Aluminum-air battery development. Final report, June 17, 1982-March 17, 1983

Technical Report · Mon Apr 18 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6976414

Levy, D J; Hollandsworth, R P

A rapidly-refuelable, six-cell Al-air battery of the Ml-1 moving anode design (norminal 200-cm/sup 2/ electrodes) was assembled from stackable bicells. RX-808 aluminum anodes and air cathodes were used with a recirculated alkaline electrolyte. Battery performance was determined as a function of temperature (47-64/sup 0/C), electrolyte flow (200-500 Re) and sodium aluminate concentration (1.0-2.6M). Peak power was found to be proportional to temperature, inversely proportional to aluminate concentration and independent of electrolyte flow. The best performance was a peak power density of 5.28 kW/m/sup 2/ (cathode area) at 5.52V and 64/sup 0/C. Under other conditions, energy density averaged 2.08 kWh/kg Al and coulombic efficiency was 80%. Cells are easily refueled in a few minutes by use of a removable cap. A new anode plate is inserted behind the thin old plate and 100% utilization is achieved. Anodic polarization is relatively low and cell performance is primarily limited by the amount of active cathode area. Air cathodes with 10% CoTMPP performed at least as well if not better than cathodes with 1.2 mg Pt/cm/sup 2/. A thermal balance of the battery determined the magnitude of heat sources and cooling requirements under several operating conditions. A method for real time monitoring of aluminate concentration, based on measurement of temperature and conductivity, was evaluated. The feasibility of corrosion-protective edge and back coatings on anodes to increase coulombic efficiency was also examined.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Palo Alto Research Labs., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6976414
• Report Number(s): UCRL-15580; LMSC-D-913918; ON: DE84011067
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250901* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Design & Development
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINATES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM-AIR BATTERIES
ANODES
CATHODES
DESIGN
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
FLOW RATE
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
SODIUM COMPOUNDS