US2881123A - Decomposer - Google Patents

Decomposer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2881123A
US2881123A US574674A US57467456A US2881123A US 2881123 A US2881123 A US 2881123A US 574674 A US574674 A US 574674A US 57467456 A US57467456 A US 57467456A US 2881123 A US2881123 A US 2881123A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
cells
cell
decomposer
end plates
rings
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
US574674A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Zdansky Ewald Arno
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.)
Lonza AG
Original Assignee
Lonza AG
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lonza AG filed Critical Lonza AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2881123A publication Critical patent/US2881123A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • C25B9/73—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type
    • C25B9/77—Assemblies comprising two or more cells of the filter-press type having diaphragms

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to decomposers such as a decomposer for decomposing water into pure hydrogen vide a decomposer of the above type wherein the axial width of each cell is extremely small.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide each cell with end plates capable of conducting current from the cathode of one cell to the anode of the next cell.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure which forms the conduits for collecting gas from the cells and leading the gas to gas separator tanks.
  • a still further object of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple insulating means for sealing a pair of outer rings of each cell from each other and capable of being easily separated from the rings during disassembly of the decomposer even after a long period of time.
  • An additional object of the present invention is to provide a decomposer of the above type with a safety means for preventing continued flow of fluid when pressure in a part of the structure falls to an undesirably low value.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efiicient means for mounting the diaphragms which respectively divide the cells into anode and cathode chambers.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means for reliablymaintaining the cells in their operative position in the assembly.
  • the present invention mainly consists of an electrolytic water decomposer having a plurality of series connected decomposer cells.
  • Each of these cells includes an outer endless means which defines the outer periphery of the cell, and a pair of mutually spaced electrodes are located in each cell.
  • a diaphragm is connected at its periphery to the endless means and is located between the electrodes and divides each cell into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber.
  • a pair of electrically conductive end plates which define each cell therebetween are connected, at their peripheries to the endless means.
  • Each end plate has raised portions respectively engaging one electrode of each cell and one electrode of the next cell, so that the neighboring electrodes of neighboring cells are interconnected by the end plates.
  • Fig. l is a partly sectional, partly diagrammatic side elevational view of a decomposer according to the present invention, parts of the structure being broken away;
  • Fig. 2 is an end view of the structure of Fig. 1 as seen from the right side thereof;
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view through'one of the decomposer cells, Fig. 3 being taken along line III-III of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;
  • Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view to an even greater scale than Fig. 3 and is taken along line IVIV of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;
  • Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a group of decomposer cells associated with structure used for assembling the decomposer;
  • Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line VIVI of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;
  • Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of part of the structure shown in Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VIIIVIII of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;
  • Fig. 9 shows part of a sealing ring of the decomposer during its assembly to the form it takes before being located in the decomposer.
  • the individual decomposer cells have the form of circular discs of a diameter of approximately 1.0-1.5 meters and a thickness of 8-15 mm. A few hundred of such cells are assembled in a row into a column of several meters in length and having a horizontal axis, the thus assembled cells being clamped between a pair of massive end plates 2 and 3. These end plates are interconnected and pulled together by six strong bars 4--9. As is shown in Fig.
  • the bars 49 are formed with elongated grooves directed toward the cells and in each of these grooves there are a plurality of porcelain rollers 58 which engage the outer periphery of the cells, these rollers being arranged in rows in the grooves of the bars 49 and forming a cage in which the column of cells is located.
  • a bipolar source of electricity U has one of its poles connected by the conductor 10 to the end plates 2 and 3 and the other of its poles connected by the conductor 11 to a central contact member 12 electrically connected to the central cell of the row of cells so that the current flows from the center of the assembly toward the ends thereof in the direction of arrows C and C indicated in Fig. 1.
  • auxiliary end plates 13 and 14 in the form of annular rings.
  • the visible bars 4, 8, and 9 are broken away at their intermediate portions to show the auxiliary end plates 13 and 14 of the group of cells III.
  • the annular end plate 14a of group II engages the ring 13 of group III
  • the annular end plate 13a of group IV engages the ring 14 of group III.
  • the pull devices 15, 15a, 16 and 17, 17a, 18 which pull the auxiliary end plates ofgroup-III together are shown in Fig. 1 simply to illustrate the manner in which the decomposer is assembled and will be referred to in greater detail below.
  • a pair of gas separator tanks 20 and 21 in the form of elongated drums of cylindrical cross section are located over the horizontal column of decomposer cells, the tanks 20 and 21 respectively communicating at their rightends with elastic, arcuate, yieldable tubes 22 and 23 and at their left ends with an identical pair of tubes of which only the tube 22a which communicates with the left end of tank 20, as viewed in Fig. l, is visible.
  • the arcuate tubes which communicate respectively with the ends of the elongated gasseparator tank 20 respectively communicate with a gas collecting conduit 24 which passes through and communicates with the several cells for directing oxygen to the tank 20, while the arcuate tubes which respectively communicate with the opposite ends of the tank 21 respectively communicate with he ends of a.
  • conduit 25 which communicates with the several cells and directs hydrogen to the tank 21.
  • These elastic arcuate tubes maintain the tanks in communication with the cells even thoughthe tanks and cells ex: pand: and contract: at different rates due to temperature changes.
  • The" conduits 24 and 25 are parallel to each other and pass through all ot the cells, as indicated at the upper portion of Fig. 3,. and as is shown in Fig. 6 the conduit 24 is provided with bores 56 which communicates with the anode chambers A of the several cells so that oxygen is collected in the conduit 24 and directed to the tank 20.
  • the conduit 25 communicates through transverse bores with the several cathode chambers of the cells for collecting hydrogen and directing the hydrogen to the tank 21.
  • the electrolyte which is returned to the cells flows from the opposite ends of conduit 36 toward the center thereof.
  • the fiow of electrolyte may be observed by a device 33 forming part of conduit 31 (Fig. 1) and including a bladed wheel or the like which is turned by the moving liquid and which is connected to an element visible to the operator and rotating together with such a wheel, for example, so that in this way the attendant may check the flow of electrolyte.
  • the circulation of the electrolyte is accelerated by the pump 35 to such an extent that the entire electrolyte content of the apparatus is circulated once in less than2 hours.
  • valves 32 and 32a are respectively located in the portions of conduit 31 which communicate with the tanks 20 and 21, and the valves 37 and 38 are respectively located in the conduit portions 31a and 31b which-communicate respective with the ends of the conduit 36.
  • Fig. 1 where three of these valves are shown in section, these valves are normally maintained open by springs, the liquid flowing through openings formed in the movable valve member which is engaged by the spring.
  • Fig. 1 it is evident from the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 that if the pressure in conduits 31a and 31b falls sufficiently below the pressure in.
  • conduit 36, the-valves 37 and 38 will automati- ,cally close -while' if the pressure'in conduit 31 fa1ls sufficiently; below tha'tof thetanks '20 and 21-the'valves 32 and 32a Will -automatically close, so that in this way all of the structure outside of the tanks and cells will be automatically cut ofiffrom communication-with the tanks andcellsdtfor any reason there is a sharp pressure drop ,inthis structure outside of the tanks and cells by reason of a l eak, for example.
  • the yalves are. designed to close,
  • a manometer 39 is connected electrically with an alarm sounding device 40 for automatically energizing the latter to alert the personnel when there is a drop in pressure of the above magnitude of 0.5 atmosphere, for example.
  • the gas separator tanks 20 and 21 communicate with each other through a series of substantially U-shaped conduits 26 distributed along the tanks and communicating with lowerportions thereof.
  • the liquid level ab of tank 20 and cd oftank 21 is indicated in Fig. 2, and since the liquid in the lower portions of the tanks fills the conduits 26, if there should be a difference in the pressures of the gases respectively located in the tanks, this difference would immediately be compensated b'y'hifting' of the liquid levels z'z-b and c--d and with this arrangement there can never be a pressure difference of more than a few centimeters of water between the hydrogen and oxygen chambers.
  • the movement of the liquid levels is sensed by unillustrated floats which in a known way control the valves 29 and 30 respectively located above the tanks 20 and 21 so that the gas pressures in the tanks is again equalized.
  • the gases flow to the valves 29 and 30 through wash towers 27 and 28, respectively, water being supplied to these towers through the conduit 19.
  • the water supplied to the scrubbers 27 and 28 by' the conduit 19 flows downwardly along the scrubbers in counter current to the gases moving upwardly through the scrubbers.
  • Each cell includes at its outer periphery an endless means in the form of a pair of metallic rings 41 and 42 made, for example,of steel.
  • the inner peripheries of the rings 41 and 42 are of reduced cross section to provide inner annular ribs 43 and 44 on the rings 41 and 42, respectively.
  • each of the rings 41' and 42 of each cell is formed at its inner periphery with an annular groove, and the grooves 51 and 52 of the rings 41 and 42, respectively, are indicated in Fig. 4.
  • Each cell is limited by a pair of end plates, and twosuch end plates 45 and 46 are shown in Fig. 4. These plates have peripheral portions located respectively within the grooves 51 and 52 and have a thickness equal to the width of these grooves so that the connection between plates 45 and 46 and rings 41 and 42, respectively, is fluid tight.
  • the plates 45 and 46 act as bipolar partitions separating each cell from the next cell.
  • the interior volume of the cell Z indicated in Fig. 4 is thus determined by the right half of ring 41, the left half of ring 42, and the left and right walls 45 and 46.
  • a sealing ring 47 is located in a fluid tight manner between the rings 41 and 42, and under the action of the pole bars 4-9 the sealing ring is compressed in an unshiftable manner into the annular grooves 53 formed in the side faces of each ring 41, 42.
  • a diaphragm 48 is located in each cell between the end plates 45 and 46-thereof, and this diaphragm is preferably made of asbestos paper and has a thickness of approximately 3-4 mm.
  • Each diaphragm 48 divides the cell in which it is located into a cathode chamber K and an anode chamber A.
  • Each diaphragm 48 is located between and engaged at its opposite faces by a pair of metallic meshes 49 and 50, respectively, which are substantially coextensive with the diaphragm and serve as active electrodes, these me'sh'es' being made, for example, from a weave of iron wire havinga thickness of approximately 0.8 mm. and
  • each diaphragm 48 and the electrodemeshes 49 and 50 engaging the same are clamped between the neighboring ribs 43 and 44 of the rings 41 and 42.
  • the sealing ring 47 extends between the diaphragnp- 48 and one of the electrodes, this being the electrode 50 in Fig. 4, so that because the sealing ring is made of an electrically non-conductive material a direct fiow of current between the rings 41 and 42 through the sealing ring is prevented.
  • the inner periphery of the sealing ring extends inwardly beyond the inner peripheries of the rings 41 and 42 by a radial distance d, indicated in Fig.
  • the radial distance d should be equal to approximately one half the axial width Z of each cell.
  • the end plates 45 and 46 are made of deep drawn sheet metal and are provided with a pattern of bulging portions or corrugations 45a, 45b and 46a, 46b which alternately extend to opposite sides of the plane in which each end plate is located, this plane passing through the groove 51 in the case of plate 45 and through the groove 52 in the case of plate 46 in a direction normal to the axis of the decomposer.
  • the raised portions 45a which extend to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, engage the electrode 50a of the cell to the left of that shown in Fig. 4 while the raised portions 46b of plate 46 extend to the right into engagement with the electrode 4% of the cell located to the right of that shown in Fig. 4.
  • the raised portions of the plate 45 and 46 are formed by bulging portions of these plates, and because the plates are made of a springy material their raised portions press the electrodes against the diaphragms.
  • Each plate 45 thus produces a great number of short, parallel connected current paths from electrode 50a to electrode 49 and each plate 46 produces a great number of short parallel connected current paths from electrode 50 to electrode 49b, electrodes 50a and 50 acting as anodes and electrodes 49 and 49b acting as cathodes.
  • the fixed, uniform distribution of the electrode meshes over the opposite faces of the diaphragm supports the latter and prevents the diaphragm from falling apart and becoming dissolved into the electrolyte.
  • the size of the electrolyte chambers K and A remains unchanged by the above described construction of the end plates 45 and 46 and the reduction in volume and cost of manufacture and assembly of conventional elements for completing the circuit between the electrodes of neighboring cells is avoided by the end plates 45 and 46 of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 a part of the end plate 46 and the ring 42 connected thereto as well as part of the diaphragm 48 are cut away and the upper positions of gas collecting conduits 24 and and the lower position of the electrolyte return conduit 36 are shown. Furthermore, it is evident from Fig; 3 that the end walls 45 and 46 are each provided with a flat smooth peripheral portion R surrounding the field of raised portions. This smooth peripheral portion R should have a radial width of at least mm.
