Improvements of electrolyte and seal technology for sodium--sulfur and sodium antimony trichloride load leveling batteries. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7257358· OSTI ID:7257358

Lazennec, Y.

Possible procedures for manufacture of beta-alumina tubes using extrapolations of current practice were technically defined and costed. Powder from either molten-state or solid-state reaction, with tube-forming by either isostatic pressing or electrophoresis plus isostatic pressing were considered. Three sintering techniques using currently available furnaces were examined. Minimum selling price of optimized tubes (400 cm/sup 2/) will be $2.07. (II) Aluminum--alpha-alumina seals made by the proprietary thermocompression technique were fabricated and tested. Excellent leak-tightness, resistance to thermal cycling and corrosion resistance to polysulfides under static and electrochemical conditions were determined. However, some corrosion in the presence of sodium occurred due to silicon impurities in the aluminum. This should be negligible if high-purity aluminum is used. (III) Performance of the sulfur electrode was computer-simulated by an iterative method based on experimental data for thin electrodes. This work allowed optimized tube and electrode dimensions to be determined. The optimized tube was close to that determined as the cost optimum in Task I. Cells, modules, and units for a 100-Mwh load-leveling battery were designed and costed, on the basis of a production of 25 units/year. Particular attention was paid to reliability and safety, including automatic disconnection of failed cells, and together with heat transfer and recovery. Overall efficiency will be a minimum of 74.4%. Overall installed cost will be $29.6/Kwh (modules, 10 year depreciation) plus $11.4/Kwh (site and auxiliaries, 25 year depreciation. (IV) 23 electrolyte tubes were fabricated and delivered to EPRI in December 1976.

• Research Organization: Compagnie Generale d'Electricite (CGE), 91 - Marcoussis (France)
• OSTI ID: 7257358
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EM-413(6-77)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
ELECTROLYTES
SEALS
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
CATHODES
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
ANTIMONY CHLORIDES
CORROSION RESISTANCE
COST
DESIGN
FABRICATION
PERFORMANCE
SIMULATION
SINTERING
SIZE
SODIUM
SODIUM OXIDES
TUBES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METALS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
STORAGE
250903* - Energy Storage- Batteries- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries