Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Sodium electrode
Electrical insulation
Beta alumina electrolyte
Sodium flow path
Metal container
Cell case
Sulfur electrode
Load
Discharge
Source
- +
Charge
-
+
Na
Na
+
S
Na
2
S
x
e
-
-Pole (Na)
Beta alumina
+Pole (S)
Discharge
2Na + xS
Na
2
S
x
Charge
FIGURE 6.1
(a) NaS battery cell. (b) Electron and ion motion during discharge and charge cycles. (Courtesy
of NGK Insulators Ltd.)
As the cells run, the heat produced by charging and discharging cycles is
enough to maintain operating temperatures and no external heat source is
required.
Rechargeable high-temperature battery technologies that utilize metal-
lic sodium offer attractive solutions for many large-scale energy-storage
