Zinc-bromine battery

• US 4,677,039 A
• Filed: 12/27/1985
• Issued: 06/30/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tange, Kyoichi, Suzuki, Yoshihiro, Okawa, Masahiro, Sasaki, Torahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hearn, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/813,877
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 429/14, 429/15, 429/27, 429/29, 429/105
• US Class Current: 429/513
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/365 Zinc-halogen accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4214 Arrangements for moving electrodes or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A zinc-bromine battery is disclosed which includes anode and cathode reaction tanks separated from each other by a separator membrane for preventing self-discharge, and an electrolyte storage tank for storing an electrolyte with a bromine complexing agent added thereto. Catholyte and anolyte are circulated between the cathode reaction tank and the anode reaction tank, respectively, and the electrolyte storage tank. A perforated membrane which allows an electrolyte to permeate through it but which impedes the permeation of a bromine complex compound is provided within the electrolyte storage tank so as to separate the tank into an electrolyte mixing chamber into which both catholyte and anolyte flow and an electrolyte supply chamber which resupplies the mixed electrode as the catholyte and the anolyte. When the catholyte and anolyte are mixed with each other in the electrolyte storage tank, the zinc ion concentration is equalized as between the catholyte, so that the zinc ions contained in the electrolyte are effectively utilized during charge, thereby improving the charging capacity and efficiency.

Claims

1. In a zinc-bromine battery wherein catholyte and anolyte are circulated between

a cathode reaction tank and an anode reaction tank which are separated from each other by a separator membrane for preventing self-discharge, and

an electrolyte storage tank for storing an electrolyte with a bromine complexing agent added thereto,

the improvement comprising a perforated membrane provided with a multiplicity of minute holes, said membrane allows electrolyte to permeate therethrough but impedes the permeation of a bromine complex compound and is provided within said electrolyte storage tank in order to divide said electrolyte storage tank into an electrolyte mixing chamber for mixing catholyte and anolyte and an electrolyte supply chamber for resupplying mixed catholyte and anolyte to said catholyte reaction tank.

2. A zinc-bromine battery according to claim 1, wherein a complex compound supply pipe is provided between the bottom of said electrolyte mixing chamber, which constitutes a complex compound storing chamber, and a passage for said catholyte which is supplied from said electrolyte supply chamber.

3. A zinc-bromine battery according to claim 1, wherein said perforated membrane is provided in said electrolyte storage tank such that said electrolyte permeates said perforated membrane upwardly from the underside of said membrane.

4. In a zinc-bromine battery in which catholyte and anolyte are circulated independently of each other between

a cathode reaction tank and an anode reaction tank which are separated from each other by a separator membrane for preventing self-discharge, and

a catholyte storage tank and an anolyte storage tank,

the improvement comprising an electrolyte-exchange membrane between the catholyte storage tak and the anolyte storage tank but not between the cathode reaction tank and the anode reaction tank, said membrane allowing electrolyte to permeate therethrough but impeding the permeation of bromine and a bromine complex compound in order to mix said catholyte and said anolyte.

5. A zine-bromine battery according to claim 4, wherein a perforated membrane is used as said electrolyte-exchange membrane.