US1720996A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Description

July 1%, 31929. i -QH s sucK ET AL ELECTROLYTIC CELL- O riginal Filed De. 5, 1925 ZSheets-Shget Swen tow Euznk Jf, flack, Phil abkoznu d July 16, .1929.

F. H. BUCK ET AL ELECTROLYT I C CELL 2 sheets-sheet Original Filed Dec. 5, 1925 gwuentoxd Hank Ji'fiuclc,

Phili}? JTclia, p WM atmmw Patented July 16, 1929.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. BUCK AND PHILIP MCRAE, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO THE JESSUP & MOORE PAPER 00.,01 PHILAD OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Original application filed December 5, 1925, Serial No.'73,447. Divided and this Q 8, 1927. Serial No. 173,731.

This application is a divisional of my pendingapplication SerialNo. 73,447, filed December 5, 1925. y

Our present invention relates to a cell 10 the electrolytic type which is adapted to the production of caustic soda and other products, such as chlorine and hydrogen.

. While the cell of this invention is particularlyadapted for the production of those re:

agents, yet obviously, it may be used in the electrolysis of man materials.

Theprincipal ob]ect' of the invention is the provision of a cell ofthe "above type which will have a maximum capacity for a minimum cell volume in order that a given amount of floor space may be utilized for as large a number of cells as possible, and where a compact design reduces the internal resist ance to a minimum,thus increasing the power efliciency.

To this end the invention includes a cell casing of any desired material adapted to support a cathode in the form of a perforated 'iron zbaskeh which cathodeis also rovided with an inner portion upstanding rom the bottom of the main basket and spaced from the basket side walls. The inside of the outer cathode basket and the outside of the inner;

cathode cage are'lined with-asbestos or other material serving as a diaphragm, which when assembled, forms two channels into which anode slabs of graphite or the like are inserted, the slabs being spaced from the walls of the cathode and from each other so as to allow thorough. circulation of the electrolyte as well as to increase the anode surface. A suitable head is provided adapted to clam between itself and the cell casing the cathod;

and the-diaphragm in a gas tight joint. The

40 head forms what may be called a gas cham-- her from whichthe gaseousproducts-of the electrolytic action may be removed for any desiredpurpose. An additional outlet is provided for the gaseous products collecting in the '-space*between-the= cathode and the cell casing, and 'still another outlet at the bottom of the casing for liquid products, from which outlet they may be conducted toany desired location. Means are also provided for automatically feeding in the electrolyte so as to ELPHIA QPENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION nnncrnomzrrc CELL.

application filed larch.

maintain a constant electrolyte level in order that the operation of the cell may be continuous. v

The invention further includes an outer cathode in which the shorter end walls are removabletherefrom, as well as the inner cathode cage, so as to facilitate the placing of new and the removal of old diaphra ms thereto. g

The invention further consists of the novel arrangement, construction and combination of parts hereinaftershown and described,

\Ve'have illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment of our invention,

in which I Figure 1 is a side elevation.-

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig: 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the device :of Fig. 1.-

Fig. 4 is a detail of the outer cathode basket. 7

Fig. 5 is a detail of the inner cathode cage.

Referring now with particularity tothe drawings, our invention is shown to consist of an outer cell casing designated at 1, which may be of any desired material, which is suitably mounted upon insulators 2 resting upon blocks or pedestals 3.

At the upper edges of the side walls of the casing l we provide angle ironst suitably bolted to the Wall of the casing 1, which are adapted to support a flange 5 on the side walls of the outer cathode basket, indicated genorally at 6. a

The outer cathode member is composed of sheets of perforated metal, preferably iron, in the present instance, welded together to form an open topped container or basket hav i-ng flanges 5 at its upper ends, which flanges are adapted to rest upon and be supported by the angle irons 4.

The outer cathode member is provided with removable-end walls 42 adapted to be made secure to the longitudinal walls 43 by engagement with flanges 44, and bolted thereto.

Within the outer cathode member is located an inner cathode member or cage indicated generally at 7, which also consists of sheets of perforated iron' Welded together'to form substantially a cage. Secured inside the cage cathode 7 we provide a section of U beam 8,

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an: (LIL-i which beam is provided withbolts 53* extending through thebottom of the cathodecage 7. Thebolts 9 are adapted to project through corresponding apertures 10 in thecathode basket 6 and a'similar section of U'beam 11 applied to the bottom of the basketfi where upon nuts 12 may be used to bolt the basket and the cage together to form substantially a unitary structure. 7

Similar bolts 40 are provided in the end walls 39 of this inner cathode cage and which project through apertures 41 in the removable end walls 42 of the cathode basket 6.

A diaphragm 13 of sheet asbestos or the like, is to be applied to the inside of the oath ode basket/6 and the outside ofthe cathode cage 7, asby means of sodium silicate or the like, so that the entire surface of the electrolyte containing channel is covered by said diaphragm.

By making the end walls 42 of the cathode basket removable, the application of the dia- 3 form or concrete or the like, and is adapted to be superimposed upon the upper edges of the basket cathode 6 so that the lower edges.

of thegas head 15 rest directl upon the diaphragm 13 wliich over-laps the bus bars 14. The lower edges of the gas head 15 are cut away as at 16, and this channel is adapted to be filled with any desired kind of acidprooi cement sothat when the head is placed upon the bus bars 14 the cement within the channel will make a fiuid'tight resistant joint at that point: I v

The gas head which we have found advantageouscon'sists of a box, open at the bottom and to ,the top of which is adapted to be closed y section covers 17, 18 and 19, resting upon a shoulder 20 at the upper edges of the gas head walls. The center section cover 18 is provided with a clean-out opening 21. It is understood that all of the joints in the gas head are adapted to be sealed, not necessarily permanently, with a cement of any desired character, which is well known in this art, so as to prevent the escape of any gaseous products of the electrolysis.

The anode element of the present cell consists principally of a plurality of carbon slabs 22 which are supported upon the section covers 17, 18, and 19 by means of pins 23 passing through the slabs, the slabs proper proiecting through suitable apertures in the head 15 is provided,

cover section's and extending into the space between the basket and cage cathodes nearly to the bottom thereof, and spaced from the walls thereof b means of the rubber stops 24. The upper en s of the anode slabs are con nected together as by means of the positive bus bar 25, to which current is supplied as desired. p

Supported upon an L-iron 26 secured to the outside wall of the cell casing is a float container 27 which is adapted to receive the float 28 having a stopper or valve 29 connected thereto to control the flow of electrolyte supplied through the inlet 3t. valve is adapted to maintain a constant level in the float receptacle 27 said electrolyte flowing from the float receptacle into the interior of the cell through the aperture 31.

A gas ofltake 32 penetrating one of the section covers 19, is provided for conducting away the chlorine produced as a result of the desired reaction, said otltake being connected witha main conduit 33.

Y A pipe 34; is also secured in the wall of the casing 1 so' as to take care of any gaseous products liberated on the outside of the diaphragm 13, that is, between the diaphragm and theouter cell casing. This pipe 34 also connects with a conduit 35 so that the gases thus produced may be taken away.

The cell casing proper, 1, is provided with a trap 36 through which the liquid material produced as a result of the reaction may flow, a ditch 37 conducting this materialto the desired location.

The operation of the device is as follows:

A saturated solution ofsodium chloride is fed through the inlet 30 until the level of elec trolyte in the cathode has risen well up into the gas head. Owing to the fact that the cathode basket'and cage are lined with an asbestos diaphragm, the electrolyte will not sodium chloride migratesthrough the diavphragin covering the basket and cage cathodes, to the cathode, and is there lib- I erated, and as soon as liberated, reacts with the water present to form causticsoda and hydrogen. The hydrogen being on the casing side'of the diaphragm, passes through the perforated cathode and out of the pipe 34 provided' for that purpose. The liquid caustic soda drips from the bottom of the basket cathode andpasses out of the trap36 into the drain or ditch 37;

The action is continuous by reason of the fact that the float 28 allows the valve 29 to be 4 each chamber.

2. An. electrolytic cell comprising a conshorter dimensions.

tainer, an outer cathode basket therein, an inner cathode cagewithin the basket, said cathode basket having removable end walls,

said cathode cagebeing of the full length of the cathode basket, the side walls of the cage abutting the end-walls of the basket, two electrolyte chambers between cage and basket, diaphragms lining said chambers and an anode extending into'each chmaber.

3, ''An electrolytic cell' comprising a con- ,tainer,-a perforated cathode therein comprising four vertical parallel walls, removable end walls at right angles thereto secured to p the ends of the vertical walls thus forming three parallel'1chambers,'means to feed the electrolyte to the two outside chambers, diaphragms lining the said chambers and 'anodes dipping into thedutsid'e chambers.- V 4. An electrolytic cell comprising. a container, a cathode suspended therein, said electrolyte chambers,

cathode comprising-two spaced apart parallel. electrolyte containmg'chambers, a diaphragm lining each chamber, the four sides and bottom of each chamber being active, a chamber "free from electrolyte located between' the Ind anodes projecting into the elect-r01 te chambers".

55Anelectro tic cell-comprising a. con-' -tainer', a catho e suspended therein, said cathode comprising parallelelectrolyte containing chambers, .a diaphragm lining each "if chamber, anactive cathode .wall separating said chambers, a gas head supported-upon if the outer walls' of the cathode, the division wall of the' cathode terminating short of the lyte, and. anodes top of the gas chamber top, the-divsion wall being adapted to be submerged in the electroprojecting into the electrolyte chambers.

- 6. An electrolytic cell-comprising a container, a cathode therein, sai'd cathode com- )rising parallel'electrolyte containing chamers, a diaphragm lining'each chamber, an active cathode division therebetween com 'rising a substantially inverted U portion-o the full lengthof the'electrolyte chambers, end walls closing the electrolyte chambe'ig; and inverted U portion, agas head supported upon the outer walls of the electrolyte chambers, and anodes projecting into said chambers.

7. An electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode therein comprising spaced apart electrolyte containing chambers, a diaphragm lining each' chamber, spaced apart dividing cathode walls between the electrolyte chambers, one dividing Wall comprising one wall of an electrolyte chamber, the two' spaced apart dividing walls being closed at the top, a diaphragm covering the electrolyte chambers and dividing walls and top, common end walls closing the electrolyte chambers and dividing walls, and anodes project ing into the electrolyte chambers.

8. An electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode therein comprising spaced apart electrolyte containing chambers, a diaphragm lining each chamber, a chamber free from electrolyte of the full length of the electrolyte chambers and located between the 'said electrolyte chambers, end walls closing said chambers, a gas headsupported upon the outer walls of the cathode and anodes projecting into the electrolyte chambers.

9. An electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode therein comprising spaced apart longitudinal walls forming two spaced apart electrolyte containing chambers, a diaphragm lining-each chamber, said chambers being closed 'byactive bottom and end Walls, a centrallongitudinal chamber gof the full length' of the electrolyte chambers, and closed at the top, a gas head resting upon the outer walls of the cathode, the electrolyte cl1am-' bers being non-communicative as' to the electrolyte until the level of the electrol te rises above the central longitudinal chain er, and

gpodesprojecting into the electrolyte chamrs.

10. An electrolytic cell comprising an outer cathode basket, an inner cathode cage within the basket and of the full len h'thereof, two

electrolyte chambers 'forme by the corresponding walls-of the cathode members lined with a diaphragm and anodes extending into each chamber and means beneath the cathode to receive liquid efiluent dripping therefrom.

. 111 An electrolytic cell comprising an outer cathode basket, and inner cathode cage with in the basket, the cathode-basket having removable. end walls,.said cathode cag'e being the full length of the cathode basket, the side walls of the cage abutting the ends walls of the basket, two electrolyte chambers between the cage and the basket, a diaphragm lining therefor and. anodes extending into each chamber and means beneath the cathode to receive liquid effluent dripping therefrom.

12. 'An electrolytic cell comprising a cathode forming two-spaced apart parallel electrolyte containin chambers, a diaphragm lining therefor, the our sides and bottom of each chamber being active, a chamber free from electrolyte located between the electrotherefrom.

18. An electrolytic cell comprising a cathode having spaced apart electrolyte conmining chambers, a diaphragm lining-therefor, a chamber free from electrolyte of the full length of the electrolyte chambers, and

located between the said electrolyte chemv bers end walls closing said chamhers, a gas head supported upon the outerwells of the cathodes, and anodes projecting into the elec trolyte chambers and means beneath the cathode to receive liquid efluent dripping therefrom.

In testimony whereof, We affix our signaturesi FRANK H. BUCK. PHILIP MoRAE.

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