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AssigneeOccidental Chemical Corporation
InventorsJeffrey D. Eng, Cyril J. Harke, Tsujihiko Eukunaga, Helmuth Schurig, Luciano Mose
Estimating the term…
A filter press type electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of brine to produce chlorine and caustic includes a plurality of rectangular frames having U-shaped or channel-shaped walls, the open sides of each of which wall members face inwardly, and a downcomer tube in each frame for conducting product from near the top of the frame to the bottom thereof for withdrawal. The downcomer tubes are located near a framing side but are not within a framing channel. The openings of the framing walls are partially covered by cross members of the same material as the framing to improve the resistance thereof to distortion during closing of the cell. Utilization of the downcomer tubes, preferably of polytetrafluoroethylene for the catholyte compartment and titanium or titanium clad material for the anolyte compartment, allows the maintaining of the framing channel open so that inner walls thereof are electrolytically protected against corrosion. Otherwise, when enclosed or tubular framing members are employed inner wall portions thereof can become corroded after relatively short periods of use. The invention also relates to frames for use in filter press type electrolytic cells and to a method of electrolyzing, wherein such frames and cells may be employed.
In a filter press type electrolytic cell for electrolysis of an aqueous salt solution comprising a plurality of frames each having top, bottom and side framing members, said frames having electrodes held thereto and assembled in filter press type arrangement, separated from each other by membranes, diaphragms or microporous separators, forming a plurality of anolyte and catholyte compartments, the improvement comprising said frames being hollow walled with openings therein in the top, bottom and side framing members facing inwardly, means for adding anolyte feed to the anolyte compartments through the frames at bottom portions thereof, means for adding catholyte feed to the catholyte compartments through the frames at bottom portions thereof, downcomer tubes for withdrawing anolyte containing dissolved solid and gaseous electrolysis product from near the tops of the anolyte compartments and conducting it downwardly through the compartments without mixing with the anolyte in the compartments to communicate with an anolyte header located below the anolyte compartments, and downcomer tubes for withdrawing catholyte containing dissolved solid and gaseous electrolysis product from near the tops of the catholyte compartments and conducting it downwardly through the compartments without mixing with the catholyte in the compartments to communicate with a catholyte header located below the catholyte compartments, each downcomer tube being positioned near a side frame but spaced apart therefrom, with one tube per electrolyte compartment.
A frame for a filter press type electrolytic cell which comprises top, bottom and side framing members, in which the side members are U or channel shaped with the openings of the U or channels facing inwardly, a plurality of spaced reinforcing members extending across the channel openings in the side framing members to help maintain them open, with at least 20% free area, preventing distortions thereof when the frames are installed in a filter press type electrolytic cell and are subjected to compression, an opening in the bottom framing member for feed addition to an electrolyte compartment formed at least in part by the frame, an opening in the bottom framing member for removing product from such a compartment and means communicating with the outlet opening in the bottom framing member, for conducting product from the top of such an electrolytic compartment to a location under the compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.