Ceramic collars for active brazing in sodium-based thermal batteries

摘要

The present application provides for ceramic collars and metal rings for active brazing in sodium-based thermal batteries. The ceramic collar may be an alpha-alumina collar configured for active brazing, and thereby sealing, to outer and inner Ni rings for use in NaMx cells. The portions of the alpha-alumina collar active brazed to the outer and inner Ni rings may be outwardly facing and include inwardly extending recesses. The portions of the outer and inner Ni rings active brazed to the outwardly facing portions of the collar may be inwardly facing. The alpha-alumina collar may include a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than each of the outer and inner Ni rings, and the alpha-alumina collar and outer and inner Ni rings may be configured such that a portion of the outer and inner Ni rings is deformed into the inwardly extending recesses of the alpha-alumina collar after active brazing thereof.

主权项

1. A sub-assembly for at least partially sealing a cell of a sodium-based thermal battery, the sub-assembly including:
an outer metal ring defining a first aperture and including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion including a first inwardly facing sealing surface; an inner metal ring defining a second aperture that is smaller than the first aperture of the outer metal ring in at least one dimension and including a third portion and a fourth portion, the fourth portion including a second inwardly facing sealing surface; and a ceramic collar defining a third aperture and including a first outwardly facing sealing surface configured for mating with the first inwardly facing sealing surface of the outer metal ring and a second outwardly facing surface configured for mating with the second inwardly facing sealing surface of the inner metal ring, the first outwardly facing sealing surface including a first inwardly extending recess and the second outwardly facing sealing surface including a second inwardly extending recess, wherein at least a portion of the first inwardly facing sealing surface of the second portion of the outer metal ring is sealed to and deformed into the first inwardly extending recess of the first outwardly facing sealing surface of the ceramic collar by active brazing, and wherein at least a portion of the second inwardly facing sealing surface of the fourth portion of the inner metal ring is sealed to and deformed into the second inwardly extending recess of the second outwardly facing sealing surface of the ceramic collar by active brazing.