FURTHER-STUDIES OF A ZINC AIR CELL EMPLOYING A PACKED-BED ANODE .2. REGENERATION OF ZINC PARTICLES AND ELECTROLYTE BY FLUIDIZED-BED ELECTRODEPOSITION

Fluidized bed zinc electrodeposition appears to be an efficient way of regenerating zinc particles and electrolyte from the discharge products of the cell described in Part 1. Using a laboratory cell, various electrode materials were examined to determine their suitability for this electrodeposition. The effects of current density and zincate concentration on the performance of the cell were determined. The lowest d.c. electrical energy consumption achieved was 1.92 kWh kg-1 of zinc at 1000 A m-2 superficial current density. The corresponding figure at 2000 A m-2 was 2.08 kWh kg-1. Combining these values with the results of Part I, the 'roundtrip' electrical energy efficiencies of a system employing the cell of Part I for discharge, and fluidized bed electrodeposition for recharge, are 50% and 46%, respectively.