Diaphragmless electrolyzer for producing magnesium and chlorine

A diaphragmless electrolyzer for producing magnesium and chlorine, comprising:

• a refractory-lined shell having a compartment for electrolyte defined between a bottom, walls and a covering of said shell;
• a chlorine discharge outlet fixed on said electrolyzer shell;
• graphite anodes arranged in groups in said electrolyzer shell, each of said anodes being shaped as a rectangular plate;
• steel cathodes accommodated in said electrolyzer shell, each of said cathodes being shaped as a frame which forms an enclosure around each of said graphite anodes and defines a gap between said cathode and said anode;
• a group of electrolytic cells, each of said electrolytic cells being confined between the surfaces of an adjacent graphite anode and steel cathode;
• at least one vertical refractory separator plate adjoining the covering and walls of the electrolyzer but being shorter in height than the walls of said electrolyzer shell, said separator plate being arranged parallel to said graphite anodes and being adapted to isolate the magnesium collecting cell from the group of electrolytic cells, said separator plate having through perforations situated below the electrolytic level;
• at least two magnesium conveyance passageways, each of them being arranged at substantially right angles to said graphite anodes and to said separator plate and being confined between the wall of said shell of the diaphragmless electrolyzer and the portion of said steel cathode that faces towards the magnesium collecting cell said passageways having a width which is a maximum of three times the width of said gap between said adjacent graphite anode and steel cathode in each electrolytic cell.