Development and Study of Gas-Diffusion Cathodes in Cylindrical Cells of Air-Aluminum Electrochemical Generator

Abstract

Possibility of substantially improving the specific characteristics of the cell of an air-aluminum electrochemical generator by passing to its cylindrical design is demonstrated. This made it possible to raise the efficiency of aluminum utilization and to simplify the system that maintains the thermal balance of a cell and an array. It was found that, to reach the best parameters of a cylindrical cell of an air-aluminum electrochemical generator, it is necessary to fabricate gas-diffusion cathodes on the basis of the following factors: type of carbon black (Timcal), type of activated carbon (UAF), and relative amounts of hydrophobized carbon black and activated carbon in the active layer (2.5: 1). The results obtained in the study and the achieved characteristics of the air-aluminum electrochemical generator demonstrated that it is possible in principle to use this generator as a portable backup and emergency power source and also in power supply of urban electrically powered automobiles.