Patent · US Expired

Electrochemical cell

US4795685A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
7References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 11, 1986
Grant dateJan 3, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 11, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides a method of protecting an electrochemical cell which has a molten sodium anode, a chloride-ion containing sodium aluminum halide molten salt electrolyte, an iron-containing cathode in contact with the electrolyte and a solid conductor of sodium ions which separates the anode from the electrolyte, from the adverse effects of overcharging. The method comprises operating the cell, to prevent oxidation of iron to FeCl.sub.3 in the cathode, by connecting it in parallel with a protective cell having an open circuit charging plateau at a voltage less than the open circuit voltage of the Fe/FeCl.sub.3 //Na plateau of the cell being protected, and greater than the open circuit voltage, in its fully charged state, of the cell being protected. The invention also provides a cell of this type protected in this fashion, a battery including one or more such protected cells, and a cathode for such cells.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.