US2596583A - Electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Electrolytic cell Download PDF

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Publication number
US2596583A
US2596583A US20564A US2056448A US2596583A US 2596583 A US2596583 A US 2596583A US 20564 A US20564 A US 20564A US 2056448 A US2056448 A US 2056448A US 2596583 A US2596583 A US 2596583A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cell
anode
bodies
cover
supporting
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
US20564A
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English (en)
Inventor
Meiklejohn George Turner
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.)
Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd filed Critical Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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    • 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
    • C25B9/30—Cells comprising movable electrodes, e.g. rotary electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
    • C25B9/303—Cells comprising movable electrodes, e.g. rotary electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof comprising horizontal-type liquid electrode
    • 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
    • C25B11/00—Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for
    • C25B11/02—Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for characterised by shape or form
    • C25B11/033—Liquid electrodes
    • 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
    • C25B11/00—Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for
    • C25B11/04—Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for characterised by the material
    • C25B11/042—Electrodes formed of a single material
    • C25B11/045—Mercury or amalgam
    • 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
    • C25B9/70—Assemblies comprising two or more cells

Definitions

  • This invention relates to means of obtaining automatic and continuous adjustment of the inter-electrode space in electrolytic cells and includes electrolytic cells of the flowing mercury cathode type comprising the said adjustment means.
  • the position of the anodes in a flowing cathode mercury cell is adjustable by means of the supporting conductor rods carrying the anodes, the said rods passing through resilient sleeves in apertures in the cell cover.
  • the clearance between the mercury cathode and the graphite anode is prevented from becoming less than a predetermined minimum by means of a series of flatheated glass pegs resting on the cell bottom and having stems which protrude into vertical holes cut in the anode.
  • the flat-headed spacer pegs aforesaid do not carry the weight of the cell anodes, but are limited in function solely to ensuring that the anode-cathode gap is not inadvertently clo ed during anode height adjustment and that the gap is readily restored to its predetermined size after the periodic alterations of anode height nece sitated as a result of anode wear.
  • Objects of the present invention are to overcome the disadvantages of intermittent adjustment of the inter-electrode space and lack of precision in the said adjustment, and to effect continuou'ly and automatically the regulation of the height of the anode above the mercury cathode.
  • an electrode assembly comprising a mass of electrically conducting material, normally graphite, substantially supported within the cell by means of a series of relatively small bodies made of insulating material and resting on the bottom of the cell and so shaped as to make edge-surface contact only with the'masses constituting the supporting electrode, which masses are modified in shape so that such edge-surface contact may be effected.
  • the small supporting bodies aforesaid are made of a material selected from the class consisting of ebonite, glass, glazed porcelain, granite and synthetic resin.
  • cylindrical holes penetrate the anodes vertically and the small supporting bodies are pegs havingupwardly directed central stems of circular section twofifths of the diameter of the said holes inte which they penetrate and bases in the form of truncated cones the sloping sides of which make an angle of not less than 30 at their edge of contact with the under-surface of the anode masses at the peripheries of the holes therein.
  • the axes of the Supporting bodies are perpendicular to the plane undersurface of the electrode, Further, the dimensions of the peg bases are so chosen that the apical angle of the entire cone is approximately 129".
  • the apical angle of the conical bodies is not less than 40 and not greater than 140*.
  • the peg base in this preferred form of my invention may be modified so that its walls are vertical for a height of, say, one eighth of an inch from the bottom.
  • Other modifications of supporting body bases will be described in what follows.
  • the anode assembly just described may be used in a cell of the flow ing mercury cathode type suitable for the electrelysis of solutions of alkali metal chlorides and in which anodes of graphite are rigidly fixed to thecover, a flexible jointing or a lute of any convenient type between the cover and the lower part of the cell ensurin the gas-tightness of the apparatus and permitting the cell cover together with the anodes to move downwards under gravity, at such a rate that, as anode wear proceeds, the inter-electrode space is maintained approximately constant.
  • the small supporting bodies are in the form of wedges of triangular section and long in relation to their width upon one edge of which wedges the plane under-face of the anode rests; alternatively, the anode masses may be provided with rectangular slots into each of which a portion of a supporting wedge protrudes in such a way that the p rimeter of the slot makes edge-surface contact with the sloping sides of the wedge.
  • anode masses are not rigidly fixed to the cell cover but are connected by means of flexible conductors to conductor rods passing through the cell 7 en polting body may be modified either by shaping 4 cover, which cover is rigidly secured to the lower part of the cell.
  • the base of each supit In order to prevent exposure of the cell bottom by the streaming of the mercury round the bases of the upper-ting bodies, the base of each supit to conform with the convergent streaming lines of the flowing mercury cathode round it, or by providing a channel or channels under it so that the mercury may flow through the base which is maintained circular in form.
  • the channel or channels under the said base are set in the direction of flow of the mercury cathode.
  • the bases thereof may be boateshaped in order to permit the smooth unbroken flow of the cathodic mercury round them.
  • Fig. 1 is a side elevation oi one form or anodesupporting body.
  • Figure 2 is a top view oi the supporting body shown in Figure l.
  • Figure 3 is a vertical section showing the anodesupp orting bodies of the form shown in Fig. 1 in situ in the anode holes and bottom.
  • Fig. 4. is a view from aboveci the assembly shown in Fig.
  • Figure 5 is a side sectional view showing an electrolytic cell incorporating the anode supporting members of this invention.
  • Fig. l the base of the supporting body is surmounted by the central circular stern E which is conveniently of the order of four times the height of the base i.
  • FIG. 5 one form of cell in which the new anode supporting bodies of this invention are used is illustrated.
  • the cell 3 consists of a troughshaped base 5 having a bottom I provided with a plane upper surface M which Supports the flowing mercury cathode 6.
  • Within the base 9 is the anode mass 3 supported above the mercury oathode 6 by the conical-shaped bodies I.
  • a flexible sealing diaphragm ll extends between the cell cover l2 and the base 9 sealing the cell and anode conducting rods i3 extend through the cover !2 to the anode 3, e V t While in the foregoing I have described several embodiments of my invention, it is to be underresting on a cell Fig. 3 shows one of,
  • an anode assembly comprising blocks of graphite having a plane undersurface fixed t0 the cell cover and together therewith supported from below a short distance above said bottom by a plurality of small bodies of conical shape having an apical angle greater than 40 and less than 140 made of rigid insulating material the vertices of which protrude into cylindrical holes in the anode blocks in such a way that the periphcries of the said holes make edge-surface contact only with the sloping sides of the conically-shaped bodies.
  • an electrolytic cell of the flowing Inercury cathode type for eletrolysis of alkali metal salt solutions having a plane surface bottom to support a base a flowing mercury cathode, a cover, flexible sealing means between the cover and the base, an anode assembly of graphite masses having a plane undersurface fixed to the cell cover and together therewith supported from beneath a short distance above said bottom by a plurality of relatively small bodies of electrically insulating material which rest on the bottom of the cell, said small bodies being in the form of truncated cones having an apical angle greater than 40 and less than 140 provided with upwardly extending central stems which extend into cylindrical holes drilled into the undersurface of said graphite masses, the peripheries of said holes resting through edge-surface contact upon the sloping sides of said cones.
  • an electrode assembly within an electrolytic cell a cell bottom having a plane upper surface, an electrode of an electrically conducting material having a plane under surface substantially parallel to said upper surface, a plurality of small bodies resting on the cell bottom and having the form of truncated cones having an apical angle greater than 40 and less than 140, each cone having an upwardly directed central stem of circular section protruding into a cylindrical hole cut in said electrode, the diameter of the said stem being about two-fifths that of the diameter of the hole into which it protrudes and the longitudinal axis of said stem being in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical hole, the periphery of said holes making edge-surface contact with the sloping sides of the truncated cones in such a way that the weight of said electrode is substantially borne by the plurality of truncated conical bodies.
  • a cell base having a bottom with a substantially plane upper surface, a movable cover and an anode assembly comprising blocks of graphite having plane under surfaces substantially parallel to said bottom surface rigidly fixed to said cover, said anode assembly being supported a short distance above said bottom by a plurality of small conical-shaped bodies each having one axis perpendicular to the plane of said anode under surface, said bodies being made of electrically insulating material and having an apical angle greater than 40 and less than with central circular upwardly extending stems, the upper parts of said small bodies protruding into cylindrical holes in said anode blocks in such a way that the peripheries of said holes make edge-surface contact only with the sloping sides of said small bodies, said bodies resting upon said cell bottom.
  • An electrolytic cell comprising a cell base having a bottom with a plane upper surface, a plurality of small conical-shaped bodies of rigid insulating material in which the sloping sides of the bodies make an angle of between 40 and 140 with one another at their point of convergence and an electrode of electrically conducting material having a plane under surface perpendicular to the axes of said small bodies, cylindrical holes extending into said electrode from the under surface thereof, the upper part of said small. bodies protruding into said cylindrical holes with the peripheries of the holes in edge-surface contact with the sloping sides of said bodies, said bodies resting on the bottom of the cell so that these bodies bear substantially the entire weight of the electrode and support the electrode with the under surface thereof substantially parallel to the upper surface of said cell bottom.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
US20564A 1947-04-21 1948-04-12 Electrolytic cell Expired - Lifetime US2596583A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB273947X 1947-04-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2596583A true US2596583A (en) 1952-05-13

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US20564A Expired - Lifetime US2596583A (en) 1947-04-21 1948-04-12 Electrolytic cell

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US2596583A (enMihai)
BE (1) BE481959A (enMihai)
CH (1) CH273947A (enMihai)
FR (1) FR965007A (enMihai)
GB (1) GB627349A (enMihai)
NL (2) NL72936C (enMihai)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2649411A (en) * 1949-02-07 1953-08-18 Ici Ltd Mercury cathode electrolytic cell
US2680093A (en) * 1950-02-07 1954-06-01 Ici Ltd Anode-supporting means for mercury cells
US2895894A (en) * 1955-11-25 1959-07-21 Pintsch Bamag Ag Electrolytic cell arrangement
US3390069A (en) * 1963-05-24 1968-06-25 Asahi Denka Kogyo Kk Horizontal mercury cathode cell with bottom mounted anode support members

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE931350C (de) * 1951-02-04 1955-08-08 Hoechst Ag Elektrodenanordnung fuer elektrolytische Zellen
US2848407A (en) * 1955-10-05 1958-08-19 Columbia Southern Chem Corp Mercury cell

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US661107A (en) * 1899-09-25 1900-11-06 Harry Brown Carbon pencil or electrode for electric lights.
US862783A (en) * 1905-07-17 1907-08-06 Allen Electro Chemical Company Electrolytic cell.
US1073559A (en) * 1913-09-16 Electron Chemical Company Electrolytic cell.
US2484068A (en) * 1943-03-11 1949-10-11 Mallory & Co Inc P R Electrodeposition apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1073559A (en) * 1913-09-16 Electron Chemical Company Electrolytic cell.
US661107A (en) * 1899-09-25 1900-11-06 Harry Brown Carbon pencil or electrode for electric lights.
US862783A (en) * 1905-07-17 1907-08-06 Allen Electro Chemical Company Electrolytic cell.
US2484068A (en) * 1943-03-11 1949-10-11 Mallory & Co Inc P R Electrodeposition apparatus

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2649411A (en) * 1949-02-07 1953-08-18 Ici Ltd Mercury cathode electrolytic cell
US2680093A (en) * 1950-02-07 1954-06-01 Ici Ltd Anode-supporting means for mercury cells
US2895894A (en) * 1955-11-25 1959-07-21 Pintsch Bamag Ag Electrolytic cell arrangement
US3390069A (en) * 1963-05-24 1968-06-25 Asahi Denka Kogyo Kk Horizontal mercury cathode cell with bottom mounted anode support members

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL140075B (nl)
CH273947A (de) 1951-03-15
NL72936C (enMihai)
FR965007A (enMihai) 1950-08-31
GB627349A (en) 1949-08-08
BE481959A (enMihai)

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