Continuous-feed electrochemical cell with nonpacking particulate electrode
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorJohn F. Cooper
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Abstract
An electrochemical cell providing full consumption of electrochemically active particles in a nonpacking, electrolyte-permeable bed has a tapered cell cavity bounded by two nonparallel surfaces separated by a distance that promotes bridging of particles across the cavity. The gap/particle size ratio is maintained as the particles are consumed, decrease in size, and travel from the point of entry to the narrower end of the cell. A cell of this configuration supports a bed of low packing density maintained in a dynamic steady state by alternate formation and collapse of particle bridges across the gap and associated voids over the entire active area of the cell. The cell design can be applied to refuelable zinc/air cells and zinc/ferrocyanide storage batteries.
Claims25
An electrochemical cell having a nonpacking, electrolyte-permeable bed of electrochemically active particles having an average diameter, comprising a tapered cell cavity defined by at least two nonparallel cell walls separated by a distance and containing an electrolyte solution;
- wherein the cell cavity has an open end where the particles enter the cell and pass through the cavity in one direction;
- wherein the distance between the cell walls promotes bridging of particles across the cell cavity and formation of voids between particles in the cavity;
- wherein the ratio of the distance between the cell walls at any point along the cell walls and the average diameter of the particles at that point is in the range of about 1 to 7.
A bipolar electrochemical cell having a nonpacking, electrolyte-permeable bed of electrochemically active particles having an average diameter, comprising a plurality of cells connected in electrical series, wherein each cell comprises;
- a tapered cell cavity defined by at least two nonparallel cell walls separated by a distance and containing an electrolyte solution;
- wherein the cell cavity has an open end where the particles enter the cell and pass through the cavity in one direction;
- wherein the distance between the cell walls promotes bridging of particles across the cell cavity and formation of voids between particles in the cavity;
- wherein the ratio of the distance between the cell walls at any point along the cell walls and the average diameter of the particles at that point is in the range of about 1 to 7.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.