US3893897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of operating electrolytic diaphragm cells having horizontal electrodes
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-12
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1994-04-12
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method of operating an electrolytic cell divided into an anolyte chamber and a catholyte chamber by a substantially horizontal, permeable barrier. The anolyte chamber is above the permeable barrier while the catholyte chamber is below the permeable barrier. Electrolyte passes from the anolyte chamber through the permeable barrier to the catholyte chamber. An electrical current passes through the cell, thereby evolving chlorine gas on the anode and hydrogen gas on the cathode. The electrical current is in excess of the unaided flow of electrolyte through the permeable barrier resulting in diminished cathode current efficiency and necessitating augmentation of the flow of electrolyte to restore the current efficiency to acceptable values. According to the disclosed method, chlorine gas is collected at super-atmospheric pressure in the anolyte chamber, and withdrawn from the anolyte chamber while maintaining the chlorine gas at such elevated pressure. The elevated pressure of chlorine augments the flow of electrolyte through the permeable barrier to the catholyte chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl W Raetzsch
- 👤 Daniel E Wiley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:27
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/01; C25B1/34; C25B1/46; C25B11/00; C25B11/02; C25B11/036; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; C25B9/70; C25B9/73; C25B9/75; C25B9/77
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A METHOD OF OPERATING AN ELECTOLYTIC CELL WHICH CELL HAS AN ELECTROLYTE CHAMBER DIVIDED HORIZONTALLY BY A PERMEABLE BARRIER INTO AN ANOLYTE CHAMBER CONTAINING A SUBSTANTILLY HORIZONTAL ANODE ABOVE SAID PERMEABLE BARRIER, AND A CATHOLYTE CHAMBER CONTAINING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL CATHODE BELOW SAID HORIZONTAL BARRIER, WHICH METHOD COMPRISES FEEDING ALKALI METAL CHLORIDE BRINE TO SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER, PASSING ELECTRICAL CURRENT THROUGH SAID CELL AT A CURRENT DENSITY HIGH ENOUGH TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT HYDROGEN GAS ON SAID CATHODE TO OPPOSE THE UNAIDED FLOW OF ELECTROLYTE THROUGH SAID PERMEABLE BARRIER FROM SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER TO SAID CATHOLYTE CHAMBER, GENERATING CHLORINE GAS ON SAID ANODE, COLLECTING THE CHLORINE GAS IN SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER ABOVE THE ANOLYTE THEREIN TO MAINTAIN A CHLORINE GAS PAD IN SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER, WITHDRAWING THE CHLORINE GAS FROM SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER TO A LIQUID-CONTAINING TANK, DISCHARGING THE CHLORINE GAS FROM SAID CELL INTO THE LIQUID IN SAID LIQUID-CONTAINING TANK AND MAINTAINING A LEVEL OF LIQUID IN SAID LIQUID-CONTAINING TANK ABOVE THE LEVEL OF ANOLYTE LIQUOR IN SAID CELL SUFFICIENT TO AUGMENT THE FLOW OF ANOLYTE LIQUOR THROUGH SAID PERMEABLE BARRIER AGAINST THE PRESSURE OF THE HYDROGEN TO SAID CATHOLYTE CHAMBER.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A METHOD OF OPERATING AN ELECTOLYTIC CELL WHICH CELL HAS AN ELECTROLYTE CHAMBER DIVIDED HORIZONTALLY BY A PERMEABLE BARRIER INTO AN ANOLYTE CHAMBER CONTAINING A SUBSTANTILLY HORIZONTAL ANODE ABOVE SAID PERMEABLE BARRIER, AND A CATHOLYTE CHAMBER CONTAINING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL CATHODE BELOW SAID HORIZONTAL BARRIER, WHICH METHOD COMPRISES FEEDING ALKALI METAL CHLORIDE BRINE TO SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER, PASSING ELECTRICAL CURRENT THROUGH SAID CELL AT A CURRENT DENSITY HIGH ENOUGH TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT HYDROGEN GAS ON SAID CATHODE TO OPPOSE THE UNAIDED FLOW OF ELECTROLYTE THROUGH SAID PERMEABLE BARRIER FROM SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER TO SAID CATHOLYTE CHAMBER, GENERATING CHLORINE GAS ON SAID ANODE, COLLECTING THE CHLORINE GAS IN SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER ABOVE THE ANOLYTE THEREIN TO MAINTAIN A CHLORINE GAS PAD IN SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER, WITHDRAWING THE CHLORINE GAS FROM SAID ANOLYTE CHAMBER TO A LIQUID-CONTAINING TANK, DISCHARGING THE CHLORINE GAS FROM SAID CELL INTO THE LIQUID IN SAID LIQUID-CONTAINING TANK AND MAINTAINING A LEVEL OF LIQUID IN SAID LIQUID-CONTAINING TANK ABOVE THE LEVEL OF ANOLYTE LIQUOR IN SAID CELL SUFFICIENT TO AUGMENT THE FLOW OF ANOLYTE LIQUOR THROUGH SAID PERMEABLE BARRIER AGAINST THE PRESSURE OF THE HYDROGEN TO SAID CATHOLYTE CHAMBER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the bottom of said catholyte chamber is inclined from the horizontal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the chlorine gas is discharged into said liquid-containing tank upwardly into a bubble cap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an excess of brine is fed to the cell, and the excess brine is recovered with the evolved chlorine gas, and recirculated to the cell.