Air battery and electrochemical method
First Claim
1. A method for producing electricity by oxidizing a metal and reducing oxygen, comprisingelectrolytically connecting an oxygen-reducing electrode with an inert anode which is in contact with a pumpable paste consisting essentially of particles of an oxidizable metal and a liquid electrolyte and being free from gelling agents, said paste being physically separated from said oxygen-reducing electrode by an ion-pervious insulating membrane abutting said oxygen-reducing electrode and providing said electrolytic connection between said oxygen-reducing electrode and said inert anode,said oxidizable metal being a metal that forms a solid metal oxide and said liquid electrolyte being a liquid which does not dissolve said solid metal oxide,said paste of said metal and said electrolyte comprising very fine metal particles in metal-to-metal contact with each other, and electrolyte filling the interstices between the metal particles and having a concentration of metal particles between (i) the amount constituting the critical pigment volume composition (CPVC) and (ii) an amount at least 60% by volume of said CPVCcontacting said oxygen-reducing electrode with an oxygen-containing gas;
- connecting said electrodes through an external electric circuit, whereby electricity flow through said circuit; and
moving said paste relative to said inert anode while said electrodes are externally connected, whereby the metal particles in said paste are progressively transformed into metal oxide particles.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for electrochemically producing electricity. Ion contivity is established between an oxygen-reducing electrode, and adjacent ion pervious insulating membrane, a paste which has flow characteristics comprising particles of an oxidizable metal and a liquid electrolyte, and an inert electrode in physical contact with said paste. In said paste, the metal particles are in an amount constituting from 60% up to the critical pigment volume composition. The metal paste is moved from a first reservoir through the electrochemical battery wherein it is oxidized to the corresponding metal oxide paste and passed to a second reservoir. The battery may be recharged by reversing the movement and electrolyzing, or by reducing the metal oxide paste in an external circuit.
80 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for producing electricity by oxidizing a metal and reducing oxygen, comprising
electrolytically connecting an oxygen-reducing electrode with an inert anode which is in contact with a pumpable paste consisting essentially of particles of an oxidizable metal and a liquid electrolyte and being free from gelling agents, said paste being physically separated from said oxygen-reducing electrode by an ion-pervious insulating membrane abutting said oxygen-reducing electrode and providing said electrolytic connection between said oxygen-reducing electrode and said inert anode, said oxidizable metal being a metal that forms a solid metal oxide and said liquid electrolyte being a liquid which does not dissolve said solid metal oxide, said paste of said metal and said electrolyte comprising very fine metal particles in metal-to-metal contact with each other, and electrolyte filling the interstices between the metal particles and having a concentration of metal particles between (i) the amount constituting the critical pigment volume composition (CPVC) and (ii) an amount at least 60% by volume of said CPVC contacting said oxygen-reducing electrode with an oxygen-containing gas; -
connecting said electrodes through an external electric circuit, whereby electricity flow through said circuit; and moving said paste relative to said inert anode while said electrodes are externally connected, whereby the metal particles in said paste are progressively transformed into metal oxide particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification