Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
In a method of conducting electrolysis in a bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of electrolytic cells electrically and mechanically in series comprising passing an electrical current from an anodic end of said electrolyzer to anodes of a first electrolytic cell through an aqueous alkali metal chloride anolyte and an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide containing catholyte to cathodes of said first electrolytic cell, evolving hydrogen at said cathodes, and passing said electrical current from said cathodes through a bipolar unit to which said cathodes are joined to anodes of a subsequent cell in said electrolyzer, said anodes joined to the opposite side of said bipolar unit, and thereafter to a cathodic end of said electrolyzer, the improvement comprising: passing said electrical current from the cathodes of the first cell laterally to the overall vector flow of current through the electrolyzer, from an anodic end of said electrolyzer to a cathodic end of said electrolyzer, to conductor means at the periphery of said cell; and passing said electrical current through said conductor means parallel to the vector flow of current through the electrolyzer and then in a direction laterally to the vector flow of current through the electrolyzer from the conductor means to the anodes of the subsequent cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a method of conducting electrolysis in a bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of electrolytic cells electrically and mechanically in series comprising passing an electrical current from an anodic end of said electrolyzer to anodes of a first electrolytic cell through an aqueous alkali metal chloride anolyte and an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide containing catholyte to cathodes of said first electrolytic cell, evolving hydrogen at said cathodes, and passing said electrical current from said cathodes through a bipolar unit to which said cathodes are joined to anodes of a subsequent cell in said electrolyzer, said anodes joined to the opposite side of said bipolar unit, and thereafter to a cathodic end of said electrolyzer, the improvement comprising: passing said electrical current from the cathodes of the first cell laterally to the overall vector flow of current through the electrolyzer, from an anodic end of said electrolyzer to a cathodic end of said electrolyzer, to conductor means at the periphery of said cell; and passing said electrical current through said conductor means parallel to the vector flow of current through the electrolyzer and then in a direction laterally to the vector flow of current through the electrolyzer from the conductor means to the anodes of the subsequent cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a method of conducting electrolysis in a bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of individual electrolytic cells electrically and mechanically in series comprising passing an electrical current from an anodic end of said electrolyzer to anodes of a first electrolytic cell through an aqueous alkali metal chloride and an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide containing catholyte to cathodes of said first electrolytic cell, evolving hydrogen at said cathodes, and passing said electrical current from said cathodes through a backplate of said electrolyzer to anodes of a subsequent cell on the opposite side of said backplate in said electrolyzer, and thereafter to a cathodic end of said electrolyzer, the improvement comprising: passing said electrical current from the cathodes of first cell to a cathodic conductor of the backplate and laterally to the overall vector flow of current through the electrolyzer from said anodic end unit to said cathodic end unit, through said cathodic conductor to peripheral conductor means at the periphery of said backplate; and passing said electrical current through said peripheral conductor means parallel to the overall vector flow of current through said electrolyzer from said anodic end to said cathodic end of the electrolyzer, to an anodic conductor of the backplate and then from said conductor means laterally to the overall vector flow of current through the electrolyzer through said anodic conductor to the anodes of the subsequent cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a method of conducting electrolysis in a bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of individual electrolytic cells electrically and mechanically in series comprising passing an electrical current from an anodic end of said electrolyzer to anodes of a first electrolytic cell through an aqueous alkali metal chloride and an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide containing catholyte to cathodes of said first electrolytic cell, evolving hydrogen at said cathodes, and passing said electrical current from said cathodes through a backplate of said electrolyzer to anodes of a subsequent cell on the opposite side of said backplate in said electrolyzer, and thereafter to a cathodic end of said electrolyzer, the improvement comprising: passing said electrical current from the cathodes of first cell to a cathodic conductor of the backplate and laterally to the overall vector flow of current through the electrolyzer from said anodic end unit to said cathodic end unit, through said cathodic conductor to peripheral conductor means at the periphery of said backplate; and passing said electrical current through said peripheral conductor means parallel to the overall vector flow of current through said electrolyzer from said anodic end to said cathodic end of the electrolyzer, to an anodic conductor of the backplate and then from said conductor means laterally to the overall vector flow of current through the electrolyzer through said anodic conductor to the anodes of the subsequent cell.