Improved Electric Batteries, and Appliances connected therewith.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left 26th Jan. 1807 Accented 15th Mov 907
Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left 26th lon 1907 Accepted, 15th May, 1907
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Electric Batteries, and Appliances connected therewith.
LLEWELYN BIRCHALL ATKINSON, 10 Westbourne Road Penarth, South Wales Civil
Engineer and FREDERICK GWILYM TREHARNE, Wrangbrook Llanishen, Glamorgan-
shire, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in electric batteries and appliances connected
therewith and has for its object the production of electrical energy from coal, coke,
or other fuel or from hydrocarbons. As at present used such fuels are burnt with
air thus converting the chemical energy into heat energy, which is utilized in heat
engines to produce mechanical power, which is then converted into electrical energy
by means of dynamos. To avoid this indirect process certain forms of carbon
consuming batteries have been devised for the purpose of converting the chemical
energy directly into electrical energy. In these however apart from other difficulties
it is necessary to first convert the fuel into a conducting form of carbon, and to
continuously replace the carbon in the battery as it is consumed, and to remove the
ash or waste from the battery. In our improved method of producing electrical
energy according to our present invention these difficulties are obviated.
Broadly our invention is as follows.
We provide a battery or element having electrodes having a different affinity
for oxygen, we place these in an electrolyte capable of transferring oxygen. We
oxidize the negative element, by means of atmospheric air either directly or by means
of a chemical transfer. The electrodes now being connected by a conductor, an
electric current is set up, the negative electrode is reduced, the positive electrode is
oxidized. We maintain the oxidation of the negative electrode at the expense of
atmospheric air, we reduce the oxidized portion of the positive element, by carbon,
carbon monoxide, hydrogen, hydrocarbon or mixed producer gases derived from
carbonaceous, or hydrocarbon fuel. By this means the materials of the battery or
element, are maintained unchanged, the ultimate result being the chemical combination
of the oxygen of the atmosphere with carbon or hydrocarbon fuel.
In order to carry our invention into effect we provide a negative electrode,
conductive, & with as low an affinity for oxygen as is consistent with its absorption
or combination with oxygen & this may be in a solid, spongy, or liquid state, being
maintained if necessary in the latter condition by heat. We also provide a positive
electrode, conductive, and with as high an affinity for oxygen as is consistent with
the reduction of the oxide by carbon, carbon monoxide or hydrogen, or producer or
hydrocarbon gases, and this electrode may be solid, spongy or liquid, being maintained
in the latter condition if necessary by heat.
As an electrolyte we provide, an oxide, hydrate, nitrate or other oxygen transferring
substance or mixture of substances, which may be in solution or fused by heat, &
which is not decomposable per se hy the positive electrode. In certain cases each
electrode may be in a different electrolyte separated by porous partitions or gravity in
manner well understood..
As examples of positive elements the following may be cited, metallic iron, tin,
nickel, cobalt, antimony, lead, copper, in combination with copper, mercury, silver,
platinum, manganese oxide, lead oxide, or iron oxide as negative elements.
As

page_text: electrolytes oxides, bydrates, nitrates, chlorates & other salts of the metals either in
solution or fused by beat, may be used.
The positive element may be and preferably is melted, so that the oxide formed
may at once pass off from the active surface, the negative element may be melted,
but as the oxide is required on its surface this is not necessary. The oxidation of
the negative element if melted may be maintained by blowing air through it, or if
solid by blowing air over it, or by passing it alternately into the air and then into
the electrolyte, & in certain cases the use of certain oxidizing transfer agents such
as peroxide of nitrogen may be adopted to effect the oxidation. The reduction of the
positive element when oxidized may be effected by blowing carbon monoxide, or
hydrogen or mixed producer or hydrocarbon gases, through or over the oxide formed,
or by heating the oxide with carbon in a suitable manner, or by passing the oxides
into the producer itself where the fuel is being gasified, or by revolving or moving
the electrode alternately into the electrolyte and into the reducing atmosphere. In
order to avoid waste of heat the heated gases leaving the element, where this is
maintained in a heated condition may be passed through regenerators & these used
to heat the incoming gases, or the heated gases may be used for steam raising or
other purposes. The flow of air for oxidation or of gas for reducing may be
automatically controlled either by methods depending on the chemical composition of
the gases leaving the oxidizing or reducing chambers, or by methods depending on
the current or electromotive force given by the battery, controlling in either case
valves or suitable mechanism. When the reduction of the positive element is effected
by gaseous reducing agents, retorts or producers are used either with or without
stéam jets, to produce from solid or liquid fuel the gases required.
Dated this 27th day of April 1896.
LLEWELYN B. ATKINSON.
F. GWILYM TREHARNE.
Improved Electric Batteries, and Appliances connected therewith.
LLEWELYN BIRCHALL ATKINSON, 10) Westbourne Road, Penarth, South Wales,
Civil Engineer and FREDERICK GWILYM TREHARNE, Wrangbrook, Llanishen,
Glamorgan, Consulting Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in' and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the generation of electricity, and has for
its object the production of electrical energy from coal coke or other fuel or from
hydrocarbons, solid, liquid, or gaseous.
As at present used such fuels are burned with air, thus converting the chemical
energy into heat energy, which is utilized in heat engines to produce mechanicit
power, which is then converted into electrical energy by means of dynamos. To
avoid this indirect process certain forms of carbon consuming batteries have been
devised for the purpose of converting the chemical energy of carbon directly into
electrical energy.
In these batteries, however, apart from other difficulties it is necessary to first
convert the fuel into a conducting form of carbon, and to continuously replace the
carbon in the batteries as it is consumed, and to remove the ash or waste, or the
eléctrolyte which is contaminated by such ash, from the battery.
In our improved method of producing electrical energy according to our present
invention these difficulties are obviated: Broadly, our invention is as follows: We
form a battery or cell having electrodes which have a different affinity for oxygen, we

page_text: place these in an electrolyte capable of transferring oxygen. The electro negative
element is oxidized by means of atmospheric air either directly or indirectly by means
of a chemical transfer. The electrodes now being connected by a conductor, an
electric current is set up, the electro-negative element loses oxygen, the electro positive
element is oxidized. To maintain the action, the electro negative electrode is oxidized
at the expense of atmospheric oxygen, the oxidized portion of the electro positive
electrode is deprived of oxygen or reduced by carbon monoxide, hydrogen, hydro-
carbon gas, or mixed producer gases derived from carbonaceous or hydrocarbon
fuel.
By this means the materials of the battery are maintained unchanged, the ultimate
result being the chemical combination of the oxygen of the air with carbon, or hydro-
carbon or other fuel.
The operation may be expressed symbolically as follows:-
If (N) be a relatively electro-negative and (P) a relatively electro-positive electrode,
and (X) be an electrolyte capable of conveying oxygen, the initial operation is a
purely chemical one, viz.: oxidation of the electro-negative
The first equation involves the production of heat, the second the production of
electricity, the third the production of heat. The sum of the heat energy and
electrical energy is the same as the heat energy which would be produced by the
direct combination of (K) with O, except in those cases where external heat is also
absorbed.
In order to carry our invention into effect we provide a relatively electro negative
electrode, conductive and preferably with as low an affinity for oxygen as is consistent
with its absorption or combination with oxygen, and this may be in a solid, spongy,
or liquid state being maintained, if necessary, in the latter condition by heat or by
amalgamation in mercury. We also provide a relatively electro positive electrode,
conductive, and with as high an affinity for oxygen as is consistent with the reduction
of the oxide by carbon, carbon monoxide, or hydrogen, or producer or hydrocarbon
gas, and this electrode may be solid, spongy, or liquid, being maintained in the latter
condition if necessary by heat, or by amalgamation in mercury.
As an electrolyte we provide an oxide, hydrate, nitrate, phosphate, borate, or other
substance or mixture of substances capable of electrolytically transferring oxygen
which may be in solution or fused by heat, and which is not decomposable per se by the
electro positive electrode. In certain cases each electrode may be in a different
electrolyte, separated by a porous pot or by diaphragms or gravity in manner well
understood, and this method becomes necessary in any case where the oxidized portion
of the electro-negative electrode is a liquid or where the oxidation of the electro-
negative electrode is not direct, but is carried out by first oxidizing the electrolyte,
which in turn oxidizes the electrode, as will be presently more fully described.
As examples of electro positive elements, the following may be cited. Metallic
iron, tin, nickel, cobalt, antimony, lead, bismuth, or copper and in combination there-
with as electro negative elements, metallic copper, mercury, silver, gold, platinum,
or the oxides of manganese iron, lead, nickel, cobalt, or other metal forming two
series of oxides or salts, and these oxides may be used alone or on a foundation of the

page_text: metal of which they are composed. As electrolytes, a considerable range of bodies or
mixtures of bodies may be used, as oxides, hydrates, nitrates, chlorates, or other salts
of the metals either in solution or fused by heat.
The electro positive electrode may be and in most cases is preferably melted so
that the oxide formed may at once pass off from the active surface; the electro
negative electrole may be melted, but as the oxide is required at or near its surface
this is not necessary.
The oxidation of the electro negative electrode may be maintained by passing or
blowing air through or over it or by passing it alternately into the air and then
into the electrolyte, or in certain cases where, as with metallic silver, molten or
solid, oxygen is absorbed rather than combined, the air may be in contact with
one surface of the metal and the electrolyte with the other, the absorbed oxygen
passing through. In certain cases the oxidation may be performel indirectly, thus
if the electrolyte be the fused hydrate, carbonate, or nitrate of potassium sodium
or lithium, or the oxide of lead, these may be oxidized by the air, by exposing
their surface to the air or blowing air through, in which case by the formation of
bigher and unstable oxides, the electro-negative electrode may be oxidized, when
direct oxidation cannot be effected. In this case as before mentioned, the oxidized
electrolyte must be kept by a diaphragm or porous pot from contact with the electro
positive electrode. In the same way where nitrates of the alkali metals are used,
the oxidation of the electro-negative electrode may be effected by the nitrate, which
is regenerated by the action of the air, directly, or by first forming nitrogen
tetroxide, which then combines with the oxide of the alkali metal to form the
nitrate, and a lower oxide of nitrogen, which is in turn again oxidized by the air.
The reduction of the oxide of the electro-positive electrode when oxidized may be
effected by blowing carbon monoxide or hydrogen or mixed producer gases or
hydrocarbons through or over the oxide formed, or by heating the oxide with
carbon, in a suitable manner, or by passing the oxides into the gas producer itself,
where the fuel is being gasified, returning the reduced metal into the battery, or
by revolving or moving the electrode, alternately into the electrolyte and into the
reducing atmosphere. In order that our invention may be better understood we shall
now proceed to illustrate it by typical examples.
As an example of the use of an electrolytic solution we may use as an electro
positive electrode solid metallic lead with solid metallic copper as the electro
negative element, and immerse these in a solution of caustic soda containing
carbonate of soda or plumbite of soda, these substances being to prevent the solution
of the lead oxide formed on the electrode. The copper electrode is then heated with
access of air, forming a film of oxide.
The reaction which takes place is probably as follows :—
The lead electrode is then acted on by hydrogen or carbon monoxide and the oxide
reduced, the copper being again oxidized by atmospheric air.
Another example of this class of combination is given by using as the electro
negative electrode silver, in the finely powdered form obtained by reducing silver
chloride by metallic zinc, carried in a silver tray placed on the surface of a solution
of copper nitrate. The electro positive electrode is metallic copper in a form giving
as much surface as possible such as may be produced by moulding finely divided
copper oxide with gum, and after ignition in the air reducing the oxide by hydrogen.
The electro chemical action which takes place may be thus described :-

page_text: The silver re-absorbs oxygen, whilst the lead oxide is continuously reduced by
carbon, carbon monoxide, or hydrocarbon or producer gases.
Instead of silver, solid metallic copper may be used as the electro-negative
electrode. But in this case a porous division must be used and two electrolytes,
that is surrounding the lead, pure lead oxide, and surrounding the copper, a
fusion of copper oxide in lead oxide. The porous partition may be formed of bone
ash, or magnesia. The heat necessary for the fusion of the electrolyte must in the
first instance be supplied from an external source, but whilst the cell is in action,
the heat produced by the oxidation of the electro negative electrode, and the
reduction of the oxide of the electro positive electrode, will be sufficient in most
cases to maintain the necessary temperature. In order to avoid waste of heat, the
heated gases after leaving the cell, where this is maintained in a heated condition,
may be passed through regenerators and these used to heat the in-coming gases, or
the heated gases may be used for steam raising or other purposes.
The flow of air for oxidation or of fuel or gas for reducing the oxide may be
automatically controlled by methods depending on the chemical composition of the
gases leaving the oxidizing or reducing chambers, that is by gravitational apparatus
in manner well understood, or by methods depending on the current or electro
motive force of the battery controlling electro magnetic apparatus working the
valves.
For the production of the gaseous reducing agents for reducing the oxide of the
electro positive electrode retorts or producers are used, either with or without steam
jets, to produce from solid fuel or liquid fuel the gases required.
Drawings and Figures 1, 2, & 3, shew how the typical examples already described
may be carried out.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation & Fig. 2 a side elevation of a lead copper cell with
electrolytic solution as described.
A is the containing vessel shewn of glass b a slowly revolving shaft carrying
insulated on it the discs e of copper of lead connected respectively to the terminal
wires dc.
Above the surface of the liquid but with slots to allow the discs to revolve is a lid
or cover g to prevent access of air to the surface of the liquid, or evaporation therefrom.
Hoods hh cover or nearly enclose the revolving discs k & l are two pipes carrying gas
which burns from a number of orifices, on to the surfaces of the discs e. f. The
flames playing on the copper disc e are arranged to give complete combustion and
hence are only heating flames, allowing atmospheric oxygen to oxidize the copper
disc. The flames playing on the disc fare insufficiently supplied with air, so that
in addition to heating they reduce the oxide on the surface of the lead. The discs ef
instead of being solid are preferably built of radial wires, gauze, or equivalent
material exposing a large surface without being very conductive of heat.
Fig. 3 shews diagrammatically the arrangement of a lead silver or lead copper
cell with fuzed electrolyte as described. a is a gas producer, producing carbon

page_text: monoxide with or without hydrogen, from carbonaceous fuel. b is a brick furnace
carrying within it a containing vessel c, which may be of earthenware, brick, iron, or
other material on which the metal has no action filled to the level shewn with molten
lead. d is a porous vessel of magnesia or bone ash or other material not acted on by
the fuzed electrolyte floating on the molten lead and resting on the edge of the
-containing vessel c which may have its edge of silver, copper, or silvered copper to
avoid corrosion' by the electrolyte which in this case is fused lead oxide. In the
-porous vessel d are a series of tubes or pipes e of metallic silver, or other metal or
carbon plated with silver, and having holes or openings, through which air streams,
or instead, a framework may be filled with silver plates or wires exposed partly at the
surface to the air in the furnace, or moved in and out of the air, or having air
blown over or under the same as previously described.
hh are brick regenerators or heating stoves with reversing valves & for the heated
gas coming from the cell, and for the air inlet to the electro negative electrode. m is
the air inlet, n is the final outlet of the burnt gas to the chimney, and o is the final
outlet of the air deprived of some or all of its oxygen to the atmosphere.
The action is as follows,-Oxygen being absorbed at e the metallic lead in c is
oxidized, producing an electric current which is conducted from e and c by conductors.
The oxide of lead formed at the surface of the lead in contact with the porous partition, d,
rises owing to its lower specific gravity through the porous partition and accumulates in
the inner cell d, until the lever in d is higher than the level of the lead in C, when
it percolates through the porous partition and flows into the annular space p.
Through this the reducing gas at the temperature it leaves the producer, is flowing,
-and the lead oxide is reduced, again to the metallic state. The heated product of
combustion passes on through the regenerators to the exhaust n, whilst cold air
entering at m is heated in the regenerators and after passing through or over the
electro negative electrode finally escapes at O. Additional pipes for gas and air are
provided to allow the whole furnace to be heated up till the contents are melted.
Antimony or bismuth and their respective oxides may be used in the place
.of lead.
In certain cases where the gas producer delivers to a gas holder, so that the
gases would reach the cell cold, a regenerator is provided at q, heated by the
exhaust from O.
In certain cases the oxide may be run by gravity or otherwise into the producer a
and the reduced metal be collected at the bottom and returned to C; where liquid
hydrocarbons are used they may be supplied direct by the piper to the reducing
chamber p, or instead powdered fuel may be supplied in the same manner.
Figs. 4, 5 & 6 shews the method of controlling the supply of air and gas to the
-oxidizing and reducing chambers.
The supply of air and of gas must be proportioned by the relative size of pipes
or valves a 6 (Fig. 4) and amount of draught so that they are in correct proportion.
Thus for example if the gas is carbon monoxide CO, for each 28 lbs. of gas 16 lbs. of
oxygen are required that is 70 lbs. of air. This proportion being arranged by the
relative size or opening of the valves, the regulation of the admission as required by
the load on the battery is effected by the apparatus shewn diagrammatically in
Figs. 5 & 6.
In the exhaust pipe / Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is placed a closed bulb of aluminium, copper
or other metal, as light as possible and filled with air. This is placed at one end of a
lever and balanced by a spring as l or counterweight, so that when the gas issuing
from the reducing cell has a specific gravity relative to air at the same pressure an
temperature of 1-53, corresponding to the specific gravity of carbonic acid gas (CO2)
the bulb is balanced.
There are
If however the specific gravity falls towards the limit 0-97 shewing that CO in excess
is present, the bulb will fall and the lever will make contact with the contact pin k
and so close an electric relay circuit, setting in action the clutch m.
mounted on the valve spindle two bevel wheels ed actuated by the motor c, if
_necessary through worm or other speed reducing gear. Normally the motor drives

page_text: one of these wheels tending to open the valves and so increase the supply of air and
gas. When the supply of gas is in excess the relay circuit is closed as before.
described, and the clutch throws in the second bevel wheel into action and so closes
the supply valve. These two actions maintain the issuing gas at or about the proper
density corresponding to complete combustion of the reducing gas.
Instead of the relay being worked as in Fig. 5 by an apparatus depending on the
density of the issuing gas it may he worked by an electro-magnetic relay as shewn
in Fig. 6, the electro-magnet being wound with a high resistance and connected as a
voltmeter to the cell, and coming into action to open the valves by means of the
operation of the relay circuit and clutch when the electric pressure falls below a
certain limit, closing the valves when this limit is reached and maintained.
Although in our descriptions, and in the figures, we have described and illustrated
certain typical cases, it must be understood that we do not limit ourselves to these-
particular cases as it is obvious that many analogous arrangements can be-
constructed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
1. In an electrical generator, in combination, an electro positive electrode capable.
of being electrolytically oxidised and reducible by carbon, carbon monoxide, producer
or hydrocarbon gas, an electro negative electrode capable of absorbing or combining
with atmospheric oxygen, an electrolyte or electrolytes capable of transferring oxygen,
a means of supply of solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel, reducing the oxide produced,.
and a means of supply of air to the electro negative electrode, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
2. An electric generator as claimed in Claim 1 having revolving, oscillating, or
moving electrodes, arranged so as to be alternately exposed to the action of the
reducing or oxidizing agents, and immersed in the electrolytes, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
3. An electric generator as claimed in Claim 1 having solid, spongy, or liquid,.
electrodes through, over, or round which the reducing and oxidising agents are blown.
or, passed, substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. An electric generator as claimed in Claim 1, having an electro positive electrode
of metallic iron, tin, nickel, cobalt, antimony, lead, bismuth, or copper, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
5. An electric generator as claimed in Claim 1, having an electro negative electrode
of copper, mercury, silver, gold platinum, or the oxides of manganese, iron, lead,.
cobalt, or nickel.
6. An electric generator as claimed in Claim 1, having an electrolyte surrounding
the electro negative electrode capable of absorbing or combining with oxygen and
afterwards oxidizing the electro negative electrode, in combination with a porous.
partition for the purpose of keeping such electrolyte from contact with the electro.
positive electrode, substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. In an electric generator as claimed in Claim 1 the combination with a gas
producer, with or without a gas bolder, or a means of supply of solid or liquid
fuel, of a furnace or chamber, an electric cell contained therein, and a regenerator
or regenerators or boiler or other heat absorbing appliance substantially as and for
the
purpose described.
8. In an electric generator as claimed in Claim 1 an electric cell comprising as
electro positive electrode fused lead or antimony or bismuth, as electrolyte fused lead
or antimony or bismuth oxide, with or without admixture of other oxides, and as.
electro negative electrode copper or silver solid or melted and with or without a
porous division substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. In an electric generator as claimed having fused lead or antimony or bismuth.
or other fused metal as electro positive electrode, the combination of an outer
vessel on which these metals have no action, with an inner porous vessel on which

page_text: the electrolyte has no action containing the electrolyte and an electro negative
electrode wholly or partly immersed in the same or a second electrolyte and with
or without a second porous vessel, substantially as and for the purpose described.
10. In an electric generator as claimed, the combination with the elements claimed
in Claims 1 to 9 of a regulator, controlled by the specific gravity of the issuing
gases, or by the electric output of the generator, substantially as described and
illustrated in reference to Figs. 4, 5, & 6.
11. The arrangement and combination of containing vessel, cover, discs, or moving
electrodes, hoods, oxidizing and reducing flames, with electrolyte, substantially as
described and illustrated in reference to Figures 1 and 2.
12. The arrangement and combination of gas producer, furnace, cell, with
electrodes, and electrolytes, regenerators and the like, substantially as described and
illustrated in reference to Figure 3.
..
2007
LLEWELYN B. ATKINSON.
FREDERICK GWILYM TREHARNE.