Patent ID: 8273472

Claim:
A method of operating an electrochemical system comprising: (A) providing an electrochemical system comprising: (a) a plurality of cells connected in series, wherein each of the cells comprises: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a reaction zone between the first and second electrodes; (b) a halogen reactant; (c) a metal halide electrolyte; and (d) at least one of (i) a first manifold configured to deliver at least one of the halogen reactant and the metal halide electrolyte to the reaction zone for each of the cells and (ii) a second manifold configured to collect at least one of the halogen reactant and the metal halide electrolyte from the reaction zone for each of the cells; (B) conveying a flow of the metal halide electrolyte and the halogen reactant through the reaction zone of each of the cells; and (C) applying a shunt-current minimizing voltage to terminals of at least one of the first manifold and the second manifold during said conveying.