Substance and device for the absorption of catalyst poisoning gases out of the oxyhydrogen gas produced by lead-acid storage batteries
AssigneeAccumulatorenwerk Hoppecke Carl Zoellner & Sohn
InventorsNorbert Wilhelm Lahme, Gunter C. Sassmannshausen
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Abstract
A substance, a method of producing it, and a device for using the substance in the absorption of catalyst poisoning gases out of the oxyhydrogen gas mixture produced by lead-acid storage batteries, the substance effecting the oxidation of the unstable catalyst poisoning gases SbH.sub.3 and AsH.sub.3 to produce hydrolysis-resistant intermetallic compounds. As absorbing substances are usable heavy-metal manganites, heavy-metal oxides and catalytic agents. As a device, the absorbing substance is combined with an oxygen and hydrogen recombination unit.
Claims18
A device for the catalytic recombination of oxyhydrogen gas produced by a lead-acid storage battery into water and for returning the water to the battery electrolyte, comprising in combination:
- a generally gastight housing arranged above the battery electrolyte and connected with the space containing said electrolyte for gas flow communication and for liquid return flow thereto, said housing defining a cavity therein;
- a catalyst body mounted in the cavity of the housing, the catalyst body serving to catalyze said recombination of the oxygen and hydrogen gases into water;
- a gas permeable containing means positioned in the cavity, said containing means surrounding said catalyst body and being spaced therefrom to define a space therebetween, said containing means also being spaced from the inner wall of said housing, whereby oxyhydrogen gas in said housing cavity is provided access to the entire gas permeable containing means, and therefore, to the entire catalyst body;
- and
- a bed of an absorbing substance comprising a heavy metal manganite and being located in said defined space and surrounding the catalyst body, the absorbing substance serving to eliminate from the oxyhdrogen gas mixture catalyst poisoning gases comprising antimony-hydride and/or arsenic-hydride, which are generated together with the oxyhydrogen gases during battery operation.
A device for the catalytic recombination of oxyhydrogen gas produced by a lead-acid storage battery into water and for returning the water to the battery electrolyte, comprising in combination:
- a generally gastight housing arranged above the battery electrolyte and connected with the space containing said electrolyte for gas flow communication and for liquid return flow thereto, said housing defining a cavity therein;
- a catalyst body mounted in the cavity of the housing, the catalyst body serving to catalyze said recombination of the oxygen and hydrogen gases into water;
- a gas permeable containing means positioned in the cavity, said containing means surrounding said catalyst body and being spaced therefrom to define a space therebetween, said containing means also being spaced from the inner wall of said housing, whereby oxyhydrogen gas in said housing cavity is provided access to the entire gas permeable containing means, and therefore, to the entire catalyst body;
- and
- a bed of an absorbing substance consisting essentially of an oxide of copper located in said defined space and surrounding the catalyst body, the absorbing substance serving to eliminate from the oxyhydrogen gas mixture catalyst poisoning gases comprising antimony-hydride and/or arsenic-hydride, which are generated together with the oxyhydrogen gases during battery operation.
In a method for catalytically recombining into water the oxyhydrogen gas produced during operation of a lead-acid storage battery, said gas containing antimony and arsenic impurities, including the step of contacting said oxyhydrogen gas with a catalyst suitable for catalyzing recombination of said gas into water, the improvement which comprises the step of contacting said oxyhydrogen gas, prior to contacting said catalyst, with a composition suitable for eliminating said impurities, comprising a heavy-metal manganite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.