Cell with circulating electrolyte
First Claim
1. In a rechargeable electrochemical cell having a housing, a reversible metallic first electrode in said housing, and a gas-diffusion-type second electrode defining with said first electrode a first fluid space in said housing containing a liquid electrolyte, the combination therewith of:
- a supply of depolarizing gas under pressure;
conduit means leading from said supply to said housing and terminating in an apertured element opening into said first fluid space, said conduit means including a branch opening into a second-fluid space adjacent a dry face of said second electrode and separated from said first fluid space by said second electrode;
and valve means for directing gas from said supply into said first fluid space through said apertured element during a charging phase for physically agitating said electrolyte, and into said second fluid space through said branch during a discharging phase for interaction with said second electrode to generate a current flow between said electrodes and a load.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To prevent the formation of internal short circuits between electrodes of a rechargeable electrochemical cell, the electrolyte is maintained in continuous motion at least during charging when, in the case of an air-depolarized cell with a positive oxygen electrode and a negative zinc electrode, an air stream is introduced into a cylindrical cell casing through a multiplicity of orifices in a generally tangential direction and at increasing distances from the housing axis to impart rotation about that axis to the liquid; upon the subsequent discharge, a valve redirects the air stream into a compartment separated from the electrolyte by the oxygen electrode.
51 Citations
7 Claims
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1. In a rechargeable electrochemical cell having a housing, a reversible metallic first electrode in said housing, and a gas-diffusion-type second electrode defining with said first electrode a first fluid space in said housing containing a liquid electrolyte, the combination therewith of:
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a supply of depolarizing gas under pressure; conduit means leading from said supply to said housing and terminating in an apertured element opening into said first fluid space, said conduit means including a branch opening into a second-fluid space adjacent a dry face of said second electrode and separated from said first fluid space by said second electrode; and valve means for directing gas from said supply into said first fluid space through said apertured element during a charging phase for physically agitating said electrolyte, and into said second fluid space through said branch during a discharging phase for interaction with said second electrode to generate a current flow between said electrodes and a load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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- 6. A method of operating a rechargeable electrochemical cell having a reversible metallic first electrode and a gas-depolarizable second electrode in a housing also containing a liquid electrolyte between said electrodes, comprising the steps of charging said reversible electrode while admitting a stream of depolarizing gas from a high-pressure source into the space between said electrodes to set the electrolyte in continuous motion for physically agitating same, and thereafter discharging said reversible electrode while directing a stream of electrode-reactable gas from said source onto a dry face of said second electrode remote from the electrolyte for interaction therewith to generate a current flow between said electrodes and a load.
Specification