Abstract: An electrochemical system comprising a housing containing at least two electrodes, a reservoir having flexible walls, conduit means connecting said housing and said reservoir, and means to circulate electrolyte between said housing and said reservoir is disclosed.

Abstract: A battery includes a negative electrode comprising metallic lithium (Li) in conjunction with lithium chlorate (LiClO.sub.3) electrolyte. Lithium perchlorate (LiClO.sub.4) may also be used as the electrolyte. Lithium chloride (LiCl) and lithium oxide (Li.sub.2 O), individually or together, may also be utilized with lithium chlorate or lithium perchlorate in forming the electrolyte. A positive electrode comprises a metal, such as nickel. In one form, a sheet of lithium metal is sandwiched between two sheets of nickel comprising a negative electrode, one nickel sheet being perforated to permit contact between the lithium sheet and a lithium chlorate electrolyte contained within an insulative member, the other electrode comprising a film of metallic nickel disposed upon the insulative member and in contact with the electrolyte; alternatively, a film or sheet of lithium metal may be disposed upon the insulator as a negative electrode.

Abstract: An electrolyte reservoir in fluid communication with the cell of a storage battery is intermittently pressurized with a pulse of compressed gas to cause a flow of electrolyte from the reservoir to the upper region of less dense electrolyte in the cell. Upon termination of the pressure pulse, more dense electrolyte is forced into the reservoir from the lower region of the cell by the differential pressure head between the cell and reservoir electrolyte levels. The compressed gas pulse is controlled to prevent the entry of gas from the reservoir into the cell.

Abstract: A method for cooling high rate discharge primary batteries comprising absorbing the heat of reaction of the primary battery by a nonaqueous liquid depolarizer, circulating it, cooling it, and returning it to the primary battery, and a primary battery system including one or more primary batteries, a cooling means, and a fluid communication means between the primary battery and the cooling means.

Abstract: Electrolyte, lost from the stack to the case in a sealed electrochemical cell, is returned to the stack by a zirconium oxide based ceramic deposited on the inside wall of the pressure vessel, wicking by capillary action, the electrolyte from regions external to the stack to the stack components. The ceramic wick is also used to transfer electrolyte from one separator and/or reservoir to another within the stack, replacing an interior stack wick in a recirculating design. The wall wick is also effective in a back-to-back type cell design.

Abstract: A maintenance-free lead storage battery comprises a container closed by a lid and containing an acid electrolyte together with a block of positive plates, negative plates and separators. The block of plates and separators is tightly packed in a case which is immersed in the electrolyte and which has openings in those of its walls which are in close contact with end ones of said plates.

Abstract: An energy system of the type having a galvanic cell which is supported within a receptacle for contact with an electrolyte within the receptacle. The galvanic cell includes a solid metal core, a porous electrode having a positive charge with respect to the core, and a porous separator layer disposed between and separating the core from the electrode to enable the flow of electrolyte therebetween. The electrode and separator layer are disposed about the core and the core is of a flat configuration having a large surface area as compared to its thickness so as to provide a high power output per unit of volume of the core. The electrode and separator layer are of a multi-layer construction being made of sheet material and wrapped about the core to enable control of the surface area of the electrode and the thickness of the separator layer whereby the power output and operating life of the cell may be controlled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high performance lead-acid storage battery having a special microporous separator between a positive and a negative plate in a cell of the battery. The separator is comprised of a microporous embossed thin sheet having many small projecting embossed parts which provides unique characteristics in a cell including low electric internal resistance in the cell, sufficient electrolyte between the plates in the cell and sufficient elasticity of the separator to prevent active material shedding, thereby giving a high performance at a high rate of discharge and long life.

Abstract: A fused salt thermal device having two spaced electrodes to provide an active thermal cell space therebetween, a reservoir containing an inorganic fusible salt electrolyte which is solid at a temperature below a predetermined activation temperature and which is molten at or above the activation temperature, and means permitting circulation of the fused salt electrolyte between the active thermal cell space and the reservoir during the generation of electricity in order to replenish spent electrolyte. Preferably, the fused salt thermal device has a metal electrode and an electrically conductive porous electrode spaced therefrom to provide an active thermal cell space with a reservoir containing an inorganic fusible salt electrolyte in fluid communication with the porous electrode so that upon activation of the thermal device the molten salt electrolyte circulates between the active thermal cell space and the reservoir through the porous electrode.

Abstract: In a reactive metal-water electrochemical cell, a configuration utilizing waste heat and evolved hydrogen gas for pumping electrolyte through the cell. More particularly, the cell is in a vertical, hollow tubular configuration with the reactive anode being bonded to the interior surface of the tube casing and a coiled metal screen cathode being positioned within the tubular cell and containing the anode over essentially its full working surface. As the anode is consumed in operation, by reaction with an aqueous electrolyte filling the interior cavity of the tubular configuration, the coil configuration of the cathode forces it to expand and maintain contact with the anode. During operation, evolved waste heat and gas cause a flow of electrolyte through the interior of the cell.

Abstract: An improved storage battery which is composed of carbon and zinc plates having separators therebetween, the zinc plates being left untreated while the carbon plates are treated with manganese dioxide. Wherein the plates are pivotally suspended and perforated for better circulation of the electrolyte solution.

Abstract: A secondary battery comprising: (A) discharge and charge zones containing alkali metal/sulfur cells, the cells in said discharge zone being adapted to operate in a discharge mode and having an electrode which is more readily wet by molten sulfur than by molten polysulfide salts of said alkali metal, and the cells in the charge zone being adapted to operate in a charge mode and having an electrode which is more readily wet by molten polysulfide salts of said alkali metal than by molten sulfur; (B) a storage zone adapted to store molten sulfur and molten polysulfide salts from said cells; (C) means for transporting reactant materials including molten sulfur and molten polysulfide salts of said alkali metal beween said storage zone and said charge and discharge zones; and (D) means for transporting molten alkali metal from said charge zone to said discharge zone.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell exhibiting high specific power and specific energy n combination which comprises an aluminum-lithium alloy anode with an aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte may be the readily available seawater circulated through the cell at a predetermined flowrate to obtain maximum controlled electrical energy output.

Abstract: An electrochemical storage cell is formed by connecting up elements in hydraulic and electric series and, in each of the elements, in electrically insulating the inside of the negative end fitting situated hydraulically the nearest to the following element. In this way, the interference transfer of charges resulting from the electric series connection of two neighbouring elements can be effected only by ionic conduction in the electrolyte flowing between the two elements. The invention is used in air-zinc cells.