Shunt current protection for circulating electrolyte in monopolar battery systems (Bat-81)
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsJoseph A. Shropshire, Patrick G. Grimes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Monopolar battery performance may be enhanced by circulating the electrolyte. A circulating electrolyte configuration for this type of system, however, gives rise to undesirable shunt current effects when used in series arrays. A protective current is applied to reduce or eliminate the shunt currents. The application of the protective current in aqueous monopolar battery systems will result in a REDOX reaction couple, wherein water is electrically consumed at the protective current anode and electrically replaced at the protective current cathode.
Claims14
A monopolar aqueous battery system, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of cells electrically connected at least in part in series and connected hydraulically at least in part in parallel;
- (b) means defining a hydraulic pathway for an aqueous electrolyte common to at least two of said cells, wherein an electrical electrolytic conductive bypass path is formed through shared electrolyte around said cells, whereby undesirable shunt currents can arise in said shared aqueous electrolyte;
- (c) means for circulating said aqueous electrolyte between said cells;
- and
- (d) means defining a REDOX reaction for said aqueous electrolyte wherein water is electrically consumed and replaced, whereby the composition of said aqueous electrolyte remains substantially constant, including means for applying a protective current through at least a part of said conductive bypass path through said shared electrolyte in a direction which is the same as the shunt currents through said shared electrolyte and of a magnitude which effectively at least reduces said shunt currents.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.