved by preferential delivery in order from the electrode cartridge with the long post-charge elapsed time. Thus, the present invention has been achieved.

That is, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of electrode cartridges that can be reused by charging, a plurality of discharge sites in which a battery case for a metal-air battery to which each of the plurality of electrode cartridges is attached, A plurality of charging sites to which each of the electrode cartridges is mounted, a transport means for transporting the plurality of electrode cartridges from the plurality of charge sites to the plurality of discharge sites, and the transport means delivering the above An information processing device that determines a plurality of electrode cartridges, wherein the information processing device refers to an elapsed time after charging of an electrode cartridge that is not used after completion of charging, among the plurality of electrode cartridges, and In order from the electrode cartridge with the longest elapsed time after charging, the power to perform distribution processing to determine the discharge site of the delivery destination It may be a cartridge delivery system.

An electrode cartridge delivery method using the electrode cartridge delivery system is also included in the present invention. That is, according to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of electrode cartridges that can be reused by charging are supplied from a plurality of charging sites where charging devices for attaching each of the plurality of electrode cartridges are arranged. A method of delivering an electrode cartridge that is delivered by means of transportation to a plurality of discharge sites where a battery case for a metal-air battery to which each is attached is arranged, wherein the information processing device completes charging among the plurality of electrode cartridges The step (1) of referring to the elapsed time after charging of the electrode cartridge that has not been used later, and the electrode cartridge referred to in the step (1) in order from the longest elapsed time after charging are the electrodes. Delivery of an electrode cartridge comprising the step (2) of determining a discharge site as a delivery destination of the cartridge It may be a law.

According to the electrode cartridge delivery system of the present invention and the electrode cartridge delivery method of the present invention, the efficiency of electrode cartridge delivery is improved, the deterioration of the electrode cartridge after charging, and the operating rate of the metal-air battery are improved. A decrease can be prevented.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an electrode cartridge delivery system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the graph which showed an example of the data structure of the information table for discharge sites (user site). It is the graph which showed an example of the data structure of the information table for charge sites. It is the graph which showed an example of the data structure of the information table for electrode cartridges. It is the graph which showed an example of the data structure of the information table of the movement time between sites. It is a flowchart of the delivery route determination process which the computer mounted in the delivery vehicle which arrived at the charging site implements. 6 is a chart showing a data structure of an information table of travel time between sites used in the first embodiment. 3 is a chart showing a data structure of an information table for a charging site used in Example 1. FIG. 6 is a chart showing a delivery route determined in Example 1. FIG. It is the cross-sectional schematic diagram which showed an example of the structure of the metal air battery in a discharge site. It is the cross-sectional schematic diagram which showed an example of the structure of the charging tank in a charging site. 10 is a flowchart of a delivery route determination process according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of delivery route and charging site determination processing according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of delivery route and charging site determination processing according to the third embodiment. It is the table | surface which showed the data structure of the information table regarding the travel time to the charging site used in Example 2, and the inventory information of a charging site. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the delivery route determination process which started from the user's order. It is sectional drawing which showed typically the discharge cell of the modification 3 provided with the zinc ion permeation | transmission suppression layer. It is an expanded sectional view explaining the function of the zinc ion permeation | transmission suppression layer shown in FIG. It is the schematic cross section which showed an example of the structure of the conventional zinc air battery. It is typical sectional drawing for demonstrating the battery reaction in a zinc air battery.

Embodiments will be described below, and the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited only to these embodiments. Note that in the following description, the same portions or portions having similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals in different drawings, and description thereof is not repeated.
In addition, the configurations of the respective embodiments may be appropriately combined or changed within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Embodiment 1]
The electrode cartridge delivery system according to Embodiment 1 includes a plurality of electrode cartridges that can be reused by charging, and a plurality of discharge sites in which a battery case for a metal-air battery to which each of the plurality of electrode cartridges is attached is disposed. A plurality of charging sites on which charging devices for attaching each of the plurality of electrode cartridges are disposed; a transportation means for transporting the plurality of electrode cartridges from the plurality of charging sites to the plurality of discharge sites; An information processing device that determines the plurality of electrode cartridges to be delivered, wherein the information processing device refers to an elapsed time after charging of an electrode cartridge that is not used after completion of charging among the plurality of electrode cartridges. The discharge site of the delivery destination is determined in order from the electrode cartridge with the long elapsed time after charging. And performing distribution processing for.

The electrode cartridge delivery system according to Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the delivery system will be described, followed by a more detailed description of each component constituting the delivery system.

<Overall configuration of delivery system>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an electrode cartridge delivery system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery system of the present embodiment includes a plurality of charging sites Cn that perform charging processing by attaching the electrode cartridge 11 </ b> B after discharge to the charging device 31, and the electrode cartridge 11 </ b> A after charging as a battery housing. And a plurality of discharge sites (user sites) Pn for discharging the metal-air battery 21 and transport means 51 for delivering the charged electrode cartridge 11A from the charge site Cn to the discharge site Pn. From the viewpoint of obtaining the effect of improving the delivery efficiency of the electrode cartridge 11A after charging from the charging site Cn to the discharging site Pn by the delivery system of the present embodiment, the number of charging sites Cn and discharging sites Pn is 2 or more, respectively. is there. In the drawings of the present application, when each of the charging sites Cn is shown separately, n is written with a number. Similarly, when each of the discharge sites Pn is shown separately, the number is written in n. Further, the electrode cartridge 11 is appropriately referred to as “electrode cartridge 11A after charging” or “electrode cartridge 11B after discharging”. In FIG. 1, the electrode cartridge 11, the electrode cartridge 11 </ b> A after charging, and the electrode cartridge 11 </ b> B after discharging are schematically shown, and are illustrated as being configured by one electrode. It may be composed of a plurality of electrodes. The number of transport means 51 may be one or two or more, but is preferably two or more.

In addition, the delivery system of the present embodiment is provided with a server (storage means) that accumulates and accumulates information in the delivery system. Information is transmitted to the server from the charging site Cn, the discharging site Pn, and the transport means 51 as needed, and the information in the transport system is updated. The information transmission may be automatically performed by a system that monitors the operation statuses of the charging site Cn, the discharging site Pn, and the transportation means 51, and is manually performed by an operator through the communication terminal 52 such as a smartphone as shown in FIG. May be implemented. Based on the information transmitted from the charging site Cn, for example, the operating rate of the charging site Cn (the number of electrode cartridges 11 being charged / the number of electrode cartridges 11 that can be charged simultaneously), the state of the electrode cartridges 11 in the charging site Cn (Status of the electrode cartridge 11 such as [charging], [stock], [shipment reservation], etc.), the elapsed time after starting the charging of the electrode cartridge 11, and the remaining time until the charging of the electrode cartridge 11 is completed can be managed. . Based on the information transmitted from the discharge site Pn, for example, the processing status of the delivery request of the electrode cartridge 11 from the discharge site Pn ([order planned], [ordered], [during delivery], [delivered], etc.) Status). If the operation information of the discharge site Pn is transmitted to the user's communication terminal, it is possible to prompt the user to order the electrode cartridge 11A after charging. Based on the information transmitted from the transportation means 51, for example, the current position information of the transportation means 51 can be managed. Further, the travel time between the charging site Cn, the discharge site Pn, and the transport means 51 is calculated and managed by combining the current position information of the transport means 51 and the position information of the charging site Cn and the discharge site Pn. be able to. Furthermore, using the information transmitted from each of the charging site Cn, the discharging site Pn, and the transport means 51, for example, the current position information of each electrode cartridge 11, the elapsed time after charging, the current state ([charging] The status of the electrode cartridge 11 (eg, “inventory”, “shipment reservation”, “delivering”, “delivered”, and “discharged”) can be managed.

Furthermore, in the delivery system of the present embodiment, based on the information accumulated in the server, it is determined in which order to deliver the charged electrode cartridge 11A mounted at the charging site Cn to which discharging site Pn, A computer (processing system) for transmitting the determined contents to the transportation means 51 is provided. Note that the computer can be mounted on the transportation means 51 and may be mounted on each transportation means 51 when a plurality of transportation means 51 is used in the delivery system. When a plurality of battery casings exist at the discharge site Pn, the calculator may select individual battery casings instead of the discharge site n as a delivery destination.

The computer transmits a request signal to the server when a specific condition such as the transportation means 51 arrives at any one of the charging sites Cn, and the server receiving the request signal notifies the computer of the status signal. Then, a distribution process for determining a delivery discharge site for each charged electrode cartridge 11A is performed using this state signal. The instruction regarding the delivery of the charged electrode cartridge 11A determined by the distribution process is notified to the transport means 51 from the computer.

The distribution process by the computer includes, for example, the following steps (1) to (3).
(1) Among the plurality of discharge sites Pn requesting the electrode cartridge 11A after charging, a specific discharge site Pi having the shortest required arrival time of the transport means 51 is selected.
(2) The charged electrode cartridge 11A having the longest elapsed time from the completion of charging is selected from among the charged electrode cartridges 11A that have been charged at the charging site Cn.
(3) The specific charged electrode cartridge 11A selected in the process (2) is assigned to the specific discharge site Pi selected in the process (1).

Then, in the distribution process, either the discharge site Pn requesting the electrode cartridge 11A after charging or the electrode cartridge 11A after charging is set to zero while excluding the electrode cartridge 11A after charging that has been assigned. It is carried out until. The distribution process is preferably set to end even when the number of electrode cartridges 11 that can be delivered by the transport means 51 is exceeded. By performing the distribution process, the electrode cartridges 11 mounted on the transport means 51, their delivery destinations, and their delivery order are determined.

As described above, the delivery system of the present embodiment preferentially delivers the charged electrode cartridge 11A having a long elapsed time after completion of charging to a nearby discharge site Pn. The reason is that the electrode active material of the electrode cartridge 11A after charging is easily self-corroded (oxidized), and the performance of the electrode cartridge 11A after charging deteriorates if the time after the charging is completed becomes long.

Note that the steps (1) to (3) are performed when the transportation means 51 is located at a specific charging site Ci as a delivery source and the electrode cartridge 11A after charging exists only at the specific charging site Ci. Shows how. When the distribution process is performed when the transportation means 51 is located at a place other than the specific charging site Ci (for example, the discharge site Pn), the time required for the transportation means 51 to arrive at the specific charging site Ci, In addition, taking into account the travel time from the specific charging site Ci to the specific discharge site Pi as the delivery destination, the combination of the charged or scheduled to complete electrode cartridge 11 and the specific discharge site Pi is determined. Is desirable. In addition, when the charged electrode cartridges 11A are present at a plurality of charging sites Cn that are distributed, it is desirable to consider the time during which the transport means 51 moves between the charging sites Cn. In order to simplify the processing content, a combination of a specific discharge site Pi and a specific charge site Ci with a short travel time or distance may be selected, and delivery may be preferentially performed between the two.

Since the used electrode cartridge 11B after discharge is normally replaced with the electrode cartridge 11A after charging, the transport means 51 merely delivers the electrode cartridge 11 from the charging site Cn to the discharging site Pn. It is preferable that the electrode cartridge 11 collected at the discharge site Pn is also forwarded to the charge site Cn. In this case, it is preferable that the computer also performs a process of determining to which charging site Cn the electrode cartridge 11 collected at the discharge site Pn is to be delivered. When the discharge site Pn that performs only the recovery of the electrode cartridge 11B after discharge is included in the path of the transport means 51, the electrode cartridge 11A after charge is self-corroded during transportation. Although it is preferable to deliver the discharged electrode cartridge 11B after delivering 11A, a route of the transport means 51 that minimizes the distance or the travel time may be set.

According to the delivery system of the present embodiment, the transport means (transporter) 51 can obtain appropriate information regarding the necessity of movement between the discharge site Pn and the charge site Cn, and the transport efficiency can be improved. Moreover, since the delivery destination of the electrode cartridge 11 can be determined based on the operating state of the discharge site Pn and the charge site Cn, it is possible to prevent the electrode cartridge 11A from being deteriorated after charging. Furthermore, since the charging site Cn of the delivery source and the charging site Cn of the forwarding destination may be different, the charging site Cn can be used effectively and the operating rate of the charging device 31 can be improved.

<Components of the delivery system>
(Electrode cartridge)
The electrode cartridge 11 is a replaceable member provided with a metal electrode that becomes a negative electrode of the metal-air battery 21. When the metal-air battery 21 is used at the discharge site, the metal-air battery 21 is attached to the battery housing and functions as the negative electrode of the metal-air battery 21.

The metal electrode includes at least an electrode active material that functions as a negative electrode of the metal-air battery 21, and may include a current collector (current collection structure). The electrode active material is appropriately changed depending on the electrolyte used, for example, metals such as zinc, lithium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, cobalt, cadmium, palladium, alloys of these metals, or The mixture containing these metals and alloys is mentioned. Among these, zinc is preferably used as the electrode active material because it can be easily manufactured or processed. Further, the metal electrode may include an oxide of an electrode active material. However, the oxide of the electrode active material does not contribute to the discharge.

An additive may be added to the metal electrode as necessary. For example, in the case of using a metal electrode mainly composed of zinc, it is possible to suppress self-corrosion of the metal electrode by adding an additive such as indium, bismuth, aluminum, or calcium.

Although the shape of a metal electrode is not specifically limited, Since a battery reaction advances from the surface of a metal electrode, it is preferable that it is plate shape. The plate-shaped metal electrode may be a single metal plate, or may be formed by pressing and solidifying metal particles by a method such as pressing.

As the current collector, a common current collector can be used. When the metal electrode includes a current collector, the metal electrode may be produced by electrodepositing a metal that becomes an electrode active material on the current collector. The current collector can be appropriately selected depending on the type of the electrode active material, and is made of, for example, nickel or stainless steel.

The metal electrode may be in direct contact with the electrolytic solution in the battery casing, but an ion conductive separator may be provided between the metal electrode and the electrolytic solution. That is, the electrode cartridge 11 may have a separator that covers the metal electrode. The separator only needs to have resistance to electrolytic solution and ion conductivity, and a solid electrolyte, a porous resin film, or a nonwoven fabric can be used. Examples of the solid electrolyte include an ion conductive ceramic and an ion conductive glass. Examples of the porous resin include polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon 6, nylon 66, polyolefin, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol-based material, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It is preferable that the separator is hydrophilized so as to improve the flow of the electrolytic solution. Ion conductivity may be improved by dispersing an electrolyte salt such as a zinc salt or a lithium salt in the porous resin.

The electrode active material releases electrons by the discharge reaction of the battery, dissolves in the electrolytic solution, and then deposits as a metal compound such as a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide. For example, when the electrode active material is zinc, zinc is oxidized as the battery reaction proceeds, and zinc oxide that does not contribute to discharge is generated. Therefore, the electrode cartridge 11 that has expired is replaced with a new electrode cartridge 11. Thereby, the metal air battery 21 in the discharge site Pn can be operated continuously.

Since the electrode active material is self-corroded (oxidized), the performance of the electrode cartridge 11 deteriorates with time. Therefore, the new electrode cartridge 11 for replacement is not suitable for storage at the discharge site Pn, and is delivered to the discharge site Pn one by one by the transport means 51 at an appropriate timing.

The discharged electrode cartridge 11B is normally forwarded to the charging site Cn by the transport means 51, and a charging process for reuse is performed at the charging site Cn. That is, the electrode cartridge 11 is suitable for both the battery casing at the discharge site Pn and the charging device 31 at the charging site Cn. The charging process is a process for reducing the oxidized electrode active material of the electrode cartridge 11 and returning it to a state in which discharge at the discharge site Pn is possible. Specifically, an electrolytic solution is placed in a charging tank included in the charging device 31, a charging electrode (positive electrode) formed of a metal such as nickel or stainless steel or carbon suitable for reduction of the electrode active material, and after discharging. The electrode cartridge 11B is immersed in an electrolytic solution, and a voltage is applied between the charged electrode and the discharged electrode cartridge 11B to cause a reduction reaction. The electrode cartridge 11 regenerated by the charging process is delivered to the discharge site Pn by the transport means 51 and reused.

(Information processing device)
In the delivery system of the present embodiment, a server (storage means) and a computer (processing system) are used as the information processing apparatus. The server receives information from the discharge site Pn, the charge site Cn, and the transport means 51, and performs update processing of the information tables shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 based on the information. FIG. 2 is a chart showing an example of the data structure of the information table for the discharge site (user site). FIG. 3 is a chart showing an example of the data structure of the information table for the charging site. FIG. 4 is a chart showing an example of the data structure of the information table for the electrode cartridge. FIG. 5 is a chart showing an example of the data structure of the information table of the travel time between sites.

Regarding the relationship between the discharge site Pn and the server, the discharge site Pn is notified to the server that the electrode cartridge 11 is to be ordered or has been ordered. When this notification is received, a new order including information on the discharge site of the ordering source and the status of [ordering planned] or [ordered] is added to the information table of FIG. The number of electrode cartridges 11 per order is one. Further, when receiving an update instruction issued from the computer, the status of the order in the information table of FIG. 2 is updated to “delivering” and the server notifies the discharge site Pn that it is being delivered. Further, when the delivery completion of the electrode cartridge 11 is notified from the transport means 51 to the server, the order status in the information table of FIG. 2 is updated to [delivered].
Note that the status of the order whose order status is updated to [Delivery] may be deleted at any time. This arbitrary time point is preferably changed as appropriate by the user of the system of the present invention. For example, it may be deleted after one day after the status of the order is updated to [delivered].
For the electrode cartridge whose order status is “delivered”, the status of the order may be updated from “delivered” to “under discharge” in a state where the discharge is started at the discharge site.

In the relationship between the charging site Cn and the server, the charging site Cn is notified of the start of charging of the electrode cartridge 11 and the completion of charging of the electrode cartridge 11 from the charging site Cn. Upon receiving the charge start notification, the server measures the elapsed time thereafter, and calculates the remaining charge time Tc in the information table in FIG. 3 and the post-charge elapsed time Ts (minus notation) in the information table in FIG. 4 in real time. Update with. Upon receiving the notification of the completion of charging, the server measures the elapsed time thereafter, and the post-charging elapsed time Ts in the information table in FIG. 3 and the elapsed charging time Ts (plus notation) in the information table in FIG. Update with. Upon receiving notification of charging start and charging completion, the server operates the information table operation rate in FIG. 3 (the number of cartridges being charged / the maximum number of cartridges that can be charged simultaneously) and the electrode cartridges in the information tables in FIGS. 11 status is updated. Since the charging time of the electrode cartridge 11 is usually longer than the delivery time, predicting the charging time or transmitting the charging state to the server contributes to the improvement of physical distribution efficiency.

The server also receives notification when the discharged electrode cartridge 11B is forwarded to the charging site Cn by the transport means 51. This notification may be transmitted from the charging site Cn or may be transmitted from the transport means 51. When the notification is received, the display of the new electrode cartridge 11 is added to the possessed cartridge column of the information table of FIG.

Further, the information table of the travel time between sites is stored in the server. The information table is updated in real time or at a timing such as movement of the transportation means (delivery vehicle) 51, elapse of a certain time, or the like.

The computer refers to the information table stored in the server, determines the priority order of processing requests (requests), determines a delivery route, and instructs to update the information table. Further, the information on the determined delivery route is transmitted to the communication terminal 52 provided in the transportation means 51. The computer need only be able to exchange information with the server, and may be integrated with the server, or may be provided independently of the server, or Both may be provided. The computer may be mounted on the transportation means 51.

An example of processing by the computer will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a delivery route determination process performed by a computer mounted on a delivery vehicle that arrives at the charging site. In this example, a delivery vehicle is used as the transportation means 51, and the computer is mounted on the delivery vehicle.

The flow of the delivery route determination process is started when the delivery vehicle X arrives at any charging site Ci (step S11). First, information regarding the delivery vehicle X is reset (initialized) (step S12). Initial information after the reset is a count value N = 0 for delivery order, a delivery route start point = charging site Ci, and an identification number = X of a delivery vehicle whose delivery route is to be determined.

Next, referring to the information table stored in the server, the number of cartridges ordered and the number of remaining cartridges are read (step S13). The number of ordered cartridges represents the total number of electrode cartridges requested by the discharge site that is [Ordered]. The number of remaining cartridges represents the total number of electrode cartridges that are charged at the charging site Ci that is [Stock] or “Shipping reservation by delivery vehicle X”. When it is determined that either the number of cartridges to be ordered or the number of remaining cartridges is not zero, the process proceeds to a series of selection steps for selecting a discharge site as a delivery destination and an electrode cartridge as a delivery target. When the determination is made, the process proceeds to a distribution step of distributing the electrode cartridge to be delivered to the discharge site that is the delivery destination (step S14). That is, the selection step is repeatedly performed for the smaller number of the ordered cartridge number and the remaining cartridge number, and then the distribution step is performed.

In the selection step, first, the numerical value N is incremented by 1 and the delivery order is counted up (step S15). In the first selection step, the numerical value N = 1. Next, the travel time between the discharge site and the start point of the order whose status is [already ordered] is calculated, and the order with the shortest travel time is selected as the Nth delivery destination. In the first selection step, since the starting point of the delivery route is not changed from the initial information, it is the charging site Ci. Further, the status of the order whose delivery destination has been selected is updated to [Delivery by delivery vehicle X] (step S16). The starting point of the delivery route is also updated to the Nth delivery destination (step S17). In the first selection step, the starting point of the delivery route is updated to the first delivery destination.

Subsequently, the electrode cartridge having the longest elapsed time after charging is selected as the Nth cartridge among the charged electrode cartridges at the charging site Ci that is [Inventory] or [Shipping reservation by delivery vehicle X]. Further, the status of the Nth cartridge is updated to [Delivery] (step S18). When step S18 is completed, the process returns to step S13 to determine whether it is necessary to select the (N + 1) th delivery destination and the (N + 1) th cartridge.

When it is determined in step S14 that either the number of cartridges ordered or the number of remaining cartridges is zero, the selection step consisting of steps S15 to S18 is repeated. Then, the delivery route of the delivery vehicle X is automatically determined by the distribution step of assigning the Nth cartridge to the Nth delivery destination (step S19).

Then, the N electrode cartridges are mounted on the delivery vehicle X, and delivery is started (step S20). As the delivery starts, the numerical value for counting the delivery order is reset to N = 1 (step S21).

According to the determined delivery route of delivery vehicle X, the Nth cartridge is delivered to the Nth delivery destination, and when the delivery is completed, the status of the Nth delivery destination and the Nth cartridge is updated to [Delivery completed]. (Step S22). After completion of the update, it is determined whether or not the total number of orders whose status is “delivery by delivery vehicle X” is zero (step S23). If the determination result is No, the numerical value N is incremented by 1 and the process returns to step S22 (step S24). Thereby, the (N + 1) th cartridge is delivered to the (N + 1) th delivery destination. If the determination result is Yes, all the deliveries have been completed and the flow ends (step S25).

If the discharge site of the delivery destination requests a plurality of electrode cartridges in one delivery, in step S16, the plurality of cartridges required by the discharge site are regarded as one cartridge group, and the above “N The “th cartridge” may be read as “Nth cartridge group”.

If the number of electrode cartridges that can be mounted on the delivery vehicle X is smaller than the number of cartridges ordered or the number of remaining cartridges, the selection is made when the number of electrode cartridges that can be mounted on the delivery vehicle X is reached in step S14. The step may be terminated and the distribution step may be entered.

Example 1
Next, Example 1 will be shown as a specific example of Embodiment 1, and a delivery route determination method by the delivery route determination process will be specifically described. In Example 1, one delivery vehicle delivers the charged electrode cartridge 11A to the three discharge sites P1, P2, and P3 from the charging site C1 including the four charging devices 31. FIG. 7 is a table showing the data structure of the information table of the travel time between sites used in the first embodiment, and FIG. 8 shows the data structure of the information table for the charging site used in the first embodiment. It is the shown chart. FIG. 9 is a chart showing delivery routes determined in the first embodiment.

According to FIG. 7, the delivery time from the charging site C1 is the discharge site P1 = 10 minutes, the discharge site P2 = 25 minutes, and the discharge site P3 = 30 minutes. Therefore, referring to FIG. 8, the electrode cartridge A1 (80 minutes after charging) having the longest post-charging elapsed time Tc is distributed to the discharge site P1 having the shortest delivery time.

The delivery time from the discharge site P1 is the discharge site P2 = 20 minutes and the discharge site P3 = 15 minutes. Therefore, the electrode cartridge A2 (60 minutes after charge) having the longest post-charge elapsed time Tc among the undistributed electrode cartridges is distributed to the discharge site P3 having a shorter delivery time.

The delivery time from the discharge site P3 is the discharge site P2 = 30 minutes. The electrode cartridge A3 (40 minutes after charging) having the longest elapsed time Tc after charging among the undistributed electrode cartridges is allocated to the discharge site P2.

As described above, the electrode cartridges 11 to be delivered to all the discharge sites P1, P2, and P3 are allocated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the delivery route is the charge site C1, the discharge site P1, the discharge site P3, and the discharge. It is determined in the order of the site P2.

(Discharge site)
At the discharge site Pn, a communication device and a metal-air battery (discharge device) 21 are provided. The communication device has a function of notifying the server of the order or schedule of the electrode cartridge 11 and receiving a notification from the server that the electrode cartridge 11 is being delivered, as shown in FIG. As described above, a communication terminal 52 such as a smartphone may be used. The metal-air battery 21 is in a dischargeable state with the charged electrode cartridge 11 </ b> A attached to the battery housing (discharge tank). The negative electrode (anode) of the metal-air battery 21 is a metal electrode (electrode active material) provided in the electrode cartridge 11. The positive electrode (cathode) of the metal-air battery 21 is an air electrode provided in the discharge tank. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the metal-air battery at the discharge site.

The discharge tank is a container that holds the electrolytic solution 15 and includes the air electrode 12. The discharge tank is preferably made of a material having corrosion resistance to the electrolyte solution 15. The electrolytic solution 15 is a liquid having an ionic conductivity in which an electrolyte is dissolved in a solvent. The type of the electrolytic solution 15 may be selected according to the type of the electrode active material constituting the metal electrode 11a, and may be an electrolytic solution (aqueous electrolyte solution) using an aqueous solvent, or an electrolytic solution (organic) using an organic solvent. Electrolyte solution).

For example, in the case of a zinc-air battery, an aluminum-air battery, or an iron-air battery, an alkaline aqueous solution such as an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution or an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution can be used as the electrolyte solution 15. In the case of a magnesium air battery, the electrolyte solution 15 can be a neutral aqueous solution such as a sodium chloride aqueous solution. In the case of a lithium air battery, a sodium air battery, or a calcium air battery, an organic electrolyte can be used.

Moreover, the discharge tank may be provided with a mechanism for discharging the electrolyte solution 15 such as a valve. For example, the electrolytic solution 15 in the discharge tank is held in the discharge tank when the bulb is closed, and is discharged from the discharge tank when the bulb is opened.

A partition wall may be provided in the discharge tank. Due to the partition walls, a reaction region where the metal electrode 11a and the air electrode 12 face each other and a groove region separated from the reaction region by the partition walls are provided in the discharge tank. The partition wall does not reach the upper end in the discharge vessel, and the reaction region and the groove region communicate with each other above the discharge vessel. Further, a mechanism for discharging the electrolytic solution 15 is provided in the groove region. With such a configuration, when the liquid level of the electrolytic solution 15 exceeds the upper end of the partition wall in the reaction region, the electrolytic solution 15 is discharged, so that the inflow amount and the outflow amount of the electrolytic solution 15 into the discharge tank are reduced. Even if it does not make it correspond, it can prevent that the electrolyte solution 15 overflows from the upper part of a discharge tank.

In addition, the discharge site Pn may be provided with a recovery tank in which the electrolytic solution 15 discharged from the discharge tank is stored and a supply tank in which the electrolytic solution 15 charged into the discharge tank is stored.

The air electrode 12 is an electrode that generates hydroxide ions (OH ⁻ ) from oxygen gas, water, and electrons in the atmosphere. As with the metal electrode 11a, it is preferable that the electrode surface be provided in the discharge tank so as to be parallel to the direction of gravity. The electrode surface of the metal electrode 11a and the electrode surface of the air electrode 12 are preferably opposed to each other.

The air electrode 12 includes, for example, a configuration including a conductive porous carrier and an air electrode catalyst supported on the porous carrier. According to such a configuration, oxygen gas, water, and electrons can coexist on the air electrode catalyst, and the electrode reaction can proceed efficiently. The air electrode catalyst is preferably supported in the form of fine particles and supported on a porous carrier. The water used for the electrode reaction may be supplied from the atmosphere or may be supplied from the electrolytic solution 15.

Examples of porous carriers include carbon black such as acetylene black, furnace black, channel black, and ketjen black; conductive carbon particles such as graphite and activated carbon; vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF), carbon nanotube, and carbon nanowire. Carbon fibers such as can be used. For example, Denka Black (registered trademark) manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. can be used as acetylene black.
The porous carrier may be surface-treated so that a cationic group exists as a fixed ion on the surface thereof. As a result, hydroxide ions can be conducted on the surface of the porous carrier, so that the hydroxide ions generated on the air electrode catalyst can easily move.
The air electrode 12 may have an anion exchange resin supported on a porous carrier. Thereby, since hydroxide ions can be conducted through the anion exchange resin, the hydroxide ions generated on the air electrode catalyst are easily moved.

Examples of the air electrode catalyst include metals such as platinum, iron, cobalt, nickel, palladium, silver, ruthenium, iridium, molybdenum and manganese; metal compounds containing these metal atoms; alloys containing two or more of these metals Can be used. The alloy is preferably an alloy containing at least two of platinum, iron, cobalt, and nickel. For example, platinum-iron alloy, platinum-cobalt alloy, iron-cobalt alloy, cobalt-nickel alloy, iron-nickel An alloy and an iron-cobalt-nickel alloy can be preferably used.

The air electrode 12 may be provided in direct contact with the atmosphere or may be provided in contact with the air flow path 13. When the air flow path 13 is provided, not only oxygen gas but also water can be supplied to the air electrode 12 by flowing humidified air through the air flow path 13. The installation method of the air flow path 13 is not particularly limited. For example, a current collecting member (not shown) is disposed on the opposite side of the air electrode 12 from the side in contact with the electrolyte solution 15 and formed on the current collecting member. Also good. If the air electrode 12 and the external load are electrically connected via the current collecting member, the power of the metal-air battery can be efficiently output to the external load.

The air electrode 12 only needs to be able to conduct ions with the electrolytic solution 15, and the air electrode 12 may be provided so as to be in contact with the electrolytic solution 15 in the discharge tank, or the air electrode 12, the electrolytic solution 15, A separator may be provided between the two. When the air electrode 12 and the electrolytic solution 15 are in direct contact with each other, hydroxide ions generated at the air electrode 12 can easily move to the electrolytic solution 15. Further, water necessary for the electrode reaction in the air electrode 12 is easily supplied from the electrolytic solution 15 to the air electrode 12. On the other hand, by providing the separator, the ion species moving between the air electrode 12 and the electrolyte solution 15 can be limited. The separator may be an anion exchange membrane. As a result, hydroxide ions generated in the air electrode 12 can be transferred to the electrolyte solution 15 through the anion exchange membrane, and the cations in the electrolyte solution 15 can be prevented from moving to the air electrode 12. can do.

It is preferable that a detection unit for monitoring the remaining battery level of the metal-air battery 21 is provided at the discharge site Pn. The detection unit may be integrated with the metal-air battery 21, and may be separately provided outside the metal-air battery 21, for example, as a HEMS (Home Energy Management System). In addition, the detection unit may be operated by electric power generated by the power generation by the metal-air battery 21 according to the present embodiment. You may operate | move with the electric power supplied from a power supply. Even when the power generation of the metal-air battery 21 is stopped, the control unit can operate, so that it is preferable to operate with the power supplied from the main power supply. The main power source may be an external commercial power source or a storage battery. Since the control unit can operate even during a power failure or the like, a storage battery is suitably used as the main power source. The storage battery may be charged with electric power from an external commercial power source, or may be charged with electric power generated by the metal-air battery 21.

(Charging site)
A communication device and a charging device 31 are provided at the charging site Cn. The communication device has a function of notifying the server of charging start and charging completion. The charging device 31 is in a chargeable state with the discharged electrode cartridge 11B attached to the charging tank.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the charging tank at the charging site. The charging tank is a container that holds the electrolytic solution 17 and includes a charging electrode (positive electrode) 16. The electrolytic solution 17 charged into the charging tank may be the same type as the electrolytic solution 15 charged into the discharge tank, or may be a different type. The charging electrode 16 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that can reduce the electrode active material that functions as the negative electrode 11b during charging. For example, nickel, stainless steel, or the like can be used. In the electrode cartridge 11B after discharge, a material generated by oxidation of the electrode active material during discharge becomes a negative electrode active material (electrode active material during charge). As the electrode active material during charging, zinc oxide is preferably used. The negative electrode may include an electrode active material that is not oxidized.

(Transportation)
The transport means 51 delivers the charged electrode cartridge 11A to each discharge site Pn based on the delivery route determined by the computer. Furthermore, it is preferable that the transport means 51 collects the discharged electrode cartridge 11B and forwards it to the charging site Cn. That is, it is preferable that the transport means 51 collects the discharged electrode cartridge 11B after delivering the charged electrode cartridge 11A. As described above, the transportation means 51 may be equipped with the computer. The type of the transportation means 51 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include automobiles such as trucks, ships, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, airplanes, helicopters, robots, rear cars, and humans. The number of the transport means 51 is not particularly limited, and may be one or two or more.

[Embodiment 2]
The electrode cartridge delivery system of the second embodiment is the same as the electrode cartridge delivery system of the first embodiment except for the delivery route determination process. The delivery route determination process according to the second embodiment has an advantage that it can cope with an additional order during delivery. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a delivery route determination process according to the second embodiment.

The flow of the delivery route determination process according to the second embodiment is started in a state where the delivery vehicle X has arrived at any charging site Ci (step S71). First, information regarding the delivery vehicle X is reset (initialized) (step S72). The initial information after the reset is identification number = X of the delivery vehicle for which the delivery route is determined.

Next, referring to the information table stored in the server, the number of cartridges ordered and the number of remaining cartridges are read (step S73). The number of ordered cartridges represents the total number of electrode cartridges that are [ordered]. The number of remaining cartridges represents the total number of electrode cartridges that are charged at the charging site Ci that is [Stock] or “Shipping reservation by delivery vehicle X”. Then, the smaller one of the ordered cartridge number and the remaining cartridge number is set as the loaded cartridge number M, and the process proceeds to the distribution process (step S74).

In the distribution process, first, the charged electrode cartridges whose status is “Inventory” or “Shipping reservation by delivery vehicle X” are arranged in descending order based on the elapsed time after charging and numbered (from the elapsed time after charging) Make the long one the smaller number). Based on the result, the first to Mth electrode cartridges are loaded on the delivery vehicle X. In accordance with this, the status of the 1st to Mth electrode cartridges is updated to [Delivery] (step S75).

Next, reset (initialization) is performed, and the count value N = 1 for the delivery order and the start point of the delivery route = the charging site Ci are set (step S76).

Subsequently, the travel time between the discharge site and the start point of the order whose status is [ordered] is calculated, and the order with the shortest travel time is selected as the Nth delivery destination. Further, the status of the order whose delivery destination has been selected is updated to [Delivery by delivery car X]. As a result, the Nth cartridge is assigned to the Nth delivery destination (step S77).

Then, the delivery vehicle X starts delivery of the Nth cartridge toward the Nth delivery destination (step S78). When the Nth cartridge is delivered to the Nth delivery destination and the delivery is completed, the status of the Nth delivery destination and the Nth cartridge is updated to [Delivery completed] (step S79). After completion of the update, it is determined whether or not the total number of electrode cartridges that are [ordered] is zero and whether or not N = M (step S80). As a result of the determination, if both are No, the starting point of the delivery route is updated to the Nth delivery destination (step S81). Then, +1 is added to the numerical value N, and the process returns to step S77 (step S82). As a result, distribution processing of delivery of the (N + 1) th cartridge to the (N + 1) th delivery destination is performed. If any of the determinations is Yes, the flow is terminated because all the delivery has been completed (step S83).

According to the delivery route determination process of the second embodiment described above, it is possible to determine a delivery route while taking into consideration an order placed during delivery. That is, the first delivery destination site is determined when the delivery vehicle X departs from the charging site Ci, but the entire delivery route is not decided and the delivery is not started. Each time delivery to each delivery destination site is completed, order information is acquired in real time to determine the next delivery destination site. By doing so, it is possible to deliver the electrode cartridge even to an order that has not been ordered (planned to be ordered) at the time of departure from the charging site Ci. As a result, the delivery efficiency of the electrode cartridge can be further improved.

In the case where the next delivery destination is determined every time the electrode cartridge 11 is delivered as in the second embodiment, it is preferable that a communication terminal is mounted on the transport means 51. By sending information from the discharge site (user site) Pn and charging site Cn to the communication terminal during delivery, it is possible to cope with sudden changes in the situation and to set a more efficient delivery route. Can do.

[Embodiment 3]
The electrode cartridge delivery system according to the third embodiment is the same as the electrode cartridge delivery system according to the first embodiment, except that a process for determining a charging site to which the delivery vehicle moves after all delivery is completed is performed. is there. The delivery system of the third embodiment has an advantage that the elapsed time after charging of each electrode cartridge can be shortened by moving the delivery vehicle so that the electrode cartridge having a long elapsed time after charging can be delivered preferentially. FIGS. 13A and 13B are flowcharts of the delivery route and charging site determination process according to the third embodiment.

The flow of the delivery route determination process of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment from when the delivery vehicle X arrives at any charging site Ci until all the delivery is completed (steps). S11 to S25). When all the deliveries are completed, a flow for selecting the charging site Cn to which the delivery vehicle X moves is started. First, [T (movement)], which is the movement time from the current position of the delivery vehicle X to each charging site Cn, is calculated. As a means for calculating [T (movement)], a method of obtaining a linear distance between the discharge site Pn and the charge site Cn based on the position information of the discharge site Pn and the position information of the charge site Cn, and a navigation system are used. A method, a method of calculating travel time by a tool such as the Internet, and the like. Further, for each charging site Cn, the electrode cartridge 11 having the longest elapsed time after charging is selected from among the electrode cartridges 11 whose status is “inventory”, and the elapsed time after the charging [T ( Longest time)] is extracted (step S91).

The charging site Cn that maximizes the difference of [T (longest time)]-[T (movement)] is selected as the cartridge collection destination of the delivery vehicle X. That is, a charging site Cn that can realize a combination with a large [T (longest time)] and a small [T (movement)] is selected. Thereby, deterioration of the electrode cartridge 11 and economic loss due to movement of the delivery vehicle X can be minimized. When the difference of [T (longest time)]-[T (movement)] is equal, for example, the shorter [T (movement)] may be selected, or the charging site Cn having a low operating rate May be selected (step S92).

Then, the status is updated to “shipment reservation by delivery vehicle X” for the electrode cartridge 11 stored in the charging site Cn selected as the cartridge collection destination and having the status “inventory” (step S93). The delivery vehicle X moves to the selected charging site Cn of the destination, and the flow is completed (step S94).

(Example 2)
Next, Example 2 is shown as a specific example of Embodiment 3, and the determination method of the charge site Cn of a movement destination is demonstrated concretely. In the second embodiment, a method for determining which one delivery vehicle X that has completed delivery of the electrode cartridge 11 is headed between the two charging sites C1 and C2 will be described. Each of the two charging sites C1 and C2 includes four charging devices for the electrode cartridge 11. FIG. 14 is a chart showing a data structure of an information table related to travel time to the charging site and inventory information at the charging site used in the second embodiment.

According to FIG. 14, the difference between the maximum value of the post-charging elapsed time Tc at each charging site C1 and C2 and the travel time to each charging site C1 and C2 is as follows.
(In the case of charging site C1)
Maximum value of elapsed time Tc after charging 80 minutes-travel time 20 minutes = 60 minutes (in the case of charging site C2)
Maximum value of elapsed time Tc after charging 50 minutes-travel time 40 minutes = 10 minutes

Accordingly, the destination of the delivery vehicle that has completed delivery of the electrode cartridge 11 is determined to be the charging site C1. In addition, it is desirable to set in advance also a determination method when the difference obtained by subtracting the travel time to each charging site Cn from the maximum value of the elapsed time Tc after charging at each charging site Cn becomes the same. The charging site Cn having the shortest travel time may be selected, or the charging site Cn having the lowest operating rate may be selected.

As described above, in the delivery route determination process of the third embodiment, after the delivery of the electrode cartridge 11 loaded on the delivery vehicle X is completed, a new electrode cartridge 11 is assigned to which charging site Cn among the plurality of charging sites Cn. There is a feature in deciding whether to go to obtain. According to the delivery route determination process of the third embodiment, when the delivery vehicle X that has completed delivery of the electrode cartridge 11 arrives at the charging site Cn, the elapsed time after charging the electrode cartridge 11 can be shortened as much as possible.

As in the third embodiment, when the destination charging site Cn is determined after the delivery of the electrode cartridge 11 is completed, it is preferable that a communication terminal is mounted on the transport means 51. The charging site Cn of the delivery source may be different from the charging site Cn of the return destination, and the real-time operating state of the charging site Cn is notified via the communication terminal, so that the charging site Cn of the most efficient moving destination can be obtained. Can be selected.

[Modification 1]
In the first to third embodiments, the starting point of the processing by the computer is that the delivery vehicle has arrived at the charging site Cn, but may be an order from a user, for example. When starting from an order from the user, since the discharge site Pn of the delivery destination has already been determined, the electrode cartridge 11 to be delivered (the charge site Cn of the delivery source), and the transport means 51 for delivering it, Will be determined.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a delivery route determination process starting from a user order. In the example of FIG. 15, the electrode cartridge 11 </ b> B after discharging and the electrode cartridge 11 </ b> A after charging are exchanged, and a specific transportation means 51 used for delivery is selected from a plurality of transportation means 51.

First, the user places an order for the charged electrode cartridge 11A using a communication terminal such as a smartphone. The order information is transmitted to the computer (processing system) (step S111). The calculator reads the inventory information of the charged electrode cartridge 11A and the charging information of the electrode cartridge 11 being charged stored in the server (step S112). Based on the read information, it is determined whether or not the charged electrode cartridge 11A is in stock (step S113).

As a result of the determination in step S113, if there is an inventory of the electrode cartridge 11A after charging, the electrode cartridge 11 to be delivered is selected based on the elapsed time from the completion of charging (step S114). Subsequently, the charging site Cn that can accept the discharged electrode cartridge 11B is searched (step S115). Next, based on the positional information such as the charging site Cn determined in step S115 and the discharge site Pn where the electrode cartridge 11B after discharge is collected, a transporter serving as the transport means 51 is searched (step S116). Then, the presence / absence of an order from another user is determined (step S117).

If the result of determination in step S117 is that there is an order from another user, the order status is totaled and the process returns to step S114 (step S117A). On the other hand, when there is no order from another user, the transporter's communication terminal is notified of the charged electrode cartridge (unused cartridge) 11A and information on the discharge site (user) Pn as the delivery destination. (Step S118). Further, the delivery time is calculated from the information such as the determined carrier, the charging site Cn of the pick-up destination, the discharge site Pn of the delivery destination, etc. (step S119). Then, the acceptance of the order is completed, and the calculated delivery time is transmitted to the user (step S120). On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S113 is that there is no inventory of the electrode cartridge 11A after charging, the fact that there is no inventory and the delivery waiting time calculated from the charging information etc. are transmitted to the user (step S113A). ). Thus, the flow ends (step S121).

Also by the above modification 1, it becomes possible to improve the facility operation rate, improve the delivery efficiency, and shorten the delivery time. In the example of FIG. 15, the electrode cartridge 11B after discharging and the electrode cartridge 11A after charging are exchanged, but only the electrode cartridge 11A after charging may be delivered. In the example of FIG. 15, the calculation and notification of the delivery time may be omitted.

[Modification 2]
The information processing apparatus may determine delivery and / or charging of the electrode cartridge 11 with reference to external information in addition to information from the discharge site Pn, the charge site Cn, and the transport means 51. Examples of the external information include information on planned power outages, weather, disasters, power charges, user usage patterns at the discharge site Pn, and the like. By referring to external information related to power supply such as planned power outages, weather, and disasters, the user at the discharge site Pn is notified in advance that it is better to stock more charged electrode cartridges 11A. In addition, it is possible to prompt an order for the electrode cartridge 11A after charging. Further, at the charging site Cn, the power failure time zone can be predicted and charging can be started quickly, and the electrode cartridge 11A after charging can be prevented from being out of stock. By referring to the power charge, the cost required for charging can be suppressed by increasing the charge operation rate in a time zone where the power charge is cheap such as at night. By referring to the usage pattern of the user at the discharge site Pn, it is possible to predict the optimal timing of charging so that the elapsed time after charging can be shortened, improve the stock status of the electrode cartridge 11A after charging, and immediately after the completion of charging The electrode cartridge 11 can be delivered.

[Modification 3]
The calculator (processing system) predicts the remaining time (charging completion time) until the charging of the electrode cartridge 11 at the charging site Cn is completed, or until the discharging of the electrode cartridge 11 at the discharging site Pn is completed. The remaining time (discharge completion time) may be predicted. By combining these functions, the stock status of the electrode cartridge 11A after charging can be improved, and the electrode cartridge 11 immediately after charging can be delivered.

In addition, when the user orders the charged electrode cartridge 11A, it may be possible to specify the delivery date and time. In this case, it is preferable to determine the timing for starting the charging of the electrode cartridge 11 so that the electrode cartridge 11 can be delivered in accordance with the designated date and time by utilizing the function of predicting the charging completion time of the electrode cartridge 11.

The prediction of the charging completion time will be described below.
Since the charging site Cn is basically charged with a constant amount of current, the required charging time can be obtained from the electrode capacity. Therefore, the charging end time can be predicted at the stage where the charging start time is determined by reservation or charging start. It is also possible to provide a mode in which the amount of current is larger (for example, the amount of current is twice) than that during normal charging (normal mode) as the quick charge mode. In the quick charge mode, the required charging time can be shortened, but the cycle life of the electrode may be adversely affected. The user may be able to select between the normal mode and the quick charge mode.

The prediction of the discharge completion time will be described below.
Since the output (discharge) of the metal-air battery 21 varies depending on the user's usage, it is difficult to predict the discharge completion time with high accuracy. For example, the following method can be used.
Calculate the average output from the past discharge history (horizontal axis = time, vertical axis = output) to predict the discharge completion time.
-An output pattern for each time zone is predicted based on the past discharge history, and a discharge completion time is predicted from the output pattern. For example, the past average output of morning, noon, and evening is used as an output pattern for each time zone.
・ Predict the discharge completion time in consideration of planned power outage information in addition to the past discharge history.
-When there is no past discharge history such as during initial operation, the discharge completion time is predicted from the rated output of the metal-air battery 21.

[Modification 4]
The electrode cartridge 11 preferably has a layer (metal ion permeation suppression layer) that can suppress permeation of metal ions generated from the metal electrode 11a. It is preferable that the metal ion permeation suppression layer has a lower permeability to metal-containing ions than the permeability to hydroxide ions. When a zinc electrode is used as the metal electrode 11a as in the first embodiment, the metal ion permeation suppression layer includes zinc ions (Zn ²⁺ ) and tetrahydroxozincate ions (Zn (OH) ₄ ²⁻ ). It is a layer (zinc ion permeation suppression layer) that suppresses permeation of water.

As the metal ion permeation suppression layer, for example, an anion conductive porous film (porous resin film) or a non-porous film can be used. These membranes include ion-exchange membranes, membranes obtained by gelling an ion-conductive electrolyte solution (cross-linked gels or porous membranes impregnated with gels), etc. included. Specific examples of the ion exchange membrane include perfluorosulfonic acid, perfluorocarboxylic acid, styrene vinyl benzene, quaternary ammonium solid polymer electrolyte membrane (anion exchange membrane). The anion exchange membrane allows only anions (hydroxide ions) to pass through.

From the viewpoint of improving the flow of the electrolyte solution 15, the metal ion permeation suppression layer is preferably subjected to a hydrophilic treatment. Thereby, uniform charging / discharging can be performed suitably and charging / discharging efficiency can be improved suitably. Moreover, it is preferable that a metal ion permeation | transmission suppression layer has insulation. Moreover, it is preferable that a metal ion permeation | transmission suppression layer has electrolyte solution resistance (especially alkali resistance). The thickness of the metal ion permeation suppression layer is preferably 0.01 mm or more and 1 mm or less.

According to the metal ion permeation suppression layer, since the metal-containing ions can be prevented from diffusing toward the electrolyte solution 15, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the amount of the negative electrode active material included in the metal electrode 11 a. Moreover, since it can suppress that metal containing ion collects on the surface of the air electrode 12, and a metal precipitates, charging / discharging efficiency can be made more favorable.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a discharge cell of Modification 3 provided with a zinc ion permeation suppression layer. FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the function of the zinc ion permeation suppression layer shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 17, with the progress of the discharge reaction, zinc ions and zinc oxide are generated from the metal electrode 11a. When the amount of zinc ions and zinc oxide in the electrolytic solution 15 increases, the battery performance decreases, so the electrolytic solution 15 is replaced. The electrode cartridge 11 shown in FIG. 16 has a zinc ion permeation suppression layer 18 that covers a metal electrode (zinc electrode) 11a. According to the zinc ion permeation suppression layer 18, zinc ions and zinc oxide can be prevented from coming out of the electrode cartridge 11. That is, since zinc ions and zinc oxide can be prevented from moving into the electrolytic solution 15, replacement of the electrolytic solution 15 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, only the electrode cartridge 11 needs to be replaced / recovered / delivered, and the replacement / recovery / delivery of the electrolytic solution 15 can be made unnecessary. As a result, the delivery efficiency in the delivery system is improved and the operation is simplified.

The electrode cartridge 11 shown in FIG. 16 further has a shape holding structure 19. In the metal-air battery, the metal electrode 11a may be gradually deformed with repeated charge / discharge. For example, the passive film may be deposited on the surface of the metal electrode 11a during discharging and the dendrite may be deposited on the surface of the metal electrode 11a during charging, causing the metal electrode 11a to expand. When the metal electrode 11a expands, high resistance, a short circuit with the positive electrode, and the like are caused, and charge / discharge efficiency is reduced. Therefore, the shape holding structure 19 is provided to prevent the metal electrode 11a from being deformed.

The shape holding structure 19 has higher rigidity than the zinc ion permeation suppression layer 18. As a material for such a shape-retaining structure 19, for example, resin, metal, ceramics, or the like can be used, and an insulating material is preferably used from the viewpoint of safety. Examples of the resin include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyvinyl acetate, ABS, vinylidene chloride, polyacetal, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, fluororesin, and epoxy resin. Can be mentioned. Examples of the metal include nickel and stainless steel. Examples of ceramics include aluminum oxide (alumina). Further, as the shape maintaining structure 19, a porous material may be used. Examples of the porous material include porous ceramics and glass fibers. From the viewpoint of sufficiently suppressing the expansion of the metal electrode 11a, it is preferable to select a material having higher rigidity (Young's modulus) as the shape retaining structure 19. If a material having higher rigidity is used, the degree of bending of the shape holding structure 19 with respect to a constant load can be suppressed. Therefore, the shape holding structure 19 is made thinner or the aperture ratio of the shape holding structure 19 is made larger. be able to. This is because the degree of deflection of the shape retaining structure 19 with respect to a constant load is inversely proportional to the Young's modulus of the material of the shape retaining structure 19. Moreover, it is preferable that the shape retention structure 19 has electrolyte solution resistance (especially alkali resistance).

The shape retaining structure 19 is preferably provided with an opening at a position overlapping the zinc ion permeation suppression layer 18. According to such a configuration, contact between the zinc ion permeation suppression layer 18 and the electrolyte solution 15 can be ensured, and the hydroxide ions in the electrolyte solution 15 are supplied to the metal electrode 11a through the zinc ion permeation suppression layer 18. can do. The opening penetrates the thickness direction of the shape retaining structure 19. The shape holding structure 19 may be, for example, a structure in which two frames provided with openings are fixed and integrated with clip parts or the like.

The aperture ratio of the shape retaining structure 19 is preferably 30% or more and 95% or less, more preferably 30% or more and 80% or less, and further preferably 40% or more and 75% or less. Since the resistance of ion conduction can be reduced as the aperture ratio of the shape retaining structure 19 is increased, the characteristics of the chemical battery can be enhanced. When the aperture ratio of the shape holding structure 19 is 30% or more, the rigidity of the shape holding structure 19 can be sufficiently secured and the expansion of the metal electrode 11a can be suppressed. When the aperture ratio of the shape retention structure 19 is 95% or less, sufficient contact between the zinc ion permeation suppression layer 18 and the electrolytic solution 15 can be ensured, and charge / discharge efficiency can be improved. In this specification, the aperture ratio of the shape retaining structure 19 indicates the ratio of the total area of the opening (total area when viewed from the thickness direction) to the area of the metal electrode 11a (surface area when viewed from the thickness direction). . Here, when the material of the shape retention structure 19 is a porous material, the aperture ratio may be replaced with a porosity. That is, the porosity of the shape retaining structure 19 is preferably 30% or more and 95% or less, more preferably 30% or more and 80% or less, and further preferably 40% or more and 75% or less. preferable.

The shape of the opening is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and a polygonal shape. If the opening is circular or elliptical, bubbles are unlikely to stay in the opening. The bubbles are, for example, those caused by air (mainly oxygen) that has entered from the outside (charging electrode or the like) at the time of charging, or those caused by air that has entered when the electrode cartridge 11 is inserted into the battery housing. When the opening has a polygonal shape (for example, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, a rhombus shape, etc.), it is easy to ensure a large opening ratio of the shape retaining structure 19.

The thickness of the shape retaining structure 19 is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less, and more preferably 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. When the thickness of the shape holding structure 19 is 0.5 mm or more, the rigidity of the shape holding structure 19 can be sufficiently increased, and thus the expansion of the metal electrode 11a can be suppressed. When the thickness of the shape-retaining structure 19 is 5 mm or less, the ion conduction distance is sufficiently short and the resistance can be sufficiently lowered, so that charge / discharge efficiency can be improved.

When a metal is used as the material of the shape retaining structure 19, the shape retaining structure 19 can be made thin because the rigidity of the shape retaining structure 19 is sufficiently high. However, when the shape-retaining structure 19 having such conductivity and the metal electrode 11a are electrically connected, metal-containing ions are collected on the surface of the shape-retaining structure 19 during charging, resulting in the deposition of metal. There is a concern that a short circuit occurs. Therefore, when a conductive material (for example, metal) is used as the material of the shape holding structure 19, it is preferable that the metal electrode 11a and the shape holding structure 19 are electrically insulated.

[Appendix]
One embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of electrode cartridges that can be reused by charging, a plurality of discharge sites in which a battery case for a metal-air battery to which each of the plurality of electrode cartridges is attached, and the plurality of electrodes. A plurality of charging sites on which charging devices for attaching each of the cartridges are disposed; a transportation means for transporting the plurality of electrode cartridges from the plurality of charging sites to the plurality of discharge sites; A delivery system having an information processing apparatus for determining an electrode cartridge. The information processing apparatus included in the delivery system refers to an elapsed time after charging of an electrode cartridge that is not used after completion of charging among the plurality of electrode cartridges, and sequentially delivers from the electrode cartridge having a longer elapsed time after charging. It may be a delivery system of an electrode cartridge that performs a distribution process for determining a previous discharge site. According to the delivery system of the above aspect, the delivery efficiency of the electrode cartridge can be improved, and the deterioration of the electrode cartridge after charging and the reduction in the operating rate of the metal-air battery can be prevented.

The delivery system may further include a storage device that stores information on the elapsed time after charging. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to detect the state of each charging site during the distribution process, and the distribution process can be performed quickly and more reliably.

The distribution process refers to the first position information of the plurality of discharge sites and the transportation means, and the time required for the transportation means to reach among the plurality of discharge sites requesting the plurality of electrode cartridges. The first step of specifying the discharge site with the shortest time, the second step of specifying the electrode cartridge with the longest elapsed time after charging, and the discharge site specified in the first step And a third step of assigning the electrode cartridge specified in the second step. In this distribution process, the first step, the second step, and the third step are performed until there is no unassigned electrode cartridge or discharge site, or the electrode cartridge that can be delivered by the transportation means. By carrying out until reaching the number, the delivery route of the transportation means may be determined. According to such a processing method, it is possible to prevent the electrode cartridge from being deteriorated after being charged while maximizing the movement efficiency of the transportation means.

The delivery system may further include a storage device that stores information on the elapsed time after charging and the first position information. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to detect the positions of the plurality of discharge sites and the transportation means during the distribution process, and the first step can be performed quickly and more reliably.

In the distribution process, the assignment of the plurality of electrode cartridges mounted on the transportation means is completed in the first step, the second step, and the third step at one of the plurality of charging sites. The delivery route of the transportation means may be determined before delivery. According to such a processing method, when the transportation means leaves the charging site, the estimated arrival time of the transportation means at each discharge site is determined, so that the waiting time at each discharge site can be accurately estimated.

In the distribution process, at least one set of discharge sites and electrode cartridges to be delivered by performing the first step, the second step, and the third step at one of the plurality of charging sites. May be assigned. Further, the distribution processing is performed by performing the first step, the second step, and the third step at one of the discharge sites of the delivery destination, thereby at least one set of additional delivery targets. The discharge site and the electrode cartridge may be assigned. According to such a processing method, when an electrode cartridge is ordered during delivery, the delivery route can be reviewed and delivery efficiency can be improved.

When the delivery of the plurality of electrode cartridges mounted on the transportation means is completed, the information processing apparatus further includes information on the elapsed time after charging, and the second positions of the plurality of charging sites and the transportation means. With reference to the information, even if one of the plurality of charging sites having the electrode cartridge that maximizes the difference obtained by subtracting the arrival time of the transportation means from the elapsed time after charging is selected as the destination Good. By performing such processing, not only the delivery of the electrode cartridge from the charging site to the discharging site, but also the efficiency of collecting the electrode cartridge from the discharging site to the charging site can be improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of electrode cartridges that can be reused by charging are connected to each of the plurality of electrode cartridges from a plurality of charging sites where charging devices for attaching each of the plurality of electrode cartridges are arranged. It is a delivery method of an electrode cartridge that is delivered by a transportation means to a plurality of discharge sites where a battery case for a metal-air battery to be attached is arranged. In the delivery method of the above aspect, the information processing apparatus refers to the elapsed time after charging of the electrode cartridge that is not used after completion of charging among the plurality of electrode cartridges, and is referred to in step (1) above. The information processing apparatus may further include a step (2) of determining a discharge site as a delivery destination of the electrode cartridge in order from the electrode cartridge having a long elapsed time after charging. According to the delivery method of the said aspect, the delivery efficiency of an electrode cartridge can be improved, and the deterioration of the electrode cartridge after charge and the fall of the operation rate of a metal air battery can be prevented.

11: Electrode cartridge 11A: Electrode cartridge 11a after charging: Metal electrode 11B: Electrode cartridge 11b after discharging: Negative electrode 12, 112: Air electrode 13, 113: Air flow path 15, 17, 115: Electrolytic solution 16 during charging : Charging electrode 18: Zinc ion permeation suppression layer 19: Shape retention structure 21: Metal-air battery 31: Charging device 51: Transportation means 52: Communication terminal 111: Zinc electrode 121: Zinc-air battery

Claims (8)

A plurality of electrode cartridges that can be reused by charging; and
A plurality of discharge sites in which a battery case for a metal-air battery to which each of the plurality of electrode cartridges is attached;
A plurality of charging sites where charging devices for attaching each of the plurality of electrode cartridges are disposed;
Transport means for transporting the plurality of electrode cartridges from the plurality of charging sites to the plurality of discharging sites;
An information processing device that determines the plurality of electrode cartridges delivered by the transport means;
The information processing apparatus refers to an elapsed time after charging of an electrode cartridge that is not used after completion of charging among the plurality of electrode cartridges, and sets a discharge destination discharge site in order from the electrode cartridge having a longer elapsed time after charging. An electrode cartridge delivery system characterized by performing a distribution process to determine. 2. The electrode cartridge delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage device for storing information on the elapsed time after charging. The distribution process is:
Discharge having the shortest time required to reach the transportation means among the plurality of discharge sites requesting the plurality of electrode cartridges with reference to the plurality of discharge sites and the first position information of the transportation means The first step of identifying the site,
A second step of identifying the electrode cartridge having the longest elapsed time after charging;
A third step of assigning the electrode cartridge specified in the second step to the discharge site specified in the first step;
The first step, the second step, and the third step are carried out until there are no unassigned electrode cartridges or discharge sites, or until the number of electrode cartridges that can be delivered by the transport means is reached. 2. The electrode cartridge delivery system according to claim 1, wherein a delivery route of the transportation means is determined. 4. The electrode cartridge delivery system according to claim 3, further comprising a storage device for storing information on the elapsed time after charging and the first position information. In the distribution process, at one of the plurality of charging sites, the first step, the second step, and the third step are allotted to the plurality of electrode cartridges mounted on the transportation means. The delivery system of the electrode cartridge according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the delivery route of the transportation means is determined before delivery. In the distribution process, at least one set of discharge sites and electrode cartridges to be delivered by performing the first step, the second step, and the third step at one of the plurality of charging sites. And at least one set of additional delivery targets by performing the first step, the second step, and the third step at one of the discharge sites of the delivery destination. 5. The electrode cartridge delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the discharge site and the electrode cartridge are assigned. When the delivery of the plurality of electrode cartridges mounted on the transportation means is completed, the information processing apparatus further includes information on the elapsed time after charging, and the second positions of the plurality of charging sites and the transportation means. The information is referred to, and one of the plurality of charging sites having the electrode cartridge that maximizes the difference obtained by subtracting the arrival time of the transportation means from the elapsed time after charging is selected as a destination. The delivery system of the electrode cartridge in any one of Claims 1-6. A battery case for a metal-air battery to which each of the plurality of electrode cartridges is attached from a plurality of charging sites where a charging device for attaching each of the plurality of electrode cartridges is disposed. A method for delivering an electrode cartridge that is delivered by a transportation means to a plurality of discharge sites where
A step (1) in which the information processing apparatus refers to an elapsed time after charging of an electrode cartridge that is not used after completion of charging among the plurality of electrode cartridges;
The information processing apparatus includes a step (2) in which the information processing apparatus determines a discharge site as a delivery destination of the electrode cartridge in order from the electrode cartridge having a long elapsed time after charging referred to in the step (1). A delivery method of the electrode cartridge.

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