US4378286A — Filter press type electrolytic cell and frames fo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 223 words

In a filter press type electrolytic cell for electrolysis of an aqueous salt solution comprising a plurality of frames each having top, bottom and side framing members, said frames having electrodes held thereto and assembled in filter press type arrangement, separated from each other by membranes, diaphragms or microporous separators, forming a plurality of anolyte and catholyte compartments, the improvement comprising said frames being hollow walled with openings therein in the top, bottom and side framing members facing inwardly, means for adding anolyte feed to the anolyte compartments through the frames at bottom portions thereof, means for adding catholyte feed to the catholyte compartments through the frames at bottom portions thereof, downcomer tubes for withdrawing anolyte containing dissolved solid and gaseous electrolysis product from near the tops of the anolyte compartments and conducting it downwardly through the compartments without mixing with the anolyte in the compartments to communicate with an anolyte header located below the anolyte compartments, and downcomer tubes for withdrawing catholyte containing dissolved solid and gaseous electrolysis product from near the tops of the catholyte compartments and conducting it downwardly through the compartments without mixing with the catholyte in the compartments to communicate with a catholyte header located below the catholyte compartments, each downcomer tube being positioned near a side frame but spaced apart therefrom, with one tube per electrolyte compartment.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 223 words

In a filter press type electrolytic cell for electrolysis of an aqueous salt solution comprising a plurality of frames each having top, bottom and side framing members, said frames having electrodes held thereto and assembled in filter press type arrangement, separated from each other by membranes, diaphragms or microporous separators, forming a plurality of anolyte and catholyte compartments, the improvement comprising said frames being hollow walled with openings therein in the top, bottom and side framing members facing inwardly, means for adding anolyte feed to the anolyte compartments through the frames at bottom portions thereof, means for adding catholyte feed to the catholyte compartments through the frames at bottom portions thereof, downcomer tubes for withdrawing anolyte containing dissolved solid and gaseous electrolysis product from near the tops of the anolyte compartments and conducting it downwardly through the compartments without mixing with the anolyte in the compartments to communicate with an anolyte header located below the anolyte compartments, and downcomer tubes for withdrawing catholyte containing dissolved solid and gaseous electrolysis product from near the tops of the catholyte compartments and conducting it downwardly through the compartments without mixing with the catholyte in the compartments to communicate with a catholyte header located below the catholyte compartments, each downcomer tube being positioned near a side frame but spaced apart therefrom, with one tube per electrolyte compartment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

In an electrolytic cell according to claim 1 the improvement which comprises the hollow electrolytic compartment frames being metallic.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 123 words

In an electrolytic cell according to claim 2 the improvement which comprises the frames being rectangular and of U- or channel-shaped sides, with a plurality of cross members extending across the U or channel openings to help maintain them open and prevent distortions thereof when the filter press type electrolytic cell is assembled, under longitudinal compression, the electrodes held to the frames being monopolar electrodes, steel for the cathodes and titanium or titanium clad material for the anodes, with two of the same type of electrode being held to each frame, the frames being separated from adjacent frames by the membranes, diaphragms or microporous separators and the synthetic organic polymeric plastic downcomer, tubes of the catholyte compartments being of a fluorinated poly-lower alkylene.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 62 words

In an electrolytic cell according to claim 3 the improvement which comprises the anolyte compartment frames being of titanium, the catholyte compartment frames being of steel and the total area of the openings between the members across the frame U's or channels of each compartment being at least 20% of the area of the corresponding channel openings without such members in place.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

In an electrolytic cell according to claim 4 the improvement which comprises the downcomer tubes being of cylindrical shape, titanium for the anolyte downcomer and polytetrafluoroethylene for the catholyte downcomer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

In an electrolytic cell according to claim 5 the improvement which comprises the anolyte compartment downcomer tubes being on an opposite side of the cell from the catholyte compartment downcomer tubes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 74 words

In an electrolytic cell according to claim 6 the improvement which comprises a single feed adding inlet means being present for each of the electrolyte compartments, with orifices therein for directing the feed to be added to such compartment sidewardly in opposing directions along the frame bottom channel axis, so that the feed subsequently moves upwardly through the openings between the reinforcing cross members of the bottom channel and upwardly through the electrolyte compartment.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 63 words

In an electrolytic cell according to claim 7 the improvement which comprises the sizes of the vertical downcomer tubes and the headers to which electrolyte is conducted by such tubes from the electrolyte compartments being such that at operating feed and removal rates the flow of the liquid-gas mixture is such that there is separation of the gas from the anolyte and catholyte.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 76 words

In an electrolytic cell according to claim 8 the improvement which comprises the anolyte feed inlet means and the anolyte compartment downcomer being located on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the electrolytic cell for each of the anolyte compartments and the inlet means and downcomer for each of the catholyte compartments being located on the same side of such axis, different from the side where the anolyte inlet means and downcomers are located.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 149 words

A frame for a filter press type electrolytic cell which comprises top, bottom and side framing members, in which the side members are U or channel shaped with the openings of the U or channels facing inwardly, a plurality of spaced reinforcing members extending across the channel openings in the side framing members to help maintain them open, with at least 20% free area, preventing distortions thereof when the frames are installed in a filter press type electrolytic cell and are subjected to compression, an opening in the bottom framing member for feed addition to an electrolyte compartment formed at least in part by the frame, an opening in the bottom framing member for removing product from such a compartment and means communicating with the outlet opening in the bottom framing member, for conducting product from the top of such an electrolytic compartment to a location under the compartment.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 149 words

A frame for a filter press type electrolytic cell which comprises top, bottom and side framing members, in which the side members are U or channel shaped with the openings of the U or channels facing inwardly, a plurality of spaced reinforcing members extending across the channel openings in the side framing members to help maintain them open, with at least 20% free area, preventing distortions thereof when the frames are installed in a filter press type electrolytic cell and are subjected to compression, an opening in the bottom framing member for feed addition to an electrolyte compartment formed at least in part by the frame, an opening in the bottom framing member for removing product from such a compartment and means communicating with the outlet opening in the bottom framing member, for conducting product from the top of such an electrolytic compartment to a location under the compartment.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

A frame according to claim 10 wherein the product conducting means is a cylindrical downcomer tube of polytetrafluoroethylene and the frame is a catholyte compartment frame.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

A frame according to claim 10 wherein the product conducting means is a cylindrical downcomer tube of titanium or titanium clad metal or alloy for the anolyte compartment.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-03-28	1986-09-27	1987-03-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-03-28	1990-09-27	1991-03-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-03-28	1994-09-27	1995-03-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Filter press type electrolytic cell and frames for use therein

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag