Electrolytic reactor and methods for the electrolytic treatment of fluids

An electrolytic reactor for the electrolytic treatment of a fluid, the reactor comprising:

• an electrolytic chamber having a bottom closed section, a top open section opposite to the bottom closed section, and a peripheral wall extending longitudinally from the bottom closed section to the top open section;
• an electrode cartridge comprising an electrode assembly having at least one anode and at least one cathode longitudinally extending from a crown section, the electrode assembly being configured to be electrically connected to and powered by an electric power supply, wherein the crown section of the electrode cartridge is configured to operatively seal the top open section of the electrolytic chamber when the electrode assembly is inserted in the electrolytic chamber through the top open section thereof;
• an inlet extending through the peripheral wall adjacent the bottom closed section and configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolytic chamber in order to inject the fluid to be treated therein, the inlet extending perpendicularly to a vertical longitudinal axis defined by the electrolytic chamber;
• and
• an outlet extending through the crown section along the vertical longitudinal axis defined by the electrolytic chamber, the outlet being configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolytic chamber when the electrolytic chamber is sealed by the crown section of the electrode cartridge in order to extract the fluid flowing through the electrolytic chamber,
• wherein the crown section comprises a compartment having a peripheral wall extending between a bottom wall and a top wall opposing the bottom wall, the top and bottom walls having the outlet upwardly extending therethrough, the compartment being configured in size to contain, at least in part, hardwares for mechanically supporting the electrode assembly and electrically connecting the same to the electric power supply,
• wherein the outlet is aligned at a center of the top and bottom walls of the crown section and fluidly connected to the electrolytic chamber through the compartment,
• wherein the electrode assembly comprises a beam of 2N longitudinal rods forming the electrodes, with N being an integer number greater or equal to 3, the 2N longitudinal rods being secured to the bottom wall of the crown section and disposed in a cylindrical manner around the vertical axis going through the center of the outlet, the 2N electrodes comprising a first group of N electrodes operatively connected to a first current distribution circuit, and a second group of N electrodes operatively connected to a second current distribution circuit, wherein the N electrodes of the first group alternate with the N electrodes of the second group,
• wherein the first current distribution circuit comprises a first distribution plate, made of an electrical conductive material, supported by the bottom wall of the compartment and defining a first shape;
• and the second current distribution circuit comprises a second distribution plate, made of the electrical conductive material, supported by the bottom wall of the compartment and defining a second shape, and
• wherein the first plate has a ring shape extending transversely inside the compartment, whereas the second plate has a star shape configured in size to be located inside the first plate, the ring shape defining a number N of tips extending inwardly, each tip forming an electrical connecting point with one electrode of the same group, whereas the star shape defines a number N of tips extending outwardly toward the first plate, wherein the N tips of the second plate intercalate with the N tips of the first plate along a same circumferential position, the intercalated tips being each electrically connected with one electrode of its respective group.