PL135947B1 - Battery with gas depolarized cathodes and anodes made of spendable metal - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a battery with gas-depolarized cathodes and consumable metal anodes arranged parallel to each other in an inert container, particularly a metal-air battery containing a plurality of hollow, chamber-shaped cathode elements and anodes. Batteries and other energy conversion systems are known in which one of the electrodes is made of a metal or metal alloy that dissolves during energy generation, i.e., discharge, and redeposits during charging. Some solutions use combinations of metals, for example, nickel/cadmium or silver oxide/zinc. Other energy conversion devices use halogen or oxygen depolarized cathodes and consumable metal anodes such as zinc, iron, lead, lithium, manganese, and the like. In many examples, these energy conversion systems are renewed without replacing the electrodes by redepositing or partially redepositing the consumable metal on the anode by applying an external potential to individual cells or to the entire energy storage system. However, in practice, these batteries can never be completely restored or recharged to their original condition and gradually lose their usefulness and must be taken out of service for significant periods of time for recharging. Batteries having anodes that can be removed and reinserted into a closed cathode chamber are also known from a number of U.S. Patents 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, e.g., Nos. 3,436,270, 3,513,030, 3,553,024, 3,708,345, 3,717,505, 3,836,398, 3,682,706 and others. Anodes are usually made of consumable metal or consumable pressed or sintered metal powder, mounted on conductive, porous metal supports or shields of various metals such as nickel, iron, copper, titanium, tantalum and their alloys. Removing and reinserting the anodes of such prior art batteries into the cathode chambers presents problems due to changes in the shape of the anode structure during recharging outside the cathode chamber or enclosure and due to the fact that the electrolyte-impregnated paper separators in the cathode chambers are susceptible to tearing or destruction during removal or reinsertion of the refurbished anodes. Prior art metal-air batteries are complex in construction and cumbersome to operate. The aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 3,708,345 discloses an energy conversion system that utilizes an electrolyte recycling system to remove zinc oxide reaction products from a plurality of individual electrochemical cells. The energy conversion system includes a plurality of electrochemical cells, each having a zinc anode and a porous oxygen/air cathode, and means for causing an alkaline electrolyte to flow through the cells. Each cell of the energy conversion system includes a separate jet pump for converting the relatively low flow rate of high-pressure liquid electrolyte from the saltation pump into a high flow rate of low-pressure electrolyte to remove zinc oxide from the anode surface. U.S. Patent No. 3,717,505 shows a stack of metal-air cells composed of support frame assemblies and electrodes. The support frame assemblies and electrodes are all interconnected and recharged. U.S. Patent No. 3,836,398 describes a metal-air or metal-oxygen cell comprising a metal anode with several separator layers of mercerized paper and/or regenerated cellulose layers. The anode material is formed from several layers of amalgamated zinc and, if necessary, a sheet of paper. The metal anode further comprises a dry electrolyte on the back. U.S. Patent No. 3,682,706 describes a gas-depolarized cell in which the metal anodes are contained in a fabric separator. The cathodes, anodes, and separator are all removed from the cell housing before the anode/separator is disconnected from the cathode. In the battery according to the invention, each of the chamber cathode elements has at least one gas-permeable, porous cathode in at least one Each anode comprises at least one anode of consumable metal. The cathode and the anode of adjacent elements are disposed opposite each other. The battery has slots for removably securing at least the anodes of consumable metal in the container. The battery has a space at the bottom of the container for collecting precipitated material below the anode and cathode elements, and valves or nozzles for evacuating the precipitated material from this space. In one embodiment, the battery comprises a gas-permeable cathode in both the front and rear cathode portions of the hollow cell-shaped cathode element. Each anode comprises anodes of consumable metal disposed on opposite sides of non-consumable metal anode support sheets which are removable and re-insertable in the container. The container has slots in which precipitated material is collected. Slidingly hollow chamber cathode elements. In one embodiment of the invention, the container has slots for slidably receiving non-consumable metal anode support sheets. The chamber cathode elements are electrically connected to each other by wires and to the positive terminal of a battery, and the anode support sheets are electrically connected to each other by wires and to the negative terminal of a battery. A plurality of hollow chamber cathode elements and anodes of consumable metal are disposed in a predetermined spatial relationship to each other between a terminal anode and a terminal hollow cathode element. The anodes and cathode elements preferably comprise a plurality of hollow chamber bipolar cathode elements operably disposed between the terminal elements. Each bipolar element has at least one gas-permeable, porous cathode. depolarized gas in one wall and at least one anode of consumable metal held in electrically conductive connection with the chamber element on the outer surface of the second wall of the element. Each hollow bipolar element has a plurality of hollow, permeable cathode fingers extending from one wall and communicating with the interior of the element. The impermeable opposite wall has a plurality of anodes of consumable metal removably held thereon. The anodes extend at substantially right angles from the opposite wall. In one embodiment, the battery includes, on the first wall of each of the hollow elements, insulating guides between the hollow cathode fingers into which one edge of the anodes is inserted. The terminals of The conductive metal on the opposite walls of the hollow elements makes electrical contact with the edges of the consumable anodes opposite the insulating guides. The advantage of the invention is to provide a battery whose cathodes can be removed and inserted into the battery container, and the consumable part of the anodes can be easily removed and regenerated outside the container and reused in this or a similar container, or only the consumable part of the anodes can be removed and replaced without removing the cathodes. The advantage of the battery according to the invention is that it is mechanically resistant, has no delicate parts or tearable coatings that can be damaged when replacing the anodes. The consumable anodes can be removed and replaced in the battery container without contacting the cathodes and without damaging any The battery is easy to manufacture, assemble and operate while maintaining all the advantages of metal-air systems with anodes made of consumable metal. The subject of the invention is shown in the drawing in the following embodiment examples: Fig. 1 shows a bipolar chamber element in a perspective view; Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of an assembly of four elements, namely two central bipolar elements and a lateral anode and a lateral cathode; Fig. 3 shows a top view of the battery container; Fig. 4 shows a cross-section along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of a side view, without some parts along line 5-5 of Fig. 7 of a battery in another embodiment, in which each of the anodes and cathodes has two front surfaces; Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of an assembly of two cathode elements and two anode elements. Fig. 5, with the electrical connections between them shown, Fig. 7 - a section along line 3-3 of Fig. 5, Fig. 8 - a top view with a partial cross-section of the battery container with oxygen-depolarized cathodes and replaceable anodes according to the invention, Fig. 9 - an enlarged detail of the anode/cathode structure of the battery, Fig. 10 - a cross-sectional plan view of a battery in another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 11 - a section along line 11-11 of Fig. 10. Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 8 to 11 show bipolar embodiments of the battery according to the invention, and Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional plan view of the battery in another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional plan view along line 11-11 of Fig. 10. Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 8 to 11 show bipolar embodiments of the battery according to the invention, and Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional plan view ... Figures 5 to 7 show a single-pole embodiment. In Figure 1, the replaceable bipolar elements are individual, vertical, shallow, chamber-shaped cathode elements 1 made of valve metal, nickel, stainless steel or similar materials. Each element is composed of an imperforate front wall 2 on which consumable anodes 5 are mounted, and of U-shaped upper, lower and side parts 3, 3a and 3b, preferably made of a single piece of metal, which form a frame for a porous, gas-permeable cathode 4 made of sintered, activated titanium or other valve metal, or of nickel or stainless steel impregnated with catalytic materials such as platinum group metals, platinum group metal oxides, mixed oxides thereof and other catalytic oxides such as spinels, perovskites, delaphosites, bronzes and the like. The activated, sintered, porous cathode 4 is preferably made separately and welded to the frame formed by parts 3, 3a and 3b. The sinterable, porous, gas-permeable cathodes 4 (and 32 and 34 of Fig. 5) are made of any corrosion-resistant metal, preferably formed by: sintering particles of the corrosion-resistant metal by known methods, such as those used in the