Patent US3791871A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3791871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrochemical cell
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1971-04-14
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1991-04-14
Abstract
Abstract The effective generation of electrical power is provided utilizing materials which are both chemically and electrochemically highly reactive with one another, in particular, alkali metals and water. The transport of water molecules to the alkali metal anode surface is restricted in the electrolyte. In a simple single stage cell an alkali metal hydroxide aqueous solution electrolyte is provided between an alkali metal anode and a non-reactive metal cathode at a sufficiently high concentration to prevent melting of the anode or thermal runaway. No other chemical or mechanical intermediary is required. Electrical power is obtained by continuously adding to the electrolyte during operation a controlled restricted quantity of water proportional to the electrical current withdrawn from the cell. No external heating is required and the cell operates near room temperature. The control of the rate of water addition may be used to control the power output of the cell.
Inventors
- 👤 L Rowley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/30; H01M6/32; H01M12/00; H01M12/04; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises water feed control means for continuously feeding additional water into said electrolyte at a controlled restricted rate in a manner whereby a portion of said water diffuses through said electrolyte to said cathode to be reduced electrochemically at said cathode as electrical power is drawn from said cell by said circuit connection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said anode is sodium and said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide and wherein said solution thereof corresponds approximately to the composition of sodium hydroxide monohydrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said anode is sodium and said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide and wherein said solution is approximately 70 percent sodium hydroxide by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein said anode is lithium and said alkali metal hydroxide is lithium hydroxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said water feed means comprises a water supply means and water flow restricting aperture means between said water supply means and said electrolyte.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said anode and said electrolyte are enclosed in a porous-walled container providing restricted water ingress and restricted hydrogen gas egress.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of generating electricity in an electrochemical cell comprising: directly commonly immersing a solid alkali metal anode highly reactive with water and a non-reactive cathode in an electrolyte consisting essentially of a liquid solution in water of the hydroxides of said alkali metal anode; maintaining said electrolyte at an operating temperature above its liquification temperature and below the melting point of said alkali metal anode and not in excess of the boiling temperature of said electrolyte; maintaining said hydroxide solution of said electrolyte at a sufficiently high concentration to prevent melting of said anode by the direct chemical reaction between said anode and the water in said electrolyte; and continuously adding water to said electrolyte at a restricted rate which maintains said electrolyte hydroxide solution and replaces the water consummed in the cell by the chemical and electrochemical reactions therein while electrical power is simultaneously withdrawn from between said anode and said cathode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said anode is sodium and said electrolyte hydroxide is sodium hydroxide and wherein said operating temperature is maintained above 12.3*C and below 97.5*C and said sodium hydroxide electrolyte solution is maintained above 52 and below 75 percent by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said anode is sodium and said electrolyte hydroxide is sodium hydroxide and wherein said operating temperature is maintained above 65*C and below 97.5*C and said sodium hydroxide electrolyte solution is maintained at approximately 70 percent by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 and including adding water to said electrolyte by passing water through a porous-walled container at a restricted rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
232 words
An electrochemical cell comprising: a. a solid elemental alkali metal consummable anode which is higly reactive with water; b. a non-reactive electrically conductive cathode spaced from said anode; c. an electrolyte in which said alkali metal anode and said cathode are commonly directly immersed as a static cell; d. said cathode being shaped so as to contain said electrolyte; e. said cell providing an open and unimpeded liquid electrolyte circulation path between said anode and said cathode; f. circuit connection means at said cathode and said anode for drawing electrical power from said cell; g. said electrolyte in the operation of said cell consisting essentially of a liquid solution in water of the hydroxides of said alkali metal anode; h. said electrolyte having a liquification temperature substantially below the melting point of said alkali metal anode; i. said hydroxide solution of said electrolyte being of sufficiently high concentration to restrict the direct chemical reaction rate between said alkali metal anode and the water in said electrolyte at said alkali metal anode to prevent both melting of said anode and blowing away of said electrolyte; and j. electrolyte molarity control means for continuously controlling said hydroxide solution concentration of said electrolyte as said cell is operated to maintain said electrolyte at a temperature below the melting point of said alkali metal anode and not in excess of the boiling point of said electrolyte.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein said control means comprises water feed control means for continuously feeding additional water into said electrolyte at a controlled restricted rate in a manner whereby a portion of said water diffuses through said electrolyte to said cathode to be reduced electrochemically at said cathode as electrical power is drawn from said cell by said circuit connection means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 13 wherein said anode and said cathode each have a substantially spiral configuration so that said spiral anode is positioned within said spiral cathode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 7 wherein said cathode is an open-mesh metallic screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |