Electrolytic system comprising membrane member between electrodes

An electrolyzer cell box comprising:

• A. a plurality of rows of banks of interleaved anode units and cathodes, with each bank comprising alternating anode units and cathodes, each said anode unit/cathode comprising a generally rectangular parallelepiped framework including a pair of spaced-apart grid-like structurally rigid peripheral outer side walls;
• an ionically conductive gas impermeable membrane secured against the inner face of each said outer peripheral walls;
• an anode disposed between said membranes to provide a pair of anode compartments, said anode extending beyond the anode unit to provide a cathode, the cathode being provided with spacing electrically non-conductive buttons thereon;
• means for feeding anolyte to said anode compartments including a channel member along one edge thereof and a lower trough for feeding and distributing anolyte to the anode compartments;
• a header for receiving spent anolyte and entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis and enabling the withdrawal thereof from the unit and for withdrawing spent anolyte and entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis therein from said anode unit;
• and means associated with the inlet channel for separating and withdrawing entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis from the anolyte before the anolyte is fed to the anode compartments;
• B. an anode connecting means connected to the last anode of each row of anode units;
• C. a cathode connecting means connected to the first cathode of each row of cathodes;
• D. anolyte inlet means to the last anode unit of each row of anode units;
• E. means for connecting the downstream anode unit to the immediately adjacent upstream anode unit in each row of anode units for cascading anolyte upstream and removing gaseous products of electrolysis;
• F. spent anolyte outlet means from the first unit of each row of anode units;
• G. catholyte inlet means to the cathode chambers;
• H. spent catholyte outlet means;
• and
• I. catholyte gas outlet means.

An electrolyzer cell box comprising a generally rectangular parallelepiped box containing:

• A. a plurality of rows of banks of interleaved anode units and cathodes, with each bank comprising alternating anode units and cathodes, each said anode unit/cathode comprising a generally rectangular parallelepiped framework including a pair of spaced-apart grid-like structurally rigid peripheral outer side walls;
• an ionically conductive gas impermeable membrane secured against the inner face of each said outer peripheral walls;
• an anode disposed between said membranes to provide a pair of anode compartments, said anode extending beyond the anode unit to provide a cathode, the cathode being provided with spacing electrically non-conductive buttons thereon;
• means for feeding anolyte to said anode compartments including a channel member along one edge thereof and a lower trough for feeding and distributing anolyte to the anode compartments;
• a header for receiving spent anolyte and entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis and enabling the withdrawal thereof from the unit and for withdrawing spent anolyte and entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis therein from said anode unit;
• and means associated with the inlet channel for separating and withdrawing entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis from the anolyte before the anolyte is fed to the anode compartments;
• B. an anode connecting means connected to the last anode of each row of anode units;
• C. a cathode connecting means connected to the first cathode of each row of cathodes;
• D. anolyte inlet means to the last anode unit of each row of anode units;
• E. means for connecting the downstream anode unit to the immediately adjacent upstream anode unit in each row of anode units for cascading anolyte upstream and removing gaseous products of electrolysis;
• F. spent anolyte outlet means from the first unit of each row of anode units;
• G. catholyte inlet means to the cathode chambers;
• H. spent catholyte outlet means;
• I. catholyte gas outlet means;
• J. a downwardly sloping front wall;
• and
• K. wedge means disposed between an adjacent anode unit of each bank and said front wall, thereby to hold said anode units in place.

An electrolyzer cell box comprising a generally rectangular parallelepiped box containing:

• A. a plurality of rows of banks of interleaved anode units and cathodes, with each bank comprising alternating anode units and cathode, each said anode unit/cathode comprising a generally rectangular parallelepiped framework including a pair of spaced-apart grid-like str ucturally rigid peripheral outer side walls;
• an ionically conductive gas impermeable membrane secured against the inner face of each said outer peripheral walls;
• an anode disposed between said membranes to provide a pair of anode compartments, said anode extending beyond the anode unit to provide a cathode, the cathode being provided with spacing electrically non-conductive buttons thereon;
• means for feeding anolyte to said anode compartments including a channel member along one edge thereof and a lower trough for feeding and distributing anolyte to the anode compartments;
• a header for receiving spent anolyte and entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis and enabling the withdrawal thereof from the unit and for withdrawing spent anolyte and entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis therein from said anode unit;
• and means associated with the inlet channel for separating and withdrawing entrained and/or occluded gaseous products of electrolysis from the anolyte before the anolyte is fed to the anode compartments;
• B. an anode connecting means connected to the last anode of each row of anode units;
• C. a cathode connecting means connected to the first cathode of each row of cathodes;
• D. anolyte inlet means to the last anode unit of each row of anode units;
• E. means for connecting the downstream anode unit to the immediately adjacent upstream anode unit in each row of anode units for cascading anolyte upstream and removing gaseous products of electrolysis;
• F. spent anolyte outlet means from the first unit of each row of anode units;
• G. catholyte inlet means to the cathode chambers;
• H. spent catholyte outlet means;
• I. catholyte gas outlet means;
• J. a downwardly sloping front wall;
• K. wedge means disposed between an adjacent anode unit of each bank and said front wall, thereby to hold said anode units in place;
• L. said anolyte inlet means being disposed near the top of said cell box;
• M. a plurality of riser pipes extending upwardly from each anode unit, the riser pipes in each bank leading to a common connecting header, each common connecting header leading to an associated common outlet riser which in turn leads to a main anolyte gas outlet header pipe;
• N. catholyte inlet means to the top of the sealed cover;
• O. spent catholyte outlet overflow weir means from said sealed cover disposed an optimum distance from said catholyte inlet means to provide controlled catholyte level and catholyte gas space;
• and
• P. circulation means provided by internal pumping action due to the construction and arrangement of said cathodes and anode units and the rising gaseous products of said electrolysis of said catholyte, with the outlet means from said electrolyzer providing at least a partial separation of entrained gaseous products of electrolysis of the catholyte from the spent catholyte.