Characteristics of Multi-Compartment Dialytic Battery with Ion-Exchange Membranes

Membrane Conversion Process of the Energy of Mixing (Part 3)

Abstract

A dialytic battery of flow type was constructed; 41 compartments were made with 20 sets of cation-exchange membranes and anion-exchange membranes, each having an area of π cm² and Ag-AgCl electrodes were used for the anode and cathode. Output voltage and current of the battery were measured with three concentration levels of concentrated aqueous NaCl solution, 30, 14, and 3.8 g/l, and several levels of dilute solutions. The analysis of the result obtained shows that internal electric resistance due to the resistance of the dilute solution compartment is very large at low level of concentration and that the output power obtained is about a half of that predicted due to the short circuit which occured in the connecting line. When the battery is scaled up enough to diminish the effect of short circuit, the output power will be obtained as 0.6 W/(m² of a pair of ion-exchange membranes) in the case of concentration of the concentrated solution 30 g/l and that of the dilute 3g/l.