ELECTRODE UNIT

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrode unit for an electrochemical device for storing electrical energy, comprising a solid electrolyte (3) and a porous electrode (7), the solid electrolyte (3) dividing a compartment for cathode material and a compartment for anode material and the porous electrode (7) being extensively connected to the solid electrolyte (3) and the cathode material flowing along the porous electrode (7) during discharging. On the side remote from the solid electrolyte (3), the porous electrode (7) is covered towards the compartment for the cathode material with a segment wall (9), the segment wall (9) comprising inlet openings (15) in the direction of flow of the cathode material, through which the cathode material penetrates into the porous electrode (7), reacts chemically with the anode material in the porous electrode (7) and emerges back out of the porous electrode (7) through outlet openings (17) downstream in the direction of flow.

Description

The invention relates to an electrode unit for an electrochemical device for storing electrical energy, comprising a solid electrolyte and a porous solid electrode, the solid electrolyte dividing a compartment for molten cathode material and a compartment for molten anode material and the porous electrode being connected via a non-electron-conductive interlayer to the solid electrolyte and the molten cathode material flowing along the electrode during charging or discharging.

Generating electrical energy by means of fossil fuel-fired power stations is associated with the production of CO₂ and thus has a considerable impact on the greenhouse effect. Generating energy from renewable energy sources, for example wind, sun, geothermal energy or hydroelectric power, avoids this disadvantage. However, these renewable energy sources are not always available at the times they are required by load profiles. In addition, the energy is often generated at locations which differ from the places where the energy demand is located. If this systemic disadvantage is to be overcome, the energy generated must be stored, buffered and possibly even transported.

Against this background, it is not possible to base a stable power grid solely on renewable energy sources. There is accordingly a need to compensate and buffer such fluctuations by highly effective systems which are inexpensive and energy-efficient.

Electrical energy is currently stored on an industrial scale using pumped-storage power stations in which the potential energy arising from the geodetic difference in height of the water is utilized for conversion into electricity. However, the construction of such pumped-storage power stations is restricted by topographic and environmental considerations. Pressure storage power plants, which make use of air compression for storing energy, are limited by their comparatively low efficiency. Other forms of energy storage, such as supercapacitors or flywheels are intended for other target markets, in particular short-term storage. Electrical energy may in particular be stored using batteries, various designs of which have been implemented industrially. In particular, it is necessary to use batteries which are rechargeable for this purpose.

Corresponding batteries which function on the basis of a molten alkali metal as anode and a cathodic reaction partner, generally sulfur, are known for example from DE-A 26 35 900 or DE-A 26 10 222. The molten alkali metal and the cathodic reaction partner are divided by a solid electrolyte which is permeable to cations. The alkali metal reacts with the cathodic reaction partner on the cathode. For example when using sodium as the alkali metal and sulfur as the cathodic reaction partner, this is sodium polysulfide. The battery is charged by splitting the sodium polysulfide on the electrode back into sodium and sulfur by applying electrical energy.

The storage capacity of batteries based on a molten alkali metal and a cathodic reaction partner is increased by using batteries in which the quantity of reactants used in increased by additional storage vessels. The liquid sodium is supplied to the solid electrolyte for discharging. The liquid sodium simultaneously acts as anode and forms cations which are transported to the cathode through the cation-conductive solid electrolyte. At the cathode, the sulfur flowing to the cathode is reduced to polysulfide, i.e. is reacted with the sodium ions to yield sodium polysulfide. The corresponding sodium polysulfide may be collected in a further vessel. It is alternatively also possible to collect the sodium polysulfide together with the sulfur in the vessel around the cathode compartment. Due to the difference in density, the sulfur rises up and the sodium polysulfide settles out. This difference in density may also be exploited to bring about flow along the cathode. A corresponding battery design is described, for example, in WO 2011/161072.

In batteries which operate using a redox-system based on sodium and sulfur, electrical energy may be obtained on reacting sodium and sulfur to yield sodium polysulfide at a high level of efficiency of roughly 90%. The battery is charged by reversing the procedure by introducing electricity and cleaving the sodium polysulfide into sulfur and sodium. Since all the electrochemical reactants are in molten form and the ideal conductivity range of the ion-conductive ceramic membrane is not achieved until relatively high temperatures, the operating temperature of such a battery is conventionally approx. 300° C.

The solid, sodium ion-conductive electrolyte used in the battery is conventionally β″-alumina. Mechanical failure cannot be ruled out with such a ceramic. In such an event, an uncontrolled reaction between sodium and sulfur may occur, which due to its exothermic nature may lead to an undesired temperature rise in the battery. In order to keep the temperature rise as small as possible in such a case, it is known, for example from JP-A 10270073, to use a displacer of aluminum with which the compartment for the sodium on the sodium side of the solid electrolyte is restricted to a gap with a width of 0.01 to 0.2 mm. The gap is here produced by a combination of plastic deformation and elastic rebound during heat treatment of the displacer which was introduced into the solid electrolyte which is conventionally of tubular construction.

In order to keep the internal resistance of such battery systems as low as possible, current is supplied on both the positive and the negative sides by metallic supply lines which must be not only corrosion-resistant in the surrounding medium but also highly electrically conductive. The prior art therefore prefers electrical conductors made of aluminum or aluminum alloys, since for example copper, which is highly conductive, has inadequate corrosion-resistance to sulfur and polysulfide.

The disadvantage of the anode and current conductor design described here is the elevated labile reaction potential of aluminum and sulfur and in particular of aluminum and sodium polysulfide. In the event of mechanical failure of the ceramic membrane, not only is an exothermic sodium-sulfur reaction to be anticipated, but also an exothermic aluminum-sulfur reaction, the metals reacting similarly violently with sodium polysulfide as they do with sulfur.

Another disadvantage of the battery design described in WO 2011/161072 is, however, also that when a porous electrode is used, sulfur enters the upper region of the electrode during discharging and reacts to form sodium polysulfide. This remains in the electrode. As discharge operation continues, the sodium polysulfide is reduced further and thus takes up more sodium, so reducing the electrochemical potential and the voltage in the electrode thus falls. Under certain circumstances, sodium uptake may go as far as complete conversion into sodium sulfide (Na₂S) with formation of a solid, the solid clogging the electrode or sodium and sulfur at least being removed from the system for further charging cycles so leading to a decline in charge/discharge life.

A further disadvantage of the batteries known from the prior art is that the sulfur which arises during charging is electrically insulating, which may lead to an uncontrolled increase in internal resistance and thus in charging voltage.

The object of the present invention was accordingly to provide an electrode unit which does not exhibit the disadvantages of the electrodes known from the prior art.

Said object is achieved by an electrode unit for an electrochemical device for storing electrical energy, comprising a solid electrolyte and a porous solid electrode, the solid electrolyte dividing a compartment for molten cathode material and a compartment for molten anode material and the porous electrode being extensively connected via a non-electron-conductive interlayer to the solid electrolyte and the molten cathode material flowing along the porous electrode during charging or discharging, wherein, on the side remote from the solid electrolyte, the porous electrode is covered towards the compartment for the molten cathode material with an extensive tube or sheet metal wall, the extensive tube or sheet metal wall comprising inlet openings in the direction of flow of the cathode material, through which the cathode material penetrates into the porous electrode, reacts electrochemically in the porous electrode and emerges back out of the porous electrode through outlet openings downstream in the direction of flow.

The device according to the invention provides uniform flow through the porous electrode, so ensuring not only more uniform distribution of substances but also uniform electrical power from the battery during the discharge process. Battery power does not decline as the discharge process progresses.

For the purposes of the present invention, an anode material should be taken to mean a liquid reactant which is supplied to the anode side during discharging. The anode material is preferably electrically conductive, in particular a liquid alkali metal is used as the anode material. Suitable anode materials are for example lithium, sodium, potassium, in particular sodium or potassium.

The cathode material is a liquid reactant which is electrochemically reacted with the anode material. The cathode material conventionally forms a salt by chemical reaction with the anode material. Suitable cathode materials are for example sulfur or polysulfides. The cathode material is here used in liquid form.

Transport through the porous electrode proceeds solely by convection and diffusion. In this way it is possible to dispense with pumps or similar devices providing forced transport. The disadvantage of such devices is generally that they require electricity which is then no longer available. A further disadvantage of forced transport devices is the wear they undergo.

In order to achieve uniform functioning of the entire electrode, in particular in large electrochemical devices for storing electrical energy, hereinafter also designated “battery”, in a preferred embodiment for large devices for electrochemical energy storage, the extensive tube or sheet metal wall has the structure of corrugated sheet metal, such that alternate, perpendicularly oriented lengthwise channels are formed between the boundary of the porous electrode material and the corrugated sheet metal-like tube or sheet metal wall, which lengthwise channels are, however, capable of communicating with the cavities of the electrode material. Convective flow driven by the difference in density, for example between polysulfide and sulfide, can develop in these lengthwise channels, said flow being directed upwards during charging and downwards during discharging.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the porous electrode material is subdivided into lengthwise segments, flow barriers being arranged between the lengthwise segments in order to force mass transfer of liquid cathode material between porous electrode and lengthwise channel.

In a further embodiment, the porous electrode segments are additionally encased by means of segment walls closed at the sides in order to force purposeful inflow into and outflow from the porous electrode. In this preferred embodiment, the segment wall comprises a plurality of rows of inlet openings and outlet openings oriented transversely of the direction of flow, the inlet openings and outlet openings alternating in the direction of flow and flow barriers being accommodated in the porous electrode, in each case in the direction of flow, upstream of the inlet openings and downstream of the outlet openings.

During discharging of the battery, i.e. when releasing electrical energy, the cathode material enters through the inlet openings into the porous electrode and is electrochemically reacted with the anode material. The reaction product then emerges through the outlet openings. The flow barriers in the porous electrode ensure that the reaction product is forced to emerge at the outlet openings, such that the reaction product cannot flow onwards in the porous electrode. This allows cathode material to enter through inlet openings downstream of the outlet openings into the porous electrode where it can be reacted. In this way, the entire length of the electrode may be uniformly used for electrochemical reaction of the anode material with the cathode material.

In order to be able to utilize the entire surface area of the porous electrode, it is furthermore preferred for a row of outlet openings in each case immediately to be followed by a row of inlet openings. In this case, the optionally unreacted cathode material and the reaction product flow up to a flow barrier and pass out from the electrode through the outlet openings, and fresh cathode material, which is reacted with the anode material, is supplied to the porous electrode directly below the flow barrier.

In order to prevent reaction product which has formed in the porous electrode and emerges through the outlet openings from immediately entering the porous electrode again through the downstream inlet openings, it is furthermore preferred for the inlet openings which follow the outlet openings in the direction of flow of the cathode material to be arranged in a staggered manner relative to the outlet openings.

It is for example here possible to construct the inlet openings and the outlet openings in each case with a rectangular cross-section and to provide a web of the extensive electrode in each case between two adjacent inlet openings or two adjacent outlet openings in the width of the inlet openings or outlet openings respectively. In the case of the staggered arrangement, an inlet opening is in each case followed by the web between two outlet openings while an outlet opening is followed by the web between two inlet openings.

In addition to a design with rectangular inlet openings and outlet openings, it is also possible to construct the inlet openings and outlet openings in any desired other shape. These may accordingly be constructed for example in a circular, semicircular, elliptical, oval, triangular or polygonal shape with as many vertices as desired. A circular, semicircular or rectangular shape of the inlet openings and outlet openings is here preferred. It is also possible to provide inlet openings and outlet openings of different shapes, an identical shape of inlet openings and outlet openings being preferred.

According to the invention, the segment wall is electrically conductively connected to the porous electrode. During discharging of the device, the electrical voltage released during the electrochemical reaction of the anode material with the cathode material is conducted via the porous electrode to the segment wall and can be picked off from the segment wall. It is particularly preferred for this purpose for the segment wall to be electrically conductively connected to one or more bus conductors. In order to avoid the risk, arising from the nature of the material, of an undesired exothermic reaction of the current conductor with sulfur or polysulfide, in a preferred embodiment the bus conductors are made from highly conductive materials such as aluminum, copper or sodium jacketed or encased in special steel. The bus conductor may here also be provided in the form of a cover, which is preferably constructed such that the cover forms flow channels along the electrode. It is alternatively also possible to provide a cover which is constructed such that flow channels are formed along the electrode, to make the electrical contact through the cover and to arrange the bus conductor outside the cover. It is preferred, however, to construct the cover electrically conductively as a bus conductor. It is here furthermore preferred for the cover additionally to accommodate rod electrodes which are preferably made from an electrically highly conductive material which differs from the material of the cover. The rod electrodes may here for example lie outside on the cover or are enclosed by the material of the cover. The individual rod electrodes are here preferably arranged equidistantly in the cover. The rod electrodes may, for example, be arranged in each case between two flow channels. Alternatively, however, the rod electrodes may for example also be arranged in each case in the region of a flow channel.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the cover is of corrugated construction in order to form the flow channels, the troughs in each case resting against the extensive electrode and the flow channels being formed by the corresponding peaks. In addition to a corrugated design, it is alternatively also possible, for example, to make the cover flat with webs, the flow channels in each case being formed between two webs and the webs resting against the extensive electrode to form the flow channels.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the solid electrolyte is of cylindrical construction and the porous electrode encloses the solid electrolyte. In this case, the anode material is located in the interior of the cylindrically shaped solid electrolyte and the cathode material flows outside along the porous electrode. In a cylindrical design of the solid electrolyte, the segment wall is preferably formed by at least one sleeve which encloses the porous electrode. In this case, the inlet openings and outlet openings are formed in the sleeve. In order to ensure current flow from the porous electrode to the sleeve-type extensive electrode, the external diameter of the porous electrode here corresponds to the internal diameter of the sleeve. In this way, the sleeve rests extensively against the porous electrode.

If the segment wall is formed by just one sleeve, it is possible to form a plurality of rows of inlet openings and outlet openings in the sleeve. A design with a plurality of sleeves is preferred, however, the inlet openings and outlet openings in this case being formed in each case at the ends of a sleeve. To this end, it is for example possible in each case to shape the ends of the sleeve as a rectangular profile. In this case, the opposite rectangular profiles in a sleeve are constructed such that the recesses are in each case opposite one another. A plurality of sleeves are then successively placed on the electrode, the sleeves each being rotated relative to one another such that the recesses of one sleeve are opposite the projecting regions located therebetween. In this way, the inlet openings and outlet openings are formed by the recesses and the adjacent sleeve.

In the case of a cylindrically shaped solid electrolyte, the cover likewise preferably takes the form of a sleeve and is configured such that the channels are oriented in the axial direction along the porous electrode. It is here possible on the one hand to construct the cover as an annular sleeve which is provided with webs which divide the individual flow channels or the sleeve is of corrugated construction such that the peaks and troughs form the channels, the peaks in each case resting against the sleeves which form the segment walls. During discharging of the battery, the cathode material flows through the flow channels and in each case enters via inlet openings into the porous electrode and, after electrochemical reaction, emerges back out of the outlet openings as the reaction product. Due to the staggered arrangement of inlet openings and outlet openings, the material emerging from the outlet openings cannot immediately enter the porous electrode again through downstream inlet openings. In this way it is ensured that in each case sufficient unreacted cathode material reaches the porous electrode through the inlet openings.

In addition to the above-described embodiment, in which the inlet openings and downstream outlet openings are arranged directly one above the other and the flow channels are formed in the axial direction along the porous electrode, it is also possible for the flow channels to extend spirally. In the case of a flat electrode unit, the flow channels may extend obliquely. In this case, the arrangement of the inlet openings and outlet openings is preferably such that in each case in one flow channel an outlet opening follows an inlet opening and the inlet opening immediately downstream of the outlet opening is located in an adjacent flow channel. In this case too, a corresponding arrangement of the inlet openings and outlet openings ensures that the reaction product emerging from the outlet openings does not immediately enter the porous electrode again via downstream inlet openings.

In order to reduce the quantity of liquid anode material, it is furthermore preferred, in particular in the case of a cylindrical configuration of the solid electrolyte, for a displacer to be accommodated in the solid electrolyte. A gap into which the anode material can flow is here formed between the displacer and the solid electrolyte. The anode material may here for example be introduced via an annular gap at the end of the solid electrolyte or alternatively be supplied through a flow channel in the displacer. The anode material is preferably fed through a flow channel in the displacer.

As is known from the prior art, the displacer may for example be made from aluminum. It is, however, preferred to make the displacer from special steel. Suitable special steels are in particular molybdenum-stabilized special steels 1.4571, 1.4401, 1.4404, 1.4405 and 1.4539. If the displacer is made from special steel, it is preferably made from special steel sheet. The advantage of using special steel over aluminum is that while special steel does indeed corrode at relatively high temperatures, which may for example occur in the event of failure of the solid electrolyte, an uncontrollably rapid reaction with sulfur and polysulfide does not proceed, unlike with aluminum.

Since the mechanical strength of special steel is greater than that of aluminum and thus very much less plastic deformation occurs at the battery operating temperature, the special steel cannot adapt to the shape of the solid electrolyte in the case of a cylindrical design of the displacer. Thermal expansion may thus lead to failure of the solid electrolyte if the displacer made from special steel is pressed nonuniformly against the solid electrolyte. Such nonuniform contact pressure by the displacer against the solid electrolyte is the result, for example, of manufacturing inaccuracies in the production of the ceramic solid electrolyte. In order to equalize longitudinal expansion due to temperature changes, it is therefore preferred to construct the displacer in such a manner that it rests resiliently against the internal geometry of the solid electrolyte. Loading of the solid electrolyte is additionally minimized by using special steel sheet with a thickness in the range from 0.05 to 0.5 mm, preferably in the range from 0.07 to 0.15 mm, for example 0.1 mm, to make the displacer.

In order to obtain a shape which rests resiliently against the internal geometry, the displacer preferably comprises an outer contour with projections and recesses. The projections and recesses may be obtained, for example, by a corrugated or zig-zag-shaped design of the displacer.

Since special steel is only a moderately good electrical conductor, it is furthermore preferred for the displacer additionally to comprise current conducting means. The current conducting means ensure a uniform current supply both during charging and during discharging. Suitable current conducting means are for example preferably current collectors arranged uniformly over the circumference of the displacer, which current collectors are made in a preferred embodiment from a special steel tube closed at both ends in which a core of an electrically highly conductive material is introduced. The surface of the special steel tube here rests continuously against the core of electrically highly conductive material. The special steel tube protects the electrically highly conductive core from attack by sulfur and polysulfide in the event of failure of the solid electrolyte.

In an alternative embodiment, the current conducting means comprise a continuous or patterned coating of an electrically highly conductive material on the inside of the displacer.

Suitable electrically highly conductive materials for the current collector or the coating are for example copper, aluminum, silver or gold. If a current collector with a special steel tube is used, the electrically highly conductive material may also be sodium. While the sodium will indeed be liquid at a conventional operating temperature 300° C., it cannot escape due to the special steel tube. The electrically highly conductive material is particularly preferably copper or aluminum.

In order to ensure proper functioning of the electrode unit, the current conducting means must be connected highly electrically conductively to the displacer. When using current collectors, this may for example be achieved by in each case welding the current collectors to the displacer. It is preferred, however, to clamp the current collectors in recesses of the displacer. The current collectors are here preferably arranged on the outside of the displacer.

The current collectors may be firmly connected to the displacer for example by making the recesses omega-shaped with the diameter of the omega matching the external diameter of the wire. Given an appropriate design of the recesses, the wires may in each case be clamped in the recesses with a stable connection and form a uniform contact with the displacer over their entire length.

In the above description, the directions of flow and transport paths of the anode material and cathode material were in each case stated for the discharge process in which current is generated. Transport proceeds in the opposite direction for charging the device for storing electrical energy. In this case, the reaction product arising during discharging is passed into the porous electrode through the outlet openings, reacted in the porous electrode to yield the anode material and cathode material and the cathode material passes through the inlet openings back out of the porous electrode and flows into a storage vessel. The cations formed during the charging process are transported through the solid electrolyte, take up an electron and are transported as neutral anode material through the flow channel in the displacer or through the annular feed device, through which the anode material flows during charging, back into a storage vessel.

The electrode unit according to the invention is in particular suitable for use in devices for storing electrical energy which are operated with an alkali metal as anode material. A suitable anode material is here for example lithium, sodium or potassium, preferably sodium or potassium. The device for storing electrical energy is here operated at a temperature at which the alkali metal used is in liquid form. Corresponding temperatures may be provided, for example, by simultaneously constructing the displacer present in the cylindrical solid electrolyte as a heating element, such that the latter may be used to keep the temperature in the electrode unit within a range in which the anode material is in liquid form. Since the anode material is a liquid metal, it is electrically conductive and may thus directly be used as an anode. All that is required for this purpose is to contact an electrical conductor through which the current can flow with the liquid anode material.

The cathode material used is a material which is capable of reacting chemically with the anode material. Sulfur or polysulfide is preferably used as the cathode material.

In a preferred embodiment, a ceramic is used as the solid electrolyte. β-Alumina or β″-alumina is particularly suitable as a material for the solid electrolyte. This is preferably stabilized, for example with MgO or Li₂O.

As an alternative to β-alumina or β″-alumina, other ceramic materials may also be used as the solid electrolyte. The ceramic known as NASCION®, the composition of which is stated in EP-A 0 553 400, may for example be used. The ceramic known in everyday language as “ceramic” is also particularly preferred. Sodium ion-conductive glasses or zeolites and feldspas may also be used as an alternative to ceramics. In particular, however, sodium β″-alumina, sodium β-alumina or sodium β/β″-alumina are preferred. The sodium ion-conductive ceramics are preferably thin-walled tubes closed at one end at the bottom and open at the top if the solid electrolyte is of cylindrical construction. In this case, it is furthermore preferred for the tubes to have a diameter of 20 to 50 mm and a length in the range from 0.5 m to 2 m. The wall thickness is preferably in the range from 0.5 mm to 3 mm, in particular in the range from 1.5 mm to 2 mm.

The porous electrode is made from a material which is inert towards the substances used in the electrochemical reaction. Carbon, in particular in the form of graphite, is for example suitable as the electrode material.

According to the invention, the electrode is porous so that the substances participating in the electrochemical reaction can flow through it. This is achieved, for example, in that the material of the porous electrodes assumes the form of a felt or nonwoven. The electrode is very particularly preferably a graphite felt electrode.

In order to avoid the electrode coming into direct contact with the solid electrolyte, a porous liquid electrolyte-filled layer which is insulating in terms of electron conduction is arranged between the porous electrode and the solid electrolyte. For the purposes of the present invention, “insulating in terms of electron conduction” should be taken to mean a material which exhibits a specific resistance of at least 10⁸ Ohm*cm and in particular of at least 10⁹ Ohm*cm. The material for the insulating layer should here be selected such that cations which are transported through the solid electrolyte can also pass through the insulating layer to the porous electrode while electron conductivity is negligibly small. Examples of a suitable electrically insulating material which is arranged between the solid electrolyte and the electrode are anodized or sulfide-passivated aluminum fabric, ceramic fibers, glass fibers or carbon fabric. Using the electrically nonconductive material ensures that nonconductive cathode material, for example sulfur, is not deposited on the solid electrolyte, so limiting current flow during charging.

The segment wall, via which the porous electrode is current-conductively connected to the bus conductor, is preferably made from a metallic material, in particular from steel. Suitable steels are the same as those which may also be used for the displacer.

If the segment wall is made from a steel, it is preferred, as with the displacer, for additional current conducting means to be included. Since the segment wall is in contact with sulfur and polysulfide on both sides, coating with an electrically highly conductive material is not possible here. The current conducting means used here are therefore preferably current collectors made from a special steel tube closed at both ends and with an electrically highly conductive core, as were described above in relation to the displacer. Using the current conducting means improves the electrical conductivity of the electrode. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the special steel tube of the bus conductor is additionally chromium-plated.

As likewise with the displacer, it is preferred to arrange the electrically conductive wires with a clamp connection in troughs of the extensive electrode which is of corrugated construction.

The cover which forms the channels is likewise preferably made from an electrically conductive material and, in a particularly preferred embodiment, simultaneously serves as the bus conductor. It is alternatively also possible to provide the bus conductor outside the cover. The cover is preferably likewise made from a metallic material, for example from steel. The same material as for the segment wall is preferably used here.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and explained in more detail in the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional representation through an electrode unit constructed according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an electrode unit constructed according to the invention with a segment wall,

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional representation of the electrode unit according to the invention with a segment wall,

FIG. 4 shows a sectional representation of a displacer constructed according to the invention,

FIG. 5 shows a sectional representation of an extensive electrode configured according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an electrode unit according to the invention in the form of a longitudinal section.

An electrode unit 1 comprises a solid electrolyte 3, which in the embodiment shown here is of cylindrical construction and is closed at one end. The solid electrolyte 3 is generally a ceramic membrane which is permeable to specific cations. As described above, β″-alumina is for example suitable as a material for the solid electrolyte 3.

The solid electrolyte 3 is adjoined by an interlayer 5 which is insulating in terms of electron conduction. The interlayer 5 which is insulating in terms of electron conduction is for example a passivated aluminum fabric, for example an anodized or sulfide-passivated aluminum fabric, or carbon fabric or is made up of ceramic fibers or glass fibers. It is alternatively also possible to apply a special coating to the porous electrode as the interlayer 5 which is insulating in terms of electron conduction. In the present context, insulating in terms of electron conduction means that the specific resistance of the layer is greater than 10⁸ Ohm*cm, preferably greater than 10⁹ Ohm*cm and in particular greater than 2×10⁹ Ohm*cm.

The interlayer 5 which is insulating in terms of electron conduction is enclosed by a porous electrode 7. The porous electrode 7 is for example made from a graphite felt. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the porous electrode 7 is enclosed by a segment wall 9. In the embodiment shown here with a cylindrical solid electrolyte 3, the segment wall 9 takes the form of a sleeve.

The segment wall 9 is adjoined by a cover 11. In the embodiment shown here, the cover 11 takes the form of a cladding tube which has a corrugated cross-section. In this way, the cover 11 constructed in the form of a cladding tube rests in each case with the troughs against the segment wall 9 and, with the peaks, forms channels 13 along the segment wall 9. During charging or discharging, cathode material flows through the channels 13. As has already been described above, the cathode material is for example sulfur or an alkali metal polysulfide.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the electrode unit 1 is in operation, during discharging the cathode material flows out of the flow channel 13 through inlet openings 15 into the porous electrode 7 where it is reduced electrochemically to the anion. The anion reacts with the cations likewise transported through the solid electrolyte 3 into the porous electrode 7 to form a salt. The cations are particularly preferably alkali metal ions, such that an alkali metal salt, in particular an alkali metal polysulfide, very particularly preferably sodium polysulfide, is formed in the porous electrode 7. The reaction product formed in the porous electrode 7, for example the alkali metal polysulfide, emerges via outlet openings 17 back out of the porous electrode 7 into the flow channel 13.

The number of sleeves used for the segment wall 9 here depends on the height of the sleeve and the length of the electrode unit and may also be greater than the number shown here. It is also possible to provide only one sleeve and to form a plurality of rows of inlet openings 15 and outlet openings 17 in the sleeve.

In order to be able to output a constant electrical power irrespective of the state of discharge, the porous electrode 7 is segmented by flow barriers 19. The flow barrier 19 prevents the reaction product which has formed in the porous electrode 7 from continuing to flow onwards through the porous electrode 7 in the region of the outlet openings 17. The flow barrier 19 ensures that all the material emerges from the porous electrode 7 into the flow channel 13 in the region of the outlet opening 17. This ensures fresh cathode material is supplied to the porous electrode 7 in a downstream segment, so improving the performance of the electrode unit 1. So that material which has emerged from an outlet opening 17 does not immediately enter the next segment of the porous electrode, the inlet openings 15 downstream from the outlet openings 17 are arranged in a staggered manner relative to the outlet openings 17.

The current released during discharging is picked off via a current terminal 21. To this end, the respective segments of the porous electrode 7 are contacted with the current terminal 21. Contact is made, for example, via the segment wall 9 and the cover 11. Both the segment wall 9 and the cover 11 are here of electrically conductive construction. It is alternatively also possible in each case to connect the porous electrodes 7, which are enclosed by the segment walls 9, to a central conductor which is contacted with the current terminal 21. Any other possible way known to a person skilled in the art of electrically contacting the porous electrode 7 is also possible.

In the simplified embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the structure comprises no segment walls. The porous electrodes 7 are in direct contact with the corrugated cover 11, such that in this case too vertically directed flow channels 13 are formed. The current supply lines are in direct electrical contact with the porous electrode 7.

During discharging, the porous electrode 7 is the cathode. The anode is formed by the anode material which is located on the opposite side of the solid electrolyte 3 from the porous electrode 7. In the embodiment shown here with a cylindrical solid electrolyte 3, the anode material is located in the interior of the solid electrolyte 3. In order to be able to keep the quantity of anode material small, a displacer 23 is located in the solid electrolyte 3. The displacer 23 is here constructed such that a gap 25 is provided between the solid electrolyte 3 and the displacer 23. The anode material is located in the gap 25. If an alkali metal is used as the anode material, the anode material is itself electrically conductive and may be used directly as an electrode, during discharging, as the anode. To this end, it is for example possible for the displacer 23 to be electrically conductive and the displacer 23 to form the current terminal.

A channel 27 is constructed in the displacer 23 for feeding the anode material. The anode material flows through the channel 27 into the gap 25 and, on electrochemical reduction, forms cations which pass through the cation-conductive solid electrolyte 3 into the porous electrode 7 where the cations enter into a neutralization reaction with the anions formed therein.

It is furthermore possible to heat the displacer 23 in order to establish the temperature required for operation so that the anode material and cathode material remain molten. Heating may be provided electrically for example with a heating rod.

In one particular embodiment, heating is provided with variable heating power distributed over the length of the electrode unit, such that more heating is provided at the top and the least at the bottom. This means that alkali metal which has cooled to below the melting point and the surrounding cathode material melt from above downwards in the form of a melt cone so ensuring that destructive pressures cannot arise due to entrapped melt.

For charging, the salt, for example sodium polysulfide, is supplied via the channels 13, enters through the outlet openings 17 into the porous electrode and is split by an applied voltage into sodium ions and sulfur, wherein the sodium ions can flow through the solid electrolyte 3 into the gap 25 and emerge through the channel 27. The sulfur passes out of the porous electrode 7, through the inlet openings 15 in the segment wall 9, into the flow channel 13. Flow is initiated by the difference in density between sodium polysulfide and sulfur. Since the sodium polysulfide has a higher density than sulfur, the sodium polysulfide sinks downwards and forms a flow, such that the electrode unit 1 may be continuously operated provided that a supply of alkali metal and sulfur is available.

The sulfur and alkali metal are stored in storage vessels arranged separately from one another, wherein the storage vessel for the sulfur may for example also enclose the cover 11 and flows via the channels 13 formed by the cover 11 to the porous electrode 7. The resultant salt is then likewise collected in the storage vessels for sulfur. Due to the difference in density, a biphasic system forms, the sodium polysulfide being located below and the sulfur on top.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the electrode unit 1 constructed according to the invention. The plan view shown in FIG. 2 in particular reveals the corrugated design of the cover 11 in the form of a cladding tube. The corrugated cover 11 here rests with troughs 29 against the segment wall 9 and individual channels 13 are formed by the peaks 31, which alternate with the troughs 29. During discharging, the cathode material flows into the channels 13, which are formed by the peaks 31, and then enters through inlet openings 15 into the porous electrode. The material which does not pass into the porous electrode 7 flows onward through the flow channel 13. At the outlet openings 17, the material flowing through the channel mixes with the emerging material, such that a mixture enters into downstream inlet openings 15 in the same flow channel 13, which mixture comprises a higher proportion of unreacted cathode material than the material emerging from the outlet openings.

FIG. 3 shows the electrode unit according to the invention in three dimensions, the cover 11 having a cutaway to show the underlying components. Said cutaway is not present in the installed electrode unit 1. The representation in FIG. 3 reveals that the outlet openings 17 are arranged in a staggered manner relative to the downstream inlet openings 15. This prevents material from an outlet opening 17 from being able to flow directly into the downstream inlet opening 15. In the embodiment show here, the inlet openings 15 and outlet openings 17 are in each case constructed with a rectangular cross-section, an extension 33 of the extensive electrode 9 constructed as a sleeve in each case being located between two inlet openings 15 or two outlet openings 17, which extension is respectively of the same width as the downstream inlet opening 15 or the preceding outlet opening 17.

In the embodiment shown here, the extensive electrodes 9 are made as separate sleeves which in each case comprise the inlet openings 15 at one end and the outlet openings 17 at the other end. Design as individual sleeves facilitates installation and production. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to provide only one sleeve in which inlet openings 15 and outlet openings 17 are formed. The design with separate sleeves, the ends of which respectively comprise inlet openings 15 and outlet openings 17, is preferred however. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the inlet openings 15 and the outlet openings 17 on one sleeve are in each case in axial alignment with one another. It is furthermore also possible, in addition to the rectangular inlet openings 15 and outlet openings 17 shown here, to construct the inlet openings and outlet openings in any other desired shape. The openings may accordingly, for example, be constructed in the form of a semicircle or a semiellipse or even as a triangle, if the openings are in each case at the end of the sleeve. If only one extensive electrode is provided, in which a plurality of rows of inlet openings 15 and outlet openings 17 are constructed, said openings may also be constructed in any other desired shape, for example elliptical, circular, triangular or polygonal with as many vertices as desired.

In addition to the embodiment shown here with a cylindrical solid electrolyte 3 and thus likewise cylindrical porous electrodes 7, it is also possible to construct the electrode unit 1 with any other desired cross-section and also as an extensive electrode unit. Preferably, however, the electrode unit 1 is cylindrical, as shown here.

In order to create a longer electrode unit 1, more than the two segment walls 9 constructed as a sleeve which are shown here may be provided.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional representation through a displacer constructed according to the invention.

The displacer 23 is preferably made from special steel. In order to avoid damaging the solid electrolyte 3 by thermal expansion of the displacer 23, the displacer 23 is preferably configured such that it rests resiliently against the solid electrolyte 3. Resting in a resilient manner against the solid electrolyte may for example be achieved by a design with projections 35 and recesses 37. This results for example in a corrugated design of the displacer 23. It is furthermore also possible, in particular, if additional current conductors 39 are provided, to make the recesses 37 omega-shaped, into which current conductors 39 with a circular cross-section are clamped.

In the embodiment shown here, the current conductors 39 comprise a jacket in the form of a tube 41 closed at both ends and a core 43 of an electrically highly conductive material. The entire circumference of the core 43 here rests against the tube 41. As has already been described above, the tube is preferably made from a special steel and the core is of aluminum, copper, silver, gold or sodium. Using the current conductors 39 improves the electrical conductivity of the displacer 23 made from special steel which has comparatively poor conductivity.

The displacer is conventionally hollow on the inside. The internal region 45 of the displacer may for example be used to accommodate a vessel comprising sodium. The vessel is here preferably likewise made from special steel.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional representation of the extensive electrode in one embodiment of the invention.

The solid electrolyte 3 is enclosed by an electrically insulating layer 5 and a porous electrode 7. The porous electrode 7 is adjoined by the cover 11 which, in the embodiment shown here, is of corrugated construction. Flow channels 13, through which sulfur and polysulfide flow, are formed by the corrugated design of the cover 11.

If the cover 11 is made from steel, additional current conductors 47 should be provided to improve electrical characteristics. The current conductors 47 are here preferably arranged on the side of the cover 11 which faces towards the solid electrolyte 3. In the embodiment shown here, the current conductors 47 are accommodated in flow channels 23 of the extensive electrode. The geometries of the flow channels 23 and current conductors 47 are here adapted to one another such that a current conductor 47 in each case rests continuously against the wall of a flow channel 13. In order to avoid an unwanted reaction of the current conductor with the sulfur or polysulfide, the current conductor 47, like the current conductor 39 arranged on the displacer side, is made with a jacket of a special steel tube 49 closed at both ends and a core 51 of an electrically highly conductive material. The electrically highly conductive material is preferably copper, aluminum, silver or gold, particularly preferably copper or aluminum.

In addition to being arranged in every other flow channel 13, as shown here, any other desired uniform or nonuniform distribution of the current conductor 39 is possible. For example, in the case of a uniform distribution it is accordingly also possible to provide the current conductors only in every third or every fourth flow channel 13.

In addition to the embodiment shown here, it is furthermore also possible to arrange current conductors on the side of the cover 11 remote from the solid electrolyte 3. In this case, it is preferred to contact the electrically highly conductive material directly with the material of the cover 11, for example by a coating or also by a clamp connection of a wire made from the electrically highly conductive material in a trough of the cover 11 of corrugated construction that is remote from the solid electrolyte 3. In order to prevent reaction of the electrically highly conductive material with sulfur or polysulfide, a cover, which is not shown here, in this case encloses the extensive electrode and thus also the electrically highly conductive material. The same cover material is here preferably selected as for the cover 11.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 1 Electrode unit
• 3 Solid electrolyte
• 5 Layer insulating in terms of electron conduction
• 7 Porous electrode
• 9 Segment wall
• 11 Cover
• 13 Flow channel
• 15 Inlet opening
• 17 Outlet opening
• 19 Flow barrier
• 21 Current terminal
• 23 Displacer
• 25 Gap
• 27 Channel
• 29 Trough
• 31 Peak
• 33 Extension
• 35 Projection
• 37 Recess
• 39 Current conductor
• 41 Tube
• 43 Core
• 45 Internal region of the displacer 23
• 47 Current conductor
• 49 Special steel tube
• 51 Core

Claims

1-26. (canceled)

27. An electrode unit for an electrochemical device for storing electrical energy, comprising a solid electrolyte and a porous electrode, the solid electrolyte dividing a compartment for cathode material and a compartment for anode material and the porous electrode being extensively connected to the solid electrolyte and the cathode material flowing along the porous electrode during discharging, wherein, on the side remote from the solid electrolyte, the porous electrode is covered towards the compartment for the cathode material with a segment wall, the segment wall comprising inlet openings in the direction of flow of the cathode material, through which the cathode material penetrates into the porous electrode, reacts chemically with the anode material in the porous electrode and emerges back out of the porous electrode through outlet openings downstream in the direction of flow.

28. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the segment wall comprises a plurality of rows of inlet openings and outlet openings oriented transversely of the direction of flow, the inlet openings and outlet openings alternating in the direction of flow and flow barriers being accommodated in the porous electrode, in each case in the direction of flow, upstream of the inlet openings and downstream of the outlet openings.

29. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein a row of outlet openings is in each case immediately followed by a row of inlet openings.

30. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the inlet openings which follow the outlet openings in the direction of flow of the cathode material are arranged in a staggered manner relative to the outlet openings.

31. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein a cover adjoins the segment wall, the cover being constructed such that the cover forms flow channels along the electrode.

32. The electrode unit according to claim 31, wherein the cover is of corrugated construction.

33. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the solid electrolyte is of cylindrical construction and the porous electrode encloses the solid electrolyte.

34. The electrode unit according to claim 33, wherein the segment wall is at least one sleeve which encloses the porous electrode, the inlet openings and outlet openings being formed in the sleeve.

35. The electrode unit according to claim 33, wherein the segment wall comprises at least two sleeves, the inlet openings in each case being formed at one end of the sleeve and the outlet openings at the opposite end and the sleeves being rotated relative to one another on the porous electrode such that the outlet openings of one sleeve are arranged in a staggered manner relative to the inlet openings of a downstream sleeve.

36. The electrode unit according to claim 33, wherein the cover is a cladding tube and is configured such that the flow channels are oriented in the axial direction along the porous electrode.

37. The electrode unit according to claim 33, wherein a displacer is accommodated in the solid electrolyte of cylindrical construction, the displacer not being in contact with the solid electrolyte in the circumferential direction.

38. The electrode unit according to claim 37, wherein a channel is formed in the displacer, through which channel the anode material is supplied.

39. The electrode unit according to claim 37, wherein the displacer is made from a special steel.

40. The electrode unit according to claim 37, wherein the displacer rests resiliently against the solid electrolyte.

41. The electrode unit according to claim 37, wherein the displacer comprises an outer contour with projections and recesses.

42. The electrode unit according to claim 39, wherein the displacer comprises current conducting means.

43. The electrode unit according to claim 41, wherein the current conducting means comprise a special steel tube closed at both ends and with a core of an electrically highly conductive material and are arranged in recesses of the displacer or wherein the current conducting means comprise a coating of an electrically highly conductive material on the inside of the displacer.

44. The electrode unit according to claim 41, wherein the current conducting means comprising a special steel tube closed at both ends and with a core of an electrically highly conductive material are clamped in the recesses.

45. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein a non-electron-conducting layer is arranged between the solid electrolyte and the porous electrode.

46. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the solid electrolyte is made from β″-alumina.

47. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the porous electrode is a graphite felt electrode.

48. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the segment wall is made from steel.

49. The electrode unit according to claim 48, wherein the segment wall is electrically conductive and comprises additional current conducting means.

50. The electrode unit according to claim 49, wherein the current conducting means comprise a special steel tube closed at both ends and with a core of an electrically highly conductive material and are arranged with a clamp connection in troughs of the cover which is of corrugated construction.

51. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the anode material is an alkali metal.

52. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the cathode material is sulfur or polysulfide.

53. The electrode unit according to claim 27, wherein the special steel is molybdenum-stabilized special steel 1.4571, 1.4401, 1.4404, 1.4405 or 1.4539.