Patent US4675254A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4675254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochemical cell and method
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
•
Filing: 1986-02-14
•
Granted: 1987-06-23
•
Expires: 2006-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of improving performance in an electrochemical cell having a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from the anode face and defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween whereby an aqueous alkaline electrolyte flows through a system of flow baffles disposed in the electrolyte flow channel of the cell. The flow baffles define an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of a flow vector of the electrolyte to increase the speed at which the electrolyte passes across the anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without such baffles.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas Shuster
- 👤 Jerome F. Pallat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M6/00; H01M6/04; H01M12/00; H01M12/04; H01M12/06; H01M12/065; H01M50/00; H01M50/40; H01M50/463; H01M50/70; H01M50/77
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a consumable anode defining a face; a cathode spaced from said anode face and defining a cathode face opposing said anode face, said cathode face and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in contact with said anode and with said cathode face and defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes through said flow channel and across said anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a consumable anode defining a face; a cathode spaced from said anode face and defining a cathode face opposing said anode face, said cathode face and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in contact with said anode and with said cathode face and defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes through said flow channel and across said anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1, further comprising an interelectrode electrode separator disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in addition to said baffles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein said electrode separator comprises a layer of foam in contact with said anode face and an adjacent screen in contact with said cathode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein said anode is adhered to a conductive metal substrate and said baffles extend through said anode and have a front face in contact with said substrate and an opposed back face in contact with said cathode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 4 wherein said baffles further comprise a non-reactive insulating coating between said baffles and said metal substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a consumable anode defining a face; a cathode spaced from said anode face, said cathode and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of a flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles, said baffles being parallel and spaced from each other in the direction of said flow vector, wherein the baffles disposed near the outlet of said electrolyte flow channel are spaced closer together in the direction of said flow vector than the baffles near the inlet of said electrolyte flow channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a consumable anode defining a face; a cathode spaced from said anode face, said cathode and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of a flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles, said baffles being parallel and spaced from each other in the direction of said flow vector, wherein the baffles disposed near the outlet of said electrolyte flow channel are spaced closer together in the direction of said flow vector than the baffles near the inlet of said electrolyte flow channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electchemical cell, comprising: a consumable anode defining a face; a cathode spaced from said anode face, said cathode and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of a flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles wherein said consumable anode comprises an alkali metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electchemical cell, comprising: a consumable anode defining a face; a cathode spaced from said anode face, said cathode and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of a flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles wherein said consumable anode comprises an alkali metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 7 wherein said alkali metal comprises lithium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a consumable anode defining a face; a cathode spaced from said anode face, said cathode and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of a flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles wherein said cathode comprises silver oxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a consumable anode defining a face; a cathode spaced from said anode face, said cathode and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of a flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles wherein said cathode comprises silver oxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
160 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: an alkali metal anode defining an anode face; a silver oxide cathode spaced from said anode face and defining a cathode face opposing said anode face, said cathode face and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles in contact with said anode and with said cathode face and defining a substantially zig-zag electrolyte flow path disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes through said flow channel and across said anode faces at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
160 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising: an alkali metal anode defining an anode face; a silver oxide cathode spaced from said anode face and defining a cathode face opposing said anode face, said cathode face and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell; and, a plurality of baffles in contact with said anode and with said cathode face and defining a substantially zig-zag electrolyte flow path disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes through said flow channel and across said anode faces at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrochamical cell of claim 10 wherein said baffles are parallel and spaced frome ach other in the direction of said flow vector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 11 wherein the baffles disposed near the outlet of said electrolyte flow channel are spaced closer together in the direction of said flow vector than the baffles near the inlet of said electrolyte flow channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10 wherein said alkali metal comprises lithium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 14, further comprising an electrode separator disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in addition to said baffles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 14 wherein said electrode separator comprises a layer of foam in contact with said anode face and an adjacent screen in contact with said cathode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10 wherein said anode is adhered to a conductive metal substrate and said baffles extend through said anode and have a front face in contact with said substrate and an opposed back face in contact with said cathode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 16 wherein said baffles further comprise a non-reactive insulating coating between said baffles and said metal substrate.