Electrolyzer

An electrolyzer comprising a vessel containing an electrolyte, said vessel having a first portion having a cooling means for maintaining a relatively low temperature in which the electrolyte therein is maintained at a relatively low temperature and a second portion having a heating means for maintaining a relatively high temperature in which the electrolyte therein is maintained at a relatively high temperature, cathode and anode electrodes immersed in the electrolyte in said first portion of the vessel, and a plurality of stirring members disposed in said cooling and electrolyte sections of said first and second portions for producing circular flows of the electrolyte within said first and second portions, respectively, of the vessel and within said vessel as a whole between said first and second portions so as to achieve substantially continuous electrolysis, said vessel being relatively deep at one side and relatively shallow at the other side, said second portion being defined at the bottom of said relatively deep side, said cooling section being defined at the top of said relatively deep side and at said relatively shallow side, and said electrolyte section being defined by said relatively shallow side.