Cathode structure for use in electrolytic process
AssigneeNational Steel Corporation
InventorRobert R. Gobert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cathode structure for use in an electrolytic process in which the article or material to be treated is passed between an anode immersed in an anolyte solution and a cathode immersed in a catholyte solution separated from the anolyte solution by an ion-permeable membrane. The cathode structure includes means for flowing the catholyte solution over the charged cathode surface at a rate sufficient to remove gas which is evolved on the surface and to control the temperature of the solution to protect the membrane separating the two electrolytic solutions.
Claims20
A cathode structure for use in an apparatus for electrolytic treatment of an elongated strip of metal in a tank containing a bath of a first electrolyte solution by drawing the strip longitudinally through the bath between a substantially flat, positively-charged anode submerged in the bath and a negatively-charged cathode, the cathode structure comprising,
- metal plate means having a front surface defining a generally rectangular substantially flat cathode surface and a back surface,
- a thin generally rectangular electrolyte chamber enclosing the metal plate means, the electrolyte chamber including spaced side walls and spaced end walls joined together to define a generally rectangular frame extending around the peripheral edges of the metal plate means and front and back wall panels mounted on the frame and extending in generally parallel spaced relation to the front and back surfaces respectively of the metal plate means, the front wall panel including a portion defined by an ion-permeable membrane extending in closely-spaced relation to the cathode surface to define a thin fluid channel extending between the membrane and the cathode surface and extending over the entire cathode surface,
- inlet means in the electrolyte chamber adjacent one wall of the chamber and including connector means for connection with a source of a second electrolyte solution under pressure,
- outlet means in the electrolyte chamber adjacent the wall opposite the inlet for permitting the second electrolyte solution to flow through the electrolyte chamber from the inlet through the outlet,
- flow divider means within the electrolyte chamber for dividing electrolyte solution flowing between the inlet and outlet means and directing a portion of the second electrolyte solution through the thin fluid channel and the remaining portion through the space between the back wall panel and the back surface of the metal plate means, means adjacent the outlet recombining the portions of the second electrolyte solution before the solution flows from the outlet, and
- means for mounting the electrolyte chamber in the first electrolyte solution within the tank.
An apparatus for electrolytic treatment of an elongated strip of metal comprising,
- a tank containing a bath of a first electrolyte solution,
- means for drawing the strip longitudinally through the bath between a substantially flat positively-charged anode submerged in the first electrolyte solution and a negatively-charged cathode,
- the cathode including metal plate means having a front surface defining a generally rectangular substantially flat cathode surface and a back surface,
- a thin, generally rectangular fluid chamber mounted on and enclosing the metal plate means, the fluid chamber including spaced side walls and spaced end walls joined together to define a generally rectangular frame extending around the peripheral edges of the metal plate means and front and back wall panels mounted on said frame and extending in generally parallel spaced relation to the front and back surfaces of said metal plate means, respectively, the front wall panel including an ion-permeable membrane extending in closely spaced relation to the flat cathode surface to define a narrow fluid channel between the membrane and the cathode surface,
- inlet means for supplying a second electrolyte solution under pressure into the chamber adjacent one wall of the chamber,
- outlet means adjacent the wall opposite the inlet for permitting flow of the second electrolyte solution out of the chamber,
- flow divider means within the chamber for directing a portion of the second electrolyte solution supplied by the inlet means through the narrow channel between the cathode surface and the ion-permeable membrane and a portion through the space between the back wall panel and the back surface of the metal plate means, and
- mounting means supporting the fluid chamber and the metal plate means within the tank with the cathode surface in generally parallel opposed relation to and spaced from the anode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.