US1842703A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Description

wm.. 26, M320 LA FAYETTE D. VORCE Lmzfmg ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Sept. 14, 1929 mi w TR Maw? retenue Jan. 26, 1932 .UNITED STATES PATENT.. OFFICE; 1

h. FYETTE D. 'VOBCE OIE' MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR TO WESTVACO mmm PRODUCTS, INC., 0F N'EW' YORK, N

@INM

Y.; A. GORPORATION OF WEST mnc'rnonymic cam'.

v Application lcd September 14, 1929. Serial No. 392,627.

the cathode, the Weight oi' the cathode, dia-- phragm, anodes and cover resting on the bottom el the cell and a gas-tight sealot the lll cover member vvith the casing being secured by a recessed plastic joint; all as more fully hereinafter set lorth and as claimed.

@elle out the so-called cylindrical type are largely used Athe electrolysis ot salt solullll tion to produce soda and chlorin. Cell units el this type have a round or rectangular cathode et punched orperforated steel; this cathode carrying a diaphragm, usually asbestos rthe cathode yis mounted Within a steel casing delining a cathode chamber, While thev anode chamber containing the anolyte, is Within and dehned by the dia phragm and cathode. At the top, the cathode compartment is closed by an annular top member'resting on and supported by a Harige ol the casing. 'llheanode rods depend from and are carried by a cover resting on this top member. 'lhus the Weight ol thev anode, cathode and anolyte is carried on the top llange ot 'the casing. This has certain mechanical and operating disadvantages.

lt is the Lpurpose of the present invention to simplily and cheapen this construction and produce a stronger and mechanically better structure. Certain advantages in operation are also obtained. ln the present invention ll employ the usual outer casing and contained shell ol perforated sheet'metalacting as cathode and carrying a diaphragm, the shell and casing dehning a cathode chamber betvveen them and the anode chamber being vvithin the diaphragml cathode shell. But instead of suspending the interior parts or lltl lill the casing, the Weight of these elements rests the cell from an annular flange on the top of on the bottom of the casin In practice I form a bottom for the cathogle shell by a base member of concrete While I provide ythe top ofthe casing with a two-part cover member, also oi` concrete or other suitable insulating material fitting inside the top edges of thev casing. The cover member comprises both a cathode ring and an anode ring and is provided With a recessed llange extending nearly to the casing, with a plastic mastic composition Within the recess making a as tight vjunction with the casing. The Weig t ofthe anode and the cover member instead of rest-l ing upon the top of the outer casing is supported by the cathode shell whose concrete bottom is upon the bottom of the cell. The arrangement Vof the cell elements as above outlined constitutes asimplied construction lowering the expense of installation, lessening the maintenance requirements and improving the processof operation.

ln the accompan ing illustration'I have" shown, more or less iagrammatically, an embodimentof the present invention. Infthis showing the view is a central vertical section ol a complete cell. n"

As lshown element l is a tan'lrlilre casing of sheet metah open at the top and havin'ga bottom 2. This casing may vbe round or rectangular but is shown as circular. Withf V.inthe casing is a base plate 3 Which is best made of concrete material and carries a vertical shell 4 of perforated or punched metal. Steel is ordinarily used. The shell carries vthe usual asbestos diaphragm 5. This shell in operation forms the cathode. v`At its top it carries annular top lmembery 6 of special concrete.v Resting, on this annular member is the top 'l' of the anode chamber, this top serving to carry 'depending anodes 8 foi graphite or other usual material. Anode carrier? may also be of concrete. It is'pro-' vided with adomed top. Through this dome enters chlorin outletpipe 9. The bottom of the annulus 6 is recessed at 10 to take the top of the diaphragm. Peripherally; element 6 is provided with a laterally extending recessed flange llgadapted tov seat against and` make a joint with casing 1 by'means of a mastic'composition 14. The cell is provided with the usual brine feed.1l2 and gas outlet cathode shell, the weight of the .cathode,.d1a 13 for hydrogen. phragm, cover and anodes restmg upon the The cell shown may be operated in any .of ottom of the.ce 1l'. I f the usual ways.- The cathode chamber may amndtestlmny-twhl'wf, have hereunto 5 contain cathol te or oil. e vmy SlgIla llle- 70 Thereis material advantage inlsupporting. LA FAYETTE D VORCE the anode andthe anode chamberltop, as V I.

above described, upon the bottom of the cell instead of upon a flanged top. vIn 'particular, the arrangement constitutes'a simplified 75 'construction and permits a gas tight ltop requiring but little repair and facilitating re1- pair when necessary. When both the b ottom'of the cathode shell and the top cover 15 member are` made of `concrete the external' 80 vinsulation between anode and cathode is materially improved. The construction affords a simplified solution of the problemfof keeping the cathode'hydrogen from mixing 2 with theanode chlorin. f

1. An electrolytic cell, an open topped casing forming a cathode chamber with an ori` V:liced metal shell within the casing` and resting on its bottom, said shell servingas a cathode and being laterally spaced from the walls of thecasing, a diaphragm in the shell, an interior chamber within the diaphragm, anodes/ in said interior chamber and atWOy 3 part cover member for Athe. cell fitting inside A the top edges of said casing with a plastic gas tight lioint between said member and the casing, said member' supporting the anodes 'and beingI attached to the cathode shell, the 35 -weight of the cathode,diaphragm, cover and anodes resting'upon the bottom of the cell.

. y2. In an electrolytic cell, an open topped cylindrical casing .having straight vertical sides, a contained perforated metalcylindri- ,05

n cal cathode carrying and ,enclosing a dia-v phragm, a bottom member for said cathode supported upon the bottom of the cell and a top circular peripherally'anged cover member for the cell inserted within vthe cylindrical 4.5 casing and supported b'yfthe cathode and sup-v 0 5 porting-a plurality of 'ano'des within said enclosed diaphragm, both `'said members being of concrete construction and the flange of said cover member having `a recess, with plastic material in the recess making a gas tight joint vwith the casing. 3. An lectrolytic cell comprising an open topped, strai,f ghtsided, cylindrical casing v forming a .cathode vchamber with an oriced 55 cylindrical metal shell within the casing and resting onits bottom, said shell serving asa cathode and being laterally spaced from the walls of'the casing, a diaphragm in the shell defining an interior chamber within the dia- .60 phragm, anodes in said interior chamber and 12? a twoart circular cover member for the l cell fittmg insidevthe top edge of said casmg I with-'afplastic gas-tight, joint between said VYimemberand the casin ,said member sup-- '13d ,05 porting the anodes and ing. attached to the

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