Electrolytic cell for separating chlorine gas from other gases

Claim 2

An electrolytic cell for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising: (a) cathode means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions; (b) anode means for oxidizing chloride ions into chlorine gas; (c) membrane means for permitting ionic and liquid transfer and preventing gas transfer between said cathode and anode means; (d) a housing for aligning said cathode means, said membrane means, and said anode means, and including inlet means for receiving said stream of chlorine and foreign gases, foreign gas outlet means for venting said foreign gases from said cell, and chlorine gas outlet means for venting said chlorine gas generated by said anode means from said cell; (e) an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing; and (f) electrical power means for providing a potential difference across said anode and cathode means sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and chloride ion oxidation.

Claim 3

The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein said cathode means includes a cathode electrode, and said anode means includes an anode electrode.

Claim 4

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein said cathode means further includes a packing of carbonaceous particles interposed between said cathode electrode and said membrane means.

Claim 5

The electrolytic cell according to claim 3, wherein said carbonaceous particles are composed of graphite.

Claim 6

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein said cathode and anode electrodes are constructed from porous graphite.

Claim 7

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said cathode and anode electrodes is constructed from dense graphite.

Claim 8

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said cathode and anode electrodes is constructed from ruthenized titanium.

Claim 9

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein said inlet means is in association with the lower end of said cathode electrode.

Claim 10

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein said foreign gas outlet means is in association with the top end of said cathode electrode.

Claim 11

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein said foreign gas outlet means is disposed in the top of said housing between said cathode electrode and said membrane means.

Claim 12

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein said chlorine gas outlet means is in association with the top end of said anode electrode.

Claim 13

The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein said chlorine gas outlet means is disposed in the top of said housing between said anode electrode and said membrane means.

Claim 14

The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein said housing is constructed from an electrically non-conductive material chemically resistent to said chlorine gas and said electrolyte.

Claim 15

The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte is composed at least in part of a chloride ion containing species.

Claim 16

The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte is composed of dilute hydrochloric acid.

Claim 17

The electrolytic cell according to claim 15, wherein said concentration of hydrochloric acid is between 5 and 15 percent by weight of electrolyte.

Claim 18

The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein said cell is in association with a zinc-chlorine battery for removing foreign gases from said battery.

Claim 19

A cylindrical electrolytic cell for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising: (a) cathode assembly means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, include a central cathode electrode rod, membrane cylinder means for permitting the transfer of said chloride ions from said cathode assembly, and a packing of graphite particles interposed between said cathode electrode rod and said membrane cylinder means; (b) an outer anode electrode cylinder, spaced apart from said cathode assembly means, for oxidizing said chloride ions into chlorine gas; (c) a housing for aligning and separating said cathode assembly means and said anode electrode cylinder, includng inlet means for receiving said stream of chlorine and foreign gases, foreign gas outlet means for venting said foreign gases from said cell, and chlorine gas outlet means for venting said chlorine gas generated at said anode electrode from said cell; (d) an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing; and (e) electrical power means for providing a potential difference across said anode and cathode electrodes sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and chloride ion oxidation.

Claim 20

A cylindrical electrolytic cell for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising: (a) cathode assembly means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, include a central cathode electrode rod, membrane cylinder means for permitting the transfer of said chloride ions from said cathode assembly, and a packing of graphite particles interposed between said cathode electrode rod and said membrane cylinder means; (b) an outer anode electrode cylinder, spaced apart from said cathode assembly means, for oxidizing said chloride ions into chlorine gas; (c) a housing for aligning and separating said cathode assembly means and said anode electrode cylinder, includng inlet means for receiving said stream of chlorine and foreign gases, foreign gas outlet means for venting said foreign gases from said cell, and chlorine gas outlet means for venting said chlorine gas generated at said anode electrode from said cell; (d) an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing; and (e) electrical power means for providing a potential difference across said anode and cathode electrodes sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and chloride ion oxidation.

Claim 21

A multiple cell system for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising: (a) a plurality of electrolytic cells each having cathode means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, anode means for oxidizing chloride ions into chlorine gas, membrane means for permitting ionic and liquid transfer and preventing gas transfer between said cathode and anode means, a housing, and an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing; (b) first gas passage means for connecting the outlet of said cathode means from a previous electrolytic cell with the inlet of said cathode means for a subsequent electrolytic cell; (c) second gas passage means for interconnecting the outlets of said anode means for each of said electrolytic cells; and (d) electrical power means for providing a potential difference across said anode and cathode means sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and chloride ion oxidation for each of said electrolytic cells.

Claim 22

A multiple cell system for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising: (a) a plurality of electrolytic cells each having cathode means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, anode means for oxidizing chloride ions into chlorine gas, membrane means for permitting ionic and liquid transfer and preventing gas transfer between said cathode and anode means, a housing, and an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing; (b) first gas passage means for connecting the outlet of said cathode means from a previous electrolytic cell with the inlet of said cathode means for a subsequent electrolytic cell; (c) second gas passage means for interconnecting the outlets of said anode means for each of said electrolytic cells; and (d) electrical power means for providing a potential difference across said anode and cathode means sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and chloride ion oxidation for each of said electrolytic cells.

Claim 23

A multiple cell system for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising: (a) a plurality of cathode assembly means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, including a packing of graphite particles contained in a membrane means for permitting chloride ion transfer from said cathode assembly means; (b) a plurality of anode means, spaced generally equidistant around each of said cathode assembly means, for oxidizing said chloride ions into chlorine gas; (c) first electrically conductive bus means for interconnecting at least one end of each of said cathode assembly means; (d) second electrically conductive bus means for interconnecting at least one end of each of said anode means; (e) a housing for aligning and separating said pluraity of cathode assembly means and said anode means, including inlet means for receiving said stream of chlorine and foreign gases, distribution means for dividing said stream of chlorine and foreign gases among said cathode assembly means; foreign gas outlet means for venting said foreign gases from said cell, and chlorine gas outlet means for venting said chlorine gas generated by said plurality of anode means from said cell; (f) an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing; and (g) electrical power means, connected across said first and second bus means, for providing a potential difference sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and said chloride ion oxidation.

Claim 24

A multiple cell system for separating foreign gases from a stream of chlorine and foreign gases, comprising: (a) a plurality of cathode assembly means for reducing chlorine gas into chloride ions, including a packing of graphite particles contained in a membrane means for permitting chloride ion transfer from said cathode assembly means; (b) a plurality of anode means, spaced generally equidistant around each of said cathode assembly means, for oxidizing said chloride ions into chlorine gas; (c) first electrically conductive bus means for interconnecting at least one end of each of said cathode assembly means; (d) second electrically conductive bus means for interconnecting at least one end of each of said anode means; (e) a housing for aligning and separating said pluraity of cathode assembly means and said anode means, including inlet means for receiving said stream of chlorine and foreign gases, distribution means for dividing said stream of chlorine and foreign gases among said cathode assembly means; foreign gas outlet means for venting said foreign gases from said cell, and chlorine gas outlet means for venting said chlorine gas generated by said plurality of anode means from said cell; (f) an aqueous electrolyte contained in said housing; and (g) electrical power means, connected across said first and second bus means, for providing a potential difference sufficient to cause said chlorine gas reduction and said chloride ion oxidation.