Abstract: A method and apparatus for the accumulation and storage of energy in electrically reversible manner wherein a two chamber electrochemical cell(a single one or part of an array of such cells) has an electrolyte of common specie solutions in the multi-chambers associated with cell electrodes and application of voltage to the electrodes causes dissimilar concentrations of ions in two chambers so that the energy is stored and reversing polarity of the electrodes allows energy discharge and normalization of concentration. Materials may be reversibly stored in the cell as solids when exceeding the solubility limits of the electrolyte, such storage being done preferably at porous electrode surfaces.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus for energy storage and/or power delivery comprises multi-compartment cells with the +.sup.ve chamber and the -.sup.ve chamber of each cell being separated by at least one buffer chamber through which an idler electrolyte circulates, the electrolyte circulating through the -.sup.ve chamber during power delivery containing sulfide and the apparatus comprising means for restoring the electrolyte balance of the -.sup.ve electrolyte by the oxidation of any S.sup.2- and/or HS.sup.- ions contained in the idler electrolyte to form sulfur, means for the collection of precipitated sulfur and means for the reintroduction of the precipitated sulfur into the -.sup.ve electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus for power delivery employs an array of electrochemical cells which comprises an end +.sup.ve electrode and an end -.sup.ve electrode separated by one or more bipolar mid-electrodes each with a +.sup.ve side and a -.sup.ve side, the +.sup.ve side of each bipolar electrode comprising an electrically conductive substrate with a porous conductive surface. A bubbly dispersion of air/oxygen in an electrolyte is contacted with the +.sup.ve sides of the bipolar electrodes. The electrochemical apparatus of the invention may be used with an oxygen-sulfur couple with these reagents being provided for example as sodium salts in aqueous solutions, the overall reaction being:4H.sub.2 O+4S.sup.2- +2O.sub.2 .fwdarw.8OH.sup.- +4S,The process is preferably carried out in an array of cells (20), comprising a plurality of bipolar electrodes 13, each having a +.sup.ve side 12A and a -.sup.ve side 14A spaced from one another by membranes 16 which divide the cell into +.sup.ve and -.sup.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus for energy storage and power generation comprises a single cell or an array of unit cells (10), each cell comprising a +.sup.ve electrode (12) and a -.sup.ve electrode (14) with a dual membrane in each cell dividing it into +.sup.ve chambers (22C and 24C) for posilyte and anolyte solutions (22, 24) which are recirculated through separate pumps (26, 28) and storage tanks (32, 34) and back to the chambers. The dual membranes in each cell provide a third chamber (23C) between the +.sup.ve chamber (22C) and the -.sup.ve chamber (24C), through which an idler electrolyte is circulated.During the operation of the cell, any ionic species which cross the cation exchange membranes, which in an ideal system would remain in either the +.sup.ve chamber or the -.sup.ve chamber of the cell, will collect in the buffer chamber or chambers.

Abstract: An electrochemical process for energy storage and/or power generation and apparatus comprises cell array of unit cells (10), each cell comprising a +.sup.ve electrode (12) and a -.sup.ve electrode (14) with a membrane in each cell dividing it into +.sup.ve and -.sup.ve chambers (22C and 24C) for catholyte and anolyte solutions (22, 24) which are recirculated through separate pumps (26, 28) and storage tanks (32, 34) and back to the chambers. Mid electrodes, between adjacent cells in the array, provide both a +.sup.ve side and a -.sup.ve side. A bromine-sulfur couple may be employed.Means are provided to compensate for pH changes and/or changes in hydroxyl ion concentration in the +.sup.ve and/or the -.sup.ve sides of the array of cells.

Abstract: An electrochemical process for energy storage and power generation comprises a single cell or an array of unit cells (10), each cell comprising a positive electrode (12) and a negative electrode (14) with a membrane in each cell dividing it into positive and negative chambers (22C and 24C) for posilyte and anolyte solutions (22, 24) which are recirculated through separate pumps (26, 28) and storage tanks (32, 34) and back to the chambers. An iron-sulfur couple is employed, the overall reaction being:2Fe.sup.3+ +S.sup.2- =2Fe .sup.2+ +S eq. 8the Fe.sup.3+ ions being provided as the chloride, bromide or iodide and the sulfide being provided as the sodium, potassium, lithium or ammonium salts. The +.sup.ve chamber contains a soluble ionic salt which acts as a charge carrier during energy storage, preferably sodium or potassium chloride.

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: Fuel cell liquid-liquid system comprising aqueous anolyte solution containing sulfite or bisulfite ion in high concentration recirculating through the anolyte compartment of a two electrolyte fuel cell. After converting its chemical energy to electrical energy in the cell, the spent anolyte is readily reactable to useful new products or reconstituted to fresh anolyte for re-use in the fuel cell. A class of distinctly advantageous embodiments within the general scope of the invention produces a re-usable effluent mixture of spent anolyte and catholyte to avoid the cost of handling the two effluent liquids separately, while gaining the economic advantage of maximum utilization of both fluids. The same combinable effluent characteristic makes the system tolerant to molecular diffusion or other leakage across anolyte/catholyte separating barriers.

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.