Abstract: The invention relates to electrochemical cells intended to be electrically connected up in series. Such a connection is obtained by means of a mechanical link between the terminals of opposite polarities of two adjacent cells. That mechanical link may be formed by a spring-catch system, screwing or locking. The invention applies more particularly to cylindrical electric cells.

Abstract: A matrix for retaining the electrolyte in a fuel cell is applied to the surface of one or both of the electrodes by screen printing using an inking vehicle which is an aqueous solution of polyethylene oxide. This method produces a very thin, continuous and uniform matrix layer and is well suited to production operations.

Abstract: A fuel cell is constructed in such a manner that a porous film which is electrolyte-resistant and inactive to fuel is allowed to adhere to one surface of a fuel electrode and an electrolyte containing hydrazine fuel supplied to the cell and passing through said porous film and fuel electrode reaches the side of an oxidation electrode. In such fuel cell, self-decomposition of fuel due to direct contact with the fuel electrode occurs in a small degree and utilization efficiency of fuel is high. Furthermore, such fuel cell can be operated with an electrolyte containing fuel in a high concentration.

Abstract: A fuel cell power plant for producing electricity uses pressurized reactants in the cells. In one embodiment air for the fuel cells is compressed in a compressor driven by a turbine which is powered by waste energy produced in the power plant in the form of a hot pressurized gaseous medium. The power plant includes fuel conditioning apparatus comprising a steam reforming reactor and a reactor burner to provide heat for the steam reforming reactor. Effluent gases from the anode side of the cells are delivered into the reactor burner and from the reactor burner are combined with effluent gases from the cathode side of the cells. The combined gases are used to drive the turbine. Water to produce steam for the steam reforming reactor is recovered from the effluent gases from the anode side of the cells before they are delivered into the reactor burner and from the effluent gases from the cathode side of the cells.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system suitable for low power sensor plications is provided. The system comprises in combination, a fuel cell, a fully contained fuel and oxidant source for the fuel cell, a DC to DC power processor for boosting the voltage output from the fuel cell, and a nickel-cadmium battery in parallel with the output from the DC to DC processor to sustain peak power drains.

Abstract: A matrix for retaining the electrolyte in a fuel cell is applied to the surface of one or both of the electrodes by screen printing. In a preferred embodiment an aqueous solution of glycol is used as the inking vehicle to screen print a very thin, continuous and uniform matrix layer on the surface of an electrode.

Abstract: Magnesium chloride-containing material for use in the electrolytic cell for the production of elemental magnesium is melted and contacted with vaporized magnesium metal, preferably by direct injection of the vaporized magnesium metal into a body or pool of the molten magnesium chloride-containing material under conditions of vigorous agitation. The resulting treated molten magnesium chloride-containing material, after settling and separation of sludge and impurities therefrom, is introduced into an electrolytic cell for the production of elemental magnesium.

Abstract: A battery separator is provided which is suitable for use in a variety of dry cell systems. The separator comprises a thin carrier of bonded Beta glass fibers coated with partially cross-linked polyacrylamide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bulk energy storage system including an electrically rechargeable reduction-oxidation (REDOX) cell divided into two compartments by a membrane, each compartment containing an electrode. An anode fluid is directed through the first compartment at the same time that a cathode fluid is directed through the second compartment, thereby causing the electrode in the first compartment to have a negative potential while the electrode in the second compartment has a positive potential. The electrodes are inert with respect to the anode and cathode fluids used and the membrane is substantially impermeable to all except select ions of both the anode and cathode fluid, whether the cell is fully charged or in a state of discharge.Means are provided for circulating the anode and cathode fluids and the electrodes are connected to an intermittent or non-continuous electrical source, which when operating, supplies current to a load as well as to the cell to recharge it.

Abstract: A flow scheme for feeding a reactant gas to the cells of a fuel cell stack wherein the cells are connected electrically in series. For example, the fuel gas is passed in parallel over a portion of each fuel electrode and thereupon into a mixing manifold which directs the exhausted gases in parallel over a different portion of each fuel electrode and thereupon into another manifold. This is continued, depending upon the stack configuration, with the exhausted gases passing back and forth in parallel over different portions of the fuel electrodes and exhausting into a manifold until the fuel gas has covered the entire fuel electrode of each cell in the stack. This reduces the harmful effect of a blockage within the reactant gas chamber of a cell and also reduces the harmful effect caused by a maldistribution of current in one of the cells in the stack.

Abstract: Method of removing reaction water from a fuel cell includes bringing electrolyte of the fuel cell in contact with a diaphragm having a given capillary depression pressure and permeable to water vapor so that water vapor contained in the electrolyte diffuses through the diaphragm into a chamber containing a gas at a given pressure, and passing the diffused water vapor to a location at which it engages with a cooled condensation surface and condenses thereon, the electrolyte having a hydrostatic pressure equilibrated by at least one of the pressures exerted by the gas and the capillary depression in the diaphragm.

Abstract: Powder coating a substrate with a polyolefin or preferably a polyolefin-polycarbonamide blend before contacting the substrate with a plastic resin creating a plastic-substrate seal, inhibits liquid and vapor transmission through the seal. The application of this invention to battery terminal bushings prevents unsightly corrosion about the battery terminal which is caused by "wicking" of battery acid.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack utilizing an alkali metal electrolyte, the electrolyte is distributed in parallel between the electrodes of a plurality of fuel cells and is then fed to regenerator cell which converts carbonate ions to molecular CO.sub.2 gas which is discharged from the cell. Regeneration is effected through the establishment of a hydroxyl ion gradient within a regenerator cell. The regenerated electrolyte is then returned to the fuel cells. In this manner a carbonate buildup in the cells is prevented.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery comprising two or more electrochemical cells using a reoxidizable nickel oxide at the positive electrode and hydrogen as the negative electrode reactant. The electrodes of the cells are disposed in a common chamber in a battery case and connected so as to series couple the cells between a pair of terminals. The battery case is precharged with hydrogen gas while the positive electrodes are in a discharged state and then is sealed off. Additional hydrogen gas is evolved during charging and the state of charge can be determined by monitoring the gas pressure in the battery case. On discharging the battery, hydrogen is consumed down to the precharge level. The battery has inherent protection against damage from overcharging and overdischarging. The unique overdischarge mechanism prevents battery failure in the event that one cell in the series in discharged prematurely.

Abstract: A grease-like material, suitable for use with phosphoric acid fuel cells, is comprised of a phosphoric acid base with a filler which is stable in phosphoric acid at the temperatures to which the grease will be subjected and is preferably thermally conductive. Three fillers which are particularly suited for fuel cell applications are carbon, graphite, and silicon carbide.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-reducible gas 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 consisting of a reducible gas in a non-aqueous electrolyte 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: In a lead acid or the like storage battery having a case and a plurality of cells with each cell having positive and negative plates. A first cell connector strap connects negative plates of one cell to the positive plates of an adjacent cell successively and terminates in a positive terminal connector upon the interior of the case. A second cell connector strap connects the positive plates of one cell with the negative plates of an adjacent cell successively and terminates in a negative terminal connector upon the interior of the case which has an apertured closure base. A platform is mountable upon a vehicle or other support and includes a pair of projecting terminal connectors adapted to be received and projected up into said case for respective connection with the positive and negative terminal connectors respectively. Mounted upon the platform is a connector adapted for connection to a ground and to a powerline respectively.

Abstract: A construction which minimizes damage to alkaline electrolyte batteries due to electrolyte leakage caused by extreme variations in temperature is disclosed. The batteries comprise a multiplicity of individually sealed cells, arranged in electrically connected stacks, each stack being disposed in a moisture-proof plastic container and/or cup filled with an encapsulating resin in the entire space within the cup, with the encapsulated assembly being housed in a metal outer container. The cells within each stack and each stack itself is thus isolated, thereby minimizing any damage that might result from inter-cell leakage, from interstack leakage, and from leakage that would corrosively affect associated equipment in an assembled apparatus, due to extreme temperature variations, especially under high humidity conditions.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the polarization or overvoltage of a carbon black-based air cathode is significantly reduced by adding from 1 to 5 percent, by weight based on the total carbon composition, of carbon derived from poly(vinylidene chloride) (hereinafter PVdC) to the carbon black, prior to the formation of the electrode. To accomplish this, the porous and particulate carbon black is initially blended with a solution of PVdC; the resulting blend is dried, and then dehydrochlorinated and baked at a temperature in the range of from 900.degree. C. to 1,100.degree. C. The electrocatalytic layer of the cathode is then prepared from this tailored carbon substrate.FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a carbon-based substrate for electrodes used in fuel cells which operate at ambient temperatures and wherein the electrode separates a liquid electrolyte from a gaseous reactant.

Abstract: A stack of fuel cells operating on gaseous reactants includes an ejector in integral heat exchange relationship with the stack for recirculating one of the reactant gases through the cells of the stack. The recirculating reactant is continuously heated by waste heat from the cells as it recirculates thereby preventing condensation of water from the recirculating reactant gas and thereby maintaining the dew point constant from the time the reactant gas leaves the cells until it is mixed with fresh reactant in the ejector. The fresh reactant gas is preheated prior to being introduced to the ejector so that there is no condensation throughout the entire loop. The recirculation rate relative to the amount of fresh reactant can be controlled to regulate the dew point at the entrance to the cells to best advantage. By this invention flooding of the electrodes or drying of the electrodes does not occur.