摘要 |
An electrochemical apparatus for power delivery employs an array of electrochemical cells which comprises an end +<ve> electrode and an end -<ve> electrode separated by one or more bipolar mid-electrodes each with a +<ve> side and a -<ve>, the +<ve> side of each bipolar electrode comprising an electrically conductive substrate with a porous conductive surface. A bubbly dispersion of air/oxygen in an electrolyte is contacted with the +<ve> sides of the bipolar electrodes. The electrochemical apparatus of the invention may be used with an oxygen-sulfur couple with these reagents being provided for example as sodium salts in aqueous solutions, the overall reaction being: 4H2O + 4S<2-> + 2O2 -> 80H<-> + 4S. The process is preferably carried out in an array of cells (20), comprising a plurality of bipolar electrodes (13), each having a +<ve> side (12A) and a -<ve> side (14A) spaced from one another by membranes (16) which divide the cell into +<ve> and -<ve> chambers (22C and 24C) for posilyte and anolyte solutions (22, 24) which are circulated through the chambers. |