DE1201437B - Arrangement to prevent the self-discharge of accumulators and batteries - Google Patents

Abstract

1,003,045. Utilizing energy of radiations. YARDNEY INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. July 12, 1962 [July 12, 1961], No. 26861/62. Heading G6P. [Also in Division H2] A nuclear cell comprises an evacuated sealed glass ampoule 5, containing an inert gas such as argon or krypton, provided at one end with an electrically conductive coating 7 or alternatively a plate containing a radioactive material such as promethium, 147, constituting the anode. The cathode 9 may be of any electrically conductive material such as copper, nickel, aluminium or brass. Leads 11 and 13 are sealed into the ampoule. In operation beta emission from the radioactive isotope ionizes the gas and causes a cement to flow through an external battery 1. The anode and cathode may be alternatively separated by solid dielectric. Specifications 682,164, 698,405 and U.S.A. Specification 2,812,376 are referred to.

Description

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

GERMAN

PATENT OFFICE

EDITORIAL

Int. CL:

HOIm

German class: 21b-25/02

Number: 1201437

File number: Y 603 VI b / 21 b

Filing date: June 28, 1962

Opening day: September 23, 1965

The invention relates to the prevention of self-discharge in electrochemical power generators and Power storage.

One of the problems with electrochemical elements, such as rechargeable storage batteries, is that if the batteries are stored for a long time, their capacity is due to self-discharge is decreased. This is caused by a slow but continuous erosion of the Electrodes. A typical example of this phenomenon is in alkaline silver oxide-zinc batteries to find. This is caused by the slow but steady reaction of the zinc electrodes with the watery ones KOH solution dissolves the zinc, which destroys the zinc electrodes. The one in appearance The general response that occurs can be expressed by the following equation:

2KOH + Zn + H ₂ O - »• Zn (OH) ₂ + H ₂

For the Edison accumulator is already pre-ao beat the decomposition reaction on the negative electrodes during storage time by using an auxiliary electrode to be immersed in the electrolyte and connected to the negative electrode Compensate from zinc.

In contrast, the invention provides that the additional electricity comes from an atomic battery, which is connected in parallel to the pole connections of the accumulator and whose current output is the Decomposition reaction of the electrodes is adapted. The atomic battery provides a constant, in closed, independent of the accumulator current, which reverses a decomposition reaction. The consequence is a reprecipitation of the zinc that has come into solution as a result of the decomposition reaction, and the loss of capacity is replaced again.

Further features of the invention are the following description and the schematic representation one embodiment of the present invention.

In this illustration, the battery exposed to self-discharge is denoted by 1. She can do one represent any type of battery and contain a usual number of cells. She can in particular be a silver oxide-zinc battery, which uses an aqueous KOH solution (44%) as the electrolyte, as described, for example, in U.S. Patents 2594711, 2594712 or 2812376.

Numeral 3 denotes an atomic battery, which consists of an evacuated sealed glass ampoule 5, which contains an inert gas such as argon or krypton. The ampoule 5 is at one end Arrangement to prevent the self-discharge of accumulators and batteries

Applicant:

Yardney International Corp.,

New York, N.Y. (V. St. A.)

Representative:

Dr.-Ing. G. Ackmann, patent attorney,

Duisburg, Zieglerstr. 32

Named as inventor:

Ricardo Salcedo Gumucio, Madrid;

Michel N. Yardney, New York, N. Y. (V. St. A.)

Claimed priority:

V. St v. America July 12, 1961 (123 522) -

provided with a conductive coating 7, which is a

The radioactive material that the cathode of the Atom cell forms. All customary radioisotopes can be stored in the coating 7, their holding time is longer than the normal battery life. Promethium 147, which in a usual painting is embedded, would act as a cathode sufficient. This radioisotope has a holding time of 2.6 years and can be used to generate electricity that is as large as that the normal self-discharge of the silver-oxide-zinc battery corresponds to lost power. The one from the The amount of electricity generated for use in the selected atomic battery will vary from case to case, and the Selection depends on the degree of destruction of the conventional battery electrodes. This can controlled by the concentration of the radioisotopes, which is included, for example, in the cathode will. The magnitude of the current used by the atomic battery used is although it is unable to do any practical work itself, sufficient to cause the battery to self-discharge compensate.

The anode 9 of the atomic cell can consist of any conventional electrically conductive material. Metals such as copper, nickel, aluminum are particularly useful for this purpose. The conductor 11 of the cathode 7 and the conductor 13 of the anode 9 are each sealed in the glass ampoule 3.

509 688/175

Conductor 11 is also embedded in cathode coating 7. These conductors are between the poles the battery, as shown in the drawing, connected in parallel.

While working, the beta rays of the radioactive isotopes ionize the inert gases and cause a steady flow of current through the atomic cells and the battery. Because of the persistence of the atomic cells, no special precautionary measures are necessary during normal discharge. Instead of the atomic battery 3 shown in the drawing, other atomic batteries can also be used various constructions, as they are known from the prior art, use Find.

For example, the cathode can form a plate on which a beta emitter, for example Promethium 147, wound up or electrodeposited. The collector can be made of ordinary Metal such as copper, nickel, aluminum or brass are made. In some cases the emitter is from that Collector separated by a solid dielectric.

As already stated, the amount at which the various electrodes self-discharge experienced, differ from one battery type to another. With silver-oxide-zinc batteries an aqueous KOH electrolyte solution of about 44% is the daily loss of capacity of the zinc electrode due to self-discharge at around 0.1 up to 0.2%. For example, if the metered capacity of the cell is 10 ampere-hours, the daily loss of capacity due to self-discharge will be around 0.1 to 0.2 ampere-hours. In In this case, the atomic battery will be designed to run 0.1 to 0.2 ampere hours per day the main battery supplies. When a single atomic battery is used to deliver the amount of electricity you need is not sufficient, different atomic batteries can be connected in series.

Claims (1)

Claim: Arrangement for preventing the self-discharge of accumulators and batteries, in particular of alkaline silver-zinc accumulators, in which to the decomposable electrodes an additional current of the same polarity is connected to compensate for the decomposition reaction, characterized in that the additional electricity comes from an atomic battery, which is connected in parallel to the pole connections of the accumulator and its current output is adapted to the decomposition reaction of the electrodes. Considered publications:
German patent specification No. 933 278. 1 sheet of drawings 509 688/175 9.65 © Bundesdruckerei Berlin