Hydrogen/halogen reactor system for metal halogen batteries

Claim 1

In a metal halogen battery construction, the improved combination of, at least one cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, separated by aqueous electrolyte containing the material of said metal and halogen, sump means wherein the electrolyte is collected, store means wherein halogen hydrate is formed and stored as part of an aqueous material, means for circulating electrolyte through the cell, conduit means for transmitting halogen gas formed in the cell to hydrate forming means associated with the store means, a reactor means associated with said construction whereby halogen gas formed in the cell can be reacted to form hydrogen halide by controlled chemical reaction, said reactor means including at least two reaction zones operative to prevent self-propagation of the reaction into other areas of the battery construction, the first reaction zone being comprised of a reaction initiator means submersed in an aqueous medium to which hydrogen/halogen gas mixtures from the cell are introduced and reacted to form hydrogen halide, the second reaction zone being comprised of a chamber means in communication with the first zone, and with said chamber also including a reaction initiator means to cause the reaction of any remaining hydrogen and halogen, and means for returning the hydrogen halide formed in the reactor means for re-dispersion in the aqueous electrolyte.