BE1031537B1 - Lye Filter Dynamic Support - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a lye filtering unit (10) capable of filtering ferrous residues and iron precipitates as well as any other impurity in an electrolyte solution from an electrolysis unit, the lye filtering unit (10) comprising: - a tank (12) extending in a main direction of vertical elongation (A) and comprising a side wall (18), - a positioning base (50) comprising at least two feet (52) on which the tank (12) rests respectively at two points (54) distributed along the periphery of the side wall (18), each foot (52) comprising an element (56) for adjusting the height of the tank (12).

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Dynamic Lye Filter Support

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a lye filtering unit capable of filtering ferrous residues and iron precipitates as well as any other impurity present in an electrolyte solution resulting from an electrolysis unit for example for the production of dihydrogen (H2) and dioxygen (O2).

The invention relates more particularly to a lye filtering unit designed to facilitate its installation.

Technical background

The lye filter, also called lye filter unit, is used to filter mainly ferrous residues as well as iron precipitates but also any other impurity, even in negligible quantities.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown a lye filtering unit 100 according to the prior art. The lye filtering unit 100 comprises a tank 12 having a lye inlet pipe 44 and a lye outlet pipe 46 as well as two impurity capture elements placed in the tank 12 including 1) at least one magnetic bar 28 for recovering magnetic particles (regardless of size), and 11) a basket 30 supporting an inner sieve formed of a tight metal mesh dedicated to capturing non-magnetic particles (regardless of size).

Following this particle capture action, the lye 100 filter must be cleaned of these iron agglomerates and/or any other substance on a recurring basis to maintain the efficiency of the system. All iron agglomerates, minority substances and filtered molecules are considered to be impurities.

Typically, the lye inlet pipe 44 and the lye outlet pipe 46 are located on the same side of the lye filter 100, which leads to an eccentric position of the center of gravity of the latter, the center of gravity being offset in the direction of the lye inlet pipes 44 and

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BE2023/5630 outlet 46 of lye. This eccentric position of the center of gravity can be partially compensated by means of four feet 52 positioned at the lower end of the lye filter 100, the feet 52 being positioned in a square arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 1, the feet 52 are fixed to the tank 12 via nuts, which prevents careful adjustment of the height and horizontality of the lye filter 100. This is detrimental to proper positioning of the lye filter 100, proper positioning being necessary for proper operation of the lye filter 100.

Summary of the invention

The invention relates to a lye filtering unit capable of filtering ferrous residues and iron precipitates as well as any other impurity in an electrolyte solution resulting from an electrolysis unit, the lye filtering unit comprising: _- a tank extending in either a main vertical elongation direction, or a horizontal elongation direction, or any main elongation direction between the horizontal and vertical planes defined according to the reference V, L, T, and comprising a side wall, the lye filtering unit comprising a positioning base comprising at least two feet on which the tank rests respectively at two points distributed along the periphery of the side wall, each foot comprising an element for adjusting the height of the tank.

The positioning base can have more than two feet.

The positioning base may include at least one counterweight.

The counterweight can be an outgrowth of the positioning base structure.

The counterweight may extend in a horizontal or vertical plane so as to be able to rest on the ground.

The positioning base may include a foot strap.

The counterweight can protrude from the hoop.

The counterweight can have a T shape or any of the geometric configurations (triangular, circular, etc.).

The adjustment element may comprise at least one threaded rod and at least one

Minus one nut.

The lye filter unit may have a purge port in a lower face of the tank and a pipe connected to the purge port and orientable in a horizontal plane.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a prior art lye filtering unit; [Fig. 2] is a schematic sectional view of the lye filtering unit of FIG. 1 which shows the arrangement of the magnetic bar and the basket in the lye filtering unit; [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of a lye filtering unit according to the invention showing the positioning base on which the tank rests; [Fig. 4] is a schematic side view of the lye filtering unit of FIG. 3 showing the height adjustment elements of the tank.

Detailed description of the invention

For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations according to the reference V, L, T indicated in the figures, the longitudinal L and transverse T axes of which extend in a horizontal plane, will be adopted as a non-limiting example and without limiting reference to the Earth's gravity. By convention, the vertical axis V is oriented from bottom to top and the longitudinal axis L is oriented from back to front.

In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

The invention relates to a lye filtering unit 10 capable of filtering ferrous residues and iron precipitates as well as any other impurity in an electrolyte solution resulting from an electrolysis unit.

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A lye filtering unit 10 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3. The lye filtering unit 10 comprises a tank 12 extending in a main direction of vertical elongation λ between a lower face 14 and an upper face 16.

The tank 12 comprises a side wall 18. The tank 12 has a generally cylindrical shape with axis A and circular section. The side wall 18 is curved and extends along the circumference of the cylinder formed by the tank 12. The side wall 18 is parallel to axis A. Any other geometric configuration defining the side wall 18 falls within the description of the present invention given that the technical characteristics associated with the latter are independent of the geometric configuration.

To allow access to the inside of the tank 12, for example for the intervention of an operator, the upper face 16 has an opening 20. The lye filtering unit 10 has a cover 22 capable of cooperating with the upper face 16 of the tank 12 to close the opening 20 and allow the tank 12 to be hermetically sealed.

The tank 12 has a lye inlet 24 and a lye outlet 26. Thus, the lye from the electrolysis unit is introduced into the tank 12 of the lye filtering unit 10 through the lye inlet 24.

The lye introduced into the tank 12 through the lye inlet orifice 24 passes through the tank 12 to be filtered and exits through the lye outlet orifice 26. The lye once filtered can be reinjected into the electrolysis unit. The lye inlet orifice 24 and the lye outlet orifice 26 are placed in the side wall 18. The lye inlet orifice 24 and lye outlet orifice 26 can be positioned for example one above the other. The lye inlet orifice 24 and lye outlet orifice 26 can also be positioned in diametrically opposite positions or can have any orientations.

Preferably, the lye inlet orifice 24 is located in an upper portion of the side wall 18 and the lye outlet orifice 26 is located in a lower portion of the side wall 18 to allow the flow of lye by gravity.

Referring to Figure 4, the lye filter unit 10 comprises at least one magnetic bar 28 extending vertically. The magnetic bar

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BE2023/5630 28 is fixed on a lower face of the cover 22 and extends downwards when the cover is positioned to close the opening 20. The magnetic bar 28 allows the capture of magnetic particles, regardless of the dimension.

The lye filtering unit 10 comprises a basket 30, of any geometric shape, supporting an internal sieve formed of a tight metal mesh dedicated to the capture of non-magnetic particles (regardless of size), delimiting a cavity 32 extending in the vertical direction A. The basket 30 has a cylindrical shape of axis A. The basket 30 comprises an upper face 34 delimiting a central opening 36 capable of receiving the magnetic bar 28. The upper face 34 of the basket 30 also comprises a peripheral rim 38 capable of resting on a shim 40 projecting from an internal face of the side wall 18. The upper face 34 of the basket 30 is placed here at mid-height in the tank 12 between the lye inlet orifice 24 and the lye outlet orifice 26. Thus, the lye entering the tank 12 flows into the cavity 32, passes through the walls of the basket 30 and comes out through the lye outlet orifice 26.

The lye filter unit 10 has a purge orifice 42 placed in the lower face 14 of the tank 12.

To allow the circulation of the lye, the lye filtering unit 10 comprises: - an inlet pipe 44 for lye in the tank 12, and - an outlet pipe 46 for lye out of the tank 12.

The lye inlet line 44 is fluidically connected to the lye inlet port 24 in the side wall 18.

The lye outlet line 46 is fluidically connected to the lye outlet port 26 in the side wall 18.

Lye may flow in a closed circuit between the electrolysis unit and the lye filter unit 10. Lye fed into the lye inlet pipe 44 comes from the electrolysis unit. Lye discharged into the lye outlet pipe 46 is redirected to the electrolysis unit, potentially after further treatment.

In the example, the lye outlet pipe 46 has a portion of decreasing section 48 according to the direction of evacuation of the lye which

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BE2023/5630 corresponds here to the direction pointed by the longitudinal vector L. The diameter of the decreasing section portion 48 decreases linearly along the direction L between a maximum diameter D and a minimum diameter C. The minimum diameter C corresponds substantially to the diameter E of the section of the lye inlet pipe 44.

The center of gravity G is shifted towards the lye outlet pipe 46.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the lye outlet pipe 46 is located below the lye inlet pipe 44. The lye outlet pipe 46 is lower than the lye inlet pipe 44 to promote the flow of lye from the inlet to the outlet.

Furthermore, the lye inlet pipe 44 is located vertically above the lye outlet pipe 46. This is conventionally imposed by the arrangement of the circuit connecting the lye filter unit 10 to the electrolysis unit. In this case, the center of gravity G is massively offset in the direction of the lye outlet pipe 46.

Alternatively, the lye inlet 44 and lye outlet 46 pipes may be diametrically opposed or may have any orientations. The center of gravity G then remains offset in the direction of the lye outlet 46 pipe but the offset is lighter.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the lye filtering unit 10 comprises a positioning base 50. The positioning base 50 comprises at least two feet 52. The tank 12 comprises a fixing disk 68 projecting from the external face of the side wall 18 of the tank 12. The fixing disk 68 is for example welded to the tank 12 or made of the same material as the tank 12. The fixing disk 68 extends in a horizontal plane. The tank 12 also includes fins 70 forming a buttress, the fins 70 extending vertically from an upper face of the fixing disk 68 and along the side wall 18. The fins 70 have, in a non-limiting manner, the shape of a right triangle, the two sides of the right angle of which are formed by the fixing disk 68 and the side wall 18. The fins 70 make it possible to ensure that the fixing disk 68 remains in a horizontal plane and to prevent the fixing disk 68 from becoming deformed, the distal end of the fixing disk 68 being at risk of becoming

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BE2023/5630 bend under the weight of the tank 12 to a higher position relative to

The proximal end. The fins 70 may have any geometric configuration whose functional technical characteristics of the device remain similar regardless of the proposed geometric configuration.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the lye filter unit 10 comprises a positioning base 50. The positioning base 50 comprises at least two feet 52. The fixing disk 68 comprises at least two points 54 for fixing the tank 12 respectively to the at least two feet 52. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, four points 54 are distributed regularly along the periphery of the side wall 18 and correspond to the four corners of a square.

Each foot 52 comprises an adjustment element 56 for adjusting the height of the tank 12. These adjustment elements 56 make it possible in particular to adjust the horizontality of the tank 12 and the fine positioning of the lye inlet 44 and lye outlet 46 pipes relative to the corresponding junctions of the rest of the lye fluid circuit.

In the example shown, each foot 52 comprises an adjustment element 56 comprising a threaded rod 62 extending vertically in the extension of the corresponding foot 52. The disk 68 comprises four through holes at the four fixing points 54, the through holes having a diameter equal to the diameter of the corresponding threaded rod 62, excluding the mounting clearance. When the tank 12 is placed on the positioning base 50, each threaded rod 62 passes through an orifice in the fixing disk 68 at the fixing point 54 corresponding to the foot 52 on which the threaded rod 62 in question is located.

Each threaded rod 62 comprises a lower portion 74 extending inside the corresponding foot 52. The lower portion 74 of the threaded rod 62 is for example screwed into a threaded section complementary to the threaded rod 62 inside the foot 52. As a variant, the lower portion 74 of the threaded rod 62 is welded inside the corresponding foot 52. According to another variant, the lower portion 74 is force-fitted into the corresponding foot 52.

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For each foot 52, the adjustment element 56 further comprises a support nut 64 on which the fixing disk 68 rests. The support nut 64 can be placed substantially at mid-height of an upper portion 76 of the threaded rod 62, the upper portion 76 of the threaded rod 62 extending outside the corresponding foot 52. The support nut 64 can be welded to the upper portion 76 of the threaded rod 62.

In the case where the insertion of the threaded rod 62 into the corresponding foot 52 is adjustable in height, adjustment element 56 comprises an adjustment nut 65 for the height of the upper portion 76 of the threaded rod 62. The adjustment nut 65 makes it possible to extend the threaded rod 62 more or less out of the foot 52.

The adjustment element 56 further comprises a retaining nut 69 pressing the fixing disc 68 against the support nut 64.

For each foot 52, the adjustment element 56 further comprises washers 72 on either side of the fixing disk 68 at the orifices. The rotation of the threaded rod 62, by means of the support nut 64, makes it possible to adjust the height of the threaded rod 62. The washers 72 are arranged to ensure the overall stability of the tank 12.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the positioning base 50 comprises at least one counterweight 58. The counterweight 58 makes it possible to prevent the tank 12 from tilting under the effect of the weight of the lye inlet 44 and lye outlet 46 pipes. The counterweight 58 therefore makes it possible to counteract the effect of an eccentric center of gravity G. The counterweight 58 is, for example, an outgrowth of the structure of

Positioning base 50.

The positioning base 50 comprises a hoop 60 of the feet 52. The hoop 60 has for example a disc shape which can be hollowed out in its center. The hoop rests on the ground and the feet 52 are fixed on an upper face of the hoop 60 according to four points arranged in a square on a peripheral portion of the hoop 60. In the example, the feet 52 are tangent to the perimeter of the hoop 60. Alternatively, the feet 52 can be placed at a distance from the perimeter of the hoop 60 in the direction of the center of the hoop 60. The feet 52 can be welded, glued, screwed or made in one piece with the hoop 60. The hoop 60 can have any shape

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BE2023/5630 geometric configuration not entailing I) any modification of the associated technical elements defined above and ii) any functionality of the device as a whole.

The counterweight 58 has a flat shape and extends in the same horizontal plane as that of the hoop 60 so as to be able to rest on the ground.

The counterweight 58 has for example a T shape, the base of the T being connected to a point on the periphery of the hoop 60, here, halfway between two feet 52. The counterweight 58 therefore projects from the hoop 60. The counterweight 58 extends from its base in the longitudinal direction L and ends with a transverse bar placed here under a portion of the lye outlet pipe 46 of minimum diameter C. The branches of the T have a width comparable to the diameter of the feet 52 in the horizontal plane. The thickness of the counterweight 58 is substantially equal to the thickness of the hoop 60.

The counterweight 58 can be welded, glued, screwed or made in one piece with the strapping 60.

The counterweight 58 may have any geometric configuration that does not entail I) any modification of the associated technical elements defined above and ii) any functionality of the device as a whole.

The lye filter unit 10 has a purge pipe 66 connected to the purge port 42. For greater modularity and additional adjustability, the purge pipe 66 is rotatable in a horizontal plane.

The presence of the adjustment elements 56 and the counterweight 58 allows for better stability of the lye filter unit 10 and a finer adjustment of the connections, in particular the lye inlet 44, lye outlet 46 or purge 66 pipes with the rest of the fluid circuit. This makes it possible in particular to avoid forcing the junctions and to avoid generating liquid leaks.

The preferred modes described above nevertheless allow any orientation of the lye filter unit 10 to be considered. Thus, the latter can be arranged in a horizontal main elongation direction or any main elongation direction included

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BE2023/5630 between the horizontal and vertical planes defined according to the reference V, L, T. Regardless of the orientation followed, all the technical characteristics associated with the geometric configurations of the lye filter unit 10 and constituent elements of the invention (positioning base 50, feet 52, counterweight 58, magnetic bars 38, basket 40, etc.) described in the description remain identical, giving a set of identical results. Depending on the orientation of the lye filter unit 10, the number of fixing disks 68 may exceed the unit with, for each of them, identical or different fixing means depending on the desired stability.

Claims (10)

2023/5630 14 BE2023/5630 CLAIMS 1. Lye filtering unit (10) capable of filtering ferrous residues and iron precipitates as well as any other impurity in an electrolyte solution resulting from an electrolysis unit, the filtering unit (10) comprising: - a tank (12) extending in either a main vertical elongation direction (A), or a main horizontal elongation direction, or any main elongation direction between the horizontal and vertical planes defined according to the reference V, L, T, and comprising a side wall (18), the lye filtering unit (10) being characterized in that it comprises a positioning base (50) comprising at least two feet (52) on which the tank (12) rests respectively at two points (54) distributed along the periphery of the side wall (18), each foot (52) comprising an adjustment element (56) for the height of the tank (12). 2. Lye filtering unit (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the positioning base (50) comprises more than two feet (52). 3. Lye filtering unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning base (50) comprises at least one counterweight (58). 4. Lye filtering unit (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the counterweight (58) is an outgrowth of the structure of the positioning base (50). 5. Lye filtering unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the counterweight (58) extends in a horizontal or vertical plane so as to be able to rest on the ground. 6. Lye filtering unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning base (50) comprises a ring (60) of the feet (52). 7. Lye filtering unit (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the counterweight (58) projects from the hoop (60). 2023/5630 12 BE2023/5630 8. Iye filter unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the counterweight (58) has a T shape or any of the geometric configurations (triangular, circular, etc.). 9. Lye filter unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment element (56) comprises at least one threaded rod (62) and at least one nut (64). 10. Lye filtering unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a purge orifice (42) in a lower face (14) of the tank (12) and a pipe (66) connected to the purge orifice (42) and orientable in a horizontal plane.