(19)
(11) EP 0 360 536 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
10.07.1991 Bulletin 1991/28

(43) Date of publication A2:
28.03.1990 Bulletin 1990/13

(21) Application number: 89309465.6

(22) Date of filing: 18.09.1989
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: C25B 15/00, C25B 9/00, C25B 1/30
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE DE ES FR GB IT NL SE

(30) Priority: 19.09.1988 US 246226

(71) Applicant: H-D TECH INCORPORATED
Sarina, Ontario N7T 7K7 (CA)

(72) Inventors:
  • Rogers, Derek J
    Kingston Ontario K7K 1S9 (CA)
  • Klassen, Robert D
    Kingston Ontario K7K 5W9 (CA)
  • James, Allan
    Wallaceburg Ontario N8A 4W4 (CA)
  • Mathur, Indresh
    Sarnia Ontario N7V 2P1 (CA)
  • Noonan, Edward R.
    Kingston,Ontario (CA)

(74) Representative: Gore, Peter Manson et al
W.P. THOMPSON & CO. Coopers Building Church Street
Liverpool L1 3AB
Liverpool L1 3AB (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Cell and method of operating a liquid-gas electrochemical cell


    (57) An electrochemical cell having improved current efficiency and a method for electrochemically reacting a liquid electrolyte with a gas in an electrochemical cell. The cell has at least two electrodes separated by a cell separator wherein at least one of said electrodes is a porous, self-draining, gas diffusion electrode. In one embodiment of the invention, an electrolyte is flowed through said cell separator into a porous, self-draining electrode and simultaneously the electrode is fed with a mixture of a reactive gas and water or an electrolyte. In another embodiment of the invention in which the cell separator is an ion exchange permselective membrane, a mixture of a reactive gas and an electrolyte are fed to the porous, self-draining electrode. Preferably said porous, self-draining electrode is a cathode.







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