Electrochemical cells having a liquid alkali metal electrode and solid electrolyte
AssigneeThe Electricity Council
InventorsIvor Wynn Jones, Lyndon James Miles, Graham Robinson
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Abstract
In an electrochemical cell, such as a sodium-sulphur cell, having a liquid metal electrode and a solid electrolyte, the solid electrolyte is an upright tube with a closed end and a reservoir is provided above the top of the electrolyte tube to accommodate the increased volume of the cathodic reactant as the cell discharges whereby the whole surface of the electrolyte can be in contact with the cathodic reactant despite the increase in volume of the cathodic reactant in the cathodic compartment.
Claims11
A rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising a tubular housing, an upright solid electrolyte tube within said tubular housing, a liquid alkali metal adjacent one face of the electrolyte tube, and a cathodic reactant adjacent the other face of the electrolyte tube, said electrolyte tube being closed at one end and the cathodic reactant-containing reservoir being provided in said housing above the top of the electrolyte tube, a rerservoir for the liquid alkali metal below the electrolyte tube, and gas pressure means for raising the alkali metal from the alkali metal reservoir to lie in contact with the whole of said one face of the electrolyte tube.
A sodium sulphur cell comprising a tubular stainless steel housing closed at one end, a solid electrolyte tube of beta-alumina ceramic closed at one end, said electrolyte tube being co-axially within said tubular housing, closure means incorporating an electrical connector over the open end of the electrolyte tube, sealing the internal region within the electrolyte tube, a closure cap sealing said closure means to said housing at the open end of the housing, said housing being longer than said electrolyte tube to form a sulphur reservoir within said housing between the closed end of said housing and the closed end of said electrolyte tube, a sodium reservoir within said electrolyte tube, and gas pressure means operative to raise sodium from said reservoir for maintaining liquid sodium in contact with substantially the whole inner surface of said electrolyte tube.
A sodium sulphur cell comprising an upright tubular housing, a solid electrolyte tube closed at one end, said electrolyte tube being in said housing and coaxial therewith, sealing means around said electrolyte tube adjacent the open end thereof sealing said electrolyte tube to said housing, a first reservoir for the cathodic reactant in said housing above said electrolyte tube, a second reservoir for liquid sodium at least partly below said electrolyte tube, and gas pressure means for raising the sodium from said second reservoir to lie in contact with the whole of one face of the electrolyte tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.