REACTIVE METAL BATTERY HAVING CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF CATHODE REACTANT

摘要

Structure of improved porous cathode (11) for use in a battery having a reactive metal electrode and a flowing electrolyte. The cathode (10) preferably consists of a porous electrically conductive material having an active surface (12) at an interface with the electrolyte. Alternatively the cathode (10) may be composed of an electrochemically reducible porous material and defines an active surface (12). A structure allows supplying the cathode reactant electrochemically reducible material continuously through the cathode (10) to the active surface of the cathode (12) during operation of the battery. The reactive material is supplied in an amount required to be reduced on the active surface (12) to maintain a high energy discharge rate with the use of a minimum quantity of reactive material. The reactive material in the illustrated embodiment, comes from a storage supply (16) and flows to the porous cathode (11) as needed, during operation of the battery. In one embodiment, the cathode (10) is provided with distribution passages (14) carrying the reagent material. In another embodiment, the reactive material is introduced through one or more edge portions of the cathode porous body (11) and flows through the pores to the active surface (12).