Patent ID: 6497973
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: B60L,F17C,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A system for both generating and consuming borohydride ions, said system comprising a generation point where borohydride ions are electrochemically generated, and a consumption point where said borohydride is electrochemically oxidized to an oxidized form of said borohydride ion, said generation point being separate from said consumption point, said generation point being a first electrochemical cell containing an aqueous solution of said oxidized form of the borohydride ion and means in said first cell for electrochemically reducing said solution at a basic pH to form borohydride ions through reactions which do not generate hydrogen, said consumption point being a second electrochemical cell containing borohydride ions, said second cell containing a means for electrochemically oxidizing borohydride ions to said oxidized form of the borohydride ions and means for transporting the borohydride ions produced in the first cell at the generation point to the second cell at the consumption point.