Patent ID: 6395154
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: C25B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A single stack electrochemical system, comprising:a) n cells arranged serially in a cell stack wherein n is an integer number of cells greater than or equal to 2, each cell including at least one anode electrode and an anolyte chamber adjacent thereto and a cathode electrode and a catholyte chamber adjacent thereto, two cells being located at opposed ends of said stack with one of said two cells including at least a contact anode electrode and the other of said two cells including at least a contact cathode electrode, said contact anode and contact cathode electrodes being adapted to be connected to a power supply, including an insulating member for insulating adjacent cells in said stack; b) nâˆ’1 double electrode plates, each double electrode plate including a least an electrically conducting frame having a length and a width, and a first portion for supporting an anode electrode located in one of said cells and a second portion for supporting a cathode electrode located in an adjacent cell, and a web portion between said anode and cathode electrodes electrically connecting said electrodes, and wherein at least a portion of said web portion is located exterior to the cells containing the anode and cathode electrodes supported by said double electrode plate, said double electrode plate being folded substantially down a middle of said web portion, and when a voltage drop is developed between said two contact electrodes current is collected along said length of said electrically conducting frames and flows from cell to cell in a plane of said double electrode plates across the width of the electrically conducting frames and said anode and cathode electrodes; and c) first and second rigid support members located at opposed ends of said cell stack, said cell stack being compressed between said first and second rigid support members, said first rigid support member defining a first enclosure and said second support member defining a second enclosure, said first enclosure being in flow communication with the first and second flow passageways in flow communication with each anolyte chamber in said cell stack, and said second enclosure being in flow communication with the third and fourth flow passageways in flow communication with each catholyte chamber in said cell stack.