Extended area zinc anode having low density for use in a high rate alkaline galvanic cell

Abstract

Abstract FOR USE IN A HIGH RATE ALKALINE GALVANIC CELL, AN EXTENDED AREA ANODE COMPACT IS PROVIDED COMPOSED OF ELONGATED FORMS OF ZINC SUCH AS ZINC FIBERS OR WOOL, IN PRESSURE-FORMED, MULTIPOINT PHYSICAL CONTACT THROUGHOUT THE BODY OF THE ANODE COMPACT. THE ANODE COMPACT MAY ALSO BE FORMED FROM FABRICATED METAL SUCH AS EXPANDED ZINC METAL OR SCREEN. IN FORMING THE ANODE COMPACT, THE ZINC FIBERS, WOOL OR EXPANDED ZINC METAL IS COMPRESSION MOLDED TO A CONTROLLED LOW BULK DENSITY OF BELOW 2.5 GRAMS PER CUBIC CENTIMETER. TO ATTAIN REASONABLY HIGH ELECTRODE EFFICIENCIES ON THE ORDER OF 70% OF THEORETICAL AND ABOVE AT ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAINS OF ABOUT 250 AMPERES PER SQUARE FOOT, THE ANODE COMPACT IS FORMED TO A LOW BULK DENSITY OF FROM ABOUT 1 TO 1.75 AND PREFERABLY FROM ABOUT 1 TO 1.50 GRAMS PER CUBIC CENTIMETER. OPTIMUM ELECTRODE EFFICIENCIES ARE ATTAINED IF THE BULK DENSITY OF THE ANODE COMPACT IS MAINTAINED WITHIN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 1.0 TO 1.25 GRAMS PER CUBIC CENTIMETER. SUITABLE MEANS ARE PROVIDED IN THE CELL EMPLOYING THE ANODE COMPACT FOR MAINTAINING ITS INTERNAL TEMPERATURE AT LEAST AT A MINIMUM OPEATING TEMPERATURE REQUIRED TO DISCHARGE THE CELL AT HIGH CURRENT DENSITIES.

Inventors

• 👤 William G Darland Jr

Bibliographic Details