Shunt current elimination for series connected cells
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorPatrick G. Grimes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrochemical systems having a plurality of cells which are hydraulically and electrically connected in series develop shunt currents in the electrolyte of adjacent cells. The shunt currents are reduced or eliminated by the placing of an electrical bypass across two adjacent intercell conduits, and applying a protective current through the electrical bypass in a direction of the shunt currents and of a magnitude that can effectively reduce the shunt currents.
Claims41
A method of minimizing shunt currents in an electrochemical device having a plurality of cells connected at least in part electrically and at least in part hydraulically in series, adjacent series cells of said device sharing electrolyte in respective hydraulically connected intercell conduits whereby electrical electrolytic conductive shunt current pathways are created in said electrolyte of said respective intercell conduits, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming an electrical bypass across at least two adjacent intercell conduits;
- and
- (b) applying a protective current across said electrical bypass in a direction which is the same as the shunt currents through the intercell conduits and of a magnitude which can effectively reduce said shunt currents.
An electrochemical device comprising:
- (a) a plurality of cells connected electrically at least in part in series and hydraulically at least in part in series;
- (b) at least two adjacent intercell conduits, each of which is connected across two adjacent cells, and each of which contains electrolyte shared by the adjacent cells such that an electrical electrolytic conductive path is created between said adjacently connected cells, said path capable of resulting in undesirable shunt currents;
- (c) means forming an electrical bypass across at least two adjacent intercell conduits;
- and
- (d) means for applying protective current across said electrical bypass in order to at least reduce said shunt currents.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.