Fuel cell electrolyte supply system and apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG.
1 of the drawings, I have diagrammatically illustrated my new system and apparatus related to the anode and ion exchange sections X and Y of one metal/air fuel cell C of a battery of fuel cells.
The fuel cell sections X and Y are diagrammatically shown as separate blocks.
In practice, the cell sections X and Y are, for example, adjacent related anode and ion exchange sections of a metal/air fuel cell structure such as is shown and described in my previously identified patent application Ser.
No.
458,835, entitled METAL/GAS FUEL CELL.
The purpose and function of my new system and apparatus is to handle and manage supplies of anolyte and ionolyte solutions A and I for the several sections X and Y of the battery of cells; to selectively put the battery of cells into and out of operation; to maintain the battery of cells at effective and efficient operating temperature; to maintain the electrolytes properly balanced for most effective and efficient operation of the battery of cells; to prevent the flow of shunt currents through the electrolytes and between related cell sections; to effectively recycle and conserve the noted electrolytes; and to salvage the solid byproducts of fuel cell reaction.
The apparatus that I provide first includes a supply tank S, shown at the right-hand side of FIG.
1 of the drawings.
The tank S holds a supply of base electrolyte solution E, such as an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and a supply of dielectric liquid K.
The liquid K is hydrophobic and non-soluble in or with the electrolyte solution E and has a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the solution E.
The dielectric liquid K can be any one of several petroleum distillates.
In carrying out my invention, kerosene and anhydrous jet fuel have proven to be highly effective.
For the purpose of this disclosure, I will refer to the dielectric liquid as the dielectric K or liquid dielectric K.
The dielectric K in the tank S floats above or on top of the aqueous electrolyte solution E and is in effect separate therefrom