Inert gas rejection device for zinc-halogen battery systems

An electrolytic cell for separating foreign gases from a steam of chlorine and foreign gas comprising:

• (a) a cathode assembly means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, including a cathode electrode having packed bed channel means for directing the flow of said chlorine and foreign gases through said cathode assembly means, membrane means sealed to said cathode electrode over said channel means for permitting the transfer of said chloride ions from said cathode assembly means, inlet means for receiving said stream of chlorine and foreign gases, and outlet means for venting said foreign gases from said cell;
• (b) an anode electrode for oxidizing said chloride ions into chlorine gas;
• (c) partition means, interposed between and sealed to said cathode assembly means and said anode electrode, for aligning and separating said cathode assembly means and said anode electrode;
• (d) means for venting said chlorine gas generated at said anode electrode from said cell;
• (e) an aqueous electrolyte permeating said channel means, said membrane means, and the separation between said cathode assembly means and said anode electrode;
• and
• (f) electrical power means for providing a potential difference across said anode and cathode electrodes sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and chloride ion oxidation.

An electrolytic cell for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising:

• (a) cathode assembly means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, including a cathode electrode having packed bed channel means for directing the flow of said chlorine and foreign gases through said cathode assembly means, membrane means sealed to said cathode electrode over said channel means for permitting the transfer of said chloride ions from said cathode assembly means, inlet means for receiving said stream of chlorine and foreign gases, and outlet means for venting said foreign gases from said cell;
• (b) an anode electrode for oxidizing said chloride ions into chlorine gas;
• (c) a housing for aligning and separating said cathode assembly means and said anode electrode, including means for venting said chlorine gas generated at said anode electrode;
• (d) an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing;
• and
• (e) electrical power means for providing a potential difference across said anode and cathode electrodes sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and chloride ion oxidation.

A multiple-stage electrolytic cell for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising:

• (a) cathode assembly means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, including a cathode electrode having a plurality of adjacent packed bed channel means for directing the flow of said chlorine and foreign gases through said cathode assembly means, membrane means sealed to said cathode electrode over each of said channel means for permitting the transfer of said chloride ions from said cathode assembly means, inlet means for receiving said stream of chlorine and foreign gases, outlet means for venting said foreign gases from said cell, and passage means for serially connecting said adjacent channel means;
• (b) an anode electrode for oxidizing said chloride ions into chlorine gas;
• (c) a housing for aligning and separating said cathode assembly means and said anode electrode, including means for venting said chlorine gas generated at said anode electrode;
• (d) an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing;
• and
• (e) electrical power means for providing a potential difference across said anode and cathode electrodes sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and chloride ion oxidation.