Method for assembling membrane electrolytic cells

Claim 1

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type electrolytic cell having a plurality of generally planar electrodes appropriately mounted to electrode frames with ion-selective permeable membrane sheets interposed between each adjacent pair of electrodes, the assembly being accomplished at a single work area, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first end frame on a generally horizontal supporting structure; (b) treating the membrane sheets with a hydrolyzing fluid; (c) placing a first cathode frame on top of said said first end frame, said first cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (d) placing a first of said membrane sheets on top of said generally horizontally oriented cathode frame, said first membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (e) placing a first anode frame on top of said said first membrane sheet, said first anode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (f) placing a second membrane sheet on top of said first anode frame, said second membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (g) placing a second cathode frame on top of said second membrane sheet, said second cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally thereon; (h) repeating steps d-g a predetermined number of times until the desired number of anode and cathode frames are stacked in a generally vertical stack on top of the generally horizontal supporting structure; (i) placing a second end frame on top of said generally vertical stack of frames; (j) vertically compressing said generally vertical stack of frames by the application of uniform pressure to the first and second end frames so that substantially no horizontal movement of the electrode frames results as the frames are compressed together into a compressed state; (k) securing retainers to said generally vertical stack of frames to retain said generally vertical stack of frames in said compressed state; and (l) rotating said generally vertical compressed stack of generally horizontal frames and membranes to an operating position wherein the frames and membranes are oriented generally vertically.

Claim 2

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type electrolytic cell having a plurality of generally planar electrodes appropriately mounted to electrode frames with ion-selective permeable membrane sheets interposed between each adjacent pair of electrodes, the assembly being accomplished at a single work area, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first end frame on a generally horizontal supporting structure; (b) treating the membrane sheets with a hydrolyzing fluid; (c) placing a first cathode frame on top of said said first end frame, said first cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (d) placing a first of said membrane sheets on top of said generally horizontally oriented cathode frame, said first membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (e) placing a first anode frame on top of said said first membrane sheet, said first anode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (f) placing a second membrane sheet on top of said first anode frame, said second membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (g) placing a second cathode frame on top of said second membrane sheet, said second cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally thereon; (h) repeating steps d-g a predetermined number of times until the desired number of anode and cathode frames are stacked in a generally vertical stack on top of the generally horizontal supporting structure; (i) placing a second end frame on top of said generally vertical stack of frames; (j) vertically compressing said generally vertical stack of frames by the application of uniform pressure to the first and second end frames so that substantially no horizontal movement of the electrode frames results as the frames are compressed together into a compressed state; (k) securing retainers to said generally vertical stack of frames to retain said generally vertical stack of frames in said compressed state; and (l) rotating said generally vertical compressed stack of generally horizontal frames and membranes to an operating position wherein the frames and membranes are oriented generally vertically.

Claim 3

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type electrolytic cell having a plurality of generally planar electrodes appropriately mounted to electrode frames with ion-selective permeable membrane sheets interposed between each adjacent pair of electrodes, the assembly being accomplished at a single work area, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first end frame on a generally horizontal supporting structure; (b) conditioning the membrane sheets so that they are converted into their ionic conductive form and are equilibrated with the conditioning solution in which they are conditioned; (c) placing a first cathode frame on top of said first end frame, said first cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (d) placing a first of said membrane sheets on top of said generally horizontally oriented cathode frame, said first membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (e) placing a first anode frame on top of said first membrane sheet, said first anode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (f) placing a second membrane sheet on top of said first anode frame, said second membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (g) placing a second cathode frame on top of said second membrane sheet, said second cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally thereon; (h) repeating steps d-g a predetermined number of times until the desired number of anode and cathode frames are stacked in a generally vertical stack on top of the generally horizontal supporting structure; (i) placing a second end frame on top of said generally vertical stack of frames; (j) vertically compressing said generally vertical stack of frames by the application of uniform pressure to the first and second end frames so that substantially no horizontal movement of the electrode frames results as the frames are compressed together into a compressed state; (k) securing retainers to said generally vertical stack of frames to retain said generally vertical stack of frames in said compressed state; and (l) rotating said generally vertical compressed stack of generally horizontal frames and membranes to an operating position wherein the frames and membranes are oriented generally vertically.

Claim 4

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type electrolytic cell having a plurality of generally planar electrodes appropriately mounted to electrode frames with ion-selective permeable membrane sheets interposed between each adjacent pair of electrodes, the assembly being accomplished at a single work area, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first end frame on a generally horizontal supporting structure; (b) conditioning the membrane sheets so that they are converted into their ionic conductive form and are equilibrated with the conditioning solution in which they are conditioned; (c) placing a first cathode frame on top of said first end frame, said first cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (d) placing a first of said membrane sheets on top of said generally horizontally oriented cathode frame, said first membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (e) placing a first anode frame on top of said first membrane sheet, said first anode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (f) placing a second membrane sheet on top of said first anode frame, said second membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (g) placing a second cathode frame on top of said second membrane sheet, said second cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally thereon; (h) repeating steps d-g a predetermined number of times until the desired number of anode and cathode frames are stacked in a generally vertical stack on top of the generally horizontal supporting structure; (i) placing a second end frame on top of said generally vertical stack of frames; (j) vertically compressing said generally vertical stack of frames by the application of uniform pressure to the first and second end frames so that substantially no horizontal movement of the electrode frames results as the frames are compressed together into a compressed state; (k) securing retainers to said generally vertical stack of frames to retain said generally vertical stack of frames in said compressed state; and (l) rotating said generally vertical compressed stack of generally horizontal frames and membranes to an operating position wherein the frames and membranes are oriented generally vertically.

Claim 7

The method of claims 3 or 4 which further comprises the step of: placing said electrode frames generally horizontally in an elevated frame container adjacent a second side of said supporting structure.

Claim 9

The method of claims 3 or 4 which further comprises the step of: placing a spacer means between each anode frame and the membrane sheet on either side of said anode frame during said assembly method.

Claim 12

The method of claims 3 or 4 wherein the height of the bottom of said vertical stack is raised or lowered during said stacking operation so as to position the top of the stack at a better level for receiving frames and sheets from said frame and membrane containers.

Claim 14

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type electrolytic cell having a plurality of generally planar electrodes appropriately mounted to electrode frames with ion-selective permeable membrane sheets interposed between each adjacent pair of electrodes, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first end frame on a generally horizontal supporting structure; (b) treating the membrane sheets with a hydrolyzing fluid; (c) placing a first cathode frame on top of said first end frame, said first cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (d) placing a first of said membrane sheets on top of said generally horizontally oriented cathode frames, said first membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally there across; (e) placing first spacer means on top of said first membrane sheet so that said first spacer means is in contact with at least a portion of said first membrane sheet; (f) placing a first anode frame on top of said first membrane sheet, said first anode frame being oriented generally horizontally and spaced from said first membrane sheet by said spacer means; (g) placing second spacer means on top of said first anode frame so that said second spacer means is in contact with at least a portion of said firt anode frame; (h) placing a second membrane sheet on top of said first anode frame and said second spacer means, said second membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross and spaced from said first anode frame by said spacer means; (i) placing a second cathode frame on top of said second membrane sheet, said second cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally thereon; (j) repeating steps d-i a predetermined number of times until the desired number of anode and cathode frames are stacked in a generally vertical stack atop the generally horizontally supporting structure; (k) placing a second end frame on top of said generally vertical stack of frames; (l) vertically compressing said generally vertical stack of frames into a compressed state; (m) securing retainers to said generally vertical stack of frames to retain said generally vertical stack of frames in said compressed state; and (n) rotating said generally vertical compressed stack of generally horizontal frames and membranes to an operating position wherein the frames and membranes are oriented generally vertically.

Claim 15

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type electrolytic cell having a plurality of generally planar electrodes appropriately mounted to electrode frames with ion-selective permeable membrane sheets interposed between each adjacent pair of electrodes, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first end frame on a generally horizontal supporting structure; (b) treating the membrane sheets with a hydrolyzing fluid; (c) placing a first cathode frame on top of said first end frame, said first cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (d) placing a first of said membrane sheets on top of said generally horizontally oriented cathode frames, said first membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally there across; (e) placing first spacer means on top of said first membrane sheet so that said first spacer means is in contact with at least a portion of said first membrane sheet; (f) placing a first anode frame on top of said first membrane sheet, said first anode frame being oriented generally horizontally and spaced from said first membrane sheet by said spacer means; (g) placing second spacer means on top of said first anode frame so that said second spacer means is in contact with at least a portion of said firt anode frame; (h) placing a second membrane sheet on top of said first anode frame and said second spacer means, said second membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross and spaced from said first anode frame by said spacer means; (i) placing a second cathode frame on top of said second membrane sheet, said second cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally thereon; (j) repeating steps d-i a predetermined number of times until the desired number of anode and cathode frames are stacked in a generally vertical stack atop the generally horizontally supporting structure; (k) placing a second end frame on top of said generally vertical stack of frames; (l) vertically compressing said generally vertical stack of frames into a compressed state; (m) securing retainers to said generally vertical stack of frames to retain said generally vertical stack of frames in said compressed state; and (n) rotating said generally vertical compressed stack of generally horizontal frames and membranes to an operating position wherein the frames and membranes are oriented generally vertically.

Claim 16

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type electrolytic cell having a plurality of generally planar electrodes appropriately mounted to electrode frames with ion-selective permeable membrane sheets interposed between each adjacent pair of electrodes, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first end frame on a generally horizontal supporting structure; (b) conditioning the membrane sheets so that they are converted into their ionic conductive form and are equilibrated with the conditioning solution in which they are conditioned; (c) placing a first cathode frame on top of said first end frame, said first cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (d) placing a first of said membrane sheets on top of said generally horizontally oriented cathode frame, said first membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (e) placing first spacer means on top of said first membrane sheet so that said first spacer means is in contact with at least a portion of said first membrane sheet; (f) placing a first anode frame on top of said first membrane sheet, said first anode frame being oriented generally horizontally and spaced from said first membrane sheet by said spacer means; (g) placing second spacer means on top of said first anode frame so that said second spacer means is in contact with at least a portion of said first anode frame; (h) placing a second membrane sheet on top of said first anode frame and said second spacer means, said second membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross and spaced from said first anode frame by said spacer means; (i) placing a second cathode frame on top of said second membrane sheet, said second cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally thereon; (j) repeating steps d-i a predetermined number of times until the desired number of anode and cathode frames are stacked in a generally vertical stack atop the generally horizontal supporting structure; (k) placing a second end frame on top of said generally vertical stack of frames; (l) vertically compressing said generally vertical stack of frames into a compressed state; (m) securing retainers to said generally vertical stack of frames to retain said generally vertical stack of frames in said compressed state; and (n) rotating said generally vertical compressed stack of generally horizontal frames and membranes to an operating position wherein the frames and membranes are oriented generally vertically.

Claim 17

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type electrolytic cell having a plurality of generally planar electrodes appropriately mounted to electrode frames with ion-selective permeable membrane sheets interposed between each adjacent pair of electrodes, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first end frame on a generally horizontal supporting structure; (b) conditioning the membrane sheets so that they are converted into their ionic conductive form and are equilibrated with the conditioning solution in which they are conditioned; (c) placing a first cathode frame on top of said first end frame, said first cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally; (d) placing a first of said membrane sheets on top of said generally horizontally oriented cathode frame, said first membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross; (e) placing first spacer means on top of said first membrane sheet so that said first spacer means is in contact with at least a portion of said first membrane sheet; (f) placing a first anode frame on top of said first membrane sheet, said first anode frame being oriented generally horizontally and spaced from said first membrane sheet by said spacer means; (g) placing second spacer means on top of said first anode frame so that said second spacer means is in contact with at least a portion of said first anode frame; (h) placing a second membrane sheet on top of said first anode frame and said second spacer means, said second membrane sheet being oriented generally horizontally thereacross and spaced from said first anode frame by said spacer means; (i) placing a second cathode frame on top of said second membrane sheet, said second cathode frame being oriented generally horizontally thereon; (j) repeating steps d-i a predetermined number of times until the desired number of anode and cathode frames are stacked in a generally vertical stack atop the generally horizontal supporting structure; (k) placing a second end frame on top of said generally vertical stack of frames; (l) vertically compressing said generally vertical stack of frames into a compressed state; (m) securing retainers to said generally vertical stack of frames to retain said generally vertical stack of frames in said compressed state; and (n) rotating said generally vertical compressed stack of generally horizontal frames and membranes to an operating position wherein the frames and membranes are oriented generally vertically.

Claim 20

The method of claims 14 or 15 wherein said spacer means are prepositioned adjacent a third side of said supporting structure prior to said assembly method and said spacer means are slid into said vertical stack during said assembly method.

Claim 21

The method of claims 14 or 15 wherein said spacer means are prepositioned adjacent a second side of said supporting structure prior to said assembly method and said spacer means are slid onto said vertical stack during said assembly method.

Claim 22

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type of electrolytic cell having a predetermined number of electrode frames and a predetermined number of membrane sheets, the method comprising the steps of: (a) treating the membranes with a hydrolyzing fluid at a work area; (b) assembling the predetermined plurality of electrode frames in a generally vertical stack at the same work area, the frames being oriented generally horizontally with a treated generally horizontal membrane sheet interposed between each pair of opposing electrode frames; (c) uniformly applying pressure to opposite vertical ends of said stack so that substantially no horizontal movement of the electrode frames results while said stack is vertically compressed; (d) rotating said compressed vertical stack from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation; (e) connecting said vertically assembled, rotated, horizontal stack into an electrical circuit and to raw material supply lines and product withdrawal lines; and (f) electrolytically operating said vertically assembled horizontal stack while maintaining said stack in said horizontal orientation.

Claim 23

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type of electrolytic cell having a predetermined number of electrode frames and a predetermined number of membrane sheets, the method comprising the steps of: (a) treating the membranes with a hydrolyzing fluid at a work area; (b) assembling the predetermined plurality of electrode frames in a generally vertical stack at the same work area, the frames being oriented generally horizontally with a treated generally horizontal membrane sheet interposed between each pair of opposing electrode frames; (c) uniformly applying pressure to opposite vertical ends of said stack so that substantially no horizontal movement of the electrode frames results while said stack is vertically compressed; (d) rotating said compressed vertical stack from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation; (e) connecting said vertically assembled, rotated, horizontal stack into an electrical circuit and to raw material supply lines and product withdrawal lines; and (f) electrolytically operating said vertically assembled horizontal stack while maintaining said stack in said horizontal orientation.

Claim 24

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type of electrolytic cell having a predetermined number of electrode frames and a predetermined number of membrane sheets, the method comprising the steps of: (a) conditioning the membrane sheets at a work area so that they are converted into their ion conductive form and are equilibrated with the conditioning solution in which they are conditioned; (b) assembling the predetermined plurality of electrode frames in a generally vertical stack at the same work area, the frames being oriented generally horizontally with a conditioned generally horizontal membrane sheet interposed between each pair of opposing electrode frames; (c) uniformly applying pressure to opposite vertical ends of said stack so that substantially no horizontal movement of the electrode frames results while said stack is vertically compressed; (d) rotating said compressed vertical stack from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation; (e) connecting said vertically assembled, rotated horizontal stack into an electrical circuit and to raw material supply lines and product withdrawal lines; and (f) electrolytically operating said vertically assembled horizontal stack while maintaining said stack in said horizontal orientation.

Claim 25

A method of assembling a monopolar filter press-type of electrolytic cell having a predetermined number of electrode frames and a predetermined number of membrane sheets, the method comprising the steps of: (a) conditioning the membrane sheets at a work area so that they are converted into their ion conductive form and are equilibrated with the conditioning solution in which they are conditioned; (b) assembling the predetermined plurality of electrode frames in a generally vertical stack at the same work area, the frames being oriented generally horizontally with a conditioned generally horizontal membrane sheet interposed between each pair of opposing electrode frames; (c) uniformly applying pressure to opposite vertical ends of said stack so that substantially no horizontal movement of the electrode frames results while said stack is vertically compressed; (d) rotating said compressed vertical stack from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation; (e) connecting said vertically assembled, rotated horizontal stack into an electrical circuit and to raw material supply lines and product withdrawal lines; and (f) electrolytically operating said vertically assembled horizontal stack while maintaining said stack in said horizontal orientation.