US1720995A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Description

' July 16, 1929. F. H. BUCK El AL 1,720,

- EpEc'r oLYTIc CELL Filed Dec 1925 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In ueniom: flank J1. Buck,

Philip JTFRaB Jay July 16, 1929. F. H. BUCK ET AL ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Dec. 5, 192's 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inuen l'ora Fnanlc Jf. Back, 2

Philip JZFRae,

Aflys:

Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,720,995 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. BUCK .AND PHILIP HOME, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNORS To THE JESSUP & MOORE PAPER 00., F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYIIVA'NLA, A 00B- PORA'IION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

nnucrnoLy'ric CELL.

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

While the cell of this invention is particu larly adapted for the production of those reagents, yet obviously, it may be used in the electrolysis of many materials.

' The principal object of the invention is the provision of a, cell of the 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 resistance to a minimum, thus increasing the power efliciency. 1

' 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 basket, which cathode is also provided with an inner portion upstanding from the bottom of the main basket and spaced from the basket 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 dia hragm, which when assembled, forms an as estos lined endless channel into which the anode slabs of graphite or the like are inserted, the slabs being spaced from the walls of they 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 clamp between itself and the cell casing the cathode and the diaphragm in a gas tight joint. The\head forms what maybe called a gas chamber from which the gaseous products of the electrolytic action may be removed for any desired purpose. 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 ma be conducted to an desired location. cans are also provide for automatically feeding in the electrolyte so as to maintain a constant electrolyte level in order that the operation of the cell may be continuous.

In another form the invention includes an outer cathode which the shorter end walls are removable therefrom, as well as the inner 5, 1925. Serial No. 73,447.

cathode ca e, so as to facilitate the lacing of new an the removal of old diapllragms thereto. In this latter form the inner cathode cage extends the full length of the outer cathode basket so as to form two el c'trolyte containing tanks or spaces, each having its own cells or anode slabs.

' The invention further consists of the novel arrangement, construction and combination of parts hereinafter shown and described.

We have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of our invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the. preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partlyin horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is transverse section.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the inner cathode member.

Fig. 5 is a ber.

Fig. 6 is a' horizontal section.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the outer basket of the modified form.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the inner cathode cage.

Referring now with particularity to the drawings, our invention is shown to consist of an outer cell casing designated at 1, wh1ch may be of any desired material, which is suitably mounted upon insulators 2 rest1ng upon the blocks or pedestals 3.

At the upper edges of the side walls of thecasing 1 we provide angle rons 4 suitably bolted to the Wall of the casing 1, w h1ch are adapted to support a flange 5 on the side walls of the outer cathode member, indicated generally at 6. The angle iron 4 may be placed below the top of the side walls of the container, so that the projection of the side wall detail of the outer basket memabove the angle will overlap all joints between head, outer cathode, and container, thus forming a double seal by filling the above socket-with a suitable cement.

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 having flanges 5 at its upper ends, wlnchflanges are adapted to rest upon and be supported by g the angle irons 4.

Within the outer cathode member is located 05 an inner cathode member 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, which beam is provided with bolts 9 extending through the bottom of the cathode cage 7. The bolts 9 are adapted to project through corresponding apertures 10 in the cathode basket 6 and a similar section of U beam 11 applied to the bottom of the basket 6 where upon nuts 12 may be used to bolt the basket and the cage together to form substantially a. unitary structure. a

A diaphragm 13 of sheet asbestos or the like, is to be applied to the inside of the cathode basket-G and the outside of the cathode cage 7, as by means of sodium silicate or the like, so that the entire cathode has its inner surface covered by said diaphragm and is adapted to receive the electrolyte, as will be more fully described hereinafter. At the upper longitudinal edges ofthe basket cathode 6 we provide bus bars 14, which bars may be of iron, copper, or other material, and welded, brazed, or otherwise aflixed to the flanges 5. This busbar 14' serves as the negative electrode.

A gas chamber or head 15 is provided, which is composed preferably of a molded form of 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 the gas head 15 rest directly upon the diaphragm 13 which 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 acid- I proof cement so that when the head is pinched upon the bus bars 14 the cement within the channel will make a fluid at that point.

The gas head wh'ch we have found advantageous consists of an open bottom and top box, which is adapted to be closed by section covers 17, 18 and 19, adapted to rest 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 ada ted to be sealed, not necessarily ermanent y, with a cement of any desired c aracter, 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 conslsts principally of a plurality of carbon slabs 22 which are sup orted upon the section covers 17, 18 and 19 y means of pins 23 passing through the slabs, the slabs proper projecting through suitable apertures in the cover sections and extending into the space between the basket and cage cathodes nearly to the bottom thereof, and spaced from the walls thereof by means of the rubber stops 24.-

tight resistant joint The upper ends of the anode slabs are connected together as by means of the positiv bus bar 25, to which current is supplied a desired.

Supported upon an L-iron 26 secured t the outside wall of the cell casing is a floa container 27 which is adapted to receive th float 28 having a stopper or valve 29 connect ed thereto to control the flow of electrolyt supplied through the inlet 30. Such float ant valve is adapted to maintain a constant love in the float receptacle 27, said electrolyte flow ing from the float receptacle into the interio' of the cell through the aperture 31.

A gas ofl'take 32 penetrating one of the sec tion covers 19, is provided for conducting away the chlorine produced as a result of th desired reaction, said ofltake being connecte with a main conduit 33.

A pipe 34 is also secured in the Wall of th' casing 1 so as to take care of any gaseous prod ucts liberated on the outside of the diaphragn 13, that is, between the diaphragm and tln outer cell casing. This pipe 34 also connect: with a conduit 35 so that the gases thus pro duced may be taken away.

The cell casing proper, 1, is provided witl a trap 36 through which the liquid materia produced as a result of the reaction may flow a ditch 37 being provided to conduct this ma terial to the desired location.

The operation of the device is as follows A saturated solution of sodium chloride is fed through the inlet 30 until the level of elec .trolyte in the cathode has risen well up mm the gas head. Owing to the fact that tlu cathode basket and cage are lined with an asbestos diaphragm, the electrolyte will not pas through this material, but will be container therein.

Upon completing the circuit the sodiuxr chloride in solution Will be decomposed, tlu chlorine migrating to and being liberated at the surface of the carbon electrodes so that the gas as such rises through the electrolyte into the gas head and passes out of the offtake 32 into the conduit 33. The sodium of the sodium chloride migrates through the diaphragm covering the basket and cage cathodes, to the cathode, and is there liberated. and as soon as liberated, reacts with the water present to form caustic soda 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 and passes out of the trap 36 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 opened as soon as the level of the electrolyte within the cell has lowered.

In the modified form of. the device, as shown in Fig. 6, we have made the inner cage cathode of substantially the full length of the outer basket cathode, which forms in effect removable end plate 42 of the outer basket cathode is" adapted to be bolted directly to the flanges 44 on the ends thereof so that the application of the asbestos diaphragm to the end Walls is facilitated greatly. It will be understood that the diaphragm may be applied to the plate 42 and then the plate bolted into place against the flanges 44:.

The operation of the modified form of cell is identical with that of the preferred form, so thata description thereof will not be entered into here.

It is to be understood that in the claims where. We refer to the cage portion of the cathode, that we desire to cover the cage words,,we do not wish to be limited by this term to a cage which extends the entire length of the basket portion of the cathode, butv intend to cover any kind of a cathode portion which is normally closed to the electrolyte.

Reference is heremade to our co-pending divisignal application #173,731 filed March Having thus described our invention, what we claim is z-- p I 1. An electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode of endless channel form therein and covered with a diaphragm, and a plurality of anode slabs projecting into the cathode channel, and spacing members carried by said anode slabs for spacing the anodes from the cathode walls. i

. 2. An electrolytic cell comprising a con tainer, a perforated cathode therein comprising an outer basket and an inner cage, the outer walls of the cage. and-theinner walls of the basket being covered with a diaphragm and adapted to contain an electrolyte in the chamber formed therebetween, a gas chambe'r superimposed on the walls of the container, said perforated cage cathode projecting within the gas chamber.

3. An electrolytic cell comprising a container, abasket cathode portionsupported by flanged upper edges upon the container, a cage cathode portion spaced between longitudinal walls of the basket portion and secured to the bottom thereof, the exposed portion of the bottom of the basket portion of the cathode being active, both cage and basket being covered by a dia hragm, a gas head resting on the upper ang'ed edges of the basket portion and supported upon the con-" tainer, and anode slabs projecting through the gas head top into the space between cage and asket portion and means to feed electrolyte into the same space, the top of the cage portion. of the cathode being above the top of the basket portion andnormally submerged in the electrolyte.

4. An electrolytic ,cell comprising a container, a cathode therein comprisingan outer basket and an inner cage, a diaphragm covering cage and basket, said basket having flanged upper edges supported upon the container, a gas head resting-upon the flanged edges, the top of the cage being above the top of, the basket and normally submerged in the electrolyte.

' 5. An electrolytic cell comprising a contain er, a cathode having flanged upper edges supported by the container, a diaphragm covering the cathode, a gas head comprising vertical walls corresponding to the container walls and resting upon the flanged cathode edges, a cover for the gas head, and clamping means engaging gas head and container to shown in Fig. 2. as well as in Fig. 6. In other insure a tight joint between gas head, cathode and container, said cover being free from said clamping means, and an anode projecting through the gas head cover.

6. An electrolytic cell comprising an inner and an outer perforated cathode having spacedapart vertical walls to form an .elec-.

trolyt receiving chamber therebetween, a diaphragm covering the inner face of the outer cathode, a diaphragm covering the outer face ofthe inner cathode a portionof' the outer cathode diaphragm being clamped between the inner and outer cathodes, an'anode projecting between cathodes, and means beneath the cathodes for; catching. the liquid eflluent dripping therefrom.

7 An electrolytic cell com risingan inner and an outer cathode, a diap ragm covering both cathodes, the diaphragm for the outer cathode passing beneath the inner cathode, anan ode between the cathodes, and means be neath the cathodes for catching eflluent dripping therefrom.

v 8. An electrolytic cell comprising an oiit-. er basket cathode and an inner cage cathode,

a sheet diaphragm covering the inner vertical walls and bottom of the basket, a sheet diaphragm covering, the outer vertical walls and top of the cage, the cage restin on the diahragm on the bottom of the has et, an anode between cathodes, -and means beneath the cathodes for catching efliuent dripping therefrom.

In testimony whereof,iwe afiix our signa tilres.

FRANK H. BUCK. PHILIP McRAE.

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