Patent FR1044472A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3926770A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3926770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrolytic cell having silicon bipolar electrodes
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1973-12-04
•
Granted: 1975-12-16
•
Expires: 1993-12-04
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of bipolar electrodes. The bipolar electrodes are electroconductive silicon metallic electrodes having an anodic surface on one side and a cathodic surface on the opposite side.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard H Hoekje
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:33
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B9/00; C25B9/70; C25B9/73; C25B9/75; C25B11/00; C25B11/02; C25B11/036; C25B11/04; C25B11/051; C25B11/055; C25B11/069; C25B9/77
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 88
Claim 1
Independent Claim
9 words
PERIPHERAL WALL SPACING MEANS ON THE VERTICAL SIDES THEREOF;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
9 words
PERIPHERAL WALL SPACING MEANS ON THE VERTICAL SIDES THEREOF;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
9 words
PERIPHERAL WALL SPACING MEANS ON THE VERICAL SIDES THEREOF;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
9 words
PERIPHERAL WALL SPACING MEANS ON THE VERICAL SIDES THEREOF;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
peripheral wall spacing means on the vertical sides thereof;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
9 words
peripheral wall spacing means on the vertical sides thereof;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of bipolar electrodes mechanically and electrically in series, with an anodic surface of one bipolar electrode facing a cathodic surface of the next adjacent bipolar electrode and forming an electrolytic cell therebetween, at least one of said bipolar electrodes comprising an electroconductive metallic silicon member containing at least 45 weight percent silicon and sufficient dopant to provide said member with an electroconductivity greater than 100 (ohm-centimeters) 1 and having an anodic surface on one side of said member and a cathodic surface on the opposite side thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of bipolar electrodes mechanically and electrically in series, with an anodic surface of one bipolar electrode facing a cathodic surface of the next adjacent bipolar electrode and forming an electrolytic cell therebetween, at least one of said bipolar electrodes comprising an electroconductive metallic silicon member containing at least 45 weight percent silicon and sufficient dopant to provide said member with an electroconductivity greater than 100 (ohm-centimeters) 1 and having an anodic surface on one side of said member and a cathodic surface on the opposite side thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
peripheral wall spacing means on the vertical sides thereof;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
9 words
peripheral wall spacing means on the vertical sides thereof;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
gas header means on top of and extending beyond the cathodic surface of said second cell unit;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
gas header means on top of and extending beyond the cathodic surface of said second cell unit;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein said dopant is chosen from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, phosphorous, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
gas header means on top of and extending beyond the anodic surface of said first cell unit;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
gas header means on top of and extending beyond the anodic surface of said first cell unit;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
GAS HEADER MEANS ON TOP OF AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE ANODIC SURFACE OF SAID FIRST CELL UNIT;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
GAS HEADER MEANS ON TOP OF AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE ANODIC SURFACE OF SAID FIRST CELL UNIT;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
GAS HEADER MEANS ON TOP OF AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE CATHODIC SURFACE OF SAID SECOND CELL UNIT;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
GAS HEADER MEANS ON TOP OF AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE CATHODIC SURFACE OF SAID SECOND CELL UNIT;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
LIQUID HEADER MEANS ON THE BOTTOM OF AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE CATHODIC SURFACE OF SAID SECOND CELL UNIT; AND
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
LIQUID HEADER MEANS ON THE BOTTOM OF AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE CATHODIC SURFACE OF SAID SECOND CELL UNIT; AND
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
LIQUID HEADER MEANS ON THE BOTTOM OF AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE ANODIC SURFACE OF SAID FIRST CELL UNIT; AND
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
LIQUID HEADER MEANS ON THE BOTTOM OF AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE ANODIC SURFACE OF SAID FIRST CELL UNIT; AND
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein said metallic bipolar electrode contains from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of the dopant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
liquid header means on the bottom of and extending beyond the anodic surface of said first cell unit; and
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
liquid header means on the bottom of and extending beyond the anodic surface of said first cell unit; and
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
liquid header means on the bottom of and extending beyond the cathodic surface of said second cell unit; and
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
liquid header means on the bottom of and extending beyond the cathodic surface of said second cell unit; and
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
the leading edges of said peripheral walls, gas header means, and liquid header means are substantially in a second single plane; and c. gasket means are interposed between said first cell unit and said second cell unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
the leading edges of said peripheral walls, gas header means, and liquid header means are substantially in a second single plane; and c. gasket means are interposed between said first cell unit and said second cell unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
the leading edges of said peripheral walls, gas header means, and liquid header means are substantially in a first single plane; b. said second cell unit comprises:
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
the leading edges of said peripheral walls, gas header means, and liquid header means are substantially in a first single plane; b. said second cell unit comprises:
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein said metallic bipolar electrode contains from about 45 to about 99 weight percent silicon.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
THE LEADING EDGES OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALLS, GAS HEADER MEANS, AND LIQUID HEADER MEANS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY IN A FIRST SINGLE PLANE; B. SAID SECOND CELL UNIT COMPRISES:
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
THE LEADING EDGES OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALLS, GAS HEADER MEANS, AND LIQUID HEADER MEANS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY IN A FIRST SINGLE PLANE; B. SAID SECOND CELL UNIT COMPRISES:
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
THE LEADING EDGES OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALLS, GAS HEADER MEANS, AND LIQUID HEADER MEANS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY IN A SECOND SINGLE PLANE; AND C. GASKET MEANS ARE INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST CELL UNIT AND SAID SECOND CELL UNIT.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
THE LEADING EDGES OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALLS, GAS HEADER MEANS, AND LIQUID HEADER MEANS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY IN A SECOND SINGLE PLANE; AND C. GASKET MEANS ARE INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST CELL UNIT AND SAID SECOND CELL UNIT.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein the anodic surface of the bipolar metallic electrode comprises a coating of an electrocatalytic material on the bipolar electrode.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrolyzer of claim 5 wherein said electrocatalytic material is characterized by a chlorine overvoltage of less than 0.25 volt when measured in chlorinated brine at a current density of 125 Amperes per square foot.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein the cathodic surface of the bipolar metallic electrode comprises a coating of a material having a hydrogen overvoltage less than 0.35 volt at 125 Amperes per square foot.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein the cathodic surface of the bipolar metallic electrode comprises a coating of a metal chosen from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein said metallic bipolar electrode comprises means for spacing said metallic bipolar electrode from the adjacent bipolar electrode while providing an electrolyte tight seal therebetween.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 9 wherein said spacing means comprise a peripheral wall.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 10 wherein said means for providing an electrolyte tight seal comprises gasket means between the peripheral walls of adjacent bipolar electrodes.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein said metallic bipolar electrode includes gas header means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
45 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 12 wherein said gas header means is mounted on top of the metallic bipolar electrode, extends beyond the anodic and cathodic surfaces thereof, and comprises means for the recovery of cathodic gases and means for the recovery of anodic gases.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein said metallic bipolar electrode includes liquid header means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
42 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 14 wherein said liquid header means is mounted on the bottom of the metallic bipolar electrode and extends beyond the anodic and cathodic surfaces thereof, and comprises means for feeding brine and means for recovering cell liquor.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
77 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein said metallic bipolar electrode comprises: a. peripheral wall spacing means on the vertical sides thereof to space said bipolar electrode from adjacent bipolar electrodes and provide electrolyte volumes therebetween; b. gas header means on the top of and extending beyond the anodic and cathodic surfaces of the metallic bipolar electrode; and c. liquid header means on the bottom of and extending anodic and cathodic surfaces of the metallic bipolar electrode.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 16 wherein the leading edges of said peripheral walls, gas header means, and liquid header means are substantially in a single plane.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 16 wherein compressive means extend from an end cell of said bipolar electrolyzer, through the metallic bipolar electrodes thereof, to an opposite end cell thereof.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 16 wherein said header means are metallurgically joined to said metallic bipolar electrode.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 16 wherein said header means are mechanically joined to said metallic bipolar electrode.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 20 wherein said header means are joined to said metallic bipolar electrode by compressive means extending from said gas header means to said liquid header means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein the electroconductive silicon bipolar electrode comprises a single silicon member.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein the electroconductive silicon bipolar electrode comprises a plurality of individual silicon members having electrolyte tight seals between adjacent individual silicon members.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 23 wherein said individual silicon members are compressively held together to form an electrolyte tight metallic bipolar electrode.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 23 wherein said individual silicon members are metallurgically joined together to form an electrolyte tight metallic bipolar electrode.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 1 wherein permeable barrier means are interposed between said metallic bipolar electrode and an adjacent bipolar electrode.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 26 wherein said permeable means comprise electrolyte permeable diaphragm means.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 26 wherein said barrier means comprise ion permeable membrane means.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
114 words
A BIPOLAR ELECTOLYZER HAVING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL ELECTROLYTIC CELLS MECHANICALLY AND ELECTRICALLY IN SERIES, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CELLS COMPRISING: A FIRST SILICON CELL UNIT HAVING AN ANODIC SURFACE THEREON; A SECOND SILICON CELL UNIT SPACED FROM SAID FIRST CELL UNIT AND HAVING A CATHODIC SURFACE THEREON FACING THE ANODIC SURFACE OF THE FIRST SILICON CELL UNIT; SAID FIRST CELL UNIT AND SECOND CELL UNIT DEFINING AN ELECTROLYTE CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN; AND EACH OF SAID SILICON CELL UNITS COMPRISING AT LEAST 45 WEIGHT PERCENT SILICON AND SUFFICIENT DOPANT TO PROVIDE AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF AT LEAST 100 (OHM-CENTIMETERS)-1 48 8. THE ELECTROLYZER OF CLAIM 29 WHEREIN: A. .. SAID FIRST CELL UNIT COMPRISES:
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein said dopant is chosen from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, phosphorous, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein said silicon cell units contain from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of the dopant.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein the surface of said first silicon cell unit comprises a coating of an electrocatalytic material on the silicon.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrolyzer of claim 32 wherein said electrocatalytic material is characterized by a chlorine overvoltage of less than 0.25 volt when measured in chlorinated brine at a current density of 125 Amperes per square foot.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein the surface of said second silicon cell unit comprises a coating of a material having a hydrogen overvoltage less than 0.35 volt at 125 Amperes per square foot.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein the surface of said second silicon cell unit comprises a coating of material chosen from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
53 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 29 comprising spacing means and sealing means for maintaining an electrolyte tight seal between said first cell unit and said second cell unit while maintaining the anodic surface of the first cell unit spaced from cathodic surface of the second cell unit, thereby defining an electrolyte volume therebetween.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrolyzer of claim 36 wherein said spacing means comprise a peripheral wall on at least one of said cell units.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrolyzer of claim 37 wherein said spacing means comprises a peripheral wall on the edges of at least one of said cell units.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrolyzer of claim 38 wherein said sealing means comprises gasket means between said first cell unit and said second cell unit.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein said first cell unit includes gas header means.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrolyzer of claim 40 wherein said gas header means is mounted on top oF said first cell unit, extends beyond the anodic surface thereof, and comprises means for the recovery of chlorine from said cell.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein said first cell unit includes liquid header means.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrolyzer of claim 42 wherein said liquid header means is mounted on the bottom of said first cell unit, extends beyond the anodic surface thereof, and includes means for feeding brine to said cell.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein said second cell unit includes gas header means.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrolyzer of claim 44 wherein said gas header means is mounted on top of said second cell unit, extends beyond the cathodic surface thereof, and comprises means for the recovery of hydrogen from said cell.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein said second cell unit includes liquid header means.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrolyzer of claim 46 wherein said liquid header means is mounted on the bottom of said second cell unit, extends beyond the cathodic surface thereof, and comprises means for the recovery of cell liquor from said cell.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrolyzer of claim 48 wherein compressive means extend from an end cell unit through the individual cell units to an opposite end cell.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrolyzer of claim 48 wherein said header means are metallurgically joined to said cell units.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrolyzer of claim 48 wherein said header means are mechanically joined to said cell units.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrolyzer of claim 51 wherein said header means are joined to said cell units by compressive means extending from said gas header means to said liquid header means.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein each electroconductive silicon cell unit comprises a single silicon member.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 29 wherein each electroconductive silicon cell unit comprises a plurality of individual silicon members having electrolyte tight seals between adjacent individual silicon members.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 54 wherein said individual silicon members are compressively held together to form an electrolyte tight metallic bipolar electrode.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bipolar electrolyzer of claim 54 wherein said individual silicon members are metallurgically joined together to form an electrolyte tight metallic bipolar electrode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |