NOVELTY - A method (M1) of controlling fluid supplied to fluid consuming battery, involves providing fluid regulating system comprising valve and actuator; sensing an operating condition of the system; determining a minimum required time for maintaining the valve in an open position; controlling actuation of the valve to open the valve when greater battery electrical output is required; maintaining the valve in the open position for the minimum required time; and controlling actuation of the valve to close the valve when lesser battery output is required.    USE - For controlling fluid supplied to fluid consuming battery (claimed), including an electrochemical cell that utilizes fluid (such as oxygen or another gas), such as air-depolarized cell, air-assisted cell and fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - The controller controls the actuator to open the valve when greater battery electrical output is required and to close the valve when lesser battery electrical output is required, and maintains the valve in the open position for a minimum required time, and minimize battery capacity loss due to operation of the fluid regulating system. The method and system provide battery for adjusting the rate of passage of fluid to the fluid consuming electrode (e.g. the air electrodes in air-depolarized and air-assisted cells) which provide a sufficient amount of the fluid from outside the cell for discharge of the cell at high rate or high power, minimize entry of fluids into the fluid consuming electrode and water gain or loss into or from the cell during periods of low rate or no discharge. The fluid regulating system shows fast response to changes in cell potential, long cycle lifetime, low operating voltage that is well matched to the cell voltage range on discharge, and a high efficiency. The fluid regulating system shows a low permeability to the fluids being managed in the closed position, requires only very small amount of the total cell discharge capacity, have a small volume and be easy and inexpensive to manufacture and incorporate into or onto the cell, battery or device. The fluid regulating system controls the fluid supplied to the fluid consuming battery by monitoring the voltage of the battery and controlling the supply of fluid to the fluid consuming battery by opening the valve when the monitored voltage drops below a first lower threshold voltage of 1.10 volts per cell and by closing the valve when the voltage rises above a second upper voltage of 1.275 volts per cell.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A method (M1) of controlling fluid supplied to a fluid consuming battery, involves providing a fluid regulating system comprising a valve for adjusting a rate of passage of fluid into a fluid consuming electrode of a battery and an actuator for operating the valve; sensing an operating condition of the fluid regulating system; determining a minimum required time for maintaining the valve in an open position based on the sensed operating condition; controlling actuation of the valve to open the valve when greater battery electrical output is required; maintaining the valve in the open position for the minimum required time; and controlling actuation of the valve to close the valve when lesser battery electrical output is required. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a fluid regulating system for regulating fluid to a fluid consuming battery, comprising: a valve for adjusting a rate of passage of fluid into a fluid consuming electrode of a battery; an actuator for operating the valve between at least an open position and a closed position; a sensor for sensing an operating condition of the fluid regulating system; and a controller for controlling operation of the actuator to open and close the valve, the controller controlling the actuator to open the valve when greater battery electrical output is required and to close the valve when lesser battery electrical output is required, where the controller maintains the valve in the open position for a minimum required time, and the minimum required time is determined based on the sensed operating condition.