CA1114776A - Electric current lead-in for electrolytic cells - Google Patents
Electric current lead-in for electrolytic cellsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1114776A CA1114776A CA324,171A CA324171A CA1114776A CA 1114776 A CA1114776 A CA 1114776A CA 324171 A CA324171 A CA 324171A CA 1114776 A CA1114776 A CA 1114776A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tubular member
- vessel
- electrolyte
- annular flange
- wall
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
- C25B9/60—Constructional parts of cells
- C25B9/65—Means for supplying current; Electrode connections; Electric inter-cell connections
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
An electric current lead-in for electrolytic cells wherein a tubular member so shields the lead-in connector that said connector connects to the electrode(s) in the cell in the total absence of the electrolyte in such cell.
An electric current lead-in for electrolytic cells wherein a tubular member so shields the lead-in connector that said connector connects to the electrode(s) in the cell in the total absence of the electrolyte in such cell.
Description
7~ :
ELECTRIC CURRENT LEAD-IN FOR ELECTROL~TIC CELLS
This invention relates to an electrolytic cell, and more particularly to electric current lead-in means for said cell.
Electrolytic cells for making such products as chlorine and caustic, and for the electrolysis of water, hydrochloric acid and the like, usuall~ comprise a vessel for containing the electrolyte, electrodes positioned witllin the vessel and in contact with the electrolyte and electric current lead-in means for conveying electricity from a suitable source to the electrodes within the cell. Lead-in conductors are made of a highly electrically conductive metal such as copper which is subject to intense corrosive attack by the electrolyte within the vessel. Such corrosive attack is enhanced by electrochemical reactions, par-ticularly adjacent the point where the lead-in conductor attaches to the electrode. Another problem involves power loss due to leakage of current from the conductor to other metallic parts of the cell. Protection of the lead-in conductors have been achieved in various ways.
For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,511,766 proposes the use of a titanium tube around the conductor. U.S. Patent No. 3,463,7~2 di.scloses a lead-in conductor having a 27,264-F t ~?~ :
~-~
, . . .. ,. ~ _~
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.
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. .
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copper core, a shell of a resistant metal such as tita~
nium formed about the core and a skin of a metal such as platimim covering this shell.
The present invention particularly resides in an electrolytic cell comprising a vessel adapted to con-tain ~n electrolyte and having at least one.aperture formed in a wall thereof, one or more electrodes ~ositioned within the vessel and in contact with the electrolyte and having a flat impervious sur~ace, a tubular ~ember ~xtending throug}l the aperture in the vessel wall, a fi.rst annular flange on one end of the tubular rne~.l~er, nleans for f~stening said flange to the e].ectrode ~ith.in the vessel on said flat impervious su.rface thereof .so that tlle interior of the tubular member is closed off from tlle interior o the vessel, a second anmllar flange on the other end of the tubular member, means for fastenin~3 the second annular flange to the wall of said vessel adjacent the aperture ~or:r.ed therein, both said fastell.i.ng means being such as to prevent electrolyte from passing therethrough, and an elongated connector extending Iongitudinally through the tubular member but spa~ed therefrom, said connector being attached at one end to saiA electrode and at the other end to a source of electric power.
~ .
The invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one el~odiment of the invention and Figure 2 is a cross ~0 sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
In the drawings, a vessel (not shown) for containing electrol~te has a wall 11 with an interior ~ .
27,264-F
.
: : , - ': : ', ' .
' ' surface 12 and an exterior surface 13. Wall 11 may be made of a wide variety of corrosion resistant materials, such as cement, fiber reinforced synthetic resinous materials or corrosion resistant metal such as titanium.
In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fiyures 1 and 2, a nozzle 14 is formed in the wall 11.
The nozzle 14 may be molded as a part of the wall 11 or attached to the wall 11 by an annular flange secured to the wall by bolts, welding or other suitable fastening means (not shown).
A tubular member 15 extends into the vessel through an aperture lG formed by the nozzle 14 in the wall 11 of the vessel. The tubular member 15 may be made of a suitable material that is resistant to cor-rosion by the electrolyte inside the vessel. Metalssuch as titanium are widely used for such purposes, but synthetic resinous materials such as the fluori-nated polyethylene compounds or polyvinyl chlorides, either alone or containing fillers and/or fibers, are preferred because of their lower cost. Also, synthetic resinous materials tend to reduce power loss because ~ -they are essentially nonconductors of electricity.
An inwardly extending annular flange 17 is formed on the end of the tubular member 15 that is positioned within the vessel. A plurality of bolts 18, mounted in backboard 20 pass through the flange 17 and through a gasket 19 positioned between the flange and formed of a suitable electrically conductive - material. The backboard 20 has a flat, liquid and gas impervious surface 20a against which the tubular member 15 abuts in such a manner as to close off the interior 26 of the tubular member 15 from the interior 27,264-F
,; '' ~ ' ~t~
12 of the vessel. When a plurality of mlts 21, which are threaded onto the bolts 1~, are tightened, pressure exerted between the backboard 20 and annular flange 17 on the gasket 19 prevents electrolyte within the vessel from reaching the interior 26 of the tubular member 15.
Furthermore, the nuts 21 aré not exposed to corrosive li~uids or gases in the cell. The backboard 20 acts as a connector to a multiplicity of electrodes mounted in the electrolytic cells. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that it is immaterial for purposes of this invention whether the annular flange 17 is fastened directly to an electrode within the vessel or indirect]y through a backboard 20 or other type of connector.
An outer end of the tubular member 15 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 30 which is fastened by a plurality of bolts 22 to a companion annular flange 23 formed on the outer end of nozzle 14. A gasket 24 is interposed between the flanges 30 and 23 and is placed under sealing compres-sion by tightening a plurality of nuts 25 on the bolts 22 to prevent leakage of electrolyte out of the vessel.
As a result, the entire interior 26 of the tubular member 15 is free from electrolyte and from gases produced during the electrolytic process.
A connector 27 extends longitudinally through the tubular member 15 but spaced therefrom, and is con-nected to the backboard 20 by any suitable means such as welding or bolting. The connector 27 is usually made - 30 of copper or other highly electrically conductive metal and, in the embodiment illustrated, is represented as a rod or bus bar having a circular cross-section. The 27,264-F
- ~
.. . ~ .. ..
- ~ ~
, connector may, of course, ta]ce many forms such as multi-ple wire cable or a woven wire flat cable. The outer end 28 of the connector 27 is connected to a suitable source of electric power, depending upon the nature of the electrolytic cell being operated. It is of par-ticular interest to note that the area 29 immediately adjacent the point where the connector 27 is attached to the bac~oard 20 is free from electrolyte. Con-se~uently, corrosion of the connector 27 is essentially eliminated, and power loss at points such as area 29 is greatly reduced from that which is experienced when this connection is made in the presence of electrolyte.
. .
Corrosion problems are particularly trouble-some in cells containing highly acid or basic electro-lytes, and especially in those electrolytic processeswhere highly reactive gases are formed~ Current lead-in devices in such situations may be subjected to corrosive action by both liquid electrolyte and the reactive gases.
The use of the present invention in such electrolytic cells eliminates this severe corrosion problem.
It will be apparent to any one skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made in the embodi-ment shown without departing from the present invention.
For example, flange 30 of the tubular member 15 may be attached directly to the outer surface 13 of the wall 11. A nozzle 14 is preferred, however, because this permits ready access to bolts 22 for repair purposes entirely outside the vèssel. Annular flanges 17 and 30 may be attached by welding, cementing or by bolts or screws. Also, alternate forms of gasket and bolt combina-tions may be employed. Annular flange 17 may extend outwardly from the tubular member 15 in the same manner 27,264-F
as flange 30. It is further apparent that a multiplicity of nozzles may be formed in the cell walls and that many tubular members 15 may be attached to one or more backboards 20.
As used in this specification and claims, the phrase "fastening to the electrodes" is meant to include both direct attachment as well as the indirect attach-ment illustrated in the drawings. Furthermore, the term "wall" is used in the specification and the claims to include any enclosing portion, such as top, bottom or sides, of the vessel forming the container for the electrolytic cell.
.
27,264-F
:
- , , . , , -, . , . . , , ., ., .. . , . . . -- . ~ . -. . - . .
. . - -:: ... - - : , - .
. , -:. . - - . , . , : -: ~, ~:
.: . . , , ~ : . , .
- . :
. .
ELECTRIC CURRENT LEAD-IN FOR ELECTROL~TIC CELLS
This invention relates to an electrolytic cell, and more particularly to electric current lead-in means for said cell.
Electrolytic cells for making such products as chlorine and caustic, and for the electrolysis of water, hydrochloric acid and the like, usuall~ comprise a vessel for containing the electrolyte, electrodes positioned witllin the vessel and in contact with the electrolyte and electric current lead-in means for conveying electricity from a suitable source to the electrodes within the cell. Lead-in conductors are made of a highly electrically conductive metal such as copper which is subject to intense corrosive attack by the electrolyte within the vessel. Such corrosive attack is enhanced by electrochemical reactions, par-ticularly adjacent the point where the lead-in conductor attaches to the electrode. Another problem involves power loss due to leakage of current from the conductor to other metallic parts of the cell. Protection of the lead-in conductors have been achieved in various ways.
For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,511,766 proposes the use of a titanium tube around the conductor. U.S. Patent No. 3,463,7~2 di.scloses a lead-in conductor having a 27,264-F t ~?~ :
~-~
, . . .. ,. ~ _~
:' : ~', '.
.
:' ' , , ~ . . ' ' .. ' ' ' .
. .
,: . , - '' ' , . . ' , ' ' ~ .
. . -2- ~1477~
copper core, a shell of a resistant metal such as tita~
nium formed about the core and a skin of a metal such as platimim covering this shell.
The present invention particularly resides in an electrolytic cell comprising a vessel adapted to con-tain ~n electrolyte and having at least one.aperture formed in a wall thereof, one or more electrodes ~ositioned within the vessel and in contact with the electrolyte and having a flat impervious sur~ace, a tubular ~ember ~xtending throug}l the aperture in the vessel wall, a fi.rst annular flange on one end of the tubular rne~.l~er, nleans for f~stening said flange to the e].ectrode ~ith.in the vessel on said flat impervious su.rface thereof .so that tlle interior of the tubular member is closed off from tlle interior o the vessel, a second anmllar flange on the other end of the tubular member, means for fastenin~3 the second annular flange to the wall of said vessel adjacent the aperture ~or:r.ed therein, both said fastell.i.ng means being such as to prevent electrolyte from passing therethrough, and an elongated connector extending Iongitudinally through the tubular member but spa~ed therefrom, said connector being attached at one end to saiA electrode and at the other end to a source of electric power.
~ .
The invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one el~odiment of the invention and Figure 2 is a cross ~0 sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
In the drawings, a vessel (not shown) for containing electrol~te has a wall 11 with an interior ~ .
27,264-F
.
: : , - ': : ', ' .
' ' surface 12 and an exterior surface 13. Wall 11 may be made of a wide variety of corrosion resistant materials, such as cement, fiber reinforced synthetic resinous materials or corrosion resistant metal such as titanium.
In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fiyures 1 and 2, a nozzle 14 is formed in the wall 11.
The nozzle 14 may be molded as a part of the wall 11 or attached to the wall 11 by an annular flange secured to the wall by bolts, welding or other suitable fastening means (not shown).
A tubular member 15 extends into the vessel through an aperture lG formed by the nozzle 14 in the wall 11 of the vessel. The tubular member 15 may be made of a suitable material that is resistant to cor-rosion by the electrolyte inside the vessel. Metalssuch as titanium are widely used for such purposes, but synthetic resinous materials such as the fluori-nated polyethylene compounds or polyvinyl chlorides, either alone or containing fillers and/or fibers, are preferred because of their lower cost. Also, synthetic resinous materials tend to reduce power loss because ~ -they are essentially nonconductors of electricity.
An inwardly extending annular flange 17 is formed on the end of the tubular member 15 that is positioned within the vessel. A plurality of bolts 18, mounted in backboard 20 pass through the flange 17 and through a gasket 19 positioned between the flange and formed of a suitable electrically conductive - material. The backboard 20 has a flat, liquid and gas impervious surface 20a against which the tubular member 15 abuts in such a manner as to close off the interior 26 of the tubular member 15 from the interior 27,264-F
,; '' ~ ' ~t~
12 of the vessel. When a plurality of mlts 21, which are threaded onto the bolts 1~, are tightened, pressure exerted between the backboard 20 and annular flange 17 on the gasket 19 prevents electrolyte within the vessel from reaching the interior 26 of the tubular member 15.
Furthermore, the nuts 21 aré not exposed to corrosive li~uids or gases in the cell. The backboard 20 acts as a connector to a multiplicity of electrodes mounted in the electrolytic cells. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that it is immaterial for purposes of this invention whether the annular flange 17 is fastened directly to an electrode within the vessel or indirect]y through a backboard 20 or other type of connector.
An outer end of the tubular member 15 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 30 which is fastened by a plurality of bolts 22 to a companion annular flange 23 formed on the outer end of nozzle 14. A gasket 24 is interposed between the flanges 30 and 23 and is placed under sealing compres-sion by tightening a plurality of nuts 25 on the bolts 22 to prevent leakage of electrolyte out of the vessel.
As a result, the entire interior 26 of the tubular member 15 is free from electrolyte and from gases produced during the electrolytic process.
A connector 27 extends longitudinally through the tubular member 15 but spaced therefrom, and is con-nected to the backboard 20 by any suitable means such as welding or bolting. The connector 27 is usually made - 30 of copper or other highly electrically conductive metal and, in the embodiment illustrated, is represented as a rod or bus bar having a circular cross-section. The 27,264-F
- ~
.. . ~ .. ..
- ~ ~
, connector may, of course, ta]ce many forms such as multi-ple wire cable or a woven wire flat cable. The outer end 28 of the connector 27 is connected to a suitable source of electric power, depending upon the nature of the electrolytic cell being operated. It is of par-ticular interest to note that the area 29 immediately adjacent the point where the connector 27 is attached to the bac~oard 20 is free from electrolyte. Con-se~uently, corrosion of the connector 27 is essentially eliminated, and power loss at points such as area 29 is greatly reduced from that which is experienced when this connection is made in the presence of electrolyte.
. .
Corrosion problems are particularly trouble-some in cells containing highly acid or basic electro-lytes, and especially in those electrolytic processeswhere highly reactive gases are formed~ Current lead-in devices in such situations may be subjected to corrosive action by both liquid electrolyte and the reactive gases.
The use of the present invention in such electrolytic cells eliminates this severe corrosion problem.
It will be apparent to any one skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made in the embodi-ment shown without departing from the present invention.
For example, flange 30 of the tubular member 15 may be attached directly to the outer surface 13 of the wall 11. A nozzle 14 is preferred, however, because this permits ready access to bolts 22 for repair purposes entirely outside the vèssel. Annular flanges 17 and 30 may be attached by welding, cementing or by bolts or screws. Also, alternate forms of gasket and bolt combina-tions may be employed. Annular flange 17 may extend outwardly from the tubular member 15 in the same manner 27,264-F
as flange 30. It is further apparent that a multiplicity of nozzles may be formed in the cell walls and that many tubular members 15 may be attached to one or more backboards 20.
As used in this specification and claims, the phrase "fastening to the electrodes" is meant to include both direct attachment as well as the indirect attach-ment illustrated in the drawings. Furthermore, the term "wall" is used in the specification and the claims to include any enclosing portion, such as top, bottom or sides, of the vessel forming the container for the electrolytic cell.
.
27,264-F
:
- , , . , , -, . , . . , , ., ., .. . , . . . -- . ~ . -. . - . .
. . - -:: ... - - : , - .
. , -:. . - - . , . , : -: ~, ~:
.: . . , , ~ : . , .
- . :
. .
Claims (3)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED IS DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An electrolytic cell comprising a vessel adapted to contain an electrolyte and having at least one aperture formed in a wall thereof, one or more electrodes positioned within the vessel and in contact with the electrolyte and having a flat impervious sur-face, a tubular member extending through the aperture in the vessel wall, a first annular flange on one end of the tubular member, means for fastening said flange to the electrode within the vessel on said flat impervious surface thereof so that the interior of the tubular member is closed off from the interior of the vessel, a second annular flange on the other end of the tubular member, means for fastening the second annular flange to the wall of said vessel adjacent the aperture formed therein, both said fastening means being such as to prevent electrolyte from passing therethrough, and an elongated connector extending longitudinally through the tubular member but spaced therefrom, said connector being attached at one end to said electrode and at the other end to a source of electric power.
2. An electrolytic cell in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first annular flange extends inwardly from the tubular member.
3. In an electrolytic cell comprising a vessel for containing electrolyte, a nozzle in a wall of the vessel which provides an aperture through said wall, one or more electrodes positioned within the vessel in contact with electrolyte, means for connecting the electrodes, said means having a flat impervious surface thereon, the improvement which comprises a tubular member extending through the aperture provided by said nozzle, a first annular flange on one end of the tubular member, means for fastening said first flange to the means for interconnecting the electrodes within the vessel on a flat impervious surface thereof so that the interior of the tubular member is closed off from the interior of the vessel, a second annular flange on the other end of the tubular member, means for fastening the second flange to the nozzle adjacent the aperture provided thereby, both said fastening means being such as to prevent electrolyte from passing therethrough and into the interior of the tubular member, and an elongated connector extending longi-tudinally through the tubular member but spaced therefrom, said connector being attached at one end to the flat impervious surface of said electrodes and at the other end to a source of electrical power.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA324,171A CA1114776A (en) | 1979-03-26 | 1979-03-26 | Electric current lead-in for electrolytic cells |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA324,171A CA1114776A (en) | 1979-03-26 | 1979-03-26 | Electric current lead-in for electrolytic cells |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA1114776A true CA1114776A (en) | 1981-12-22 |
Family
ID=4113824
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA324,171A Expired CA1114776A (en) | 1979-03-26 | 1979-03-26 | Electric current lead-in for electrolytic cells |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CA (1) | CA1114776A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-03-26 CA CA324,171A patent/CA1114776A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
MKEX | Expiry |