US4220690A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Secondary zinc/oxygen electrochemical cells using inorganic oxyacid electrolytes
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1979-06-28
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Granted: 1980-09-02
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Expires: 1999-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A secondary zinc/oxygen electrochemical cell utilizing a circulating aqueous inorganic oxyacid electrolyte and having an external load circuit or charging circuit in electronic communication with the anode and cathode, the circuit being completed by ionic interaction through an ionic separator between the catholyte and anolyte. The electrochemical cell of this invention provides a process for production of electricity and may be recharged by providing electrical energy from the external circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith F. Blurton
- 👤 Anthony F. Sammells
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M12/00; H01M12/08; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A secondary zinc/oxygen electrochemical cell comprising a cell container divided into a first and second electrolyte compartment by an ionically conducting separator; an aqueous inorganic oxyacid electrolyte in each of said compartments, a zinc anode in contact with circulating electrolyte in said first compartment, a catalyzed oxygen cathode in contact with circulating electrolyte in said second compartment, means for circulating said electrolyte in said first and second compartments, and an external load circuit or charging circuit in electronic communication with said anode and said cathode, the circuit being completed by ionic interaction between electrolyte compartments through said ionic separator and electrons through the external load circuit or charging circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A secondary zinc/oxygen electrochemical cell comprising a cell container divided into a first and second electrolyte compartment by an ionically conducting separator; an aqueous inorganic oxyacid electrolyte in each of said compartments, a zinc anode in contact with circulating electrolyte in said first compartment, a catalyzed oxygen cathode in contact with circulating electrolyte in said second compartment, means for circulating said electrolyte in said first and second compartments, and an external load circuit or charging circuit in electronic communication with said anode and said cathode, the circuit being completed by ionic interaction between electrolyte compartments through said ionic separator and electrons through the external load circuit or charging circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said inorganic oxyacid electrolyte is maintained at a pH of about 0.5 to about 6.0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said inorganic oxyacid electrolyte is maintained at a pH of about 0.5 to about 4.0.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric, phosphoric, boric acids and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is sulfuric acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is a mixture of sulfuric and phosphoric acids.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte is circulated in the electrode area at an apparent linear velocity of about 1 to about 10 cm/sec.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 7 wherein said velocity is about 1 to about 3 cm/sec.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the pH of electrolyte in said first compartment is about 1.0 to about 4.0 and the pH of electrolyte in said second compartment is about 0.5 to about 3.0.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said catalyzed oxygen cathode is high surface area platinum supported on graphite.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte is circulated from said first and second compartments to separate respective storage means for recycling to said respective compartments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
A process for production of electricity by use of a secondary zinc/oxygen electrochemical cell having an aqueous inorganic oxyacid electrolyte comprising: contacting a zinc anode with a flowing aqueous inorganic oxyacid anolyte causing oxidation of the zinc anode; contacting a catalyzed oxygen cathode with oxygen and a flowing aqueous inorganic oxyacid catholyte causing reduction of oxygen to form water; withdrawing electrical energy from said cell by loading an external circuit in electronic communication with said anode and cathode; and completing the electrical circuit by contacting one side of an ionically conducting separator with said anolyte and the other side with said catholyte, providing ionic interaction between the two electrolytes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
A process for production of electricity by use of a secondary zinc/oxygen electrochemical cell having an aqueous inorganic oxyacid electrolyte comprising: contacting a zinc anode with a flowing aqueous inorganic oxyacid anolyte causing oxidation of the zinc anode; contacting a catalyzed oxygen cathode with oxygen and a flowing aqueous inorganic oxyacid catholyte causing reduction of oxygen to form water; withdrawing electrical energy from said cell by loading an external circuit in electronic communication with said anode and cathode; and completing the electrical circuit by contacting one side of an ionically conducting separator with said anolyte and the other side with said catholyte, providing ionic interaction between the two electrolytes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said inorganic oxyacid electrolyte is maintained at a pH of about 0.5 to about 6.0.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said inorganic oxyacid electrolyte is maintained at a pH of about 0.5 to about 4.0.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric, phosphoric, boric acids and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is sulfuric acid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is a mixture of sulfuric and phosphoric acids.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said electrolyte is circulated in the electrode area at an apparent linear velocity of about 1 to about 10 cm/sec.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said velocity is about 1 to about 3 cm/sec.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the pH of said anolyte is about 1.0 to about 4.0 and the pH of said catholyte is about 0.5 to about 3.0.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said catalyzed oxygen cathode is high surface area platinum supported on graphite.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said anolyte and catholyte are circulated to separate respective storage means for recycle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
106 words
A process for recharging a secondary zinc/oxygen electrochemical cell having an aqueous inorganic oxyacid electrolyte comprising: providing electrical energy from an external circuit to a zinc anode and a catalyzed oxygen cathode; contacting said zinc anode with a flowing aqueous inorganic oxyacid anolyte transporting zinc salts of said inorganic oxyacid anolyte to add zinc to said anode; contacting said catalyzed oxygen cathode with flowing aqueous inorganic oxyacid catholyte to produce oxygen and venting said oxygen; and completing the electrical circuit by contacting one side of an ionically conducting separator with said anolyte and the other side with said catholyte, providing ionic interaction between the two electrolytes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
106 words
A process for recharging a secondary zinc/oxygen electrochemical cell having an aqueous inorganic oxyacid electrolyte comprising: providing electrical energy from an external circuit to a zinc anode and a catalyzed oxygen cathode; contacting said zinc anode with a flowing aqueous inorganic oxyacid anolyte transporting zinc salts of said inorganic oxyacid anolyte to add zinc to said anode; contacting said catalyzed oxygen cathode with flowing aqueous inorganic oxyacid catholyte to produce oxygen and venting said oxygen; and completing the electrical circuit by contacting one side of an ionically conducting separator with said anolyte and the other side with said catholyte, providing ionic interaction between the two electrolytes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said inorganic oxyacid electrolyte is maintained at a pH of about 0.5 to about 6.0.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said inorganic oxyacid electrolyte is maintained at a pH of about 0.5 to about 4.0.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric, phosphoric, boric acids and mixtures thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is sulfuric acid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said inorganic oxyacid is a mixture of sulfuric and phosphoric acids.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said electrolyte is circulated in the electrode area at an apparent linear velocity of about 1 to about 10 cm/sec.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said velocity is about 1 to about 3 cm/sec.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the pH of said anolyte is about 1.0 to about 4.0 and the pH of said catholyte is about 0.5 to about 3.0.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said catalyzed oxygen cathode is high surface area platinum supported on graphite.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said anolyte and catholyte are circulated to separate respective storage means for recycle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-09-02 | 1984-03-03 | 1984-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-02 | 1988-03-03 | 1988-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-02 | 1992-03-03 | 1992-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |