RU2001108582A - MEMBRANES SEPARATED BIPOLAR MULTI-CHAMBER ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTOR - Google Patents

Claims (6)

1. A bipolar multi-chamber electrochemical reactor separated by membranes for reducing and oxidizing reactions on half cells in the corresponding positively and negatively charged liquid electrolytes without gas evolution, including many alternating elements with a bipolar plate electrode and elements with an ion-exchange separation membrane that form a flow chamber for positively charged electrolyte on one side of each membrane and a flow chamber for negatively electrolyte from its opposite side, assembled together with ensuring tightness in the form of a filter-press structure between two end electrode elements, electrically connected to an electrical circuit that functionally includes an electric voltage source that causes a current through an electrochemical reactor, or an electric load that consumes current from an electrochemical reactor, wherein elements with a bipolar plate electrode and elements with an ion-exchange separation membrane include a frame of electrically non-conductive and chemically resistant material, interacting with the means forming the gaskets, and having through holes and recesses in coordinated places, which, after assembly, form lines for separate cascade circulation of the negatively charged electrolyte and positively charged electrolyte, respectively, in all flow-through chambers for a negatively charged electrolyte and in all flow chambers for a positively charged electrolyte, characterized in that all frames of elements with a bipolar plate electrode and elements with an ion-exchange dividing membrane have an internal flange part, which is made in the form of a recess on the side of the first flat surface of the frame, while on the opposite side of the other surface of the frame there are grooves for accommodating ring gaskets around the openings for through passage electrolyte and along the outer perimeter of the sealing material and at the same time on the inner flange part of the frame is placed passing along the perimeter of the a corresponding bipolar plate electrode or ion exchange dividing membrane; a plurality of latches protrude outward from the surface of the indicated flange portion and pass through the holes of the perimeter portion of the plate electrode or separation membrane located on the flange portion; the fixing counterflange made of electrically non-conductive and chemically resistant material has openings coordinated with the positions of the indicated latches and is functionally mounted above the perimetral part of the plate electrode or the separation membrane on the flange of the frame made in the form of a recess and is permanently fixed to it using flattened hot condition of the heads of the retainers protruding from the coordinated holes of the counterflange; moreover, pre-assembled elements with a bipolar plate electrode and elements with a dividing membrane are made with the possibility of alternately stacking them in the foot in a horizontal position, while the other surface of the frames carrying the O-rings is facing up.  2. The electrochemical reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the other surface and the first flat surface of each frame are made with a plurality of pins and sockets designed respectively for coupling and alignment, while they differ in shape from one another, which prevents the elements from being stacked with bipolar electrode and elements with an ion-exchange dividing membrane in the foot in the wrong order of alternation and / or with the wrong orientation.  3. The electrochemical reactor according to claim 1, in which the inner flange parts, bipolar plate electrodes and ion-exchange separation membranes are rectangular and the frames have convex outer sides.  4. The electrochemical reactor of claim 1, wherein the flow directions of the negatively charged electrolyte and positively charged electrolyte in the respective flow chambers along opposite sides of each ion-exchange separation membrane are opposite to each other.  5. The electrochemical reactor of claim 1, wherein each of the bipolar plate electrodes consists of a fluid-impermeable, electrically conductive plate having on its opposite surfaces porous, fluid-permeable, three-dimensional electrode structures in the form of a felt base or carbon material fibers attached to ensure electrical continuity to the electrically conductive plate, while the electrolyte enters the electrode chamber along one side and leaves the chamber from the opposite oh side; and further characterized in that the porous electrode structure has two separate comb-like channel networks, wherein the finger-shaped channels of one channel network are substantially parallel to each other and interspersed with substantially parallel finger-shaped channels of another channel network; moreover, the first comb-like network of channels, or the network of intake channels, has a basic, or acting as a collector, channel passing along the side of the chamber through which the electrolyte is supplied to the chamber, and the second network of channels, or a network of drain channels, has its own basic, or performing a collector, a channel extending along the opposite side through which electrolyte exits the chamber; in this case, all the finger-shaped channels of one channel network pass from the base, or acting as a collector, channel and end slightly before reaching the channel collector acting as another channel network.  6. The electrochemical reactor according to claim 1, wherein the lines for separate circulation of each of the negatively charged and positively charged electrolytes, formed through holes through the entire thickness of each frame of elements with a bipolar plate electrode and elements with an ion-exchange separation membrane, are formed using two or more holes located at some distance from each other along one side of a substantially rectangular frame.