Electrolytic sea water process

Claim 2

IN THE METHOD OF OPERATING A CELL FOR THE ELECTROLYSIS OF SEA WATER TO PRODUCE HYPOCHLORITE, WHICH CELL COMPRISES AN ENCLOSED CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED ELECTRODES IN AN ALTERNATE ARRAY OF ANODE AND CATHODES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES REDUCING THE FORMATION OF UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS ON THE ELECTRODES BY: A. INTRODUCING SEA WATER TO THE CELL AT A POINT BELOW THE ELECTRODES THROUGH A SERIES OF ORIFICES, SUBSTANTUALLY CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER AND LOCATION TO AT LEAST THE CATHODES, THE DIRECTION OF THE ORIFICES BEING SUCH THAT THE SEA WATER FIRST IMPINGES PRIMARILY ON NONELECTRODE SURFACES IMMEDIATELY SUBJACENT THE ELECTRODES, AND THE SEA WATER VELOCITY THROUGH THE ORIFICES BEING BETWEEEN 5 AND 25 FEET PER SECOND, AND

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1 wherein the sea water velocity through the cell in Step (B) is within the range of 1.5 to 24 inches per second.

Claim 4

In the method of operating a cell for the electrolysis of sea water to produce hypochlorite, which cell comprises an enclosure containing a plurality of vertically disposed electrodes in an alternate array of anodes and cathodes, the improvement which comprises reducing the formation of undesirable deposits on the electrodes by: A. introducing sea water to the cell at a point below the electrodes through a series of orifices, substantially corresponding in number and location to at least the cathodes, the direction of the orifices being such that the sea water first impinges primarily on nonelectrode surfaces immediately subjacent the electrodes, and the sea water velocity through the orifices being between 5 and 25 feet per second; B. maintaining a sea water velocity through the cell during electrolysis sufficient to at least suspend substantially all particulate matter present; C. intermittently halting electrolysis and flushing the cell with sea water introduced through a like series of orifices at a point above the electrodes; D. removing a slurry of particulate material from the bottom of the cell; and E. resuming electrolysis.

Claim 5

In the method of operating a cell for the electrolysis of sea water to produce hypochlorite, which cell comprises an enclosure containing a plurality of vertically disposed electrodes in an alternate array of anodes and cathodes, the improvement which comprises reducing the formation of undesirable deposits on the electrodes by: A. introducing sea water to the cell at a point below the electrodes through a series of orifices, substantially corresponding in number and location to at least the cathodes, the direction of the orifices being such that the sea water first impinges primarily on nonelectrode surfaces immediately subjacent the electrodes, and the sea water velocity through the orifices being between 5 and 25 feet per second; B. maintaining a sea water velocity through the cell during electrolysis sufficient to at least suspend substantially all particulate matter present; C. intermittently halting electrolysis and flushing the cell with sea water introduced through a like series of orifices at a point above the electrodes; D. removing a slurry of particulate material from the bottom of the cell; and E. resuming electrolysis.

Claim 6

A method as in claim 3 wherein the direction of the orifices in Step (C) is such that the sea water is directed onto and between the electrodes.