Electrochemical power generation apparatus and methods
Apparatus and methods are described for generating heat and electricity from the consumption of a variety of aluminum products. The method consists of (A) a reaction chamber containing an aqueous electrolyte solution and adapted for introduction therein of aluminum pieces of various shapes and sizes up to a certain maximum predetermined size and for effecting a chemical reaction between said aqueous electrolyte and said aluminum pieces yielding aluminum hydroxide and an intermediate reactant; (B) means for feeding said aluminum pieces into said reaction chamber in small quantities upon demand; (C) means for removing the heat generated in said chamber as a result of said reaction; (D) means for removing said aluminum hydroxide reaction product; and (E) means for oxidizing said intermediate reactant in an electrochemical cell, thereby generating electrical energy. The intermediate reactant is preferably hydrogen or zinc. The latter may be used in a slurry type zinc/air battery, whereas hydrogen is preferably reacted in conjunction with a nongaseous cathode reactant, which may be a liquid solution of an oxidant, such as hydrogen peroxide, or a solid, such as nickel dioxide. The latter may be regenerated either chemically, by immersion in an oxidizing solution, or electrically, by using the gaseous diffusion type of hydrogen electrode to also reduce oxygen from ambient air.
- Assignee:
- IFI; EDB-81-104499
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4254190
- OSTI ID:
- 6307366
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Apparatus for generating heat and electrical energy from aluminum waste and other inexpensive aluminum products
Hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell
Related Subjects
250901* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Design & Development
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330300 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Electric-Powered Systems
ALUMINIUM
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDES
DESIGN
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
METALS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SCRAP
SCRAP METALS
SOLID WASTES
VEHICLES
WASTES
ZINC
ZINC-AIR BATTERIES