FI72227B - ELEKTROKEMISK GENERATOR - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrochemical generator according to the preamble of claim 1. These include galvanic batteries, accumulators and fuel cells.

In most known structures, the electrodes are immobile relative to the shell and support structure, as are the electrolytes. Electrochemical generators are also known in which, in order to enhance the reaction, the electrolyte is continuously pumped through the cell or in which the electrodes or parts close to them are movable, so that they can be brought into linear motion by means of an eccentric or magnetic vibrator.

In the present invention, both the electrodes and the electrolyte are in central motion with the device operating inside the fixed shell structure by means of simple and reliable equipment. More specifically, the generator according to the invention is characterized by what is set out in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The invention achieves the efficient utilization of the reactants, and the rechargeability of the metal-air battery, which has proved to be a very big problem in the known structures, is practically complete.

The structural improvement described in more detail below is particularly applicable to metal-to-air batteries and fuel cells using porous electrodes.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electrochemical generator schematically illustrating the invention. Figure 2 shows in clarification the electrolyte surface regulation system according to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 from A to A.

Figures 1 to 3 show the invention applied to a metal-air battery. At the bottom of the cylindrical tank 1 there is an electrolyte space 2. A motor 3 is mounted in the middle of the cover plate of the tank 1, the other end of the shaft 1+ of which is mounted in the middle of the bottom of the tank 1. This shaft U drives a centrifugal pump 5 at the bottom of the tank 1, from which the outlet pipes 6 lead to the electrolyte spaces 7 of the electrolyte cell. The centrifuge cylinder 8, preferably slightly larger in diameter at the lower end than at the upper end, attached to the 3 shafts of the motor. The propeller fan 10 conveys 2 72227 air from the openings 11 through the carbon dioxide filter 12 surrounding the shaft 4 through the openings 13 to the oxygen electrode 14. The centrifugal vanes 15 blow the air coming from the electrodes 14 out of the openings 16. The intermediate air Oxygen electrodes 14 and centrifuge cylinders 8 have negative electrodes on the perimeter. the current conductors 20, 21 of the rods 19 are attached to the shaft 4 so as to terminate through the sliding contacts 22, 23 to the current terminals 24, 25 of the electrochemical generator. It is already draining to the bottom. In the charging circuit, the electrolyte is discharged through the tubes 26, whereby the electrolyte layer is in the space between the already negative electrodes 19. Figures 1 to 3 show the situation in the lofceus connection. In this case, an electric current is connected to the solenoid valves 31 so that the electrolyte outlet tubes 26 are opened as the plugs 32 retract towards the shaft 4. The actuating tubes 26 are closed by the plugs 32, and the electrolyte fills the entire space between the electrodes. Thus, the electrolyte can never wet the inner surfaces of the hop electrodes, which are flushed by the air flow. The water generated in the reaction is also removed by centrifugal force towards the outer circumference of the centrifuge cylinder 8, so that the gas-liquid interface inside the oxygen electrode retains its reactivity.

The core electrode space is divided by insulating partitions 29 »which in hundreds act as support structures for the Intause electrodes 27 and the oxygen electrodes 14, in separate cells connected in series to obtain the desired voltage. Pictured; see the cell connection wires 30. In each cell [the positive electrode is connected to the corresponding charging electrode, so when charging the battery, no changeover switch is required which would disconnect the hsppi electrodes from the circuit and replace the charging electrodes.

The electrochemical generator according to the invention is thus a kind of centrifuge which, by means of the motor 3, is made to rotate at the optimum speed from it when it is taken or charged. Since the cell rotates and the electrolyte spray tubes 6 are fixed when the device is operating, the electrolyte flows evenly into all the cells. At rest, the electrolyte flows to the bottom of the tank 1. A small separate battery is required for starting.

The charging of the described electrochemical generator can be performed even at a very high current, if necessary by increasing the centrifugal speed, whereby the centrifugal force prevents the growth of uendrites, accelerates the flow of electrolyte and effectively removes the gas bubbles formed. Oxidation of the positive electrode cannot occur during charging because it is then not in contact with the electrolyte.

Charging electrodes 27, solenoid valves 31, 32 and outlet pipes 26 can be omitted if known, corrosion-resistant oxygen electrodes are used in the charging situation. The flow of electrolyte between the electrodes can be made turbulent or tumbling in known ways, which could further improve both charging and discharging efficiency.

The carbon dioxide filter medium in the space 12 can advantageously be placed, not only as shown in Fig. 1, in a replaceable package in the space between the lid 1 of the tank 1 and the intermediate lid 17 or even outside the tank 1, whereby the rotational mass of the engine 3 is reduced. There are also electrolytes for which carbon dioxide filtration is completely unnecessary.

For the sake of clarity, the embodiment of the invention described above is shown in principle. In a practical solution, the electrodes are relatively thinner, and the Airplanes can be installed in the same centrifuge assembly with several layers nested. In this case, there is an air space between the nested honeycomb cylinders, and the honeycomb seats are arranged, for example, overlapping so that the outer ridges are stepped upwards. At the upper end of each electrode layer stack are their own electrolyte supply nozzles, and the electrolyte outlet stems at their lower end are mounted so that the electrolyte jet discharged from them cannot hit the oxygen electrodes of the outer Lennosto.

The invention is generally applicable to electrochemical generators with porous electrodes. In the case of combustion, a separate fuel tank is required, from which 4 72227 supply pipes lead to the tank 1. The electrodes 19 are then the most porous, as are the outer wall irons of the centrifuge cylinder 6.

When using solid fuel, the electrode compartments 19 are pockets into which fuel plates (e.g. zinc or aluminum) are dropped. When the generator is operating, these metal plates are pressed tightly against the collectors made of, for example, a thin metal mesh on the outer circumference of the electrode spaces 19 by the action of centrifugal force. In this way, the soluble electrodes can be fully utilized, and charging the fuel cell by dropping new electrodes into the electrode pocket is effortless. In order to conveniently remove the reaction results (e.g. Al (OH) 2), an easily removable and replaceable precipitator must be connected to the electrolyte space 2.

In the fuel cell application, of course, the measuring electrodes 27 and also the electrolyte surface control mechanism 26, 31, 32 are unnecessary.

If the metal electrode as the negative electrode is zinc, it is advantageous to distribute the electrolyte la 2, e.g. with annular or helical walls, so that zinc hydroxide and zinc oxide precipitate in the outer parts of this space. In this way, clogging of the pump 5 and the supply pipe 6 is prevented.

The motor 3 rotating the centrifuge consumes part of the power of the electrochemical generator described above. However, this wasted power is a small fraction of the hycty power. For example, the drive motor of a zinc air pump that generates a peak power of 20 kv "is about 0.3 kW. The available energy content of such a zinc air battery is PO0 - A00 Y / h / kg, so it is suitable as a power source for an electric car, for example.

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Claims (5)

An electrochemical generator comprising a container (1), an electrolyte space (2) located in the bottom of the container (1), a motor-driven centrifuge cylinder (8), in which the manifold anode and cathode electrodes are arranged opposite each other, there exists between one of the inner surfaces of the electrode a flow channel (7) for electrolyte, and a pumping device (5) for pumping electrolyte into the flow channel (7), characterized in that the electrodes are arranged coaxially opposite to each other. the electrolyte flowing in the flow channel (7) at the rotation of the cylinder (8) is pressed under the influence of centrifugal force against the inner surface of the electrodes (19) and the pump device (5) is arranged to open up electrolyte at the upper end of the flow channel (7) at least through a tube (6) or the like, so that under the influence of gravity, the electrolyte flows downward from the top. 2. Generator according to claim 1, characterized in -