Regeneration of zinc particles for zinc-air fuel cells in a spouted-bed electrode

Fuel cells wherein zinc particles form a negative electrode and a gas-diffu sion electrode (air electrode) is the positive electrode, are under develop ment. Such cells are dependent on the regeneration of the zinc particles (a nd electrolyte). This paper describes experiments on electrolytic cells equ ipped with spouted bed cathodes for use in this application. Experiments ha ve been carried out on laboratory scale cells to determine the operability of cells for growing 'seed' particles in the range from 0.4 to 1 mm to meas ure cell voltage and current efficiency (and thereby energy consumption rat e), and to identify a suitable material that could be used as a diaphragm ( separating the spouted bed from the oxygen evolving anode). A larger cell, capable of producing up to 10 kg Zn per day, was designed and built. The la rger cell was run successfully fifteen times and showed cell voltages and e nergy consumption rates comparable with those of smaller cells.