Electrolysis apparatus

Claim 1

In electrolysis apparatus for the manufacture of chlorine from an aqueous alkali metal halide solution, including a plurality of electrolytic cells, each having an anode, a cathode and a separating wall interposed between said anode and cathode; each cell further including a housing formed of two shells for containing said anode, cathode and separating wall; means provided in said housing for feeding electrolysis starting materials therein and/or discharging the products of electrolysis therefrom; said shells having rims which, when the apparatus is assembled, clamp said separating wall therebetween; sealing elements positioned between said separating wall and the respective rims; and at least one pair of electrically non-conductive elements mechanically coupled to respective ones of said shells and having said separating wall disposed therebetween for establishing a spacing between said anode and cathode and a separation between said separating wall and each of said anode and cathode; the improvement wherein, in order to operate said cells at elevated pressures, said anode and cathode both extend to the rims of said shells and are in mechanical and electrically conductive contact with respective ones of said rims; electrically conductive spacer elements are fixed to said shells and are in mechanical and electrical contact with respective ones of said anode and cathode and also with respective ones of said pair of electrically non-conductive elements; each shell is provided with a substantially flat outer surface which, when the apparatus is assembled, is in substantially flat contact with the outer surface of a shell of an adjacent cell to provide mechanical support for said adjacent cell; and pressure compensation means are provided to mechanically support the respective shells of the cells disposed at the opposite ends of said apparatus.