industry for the manufacture of metal plates and filter tubes, to obtain a structure having a porosity of 30% to 65%. The sintered, porous cathode sections may be made of silicon or a valve metal such as titanium, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium, niobium, hafnium, vanadium, yttrium or their alloys, nickel or stainless steel. It is preferred to use spherical particles with a narrow grain size distribution. The preferred range of grain size distribution is 2.0-0.59 mm, 0.59-0.30 mm, 0.30-0.21 mm, and 0.149 to about 0.095 mm, with larger particle size ranges such as 2.0-0.59 mm and 0.59-0.30 mm being preferred. Within these preferred grain size distribution ranges, the catalyst-impregnated and coated cathode of the invention retains a porosity of about 50% and a very high permeability to both liquids and gases. The gas pressure relative to the porosity is adjusted so as to The liquid electrolyte does not flood the cathode pores and gas is not blown into the electrolyte. The surfaces of the sintered, porous cathodes 4 facing the interior of the cathode chambers are preferably impregnated with a hydrophobic resin, such as a fluorocarbon resin, to render the inner surface of the cathode substantially impermeable to the aqueous electrolyte while keeping the side facing outward unchanged in its permeability to the electrolyte. The hydrophobic coating, in combination with the positive pressure exerted by the gas within the chamber-shaped cathode elements 1, substantially prevents the penetration of electrolyte into the chamber-shaped cathode elements 1. Drains may, however, be provided in the chamber-shaped cathode elements 1 to remove minor or accidental flooding of the chamber-shaped elements. A replaceable and consumable anode 5 made of zinc sheet or other consumable anode material is mounted in a removable manner on the bipolar, chamber-shaped cathode element 1. The anode 5 is conductively and mechanically connected to the non-perforated wall of the front part 2 by means of spring clips 6, which are conveniently made by welding suitably shaped strips of metal along two vertical edges of the wall of the front part 2 and a horizontal strip at the bottom of the two vertical strips. The anode 5 can be easily inserted by simply sliding it inside the vertical spring clips 6 until it engages the lower clip. Removal of generally used anodes is a simple and quick operation. The anodes 5 can be flat or corrugated sheets of solid or porous zinc or other consumable metal. It is also possible to use suitable holders which engage in holes, not shown in the drawing, placed in the upper part of the zinc sheets, facilitating the removal operation. Both the anodes 5 and the porous cathodes 4 have dimensions smaller than the overall dimensions of the chamber-shaped cathode elements 1, so that inactive edge portions are formed around the cathode elements 1, fitting into slots 11 or other spacers formed in the battery container described below. Inlets 7 and outlets 8 serve to introduce and remove the depolarizing gas and to maintain the desired gas pressure inside the hollow cathode elements 1. For mechanical and electrical connection In addition to the elastic clamps shown in Fig. 1, other means can also be used to attach the anode sheets 5 to the chamber structures. For example, a thermoplastic, electrically conductive adhesive can be used to point-connect the anode sheets 5 to the wall 2, i.e. the front wall. However, the use of clamps is advantageous because the consumable anodes can be removed and reassembled without removing the chamber elements from the battery container, which shortens the time required to recharge the battery. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the assembly of four chamber cathode elements 1 in their electrically silver spatial arrangement. Each cathode 4 faces the anode 5 of the adjacent element with its front side. The first element A in the series has, instead of the cathode 4, an imperforate wall and an anode placed on it. 5 in terminals 6 and is connected to the negative terminal of the battery, which becomes the positive terminal when the battery is connected to an external load. Similarly, the last element D, having a cathode 4 and no anode, is connected to the positive terminal of the battery. Two bipolar elements B and C are operatively inserted between the two end (half-cell) elements A and D. In order to obtain the desired battery voltages, any number of bipolar elements can be inserted in this way. Bipolar element B has a porous cathode 4, visible in the corner cutout of element B, and its front surface directed towards the anode 5 of end element A, and anode 5, the surface directed towards the anode 5 of end element A. frontal towards the porous cathode 4, not shown in the drawing, of the adjacent bipolar element €, and so on. The gas inlets 7 and outlets 8 for elements B, C and D are connected to a distribution manifold and an outlet manifold so that air, oxygen or other depolarizing gas circulates through these chamber elements at a controllable pressure. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional plan view of a battery container made of an inert material such as plastic, hard rubber or the like and provided with spaced-apart slots 11 or other spacers into which the chamber elements, cathode elements 1, are inserted. The slots 11 do not extend to the bottom of the container 10, so that a space 16 is provided under the cathode elements 1 for the circulation, drainage etc. of electrolyte. After the cathode elements 1 have been placed in the slots, 11, spaces 12 are formed between the porous cathode 4 of each element 1 and the anode 5 of the next element 1. Instead of slots 11 in the side walls of the container 10, the elements 1 may have projections on each side which rest on the top of the side walls of the container 10 and by means of which the elements 1 are suspended in the container 10 at a desired height. The walls of the container 10 are provided with conductors 13 and 14 contacting each of the inter-electrode spaces 12 via conductors 13a and 14a. During operation, the electrolyte contained in the separate tank or reservoir circulates through spaces 12, and the conductors 13 and 14 are used as the inlet and outlet for the electrolyte, respectively. The end element A is electrically connected to the negative terminal 24 of the battery and the opposite end element, not shown in Fig. 3, is connected to the positive terminal 25 of the element D shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a cross-section of the battery taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3. The chamber cathode elements 1 shown in this figure have inactive lower portions 15 extending to a depth below the lower terminals 6 to which the working portion of the anode element connects. The lower parts 15 preferably extend to a depth corresponding to a value 3-5 times the interelectrode distance between the cathode 4 and the anode 5, i.e. the width of the space 12 in Fig. 3. This non-working lower part 15 has the function of extending the electrical path for any bypass current flowing through the electrolyte in the space 18. In a modified embodiment, the slots 11 may extend to the bottom of the container 10, eliminating the space 16. In this case, the bipolar elements need not have an enlarged lower part 15 as shown in Fig. 4, but may have dimensions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, the chamber-shaped bipolar elements 1 preferably do not extend to the bottom of the container 10, but A space 16 is left between the bottom of the elements 1 and the bottom of the container 10. In this space 16, precipitated oxides of dissolved anode metal can collect without disturbing the operation in the electrode spaces. When the battery is recharged by inserting new anode sheets 5, the electrolyte is drained together with the lost oxides through the appropriate nozzle 26 of the drain valve in the bottom of the container 10. The gas inlets 7 and outlets 8 of the chamber elements 1 are actually connected through female pipe connectors 17 to the gas distribution tube 18 and to the outlet collecting tube 19. The fan or compressor 20 and the throttle valves 21 in the inlet pipe 22 and outlet pipe 23 cooperate to maintain the desired gas pressure. inside the battery elements 1. The cover 9 is designed to prevent electrolyte from splashing out of the battery container and the electrolyte in the battery is maintained at approximately the level 27 shown in Fig. 4. During operation, air, oxygen, oxygen-enriched gas or other depolarizing gas is passed into the bipolar elements 1 by means of a fan 20 (Fig. 4) or other means for circulating air or gas and is exhausted under the control of a throttling valve 21. A certain constant positive gas pressure is maintained inside the elements to prevent electrolyte from penetrating the porous cathodes 4 and to establish a three-phase boundary across the thickness of the porous cathodes. The pressure varies depending on the porosity and permeability characteristics of the activated porous cathode and is adjusted so that the electrolyte does not flood the pores of the cathode 4 and gas is not blown through the cathode into the electrolyte. Zinc is the recommended anode material. However, any electrical conductor used in metal oxygen cells, such as metals, metalloids, alloys, and heavy metal salts, can be used. Anodes 5 are preferably solid metal, but porous or partially porous and partially solid anodes are also possible. Anodes can be flat, slightly curved, or corrugated sheets. The anode material must be chemically reactive towards the electrolyte and must be more electropositive than oxygen. Alkaline electrolytes such as NaOH, KOH, mixtures of KOH and RbOH, and the like can also be used. When the battery is connected to an external load, the current flows through the electrolyte contained in the interelectrode spaces 12 to the zinc anodes 5 and through each conductive, chamber-shaped bipolar cathode element 1 to the cathode 4 of the same element and through the electrolyte contained in the next interelectrode space to the zinc anode of the next adjacent cathode element and so on up to the positive terminal 25 of the battery which is connected to the external load. To reduce the shunt current flowing through the electrolyte contained in the bottom space 16 of the battery container, the space 16 may be partially filled with an insulating filler material, such as crushed ceramic tubes, etc. In the battery embodiment shown in Figs. 5-7, individual, vertical, hollow, chamber-shaped cathode elements 31, similar to element 1 of Figs. 1 and 2, made of valve metal, nickel, stainless steel, or the like, constitute the cathode elements, each having a porous front and rear cathode portion 32 and 34, mounted, respectively, in a rectangular V-shaped frame having a top portion 33, a bottom portion 33a, and side portions 33b and 33c (Fig. 6), the boiler preferably made from a single piece of metal. Rectangular cathode portions 32 and 34 are made of sintered, activated titanium or other valve metal, or nickel or stainless steel, impregnated with catalytic materials such as platinum group metals, platinum group metal oxides, mixed oxides thereof, and other catalytic oxides such as spinels, perovskites, delaphosites, bronzes, and the like. The cathode elements 32 and 34 are preferably welded to a frame formed by the V-shaped frame elements 33, 33a, 33b and 33c. The inner faces of the sintered cathode elements 32 and 34 are preferably impregnated with a lipophobic resin, for example a hydrophobic resin such as a fluorocarbon resin, which renders the cathode substantially impermeable to the aqueous electrolyte from the outside while maintaining its permeability to gases from the inside unchanged. The hydrophobic coating, together with the positive pressure exerted by the gas from the inside of the cathode elements 31, substantially prevents percolation of the electrolyte into the chamber elements. However, draining means may be provided in the chamber elements for removing minor or accidental flooding of the chamber elements. Removable and replaceable anodes 35 are supported on unusable, lightweight carrier sheets 36 made of, for example, titanium, tantalum-coated titanium, nickel, or other suitable metal, which fit into slots 37 or other spacers in the insulating plastics battery container 40. Anodes 35 of zinc or other anode material may be electroplated onto the carrier sheets 36, or welded, riveted, rolled, attached with an electrically conductive thermoplastic adhesive, or otherwise secured to the carrier sheets. To facilitate removal and reinsertion of the carrier sheets into the slots 37, extractors may be used which engage in holes (not shown) in the upper part of the carrier sheets. The consumable portions of the anodes 35 are smaller than the overall dimensions of the carrier sheets 36 so that inactive edge portions are formed around the carrier sheets and fit into slots 37 in the battery container 40. Electrolyte inlets 38 and outlets 39 with branches 38a and 39a are used to introduce and circulate electrolyte through the battery container. Known electrolytes may also be used, such as alkaline materials, for example sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, mixtures of potassium and rubidium hydroxide, etc. Acidic electrolytes such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and hydrochloric acid are also suitable. Depending on the type of electrolyte used, different anode materials can be selected. Cellular cathode elements 30A, 30B, 30C, through 30D (Fig. 5) are mounted in slots 41 in battery container 40, with each sintered cathode 32 and 34 facing dual-faced anodes 35 on adjacent carrier sheet 36, except for the first (cathode) and last (anode) elements. The first element 30A in the series has an imperforate end wall instead of the sintered, porous portion 34 of the other elements, this imperforate end wall constituting the adjacent end wall of the battery container 40. Similarly, facing the last element 300 is a single anode surface 35 on the carrier sheet 36, which does not have a zinc anode on its other side. The last carrier sheet 36 fits into a slot 37 in the opposite end of the battery housing from the element 30A. All intermediate cathode elements 30B, 30C, etc., have porous cathodes 32 and 34 welded thereto, and between all intermediate cathode elements is a carrier sheet 36 having replaceable anodes 35 on each side. Any number of anode and cathode elements may be placed between the two end elements. The porous cathode 32 of element 30B faces one side of the zinc anode between elements 30B and 30C, and its cathode 34 faces the anode 35 between elements 30A and 30B, and so on, within the cell up to the end element 30D. The container 40 is preferably made of an inert material, such as plastic and the slots 37, 41 arranged therein do not reach the bottom of the container 40, so that the anode support sheets 36 and the cathode elements 31 do not reach the bottom of the container 40, but are spaced from the bottom so that the electrolyte can circulate in the electrolyte spaces and under the anode and cathode elements and, when required, can be drained through the drain hole 42. When the cathode elements 31 are in the slots 41 and the support sheets 36, each having two anode surfaces 35, are in the slots 37, spaces 43 are created between the porous cathodes 32 and 34 and the anode surfaces 35, through which the electrolyte circulates. The electrolyte, contained in a separate tank or basin, circulates through spaces 43, and conduits 38 and 39 are used as inlet and outlet for the electrolyte. Figure 6 is an exploded view of the assembly of two chamber-shaped cathode elements 31 and anodes 35 on support racks 36, showing the elements in their electrical series spatial arrangement. The cathode elements 31 are interconnected by leads 44 leading to the positive pole of the material, not shown in the drawing, and the anode support sheets 36 are interconnected by projecting lugs 36" and leads 45 and are connected to the negative pole of the battery. The terminals of the external load are connected to the poles of the battery. This embodiment operates as a single-pole battery. The gas inlets 46 and outlets 47 of each chamber cathode element 31 are connected via pipe fittings 48 and 48a to a gas distribution pipe 40 and to an outlet manifold pipe 50, respectively. A fan or compressor 51 in inlet pipe 52 and a throttle valve 53 in outlet pipe 53' cooperate to maintain the required gas pressure within the cathode elements 31 of the battery. A cover 54 is provided to prevent electrolyte from splashing out of the battery container 40, and the electrolyte in the battery is maintained at approximately the level 55 shown in Fig. 7. When the battery is connected to an external load, air, oxygen-enriched oxygen, or other depolarizing gas is introduced into the cathode elements 31 by means of a compressor 51 (Fig. 7) or other means of providing air or gas circulation, and the exhaust is exhausted through a regulating throttling valve 53. A certain constant positive pressure is maintained within the porous cathode elements 31 to prevent percolation of the electrolyte through the porous surfaces of cathodes 32 and 34 and to establish a three-phase boundary through the thickness of the porous surfaces of cathodes 32. and 34. The pressure applied depends on the porosity and permeability characteristics of the activated porous cathode surfaces and is adjusted so that the electrolyte does not flood the pores of cathodes 32 and 34 and gas is not blown into the electrolyte. In operation, an electric current flows through the electrolyte contained in the interelectrode spaces 43, from the porous cathodes 32 or 34 to the faces of the zinc anodes 35. To reduce the shunt current flowing through the electrolyte contained in the bottom space 56 of the battery container, space 56 may be partially filled with an insulating filler material, such as crushed ceramic tubes and the like. Figure 8 shows a plurality of shallow, chambered, bipolar anode/cathode elements Oy removable and replaceable anodes arranged within a battery container 61 made of insulating plastic, which is provided with a gas inlet 62 leading to the interior 63 of hollow, bipolar, chamber elements 64. Container 61 is provided with a removable cover, not shown, electrical connections, not shown, leading to and from the terminal anodes and cathodes, and gas outlets 65. Inlets 62 and outlets 65 are provided with valves 66 and 66a by means of which the gas pressure within the cathodes can be regulated. The container 61 is provided with slots 61a or other spacers into which hollow chamber elements 64 are fitted. Hollow cathode fingers 68 forming passages for the depolarizing gas are supported by the faces 64a of elements 64, and anodes 69 are supported by elements 64 between cathode fingers 68. Figure 9 shows in more detail the construction of bipolar elements 64 and hollow cathode fingers 68. Depolarizing gas entering the hollow bipolar elements 64 flows through openings 67 to the base of conical cathode fingers 68 formed over the predominant portion of their surface of a corrosion-resistant, a porous and gas-permeable metal, such as spherical particles of sintered valve metal with a porosity of about 50%, impregnated with an oxygen-reducing catalyst such as platinum group metals, for example platinum black, platinum group metal oxides, and other catalytic metal oxides such as perovskites, delaphosites, bronzes, spinel-type oxides, and the like, as described above. These catalysts are capable of reducing 1/2 O2 to CH-, which reacts with zinc anode 69 according to the reaction scheme given below. This reaction leads to the formation of zinc oxide, some of which remains in solution in the electrolyte and some of which precipitates as ZnO particles, which remain in the electrolyte until the electrolyte is removed from the battery when the zinc anodes 69 are replaced to recharge the battery. One side of the anodes 69 fits into insulating guides 70 mounted on the face 64a of the hollow bipolar elements 64 and the other side fits into conductive metal terminals 71 and 71a mounted on the opposite element 64. The terminals 71 and 71a provide support for the anodes 69 and electrical contact between the anodes 69 and the bipolar elements 64. The opposite faces of the elements 64 are connected by edges 72 shown in Fig. 8. Elements 64 with hollow cathode fingers 68 are preferably arranged sequentially in container 61, from left to right, as unit cell 60A, 60B, 60E, etc. The first unit cell 60A constitutes the cathode half-cell adjacent to the left wall of container 1. It is connected to the positive terminal of the battery. The last element 64 on the right side of the battery constitutes the anode half-cell; it has a similar chamber configuration to the other elements 64, but has no gas inlets/outlets and has imperforate walls. It is connected to the negative terminal of the battery. To assemble the battery, the anodes 69 for a single cell 60A are inserted into the insulating guides 70 and the element 64 of the cell 60B is then connected to terminals 71-71A applied to the right side of the anodes 69 to make electrical contact with the anodes of the cell 60A. The same procedure is followed for assembling each cell until the required number of individual cells is assembled and placed in the container 61. Then the final elements are connected to the load circuit. To replace the anodes 69 in a given cell of the assembled battery, the battery electrolyte is drained, the individual cells are removed from the container 61, and the anodes requiring replacement are taken out. Partially used anodes 69 are removed from the insulating guides 70 and the individual individual cells 60A, 60B, 60E, etc., are reconnected by means of the gripping clamps 71 and 71a. the right edge of the anodes 69 in order to restore electrical contact between all the unit cells. Alternatively, only the anodes 69 can be removed and replaced with new anodes using a special tool for this purpose. The cathode fingers 68 may be slightly conical in shape to facilitate assembly and disassembly. Each of them may be a single conical finger extending from the top to the bottom of the unit cells 60A, 60B, etc., or a vertical row of circular or conical projections extending from the end faces 64A. For better illustration, the conical interelectrode gap between cathode fingers 68 and anodes 69 is shown magnified. In operation, electric current generated by the chemical reactions described above flows from anodes 69 through terminals 71 and 71a to elements 64, through connectors 72 at each end of elements 64 to end faces 64a, through cathode fingers 68, and through the electrolyte to anodes 69 of each battery element. Current flows in this manner as long as oxygen is supplied to cathode fingers 68 from hollow elements 64 and as long as anodes 69 are unconsumed. When one or more of the anodes 69 are completely or substantially consumed, the flow of oxygen-containing gas to the elements 64 is stopped, the electrolyte is drained from the cell, and the partially consumed anodes are replaced with new anodes. Figures 10 and 11 show a modification of the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 9 in which the container 73 has slots 61a or spacers into which anode-cathode assemblies (similar to 64, 68, and 69 of Figures 8 and 9) are removably inserted. The walls of container 73 are provided with conductors 74 and 75 which communicate via channels 74a and 75a with the electrolytic spaces between anodes 76 and cathode fingers 78. Anodes 76 of zinc or other consumable metal are mounted on a support consisting of a series of spaced non-consumable support arms or fingers 76a mounted on or integral with a rear support plate 77. Zinc anodes 76 are electroplated or otherwise secured to the arms or fingers 76a. In a variant embodiment, the preformed zinc sheets may be attached to the arms 76a, or the arms may be in the form of hooks from which the preformed zinc plates are suspended. The arms 76a and the rear support plate 77 may be made of titanium, nickel, or other non-corroding metal. Support arms 76a with consumable metal supporting them extend between hollow, porous cathodes 78a in fingers 78. A back support plate 77 is removably attached by means of clamps 79, conductive adhesive or other means to an impermeable wall 80 of chamber elements 81 through which oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas flows via passages 82 to hollow, porous cathode fingers 78, the construction of which is similar to fingers 68 of FIGS. 8 and 9. The depolarizing gas is preferably conducted to gas passage 81 and from there via vertical conduits 53 and 84 connected by means of connections 82. 85 to the gas inlet pipe 86 and the outlet pipe 87. During operation of the cell, air, oxygen or oxygen-enriched gas is passed into the elements 81 through the lines 83 by means of a pump 89 (Fig. 11) or other gas circulation means and is discharged through passages 87 via lines 84, 90. The pressure in the elements 81 is regulated by valves 91. A removable cover 92 on the battery container 73 prevents splashing and spilling of electrolyte from the battery. The electrolyte level is maintained approximately at the level indicated by line 93. A space 94 below the electrode bed allows for free communication. between the electrolyte spaces and the drain valve 95 enables the electrolyte to be drained from the container 74 and the accumulated oxide produced from the consumable anodes to be removed if necessary. The cell components can be