Abstract: The fuel cell power plant operates at higher reactant pressures, and thus higher power density (lower cost) and efficiency, by providing reactant reformer steam from a separate steam boiler. Instead of supplying coolant steam to the reformer, the coolant is operated in a closed loop apart from the reformer, and the coolant steam is used to drive a steam generator to produce additional electricity. A portion of the raw fuel is burned within the steam boiler and the remainder is passed through the reformer and thence to the fuel cells. Boiler exhaust is used to drive a turocompressor which pressurizes the air used on the cathode side of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A battery which facilitates the measurement and recording of data is provided. The battery has a transparent casing wall and a scale attached to the wall for measuring the level of electrolyte within the battery. The scale contains first measuring indicia for measuring the distance the electrolyte level falls below a high level mark, and second indicia aligned literally opposite and having values, for example, specific gravity value correction factors, correlating to those of the first indicia.

Abstract: Silicon epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) techniques are employed to fabricate bipolar transistors. ELO bipolar devices have may advantages in reducing parasitic values. Because the heavily doped buried layer (or sub-collector) is eliminated in ELO structures, C.sub.cs is greatly reduced. The concentric collector contact and its closeness to the active collector region reduce r.sub.c in the device. The parasitic collector-to-base capacitance, C.sub.cb, is also reduced due to oxide-isolation. The ELO device is fabricated using standard silicon-processing equipment. ELO can be accomplished on <100> or <111> silicon substrates.

Abstract: A half-cell of an electric storage cell comprises an electrocatalytic electrode immersed in an aqueous salt solution of potassium and/or other polysulfide anions in high concentration so that the sulfur species which may be electrochemically oxidized or reduced form substantial components of the solution (e.g. at least 20% by weight). Na.sup.+ and OH.sup.- salts which limit polysulfide solubility and/or solution stability are not added to the salt solution. Aqueous Ks.sub.x.sup.-2 in the storage cell contains up to 24.5 molal reducible sulfur at 25.degree. C., and up to 34.2 molal reducible sulfur in solution at 70.degree. C. This high faradaic capacity is readily accessible at high current density with minimal polarization losses.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a silicon wafer, silicon dioxide wafer or silicon wafer having a silicon dioxide film thereon can be mutually adhered. The procedure for the adhesion is that a refractory metal, such as zirconium, is deposited by sputtering on a flat surface to be adhered, and tightly stacked onto another substrate made of silicon, silicon dioxide or silicon having a silicon dioxide film thereto, and the stacked wafers are heated in an atmosphere of argon containing 4% hydrogen at approximately 650.degree. C. for approximately 2 hours. The heat causes the deposited zirconium to react with the silicon of both the contacting wafers and is converted into a zirconium silicide alloy, which bonds the wafers. If the wafer is silicon dioxide or coated with silicon dioxide, the zirconium reduces the dioxide to produce silicon, which is then alloyed with the zirconium. Refractory metals other than group IVa and group Va elements can adhere silicon to silicon only.

Abstract: In order to achieve good stack water chemistry and minimize corrosion in a fuel cell stack water cooling loop, the oxygen concentration in the water must remain within a relatively narrow range. Stacks using steam separators produce water in the separators which is relatively devoid of oxygen. Makeup water is used to replace the steam lost from the separator, which makeup water is relatively rich in oxygen. The flow rates of the makeup water and steam separator water are controlled to produce a proper oxygen concentration in the recirculated coolant water. Some of the makeup water will be added directly into the steam separator so that it will be stripped of oxygen and the rest will be added subsequent to the steam separator.

Abstract: Hydrogen Sulphide is a toxic gas present in many environments. It is necessary for a detector to be highly sensitive and not to respond to other common gases. The sensor is made up of electrodes (5) coated with a thin layer (6) of material comprising the oxides of molybdenum and tungsten and in the presence of hydrogen sulphide gas, changes its resistance. The layer is formed in such a way that a bronze-like ordered lattice is formed, containing molybdenum, tungsten and oxygen ions.

Abstract: A battery in accordance with the invention comprises: p1 an electrochemical block (3) constituted by a large number of electrochemical couples; p1 a network for irrigating said electrochemical couples with electrolyte; p1 a heat exchanger (7) for externally dumping the heat evolved during discharge; p1 a pump (5) for causing the electrolyte (10) to circulate through the irrigation network and said heat exchanger; and p1 a device (2) for storing electrolyte and transferring it to said electrochemical block (3) on activation, said device including a supply of electrolyte connected to a gas generator and also to an inlet to said pump.

Abstract: The invention relates to a galvanic cell having a failsafe circuit interrupter means for electrically isolating one terminal of the cell from the cell's electrochemical system when the closed end of the container of the cell bulges beyond a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Ionically conductive material composed of a salt represented by one of the following formulas: ##STR1## in a liquid or solid solvent. Application to electrochemistry.

Abstract: The contact area of the anode of lithium batteries with the electrolyte is substantially increased by deposition of minute lithium particles on the anode base layer to form an irregular layer in contact with the electrolyte which reduces the manufacturing cost and increases the contact area which increases the ion exchange between the lithium particles and the electrolyte.

Abstract: A monolithic solid oxide fuel cell of the type characterized by a plurality of fuel and oxidant passageways extending through the core of the fuel cell. The fuel cell is constructed only of anode, cathode, electrolyte and interconnect materials and is formed with integral manifolding for parallel flow through the core. The cell is constructed using alternatively stacked electrolyte walls and interconnect walls which are themselves multilayer tapes formed by roll milling individual tapes of a desired material, and then roll milling the multilayer tape from the tapes of a single material. A manufacturing process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical cell that includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, the cathode containing more than a trace amount of a sulfur impurity capable of causing the cell to self-discharge and also containing a scavenger that reacts with the impurity to reduce the rate of self-discharge of the cell.

Abstract: The leakage of electrolyte from alkaline primary batteries is substantially reduced by improving the seal in such batteries. The novel seal is formed by applying a hard, tackless conductive alkali-resistant plastic coating to the surface of the metal container which forms a bond between the metal container and the sealant covered seal member normally used in such batteries.

Abstract: A process for producing a solid state battery successively comprising, superimposed between two metallic contact elements, a layer or thin film of an alkali metal which provides a source of ions, a layer or thin film of ion-superconducting solid electrolyte glass of high ionic conductivity and a layer or thin film of a layered intercalation compound capable of inserting ions issued from the alkali metal film. The lamellae of the thin film or layer of layered compound are oriented substantially perpendicularly parallel to the surface of the solid electrolyte. The process includes forming the layer or thin film of layered intercalation compound by forming a periodic irregularity in only the surface atoms of a substantially smooth substrate surface, and molecular beam depositing the layer or thin film of layered intercalation compound on the substrate surface containing the periodic irregularity of surface atoms. The periodic irregularity of surface atoms conditions the nucleation starting of the layered growth.

Abstract: A multilayer separator is provided for insertion between the cathode and de in lithium secondary or primary batteries, the separator including porous membrane and an electroactive polymeric material contained within the separator layers wherein the polymer is one that will react with any lithium dendrite that could penetrate the separator thus preventing an internal short circuit of the cell.

Abstract: In an alkali metal/halogen or oxyhalide electrochemical cell wherein an alkali metal anode, preferably lithium, has a surface in operative contact with a halogen-containing or oxyhalide cathode/electrolyte including a solvent if necessary, a coating on the anode surface comprising a thin film or substrate material impregnated with organic material, for example organic electron donor material, or other suitable coating material. The substrate material is flexible, preferably a synthetic open mesh fabric material, and the film is prepared by contacting the substrate material with a solution of the organic material and solvent followed by drying. The resulting film is flexible and is applied to the operative surface of the anode thereby coating the same, preferably adhered to the surface by pressing. The flexible film can be applied equally well to anode surfaces which are either smooth and flat or irregular.

Abstract: An anode active material of zinc powder with indium coexisting therewith, the metals being amalgamated, an alkaline cell using the anode active material therein, and a method for the production of the anode active material or the alkaline cell.

Abstract: An assembly for recombining gases generated in electrochemical cells wherein a catalyst strip is enveloped within a hydrophobic, gas-porous film which, in turn, is encased between gas-porous, metallic layers. The sandwich construction of metallic layers and film is formed into a spiral with a tab for connection to the cell.

Abstract: A thermoelectrochemical system in which an electrical current is generated between a cathode immersed in a concentrated sulfuric acid solution and an anode immersed in an aqueous buffer solution of sodium bisulfate and sodium sulfate. Reactants consumed at the electrodes during the electrochemical reaction are thermochemically regenerated and recycled to the electrodes to provide continuous operation of the system.