US4528248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochemical cell and method
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1984-07-30
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Granted: 1985-07-09
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Expires: 2004-07-30
Abstract
Abstract An electrochemical cell and method whereby a reactive metal anode is contacted with an aqueous electrolyte containing the hydroxide of the anodic metal, and the electrolyte is circulated to a scrubber for contact with carbon dioxide. In the scrubber, the precipitable carbonate of the anodic metal is formed, thereby reducing the metal hydroxide concentration in the electrolyte. The metal carbonate is separated from the electrolyte and the electrolyte is recirculated to the cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew D. Galbraith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:03
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/04; H01M6/045; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/4214; H01M10/4242; H01M12/00; H01M12/02; H01M12/04; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a reactive alkali metal anode; a cathode spaced from said anode to define an electrochemical reaction zone; an electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of the hydroxide of said reactive metal; means contacting said electrolyte with carbon dioxide to form a carbonate reaction product of said metal hydroxide and said carbon dioxide; means for separating said reaction product from said electrolyte; and, means for recirculating said electrolyte from said contacting means to said reaction zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a reactive alkali metal anode; a cathode spaced from said anode to define an electrochemical reaction zone; an electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of the hydroxide of said reactive metal; means contacting said electrolyte with carbon dioxide to form a carbonate reaction product of said metal hydroxide and said carbon dioxide; means for separating said reaction product from said electrolyte; and, means for recirculating said electrolyte from said contacting means to said reaction zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein said contacting means is a scrubber comprising spaced parallel plates defining flow channels therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cell of claim 2 wherein said vertical plates are aligned in a direction that is generally parallel to a direction of motion of said cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cell of claim 2 wherein said separating means comprises a filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cell of claim 2 further comprising means for increasing the turbulence of air flow through said scrubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cell of claim 5 wherein said means for increasing the turbulence of said air flow are vanes disposed in said channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cell of claim 2 wherein said plates are spaced from each other by about 1 to 10 cm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein said anode comprises lithium and said electrolyte is an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of generating power from an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of: (a) supplying an electrolyte to an electrochemical reaction zone defined between a cathode and a reactive alkali metal anode of said cell, said electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of the hydroxide of said reactive metal; (b) conducting said electrolyte to a gas/liquid contacting means and reacting with carbon dioxide to form a carbonate reaction product of said metal hydroxide and said carbon dioxide; (c) separating said reaction product from said electrolyte; and, (d) recirculating said electrolyte to said reaction zone.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of generating power from an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of: (a) supplying an electrolyte to an electrochemical reaction zone defined between a cathode and a reactive alkali metal anode of said cell, said electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of the hydroxide of said reactive metal; (b) conducting said electrolyte to a gas/liquid contacting means and reacting with carbon dioxide to form a carbonate reaction product of said metal hydroxide and said carbon dioxide; (c) separating said reaction product from said electrolyte; and, (d) recirculating said electrolyte to said reaction zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said contacting means is a scrubber comprising spaced parallel plates defining flow channels therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said electrolyte flows across the surface of said plates, and air flows in said channels in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of flow of said electrolyte and parallel to said plates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said plates are constructed of a material with a thermal conductivity sufficiently high to transport heat from said electrolyte and thereby cool said cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said plates are aligned in a direction that is parallel to a direction of motion of said cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said anode comprises lithium and said electrolyte is an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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