CA1126810A - Power module with gas pressurized deformable casing side panels - Google Patents

Power module with gas pressurized deformable casing side panels

Info

Publication number
CA1126810A
CA1126810A CA338,294A CA338294A CA1126810A CA 1126810 A CA1126810 A CA 1126810A CA 338294 A CA338294 A CA 338294A CA 1126810 A CA1126810 A CA 1126810A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
casing
power module
cell units
plates
sealing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA338,294A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lawrence J. Pagendarm
Ronald I. Klootwyk
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Continental Group Inc
Original Assignee
Continental Group Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Continental Group Inc filed Critical Continental Group Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1126810A publication Critical patent/CA1126810A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/04Construction or manufacture in general
    • H01M10/0468Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/04Construction or manufacture in general
    • H01M10/0413Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M6/00Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M6/26Cells without oxidising active material, e.g. Volta cells
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M6/00Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M6/30Deferred-action cells
    • H01M6/32Deferred-action cells activated through external addition of electrolyte or of electrolyte components
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M6/00Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M6/42Grouping of primary cells into batteries
    • H01M6/46Grouping of primary cells into batteries of flat cells
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10Energy storage using batteries
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Hybrid Cells (AREA)
  • Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)
  • Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)
  • Control Of Electric Motors In General (AREA)
  • Primary Cells (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A power module of the electrochemical battery type wherein shunt losses along the side edges of the anodes disposed generally parallel to the electrolyte path are prevented by the anode side edges being sealed relative to the casing by the casing being constructed with internal side walls which are deformable under gaseous pressure to maintain sealing contact with the cell units.

Description

POWER MODULE ~IT~ GAS PRESSURIZED
DEFO~ABLE CASING SIDE PANELS

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in power modules, and more partic-ularly to power modules of the electrochemical batterytype wherein power units, each including an anode and a cathode, are arranged in stacked relation where pressure is exerted to maintain a uniform pressure contact be-tween the anodes and cathodes and where electrolyte flow between the anode and cathode of each cell unit occurs during all operating stages of the power module~
In existing bipolar modules shunt losses have been experienced, and it is the purpose of this invention to reduce shunt losses by providing for a tight pressure seal between side edges of the anodes and walls of the casing in which the cell units are mounted.
In accordance with this invention, the casing is constructed with upper and lower manifolds so that electrolyte flow between each cathode and anode is verti-cal. In order to prevent the presence of electrolytealong the sides of the cell unit and most particularly along the sides of the anodes, the casing is provided with vertically disposed inner side walls which are floatingly mounted and are flexible. A gaseous pressure is applied between the inner side walls and the adjacent side walls of the casing so as lightly to press the inner side walls against the cell units in general and the anodes in particular to form the desired seal.
The invention particularly relates to a power module casing for receiving plural cell units in adjacent ~` '~
2--relation and wherein each cell unit includes at least a consumable element with the cell units being progressively moved towards one end of the casing as the consumable ele-ments are consumed, the casing being elongated and of a generally rectangular cross section and including ends and first and second opposing sides, maniEold plates within the casing in spaced adjacent relation to the first sides and defining in combination therewith electrolyte supply and return manifolds, and sealing plates within the casing adjacent the second sides, the sealing plates extending at least between the manifolds, and means for introducing a fluid under pressure between each sealing plate and its respective second side for urging each sealing plate in-wardly of the casing for sealing engagement with edges of cell units when such cell units are disposed therebetween.
~ ith the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
IN T~iE DRA~INGS:
Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a power module formed in accordance with this invention, parts of the casing being broken away and shown in section.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the power module of Figure l, with upper portions of the casing being broken away and shown in section so as to illustrate the position of the flexible side walls within the casing.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure l through the casing per se, and shows the specific cross sectional construction of the casing including the mounting of the flexible side walls.
Referring now to the drawing$ in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a power module ` .

.i8~

constructed in accordance with this invention and generally identified by the numeral 10. Simply stated, the power module 10 includes a casing 12 and a plurality of cell units 14 disposed within t~e casing 12 in stacked relati~n.
5 E~ch cell unit is prefer~bly formed of a cathode 16 and a consumable anode 18 formed of a material such as lithium and aluminum and the like. There is provided between each cathode 16 and its adjacent an~de 18 an interface 20 which is not part of this invention, but which is such that there can be controlled electrolyte flow along this inter-face between the cathode 16 and the anode 18. The inter-face may be defined either by a grid formation formed on the face of the cathode 16, or by a screen member carried by the face of the cathode. Inasmuch as the constructlon of the cell units per _ is not a part of this invention, the cell units 14 are not described in fur-ther detail here.
At the right end of the casing 10, as shown in Figure 2, there is a terminal plate 22 carrying a terminal 24. At the right end of the stack of cell units 14 there is another terminal plate 26 to which there are connected leads 28 having the opposite ends thereof connected to a second terminal 30.
In addition, within the left end of the casing lo there is provided a cell unit stack pressure applying assembly generally identified by the numeral 32. The assembly 32 is arranged to ~eceive gaseous pressure through a fitting 34 and to apply a constant pressure on the cell unit stack through the terminal plate 26 such that there will be a constant pressure between the anode and cathode of each cell unit along the interface 20 notwithstan~ing the erosion of the anodes in the use of the power module.
This invention most particularly relates to the construction of the casing 12. The casing 12 is of a rectangular confi~uration and is elongated in the direc-tion of stacking of the cell units 14. The cell units 14are disposed vertically within the casing 12.

- :

The casing 12 inclucles a palr of side walls 36 which are suitably connected t:o a bottom wall 38 and a top wall 40. The left end of the casing 12 includes an end wall 42 (Figure 2) and an end wall 44 at the right end of the casing.
Internally of the casing there is a bottom mani-fold plate 46 which is spaced from the bottom wall 38 by suitable spacers 48. A like upper manifold plate 50 is disposed below the top wall 40 and is spaced therefrom by means of suitable spacers 52. As shown in Figure 1, the manifold plates 46, 50 extend the full ]ength of the cas-ing 12 between the end walls 42 and 44. The manifold plates 46, 50 are perforated so that there may be con-stant electrolyte flow through the cell units.
At the right end of the casing 12 there is an upper manifold 54 and a lower manifold 56 (Figure 2). The lower manifold 56 is aligned with the space between the manifold plate 46 and the bottom wall 38 and is in com-munication with that space through suitable openings 58 in the end wall 44. The manifold 56 is preferably a supply manifold.
The upper manifold 54, which is preferably a return manifold, is alignea with the space between the upper manifold plate 50 and the top wall 40 and is in communication with that space by means of suitable open-ings 60 through the end wall 44.
This invention most particularly relates to the provision of the casing 12 with inner deformable walls or plates 62 which are mounted within the casing 12 adja-cent the side walls 36 and extend the full height be-tween the bottom wall 38 and the top wall 40 as is best shown in Figure 3. The side walls 36 have suitable open-ings 64 therethrough through which a suitable gas under pressure may be directed into the space 66 between each set of side walls 36,62.
It is to be noted that the flexible inner side walls 62 engage the side edges of the manifold plates 46, ..

-h~

50 and form seals therewith. Further, since the inner walls 62 extend the ~ull height of the casing, the walls 62 are sealed relative to the top and bottom ~Jalls of the casing.
As shown in Figure 2, the right ends of the walls 62 engage the end wall 44 and form a seal therewith.
The left ends of the walls 62 extend into the area oc-cupied by the assembly 32 which incidentally is shown in the starting stage of the power module in Figure 2 and in the partially consumed stage in Fiqure 1.
As is clearly shown in Figure 2, when the power module 10 is assembled and the spaces between the sets of walls 36, 6Z are pressurized, the flexible walls 62 are forced into contact with the side edges of the anodes and form a seal therewith.
The walls 36, by forming a cell with the verti-cal side edges of the anodes 18 and also with the cathodes 16, prevents the existance of electrolyte alony the sides of the stack of power cells 14. Thus shunt losses along the sides of the cell unit stack are eliminated for all practical purposes.
Further to prevent electrolyte contact with the side edges of the anodes 18, a suitable covering 68 is applied to the vertical side edges of the anodes 18.
This covering is preferably in the form of a tape formed from a rilm of plastics material which is resis~ant to the electrolyte. The covering 68 applied to the vertical side edges of the anodes 1~ directly contacts the inner surfaces of the flexible walls 62 and enhances the forming of the seals between the walls 62 and the anodes 18.
Further, because of the normally slippery nature of plas-tics material films, the friction drag between the anodes and the flexible walls 62 is held to a minimum, thereby permitting the cell units 14 to slide freely within the casing 12 uncler the influence of the assembly 32.
At this time it is pointed out that the casing 12 is preferably formed of suitable plastics material and ' ' . '' . , ~
: - , ;
.
.. . . . .
: ~ .
.

it has been found that if the flexible walls 62 are to have adequate strength and still be su:Eficiently flexible, they should be formed of plast:ics material having the general characteristics of fiberglass.
Shunt losses at the top and bottom of each cell unit 19 may also be greatly reduced by the use of suitable shunt curtains 70 which ex-tend between adjacent cathodes 16 and are sealed with respect thereto. It is to be under-stood that as the anodes 18 are consumedj the shunt cur-tains 70 will flex so as to pexmit the cathodes 16 to move closer together. The shunt curtains 70 are also formed of a suitable electrolyte resistant material.
It is also to be understood that the covering 68 on each anode 18 may extend along the bottom and top side edges thereof as shown in Figure 1. This covering, in cooperation with the associated shunt curtains, greatly reduces shunt losses at the tops and bottoms oE the anodes.
It is to be understood that the covering material 68 will have sufficient flexibility so that as an anode 18 is consumed, the adjacent covering will fold back and not interfere with the contact of the anodes with the ad]acent cathodes.
The gas utilized to pressurize the spaces 66 may be any suitable gas, although it is preferably the same gas which is customarily used in inerting the power module.
Although only a preferred embodiment of the power module has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the construction of the casing without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

.
:.
: -: . :

Claims (8)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A power module casing for receiving plural cell units in adjacent relation and wherein each cell unit includes at least a consumable element with the cell units being progressively moved towards one end of said casing as the consumable elements are consumed, said casing being elongated and of a generally rectangular cross section and including ends and first and second opposing sides, mani-fold plates within said casing in spaced adjacent relation to said first sides and defining in combination therewith electrolyte supply and return manifolds, and sealing plates within said casing adjacent said second sides, said sealing plates extending at least between said manifolds, and means for introducing a fluid under pressure between each sealing plate and its respective second side for urging each sealing plate inwardly of said casing for sealing engagement with edges of cell units when such cell units are disposed therebetween.
2. The power module casing of claim 1 wherein said sealing plates are thin flexible sheets.
3. The power module casing of claim 1 wherein said sealing plates are thin flexible sheets of a plastics material.
4. The power module casing of claim 1 wherein said manifold plates extend between said sealing plates and are in edge to face sealing engagement therewith.
5. The power module casing of claim 1 wherein said fluid under pressure is an inert gas.
6. The power module casing of claim 1 together with a series of cell units within said casing, each said cell unit including a cathode and a consumable anode, means associated with said cathode for directing electro-lyte from said supply manifold across the face of said anode and into said return manifold, and said sealing plates engaging sides of said cell units between said electrolyte manifolds and preventing electrolyte flow around said anodes.
7. The power module casing of claim 1 wherein side edges of said anodes have an electrolyte resistant covering in sealed sliding contact with said pressure plates.
8. The power module casing of claim 7 wherein said covering is formed of a plastics material film.
CA338,294A 1979-03-16 1979-10-24 Power module with gas pressurized deformable casing side panels Expired CA1126810A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/021,275 US4200685A (en) 1979-03-16 1979-03-16 Power module with gas pressurized deformable casing side panels
US21,275 1979-03-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1126810A true CA1126810A (en) 1982-06-29

Family

ID=21803306

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA338,294A Expired CA1126810A (en) 1979-03-16 1979-10-24 Power module with gas pressurized deformable casing side panels

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US4200685A (en)
EP (1) EP0017327B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS55166870A (en)
AU (1) AU531982B2 (en)
BR (1) BR7908595A (en)
CA (1) CA1126810A (en)
DE (1) DE3061955D1 (en)
ES (1) ES8103481A1 (en)
MX (1) MX149838A (en)
NO (1) NO150980C (en)
ZA (1) ZA795358B (en)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4286027A (en) * 1980-04-28 1981-08-25 Exxon Research & Engineering Co. Shunt current protection for circulating electrolyte in monopolar battery systems (Bat-81)
US4421831A (en) * 1982-07-12 1983-12-20 General Electric Company Battery flow restrictor
US4734342A (en) * 1986-01-29 1988-03-29 Gould, Inc. Terminal means for electrochemical cells
US4714662A (en) * 1986-05-12 1987-12-22 Gould Inc. Power module assembly of electrochemical cells
US4729933A (en) * 1987-02-11 1988-03-08 Gnb Incorporated Sealed absorbed electrolyte battery with bulge compensating end cells
US5427873A (en) * 1990-09-14 1995-06-27 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Lithium-water battery
US5851695A (en) * 1992-02-10 1998-12-22 C & D Technologies, Inc. Recombinant lead-acid cell and long life battery
DE102004010712A1 (en) * 2004-03-04 2005-09-22 Epcos Ag Housing for high performance components
JP5172898B2 (en) * 2010-06-15 2013-03-27 日立建機株式会社 Electric construction machine
DE102011117471A1 (en) * 2011-11-02 2013-05-02 Li-Tec Battery Gmbh Manufacturing method for an energy storage device and an energy storage device produced by this method

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3390014A (en) * 1960-05-11 1968-06-25 Eisler Paul Secondary electric batteries having plurality of thin flexible intermediate bipolar plates
FR1349677A (en) * 1962-02-28 1964-01-17 United Aircraft Corp Floating Element Fuel Cell
US3551208A (en) * 1966-12-12 1970-12-29 Yardney International Corp Cell with displaceable electrode
US3513031A (en) * 1967-07-27 1970-05-19 Solomon Zaromb Gas-depolarized cell with aluminum anode
DE2129045C3 (en) * 1971-06-11 1975-11-13 Varta Batterie Ag, 3000 Hannover Electrochemical cell for energy storage in which the electrode of one polarity is a battery electrode, the other polarity is a gas electrode
US3773561A (en) * 1971-11-18 1973-11-20 Occidental Energy Dev Co Isolation of cells of a battery stack to prevent internal short-circuiting during shutdown & standby periods
GB1578335A (en) * 1976-05-08 1980-11-05 Lucas Industries Ltd Battery packs
DE2706016C3 (en) * 1977-02-12 1981-03-19 Accumulatorenwerk Hoppecke Carl Zoellner & Sohn, 5000 Köln Electrochemical battery

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS55166870A (en) 1980-12-26
MX149838A (en) 1983-12-28
ES489378A0 (en) 1981-02-16
NO793455L (en) 1980-09-17
DE3061955D1 (en) 1983-03-24
AU531982B2 (en) 1983-09-15
ZA795358B (en) 1980-09-24
AU5164879A (en) 1980-09-18
ES8103481A1 (en) 1981-02-16
NO150980B (en) 1984-10-08
NO150980C (en) 1985-01-23
EP0017327A1 (en) 1980-10-15
US4200685A (en) 1980-04-29
EP0017327B1 (en) 1983-02-16
BR7908595A (en) 1980-10-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1114486B1 (en) Membrane-separated, bipolar multicell electrochemical reactor
CA2243355C (en) Electrochemical fuel cell stack with improved reactant manifolding and sealing
US6946212B2 (en) Electrochemical fuel cell stack with improved reactant manifolding and sealing
CA1126810A (en) Power module with gas pressurized deformable casing side panels
US4927722A (en) Separator for starter batteries
US6254741B1 (en) Electrolytic cells of improved fluid sealability
US4753857A (en) Laminated fuel cell
CA1292509C (en) Corrosion resistant fuel cell structure
US8153333B2 (en) Fuel cell with protruded gas diffusion layer
DE69514907D1 (en) Electrochemical converter with optimal pressure distribution
CA2233440A1 (en) Polymer electrolyte membrane electrochemical cells and stacks with adhesively bonded layers
CA2148437A1 (en) Series Planar Design for Solid Electrolyte Oxygen Pump
GB1472365A (en) Bipolar electrode assemblies in galvanic batteries
SU1687033A3 (en) Electrolytic cell of filter-press type
GB2158988A (en) Improvments in fuel cell structures
US5298342A (en) Fuel cell crossover arrestor and pressure seal
CN115000484A (en) Fuel cell stack structure
EP1341252B1 (en) Systems and methods for isolating, compressing and retaining the structure of a fuel cell stack
US8221930B2 (en) Bipolar separators with improved fluid distribution
EP2054965B1 (en) Bipolar separators with improved fluid distribution
US20040159543A1 (en) Electrochemical cell plate with integral seals
WO2021090976A1 (en) Cell frame structure and redox flow battery using same
WO2004079839A2 (en) Sealing of multi-height surfaces
EP3297081B1 (en) Fuel cell stack
CN112290046B (en) Fluid plate frame for flow battery

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry