Patent US4048046A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4048046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrolytic cell design
Assignee: Geon Co
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Filing: 1976-06-16
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Granted: 1977-09-13
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Expires: 1996-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An electrolytic cell comprises two vertically extending, adjacent electrodes. The space between the electrodes is an electrolysis zone. The electrolysis zone has upper, middle and lower portions. The cell further comprises upper and lower plenum chambers above and below the upper and lower portions of the electrolysis zone, respectively. The cell has a channel which at least partially defines a passageway. The channel may be in an electrode, a cell wall, or in both. The passageway extends between the upper and lower plenum chambers but is inaccessible from the middle portion of the electrolysis zone. The cell may have a plurality of passageways. The improved design is particularly applicable to electrolytic processes in which gases are evolved at either or both of the electrodes, and in which the electrolytes and gaseous products are separated by a diaphragm or ion exchange membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Burns MacMullin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:34
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; C25B11/00; C25B11/02; C25B11/036; C25B9/70; C25B9/73; C25B9/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In an electrolytic cell comprising: a. a cell wall portion at least partially defining boundary of said cell; b. a first vertically extending electrode having a top portion and a bottom portion on a vertically extending surface; c. a second vertically extending electrode, adjacent said first electrode and having a vertically extending surface opposing said vertically extending surface of said first electrode; and d. an electrolysis zone between said first and second electrodes, said electrolysis zone having an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion intermediate said upper and lower portions and defined by the opposing surfaces of said electrodes; e. an upper electrolyte plenum chamber adjacent said top portion of said first electrode; and f. a lower electrolyte plenum chamber adjacent said bottom portion of said first electrode; the improvement wherein at least one of said first and second electrodes includes at least one vertically extending channel-like portion which at least partially defines a recirculation passageway extending between said upper and lower electrolyte plenums of said cell, said channel-like portion of said electrode spaced from said vertically extending surface such that no fluid communication between said channel-like portion and said surface is possible.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In an electrolytic cell comprising: a. a cell wall portion at least partially defining boundary of said cell; b. a first vertically extending electrode having a top portion and a bottom portion on a vertically extending surface; c. a second vertically extending electrode, adjacent said first electrode and having a vertically extending surface opposing said vertically extending surface of said first electrode; and d. an electrolysis zone between said first and second electrodes, said electrolysis zone having an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion intermediate said upper and lower portions and defined by the opposing surfaces of said electrodes; e. an upper electrolyte plenum chamber adjacent said top portion of said first electrode; and f. a lower electrolyte plenum chamber adjacent said bottom portion of said first electrode; the improvement wherein at least one of said first and second electrodes includes at least one vertically extending channel-like portion which at least partially defines a recirculation passageway extending between said upper and lower electrolyte plenums of said cell, said channel-like portion of said electrode spaced from said vertically extending surface such that no fluid communication between said channel-like portion and said surface is possible.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said channel is in said electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said channel is in said cell wall portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said passageway comprises an enlarged cross-sectional area adjacent said upper plenum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrolytic cell further comprises an electrolyte, wherein the top portion of said first electrode is below the level of said electrolyte.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said cell comprises a plurality of channels in said first electrode which at least partially define a plurality of passageways, said passageways extending between said upper and lower electrolyte plenums, each of said plurality of passageways disposed to be inaccessible from said middle portion of said electrolysis zone, wherein the total cross-sectional area of said plurality of passageways is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of said electrolysis zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electrode adapted to be positioned vertically in an electrolytic cell, said electrode comprising; a. a top portion and a bottom portion; b. a surface for exposure to an electrolysis zone; c. a channel extending between said top portion and said bottom portion, said channel at least partially defining a passageway wherein said channel is disposed in a portion of the electrode other than said surface for exposure to an electrolysis zone and is noncommunicative with said surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electrode adapted to be positioned vertically in an electrolytic cell, said electrode comprising; a. a top portion and a bottom portion; b. a surface for exposure to an electrolysis zone; c. a channel extending between said top portion and said bottom portion, said channel at least partially defining a passageway wherein said channel is disposed in a portion of the electrode other than said surface for exposure to an electrolysis zone and is noncommunicative with said surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrode as described in claim 7 wherein said electrode is a bipolar electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrode as defined in claim 7 wherein said channel is disposed entirely within said electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrode as defined in claim 7 wherein said channel is disposed on another surface of said electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 further comprising a vertically extending electrolyte separator at least partially within said electrolysis zone between said first and said second electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for electrolytically evolving a gas at a surface of at least one of said electrodes, said surface extending adjacent said electrolysis zone, wherein said gas is adapted to evolve into said electrolysis zone.
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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) | 1980-09-12 | 1981-03-14 | 1981-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-12 | 1985-03-14 | 1985-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-12 | 1989-03-14 | 1989-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |