A NEW ELECTRIC COUPLE FOR PRODUCING ELECTRICITY
Year: 1884

page_text: I. GUSTAV PRZIBRAM of Vienna in the Austrian Empire, private Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "A NEW ELECTRIC COUPLE
FOR PRODUCING ELECTRICITY " to be as follows:-
This invention is based on the discovery that when nitric acid (or any other
compound rich in oxygen and easily giving off a part of the same) and an alkaline
solution are separated from each other by a porous diaphragm or membrane, that
promotes osmose action between the two liquids, very strong electric currents can
be generated by means of a weak exciting current led through both liquids.
To carry my invention into effect, I make use of a new couple or electric
element, to which very numerous forms may be given as will become evident by
the following description of one form. In an impermeable vessel two cells or
vessels are placed concentrically one within the other, and made of clay or a
material or materials having very small pores, in order to only allow a restrained
permeability, and being little or not at all liable to corrosion by acids or alkalis.
Thus two outer ring-shaped chambers and an inner or central cylindrical chamber
are formed in the vessel. The outermost ring-chamber contains an alkaline
solution or lye of any desired density or concentration and also the clectrode or
electrodes by the immersion of which electricity is generated, preferably a plate of
zinc conveniently bent to fit the chamber and carrying the negative terminal. The
intermediate annular chamber is filled with water which may be slightly acidulated;
or a small quantity of alkaline solution (soda or potassa) may be added to the
same, however these additions are not indispensable. The central cylindrical
chamber contains nitric acid or any other compound which is rich in oxygen and
easily parts with a part thereof and the other electrode destined to gather the
electricity generated; it is preferably made of carbon and carries the positive
terminal. When the circuit of this couple is closed, as strong and as constant a
current will flow through this circuit, as none of all the known couples can produce.
I am not able at present to give precise explanations of this phenomenon. Of this
however I am tolerably sure that the electromotive force of the current generated
in the ordinary way between the zinc and carbon electrodes, when the circuit is
closed, is greatly increased by chemical processes which are going on inside the
couple and which yet have to be further investigated. One characteristic feature
of this new couple deserves special mention as it is in direct contradiction to all

page_text: observations made until now; viz that the results obtained are more satisfactory if
the surface of the carbon electrode is made smaller than that of the zinc electrode.
As a series of experiments have shown that the consumption of zinc is hardly
perceptible and that in no case at least this consumption is in any proportion to the
quantity and duration of the current produced, it is not probable that the high
electromotive force of this couple is owing to the oxidation of the zinc and of the
absorption by the nitric acid of the hydrogen freed by said oxidation, or more
properly speaking is the consequence of said oxidation and the combination of the
hydrogen with the hydroxyl formed by decomposition of a part of the nitric acid.
On the contrary, all experiments pursued during three months appear to prove that
the current generated by the immersion of the zinc and carbon electrodes in the
respective liquids only excites the very strong current that is observed.
Another very remarkable property of this couple is its faculty to regenerate
itself as soon as the circuit is broken. Owing to this fact such a couple may
always serve anew after having been allowed to rest some hours, without any
further treatment or supply. This faculty of spontaneous self-re-generation
remains in full vigour, as long as the quantity of the liquids is not too far reduced
by evaporation.
One of the conditions upon which depends the good working of such a couple, is
the quality of the membranes or porous diaphragms; I find that very fine clay
sufficiently burnt to slightly vitrify the surface is suitable.

page_text: I GUSTAV PRZIBRAM of Vienna in the Austrian Empire, private gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of said invention for A NEW ELECTRIC COUPLE FOR
PRODUCING ELECTRICITY" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is based on the discovery, that when nitric acid, (or any other
compound rich in oxygen and easily giving off a part of the same,) and an alkaline
solution are separated from each other by a porous diaphragm or membrane, that
promotes osmose action or interchange between the two liquids, very strong electric
currents can be generated by means of a week exciting current led through both
liquids.
To carry my invention into effect, I make use of a new couple or electric
element, to which very numerous forms may be given as will become evident by
the following description of one of these forms which is represented in sectional
perspective in the annexed drawing. In an impermeable vessel A two cells or
vessels BC are placed concentrically one within the other, and made of clay or a
material or materials having very small pores, in order to only to only allow
a restrained permeability, and being little or not at all liable to corrosion by acids
or alkalis. Thus two outer ring-shaped chambers 1, 2 and an inner or central
cylindrical chamber 3 are formed in the vessel A. The outermost ring chamber 1
contains an alkaline solution or lye of any desired density or concentration and
also the electrode or electrodes by the immersion of which electricity is generated,
preferably a plate of zinc D, conveniently bent to fit the chamber and carrying the
negative terminal Z. The intermediate annular chamber 2 is filled with water
which may be slightly acidulated; or a small quantity of alkaline solution (soda or
potassa) may be added to the same; however, these additions are not indispensable.
The central cylindrical chamber 3 contains nitric acid or any other compound
which is rich in oxygen and easily parts with a part thereof, and the other
electrode E destined to gather the electricity generated; it is preferably made of
carbon and carries the positive terminal K. When the circuit of this couple is
closed, as strong and as constant a current will flow through this circuit, as none
of all the known couples can produce. I am not able at present to give precise
explanations of this phenomenon. Of this however I am tolerably sure, that the
electro-motive force of the current generated in the ordinary way between the zinc
and carbon electrodes, when the circuit is closed, is greatly increased by chemical
processes which are going on inside the couple and which yet have to be further
investigated. One characteristic feature of this new couple deserves special mention
as it is in direct contradiction to all observations made until now; viz that the
results obtained are more satisfactory if the surface of the carbon electrode is made
smaller than that of the zinc electrode. As a series of experiments have shown
that the consumption of zinc is hardly perceptible and that in no case at least this
consumption is in any proportion to the quantity and duration of the current
produced, it is not probable that the high electromotive force of this couple is
owing to the oxidation of the zinc and of the absorption by the nitric acid of the
hydrogen freed by said oxidation, or more properly speaking, is the consequence of
said oxidation and the combination of the hydrogen with the hydroxyl formed by
decomposition of a part of the nitric acid. On the contrary, all experiments pursued
during three months appear to prove that the current generated by the immersion
of the zinc and carbon electrodes in the respective liquids only excites the very
strong current that is observed.

page_text: Another very remarkable property of this couple is its faculty to regenerate
itself as soon as the circuit is broken. Owing to this fact, such a couple may
always serve anew after having been allowed to rest some hours, without any
further treatment or supply. This faculty of spontaneous self-regeneration remains
in full vigour, as long as the quantity of the liquids is not too far reduced by
evaporation.
One of the conditions upon which depends the good working of such a couple is
the quality of the membranes or porous diaphragms I find that very fine clay
sufficiently burnt to slightly vitrify the surface is suitable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I. claim is:-
A new electric couple for producing electricity having that electrode, which
generates electricity, immersed in an alkaline solution, whilst the other electrode
which collects the generated electricity is plunged into dilute nitric acid or into
a solution of a highly oxygenated compound, easily giving off a part of its oxygen,
and said alkaline solution being separated from the said nitric acid or other highly
oxygenated compound that easily gives off a part of its oxygen, by two porous
diaphragms or membranes, between which water, with or without addition of small
quantities of acid or alkali is contained as set forth.
Dated this twenty second day of Novambon 1004.