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqeuous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define a cathode face opposing said anode face, said cathode face and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqueous alkaline electrolyte through a plurality of flow baffles in contact with said anode and with said cathode face and disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqeuous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define a cathode face opposing said anode face, said cathode face and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqueous alkaline electrolyte through a plurality of flow baffles in contact with said anode and with said cathode face and disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising an interelectrode electrode separator disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in addition to said means for increasing the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqeuous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face, said baffles being parallel and spaced from each other in the direction of said flow vector and wherein the baffles disposed near the outlet of said electrolyte flow channel are spaced closer together in the direction of said flow vector than the baffles near the inlet of said electrolyte flow channel.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqeuous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face, said baffles being parallel and spaced from each other in the direction of said flow vector and wherein the baffles disposed near the outlet of said electrolyte flow channel are spaced closer together in the direction of said flow vector than the baffles near the inlet of said electrolyte flow channel.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqueous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face wherein said consumable anode comprises an alkali metal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqueous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face wherein said consumable anode comprises an alkali metal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said alkali metal comrises lithium.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqeuous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component to the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face wherein said cathode comprises silver oxide.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqeuous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component to the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face wherein said cathode comprises silver oxide.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqueous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face, said cell further comprising an electrode separator disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in addition to said baffles, said electrode separator comprising a layer of foam in contact with said anode face and an adjacent screen in contact with said cathode.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqueous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flow baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face, said cell further comprising an electrode separator disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in addition to said baffles, said electrode separator comprising a layer of foam in contact with said anode face and an adjacent screen in contact with said cathode.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqeuous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flor baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face, said cell further comprising an electrode separator disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in addition to said baffles, said anode being adhered to a conductive metal substrate and said baffles extending through said anode and having a front face in contact with said substrate and an opposed back face in contact with said cathode.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an aqeuous/metal electrochemical cell comprising a consumable metal anode defining an anode face and a cathode spaced from said anode face to define an electrolyte flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, with a circuit connection between said anode and cathode, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through a system of flow baffles disposed in said electrolyte flow channel, said flor baffles defining an electrolyte flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes across said anode face, said cell further comprising an electrode separator disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in addition to said baffles, said anode being adhered to a conductive metal substrate and said baffles extending through said anode and having a front face in contact with said substrate and an opposed back face in contact with said cathode.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said baffles further comprise a non-reactive insulating coating between said baffles and said metal substrate.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an electrochemical cell comprising an alkali metal anode defining an anode face and a silver oxide cathode spaced from said anode face and defining a cathode face opposing said anode face, said cathode face and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through said electrolyte flow channel, said electrolyte flow channel having a plurality of baffles disposed therein, said baffles in contact with said anode and with said cathode face and defining an electrolyte flow path, said flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes through said flow channel and across sadi anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of generating electrical energy with an electrochemical cell comprising an alkali metal anode defining an anode face and a silver oxide cathode spaced from said anode face and defining a cathode face opposing said anode face, said cathode face and said anode face defining an electrolyte flow channel therebetween, said flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, each of said anode face and said cathode being adapted to be in direct contact with an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte during operation of said cell, said method comprising the step of: flowing an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte through said electrolyte flow channel, said electrolyte flow channel having a plurality of baffles disposed therein, said baffles in contact with said anode and with said cathode face and defining an electrolyte flow path, said flow path having a directional vector component perpendicular to a sufficient component of the flow vector of said electrolyte to increase the speed at which said electrolyte passes through said flow channel and across sadi anode face at any selected volumetric flow rate as compared to an otherwise identical cell without said baffles.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said baffles are parallel and spaced from each other in the direction of said flow factor.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the baffles disposed near the outlet of said electrolyte flow channel are spaced closer together in a direction of said flow vector than the baffles near the inlet of said electrolyte flow channel.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said alkali metal comprises lithium.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said electrochemical cell further comprises an electrode separator disposed in said electrolyte flow channel in addition to said baffles.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said electrode separator comprises a layer of foam in contact with said anode face and an adjacent screen in contact with said cathode.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said anode is adhered to a conductive metal substrate and said baffles extend to said anode and have a front face in contact with said substrate and an opposed back face in contact with said cathode.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said baffles further comprise a non-reactive insulating coating between said baffles and said metal substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2777811A
Cited
US3432353A
Cited
US3657099A
Cited
US3840455A
Cited
US4269907A
Cited
US4555454A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-22 | 1990-12-22 | 1991-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-12-22 | 1995-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-22 | 1998-12-22 | 1999-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |