US4197169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shunt current elimination and device
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1978-09-05
•
Granted: 1980-04-08
•
Expires: 1998-09-05
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a method of minimizing shunt currents in electrochemical devices which have a plurality of cells connected, at least in part, in series and which have an electrolyte which is a common electrolyte to at least two of the cells and which includes shared electrolyte, whereby an electrical electrolytic conductive bypass path is created around such cells and through said shared electrolyte, resulting in undesirable shunt currents. The method involves applying a protective current through at least a portion of said conductive bypass path through said shared electrolyte in a direction which is the same as the shunt current through said shared electrolyte and of a magnitude which effectively at least reduces said shunt currents. Thus, a single protective current is applied in series with at least a portion of the conductive bypass path such that shunt currents are minimized, and preferably are totally eliminated. The present invention is also directed to an electrochemical device having means adapted for applying the protective current thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Markus Zahn
- 👤 Patrick G. Grimes
- 👤 Richard J. Bellows
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:12
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B15/00; C25B15/06; H; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M50/70; H01M50/77; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04276; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/10; Y02P20/133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of minimizing shunt currents in an electrochemical device having a plurality of cells, said cells being connected, at least in part, in series, said device having an electrolyte which is a common electrolyte to at least two of said cells connected in series and which includes shared electrolyte, whereby an electrical electrolytic conductive bypass path is created around these cells and through said shared electrolyte, which otherwise results in undesirable shunt currents, said method comprising applying a protective current through at least a portion of said conductive bypass path through said shared electrolyte in a direction which is the same as the shunt current through said shared electrolyte and of a magnitude which effectively at least reduces said shunt currents.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of minimizing shunt currents in an electrochemical device having a plurality of cells, said cells being connected, at least in part, in series, said device having an electrolyte which is a common electrolyte to at least two of said cells connected in series and which includes shared electrolyte, whereby an electrical electrolytic conductive bypass path is created around these cells and through said shared electrolyte, which otherwise results in undesirable shunt currents, said method comprising applying a protective current through at least a portion of said conductive bypass path through said shared electrolyte in a direction which is the same as the shunt current through said shared electrolyte and of a magnitude which effectively at least reduces said shunt currents.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said protective current is applied through said conductive bypass path to reduce shunt currents in a static electrolyte electrochemical device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said protective current is applied through shared electrolyte through said conductive bypass path in a circulating electrolyte electrochemical device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said electrochemical device has circulating electrolyte by a shared electrolyte common manifold, wherein said conductive bypass path crosses through said manifold and wherein said protective current is applied through at least a part of said shared electrolyte common manifold to reduce shunt currents.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device has a plurality of cells all of which are connected in series.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said protective current is applied through said conductive bypass path to reduce shunt currents in a static electrolyte electrochemical device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said protective current is applied through shared electrolyte through said conductive bypass path in a circulating electrolyte electrochemical device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said electrochemical device has circulating electrolyte by a shared electrolyte common manifold, wherein said conductive bypass path crosses through said manifold and wherein said protective current is applied through at least a part of said shared electrolyte common manifold to reduce shunt currents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is a photoelectrochemical device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is a battery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is a fuel cell device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is a chlor-alkali cell device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrowinning device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrolyzer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrochemical device having a plurality of electrolytes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrochemical device having bipolar cells.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrochemical device having monopolar cells.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electrochemical device, comprising: (a) a plurality of cells, said cells being connected, at least in part, in series; (b) an electrolyte which is a common electrolyte to at least two of said cells connected in series and which includes shared electrolyte, whereby an electrical electrolytic conductive bypass path is created around these cells and through said shared electrolyte and is capable of resulting in undesirable shunt currents; and, (c) means for applying a protective current through at least a part of said conductive bypass path through said shared electrolyte in a direction which is the same as the shunt current through said shared electrolyte and of a magnitude which effectively at least reduces said shunt currents.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electrochemical device, comprising: (a) a plurality of cells, said cells being connected, at least in part, in series; (b) an electrolyte which is a common electrolyte to at least two of said cells connected in series and which includes shared electrolyte, whereby an electrical electrolytic conductive bypass path is created around these cells and through said shared electrolyte and is capable of resulting in undesirable shunt currents; and, (c) means for applying a protective current through at least a part of said conductive bypass path through said shared electrolyte in a direction which is the same as the shunt current through said shared electrolyte and of a magnitude which effectively at least reduces said shunt currents.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrolyte is static.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrolyte is a circulating electrolyte.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 20 further comprising a common manifold for circulation of said electrolyte and wherein said means for applying said protective current is means for applying said protective current across at least a part of said common manifold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said plurality of cells are all connected in series.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said electrolyte is static.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said electrolyte is a circulating electrolyte.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 24 further comprising a common manifold for circulation of said electrolyte and wherein said means for applying said protective current is means for applying said protective current across at least a part of said common manifold.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said device is a photoelectrochemical device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electochemical device is a battery.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrochemical device is a fuel cell device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrochemical device is a chlor-alkali cell device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrowinning device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrochemical device having a plurality of electrolytes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrolyzer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrochemical device having bipolar cells.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said electrochemical device is an electrochemical device having monopolar cells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US857378A
Cited
US2432013A
Cited
US3622490A
Cited
GB1295851A
Cited
US3909368A
Cited
US4057473A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-04-08 | 1983-10-08 | 1984-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-04-08 | 1987-10-08 | 1988-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-04-08 | 1991-10-08 | 1992-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |