Sealed sodium-based thermal batteries and methods of sealing same

A sodium-based thermal battery with at least one cell including a hermetically sealed anodic chamber, the battery including:

• an electrically conductive case;
• an electrolyte separator tube positioned within the case;
• a ceramic collar;
• and
• an integrated bridge member,
• wherein the electrically conductive case, electrolyte separator tube, ceramic collar, and integrated bridge member define, at least in part, the anodic chamber therebetween, and wherein the integrated bridge member is hermetically sealed and operable electrically coupled to the metal case and hermetically sealed to the ceramic collar.

A method of at least partially sealing an anodic chamber a cell of a sodium-based rechargeable thermal battery, the method including:

• obtaining an electrically conductive case;
• positioning an electrolyte separator tube and a ceramic collar within the case such that the anodic chamber is formed, in part, between the case and the electrolyte separator tube and ceramic collar, wherein in the electrolyte separator tube defines a cathodic chamber;
• hermetically sealing and operably electrically coupling an integrated bridge member to the case;
• and
• hermetically sealing the integrated bridge member to the ceramic collar.