Chemical scrubber unit for an electrochemical cell

Abstract

A chemical scrubber unit for containing and neutralizing toxic, corrosive thionyl chloride and sulfur dioxide acid fluids vented by a primary electrochemical cell. The scrubber unit includes an inlet tube coupled to the electrochemical cell by which thionyl chloride and sulfur dioxide vented by the cell is conveyed to an elongated, generally rectangular distribution trap disposed within a housing of the scrubber unit. The distribution trap contains sodium carbonate or sodium bi-carbonate for reacting chemically with and neutralizing thionyl chloride vented by the cell and received within the trap and is itself surrounded within the housing by soda lime for chemically reacting with and neutralizing both sulfur dioxide and thionyl chloride vented by the cell and received within the trap. The distribution trap distributes and disseminates thionyl chloride and sulfur dioxide received thereby over a substantial volume for increasing the exposure of the thionyl chloride and sulfur dioxide to the neutralizing materials (sodium carbonate or sodium bi-carbonate and soda lime) thereby increasing the material utilization of the neutralizing materials.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.