  • each cell indicated at the lower portion of Fig. 4 and extending from the plane of left plate to the plane of right plate 46 is equal in practice to only approximately 8-15 mm.
  • all horizontal dimensions of Fig. 4 are approximately double their actual size while all vertical dimensions of the structure shown in Fig. 4 is approximately one half the actual size.
  • the extremely thin, fiat, disc, circular shape of each cell is approximately one half the actual size.
  • the raised portions 45a, 45b and 46a, 46! extend from the planes of the plates 45 and 46, respectively, by a maximum distance of 10 mm. In this way there is no undesirable reduction in thickness of the plate at the raised portions thereof.
  • the plates have springy characteristics which with proper choice of the cell dimensions provide a strong springy force making good electrical contact between the electrode meshes and the end plates of the 6 cells. In order that there be a sufficient number of contact points to transfer the relatively large current of 10-20 amperes per square decimeter, the distance D (Fig. 4) between raised portions of each plate which extend to the same side thereof should be less than 50 mm.
  • the conduits 24, 25, and 36 are of a similar construction, and this construction may be seen in Fig. 6 where the details of a part of conduit 24 are shown. As is evident from Fig. 6, the alternating end plates and electrodes are formed with a row of aligned openings where each conduit is located.
  • the conduit 24 is shown in Fig. 6 as composed of a series of tubular members 54, 54a extending through the aligned openings of the end walls 45 and 46 and having shoulders engaging these end walls. Nuts 55 and 55a are threadedly carried by the tubular members 54 and 54a for clamping the latter to the end plates, respectively.
  • elements 54, 54a, 55, 55a form a plurality of tubular means which together form the conduit 24, this series of tubular means being fixed to and extending through the openings of the end plates into fluid tight engagement with diaphragms at the openings thereof.
  • each tubular means is a mirror image of the next tubular means. The diaphragms are clamped between the successive tubular means.
  • the compressibility of the diaphragms makes it possible to provide a complete fluid tight seal between the diaphragms and plurality of tubular means.
  • the conduit 24 should communicate only with the anode chambers of the several cells in order to collect oxygen for directing the same to the tank 20, and thus the several tubular elements 54, 54a, etc. which constitute the conduit 24 are respectively formed with transverse bores 56, 56a, etc. communicating with the anode chambers, as indicated in Fig. 6.
  • the plurality of tubular means which constitute each conduit are made of an electrically non-conductive material. They are best composed of polyethylene with fluorine in terminal groups, such as the polymerisate of trichlorofiuoroethylene (known under the trade name of Hostafion) and tetrafluoroethylene (known under the trade name of Teflon). These materials are best because they have the best long range resistance to the hot electrolyte and do not give up any components to the electrolyte which can become deposited on the electrodes and increase the separating voltage at the electrodes. Because these polymerisates are very expensive, however, the tubular members 54, 54a, etc. are made of a mixture of these polymerisates and asbestos. The same is true of the nuts 55, 55a, etc.
  • the conduit 25 has a construction identical with that shown in Fig. 6 for the conduit 24. However each tubular member of the conduit 25 is located on a particular end plate in a reverse position with respect to the tubular member forming part of conduit 24, so that the transverse bores 56, 56a, etc. of the tubular members constituting the conduit 25 communicate with the cathode chambers of the several cells. In this way hydrogen moves from the cathode chambers through the conduit 25 to the tank 21.
  • the conduit 36 has the same construction as the conduit 24 shown in Fig. 6, except that each tubular means is provided with transverse bores on both sides of the end plate carrying the same so that the conduit 36 communicates with the anode and cathode chambers to provide them uniformly with fresh, thinned electrolyte.
  • the entire cross section of the bores communicating with any one anode or cathode chamber is smaller than 7 rnmP, however, then the electrical resistance of the electrolytic connections in relation to the resistance of the cell is so great that the current flow resulting from the electrolytic communication provided by the conduits is far less than 1% of the total current flow and is therefore negligible.
  • the entire cross section of the bores communicating with any one anode or cathode chamber is smaller than 7 mmfi, in accordance with the present invention.
  • the losses due to the resistance of the cells are extremely small and the cells themselves are so small that it is possible to assemble a greater number of the cells of the invention in a decomposer of a given size than is possible with conventional cells, and thus the above described structure provides a far greater output than conventional structures of the same outer dimensions.
  • the gas of the decomposer is maintained at a minimum pressure of atmospheres because with such a pressure the volume of the rising gas bubbles is reduced because of the compression of the bubbles so that the electrolyte displaced by the extremely small bubbles no longer undesirably influences the conductivity of the small cell chambers. It is then possible to operate with the smallest possible power loss due to electrical resistance.
  • these sealing rings 47 must be compressedcompletely and uniformly into the annular grooves 53 of elements 41 and 42, as shown in Fig. 4, these sealing rings are made of an easily deformable core which is c'overediby an envelope of thinpolyfluoroethylene'. It
  • a ring 47a composed of asbestos paper with a rubber binder
  • this core as shown in Fig. 9, has a band 47b of polyfluoroethylene foil Wrapped around it with the successive convolutions of the Wrapping overlapping each other in a manner which provides at practically every point of the core 47a a double layer of the foil 47b.
  • a sealing ring of this construction does not become impregnated with the hot electrolyte even when in direct contact with the same and thus maintain their high electrical insulation properties even within the interior of the cells.
  • a further important advantage of a sealing ring having an outer envelope of polyfluoroethylene is that such a sealing ring will not adhere to the steel rings 41 and 42 even after years of operation of the decomposer.
  • these sealing rings are readily separated from the metal rings when the decomposer is disassembled and can thereafter he used again when the apparatus is assembled.
  • the outer surface of such sealing rings are so smooth that the individual cells can no longer be mounted directly in their final position as has been customary up to the present time, because there would be the danger of a cell or group of cells slipping out of the row of cells.
  • a base 57 is used, as shown in Fig. 5, and an auxiliary end plate in the form of a ring 13 is placed on this base. Then a plurality of individual cells are placed in a horizontal position on the auxiliary plate 13 with these cells arranged one above the other to form a group of cells such as the group III.
  • the pull means 15 is composed of a pair of bars 15 and 15a in threaded engagement with oppositely threaded portions of a screw member 16 which is turned to draw the members 15 and 15a together, these members terminating in hook portions which engage annular flanges extending outwardly from the rings 13 and 14 at the sides thereof directed toward the cells, as is evident from Figs. 1 and 5.
  • the pull means 17 is composed of a pair of bars 17 and 17a threadedly engaging oppositely threaded portions of a screw member 18 which is turned to pull these bars together, the bars 17 and 17a also having hook portions which engage the flanges of the auxiliary end plates 13 and 14.
  • a plurality of pull means of this construction are distributed about the group of cells, and in the example illustrated four such pull means are connected to the end plates 13 and 14 and are angularly spaced from each other by As soon as the group of cells on the base 57 are pulled together to the desired extent by the plurality of pull means, the group which is now held together by the plurality of pull means is removed as a unit from the base 57 and transported to its proper mounting position in the assembly.
  • the pull bars 4--9 are provided with roller-like insulating bodies 58, as shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8.
  • the bars 49 are formed with longitudinal grooves 56 directed toward the cells and the insulating bodies 58 are located in each of these grooves in a row.
  • the bodies 58 are made of porcelain or a similar ceramic material. Since it is possible to manufacture only short lengthsof ceramic material with the required accuracy, a plurality of the relatively short bodies are arranged in spaced relation along each groove 56, as is shown with thebodies 53, 58a, 58b, 58c shown in the groove 56 of bar Lin Fig. '8. These ceramic rollers are ground at their outer surfaces to the proper size, and their ends are rounded so that the rings 41 and 42 can freely slip along the ceramic bodies when tension is applied to the bars for'pressiug the cellstogether.
  • the ceramic rollers 58 are'inserted into the grooves of bars 4-6 and 9 from an end of the latter and slipped along the assembly until they have the desired distribution, and these rollers will not fall at this time because of their engagement with the cellsr-and bars.
  • nuts are placed on the ends of the bars and these nuts are slowly and carefully turned while preventing turning of the bars so as to gradually tension the bars. Any lateral slipping of a particular group of cells is prevented by engagement of the cells with the cage formed by the insulated bodies 58.
  • the pull means 15-18 of one group of cells are staggered with respect to the pull means of the next group of cells so that the pull means of adjacent groups of cells do not interfere with each other and after the assembly is complete the pull means are removed. 1
  • auxiliary end plates 13 and 14 are of essentially the same construction as rings 41 and 42 and cooperate in the same way with elements of the decomposer. They differ from rings 41 and 42 only by being thicker than the same and by being provided with the outer flanges which are engaged by the pull means 15-18.
  • the rings 13 and 14 are provided at their inner peripheries with ribs of a reduced cross section corresponding to the ribs 43 and 44 shown in Fig. 4 and are formed with grooves at their inner periphery corresponding to the grooves 51 and 52 and receiving end plates 45 and 46.
  • Sealing rings 47 are located between adjacent rings 13 and 14 and between the latter and adjacent cells, and furthermore between adjacent auxiliary end rings of the groups of cells such as rings 13 and 14a or rings 14 and 13a shown in Fig. l are located a diaphragm and a pair of electrodes which are clamped between these rings in the manner described above in connection with Fig. 4. A diaphragm and a pair of electrodes are also clamped between each end cell of a group of cells and the auxiliary end plate adjoining the same.
  • Tubular means having the construction shown in Fig. 6 are carried by the end plates connected with the end rings of the several groups of cells.
  • the auxiliary end plates at the end of each group of cells does not in any way alter the continuity of the series of cells, and the only ditference in the construction at these auxiliary end plates, in addition to the above mentioned greater thickness of the rings 13 and 14 is that the tubular members which form parts of the conduits 24, 25, and 36 are longer than the remaining tubular members in order to traverse the greater distance from the end plates to the diaphragms caused by the greater thickness of elements 13 and 14, and also the raised portions of the end plates extend to a greater distance from the planes of the end plates joined to elements 13 and 14 in order to traverse the greater distance to the electrodes in order to make the desired electrical contact therewith.
  • this arrangement there is provided between the massive end plates 2 and 3 an uninterrupted row of series connected decomposer cells.
  • the'decornpo'ser is operated at a pressure which is 5 atmospheres as a minimum in order to keep the volume of the gas bubbles as small as possible.
  • this pressure of.5 atmospheres isonly a minimum value.
  • the end walls 45 and 46 may be made of corrugated sheet metal pressed fiat at the peripheries of the endv walls.
  • one or more of the conduits 24, 25 and 36 may pass through the rings 41, 42, instead of through the end plates and diaphragms, and with such an arrangement sleeves of electrically non-conductive material would be provided to engage the sealing rings 47 .at bored portions- 31b and also the motor which drives the pump 35 is maintained above and spaced from the floor.
  • each of the end plates 2 and 3 carries an upwardly extending support which engages and supports tank 20 and an upwardly extending support which engages and supports the tank 21.
  • a plurality of series connected decomposer cells each of which comprises, in combination, an outer endless means defining the outer periphery of each cell; a pair of mutually spaced electrodes located in each cell; a diaphragm connected at its periphery to said endless means and located between said electrodes and dividing each cell into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber; and a pair of electrically conductive end plates defining each cell therebetween, connected at their peripheries to said endless means, and each being in the form of a thin sheet of springy metal having circular, substantially dome-shaped hollow bulging portions extending from both of its faces and engaging one electrode of each cell and one electrode of the next cell, so that the neighboring electrodes of 11 neighboring cells are electrically interconnected by said end plates.
  • a plurality of series connected decomposer cells each of which comprises, in combination, an outer endless means defining the outer periphery of each cell; a pair of mutually spaced electrodes located in each cell; a diaphragm connected at its periphery to said endless means and located between said electrodes and dividing each cell into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber; and a pair of electrically conductive end plates defining each cell therebetween, connected at their peripheries to said endless means, and each being in the form of a thin sheet of springy metal having circular, substantially dome-shaped hollow bulging portions extending from both of its faces and engaging one electrode of each cell and one electrode of the next cell, so that the neighboring electrodes of neighboring cells are electrically interconnected by said end plates, said bulging portions being closely spaced over substantially the entire plate and alternately extending to opposite sides of a plane in which said plate is located.
  • a plurality of series connected decomposer cells each of which comprises, in combination, an outer endless means defining the outer periphery of each cell; a pair of mutually spaced electrodes located in each cell; a diaphragm connected at its periphery to said endless means and located between said electrodes and dividing each cell into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber; and a pair of electrically conductive end plates defininig each cell therebetween, connected at their peripheries to said endless means, and each being in the form of a thin sheet of springy metal having circular, substantiallydome-shaped hollow bulging portions extending from both of its faces and engaging one electrode of each cell and one electrode of the next cell, the bulging portions which extend from one of said faces of said plate merging with bulging portions, respectively, which extend from the other of said faces of each plate.
  • a plurality of series connected decomposer cells each of which comprises, in combination, an outer endless means defining the outer periphery of each cell; a pair of mutually spaced electrodes located in each cell and each being in the form of a metallic wire mesh; a diaphragm connected at its periphery to said endless means and located between and engaging said electrodes and dividing each cell into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber; and a pair of electrically conductive end plates defining each cell therebetween, connected at their peripheries to said endless means, and each being in the form of a thin sheet of springy metal having circular, substantially dome-shaped hollow bulging portions extending from both of its faces and engaging one electrode of each cell and one electrode of the next cell, so that the neighboring electrodes of neighboring cells are electrically interconnected by said end plates, said bulging portions of'said end plates pressing said electrodes against said diaphragm.

Landscapes

  • 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 Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
US574674A 1955-04-01 1956-03-29 Decomposer Expired - Lifetime US2881123A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH837866X 1955-04-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2881123A true US2881123A (en) 1959-04-07

Family

ID=4540898

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US574674A Expired - Lifetime US2881123A (en) 1955-04-01 1956-03-29 Decomposer

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US2881123A (pt)
BE (1) BE546593A (pt)
DE (1) DE1006401B (pt)
FR (1) FR1151507A (pt)
GB (1) GB837866A (pt)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3239442A (en) * 1957-10-03 1966-03-08 Ionics Method for electrodialysis of solutions and apparatus therefor
US3392058A (en) * 1963-08-27 1968-07-09 Gen Electric Heat transfer arrangement within a fuel cell structure
EP0045583A1 (en) * 1980-07-31 1982-02-10 Ernst Spirig Electrolysis apparatus
US4892636A (en) * 1988-06-17 1990-01-09 Olin Corporation Modular electrolytic cell and processing apparatus
US5006215A (en) * 1989-07-27 1991-04-09 The Dow Company Squeezer apparatus
US5112463A (en) * 1990-09-03 1992-05-12 XueMing Zhang Apparatus for water electrolysis
WO2016034185A1 (en) 2014-09-05 2016-03-10 Greenhydrogen.Dk Aps Electrolyser stack divided into sub-stacks

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3312614A (en) * 1967-04-04 Diaphragm electrolysis cell
FR2460342A1 (fr) * 1979-07-05 1981-01-23 Creusot Loire Installation d'electrolyse pour la production de gaz
FR2556981B1 (fr) * 1983-12-23 1988-10-14 Creusot Loire Dispositif de degazage pour installation d'electrolyse pour la production de gaz, en particulier pour installation d'electrolyse de l'eau
JPS60200468A (ja) * 1984-03-23 1985-10-09 Hitachi Ltd 燃料電池
DE3829901A1 (de) * 1988-09-02 1990-03-15 Linde Ag Elektrolysezellenanordnung in filterpressenbauart
DE4418999C2 (de) * 1994-05-31 1996-04-11 Von Hoerner System Gmbh Druckelektrolyseur mit einem gekapselten Zellenblock aus einzelnen Elektrolysezellen
FR3144019A1 (fr) 2022-12-21 2024-06-28 Technip Energies France Dispositif de dégazage d’un mélange gaz-liquide

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1094728A (en) * 1913-05-09 1914-04-28 Internat Oxygen Company Electrolytic apparatus.
US1211687A (en) * 1913-10-20 1917-01-09 Arthur Dohmen Apparatus for the electrolytic decomposition of water.
US1239530A (en) * 1916-04-17 1917-09-11 Harry T Shriver Electrolytic apparatus.
US1272397A (en) * 1914-12-01 1918-07-16 Albert F Krause Apparatus for effecting electrolysis.
US2070612A (en) * 1932-03-19 1937-02-16 Niederreither Hans Method of producing, storing, and distributing electrical energy by operating gas batteries, particularly oxy-hydrogen gas batteries and electrolyzers
US2075688A (en) * 1935-01-10 1937-03-30 Bamag Meguin Ag Electrolytic apparatus
FR892885A (fr) * 1943-03-26 1944-05-23 Entpr Rene & Jean Moritz Perfectionnements à la construction d'électrodes d'électrolyseurs pour la production d'oxygène et d'hydrogène par électrolyse de l'eau
GB679334A (en) * 1949-11-30 1952-09-17 Lonza Ag Improvements relating to pressure-operated water electrolyzers
US2717872A (en) * 1950-08-12 1955-09-13 Ewald A Zdansky Pressure electrolyzers
US2767135A (en) * 1951-01-23 1956-10-16 Ionics Electrolytic transfer of salts

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1094728A (en) * 1913-05-09 1914-04-28 Internat Oxygen Company Electrolytic apparatus.
US1211687A (en) * 1913-10-20 1917-01-09 Arthur Dohmen Apparatus for the electrolytic decomposition of water.
US1272397A (en) * 1914-12-01 1918-07-16 Albert F Krause Apparatus for effecting electrolysis.
US1239530A (en) * 1916-04-17 1917-09-11 Harry T Shriver Electrolytic apparatus.
US2070612A (en) * 1932-03-19 1937-02-16 Niederreither Hans Method of producing, storing, and distributing electrical energy by operating gas batteries, particularly oxy-hydrogen gas batteries and electrolyzers
US2075688A (en) * 1935-01-10 1937-03-30 Bamag Meguin Ag Electrolytic apparatus
FR892885A (fr) * 1943-03-26 1944-05-23 Entpr Rene & Jean Moritz Perfectionnements à la construction d'électrodes d'électrolyseurs pour la production d'oxygène et d'hydrogène par électrolyse de l'eau
GB679334A (en) * 1949-11-30 1952-09-17 Lonza Ag Improvements relating to pressure-operated water electrolyzers
US2717872A (en) * 1950-08-12 1955-09-13 Ewald A Zdansky Pressure electrolyzers
US2767135A (en) * 1951-01-23 1956-10-16 Ionics Electrolytic transfer of salts

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3239442A (en) * 1957-10-03 1966-03-08 Ionics Method for electrodialysis of solutions and apparatus therefor
US3392058A (en) * 1963-08-27 1968-07-09 Gen Electric Heat transfer arrangement within a fuel cell structure
EP0045583A1 (en) * 1980-07-31 1982-02-10 Ernst Spirig Electrolysis apparatus
US4892636A (en) * 1988-06-17 1990-01-09 Olin Corporation Modular electrolytic cell and processing apparatus
US5006215A (en) * 1989-07-27 1991-04-09 The Dow Company Squeezer apparatus
US5112463A (en) * 1990-09-03 1992-05-12 XueMing Zhang Apparatus for water electrolysis
WO2016034185A1 (en) 2014-09-05 2016-03-10 Greenhydrogen.Dk Aps Electrolyser stack divided into sub-stacks

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB837866A (en) 1960-06-15
DE1006401B (de) 1957-04-18
BE546593A (pt)
FR1151507A (fr) 1958-01-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2881123A (en) Decomposer
US2717872A (en) Pressure electrolyzers
EP0212240B1 (en) Apparatus for the electrolysis of solutions
US4210511A (en) Electrolyzer apparatus and electrode structure therefor
US4110191A (en) Separator-electrode unit for electrolytic cells
FI68089B (fi) Elektrolysapparat foer framstaellning av klor ur vattenhaltigaalkalikloridloesningar
US3759815A (en) Electrode assembly
US4389289A (en) Bipolar electrolyzer
FI71357C (fi) Monopolar elektrolyscell av filterpresstyp
US3324023A (en) Bipolar electrolytic cell for the production of gases
US3119760A (en) Electrolytic cell for the oxidation and reduction of organic compounds
US3930980A (en) Electrolysis cell
FI67575B (fi) Elektrolysapparat foer framstaellning av klor ur vattenhaltigaalkalihalogenidvattenloesningar
US1799116A (en) Electrolytic apparatus
US799061A (en) Electrolytic apparatus and electrodes therefor.
FI80298C (fi) Elektrolyscell.
US4064031A (en) Electrolyzer
US4443316A (en) Electrolysis cell with intermediate chamber for electrolyte flow
US1907818A (en) Method of electrolysis and means therefor
US2219342A (en) Apparatus for electrolysis
US3654120A (en) Electrolytic cell including bipolar electrodes with resin-impregnated holes in the electrode body
US3856652A (en) Electrochemical cells
US1485461A (en) Electrolytic cell
US2786811A (en) Electrolytic cell for producing gases
US3113918A (en) Electrolytic apparatus