High temperature battery

Abstract

A high temperature battery of one or more cells is disclosed in which each cell is made by holding an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, of different metallic substances, together through a fused flux wetted to an electrode, which fused flux is an electrolyte, to make an anode-to-cathode contact, and the anode-to-cathode contact is heated, by a heat source, to a high temperature range above a threshold temperature to generate voltaic voltage, in excess of any thermoelectric voltage; such batteries with electrodes of various mechanical configurations are disclosed. The flux, such as borax, may have powdered, vegetable-growth ashes or powdered chemical constituents of ashes, such as lithium carbonate, added to the flux or to the electrolyte to catalyze or improve the current-generating capability of the battery. The preferred anode substance is aluminum, and the preferred cathode substance is copper. With the preferred cathode and anode substances and a fused borax flux between the cathode and anode, the open circuit voltage generated per cell when heated increases from 0.05 volts at 304.degree. C. to 1.3 volts at 651.degree. C.; the threshold temperature in this case is 279.degree. C. Also disclosed is means to move the anode metal with respect to the cathode metal, when the electrolyte is fluid, for changing the battery characteristics.