Abstract: Zinc-bromine battery with recirculating electrolyte and multi-cell array, with predominant concentration of the bromine in the array at all stages of battery cycling; an array of bipolar electrode assemblies (16) with anode (26A) and cathode (26C) faces, including in each such assembly a chamber of unbound--but well contacted (electrically)--charcoal (C) stored at the cathode face and means for controlling zinc plating and deplating at the anode face; and with provision of surface area enhancement at the anode and cathode faces; electrolyte flow, pH and recirculation controls inherent in the construction, all comprising an anti-degradation combination generally.

Abstract: An instantly refuelable energy conversion system comprises a multicell array wherein each cell has a cathode, a solid anode fuel selected from the class consisting of iron, zinc and nickel and a ferric (and/or +3 valence nickel or zinc) chloride liquid oxidizer. In power delivery (discharging) e.g., using iron alone, the reactions are:At the anode, Fe.fwdarw.Fe.sup.++ + 2e yielding 0.44 volts,At the cathode, Fe.sup.+++ +e.fwdarw.Fe.sup.++ yielding 0.75 volts, the overall reaction being:Fe + 2FeCl.sub.3 .fwdarw.3FeCl.sub.2, i.e., 1.2 volts overall.These reactions are reversible for electrical charging purposes. The oxidizer is recirculated continuously and chemical reaction between the oxidizer and solid fuel in the fully charged or partially charged system is limited by a diffusion barrier between the oxidizer and fuel so that reactions therebetween are predominantly electrochemical.

Abstract: Fuel cell comprising anolyte and catholyte compartments separated by a diffusion barrier and using sodium sulfide aqueous solution as anolyte and an aqueous catholyte solution. The apparatus is controlled to maintain a positive pressure differential across the anolyte/catholyte interface in the barrier towards the anolyte side to attenuate sulfide ion migration to the catholyte and reduce solid sulfur precipitation in the catholyte and thereby attenuate consequent cathode passivation or other forms of catholyte compartment poisoning.