assembled and the cell remains inactive until there is a need to draw current from the system, at which time the cells can be quickly activated by supplying electrolyte to the spaces containing the anodes/cathodes and supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the hollow, porous cathodes to initiate the reactions described above. Deactivation of the cell during periods when there is no demand for electrical energy from the cell requires only that the gas flow to the cell be interrupted and the electrolyte be drained during the inactive period or anode replacement periods. A common feature of the described embodiments of the batteries according to the invention is that the consumable metal anodes are mounted on non-consumable metal supports, and the consumable metal anodes can be removed from the battery container with or without the supports. (as shown in Figs. 1-4 and Figs. 8-9) or together with supports (as is necessary in Figs. 5-7 and Figs. 10-11 and possible in Figs. 1-4 and Figs. 8-9). Claims 1. A battery with gas-depolarized cathodes and consumable metal anodes, comprising a plurality of hollow, chamber-shaped cathode elements and anodes mounted on non-consumable carrier sheets arranged parallel to each other in a chemically inert container with gas inlets for introducing depolarizing gas through the interior of the chamber-shaped cathode elements into the porous cathodes, characterized in that 10 15 20 23 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 135 947 15 16 each of the chamber-shaped cathode elements the cathode elements (1, Jfl, 64, 81) have at least one gas-permeable, porous cathode (4, 32, 34, 68, 78) in at least one wall and each of the anodes (5, 35, 69, 76) comprises at least one anode of consumable metal, * the cathode and anode of adjacent elements are arranged opposite each other, the battery has slots (11, 41, 61a) for removably securing at least the anodes (15, 35, 69, 76) of consumable metal in the container (10, 40, 61, 73) and has a space (16, 10, 56, 94) at the bottom of the container (10, 40, 61, 73) for collecting precipitated material below the anode (5, 35, 69, 76) and cathode elements (1, 31, 64, 81) and valves or nozzles (26, 42, 95) for evacuating precipitated material from the space (16, 56, 94). 2. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises a gas-permeable cathode in both the front and rear cathode portions (32, 34) of the hollow chamber cathode element (31) and each anode (35) comprises consumable metal anodes disposed on opposite sides of non-consumable metal anode support sheets (36) which are removable and re-insertable in the container (10, 40, 61, 73). 3. A battery as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the anode comprises a gas-permeable cathode in both the front and rear cathode portions (32, 34) of the hollow chamber cathode element (31). 25, wherein the container (10, 40, 61, 73) has slots (11, 41, 61a) in which the empty chamber cathode elements (1, 31, 64, 81) are slidably received. 4. A battery as claimed in claim 3, wherein the container (10, 40, 61, 73) has slots (11, 41, 61a) for slidably receiving the non-consumable metal anode support sheets (36). 5. A battery as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chamber cathode elements (31) are electrically connected to each other by means of conductors (44) and to the positive pole of the battery (25) and the anode support sheets (36) are electrically connected to each other by means of conductors (44). (45) and to the negative terminal (24) of the battery. 6. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of hollow, chamber-shaped cathode elements (1, 31, 64, 81) and anodes (5, 35, 69, 76) of consumable metal are disposed in a predetermined spatial position relative to each other between the terminal anode (A, 35) and the terminal hollow cathode element (D, 31). 7. A battery as claimed in claim 6, wherein the anodes and cathode elements comprise a plurality of hollow, chamber-shaped bipolar elements (1, 64, 81) operably disposed between the terminal elements (A, D), each bipolar element having at least one gas-permeable, porous cathode (A, 68, 78). A battery as claimed in claim 7, wherein each hollow bipolar element (64, 81) has a plurality of hollow, permeable cathode fingers (68, 78) extending from one wall and communicating with the interior of the element, and the impermeable opposite wall has a plurality of anodes (69, 76) of consumable metal removably retained thereon. A battery as claimed in claim 8, wherein the anodes (69, 76) extend at substantially right angles from the opposite wall. 10. A battery according to claim 8, characterized in that on the first wall of each of the hollow elements (64, 81) it comprises insulating guides (70) between the hollow cathode fingers (68, 78) into which one edge of the anodes (69, 76) is inserted and terminals (71, 71a, 79) of conductive metal on the opposite walls of the hollow elements make electrical contact with the edges of the anodes opposite the insulating guides (70).135 947 T .. , ^ F I G .8 FIG.10 e ^ ™sc PL PL PL PL PL PL PL PL PL PL PL PL PL PL

Claims (1)

1.