# US 5,346,596 A · Method for bypassing a monopolar electrolyzer in series

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- Number: US 5,346,596 A
- Document ID: US5346596A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/024,194
- Filed: 1993-02-26
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1990-12-21
- Assignees: De Nora Permelec Ltd
- Inventors: Pierluigi A. V. Borrione; Gregory J. E. Morris; Maurizio Marzupio; Michel Pillet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346596A

## CPC

- C25B 9/66: {Electric inter-cell connections including jumper switches}
- H01H 33/002: {Very heavy-current switches (H01H33/02 - H01H33/98 take precedence)}
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

A method for by-passing a monopolar electrolyzer out of a plurality of monopolar electrolyzers connected in series to an electrical power source, which electrolyzers consist of individual electrolysis cells each having anodic and cathodic contact points, using a jumper switch means comprising an internal circuitry and multiplicity of extension arms for connection to the electrolyzers immediately preceding and following the electrolyzer to be by-passed while preventing a shift in current through individual cells of the electrolyzers adjacent to the electrolyzer to be by-passed and to prevent damage to the electrolyzers by avoiding reversed current flow.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for by-passing a monopolar electrolyzer out of a plurality of monopolar electrolyzers connected in series to an electrical power source, which electrolyzers consist of individual electrolysis cells each having anodic and cathodic contact points, by means of a jumper switch means comprising an internal circuitry and a multiplicity of extension arms for connection to the electrolyzers immediately preceding and following the electrolyzer to be by-passed, characterized in that
said jumper switch means is positioned on a mobile cart (33) provided with mechanical devices suitable for permitting withdrawal of an electrolyzer out of the plurality of electrolyzers connected in series;
said cart is brought in proximity of the electrolyzer to be by-passed;
said jumper switch means is moved above the plurality of electrolyzers and supported by said multiplicity of extension arms fixed onto the contact points of the two electrolyzers immediately preceding and immediately following the electrolyzer to be by-passed, said multiplicity of extension arms comprising first extension arms connected to the anodic contact point of each individual cell of the electrolyzer immediately preceding the electrolyzer to be by-passed and second extension arms connected to the cathodic contact point of each individual cell of the electrolyzer to be by-passed, said first and second extension arms being joined to said internal circuitry to provide by-passing of the electrolyzer without a shift of electrical current in the adjacent cells of the electrolyzers immediately preceding and immediately following the electrolyzer to be by-passed;
the by-passed electrolyzer is transferred onto said cart and moved to a maintenance area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the internal circuitry comprises at least one switch and one resistor means.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the internal circuitry further comprises a first internal bus bar connecting said first extension arms and wherein said switch and resistor means are provided in common for all extension arms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claims 2 wherein the internal circuitry further comprises first internal bus bars connecting groups of said first extension arms and second internal bus bars connecting corresponding groups of said second extension arms and wherein separate switch and resistor means are provided for each said group of extension arms.