Electrolytic apparatus for the manufacture of alkali metal halate

Claim 1

An electrolytic apparatus for the production of alkali metal halate from an electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of an alkali metal halide, the apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped upper housing section and a substantially rectangular shaped lower housing section, said upper housing superimposed over the lower housing section; electrodes comprising a plurality of upwardly, parallelly, alternating anodes and cathodes mounted to the side walls of the lower housing such that the products of electrolysis at the anodes and cathodes are in contact in the electrolyte between the electrodes where they can react to form hypohalite; a singular upwardly oriented flow directing funneling chimney structure located principally in the upper housing section extending over the electrodes and narrowing down to a passageway at an angle sufficient to maximize gas lift flow through which the hypohalite-containing electrolyte rises from the lifting power of hydrogen generated from between pairs of the electrodes during electrolysis, said electrolyte being mixed in the passageway, the upper housing having means for removing at least a portion of the hydrogen exiting from the passageway, said upper and lower housing sections including internal voids or clearances at housing ends and between the passageway and housing walls adapted so that electrolyte spilling over the top of the passageway moves downwardly through said voids or clearances in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cell and then moving transversally at the bottom of the cell for recirculation upwardly through the electrodes and chimney structure, said apparatus including means for feeding electrolyte thereto and halate removal therefrom.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 including a heat exchanger for removing heat from electrolyte.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 with a plurality of funneling chimney structures.

Claim 12

A method of manufacturing alkali metal chlorate which comprises applying a current to an aqueous solution of alkali metal chloride in an electrolytic apparatus to produce mainly chlorine, alkali metal hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and hydrogen of which chlorine and alkali metal hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and hydrogen react in-situ converting a substantial part of the hypochlorite to alkali metal chlorate, said apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped upper housing and a substantially rectangular shaped lower housing, said upper housing superimposed over the lower housing; electrodes comprising a plurality of upwardly, parallelly alternating anodes and cathodes mounted to the side walls of the lower housing section such that the products of electrolysis at the anodes and cathodes are in contact in the electrolyte between the electrodes where they can react to form hypochlorite; at least one upwardly oriented flow directing funneling chimney structure located principally in the upper housing section extending over the electrodes and narrowing down to a passageway at an angle sufficient to maximize gas lift flow through which the hypochlorite-containing electrolyte rises from the lifting power of the hydrogen generated therein, said electrolyte being mixed in the passageway; the upper housing section having means for removing at least a portion of the hydrogen exiting from the passageway, said upper and lower housing sections including internal voids or clearances at housing ends and between the passageway and housing walls adapted so that electrolyte spilling over the top of the passageway moves downwardly through said voids or clearances in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cell and then moving transversally at the bottom of the cell for recirculation upwardly through the electrodes and chimney structure, said apparatus including means for feeding electrolyte thereto and halate removal therefrom.

Claim 13

A method of manufacturing alkali metal chlorate which comprises applying a current to an aqueous solution of alkali metal chloride in an electrolytic apparatus to produce mainly chlorine, alkali metal hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and hydrogen of which chlorine and alkali metal hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and hydrogen react in-situ converting a substantial part of the hypochlorite to alkali metal chlorate, said apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped upper housing and a substantially rectangular shaped lower housing, said upper housing superimposed over the lower housing; electrodes comprising a plurality of upwardly, parallelly alternating anodes and cathodes mounted to the side walls of the lower housing section such that the products of electrolysis at the anodes and cathodes are in contact in the electrolyte between the electrodes where they can react to form hypochlorite; at least one upwardly oriented flow directing funneling chimney structure located principally in the upper housing section extending over the electrodes and narrowing down to a passageway at an angle sufficient to maximize gas lift flow through which the hypochlorite-containing electrolyte rises from the lifting power of the hydrogen generated therein, said electrolyte being mixed in the passageway; the upper housing section having means for removing at least a portion of the hydrogen exiting from the passageway, said upper and lower housing sections including internal voids or clearances at housing ends and between the passageway and housing walls adapted so that electrolyte spilling over the top of the passageway moves downwardly through said voids or clearances in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cell and then moving transversally at the bottom of the cell for recirculation upwardly through the electrodes and chimney structure, said apparatus including means for feeding electrolyte thereto and halate removal therefrom.