US3772085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for improving efficiency of high energy density batteries of metal-metal halide-halogen type by boundary layer
Assignee: Energy Development Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1971-11-18
•
Granted: 1973-11-13
•
Expires: 1991-11-18
Abstract
Abstract Efficiencies of high energy density batteries having metal and halogen electrodes and aqueous metal halide electrolyte are improved by creating a boundary layer of electrolyte low in halogen content adjacent to the metal electrode. Such boundary layer or stagnant electrolyte prevents contact of the metal electrode with halogen from a first flow of electrolyte containing dissolved halogen which passes through the base of the halogen electrode. When the cell is vertical, best formation of the boundary layer is obtained when the second flow of electrolyte enters the bottom of the cell and is directed upwardly and toward the halogen electrode with a horizontal velocity component equal to that of the first electrolyte flow entering the reaction zone. In preferred embodiments of the invention the cell comprises bipolar electrodes of zinc and a porous carbon base for the halogen, the halogen is chlorine and the electrolyte is aqueous zinc chloride.
Inventors
- 👤 H Bjorkman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M12/00; H01M12/08; H01M12/085; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/365; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the frame is of a synthetic organic plastic, the metal electrode is zinc, the halogen electrode is porous carbon, the means for contacting the halogen electrode with halogen includes passageways for the halogen through the halogen electrode and the aqueous metal halide is zinc chloride.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the metal of the metal electrode is affixed to the front of a carbonaceous substrate; the back of the carbonaceous substrate is attached to the back of a second halogen electrode of a second cell while the back of the halogen electrode is attached to the back of a second carbonaceous substrate for the metal electrode of a third cell; the passageways for elecTrolyte are between the back of each of the halogen electrodes and the back of each of the carbonaceous substrates of the respective metal electrodes; the electrodes are bipolar; the path pursued by the electrolyte through the first cell inlet means is through the passageways and through the porous halogen electrode while the flow of electrolyte through the second cell inlet means is directed upwardly and towards the porous halogen electrode so as to produce a vertical flow vector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A plurality of cells according to claim 1, electrically connected to form a battery, with manifolds connecting electrolyte inlets and outlets of the cells.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of maintaining a boundary layer of an electrolyte adjacent to a metal electrode in a diaphragmless secondary cell having a cell frame having an inlet and outlet means, a metal electrode held to said frame, a porous supporting conductive halogen electrode joined to the frame and spaced from the metal electrode, thereby forming an intercell spacing, said cell frame outlet means positioned between the metal electrode and the halogen electrode of the cell, a second cell frame inlet means positioned adjacent to the metal electrode and spaced between the metal electrode and the halogen electrode in the intercell spacing and inclined at an angle of 5* to 30* from the metal electrode which comprises the steps of: (1) passing a halogen containing aqueous metal halide electrolyte into said cell through the first cell frame inlet means, through the porous halogen electrode; (2) flowing electrolyte into said cell through the second cell inlet means with such a velocity as to counteract the flow of said halogen containing electrolyte from said first inlet means in the direction of the metal electrode, thereby insulating the metal electrode from the dissolved halogen containing electrolyte and (3) forcing both portions of the electrolyte through the cell and out of the cell frame outlet means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
206 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the cell is substantially vertical, the metal electrode is zinc on the front of a carbonaceous substrate, the back of the substrate being attached to the back of a second porous halogen electrode of a second cell, while the back of the halogen electrode is attached to the back of a second carbonaceous substrate of a second metal electrode of a third cell, the halogen is chlorine, the electrolyte is aqueous zinc chloride containing dissolved chlorine, the electrodes are bipolar, passageways are formed between the back of the carbonaceous substrate of the metal electrodes and the porous carbon chlorine electrodes, wherein the electrolyte through said first inlet means enters the cell with a substantially horizontal velocity after passing through the chlorine electrode and the electrolyte through said second inlet means enters the cell with upward and horizontal velocity components so as to substantially neutralize the horizontal velocity component of the electrolyte through said first inlet means and move the electrolyte vertically past the zinc electrode at a Reynolds number less than 100, and thereby insulate the metal electrode from the chlorine of the electrolyte from said first inlet means and maintain a boundary layer adjacent to the zinc electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the electrolyte flowing into the first and second cell inlet means is from a common manifold means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the electrolyte flow passing through said first inlet is substantially horizontal in the direction of the zinc electrode, the electrolyte flow passing through said second inlet is at 5* to 30* from the vertical, and the velocity of the electrolyte through said second inlet is greater than that of the electrolyte from said first inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the electrolyte passing through said second inlet enters the reaction zone of the cell at the bottom thereof adjacent to thE zinc electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the electrolyte passing through said second inlet is of a lower elemental chlorine content than the electrolyte passing through said first inlet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2921110A
Cited
US3227585A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |