Abstract: A cathode for use in a hydrazine/air fuel cell which comprises a sintered nickel substrate having a silver electrocatalyst deposited thereon and having, on one side, a semipermeable hydrophobic membrane, and on the other side thereof a hydrophilic microporous separator membrane. The silver-sintered nickel substrate may be wet-proofed by dipping in a solution of PTFE and in order to lower polarization of the cathode the silver-sintered nickel substrate may be amalgamated by treatment with a mercuric salt.

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 structure for clamping a plurality of battery cells to prevent deformation thereof, includes a pair of pressure plates positioned against the ends of a stack of battery cells and a plurality of bands which extend around the cells and the end plates to hold the end plates in fixed position with respect to each other. The structure can be used with a plurality of sealed cells of rectangular configuration to pevent expansion of the cells of the type where pressure can build up therein, such as ni-clad rechargeable batteries, and thereby prevent bulging of the electrodes of the cells to injure the same. The pressure plates can be made of steel to also serve as heat sinks during welding of the bands, and the bands can be formed of steel strips which are preferably cinched tight about the cells and welded together. Partitions can be positioned between adjacent cells, with edges welded to the bands to prevent expansion of the cellsin a direction parallel to the pressure plates.

Abstract: In a fuel cell utilizing an acid electrolyte, such as H.sub.3 PO.sub.4, the electrolyte retaining matrix is made from silicon carbide. The silicon carbide has been found to be virtually inert to H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 at fuel cell operating temperatures and provides all the other necessary and desirable matrix properties. This matrix is expected to have a life of at least 40,000 hours under normal fuel cell operating conditions.

Abstract: In an electrodeposition process using a fused-salt electrolyte in which a desired metal or alloy deposited by electrolysis can be dissolved, and/or using a fused-salt electrolyte from which a highly viscous material is produced on the surface of an electrodeposited metal or alloy upon electrodeposition of the desired metal or alloy, solid particles are dispersed in the aforesaid electrolyte in order to obtain a flat surface of the desired electrodeposited metal or alloy, whereby continuous electrodeposition can be carried out.

Abstract: This fuel cell comprises circuits for collecting electrolyte leaks in the fuel and comburent chambers, said circuits being connected to the inlet orifice of the electrolyte pump.The electrolyte tank is located above the electrolyte pump and adjustment means provide for a pressure drop in the electrolyte flow between the tank and the pump inlet.

Abstract: An improvement in accumulator batteries having a zinc anode and an oxide cathode (e.g., nickel oxide or silver oxide cathode) is disclosed. The zinc anode and/or separator part between the anode and cathode is vibrated at a frequency and amplitude sufficient to inhibit dendrite growth on the zinc anode. The electrolyte contains excess zinc such that solid zinc oxide is present in the fully charged condition. The separator may be provided with circulation enhancement means. The resulting batteries have long life with a large number of charging and discharging cycles.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to fluorocarbon polymers, polymeric membranes, and electrochemical cells and processes. The polymers and membranes are produced by radiation techniques to provide improved products. For example, .alpha.,.beta.,.beta.-trifluorostyrene in an inert organic solvent is grafted onto an inert film, such as tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, by irradiation, i.e. with Co-60 gamma radiation at a dose of several Mrad. The grafted film is then sulfonated, preferably in a chlorosulfonic acid bath. The resulting film is useful as a membrane or diaphragm in various electrochemical cells such as chlor-alkali or fuel cells.

Abstract: An electric storage battery vent comprising first and second members inhibits battery explosions by venting gases generated within a battery through a narrow passage formed between said first and second members to a vent hole in one of said members.

Abstract: The invention concerns an air depolarization cell or battery. The positive electrode is supplied with air through at least one cavity formed by at least two funnels formed directly by molding or otherwise in the mass of the positive electrode separated by a portion of the mass of the positive electrode, each funnel communicating with the outside air at one of their ends and communicating together by a passageway similarly formed directly in the mass of the positive electrode at the level of their other ends. The ratio between the area of the surface of each funnel through which air flows into the electrode and the volume of air therein is different for the two funnels.

Abstract: In a reactive metal-water electrochemical cell, an alkaline electrolyte containing soluble inorganic ions which are reduced preferentially to water at the cathode. More particularly, the additives substantially reduce or eliminate reduction of water and evolution of hydrogen at the cathode resulting in significant improvement in current efficiency, gravimetric energy density and cell potential at a given current. Additionally, suppression of hydrogen evolution makes possible a sealed system with venting of gases from the cell no longer necessary. The inorganic ions of the invention are nitrite, hypochlorite, chlorate, bromate, dinitrogen trioxide and sulfite ions which are formed when soluble salts of nitrite, sulfite, hypochlorate, bromate, chlorate, soluble gases such as dinitrogen trioxide and sulfur dioxide and other soluble inorganic compounds are dissolved in the alkaline electrolyte.

Abstract: An ion permeable material particularly useful for electrode separators. The material is a uniform mixture of 30 to 70% by weight colloidal size asbestos fibers and 20 to 40% by weight unsintered fine polytetrafluoroethylene fibers, bonded together with uniformly dispersed particles of a fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer comprising about 5 to 15% by weight of the material. Colloidal size particles of an alkaline earth metal oxide are dispersed throughout the material. The material is initially prepared in a modified paper making process and then heated to a temperature high enough to fuse the fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer but not high enough to sinter the polytetrafluoroethylene fibers. An improved zinc-air hybrid fuel cell and an improved silver oxide-zinc secondary battery are made possible with electrode separators such as described herein.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a fuel cell which comprises a case, positive and negative electrodes inserted therein and electrolyte filling the inner space between the electrodes. Means for introducing an oxidizing gas into the space behind one electrode and a fuel behind the other are provided. A porous membrane substantially parallel to the electrodes comprising a self-supporting compressible porous fibrous mat of randomly dispersed and entangled micro-fibers of a high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer impregnated with said electrolyte occupies said inner space. This porous membrane permits communication of electrolyte between electrodes but prevents passage of small bubbles of oxidizing or fuel gases.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermoplastic molding compositions suitable for molding or extruding articles such as thin-walled battery containers which possess high heat distortion temperatures and simultaneously excellent impact resistance at low temperature.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-chlorine cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a non-aqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode comprising chlorine with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, and a solid lithium-sodium aluminate electrolyte positioned within the casing between the anode and cathode and in contact with both the anode and cathode, the solid lithium-sodium aluminate electrolyte having an approximate composition of LiNaO.sup.. 9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: A fuel cell power plant for producing electricity uses pressurized reactants in the cells. In one embodiment air is the oxidant and is compressed in a compressor driven by a turbine. The turbine is powered by waste energy produced in the power plant in the form of a hot pressurized gaseous medium. For example, effluent gases from both the anode and cathode sides of the cells is delivered into the turbine which in turn drives the compressor. In a preferred embodiment the effluent gases from the anode side of the cells is first delivered into a burner for providing heat to a steam reforming reactor, and the effluent gases from the burner are delivered into the turbine. In another embodiment, in addition to effluent gases delivered from the anode side of the cells into the burner, a portion of the effluent gases from the anode side of the cells is also delivered into the steam reforming reactor to provide steam for the fuel processing.

Abstract: This structure is constituted by several cells each comprising, more partlarly, an anode and a cathode separated by a corrugated membrane partly immersed in the electrolyte, as well as a condensor-exchanger device for the water drawn off by the combustive, that water being made to flow back towards the electrolyte by means of a plane part of the membrane coming and bearing against one of the walls of the condensor-exchanger.

Abstract: An explosion-proof vent barrel having a tubular body, an electrolyte splash baffle and an electrolyte drain funnel molded integrally with one another, there being a porous flame-arresting disc telescoped into the body. Three barrels are ganged on a common frame which protects the flame-arresting discs against dirt and grease. In one embodiment, the underside surface of the frame is formed with a shallow channel to permit positive venting of the gases which diffuse through the arrestor discs. In another embodiment, both the discs and barrels are maintained in closely spaced relation to the underside of the frame for defining a positive escape area about substantially the entire periphery of the disc. In each instance, the depth of the positive vent escape area does not exceed 0.015 inches so as to permit positive venting while retarding the entrance of a flame into the space between the disc and frame.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an ejector for pumping steam and fuel into a steam reformer. Steam is the primary flow through the ejector and fuel is the secondary flow. The rate of steam flow is metered by a variable area orifice in the ejector. The fuel passes through a fuel control valve before reaching the ejector. A pressure regulator maintains a constant pressure drop across a variable area orifice in the valve. The fuel flow is thus metered by the valve orifice area and not by the ejector pumping characteristics. Ejector back pressure is also eliminated as a factor affecting the amount of fuel pumped by the ejector. Means are provided to simultaneously control the orifice areas of the ejector and the fuel valve in order to maintain a desired ratio of steam to fuel for the steam reformer for each operational mode of the fuel cell. In a preferred embodiment this means is a mechanical linkage connecting the ejector and fuel valve to a common actuator.

Abstract: A catalytic device for a battery containing an aqueous electrolyte into which oxygen and hydrogen gases generated as a result of a electrolysis of the aqueous electrolyte pass and are catalytically recombined into water, which returns to the electrolyte: including a catalyst body; a gas-permeable catalyst vessel having the catalyst body arranged therein; a condenser vessel housing the catalyst vessel, the condenser vessel having an opening only at the lower portion thereof; an outer vessel of the catalytic device housing the condenser vessel; and a conduit or passageway for passing a gas from the condenser vessel through a gap between the condenser vessel and the outer vessel.