FURTHER-STUDIES OF A ZINC AIR CELL EMPLOYING A PACKED-BED ANODE .1. DISCHARGE

The zinc-air cell employing a packed bed anode, described previously [2], has been the subject of further investigation. A 76 cm2 (air electrode area) laboratory cell has been used to determine cell performance under a varying load corresponding to the Simplified Federal Urban Driving Schedule. The results were then used as a basis for the conceptual design of a 55 kW (peak power) battery. Projected specific energy of the battery was 110 Wh kg-1 and projected specific power 97 W kg-1 under SFUDS discharge. These values were increased to 228 Wh kg-1 and 97 W kg-1 when capacity is important and to 101 Wh kg-1 and 150 W kg-1 when power is important, based on the results of discharge experiments at 45-degrees-C. Preliminary experiments were carried out to determine the long term stability of the air electrode in this application, to measure self discharge of the zinc and to test the practicality of mechanically recharging the cell.