Chloride Silent Power, Ltd.

British Railways Board

Alec R Tilley

Michael L Wright

James L Sudworth

Michael D Hames

John George Gibson

In a sodium sulphur cell, improved protection of a cathode current collector is obtained by isostatically pressing graphite foil or flakes onto the surface of the collector, which surface is preferably roughened or coated with an intermediate conductive layer such as a nickel-chromium alloy or a conductive carbide providing a rough surface.

Sodium sulphur cells and cathode current collectors for such cells

Method of making cathode current collectors for sodium sulphur cells

An alkali metal-sulphur cell comprising an outer tube, an inner tube forming the solid electrolyte of the cell and dividing the interior of the outer tube into anode and cathode compartments adjacent respective sides of the inner tube, and an alkali metal reservoir communicating with the anode compartment, has a gas space above the alkali metal in the reservoir, such that at the operating temperature of the cell the gas pressure in the reservoir will force alkali metal to flow from the reservoir into the anode compartment to maintain the operative surface area of the inner tube covered with liquid alkali metal during discharge of the cell. An advantageous method of forming such a cell entails evacuating the anode compartment when empty of alkali metal. A further advantageous method feature is to form the reservoir with the contained alkali metal and gas space as a sub-assembly.

Alkali metal-sulphur cells

An alkali metal sulphur cell has an outer tubular casing and an inner tubular solid electrolyte whose interior constitutes the cathode compartment of the cell. The outer tubular casing and the tubular solid electrolyte are spaced apart to define an annular space, at least the part of which adjacent the outer surface of the tubular solid electrolyte constitutes the anode compartment of the cell. Means are provided for causing the alkali metal to be distributed over the outer surface of the tubular solid electrolyte. Barrier means additional to the solid electrolyte are disposed between the sulphur material and at least a part of the outer casing. The barrier means may comprise a coating on one or both surfaces of the tubular solid electrolyte, alkali metal flow restrictor means or a coating on at least a part of the inner surface of the outer casing.

An alkali metal-sulphur cell of tubular form, has an inner tubular member constituting the solid electrolyte, an outer tubular member and a current collecting pole extending into the interior of the inner tubular member which forms the cathode compartment of the cell. The outer tubular member, the inner tubular member and the current collecting pole have shoulder formations which abut one another through sealing means and are urged towards one another by axially acting spring means.

A sodium sulphur cell comprising inner and outer tubes the inner tube constituting the solid electrolyte for the cell. The interior of the inner tube defines the anode compartment of the cell and the space between the inner and outer tubes defines the cathode compartment of the cell. The inner tube contains metal wool and/or a plate spaced from the inner surface of the inner tube to cause molten sodium to be distributed over the inner surface of the inner tube by capillary action. The inner and outer tubular members are closed at one end by a compression seal assembly. The seal assembly comprises a flange on the inner tubular member engaging the end of the outer tubular member to close the end of the outer tubular member, a closure member engaging the flange to close the inner tubular member, and a clamping member fitting over the closure member and being held in position by the outer tubular member.

Growing community of inventors

Blackbrook, near Belper, United Kingdom

Alec R Tilley