Abstract: A zinc-chlorine battery system in which chlorine gas evolved from the cell structure of the battery during charging of the battery is combined with a stored supply of water to form solid chlorine hydrate. During the discharge cycle of the battery, the chlorine hydrate is decomposed to replenish the chlorine content of the electrolyte.

Abstract: The pH of an electrolyte used in an electrochemical reaction in which hydrogen is generated is controlled by converting at least a portion of the hydrogen generated into an electrolyte soluble form.

Abstract: An electrical storage battery consisting of one or a plurality of cells, each comprised of a normally positive electrode for reducing a halogen disposed in electrical contact therewith and a normally negative electrode having an oxidizable metal disposed in electrical contact therewith during an electrical discharge of the cell. The cell is filled with an aqueous metal halide electrolyte which is adapted to be circulated between the cell and a storage area containing a replenishable halogen hydrate which is progressively consumed during discharge of the battery. A replenishment of the oxidizable metal is also effected periodically accompanied by a withdrawal of a controlled portion of the electrolyte to maintain the volume thereof within a preselected range.

Abstract: A HCl electrochemical energy storage system comprises a cell having therein an aqueous HCl electrolyte in which at least a portion of the HCl is present in disassociated form and an electrode of ungraphitised carbon, and communicating with said cell, at least one member of the group of means for storing hydrogen and means for storing chlorine, said means for storing hydrogen comprising graphitised carbon, and said means for storing chlorine comprising ungraphitised carbon.

Abstract: The chlorine overvoltage of carbon and graphite electrodes is considerably and permanently decreased by treatment of the electrodes with nitric acid. The treatment also causes an apparently permanent decrease in the amount of oxygen produced at the electrode coincident with the chlorine generation.

Abstract: Halogen hydrates, such as chlorine hydrate, are made by directing finely divided droplets of an aqueous medium onto a refrigerated surface which is at a temperature below that at which the hydrate forms, while also contacting said surface and said aqueous medium with the halogen to be converted to halogen hydrate. Apparatuses and methods are described. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the atomized droplets of aqueous medium, in very finely divided droplet form are directed onto a moving corrosion resistant metal surface from which the hydrate is subsequently removed. In another embodiment of the invention chlorine gas is utilized to atomize the aqueous medium and the mixture of chlorine and aqueous droplets is directed onto a forming surface.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode element has an electrically conductive, chemically inert, generally flat wall having first and second opposing faces, each of the first and second faces having a plurality of spaced, parallel grooves therein with the spaced grooves in the first face being laterally staggered from the spaced grooves in the second face, first and second spaced and substantially parallel electrodes having first edges disposed within first and second respective grooves of said spaced parallel grooves in said first face and extending generally perpendicular from the plane of the inert wall; and a third electrode having a first edge disposed within a groove in said second face and extending generally perpendicular from the plane of the inert wall. A battery stack is obtained by positioning a plurality of the bipolar battery elements such that their electrodes are interdigitated.

Abstract: A gas phase free, liquid chlorine electrochemical system and apparatus therefore are described in which the housing containing the electrodes is filled with sufficient electrolyte so that the pressure therein is sufficient to liquify the chlorine as it is generated.

Abstract: An electrical energy storage device comprising at least one cell containing a normally positive electrode at which a halogen is reduced and a normally negative electrode at which a metal is oxidized during an electrical discharge of the storage device. The halogen and oxidizable metal components consumed during the electrical discharge of the device are regenerated during an electrical recharging of the storage device and the halogen component is recovered and converted to a halogen hydrate for storage in the system.

Abstract: Hollow rod-shaped porous zinc electrodes are employed in a rechargeable zinc-chloride battery to decrease the possibility of shorting within the battery, to decrease hydrogen evolution and to increase the efficiency of the battery. Dechlorinated electrolyte is flowed through the Zn electrode and Zn deposit thereon so as to avoid black zinc at low current density and increase the efficiency of the battery.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrical energy storage device containing an aqueous metal halide electrolyte comprised of a surface on the electrode containing an electrolyte soluble binder with metallic particles contained therein so that during discharge the metal will be exposed as the binder dissolves, thereby allowing the metal to participate in the electrochemical reaction.

Abstract: A circulating electrolyte type battery is disclosed in which the cell containing two electrodes is divided into compartments by a porous separator and in which the outlet lines from the two compartments to the electrolyte storage reservoir have different resistance to electrolyte flow.

Abstract: A system which permits self-generating halogen liquifaction in a rechargeable battery and apparatus for use in that system are disclosed. The system includes the use of separate electrolyte flows for the metal electrode and halogen electrode, the electrolyte being separated by a permselective membrane, and a halogen gas accumulator which communicates with the halogen gas being generated at the halogen electrode.

Abstract: A two-stage electrolyte circulation system for a multi-cell battery in which a large pump distributes the electrolyte through hydraulically driven circulators to the individual cells.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive and trouble-free method of controlling the chlorine feed to a metal-chlorine battery system from a source of chlorine hydrate includes circulating aqueous electrolyte from an electrode compartment through a pump and recycled back to the electrode compartment, taking off a portion of the electrolyte, passing through a container of chlorine hydrate from which it releases chlorine and water, the chlorine generation increasing the pressure in the container, controlling the flow of electrolyte to the container, allowing the chlorine generated to flow from the container to the recycle line and back to the electrode compartment, which diminishes the pressure in the container, at which time electrolyte is again admitted to it, and the steps are continually repeated during the discharging of a battery system.

Abstract: A system is provided for improving the charge efficiency of a zinc-chloride battery by reducing the chlorine concentration on charge in a flowing electrolyte system by desorbing chlorine from the flowing electrolyte under reduced pressure and removing the desorbed chlorine from the electrolyte flow loop.

Abstract: A metal-halogen-hydrate electrical energy system having two fluid flow loops operating in parallel driven from the same pump.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode apparatus for use in a secondary electrical energy storage device comprising a first member having a front and back side, a second member having a front and back side, a plurality of passageways formed by the attachment on the back sides of the first and second members and provided that the front side of the first member is the positive electrode in one cell and the front side of the second member is the negative electrode of a second cell, the first member being permeable to electrolyte but gas impermeable and adapted to pass electrolyte from the passageway through it and the second member being both gas and electrolyte impermeable.

Abstract: A process for useful storage of electrical energy employing halogen hydrates is described. The halogen hydrate can be generated during the charging of a secondary battery or may be chemically generated and placed in a primary battery.

Abstract: A process for the useful storage of electrical energy employing halogen hydrates is described. The halogen hydrate can be generated during the charging of a secondary battery or may be chemically generated and placed in a primary battery.