GB1416023A - Rechargeable electric energy storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

1416023 Electrically rechargeable storage system OMF CALIFORNIA Inc 14 Nov 1972 [18 Nov 1971 (2)] 52618/72 Heading H1B An electrically rechargeable electrical energy storage system including one or more cells of the type utilizing a halogen hydrate, an oxidizable metal and a circulating aqueous electrolyte containing a dissolved metal halide as described in Specification 1,339,060 is mounted in a vehicle so as to be electrically connected to a motor drivingly coupled to means for propelling the vehicle and is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy external of the vehicle whereby to electrically recharge the storage device. The recharging arrangement comprises an electrical supply for passing current through the electrolyte to deposit metal on the negative electrode and generate halogen at the positive electrode, apparatus for collecting the halogen and generating halogen hydrate therefrom, a heat transfer device for controlling the halogen hydrate formation, and a reservoir for storing the regenerated halogen hydrate. In the system shown in Fig. 1 the cell stack S is connected via pipes 10, 12 to a halogen hydrate storage resevoir H forming a closed loop through which electrolyte is continuously recirculated by a pump P. The stack terminals 16, 18, across which the load M, e.g. a vehicle drive motor, is connected, when charging receive a rectified charging current. A valve 26 directs the halogen gas formed during recharging and carried by the electrolyte through a branch circuit 28 having a cooling device R and a hydrate former device F. The halogen hydrate thus regenerated is returned by circulating electrolyte to reservoir H where it is separated and stored in readiness for the next discharge cycle of the storage device. A heat exchanger 14 is provided for the reservoir H. The storage reservoir may comprise a cylindrical tank 128, Fig. 6, provided with inlet and outlet conduits 130, 132 and lined with a first porous layer 134 which spaces from the inner tank wall a flexible layer 136 of a filter medium, which may be formed of woven or knitted synthetic resins such as PTFE, plasticized polyvinyl plastics or polyolefines, e.g. polyethylene. In an alternative embodiment of storage reservoir, Figs. 8, 9 (not shown), the filter is a three-dimensional porous enclosure surrounded within the resevoir by a coil of heat transfer pipes. In the vehicle the device may be used either as a primary drive on in combination with a constant speed fossilfueled gas turbine. Both the cooling device R and the hydrate former may be disposed on the vehicle or one or both of these may be located at the point, e.g. a garage, at which the cell is connected to the rectified charging current.