Sealed batteries with zinc electrode

DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to the present invention there is provided an electrochemical cell, comprising: a first sealed compartment containing a first electrolyte and a first gas space; a second sealed compartment containing a second electrolyte and a second gas space, the second gas space being in communication with the first gas space; a first electrode immersed in the first electrolyte; a second electrode immersed in the second electrolyte; a first hydrogen electrode immersed in the first electrolyte; and a second hydrogen electrode immersed in the second electrolyte and electrically connected to the first hydrogen electrode.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the first electrode of the cell is preferably a zinc electrode and the second electrode is preferably either a silver or a nickel electrode.
In accordance with the present invention it is possible to create a sealed rechargeable nickel-zinc and silver-zinc cell which will have a long service life and which will deteriorate to a much lesser extent than comparable cells heretofore known.
A cell according to the present invention differs from the configuration of a conventional nickel-zinc of silver-zinc cell in that the cell is split into two compartments.
Each of the two compartments features a hydrogen electrode which is electrically connected to the other hydrogen electrode.
One of the compartments, in addition to the hydrogen electrode, has a zinc electrode, which can be electrically connected to an electrical load or to a charging source external to the cell.
Furthermore, it is possible to electrically connect the nickel or silver electrode to another nickel-zinc or silver-zinc cell so as to operate several cells in series.
It is also possible to electrically connect the zinc electrode to another nickel-zinc cell so as to operate the several cells in series.
The other compartment, in addition to the hydrogen electrode, has a nickel or a silver electrode which can also be electrically connected to an electrical load or to a charging source external to the cell