Energy conversion

Abstract

An instantly refuelable energy conversion system comprises a multicell array wherein each cell has a cathode, a solid anode fuel selected from the class consisting of iron, zinc and nickel and a ferric (and/or +3 valence nickel or zinc) chloride liquid oxidizer. In power delivery (discharging) e.g., using iron alone, the reactions are: At the anode, Fe.fwdarw.Fe.sup.++ + 2e yielding 0.44 volts, At the cathode, Fe.sup.+++ +e.fwdarw.Fe.sup.++ yielding 0.75 volts, the overall reaction being: Fe + 2FeCl.sub.3 .fwdarw.3FeCl.sub.2, i.e., 1.2 volts overall. These reactions are reversible for electrical charging purposes. The oxidizer is recirculated continuously and chemical reaction between the oxidizer and solid fuel in the fully charged or partially charged system is limited by a diffusion barrier between the oxidizer and fuel so that reactions therebetween are predominantly electrochemical. The system is characterized by continuously countering the tendency of rising pH of anolyte, and/or of contaminant accumulation therein, to maintain stable operation over long periods, e.g., by using a main energy conversion system anolyte as a catholyte in an auxiliary, overdriven energy conversion system which at the same time the catholyte of the main system serves as anolyte of the auxiliary system with reliance on the richness of the liquid in hydrogen ion and Fe.sup.+++ ion to chemically attack any elemental iron formed in the auxiliary system thereby further preserving stability. The iron may be substituted in whole or in part by zinc and/or nickel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.