GB617886A - Method of operating fused bath electrolytic cells - Google Patents

Abstract

617,886. Operating fused electrolyte cells. McNITT, R. J. Nov. 8, 1945, No. 29840. [Class 41] A battery of series-connected fused electrolytic cells of the kind in which the anode extends to a point near the bottom of the cell and loss of heat occurs through the anode extensions outside the cell, is operated with such low electric current that insufficient heat is generated to maintain the anode surface sufficiently active for high efficiency of the cell and when an anode of a cell attains this state a supplemental electric current is applied to that cell until the anode becomes sufficiently active for high efficiency while continuing to operate all the other cells at the low current. In the cell shown for producing sodium and chlorine from a fused mixed bath of sodium chloride and calcium chloride, the carbon anode 4 passes through the bottom of the cell and is surrounded by a cathode 8. The cylindrical hollow anode has holes 7 to enable circulation of the electrolyte and a diaphragm 10 suspended from the collector 12, 13 for collecting the sodium and chlorine respectively is interposed between the electrodes. A plurality of such cells are operated in electrical series-connection and as the efficiency of a cell declines supplemental current is fed to the electrodes of that cell from a small portable generator 24. Cooling surfaces 20 traversed by cooling fluid avoid overheating of electrolyte in the sump 19 and prevent impurities precipitated therein from passing into solution. The anode stream of electrolyte is maintained at a high temperature which is controlled by adjusting the position of the thermal insulating baffle 18 and the temperature of the descending cathode stream may be controlled to enhance circulation by cooling surfaces 22 and thermal baffle 23. Specification 617,885 is referred to.