Compagnie Generale D'electricite

Compagnie Generale D'electricite S.a.

Societe Anonyme Dite: Compagnie Generale D'electricite

Jean Jacquelin

Anthony J Appleby

Jean-Paul Pompon

In a method of regulating the temperature of a system in which exothermic type reactions take place at temperatures of several hundreds of degrees and which are followed by stoppage periods, the system (1) is put in contact with a first substance (4) whose boiling temperature (T2) is close to the required temperature (T) of the system, and heat which results from the exothermic reactions is used to boil the first substance (4). Thereafter heat which comes from the condensation of the vapor evolved by said boiling is used to heat a second substance (5) to its melting point (T1), the second substance (5) being chosen so that it melts at a temperature close to but lower than the boiling temperature (T2) of the first substance (4). In operation the second substance (5) is kept at a temperature which is substantially constant and a little higher than its melting point (T1) until the end of a period of exothermic reaction. During the following period of stoppage the second substance (5) solidifies, whereby the temperature of the system is kept substantially constant until the end of the stoppage period. The method is useful in sodium/sulphur and lithium/iron sulphide electric battery systems.

Method of temperature regulation

The invention relates to a sodium-sulphur type electric cell. It includes a positive compartment which contains:

Sodium-sulphur electric cell

The invention relates to a method and device for regenerating zinc for use in electric traction batteries. It consists of putting an alkaline solution of zincate in contact with two electrodes at opposite potentials so that zinc dendrites are deposited on protrusions provided on the negative electrode and so that oxygen is evolved on the positive electrode, said zincate solution being, in a first period, called the deposition period, conveyed towards the ends of the protrusions and at a low speed, then in a second period, called the detachment period, conveyed in the opposite direction and at a sufficiently high speed to detach the dendrites from the protrusions.

Method for regenerating zinc

The invention relates to a rechargeable electrochemical system suitable for use in an electric vehicle. It comprises a battery comprising at least one positive electrode depolarized by air, at least one negative collector, a tank, an electrolyzer comprising at least one positive electrode and one negative electrode, an electrolyte bearing in suspension the negative active material. The electrolyte is caused to flow either between the tank and the battery or between the electrolyzer and the tank, wherein the total volume of the alkaline electrolyte, bearing in suspension a negative active material containing 250 g to 350 g per liter of equivalent zinc, lies between one and a half and three times the internal volume of the electrolyzer.

Rechargeable electrochemical system

Device for regenerating zinc

The invention relates to an electrolytic resistor comprising a water-repellent insulating tube through which there flows an alkaline solution containing a suspension of zinc. The positive end of the resistor has a metallic grid suitable for trapping the zinc particles, and the negative end has either an air electrode or a ring made of a metal having, more especially, high hydrogen supertension, this ring itself possibly having holes or projections suitable for promoting the progressive deposition of zinc dendrites. The invention is used in zinc-air storage cells.

Electrolytic resistor

The invention relates to a method and device for regenerating zinc from an alkaline zincate solution. To this end, the solution is contacted with two electrodes under tension, so that zinc is deposited on the negative electrode and oxygen is evolved at the positive electrode, the solution being conveyed at a sufficient speed for the zinc to be deposited and then detached from the electrode. In an alternative embodiment, during a first period, the solution is conveyed at a low or zero speed so that the zinc can be deposited, and is then conveyed at a higher speed so as to detach the zinc particles. The negative electrode is preferably made of magnesium and can be a cylindrical bar or inter alia can be formed with projections. The invention is applicable to electric vehicles.

Method and device for regenerating zinc

Cells are fed in series with an alkaline solution containing zinc in suspension and electrically connected in series. The cells are grouped in modules fed in parallel with the solution and electrically connected in series, each module being fed with the solution through an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. Electrolytic resistors are connected in the hydraulic circuit of each pipe to maintain a potential difference in the solution between the modules and a tank for storing the solution.

Forced flow electrochemical battery

Zinc-air electrochemical cell comprising several elements fed with an electrolytic solution comprising zinc powder in suspension, conveyed by forced flow in the said elements, those elements being grouped together in modules, electrically connected in series and fed by the said solution also in series within each of the said modules. Such a cell comprises one or several unitary cell blocks each comprising two substantially identical modules arranged one above the other and electrically connected together in parallel, the module situated at the upper level receiving the said electrolytic solution which, after it has crossed through that module, is transferred to the input of the upper element of the second module situated at the lower level and lastly, flows out through the output of its lower element.

Zinc-air electrochemical cell

The invention comprises the grouping of a battery into modules fed in series with a potassium hydroxide solution containing zinc in suspension. It further comprises the grouping of the modules into an even number of assemblies in which the modules are connected in series, the assemblies having the same number of modules and being interconnected in parallel, so that more particularly, the potential of the solution conveyed from a storage tank is equal to the potential of the solution which is made to flow back into the said tank after having crossed through the said modules.

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Limours, France

Jean Jacquelin