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CHEMICAL CONVERSION OF WASTE HEAT TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY. Quarterly Report No. 3 for period January 1, 1961 through March 31, 1961

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4823771

Systems that are primarily liquid during cell operation and regeneration were studied. A thermochemistry and thernrodynamics survey led to the selection of antimony chlorides as cathode material and the selection of copper, tin, and uranium chlorides as anode materials. The survey is in the process of completion. Reaction kinetics were found to be favorable for regeneration of SbCl/sub 5/, the principal cathode component, from SbCl/sub 3/ and Cl/sub 2/. Further, a mixture of SbCl/sub 5/ with SbCl/sub 3/ gave ionic conductances up to thirty tinres greater than 0.1 N Sulfuric acid. Reaction kinetics were also found to be favorable for thermal regeneration of CuCl, a principal anode component, from CuCl/sub 2/. The ionic conductance of CuCl was expected to be high and with the addition of AlCl/sub 3/ produced a low-melting, highly conductive system. Similar improvements were noted for SnCl/sub 2/. AlCl/sub 3/ and KCl formed a eutectic (m.p. 393 deg K) which was a useful electrolyte when held in an asbestos (or other inert materials) matrix. A stable galvanic cell combining a SbCl/sub 5/-SbCl/sub 3/ cathode, a SnCl/sub 2/-AlCl/sub 3/ anode, and AlCl/sub 3/- KCl electrolyte afforded a current density in excess of 50 amp/ft/sup 2/. It operated over a period of more than 2 weeks, although it was not designed for either high current density or endurance. Adequate evidence of the technical feasi bility of thermally regenrative galvanic cells was obtained, and emphasis is being placed on obtaining the fundamental information required for engineering design. (auth)

Research Organization:
Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago. Armour Research Foundation
NSA Number:
NSA-16-000002
OSTI ID:
4823771
Report Number(s):
ARF-3182-3; AD-256450L
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English