A metal halogen battery having a hydrogen/halogen reactor system

Claim 1

A metal halogen battery construction comprising at least one cell having a positive electrode (14) and a negative electrode (17), separated by aqueous electrolyte containing the material of said metal and halogen; a sump (18) wherein the electrolyte is collected; a store (20) wherein halogen hydrate is formed and stored as part of an aqueous material; means (Pl) for circulating electrolyte through the cell;and conduit means (C) for transmitting halogen gas formed in the cell to hydrate forming means (P2, H) associated with the store (20); characterized in that a reactor (70) is associated with said cell whereby halogen gas formed in the cell can be reacted to form hydrogen halide by controlled chemical reaction, said reactor including at least two reaction zones (74, 77) operative to prevent self- propagation of the reaction into other areas of the battery construction, the first reaction zone (74) being comprised of a reaction initiator (76) submersed in an aqueous medium to which hydrogen/halogen gas mixtures from the cell are introduced and reacted to form hydrogen halide, the second reaction zone (77) being comprised of a chamber in communication with the first zone (74) and also including a reaction initiator (78) to cause the reaction of any remaining hydrogen and halogen; and means (75) for returning the hydrogen halide formed in the reactor (70) for re-dispersion in the aqueous electrolyte.