Battery using a metal particle bed electrode

• US 5,006,424 A
• Filed: 11/08/1989
• Issued: 04/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Evans, James V., Savaskan, Gultekin
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/433,475
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 429/15, 429/17, 429/19, 429/27, 429/70, 429/72, 429/81
• US Class Current: 429/406
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/26 Selection of materials as electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/065 with plate-like electrodes or stacks of plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/024 Insertable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/02 Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/70 Arrangements for stirring or circulating the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/225 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising particulate active material in the form of a suspension, a dispersion, a fluidised bed or a paste
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A zinc-air battery in a case including a zinc particle bed supported adjacent the current feeder and diaphragm on a porous support plate which holds the particles but passes electrolyte solution. Electrolyte is recycled through a conduit between the support plate and top of the bed by convective forces created by a density of differential caused by a higher concentration of high density discharge products in the interstices of the bed than in the electrolyte recycle conduit.

Claims

1. A battery comprising a battery case, a diaphragm disposed in and supported by said battery case, and metal electrode means disposed in and supported by said battery case and including a current feeder, a stationery bed of metal particles adjacent said diaphragm in contact with said current feeder and having an upper and lower end, said metal particles comprising metal on at least the outer surface of said particles, said metal being capable of dissolution in an electrolyte to generate a current in said current feeder, electrolyte outlet means proximal the lower end of said metal particle bed and including openings large enough to pass electrolyte solution but small enough to block passage of said metal particles, electrolyte inlet means for said metal particle bed proximal the upper end thereof, and electrolyte recycle conduit and storage means between said electrolyte outlet and inlet means arranged and positioned for convective flow.

2. The battery of claim 1 in combination with air electrode means disposed in said case on the opposite side of said diaphragm from said metal particle bed.

3. The battery of claim 2 in which said air electrode means is monofunctional.

4. The battery of claim 1 in which said metal is zinc.

5. The battery of claim 1 together with alkaline electrolyte within said battery case circulating through said metal particle bed and electrolyte conduit and storage means.

6. A metal electrode for a battery including a diaphragm in a case, said metal electrode comprising a current feeder, a metal particle bed adjacent to the diaphragm and current feeder, said metal being capable of dissolution in an electrolyte to generate a current in said current feeder, an upper electrolyte inlet to said bed, a lower electrolyte outlet from said bed, means to block the passage of said metal particles through said electrolyte outlet means, and electrolyte conduit and storage means between said electrolyte outlet and inlet openings arranged and positioned for convective flow.

7. In a method for generating electricity in a battery using metal electrode means including a current feeder adjacent one side of a stationary bed of metal particles in a casing,

(a) dissolving metal from the surface of said metal particles into said electrolyte to generate a current in said current feeder and form high density metal discharge products in said electrolyte,

(b) flowing said electrolyte from step (a) out the lower portion of said metal particle bed while retaining said metal particles stationary in said metal particle bed, and

(c) recycling said electrolyte from step (b) in an electrolyte recycle conduit to the upper portion of said metal particle bed, the flow of steps (b) and (c) being at least assisted by convective forces created by a density differential caused by a higher concentration of the high density metal discharge products in the electrolyte at the interstices of the metal particle bed than in the electrolyte recycle conduit.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the flow of steps (b) and (c) is maintained solely by said convective forces.

9. The method of claim 7 in which said metal comprises zinc or a zinc alloy.