Electrochemical power generation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a power generation system and a method of power generation and electrolyte management in aqueous/reactive metal electrochemical cells is provided.
The invention contemplates a system for power generation having an electrochemical cell with a lithium or other reactive metal anode.
The present invention may be used with any configuration of cell which operates to produce the hydroxide of the anodic metal in an aqueous electrolyte.
The cell typically includes a reactive metal anode, a cathode spaced from the anode to define a reaction zone therewith and an aqueous electrolyte (with or without additives).
Lithium is a preferred anodic material because of its high energy density.
Other reactive metals, such as other alkali metals, for example, may be used.
The metal of the anode may be present in elemental, compound, alloy, amalgam or mixture form, as desired.
Reference herein to the preferred lithium is exemplary only, as the invention encompasses the use of other reactive metals.
An electrochemical reaction occurs at the anode, as is well known, to produce a cation of the anodic metal, and an electron.
The anodic cation reacts with the negatively charged ionic specie (typically hydroxide ion) in the electrolyte to form an anodic reaction product, typically lithium hydroxide (LiOH) in the case of a lithium anode.
As is well known in the art, alkali metal anodes are coated with a water-soluble, metal ion permeable insulating coating of the hydrated hydroxide of the anodic metal.
This coating naturally forms on the anode upon exposure of the anode to humid air and acts to modulate the electrochemical reaction.
The metal hydroxide coating on the anode typically effects spacing between the anode and cathode, which may be in physical contact, but not direct electrical contact with each other.
As is well known in the art, however, other physical spacers, such as foam, screen, beads or combinations thereof, may be present.
Referring to the figure, a system, generally designated 10, for electrolyte management is shown