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Inert gas rejection device for zinc-halogen battery systems

Patent ·
OSTI ID:863838
An electrolytic cell for separating chlorine gas from other (foreign) gases, having an anode, a cathode assembly, an aqueous electrolyte, a housing, and a constant voltage power supply. The cathode assembly is generally comprised of a dense graphite electrode having a winding channel formed in the face opposing the anode, a gas impermeable (but liquid permeable) membrane sealed into the side of the cathode electrode over the channel, and a packing of graphite particles contained in the channel of the cathode electrode. The housing separates and parallelly aligns the anode and cathode assembly, and provides a hermetic seal for the cell. In operation, a stream of chlorine and foreign gases enters the cell at the beginning of the cathode electrode channel. The chlorine gas is dissolved into the electrolyte and electrochemically reduced into chloride ions. The chloride ions disfuse through the gas impermeable membrane, and are electrochemically oxidized at the anode into purified chlorine gas. The foreign gases do not participate in the above electrochemical reactions, and are vented from the cell at the end of the cathode electrode channel.
Research Organization:
Energy Development Associates, Inc., Madison Heights, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-78ET26923
Assignee:
Energy Development Associates, Inc. (Madison Heights, MI)
Patent Number(s):
4,257,867
Application Number:
06/134928
OSTI ID:
863838
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English