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of operating an electrolytic cell which cell has an electrolyte chamber divided into an anolyte chamber and a catholyte chamber by a substantially horizonta, permeable barrier, said anolyte chamber being above said permeable barrier and containing an anode, said catholyte chamber being above said permeable barrier and containing a cathode, whereby electrolyte in said anolyte chamber passes through the permeable barrier to the catholyte chamber; which method comprises feeding an alkali metal chloride brine to said cell; maintaining a head of brine above said permeable barrier; passing electrical current through said cell; evolving chlorine gas on the anode; collecting and maintaining the chlorine gas as a gas pad at super-atmospheric pressure in said anolyte chamber above the brine; and withdrawing said chlorine while maintaining the gas pad at an elevated pressure whereby to augment the head of brine above the permeable barrier and the flow of brIne through the permeable barrier to the catholyte chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of operating an electrolytic cell which cell has an electrolyte chamber divided into an anolyte chamber and a catholyte chamber by a substantially horizonta, permeable barrier, said anolyte chamber being above said permeable barrier and containing an anode, said catholyte chamber being above said permeable barrier and containing a cathode, whereby electrolyte in said anolyte chamber passes through the permeable barrier to the catholyte chamber; which method comprises feeding an alkali metal chloride brine to said cell; maintaining a head of brine above said permeable barrier; passing electrical current through said cell; evolving chlorine gas on the anode; collecting and maintaining the chlorine gas as a gas pad at super-atmospheric pressure in said anolyte chamber above the brine; and withdrawing said chlorine while maintaining the gas pad at an elevated pressure whereby to augment the head of brine above the permeable barrier and the flow of brIne through the permeable barrier to the catholyte chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 comprising withdrawing the chlorine from the anolyte chamber to a liquid-containing tank, and discharging the chlorine gas into said liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 where an excess of brine is fed to the cell, and the excess brine is recovered from the cell and recirculated to the cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 comprising maintaining a level of liquid in the liquid-containing tank to provide a pressure of chlorine in said anolyte chamber sufficient to aid the flow of electrolyte through the permeable barrier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the chlorine is upwardly discharged into a bubble cap in said liquid-containing tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 comprising varying the level of liquid in said liquid-containing tank whereby to vary the pressure of chlorine in said liquid-containing tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the pressure of chlorine in said anolyte chamber is greater than 0.5 pounds per square inch gauge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
163 words
An electrolytic cell which cell has an electrolyte chamber divided horizontally by a permeable barrier into an anolyte chamber containing a substantially horizontal anode above said permeable barrier, and a catholyte chamber containing a substantially horizontal cathode below said horizontal barrier; means for feeding alkali metal chloride brine to said anolyte chamber; means for passing electrical current through said cell whereby to generate chlorine on said anode; means to collect and maintain chlorine gas at a super-atmospheric pressure in said anolyte chamber whereby to maintain a super-atmospheric chlorine gas pad in said anolyte chamber; means to withdraw chlorine gas from said anolyte chamber to a liquid-containing tank while maintaining gas within said anolyte chamber at a super-atmospheric pressure; means to discharge chlorine gas from said cell into the liquid in said liquid-containing tank while maintaining a level of liquid in said liquid-containing tank above the level of anolyte liquor in said cell and maintaining gas within said anolyte chamber at a super-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
An electrolytic cell which cell has an electrolyte chamber divided horizontally by a permeable barrier into an anolyte chamber containing a substantially horizontal anode above said permeable barrier, and a catholyte chamber containing a substantially horizontal cathode below said horizontal barrier; means for feeding alkali metal chloride brine to said anolyte chamber; means for passing electrical current through said cell whereby to generate chlorine on said anode; means to collect and maintain chlorine gas at a super-atmospheric pressure in said anolyte chamber whereby to maintain a super-atmospheric chlorine gas pad in said anolyte chamber; means to withdraw chlorine gas from said anolyte chamber to a liquid-containing tank while maintaining gas within said anolyte chamber at a super-atmospheric pressure; means to discharge chlorine gas from said cell into the liquid in said liquid-containing tank while maintaining a level of liquid in said liquid-containing tank above the level of anolyte liquor in said cell and maintaining gas within said anolyte chamber at a super-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 12 wherein the bottom of said catholyte chamber is inclined from the horizontal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 12 wherein the means to discharge chlorine gas from said anolyte chamber into said liquid-containing tank comprises a conduit from said anolyte chamber to said liquid-containing tank; an upward extension of said conduit into said tank, and a bubble cap above said upward extension above said conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 12 including means to vary the level of liquid in said liquid-containing tank.
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) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |