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US 4,052,287 AGranted
Electrolytic system and novel electrolytic cells and reactor therefor
AssigneeGow Enterprises Limited
InventorG. Oscar Westerlund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel electrolytic system, especially suitable for chlorate manufacture, is provided constituted by a novel electrolyzer and a novel reactor. The novel separate electrolyzer is designed for multicell assembly employing sheet metal electrodes and includes novel internal construction specially designed to hold the electrodes in place and to minimize internal liquor overflow between adjacent cells. The novel reactor provides suitable electrolyte retention time, temperature and product composition control respectively as well as gas separation with liquor level controlled for flooded electrolyzer system. The electrolyzer and the reactor are connected by liquor interconnection means.
Claims32
An improved closed loop system for effecting an electrolysis reaction and for subsequently removing reacted products of electrolysis said system comprising an electrolyzer, a reactor, a major liquor outflow means from said electrolyzer to said reactor and a major liquor inflow means from said reactor to said electrolyzer:
- 1. said electrolyzer including a plurality of electrically interconnected electrolytic cells, said electrically interconnected electrolytic cells including a selected cell and other cells, said other cells also being provided with liquor conduit means leading between said cells to said selected electrolytic cell, and liquor conduit means leading from said selected electrolytic cell to said other cells, said selected cell being provided with liquor outlet means connected directly to said major liquor outflow means, and liquor inlet means connected directly from said major liquor inflow means for removal of liquor and entrained and/or entrapped gaseous products of electrolysis from said electrolyzer and return of degasified liquor to said electrolyzer;
- and 2. said reactor means including degasifier means disposed atop said reactor means, and connected directly to said major liquor outflow means, said degasifier means including an upper gas outlet means for withdrawal of the separated gases, and a lower outlet slot directly connected to an upper zone of said reactor means, for the introduction of the substantially gasfree liquor into said reactor means, said reactor means including a lower liquor channelling means, connected to said major liquor inflow means to recirculate liquor back to said electrolyzer, conduit means for the introduction of fresh liquor, to said reactor conduit means for the introduction of a pH adjusting liquid, to said reactor and indirect cooling means coupled to said reactor.
A combined electrolytic apparatus comprising an electrolyzer, a reactor, a major liquor outflow means from said electrolyzer to said reactor and a major liquor inflow means from said reactor to said electrolyzer:
- 1. said electrolyzer comprising
- A. major liquor inflow means for the introduction of electrolyte thereto and major liquor outflow means for the withdrawal of products of electrolysis therefrom;
- B. a plurality of electrically interconnected electrolytic cells, each of said electrolylic cells being provided with liquor inlet means and liquor outlet means and also being provided with bipolar metal electrodes disposed in the path of the electrolyte flow between said inlet means and said outlet means, one end wall providing an anodic end sheeting, the other end wall providing a cathodic end sheeting, with an anode bus bar connected to said anodic end sheeting, and a cathodic bus bar connected to said cathodic end sheeting, said electrically interconnected electrolytic cells including a selected cell and other cells, said other cells also being provided with liquor conduit means leading between said cells to said selected electrolytic cell, and liquor conduit means leading from said selected electrolytic cell to said other cells, said selected cell the inlet means to, and the outlet means from said electrolyzer are from the same selected electrolytic cell;
- C. a downwardly sloping front wall;
- and D. a wedge disposed between said electrodes and said front wall, thereby to hold the electrodes in place, and to minimize internal liquor overflow between adjacent cells;
- and 2. said reactor including
- E. degasifier means disposed atop said reactor means, and connected directly to said major liquor outflow means said degasifier means including an upper gas outlet means for the withdrawal of the separated gases, and a lower outlet slot directly connected to an upper zone of said reactor means, for the introduction of the substantially gas-free liquor into said reactor means,
- F. a lower liquor channelling means, connected to said major means to recirculate liquor from said reactor back to said electrolyzer,
- G. conduit means for the introduction of fresh liquor to said reactor;
- H. conduit means for the introduction of a pH adjustment liquid adjustment liquid to said reactor;
- and I. indirect cooling means coupled to said reactor.
8 more elements
An electrolysis system comprising an electrolyzer, a major liquor outflow means from said electrolyzer to said reactor and a major liquor inflow means from said reactor to said electrolyzer;
- A. major liquor inflow means for the introduction of electrolyte thereto and major liquor outflow outlet means for the withdrawal of products of electrolysis therefrom;
- B. a plurality of electrically interconnected electrolytic cells, each of said electrolylic cells being provided with liquor inlet means and liquor outlet means and also being provided with bipolar metal electrodes disposed in the path of the elecrolyte flow between said inlet means and said outlet means, one end wall providing an anodic end sheeting, the other end wall providing a cathodic end sheeting, with an anode bus bar connected to said anodic end sheeting, and a cathodic bus bar connected to said cathodic end sheeting, said electrically interconnected electrolytic cells including a selected cell and other cells, said other cells also being provided with liquor conduit means leading between said cells to said selected electrolytic cell, and liquor conduit means leading from said selected electrolytic cell to said other cells, said selected cell the inlet means to, and the outlet means from, said electrolyzer are from the same selected electrolytic cell;
- C. a downwardly sloping front wall;
- D. a wedge disposed between said electrodes and said front wall, thereby to hold the electrodes in place, and to minimize internal liquor overflow between adjacent cells;
- E. a lower liquor distributing trough connected to the liquor inlet means of each electrolytic cell and disposed below said bipolar electrodes;
- F. a top liquor distributing channel disposed above said bipolar electrodes, and connected directly to the liquor outlet means of each electrolytic cell;
- and G. internal electrolyte circulation means for each electrolytic cell provided by the arrangement of said bipolar electrodes;
- 2. said reactor for effecting a further degasification and a reaction on the liquid products of electrolysis including:
- H. degasifier means disposed atop said reactor means, and connected directly to said major liquor outflow means said degasifier means including an upper gas outlet means for the withdrawal of the separated gases, and a lower outlet slot directly connected to an upper zone of said reactor means, for the introduction of the substantially gas-free liquor into said reactor means;
- I. a lower liquor channelling means, connected to said major inflow means to recirculate liquor from said reactor back to said electrolyzer,
- J. means for recycling a determined proportion of the liquid reaction products to said electrolyzer;
- K. means for regulating the temperature of the products recycled to said electrolytic cell, said means including a plurality of water heat exchanger coils projecting downwardly centrally within the reactor;
- and L. means for withdrawing a determined proportion of the effluent from the system, said means including a depending effluent pipe whose inlet is disposed near the bottom of said reactor and whose outlet is adapted to withdraw liquor through a top nozzle.
10 more elements
An enclosed electrolyzer comprising:
- A. major liquor inflow means for the introduction of electrolyte thereto and major liquor outflow means for the withdrawal of products of electrolysis therefrom;
- B. a plurality of electrically interconnected electrolytic cells, each of said electrolylic cells being provided with liquor inlet means and liquor outlet means and also being provided with bipolar metal electrodes disposed in the path of the electrolyte flow between said inlet means and said outlet means, one end wall providing an anodic end sheeting, the other end wall providing a cathodic end sheeting, with an anode bus bar connected to said anodic end sheeting, and a cathodic bus bar connected to said cathodic end sheeting, said electrically interconnected electrolytic cells including a selected cell and other cells, said other cells also being provided with liquor conduit means leading between said cells to said selected electrolytic cell, and
- liquor conduit means leading from said selected electrolytic cell to said other cells, said selected cell the inlet means to, and the outlet means from said electrolyzer are from the same selected electrolytic cell;
- C. a downwardly sloping front wall;
- and D. a wedge disposed between said electrodes and said front wall, thereby to hold the electrodes in place, and to minimize internal liquor overflow between adjacent cells.
2 more elements
An enclosed electrolyzer comprising:
- A. major liquor inflow means for the introduction of electrolyte thereto and major liquor outflow outlet means for the withdrawal of products of electrolysis therefrom;
- p1 B. a plurality of electrically interconnected electrolytic cells, each of said electrolylic cells being provided with liquor inlet means and liquor outlet means and also being provided with bipolar metal electrodes disposed in the path of the elecrolyte flow between said inlet means and said outlet means, one end wall providing an anodic end sheeting, the other end wall providing a cathodic end sheeting, with an anode bus bar connected to said anodic end sheeting, and a cathodic bus bar connected to said cathodic end sheeting, said electrically interconnected electrolytic cells including a selected cell and other cells, said other cells also being provided with liquor conduit means leading between said cells to said selected electrolytic cell, and liquor conduit means leading from said selected electrolytic cell to said other cells, said selected cell the inlet means to, and the outlet means from, said electrolyzer are from the same selected electrolytic cell;
- C. a downwardly sloping front wall;
- D. a wedge disposed between said electrodes and said front wall, thereby to hold the electrodes in place, and to minimize internal liquor overflow between adjacent cells;
- E. a lower liquor distributing trough connected to the liquor inlet means of each electrolytic cell and disposed below said bipolar electrodes;
- F. a top liquor distributing channel disposed above said bipolar electrodes, and connected directly to the liquor outlet means of each electrolytic cell;
- and G. internal electrolyte circulation means for each electrolytic cell provided by the arrangement of said bipolar electrodes.
4 more elements
A reactor means for use with an electrolytic system, having a major liquor outflow means from an electrolyzer to said reactor and a major liquor inflow means from said reactor to said electrolyzer:
- said reactor including degasifier means disposed atop said reactor means, and connected directly to said major liquor outflow means said degasifier means including an upper gas outlet means for the withdrawal of the separated gases, and a lower outlet slot directly connected to an upper zone of said reactor means, for the introduction of the substantially gas-free liquor into said reactor means;
- a lower liquor channelling means, connected to said major means to recirculate liquor from said reactor back to said electrolyzer;
- conduit means for the introduction of fresh liquor to said reactor;
- conduit means for the introduction of a Ph adjustment liquid adjustment liquod to said reactor;
- and I. indirect cooling means coupled to said reactor.
2 more elements
A reactor for use with an electrolysis system, having a major liquor outflow means from said electrolyzer to said reactor and a major liquor inflow means from said reactor to said electrolyzer for effecting a further degasification and a reaction on the liquid products of electrolysis, said reactor including:
- E. degasifier means disposed atop said reactor means, and connected directly to said major liquor outflow means said degasifier means including an upper gas outlet means for the withdrawal of the separated gases, and a lower outlet slot directly connected to an upper zone of said reactor means, for the introduction of the substantially gas-free liquor into said reactor means;
- F. a lower liquor channelling means, connected to said major means to recirculate liquor from said reactor back to said electrolyzer;
- G. conduit means for the introduction of fresh liquor to said reactor;
- H. conduit means for the introduction of a pH adjustment liquid
- J. means for recycling a determined proportion of the liquid reaction products to said electrolyzer;
- K. means for regulating the temperature of the products recycled to said electrolytic cell, said means including a plurality of water heat exchanger coils projecting downwardly centrally within the reactor;
- and L. means for withdrawing a determined proportion of the effluent from the system, said means including a depending effluent pipe whose inlet is disposed near the bottom of said reactor and whose outlet is adapted to withdraw liquor through a top nozzle.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.