Electrochemical pH control

• US 4,144,381 A
• Filed: 09/20/1977
• Issued: 03/13/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Energy Development Associates, Inc. (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Energy Development Associates, Inc. (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Fatica, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Howard S.
• Application Number:
  US05/834,960
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 204/128, 204/129, 429/17, 429/19, 429/50, 429/51, 429/101, 429/105
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 21/00 Control of chemical or physico-chemical variables, e.g. pH value
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/365 Zinc-halogen accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/52 Removing gases inside the secondary cell, e.g. by absorption vent plugs or other mechanical arrangements for facilitating escape of gases H01M50/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The pH of an electrolyte used in an electrochemical reaction in which hydrogen is generated is controlled by converting at least a portion of the hydrogen generated into an electrolyte soluble form.

Claims

1. A method for controlling electrolyte pH in an electrochemical battery system in which hydrogen is generated which comprises converting at least a portion of the generated hydrogen into a hydrogen halide which is not a principal reactant in said system, and dissolving said hydrogen halide in said electrolyte.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte is an aqueous electrolyte.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the hydrogen generated is not purged from the electrochemical reaction system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrogen is converted by reaction with chlorine to form hydrogen chloride.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said electrolyte is an aqueous zinc chloride solution.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said chlorine is generated by said electrochemical reaction.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said hydrogen chlorine reaction is effected in the presence of ultraviolet light.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said conversion is effected in a zone maintained apart from the place of hydrogen generation.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrogen is converted by reaction with another substance to form an electrolyte soluble reaction product.