Sodium chloride battery development program for load leveling. Interim report, January 1, 1975-December 31, 1975

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:6072606

Work performed between January 1 - December 31, 1975 toward the development of a molten sodium chloride battery for load leveling is reported. A cell has been developed which offers considerable promise for lightweight, long life, and low cost batteries. It includes a steel-contained molten sodium negative, a separator conductive to sodium ions, a molten sodium chloroaluminate electrolyte, a molten metal chloride positive (typically, but not exclusively antimony trichloride), dispersed carbon powder, and a metallic positive current collector. The cell operates at 200/sup 0/C and is thus able to use silicone rubber instead of glass to seal the molten sodium (most glasses are slowly attacked by molten sodium). The low temperature also favors a longer life for the beta alumina separator before penetration occurs and reduces current collector and seal corrosion. The vapor pressure of the cell is only a few torr. No solid-solid reactions are involved; this together with the absence of immiscible liquid phases (antimony trichloride is quite soluble in the molten electrolyte) allows the cell to be deep-cycled without damage or degradation. The open circuit voltage at full charge is slightly above 3 volts. The ionic conductivity of the melt at 200/sup 0/C is about 7 ohm-cm at full charge (less at partial discharge), compared to 3 ohm-cm for molten sodium pentasulfide at 350/sup 0/C and an extremely high value for molten sulfur. (WHK)

• Research Organization: ESB, Inc., Yardley, PA (USA). ESB Technology Center
• OSTI ID: 6072606
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EM-230; ON: DE82900234
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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