Stabilisation of liquid metal electrolyte systems

Abstract

The present invention covers a current-driven liquid metal electrolyte system of known kind, improved by imposing on the system an additional, external, time-varying and/or alternating magnetic field. Advantageously, the magnetic field applied may essentially be a vertical magnetic field.

1 . A current-driven liquid metal electrolyte cell of known kind with specific operational and geometric parameters, comprising means for imposing on the cell an additional external, time-varying and/or alternating magnetic field, characterised in that said magnetic field is dependent on an amplitude and frequency whose values are generated through wave reflection analysis on a wall whose parameters are sufficiently representative of the actual cell wall's parameters so that the resultant magnetic field generated and then imposed on the cell tends to parametrically and dynamically desynchronize any resonance instability which would be generated essentially near the cell's walls.  
   
   
       2 . A cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic field is derived through the analysis of the reflection on an infinite wall.  
   
   
       3 . A cell according to either  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein said analysis is carried out on a rectangular cell wall and adapted to suit other cell geometries.  
   
   
       4 . A cell according to any preceding claim, wherein said magnetic field Is applied essentially only to one section of the cell.  
   
   
       5 . A current-driven liquid metal electrolyte system substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or drawings.