EP0492551B1 - Jumper switch means and method of electrically bypassing an electrolyzer - Google Patents

Jumper switch means and method of electrically bypassing an electrolyzer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0492551B1
EP0492551B1 EP91122025A EP91122025A EP0492551B1 EP 0492551 B1 EP0492551 B1 EP 0492551B1 EP 91122025 A EP91122025 A EP 91122025A EP 91122025 A EP91122025 A EP 91122025A EP 0492551 B1 EP0492551 B1 EP 0492551B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrolyzer
switch means
jumper switch
extension arms
jumper
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP91122025A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0492551A1 (en
Inventor
Pierluigi Attilio Vittorio Borrione
Maurizio Marzupio
Gregory Jean Eldon Morris
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
De Nora SpA
Original Assignee
Permelec SpA
De Nora Permelec SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Permelec SpA, De Nora Permelec SpA filed Critical Permelec SpA
Publication of EP0492551A1 publication Critical patent/EP0492551A1/en
Priority to US08/024,194 priority Critical patent/US5346596A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0492551B1 publication Critical patent/EP0492551B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/002—Very heavy-current switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • 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
    • C25B9/66—Electric inter-cell connections including jumper switches

Definitions

  • Electrolyzers such as membrane electrolyzers of the chlor-alkali filter-press type for the electrolysis of sodium chloride are susceptible to damage when disconnecting one electrolyzer from a series of electrolyzers in a circuit.
  • One type of damage affects the electrocatalytically active coating on the cathode surface of the electrolyzer to be bypassed and it is caused by reverse current flow; damage will also occur if excessive current passes through individual cells of the electrolyzers adjacent to the electrolyzer to be bypassed as a consequence of shifting the current flow to those cells closest to the bypass switch connection.
  • the novel electrical jumper switch means of the invention for electric current bypass of at least one electrolyzer consisting of individual electrolysis cells, out of a plurality of monopolar electrolyzers connected in series to an electrical power source characterized in that said jumper switch means comprises a multiplicity of extension arms suitable for connection to the anodic contact point of each individual cell of the electrolyzer preceding the electrolyzer to be bypassed and a multiplicity of extension arms suitable for connection to the cathodic contact point of each individual cell of the electrolyzer immediately following the electrolyzer to be bypassed, said jumper switch means comprising a resistor means to provide a uniform reduction of the current flow in the individual cells of the electrolyzer to be bypassed without a shift in electrical current in the adjacent cells of the electrolyzers immediately preceding and following the electrolyzer to be bypassed.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional short circuit switch of the prior art and the current flow therethrough.
  • Figs. 3, 4 and 5 schematically illustrate one embodiment of the invention consisting of an overhead jumper switch means in a top, front (section X-X) and side view respectively.
  • Fig. 6 is a pictorial view of the embodiment of figs. 3, 4 and 5.
  • Fig. 7 s a pictorial view of a second embodiment of the invention of a jumper switch means located beneath the electrolyzers.
  • Figs. 8, 9 and 10 schematically illustrate three of the several alternatives for the internal electrical circuitry of the jumper switch of the invention directed to avoid a shift of electrical current in the adjacent cells of the electrolyzers immediately preceding and following the electrolyzer to be bypassed.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 the conventional short circuit switch is intended to bypass electrolyzer 2 by connecting the short circuit switch to bus bars 6 and 7. This apparatus does not prevent the shift of electric current flow (i) towards the apparatus contact points at bus bars 6 and 7.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the current flow in electrolyzers 1 and 3 just before and after electrolyzer 2 once the switch has been closed.
  • the dashed current lines (i) indicate the increase of current flow of electrolyzers 1 and 3 closest to the switch contact points, as a consequence of the shorter current path in bus bars 6 and 7.
  • Figs. 3, 4 and 5 schematically describe the top, front (section X-X) and side view of a series of monopolar electrolyzers 1, 2 and 3, each containing a plurality of adjacently positioned electrolytic cells 4 and 5 and an overhead jumper switch means 8 directed to bypass electrolyzer 2.
  • the jumper switch means 8 is supported by supporting means 9 and 10 fixed to electrolyzers 1 and 3 and is connected to the anodic contact points 11 of each monopolar cell 4 of the immediately preceding electrolyzer 1 by a multiplicity of extension arms 12.
  • the jumper switch means 8 is also connected to the cathodic contact points 14 of each monopolar cell 5 of the immediately following electrolyzer 3 by a multiplicity of extension arms 13.
  • said extension arms which may be either rigid or flexible, may be provided in their lower ends with spring-loaded pincers. These last ones are forced to pinch the strip-shaped anodic or cathodic contact points by the weight of the jumper switch means 8 itself.
  • the jumper switch means 8 is also connected to a travelling crane, which allows for positioning the jumper switch means just above the electrolyzer to be by-passed in a series of several electrolyzers of a cell room of an industrial electrolysis plant.
  • Fig. 6 is a pictorial view of the embodiment schematized in figs. 3, 4 and 5.
  • Fig. 7 is an analogous pictorial view of a second embodiment of the invention wherein the jumper switch means 8 is positioned beneath the electrolyzers and is supported by a cart travelling along rails located just below each row of electrolyzers.
