STUDY OF ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES
Abstract
Prior experiments showed the feasibility of alkali and alkaline earth metal/molten salt electrolyte/hydrogen gas electrochemical cells. These cells produce metal hydride, heat and electric power. Batch regeneration of a calcium-hydrogen cell was demonstrated. Regenerative cells were tested. The major difficulties noted were the plugging of the circulating salt lines, the low dissociation pressure of LiH in dilute solutions, and an electric cell- shorting effect arising after long operation. Various molten salt electrolytes were tested. Low melting point eutectic salts containing Na, Rb, Cs, K, and Li were found. Fluorides, bromides, and chlorides were found to be the best electrolytes. Borohydrides and iodides were not satisfactory. Various hydrogen electrodes materials were tested. The best electrodes consisted of mesh electrodes or sintered porous discs. The dissociation of LiH over molten salts was determined, and the LiH content of various cell electrolytes was measured. The feasibility of the electrochemical cell, and of the hydride dissociation was demonstrated. However, the complete regenerative system has not been reduced to practice.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 14, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0270212
Entities
People
- J. B. Mcdonough
- R. E. Shearer
- T. A. Ciarlariello