Electrochemical power generation

Patent · Tue Jan 18 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6387669

Zaromb, S

Apparatus and methods for generating heat and electricity from the consumption of a variety of aluminum products comprise: (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: EDB-83-067902
• Patent Number(s): US 4369234
• OSTI ID: 6387669
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250902 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Performance & Testing
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400400 -- Electrochemistry
ALUMINIUM
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BATTERY CHARGING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVERSION
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY CONVERSION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROGEN
MANAGEMENT
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
METALS
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
POWER
PROCESSING
VEHICLES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
ZINC-AIR BATTERIES