Chromium Containing Material Patents (Class 429/109)
  • Patent number: 11557986
    Abstract: A passive electric generator system that does not require solar energy or fossil fuels to operate. The system comprises of a copper housing, a first rubber plug that is attached to a first open end of the copper housing, at least one metal wire that has a length that has a length that is at least two inches greater than the copper housing, at least one perforated plastic wire cover that covers the at least one metal wire, an ionic liquid is housed within the copper housing, a second rubber plug that attaches to a second open end of the copper housing so that the at least one metal wire and the at least one plastic wire cover are in the copper housing and the at least one metal wire pierces through the second rubber plug so that an end of the at least one metal wire rests outwardly from a top side of the second rubber plug, and at least one electrical conductive wire that is fixedly attached to an outer surface of the copper housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Juan Jose Ugartemendia
  • Patent number: 10756377
    Abstract: There is provided a regenerative fuel cell capable of operating in a power delivery mode in and in an energy storage mode. The cell may comprise a reversible hydrogen gas anode, in an anode compartment, a reversible cathode in a cathode compartment, and a membrane separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment, which membrane is capable of selectively passing protons. an additive may be provided in the cathode compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Imperial Innovations Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Brandon, Vladimir Yufit, Anthony Kucernak, Javier Rubio-Garcia
  • Patent number: 8951665
    Abstract: A method for preparing a redox flow battery electrolyte is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes the processing of raw materials containing sources of chromium ions in a high oxidation state. In some embodiments, a solution of the raw materials in an acidic aqueous solution is subjected to a reducing process to reduce the chromium in a high oxide state to an aqueous electrolyte containing chromium (III) ions. In some embodiments, the reducing process is electrochemical process. In some embodiments, the reducing process is addition of an inorganic reductant. In some embodiments, the reducing process is addition of an organic reductant. In some embodiments, the inorganic reductant or the organic reductant includes iron powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Imergy Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Keshavarz, Aravamuthan Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 8927125
    Abstract: A quencher for a flow cell battery is described. The quencher utilizes a quench solution formed from FeCl2 in a dilute HCl solution in order to quench chlorine emissions from the flow cell battery. A quench sensor is further described. The quench sensor monitors the concentration level of FeCl2 in the quench solution and may also monitor the level of the quench solution in the quencher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Imergy Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Keshavarz, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Ge Zu
  • Patent number: 8771857
    Abstract: A redox flow (RF) battery performs charge and discharge by supplying a positive electrode electrolyte and a negative electrode electrolyte to a battery cell. Each of the positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode electrolyte contains a vanadium (V) ion as active material. At least one of the positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode electrolyte further contains another metal ion, for example, a metal ion such as a manganese ion that exhibits a higher redox potential than a V ion or a metal ion such as a chromium ion that exhibits a lower redox potential than a V ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Shigematsu, Yongrong Dong, Takahiro Kumamoto
  • Patent number: 8753761
    Abstract: This invention is directed to aqueous redox flow batteries comprising redox-active metal ligand coordination compounds. The compounds and configurations described herein enable flow batteries with performance and cost parameters that represent a significant improvement over that previous known in the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sun Catalytix Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Esswein, John Goeltz, Evan R. King, Steven Y. Reece, Desiree Amadeo
  • Patent number: 8691413
    Abstract: This invention is directed to aqueous redox flow batteries comprising ionically charged redox active materials and separators, wherein the separator is less than about 100 microns and the flow battery is capable of operating with high energy densities and voltage efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sun Catalytix Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Esswein, John Goeltz, Steven Y. Reece, Thomas H. Madden, Desiree Amadeo, Thomas D. Jarvi, Evan R. King
  • Patent number: 8642202
    Abstract: An organic electrolyte solution for use in a redox flow battery and the redox flow battery including the organic electrolyte solution has a high energy density because re-precipitation is prevented in the organic electrolyte solution or eduction is prevented in an electrode during reduction of a metal ion used as an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-young Sun, Joung-won Park, Doo-yeon Lee, Seung-uk Son
  • Publication number: 20140030572
    Abstract: This invention is directed to aqueous redox flow batteries comprising redox-active metal ligand coordination compounds. The compounds and configurations described herein enable flow batteries with performance and cost parameters that represent a significant improvement over that previous known in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: SUN CATALYTIX CORPORATION
    Inventor: SUN CATALYTIX CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20140030573
    Abstract: This invention is directed to aqueous redox flow batteries comprising ionically charged redox active materials and separators, wherein the separator is less than about 100 microns and the flow battery is capable of operating with high energy densities and voltage efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: SUN CATALYTIX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sun Catalytix Corporation
  • Publication number: 20140030571
    Abstract: The present invention provides a secondary cell having a negative electrode compartment and a positive electrode compartment, which are separated by an alkali ion conductive electrolyte membrane. An alkali metal negative electrode disposed in the negative electrode compartment oxidizes to release alkali ions as the cell discharges and reduces the alkali ions to alkali metal during recharge. The positive electrode compartment includes a positive electrode contacting a positive electrode solution that includes an alkali metal compound and a metal halide. The alkali metal compound can be selected from an alkali halide and an alkali pseudo-halide. During discharge, the metal ion reduces to form metal plating on the positive electrode. As the cell charges, the metal plating oxidizes to strip the metal plating to form metal halide or pseudo halide or corresponding metal complex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Sai Bhavaraju, Mathew Robins, Chett Boxley
  • Patent number: 8541121
    Abstract: A quencher for a flow cell battery is described. The quencher utilizes a quench solution formed from FeCl2 in a dilute HCl solution in order to quench chlorine emissions from the flow cell battery. A quench sensor is further described. The quench sensor monitors the concentration level of FeCl2 in the quench solution and may also monitor the level of the quench solution in the quencher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Deeya Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Keshavarz, Saroj Kumar Sahu, Ge Zu
  • Publication number: 20130045400
    Abstract: Provided are a redox flow battery (RF battery) in which a positive electrode electrolyte and a negative electrode electrolyte are supplied to a battery cell including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a membrane, to charge and discharge the battery, and a method of operating the RF battery. The positive electrode electrolyte contains a manganese ion, or both of a manganese ion and a titanium ion. The negative electrode electrolyte contains at least one type of metal ion selected from a titanium ion, a vanadium ion, a chromium ion, a zinc ion, and a tin ion. The RF battery can have a high electromotive force and can suppress generation of a precipitation of MnO2 by containing a titanium ion in the positive electrode electrolyte, or by being operated such that the positive electrode electrolyte has an SOC of not more than 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongrong Dong, Toshio Shigematsu, Takahiro Kumamoto, Michiru Kubata
  • Publication number: 20130004819
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a redox flow battery and a redox flow battery including the electrolyte, the electrolyte including a metal-ligand coordination compound as a cation and an anion containing at least four atoms linked to each other by a straight chain in a certain direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicants: Seoul National University R&DB Foundation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-young Mun, Seung-sik Hwang, Doo-yeon Lee, Hyung-tae Kim, Young-gyu Kim, Oh-min Kwon, Tae-eun Yim
  • Publication number: 20120282509
    Abstract: A redox flow (RF) battery is provided that performs charge and discharge by supplying a positive electrode electrolyte and a negative electrode electrolyte to a positive electrode cell and a negative cell, respectively. Each of the positive and negative electrode electrolytes contains a vanadium (V) ion as active material. At least one of the positive and negative electrode electrolytes further contains another metal ion, for example, a manganese ion that exhibits a higher redox potential than a V ion or a chromium ion that exhibits a lower redox potential than a V ion. Even in cases where the RF battery is nearly fully charged, side reactions such as generation of oxygen has or hydrogen gas due to water decomposition and oxidation degradation of an electrode can be suppressed since the above-mentioned another metal ion contained together with the V ion is oxidized or reduced in the late stage of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Shigematsu, Yongrong Dong, Takahiro Kumamoto
  • Patent number: 8288030
    Abstract: A redox flow battery having a high electromotive force and capable of suppressing generation of a precipitation is provided. In a redox flow battery 100, a positive electrode electrolyte and a negative electrode electrolyte are supplied to a battery cell including a positive electrode 104, a negative electrode 105, and a membrane 101 interposed between the electrodes 104 and 105, to charge and discharge the battery. The positive electrode electrolyte contains a manganese ion, or both of a manganese ion and a titanium ion. The negative electrode electrolyte contains at least one type of metal ion selected from a titanium ion, a vanadium ion, a chromium ion, a zinc ion, and a tin ion. The redox flow battery 100 can suppress generation of a precipitation of MnO2, and can be charged and discharged well by containing a titanium ion in the positive electrode electrolyte, or by being operated such that the positive electrode electrolyte has an SOC of not more than 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongrong Dong, Toshio Shigematsu, Takahiro Kumamoto, Michiru Kubata
  • Publication number: 20120171531
    Abstract: A metal-ligand coordination compound containing an aliphatic ligand useful as a catholyte and/or an anolyte that enables the provision of a redox flow battery having high energy efficiency and charge/discharge efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joung-won Park, Myung-jin Lee, Doo-yeon Lee, Seung-sik Hwang, Duk-jin Oh, Seung Uk Son
  • Publication number: 20120171541
    Abstract: A redox flow battery. A metal-ligand coordination compound including an aromatic ligand that contains an electron withdrawing group is used as the catholyte and/or the anolyte so that a redox flow battery having high energy density and excellent charge/discharge efficiency may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joung-won Park, Myung-jin Lee, Seung-sik Hwang, Doo-yeon Lee, Duk-jin Oh
  • Publication number: 20120171530
    Abstract: Provided are redox flow batteries employing supporting electrolyte of a ring- or spiro-type structure and having high energy efficiencies and energy densities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-jin LEE, Duk-jin Oh, Seung-sik Hwang
  • Publication number: 20120133323
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an efficient and high capacity electrical energy storage device consisting of diaphragm-less anode and cathode cells charging and discharging an electrolyte containing suitable ions that store electrical energy during the charging cycle and release the electrical energy during the discharge cycle. The charge-discharge reactions are reversible so that the efficiency does not reduce with the number of cycles and efficiency is maintained until the last of the charged electrolyte passes through the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: Rodolfo Antonio M. Gomez
  • Patent number: 8163437
    Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell anode comprising a porous anode body, which comprises a nickel-based alloy and at least one ceramic additive dispersed throughout the anode body. The amount of the ceramic additive in the anode body is between 5 and 50% by volume. The nickel-based alloy is Ni—Cr or Ni—Al, and the ceramic additive is one of CeO2, yttrium doped ceria, yttrium doped zirconia, TiO2, Li2TiO3, LiAlO2 and La0.8Sr0.2CoO3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdelkader Hilmi, Chao-Yi Yuh, Mohammad Farooque
  • Publication number: 20120045680
    Abstract: A redox flow battery having a high electromotive force and capable of suppressing generation of a precipitation is provided. In a redox flow battery 100, a positive electrode electrolyte and a negative electrode electrolyte are supplied to a battery cell including a positive electrode 104, a negative electrode 105, and a membrane 101 interposed between the electrodes 104 and 105, to charge and discharge the battery. The positive electrode electrolyte contains a manganese ion, or both of a manganese ion and a titanium ion. The negative electrode electrolyte contains at least one type of metal ion selected from a titanium ion, a vanadium ion, a chromium ion, a zinc ion, and a tin ion. The redox flow battery 100 can suppress generation of a precipitation of MnO2, and can be charged and discharged well by containing a titanium ion in the positive electrode electrolyte, or by being operated such that the positive electrode electrolyte has an SOC of not more than 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Yongrong Dong, Toshio Shigematsu, Takahiro Kumamoto, Michiru Kubata
  • Publication number: 20110195283
    Abstract: An organic electrolyte solution for use in a redox flow battery and the redox flow battery including the organic electrolyte solution has a high energy density because re-precipitation is prevented in the organic electrolyte solution or eduction is prevented in an electrode during reduction of a metal ion used as an electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-young Sun, Joung-won Park, Doo-yeon Lee, Seung-uk Son
  • Publication number: 20110189520
    Abstract: Redox flow devices are described including a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector, and an ion-permeable membrane separating said positive and negative current collectors, positioned and arranged to define a positive electroactive zone and a negative electroactive zone; wherein at least one of said positive and negative electroactive zone comprises a flowable semi-solid composition comprising ion storage compound particles capable of taking up or releasing said ions during operation of the cell, and wherein the ion storage compound particles have a polydisperse size distribution in which the finest particles present in at least 5 vol % of the total volume, is at least a factor of 5 smaller than the largest particles present in at least 5 vol % of the total volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: 24M Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. CARTER, Yet-Ming CHIANG, Mihai DUDUTA, Pimpa LIMTHONGKUL
  • Patent number: 7931978
    Abstract: Halogenated organic compounds that are inexpensive and are readily available have been used to present the examples of the invention. These chemicals, when in contact with water experience a reaction that releases oxy-halogenated acid. These compounds are weak acids and release hydrogen ions according to their ionization constant keeping a constant level of oxy-halogenated ion. These ions are capable of reacting with catalytic cathodes and can be coupled with anode materials to fabricate galvanic cells. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention include cells with flat and cylindrical form factors having a variety of anodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Andres M. Cardenas-Valencia, Carl J. Biver, Lawrence C. Langebrake, John Bumgarner
  • Publication number: 20110076526
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a flow cell battery is provided. The electrolyte includes a concentration of chromium ions that is greater than the concentration of iron ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Ge Zu, Majid Keshavarz
  • Patent number: 6720107
    Abstract: A redox gel battery comprising at least one cell consisting of: (i) a positive gel electrolyte containing reactive ions which are reduced but do not undergo phase transfer during operation of the battery; (ii) a negative gel electrolyte containing reactive ions which are oxidized but do not undergo phase transfer during operation of the battery; and (iii) a membrane separating the positive and negative gel electrolytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Farnow Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Wayne Holtom, Chris Menictas
  • Publication number: 20030228514
    Abstract: In a secondary cell which generates a direct current when the positive electrode complex and the negative electrode complex thereof conduct a reversible redox reaction in the presence of an electrolyte, the positive electrode complex and the negative electrode complex are in a combination (represented by positive electrode complex/negative electrode complex) selected from the group consisting of lead/chromium complex, chromium complex/aluminum complex, and manganese complex/zinc complex. The secondary cell has relatively high capacitance and can be manufactured at low cost. Moreover, it provides more stable chemical reactions and can therefore be stably charged/discharged with large current and without risk of explosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Sunyen Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Ta Tu, Show-Jong Yeh
  • Patent number: 5258241
    Abstract: The invention provides a rebalance cell for a Cr/Fe redox storage system. The rebalance cell has a catalyst for the reduction of Fe.sup.3+ ions by means of hydrogen. The catalyst separates a gas chamber of the rebalance cell (holding hydrogen) and a liquid chamber of the rebalance cell (holding Fe.sup.3+ electrolyte). The catalyst is in the form of an activated charcoal made hydrophobic and coated with a platinum metal, gold or silver. The catalyst can also be in the form of tungsten carbide made hydrophobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Konstantin Ledjeff, Angelika Heinzel
  • Patent number: 4882241
    Abstract: The combination of gold, thallium, lead and bismuth is used as a catalyst in a battery comprised of at least one "redox" cell to accelerate the oxidation of chromous ions to chromic ions and the reduction of chromic ions to chromous ions. The gold, thallium, lead and bismuth catalyst is coated on an electronically conductive, inert electrode which is in the anode fluid of the "redox" cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Angelika Heinzel
  • Patent number: 4874483
    Abstract: A redox battery electrolyte is prepared from a chromium and/or iron base raw material containing nickel as impurities by dissolving the raw material in a hydrochloric acid-containing aqueous liquid to form a solution containing chromium ions and/or iron ions and nickel ions, the resulting solution being subjected to a cathodic reduction in the presence of lead ions until the electric potential thereof becomes lower than -0.6 V vs. saturated calomel electrode, thereby to remove the nickel ions therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Chiyoda Corporation
    Inventors: Ataru Wakabayashi, Yohichi Umehara, Satsuki Morie, Ikuro Kuwahara, Yoshimi Okada
  • Patent number: 4784924
    Abstract: A hybrid redox-halogen energy storage device and system has a housing divided into two chambers by a microporous separator. Each chamber can contain an electrolyte such as CrCl.sub.3. The microporous separator keeps the C.sub.r.sup.+2 ion in the chamber containing the negative electrode and also keeps chlorine gas (Cl.sub.2) in the positive electrode chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: University of Akron
    Inventors: Robert F. Savinell, Chung-Chiun Liu
  • Patent number: 4732827
    Abstract: A process for producing an anolyte and a catholyte for redox cells which comprises the steps of heating chromium ore together with carbonaceous substances to produce a pre-reduced chromium product produced a part of iron and chromium in chromium ore, dissolving the pre-reduced chromium product in hydrochloric acid and/or sulfuric acid iron and chromium. Thus, the dissolving step can be simplified, the predetermined concentration can be simply regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignees: Japan Metals and Chemical Co., Ltd., Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hiroko Kaneko, Ken Nozaki, Takeo Ozawa, Koichi Oku, Takashi Shimanuki, Yoshinori Koga
  • Patent number: 4576878
    Abstract: A rebalance cell is provided for a REDOX electrochemical system of the type having anode and cathode fluids which are aqueous HCl solutions with two metal species in each. The rebalance cell has a cathode compartment and a chlorine compartment separated by an ion permeable membrane. By applying an electrical potential to the rebalance cell while circulating cathode fluid through the cathode compartment and while circulating an identical fluid through the chlorine compartment, any significant imbalance of the REDOX system is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Randall F. Gahn
  • Patent number: 4543302
    Abstract: A REDOX cell to operate at elevated temperatures and utilizing the same two metal couples in each of the two reactant fluids is disclosed. Each fluid includes a bismuth salt and may also include a lead salt. A low cost, cation permselective membrane separates the reactant fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Randall F. Gahn, Norman H. Hagedorn
  • Patent number: 4496637
    Abstract: An electrode for an flowcell comprising electrode material made of carbon fiber having average <002> spacing of quasi-graphite crystalline structure of not more than 3.70 .ANG., and the average C-axis size of crystallite of not less than 9.0 .ANG. and at least 3 % by mole of oxygen atom bound to the fiber surface based on carbon atom, whereby the electrode has remarkable high electrical conductivity, current efficiency handling characteristics and hydrodynamic characteristics, and is adapted to flowcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Shimada, Yasuhiro Iizuka, Tetuo Hukazu
  • Patent number: 4382116
    Abstract: Zirconium carbide is used as a catalyst in a REDOX cell for the oxidation of chromous ions to chromic ions and for the reduction of chromic ions to chromous ions. The zirconium carbide is coated on an inert electronically conductive electrode which is present in the anode fluid of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Randall F. Gahn, Margaret A. Reid, Chiang Y. Yang
  • Patent number: 4370392
    Abstract: A hybrid redox-halogen energy storage device and system has a housing divided into two chambers by an anionic membrane. One chamber has an inert negative electrode in an electrolyte solution containing chromium ions. The remaining chamber has an inert positive electrode containing chlorine gas dissolved therein. Each electrolyte is circulated to a separate storage tank after passing through its respective chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Robert F. Savinell, Chung-Chiun Liu
  • Patent number: 4362791
    Abstract: In a redox battery using a titanium redox system or chromium redox system as an active material for the negative electrode or a manganese redox system as an active material for the positive electrode, the electromotive force of the battery and the stability of electrolyte solutions are enhanced by addition of a chelating agent such as citric acid or a complexing agent such as phosphoric acid to the redox system used therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignees: Agency of Industrial Science & Technology, Ministry of International Trade & Industry
    Inventors: Hiroko Kaneko, Ken Nozaki
  • Patent number: 4192910
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electricity producing cell of the reduction-oxidation (REDOX) type divided into two compartments by a membrane, each compartment containing a solid inert electrode. A ferrous/ferric couple in a chloride solution serves as a cathode fluid which is circulated through one of the compartments to produce a positive electric potential disposed therein. A chromic/chromous couple in a chloride solution serves as an anode fluid which is circulated through the second compartment to produce a negative potential on an electrode disposed therein. The electrode is an electrically conductive, inert material plated with copper, silver or gold. A thin layer of lead plates onto the copper, silver or gold layer when the cell is being charged, the lead ions being available from lead chloride which has been added to the anode fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Jose D. Giner, Kathleen J. Cahill
  • Patent number: 4147843
    Abstract: There is provided an acid mixture to use as the electrolyte of a galvanic battery of the type in which the electrolyte flows through the battery cells as a liquid solution, said mixture being composed of sulfuric acid and powdered chromic acid. The acids are mixed together to form a paste-like mass which is, when the battery is being used, introduced into the water stream flowing into the battery. Flaky chromic acid may be pulverized by grinding in a ball mill before mixing with the sulphuric acid, or the acid components may be mixed before such grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Assignee: Oy Airam AB
    Inventor: Allan K. Hakkinen
  • Patent number: 4048394
    Abstract: An improved secondary battery or cell of the type having: (A) an anodic reaction zone containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) one or more cathodic reaction zones containing a cathodic reactant which, when said battery or cell is at least partially discharged, is selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two-phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant; (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones; and (D) a current collector which at least partially exposed to said cathodic reactant and which is in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and said external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1977
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Frank A. Ludwig
  • Patent number: H1544
    Abstract: The addition of cathode materials comprising Cu.sup.++, Fe.sup.+++, Cr.sup.+++ or Au.sup.+++, in the form of salts such as the nitrate or halide, e.g. Fe(NO.sub.3).sub.3 or CuCl.sub.2, to low melting nitrate electrolyte cells increases cell potential. Other ions such as Co.sup.++, Eu.sup.+++, La.sup.+++, Ni.sup.++, Mn.sup.++, Ce.sup.+++, Pr.sup.+++, Nd.sup.+++, Gd.sup.+++, Sm.sup.+++ and Tb.sup.+++, in the form of salts thereof, can also be used, but yield smaller cell potentials. Such cathodic materials in the form of a suitable salt, such as a nitrate or halide, e.g. Fe(NO.sub.3).sub.3 or CuCl.sub.2, are added to low melting fused nitrate electrolytes, e.g. a LiNO.sub.3, KNO.sub.3 mixture, in a concentration sufficient to increase cell potential, using Li or Ca anodes. A suitable metal current collector such as a Ni screen can be used as a cathode. The above cathodic materials can be used in conjunction with other cathodic materials such as AgNO.sub.3, which undergoes reduction to the free metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Melvin H. Miles