Abstract:
A multi-cell monoblock battery in which a plurality of electrochemical cells are disposed in a battery case. The battery case includes one or more cell partitions which divide the interior of the case into a plurality of cell compartments that house the electrochemical cells. Preferably, one or more coolant channels are integrally formed with at least one of the cell partitions. The coolant channels may have inlets and outlets disposed in the walls of the battery case so as to provide a cross-flow cooling design.
Abstract:
A high-storage-capacity electrical storage battery (20) includes a plurality of fiber anodes (22), a plurality of fiber cathodes (28) bundled together and interspersed with the fiber anodes (22), and an electrolyte in the interstices (40) between the fiber anodes (22) and the fiber cathodes (28). The fiber anodes (22) and the fiber cathodes (28) include anode fibers (24) and cathode fibers (30) that are each preferably of a diameter of 0.010-0.050 inches. A tubular compliant lateral casing (44) laterally surrounds the fiber anodes (22), the fiber cathodes (28), and the electrolyte. A compliant end plate (46) is sealed to the lateral casing (44) at each end thereof with an end of each fiber anode (22) extending out of a first end plate at a first end of the battery (20), and an end of each fiber cathode extending out of a second end plate at a second end of the battery (20). A protective metallic housing (45) overlies the compliant lateral casing (44). Two metallic collector plates (48) form contacts at each end to the fiber anodes (22) and fiber cathodes (28), respectively.
Abstract:
A solid, composite, ion-conductive electrolyte member comprised of first and second layers which are bonded together, with the first layer being constituted of an ion-conductive material such as glass or polycrystalline ceramic, e.g., ANL glass or beta-type alumina, and the second layer being preferably constituted of a material selected from the group consisting of the titanium oxide family, most preferably, rutile (TiO.sub.2), and its related suboxides (Ti.sub.N O.sub.2N-1, where N is any selected number from 4-10, inclusive). The first and second layers are preferably intimately bonded together by means of an electrophoretic deposition process, a chemical vapor deposition process, a plasma spraying deposition process, a pyrolitic deposition process, or a pressing and sintering process.
Abstract:
A multi-cell monoblock battery in which a plurality of electrochemical cells are disposed in a battery case. The battery case includes one or more cell partitions which divide the interior of the case into a plurality of cell compartments that house the electrochemical cells. Preferably, one or more coolant channels are integrally formed with at least one of the cell partitions. The coolant channels may have inlets and outlets disposed in the walls of the battery case so as to provide a cross-flow cooling design.
Abstract:
A beta-double prime aluminum oxide solid electrolyte (24) is prepared for wetting by a liquid electrode material. The method includes mechanically rubbing an asperity-filling metal against the surface (32) of the solid electrolyte (24) until the solid electrolyte (24) turns gray in color, which fills in asperities (34) in the surface (32) of the electrolyte (24). The electrolyte (24) and deposited asperity-filling metal (36) are heated to a temperature above the melting point of sodium, and sodium is de posited onto the electrolyte surface (32) and permitted to wick along the surface (32).
Abstract:
An electrical device such as a battery (20) or capacitor is formed as alternating facing layers of an array of fibrous electrodes. The fibrous electrodes (24) of one set of layers are connected at one end (36) of the array, and the fibrous electrodes (30) of the alternating set of layers are connected at the other end (38) of the array. The fibrous electrodes (24, 30) of the two layers, taken together, preferably have a two-dimensional close-packed arrangement. Desirably, no connection is made to at least one of each pair of any shorted electrodes that may be present.
Abstract:
An electrochemical synapse adapted for use in a neural network which includes an input terminal and an output terminal located at a distance of less than 100 microns from the input terminal. A permanent interconnect having controllable conductivity is located between the two inputs. The conductivity of the permanent interconnect is controlled by either growing or eliminating metallic whiskers between the inputs. The growth and elimination of whiskers provides a rapid and controllable electrochemical synapse. Partial neural network systems are disclosed utilizing the electrochemical synapse.
Abstract:
A nano-particulate reticulated foam-like structure, which includes particles having a size of 10-200 nanometers. The particles are joined together to form a reticulated foam-like structure. The reticulated foam-like structure is similar to the structure of carbon nano-foam. The nano-particulate reticulated foam-like structure may comprise a metal, such as a hydrogen storage ahoy, either a gas-phase thermal or an electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy. The nano-particulate reticulated foam-like structure may alternatively comprise a hydroxide such as nickel hydroxide or manganese hydroxide or an oxide, such as a silver oxide or a copper oxide. When the nano-particulate reticulated foam-like structure is a hydrogen storage alloy, the material exhibits substantial immunity to hydrogen cycling decrepitation and an increase in the reversible hydrogen storage capacity by reduction of trapped hydrogen by at least 10% as compared to the same alloy in bulk form.
Abstract:
A multiple cell monoblock battery in which a plurality of electrochemical cells are disposed in a plastic or metal case and each of the cells includes an enclosure providing for gas to exit while preventing electrolyte to exit the enclosure. A novel integral system of flow channels allows liquid coolant to flow between adjacent cells. Other special features, such as cell interconnections are described.
Abstract:
An improved thermal battery having a sodium composite electrode and a cathode separatd by a porous separator. The sodium composite electrode includes sodium metal and a protective metal which is effective in protecting the sodium metal from reaction with water or air. This sodium composite structure is useful in other systems besides batteries, in order to control the reactivity of sodium.