GB731729A - Improvements relating to electric batteries - Google Patents

Abstract

731,729. Batteries. NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Jan. 12, 1954 [Jan. 22, 1953], No. 1939/53. Class. 53. A battery of concentration cells comprises a number of membranes A1, B1, separated by insulating frames E forming compartments F, S. Spacing discs J prevent warping of the membranes. The membranes are made alternately of a material permeable to anions and a material permeable to cations, for example synthetic resins containing an excess of amino groups and resins having an excess of sulphonic acid groups. In another construction the membranes may be of one of these kinds alternating with neutral membranes made for example of textile material. Alternate compartments are supplied with a strong solution of an electrolyte, for example sea water the remaining compartments being supplied with a weaker solution or with fresh water which may contain a small quantity of sea water to increase its conductivity. The two solutions are passed continuously through the series of compartments and membranes or the solutions filling the compartments may be renewed at intervals. Current is taken off by copper gauze electrodes P1, P2 immersed in a solution of copper sulphate in the end compartments. The two solutions are introduced into the compartments through inlets at the lower corners of the end C of the casing and escape through outlets at the upper corners of the end D. The salt water inlet SI and the fresh water outlet FO are shown in Fig. 1. The inlets and outlets in each compartment are provided as shown in Fig. 2 by openings K in the membranes which in each compartment are surrounded by complete sleeves L or part sleeves M so that electrolyte of one kind is passed into and out of the compartment through the part sleeves M, the second electrolyte being conveyed into the next compartment through the sleeve L.