Patent US3853723A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3853723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mercury cell anode short detection and current balancing
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-07-10
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-07-10
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are a method and apparatus for conducting electrolysis in electrolytic cells having flowable mercury amalgam cathodes. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for maintaining the current flow in each row of anodes of the cell within a predetermined range of the average current in all of the anode rows and within a predetermined range of a reference current. In this way, incipient short circuit conditions may be detected, short circuits prevented, the current load across the cell balanced, and the anode-cathode voltage drop reduced to a minimum practical voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 R Mack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:58
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B15/00; C25B15/02; C25B15/023; C25B15/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
IN A METHOD OF CONDUCTING ELECTRLYSIS IN AN ELECTRLYTIC CELL CIRCUIT HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRLYTIC CELLS, EACH OF SAID CELLS HAVING A FLOWING MERCURRY AMALGAM CATHODE AND A PLURALITY OF ANODE ROWS IN A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY MOVABLE ANODE BANKS, AND A CURRENT FLOW FROM THE ANODES IN SAID ANODE BANKS TO THE CATHODE, AND HAVING A CONNON CONTROL ELEMENT THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: DISCRETELY MEASURING EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE ANODE ROWS OF A SINGLE CELL AT INTERVALS SUFFICIENT TO DETECT AND RESPOND TO INCIPIENT CHANGES THEREIN; ELECTRICALLY GENERATING INDIVIDUAL FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNALS PROPORTIONAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS IN EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL ANODE ROWS; SIMULTANEOUSLY TRANSMITTING ALL OF THE SAID FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNALS FROM A SINGLE CELL TO AND THROUGH A FIRST LEVEL OF SWITCHES TO A SECOND LEVEL OF SWITCHES; INDVIDUALLY TRANSMITTING EACH OF EACH FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNALS FROM SAID SECOND LEVEL OF SWITCHES TO THE COMMON CONTROL ELEMENT; ELECTRICALLY GENERATING A SECOND ELECTRICAL SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE AVERAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH SAID ANODE ROW ERROR SIGNALS ELECTRICALLY GENERATING INDIVIDUAL ANODE ROW ERROR SIGNALS PROPORTIONAL TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAID INDIVIDUAL FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNALS AND SAID SECOND ELECTRICAL SIGNAL WHEREBY TO CONTRL SAID CELL WHEREBY TO MAINTAIN THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS WITHIN A PRESET RANGE OF THE AVERAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE ANODE ROWS OF SAID CELL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
IN A METHOD OF CONDUCTING ELECTRLYSIS IN AN ELECTRLYTIC CELL CIRCUIT HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRLYTIC CELLS, EACH OF SAID CELLS HAVING A FLOWING MERCURRY AMALGAM CATHODE AND A PLURALITY OF ANODE ROWS IN A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY MOVABLE ANODE BANKS, AND A CURRENT FLOW FROM THE ANODES IN SAID ANODE BANKS TO THE CATHODE, AND HAVING A CONNON CONTROL ELEMENT THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: DISCRETELY MEASURING EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE ANODE ROWS OF A SINGLE CELL AT INTERVALS SUFFICIENT TO DETECT AND RESPOND TO INCIPIENT CHANGES THEREIN; ELECTRICALLY GENERATING INDIVIDUAL FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNALS PROPORTIONAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS IN EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL ANODE ROWS; SIMULTANEOUSLY TRANSMITTING ALL OF THE SAID FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNALS FROM A SINGLE CELL TO AND THROUGH A FIRST LEVEL OF SWITCHES TO A SECOND LEVEL OF SWITCHES; INDVIDUALLY TRANSMITTING EACH OF EACH FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNALS FROM SAID SECOND LEVEL OF SWITCHES TO THE COMMON CONTROL ELEMENT; ELECTRICALLY GENERATING A SECOND ELECTRICAL SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE AVERAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH SAID ANODE ROW ERROR SIGNALS ELECTRICALLY GENERATING INDIVIDUAL ANODE ROW ERROR SIGNALS PROPORTIONAL TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAID INDIVIDUAL FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNALS AND SAID SECOND ELECTRICAL SIGNAL WHEREBY TO CONTRL SAID CELL WHEREBY TO MAINTAIN THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS WITHIN A PRESET RANGE OF THE AVERAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE ANODE ROWS OF SAID CELL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 comprising moving all of said anode banks vertically away from said cathode whenever any of said first signals exceeds a value corresponding to short circuit incipience.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 comprising moving each of said anode banks in relation to a function of said error signal whereby to maintain cell balance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 comprising measuring the total current flow to the cell circuit to generate a signal is proportional to the total current flow to the cell circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4 comprising electrically dividing the said signal proportional to total current by the number of said first electrical signals whereby to generate said second electrical signal proportional to the average anode row current flow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 comprising measuring the current flow through each of the individual anode row bus bars whereby to generate the said first individual electrical signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 comprising controlling a relay matrix output through said common control element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 comprising actuating contact closures whereby to actuate a latching relay matrix.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the contact closures are arrayed in an equal number of columns and rows.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 comprising closing a contact in a row and closing a contact in a column whereby to latch closed a relay at the intersection of said row and said column.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 comprising closing a contact in a row whereby to latch open all of the relays located in the row.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 comprising sequentially controlling said cells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 comprising randomly controlling said cells.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
161 words
The method of claim 1 comprising: simultaneously transmitting all of the said first electrical signals from a first single cell to and through a first group of first level of switches to a first group of second level switches; simultaneously transmitting all of the said first electrical signals from a second single cell to and through a second group of said first level of switches; individually transmitting each of said first electrical signals from the first group of said second level of switches to said common control element, electrically disconnecting said first group of said second level switches from said first group of said first level of switches, electrically connecting said first group of second level switches to a subsequent group of said first level of switches, and individually transmitting each of said first electrical signals from the second group of said first level of switches through said second group of said second level of switches to said common control element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a mercury cell circuit having a plurality of flowing mercury amalgam cathode electrolytic cells in series, each of said cells being electrically connected to the cells adjacent thereto by bus bars, and a control circuit having a storable program digital computer; the improvement comprising shunts responsive to current flow on each of said bus bars; and first level multiplexing means and second level multiplexing means interposed between said bus bars and said storable program digital computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a mercury cell circuit having a plurality of flowing mercury amalgam cathode electrolytic cells in series, each of said cells being electrically connected to the cells adjacent thereto by bus bars, and a control circuit having a storable program digital computer; the improvement comprising shunts responsive to current flow on each of said bus bars; and first level multiplexing means and second level multiplexing means interposed between said bus bars and said storable program digital computer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cell circuit of claim 15 wherein said first multiplexing means comprise one first level multiplexer per mercury cell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cell circuit of claim 16 wherein said second multiplexing means comprise second level multiplexers interposed between said first level multiplexers and said storable program digital computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cell circuit of claim 17 wherein there is more than one first level multiplexer per second level multiplexer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cell circuit of claim 15 wherein the storable program digital computer includes output means for actuating said multiplexing means comprising a contact closure actuated latching relay.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cell circuit of claim 19 wherein the contact closurEs are arrayed in an equal number of columns and rows.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |