Electrolysis apparatus and process for manufacturing same

A process for the manufacture of an electrolysis apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• assembling individual electrolysis cells by joining together two semi-shells made of electroconductive material, to form a housing, said housing having contact strips on the outer surface of at least one of its rear walls;
• supplying said housing with feeders for a cell current and an electrolysis feedstock;
• placing within said housing an anode and cathode each having at least one substantially level surface;
• placing the anode and cathode in parallel and separating the anode and cathode by a partition;
• electrically connecting said anode and cathode to the rear wall of the respective casing by metal reinforcements in the form of solid metal plates that are attached along their entire side edge, to the anode, or cathode,
• forming a connection between said metal reinforcements and the respective rear wall and anode or cathode by a reductive sintering process or a welding process;
• electrically connecting said anode and cathode to the casing, and
• placing a plurality of assembled electrolysis cells side by side in a stack and braced together so as to sustain contact between the cells.