Immersible gaseous oxidant cathode for electrochemical cell system

摘要

An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an oxidant reduction electrode module containing an oxidant reduction electrode mounted to a housing to form a gaseous oxidant space therein that is immersed into the ionically conductive medium. A fuel electrode is spaced from the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the ionically conductive medium may conduct ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A gaseous oxidant channel extending through the gaseous oxidant space provides a supply of oxidant to the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the fuel electrode and the oxidant reduction electrode are configured to, during discharge, oxidize the metal fuel at the fuel electrode and reduce the oxidant at the oxidant reduction electrode, to generate a discharge potential difference therebetween for application to a load.

主权项

1. An assembly comprising:
a cell cover, an oxidant reduction electrode module and a fuel electrode module containing a fuel electrode for immersion with the oxidant electrode together in an ionically conductive medium being contained in a chamber of an electrochemical cell, the chamber having an upwardly facing opening for insertion of the module and closing by the cell cover, the oxidant reduction electrode module being connected to the cell cover and configured to be immersed into the ionically conductive medium in the chamber of the electrochemical cell, the oxidant reduction electrode module comprising:
a housing configured to define a gaseous oxidant receiving space therein configured for insertion through the upwardly facing opening of the chamber and immersion into the ionically conductive medium;an oxidant reduction electrode having an oxidant facing side and an ionically conductive medium facing side, the oxidant reduction electrode mounted to said housing such that the oxidant reduction electrode defines a boundary wall for the gaseous oxidant receiving space, with the oxidant facing side facing inwardly to the gaseous oxidant receiving space and the ionically conductive medium facing side facing outwardly for exposure to the ionically conductive medium;a conductor channel comprising an electrical conductor electrically connected to the oxidant reduction electrode;a gaseous oxidant inlet and a gaseous oxidant outlet coupled by a gaseous oxidant channel extending through the gaseous oxidant receiving space; andone or more support members positioned within the gaseous oxidant receiving space defining the gaseous oxidant channel between the gaseous oxidant inlet and the gaseous oxidant outlet and through the gaseous oxidant receiving space, the one or more support members configured to prevent deformation of the oxidant reduction electrode into the gaseous oxidant receiving space when the oxidant reduction electrode is immersed into the ionically conductive medium, and direct a flow of gaseous oxidant within the gaseous oxidant channel from the gaseous oxidant inlet to the gaseous oxidant outlet; andthe conductor channel, the gaseous oxidant inlet, and the gaseous oxidant outlet being disposed on an upper portion of the housing and each being connectable to a respective connector on the cell cover for establishing inlet and outlet of the gaseous oxidant and an electrical connection of the oxidant reduction electrode, andwherein an oxidant is allowed into the gaseous oxidant receiving space via the gaseous oxidant inlet, the oxidant reduction electrode being configured to absorb the gaseous oxidant via the oxidant facing side and reduce the gaseous oxidant during discharge of the electrochemical cell; the cell cover further comprising a coupler coupled with the fuel electrode module, the oxidant reduction electrode being spaced from the fuel electrode on the cell cover, so that, when immersed into the ionically conductive medium, the ionically conductive medium facing side of the oxidant reduction electrode and a metal fuel of the fuel electrode are exposed to the ionically conductive medium for electrochemically oxidizing the metal fuel, wherein the ionically conductive medium conducts ions between the fuel electrode and the ionically conductive medium facing side of the oxidant reduction electrode to support the electrochemical reactions between the oxidant reduction electrode and the fuel electrode.