GB597387A - Improvements in or relating to electrolytic cells - Google Patents

Abstract

597,387. Liquid electrode apparatus. CARTER, C., GLASS, J. V. S., and IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, Ltd. Aug. 27, 1941, No. 10911. [Class 41] In a cell particularly for the electrolysis of alkali-metal chloride solutions, of the kind comprising a lower part such as a trough 1 supporting a flowing mercury or other liquid electrode layer 2 and an upper part such as a lid 4 supporting a solid electrode 5, e.g. of carbon, means are provided externally of the cell for moving the upper part vertically to adjust the height to compensate for wear of the solid electrodes together with sealing means permitting such adjustment. In the cell shown, adjustment is effected by bolts 9a mounted on the lid 4 entering threaded inserts 9b in the wall of the trough. Sealing is effected by engagement of a rigid skirt 17 on the lid with an inflated rubber tube 16 seated in a channel 15 in the trough and covered by mercury. The electrode support 6 is sealed to the lid by a composition 7. Mercury and fresh electrolyte are introduced at one end of the cell, the alkali metal amalgam and spent electrolyte being withdrawn at the other end. The trough 1 may be of concrete or of steel coated with ebonite. The lid 4 may be of concrete, slate or covered steel. In a modification, the inflated tube 16 is disposed between the skirt 17 and the inner wall of the channel 15 and adjustment is effected by a hydraulic ram acting on the lid 4. In other forms adjustment is effected by cams, for example, an eccentrically pivoted disc on the wall of the trough bearing against the underside of the lid, or by wedges operated by screws. In further modifications the seal is located in a channel in the top surface of the walls of the trough and adjustment is effected by screws adjustably mounted in lugs on the lid and resting on lugs on the trough, the lid engaging the packing between the lid and walls of the trough by its own weight. The packing may consist of a plastic mixture of chlorinated rubber with chlorinated naphthalene and a chlorinated paraffin wax and may be covered by a layer of chlorine-resistant oil or mercury. In a further modification sealing is effected by an elastic skirt on the lid which grips the wall of the trough, the skirt may be of material resistant to chlorine, e.g. polyvinyl chloride, polythene or chlorinated polythene. The lid may be in several parts, to each of which only some of the solid electrodes are attached, e.g. only one, adjustable sealing means then being provided between adjacent parts of the lid as well as between the parts of the lid and the walls of the trough.