GB1454215A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Abstract

1454215 Electrolytic cell structure HOOKER CHEMICALS & PLASTICS CORP 19 Nov 1974 [3 Jan 1974(5)] 50049/74 Heading C7B The cell comprises a cathode bus-bar structure, cathode fingers and an anode base structure as follows, with the object of minimizing capital and operational costs arising from use of conductive materials. The bus-bar structure 16 comprises a lead-in bus 18 and a plurality of bus-bar strips 19, 21, 22 of different relative dimensions and so positioned that a substantially constant current density is maintained through the structure to electrical contact points adjacent the cathode fingers. A metal of resistance not more than 3#/cm<SP>3</SP> is used, e.g. Cu, its alloys, Al or Ag. The structure is attached electrically to at least one sidewall 17 of a cathode walled enclosure containing a plurality of cathode fingers. The bus-bar structure may include means for cooling by circulation of water. The cathode fingers comprise reinforcing means to which are attached foraminous means of conventional type forming the exterior of the finger structure and defining a gas space inside the finger structure. A plurality of lengths of metal of resistance not more than 3#/cm<SP>3</SP> is positioned inside each finger such that a uniform current density is maintained throughout each finger e.g. by having the lengths each of a different length. The fingers extend across the cathode walled enclosure and are electrically attached to at least that sidewall thereof to which the bus-bar structure also is attached. A corrugated reinforcement may be used, but bars, plates and reinforced sheets are referred to. The anode base structure comprises a metal means having resistance not more than 3#/cm<SP>3</SP> and having a substantially flat and level surface with a decreasing cross-section as it extends away from the intercell connecting bus-bars whereby to form the shape of a stairstepped truncated right triangle of such dimensions that a uniform current density is maintained to all anode blade contact points on the base. The base may be cooled. In Fig. 14 the base comprises parts 75, 101 and 78 of Cu with interleaved steel parts 98, 103, 104, 102, the anodes being attached at 82. The following parts are of a metal having resistivity above 3 but not exceeding 15#/cm<SP>2</SP> (e.g. Fe, steel, Ni); the cathode walled enclosure, the reinforcing means and the foraminous means.