Sodium-sulphur electric cell

Electric cell of the sodium-sulphur type comprising:

• a cathode tank containing a cathode reagent which is liquid at operating temperature and is chosen from the group formed by sulphur, phosphorus, selenium and the alkaline salts of those elements;
• at least one tube of solid electrolyte closed at its lower end, containing an anode reagent which is liquid at operating temperature, constituted by an alkaline metal and arranged in said cathode tank in order to be immersed in said cathode reagent, the walls of that tube being made of beta alkaline alumina;
• a support made of a ceramic insulating material, for holding said electrolyte tube in said cathode tank, the connection between that support and that tube being provided by means of a glass part;
• an anode tank containing a supply of said anode reagent and arranged above said cathode tank, so that said electrolyte tube opens at its upper part into that anode tank, said support separating the open ends of said anode tank and of said cathode tank, the said cathode tank being fitted with washers made of graphite felt ensuring the cathode collection of the current generated, that cell being characterized in that on the one hand, the outside face of said electrolyte tube, with the exception of its lower end comprises a porous coating which is electronically insulating and is intended to insulate said washers from said electrolyte tube and that on the other hand, a part made of graphite felt is arranged between said lower end of the electrolyte tube and the bottom of said cathode tank.