US1701346A - Electrolytic apparatus and method of operation - Google Patents

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Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,346

' E. THOMSON n vELI-ICTROLY'I.'IC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATION vFiled March 25. 1926 .2 Sheets-Sheet. l

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E; THOMSON ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD oF OPERATION Filed March 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fn Vento/,- E//hu Th @m50/7.

.tzs O/-ney Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES ELIHU THOMSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OIF OPERATION.

Application filed March 25, 1926. Serial No. 97,376.

The present invention relates to the con'-4 struction of electrolytic apparatus and in particular to apparatus used for the electro lytic production of oxygen and hydrogen from water.

In apparatus of this type a limitation 1s imposed by, the slowness with which gas bubbles separate from the electrodes .and ascend through the electrolyte. lVhen 1t 1s attempted to increase the current density 111 order to speedup the production of gas, then the collection of gas bubbles at the electrodes unduly increases theelectric resistance of the device.

In accordance with my invention this dificulty is overcome by providing an apparatus wherein the electrolyte is subjected to centrifugal force to promote the separation of gas bubbles from the electrodes. l

My improved apparatus comprises a plurality of cells of annular form arranged around an axis of a hollow shaft having twol compartments communicating with the electrolytic cells by a plurality of ducts so arranged that hydrogen is delivered to one compartment of the hollow shaft and oxygen to the other compartment of the shaft. A

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation and partly in section, my improved apparatus as a whole; Figs. 2 and 3 are end elevations, the latter rbeing partly in section to show the interior structure; Fig. 4 is a fragmental View of one portion of the periphery of the appa- `ratus which shows the arrangement of the electrode plates in the construction; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail' views illustrating the structure of the electrolytic cells; and Fig. 7 in a diagrammatic way illustrates the electric connections and the path of the current through the cells.

As' shown in Fig. 1', an electric apparatus is rotatably mounted upon the `pedestals 1 and 2 which is supported upon a base 3. Rotation is vsecured by a pulley wheel 5. The hollow shaft 4 contains the compartments 6 and 7 which are separated from each other' bythe wall 8, and which serve for the collection of the gases produced at the opposite electrodes. from the compartments through the hollow s haft by the conduits 9, 10, which communicate with the rotating shaft through stuffing boxes. Annular4 cells are arranged around the hollow shaft as indicated in Fig. 1, thecells being separated by the plates 12. These,

The gases are carried away plates, together with the end plates 13, 14, all consisting of nickel or iron, serve as electrodesl for carrying out the electrolysis.. of the electrolyte 15 which, during rotation of the apparatus is forced to the periphery of the apparatus. As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the cud plates 13, 14 acting as terminal electrodes are connected by the slip rings 16, 17

through the intermediary of the electric Fig. 1 the bentover ends of the plates 12 are f turned tothe right and the left to secure the insulating rings 24 in proper relation to the electrode plates. Each of the'cells are divided intermediate the electrodes by a porous septum-25 consisting of asbestos cloth, ibre, or other suitable material. Openings 27, 28 are provided through the insulating vrings 23 whereby the alternate halves of the cells communicate With the respect-ive chambers 6,

l7 so that the gases produced at the opposite electrodes for example, oxygen and hydroogen, are separately collected. `This cell structure is held together by the longitudinal rods 29 which pass through holes in the cars 3l) and the insulated nuts 31.

As shown in li`igs.3, 5 and 6 one or more transverseA partitionsI 32, 33 are provided whereby the electrolyte during the beginning of revolution'is caught up and set into motion. Openings 34, 35, are provided as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to permit the level of" the electrolyte to be equalized. lVater 'may be supplied to the electrolyte to make up for decomposition and losses by a pipe 38 provided with a valve 39 and communicating with the hollow shaft lthrough a stuling bex.

During revolution the electrolyte (an aqueous alkaline solution, for example) is thrown outwardly against the periphery, forcing the gases toward the centre, the difference in inertia between the container and the electrolyte assisting in stripping the gas bubbles from the electrodes. The current passes transversely across the stack of cells as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7 for two cells. The apparatus permits o f operation at high current density without deleterious frothing or heating.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. An eleetrolytic apparatus Comprising,l the combination of a rotatable receptacle having a hollow shaft, means for providing' therein a plurality ofa annular eleotrolytie cells arranged in stacked relation at right angles to the axis of rotation of said receptacle, permeable partitions sub-dfidin;rv said cells and means comprisingY said shaft for separately collecting gases from the positive and negative halves of said cells. w

2. An electrolytie apparatus comprising a rotatable receptacle having' a hollow shaft, a plurality of electro-des therein arrangedv substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said receptacle and means comprising separate portions of said hollow shaft for carrying away during` rotation gases evolved at opposite electrodes during the electrolysis of an electrolyte in said apparatus.

3. An electrolytie apparatus comprising a rotatable receptacle having a hollow shaft, a partition subdividimgr said Shaft into separate chambers, a plurality of electrolytio cells spaced about said shaft, means for subdivid: ing' said cells,'conduits`conununieating from corresponding portions of said cells and said chambers Ito separately rolleet said gases there generated and mean for carryingy away .said gases during rotation. f

In wil ness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of March. 1926.

ELIHU THOMSON.

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