  • the electric current is directed from the monopolar cells 4 of the immediately preceding electrolyzer 1 through the contact points 11 and the multiplicity of extension arms 12 to the jumper switch 8.
  • the electric current then flows through resistor means in the jumper switch 8 to control the flow of electric current to the multiplicity of extension arms 13 and to the contact points 14 of the monopolar cells 5 of the immediately following electrolyzer 3.
  • the current is withdrawn progressively in equal portions from the monopolar cells 4 and is fed in equal portions to the monopolar cells 5 : in such a way the problems associated with shifting of the current previously discussed are completely overcome.
  • Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show three possible arrangements for the internal circuitry of the jumper switch means 8 of the invention.
  • fig. 8 shows that extension arms 12 and 13 can be connected to bus bars 15 and 16 the cross area of which is by far larger than the one of bus bars connecting the electrolyzers (numerals 6 and 7 in the preceding figures). This generously sized cross area prevents any practically significant shift of current in the adjacent individual cells of the electrolyzers immediately preceding and following the electrolyzer to be bypassed.
  • the jumper switch means 8 is also provided with two switch units 17 and 18 and a resistor means 19: once the extension arms 12 and 13 have been connected to the anodic and cathodic contact points (11 and 14 in figs. 3-7) switch unit 17 is closed and part of the total electric current is bypassed through resistor means 19.
  • Fig. 9 An alternative electrical circuitry is illustrated in Fig. 9: in this case the bus bars have been divided in subunits 20, 21 and 22, 23 respectively, to which extension arms 12 and 13 are connected. Each subunit which is electrically insulated from the other is provided with switch units (24, 25 and 27, 28 respectively) and resistor means (26, 29) to be operated as described above for the jumper switch of Fig. 8.
  • Dividing the bus bars in subunits avoids the shift of the electrical current mentioned above, without recurring to the use of massive metal at the cost of some added complexity of the electrical circuitry.
  • Fig. 10 describes the circuitry of Fig. 9 in the extreme case where each couple of anodic and cathodic extension arms 12, 13 is connected to its own switch unit (30, 31) and resistor means (32) in a modular arrangement.
  • the switches are to be operated simultaneously (e.g. in Fig. 9: 24 and 27 and then 25 and 28).
  • resistivity is the direct current (d.c.) resistance between opposite parallel faces of a portion of the material having a unit lenght and a unit cross section.
  • Example of resistivity of several metals are as follows: METAL RESISTIVITY (microohm-cm) aluminum 2.655 copper 1.673 cast iron 75 - 98 lead 20.65 magnesium 4.46 nickel 6.84 steel 11 - 45
  • the electrical resistance can be minimized by : (1) decreasing the lenght of the current path; or (2) by increasing the thickness of the bus bars.
  • jumper switch means of the present invention current can be transferred uniformily from electrolyzers comprising any number of individual cell units without causing a shift in electrical current.
  • the electrical current is directly fed from the individual cells of the electrolyzers through the extension arms into the jumper switch means of the invention without travelling across the bus bars which electrically connect the electrolyzers during normal operation.
  • the internal circuitry of the jumper switch means of the invention is designed to allow the portions of the total current which travel along the extension arms to be equal. This result is achieved by using the design alternatives shown in Figs.
  • the bypassed electrolyzer With conventional jumper switches, the bypassed electrolyzer must be removed by lifting over the jumper switch along aside it which results in unsafe conditions for the workers.
  • the electrolyzer is heavy and is above the workers with the possibility of electrolyte which can be 32% caustic and chlorinated brine in chlor-alkali electrolysis leaking down on the workers.
  • the jumper switch also blocks access to and from the bypassed electrolyzer. By placing the jumper switch of the invention overhead or beneath the bypassed electrolyzer, these problems are avoided and the electrolyzer may be kept at ground level and removed by a conventional fork-lift truck, for example. There is no risk of the electrolyzer dropping on the workers and access to the electrolyzer is open.
  • the jumper switch means of the invention there is a saving of up to 40% of copper since the bus bars connecting the electrolyzers can be designed just to transfer current between the electrolyzers and not to minimize the shift of electrical current in the individual cells of the electrolyzers caused by prior art switch means. Also, in view of the fact that the total current is divided into small portions per each extension arms, the voltage drop along the extension arms is negligible and the connection between each extension arm and the relevant anodic or cathodic contact points may be of the friction type (e.g. the spring-loaded pincers mentioned before) rather than the bolted type required by the prior art switch means where the total high current flows therethrough.
  • the prior art bolting is time consuming and requires the workers to be between the operating electrolyzers for a longer period of time which is dangerous.
  • jumper switch means of the invention is that there is no limit to the number of cells in the electrolyzer to be bypassed.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
  • Water Treatment By Electricity Or Magnetism (AREA)
  • Graft Or Block Polymers (AREA)
  • Optical Record Carriers And Manufacture Thereof (AREA)
  • Motor Or Generator Current Collectors (AREA)
EP91122025A 1990-12-21 1991-12-20 Jumper switch means and method of electrically bypassing an electrolyzer Expired - Lifetime EP0492551B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/024,194 US5346596A (en) 1990-12-21 1993-02-26 Method for bypassing a monopolar electrolyzer in series

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2251090 1990-12-21
IT02251090A IT1246987B (it) 1990-12-21 1990-12-21 Cortocircuitatore per elettrolizzatori e relativo medoto d'uso

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0492551A1 EP0492551A1 (en) 1992-07-01
EP0492551B1 true EP0492551B1 (en) 1996-11-13

Family

ID=11197240

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91122025A Expired - Lifetime EP0492551B1 (en) 1990-12-21 1991-12-20 Jumper switch means and method of electrically bypassing an electrolyzer

Country Status (22)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0492551B1 (es)
JP (1) JPH04301090A (es)
KR (1) KR920013514A (es)
CN (1) CN1063724A (es)
AR (1) AR247922A1 (es)
AT (1) ATE145255T1 (es)
AU (1) AU650694B2 (es)
BR (1) BR9105476A (es)
CA (1) CA2058008A1 (es)
CS (1) CS398791A3 (es)
DE (1) DE69123131D1 (es)
FI (1) FI915926A (es)
HU (1) HU209837B (es)
IL (1) IL100265A (es)
IT (1) IT1246987B (es)
MX (1) MX9102715A (es)
NO (1) NO914923L (es)
NZ (1) NZ241071A (es)
PL (1) PL167716B1 (es)
PT (1) PT99890A (es)
RU (1) RU2076908C1 (es)
ZA (1) ZA919566B (es)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2448194A1 (de) * 1974-10-09 1976-04-22 Hooker Chemicals Plastics Corp Elektrolysenzellen-anlage
US4302642A (en) * 1977-08-24 1981-11-24 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Vacuum switch assembly
DE2821979A1 (de) * 1978-05-19 1979-11-22 Hooker Chemicals Plastics Corp Elektrolysezellen-anlage
US4390763A (en) * 1981-05-27 1983-06-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Electrochemical cell shunting switch assembly with matrix array of switch modules
US4537662A (en) * 1984-05-04 1985-08-27 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Method of electrically shorting an electrolytic cell

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NZ241071A (en) 1995-03-28
PL167716B1 (pl) 1995-10-31
EP0492551A1 (en) 1992-07-01
CS398791A3 (en) 1992-07-15
AU8825191A (en) 1992-06-25
HUT59967A (en) 1992-07-28
IT9022510A0 (it) 1990-12-21
ATE145255T1 (de) 1996-11-15
HU209837B (en) 1994-11-28
IT9022510A1 (it) 1992-06-21
DE69123131D1 (de) 1996-12-19
NO914923L (no) 1992-06-22
IL100265A0 (en) 1992-09-06
NO914923D0 (no) 1991-12-13
FI915926A (fi) 1992-06-22
CA2058008A1 (en) 1992-06-22
BR9105476A (pt) 1992-09-15
PT99890A (pt) 1994-02-28
AR247922A1 (es) 1995-04-28
MX9102715A (es) 1992-06-01
ZA919566B (en) 1992-08-26
HU914065D0 (en) 1992-03-30
FI915926A0 (fi) 1991-12-17
JPH04301090A (ja) 1992-10-23
AU650694B2 (en) 1994-06-30
RU2076908C1 (ru) 1997-04-10
IL100265A (en) 1995-12-08
PL292897A1 (en) 1992-07-27
IT1246987B (it) 1994-12-12
CN1063724A (zh) 1992-08-19
KR920013514A (ko) 1992-07-29

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