US3400067A - Mercury-cathode chlorine cell and mercury feeding means - Google Patents

Mercury-cathode chlorine cell and mercury feeding means Download PDF

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Publication number
US3400067A
US3400067A US533585A US53358566A US3400067A US 3400067 A US3400067 A US 3400067A US 533585 A US533585 A US 533585A US 53358566 A US53358566 A US 53358566A US 3400067 A US3400067 A US 3400067A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
mercury
flow
electrolytic chamber
bottom plate
electrolytic
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
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US533585A
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English (en)
Inventor
Hiroshi Shibata
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Kureha Corp
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Kureha Corp
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Publication date
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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
    • C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01—Products
    • C25B1/34—Simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine, e.g. by chlor-alkali electrolysis
    • C25B1/36—Simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine, e.g. by chlor-alkali electrolysis in mercury cathode cells
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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 electrolytic cells having mercury electrodes for electrolysis of alkali chloride solutions. More particularly, the invention relates to the construction of the inlet of a mercury-cathode chlorine cell having a mercury inlet passage channel disposed perpendicularly to the flow of the mercury in the electrolytic chamber.
  • the mercury sent by a pump first passes from the transverse direction of the electrolytic cell through a channel along the side in the longitudinal direction and then enters the interior of the electrolytic cell.
  • the flow of the mercury passing through the channel is caused to undergo an abrupt right-angle change in direction at the point of its entrance into the electrolytic cell, waves are formed at the flow surface and tend to cause breaks in the mercury flow.
  • a mercury-cathode chlorine cell of the character referred to above characterized in that the mercury flowing from the mercury inlet channel is under a static head pressure and is introduced into the electrolytic chamber through a mercury flow guide slit comprising, in combination, a large number of small holes formed through the bottom plate of the electrolytic chamber above and in the direction of the inlet channel and a gap formed between the bottom plate and a flow guide plate fixed parallell-y to the bottom plate and forming a ceiling covering the outlets of the small holes.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view showing one example of an electrolytic cell embodying the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational view in vertical section taken along the plane indicated by line II,,II in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an elevational view in vertical section taken along the plane indicated by line IIIIII in FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevational views in vertical section taken along planes equivalent to that indicated by line IIIIII in FIG. 1, respectively showing other examples of the electrolytic cell according to the invention.
  • FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), and 6(0) are diagrammatic views respectively showing examples of small holes suitable for use according to the invention.
  • the principal operational part of the electrolytic cell shown is an electrolytic chamber 1 having a steel bottom plate 2 constituting a cathode.
  • a mercury lower circuit channel 3 Along one side of the electrolytic chamber 1 and below the bottom plate 2, there is provided a mercury lower circuit channel 3, and numerous small through holes 4 are provided in a row in the bottom plate 2 above the channel 3, the row of holes extending over almost the entire length of the channel 3 and providing communication from the channel 3 to the electrolytic chamber 1.
  • the diameters of the holes 4 are increased progressively by slight increments toward the end of the chamber 1 on the side of IL, so as to produce almost equal mercury flow rate through all holes 4.
  • a mercury guide plate 5 is disposed to project inwardly from the side wall of the electrolytic chamber 1 above the holes 4 with a gap 6 formed between the guide plate 5 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 2.
  • a mercury outlet through 8 is provided along the side of the chamber 1 opposite the side of the channel 3 and is connected at the outlet end thereof to an amalgam decomposer 9 or denuding tower.
  • the mercury recovered from the amalgam decomposer 9 is recirculated by a mercury pump 10 by way of a mercury circuit side passage 11 connected to the channel 3.
  • the mercury 7 which has been pumped by the pump 10 into the side passage 11 is caused by static head pressure to flow through the mercury lower circuit channel 3, from which the mercury passes through the holes 4 and emerges uniformly at the upper surface of the bottom plate 2.
  • the mercury has a flow velocity in the vertical direction due to the head pressure but is thereafter caused by the guide plate 5 to change its flow direction to that indicated by arrows and flows uniformly out from the gap 6.
  • a How guide slit is formed by the holes 4 and the gap 6, and the mercury flowing out of this flow guide slit already has a uniform velocity in the same direction as the mercury flow in the electrolytic chamber. Accordingly, even when impurities such as graphite partides and mercury butter are produced within the electrolytic cell in the vicinity of the outlet of the flow guide slit, such impurities are immediately swept along with the mercury flow and discharged. Therefore, there is no possibility of these impurities accumulating and lowering'the efficiency of the electrolytic cell or of the generation of hydrogen within the cell.
  • the amalgam thus formed is collected in the outlet through 8 and denuded by the amalgam decomposer 9, and the resulting mercury is again circulated by the pump 10 to the electrolytic cell.
  • the small holes 4 are not necessarily limited to circular holes but may be circular, elliptical, oblong, trapezoid, or of some other suitable shape as indicated in FIG. 6-. Moreover, in some cases, these holes may be aligned in a plurality of rows.
  • the surface of the flow guide plate 5 directly contacting the electrolyte is made of a chlorine-resistant, poor electrical conductor such as rubber, a synthetic resin, or a ceramic, but the lower surface to contact mercury is preferably a material such as iron which has high wettability with respect to mercury.
  • the electrolytic cell of the above described construction and arrangement has the following effectiveness, utility, and advantages.
  • the width of the mercury fiow film is limited to a maximum of approximately 3 metres and in most cases is from 0.8 to 1.5 metres, and, with any larger width, it has been extremely difiicult to obtain a uniform mercury flow evenly over the entire flow film width.
  • This feature of the present invention means that the retention time (or pass through time) of the mercury within the electrolytic cell can be shortened and the amal-' garn concentration can be constantly sustained at a low value, whereby the formation of mercury butter is diminished, and the small quantity of the mercury butter which may be formed is promptly discharged out of the cell. Accordingly, almost no hydrogen is generated.
  • the mercury is subjected to forced flow, a high-velocity, thin, and smooth flow of mercury can be achieved with almost no inclination of the bottom plate of the electrolytic cell. Accordingly, the voltage regulation is facilitated, and it is possible to carry out the electrolytic process with the voltage at a low value.
  • an extremely shallow depth of the electrolytic chamber is sufiicient, whereby the manufacturing cost of the electrolytic cell can be lowered.
  • mercury-cathode chlorine cell wherein mercury is caused to flow from a mercury circuit channel provided below an electrolytic chamber perpendicularly to the mercury flow direction along the bottom plate of the electrolytic chamber, through mercury flow guide means provided along a side wall of the electrolytic chamber, and into the electrolytic chamber to flow horizontally or down a slight incline along the upper surface of the bottom plate, mercury supply means to place the mercury flowing from the mercury circuit channel under a static head pressure and a mercury flow guide slit constituting said mercury flow guide means, said cell being characterized in that said mercury flow guide slit comprises, in combination, a large number of small holes formed through the bottom plate of the electrolytic chamber above and in the direction of the mercury circuit channel and a gap formed between the bottom plate of the electrolytic chamber and a flow guide plate fixed parallel to the bottom plate and forming a ceiling covering the outlets of said small holes.

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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)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
  • Hybrid Cells (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
US533585A 1965-03-18 1966-03-11 Mercury-cathode chlorine cell and mercury feeding means Expired - Lifetime US3400067A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1579665 1965-03-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3400067A true US3400067A (en) 1968-09-03

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US533585A Expired - Lifetime US3400067A (en) 1965-03-18 1966-03-11 Mercury-cathode chlorine cell and mercury feeding means

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3400067A (de)
BE (1) BE678018A (de)
CH (1) CH443235A (de)
DE (1) DE1567981B1 (de)
DK (1) DK116936B (de)
ES (1) ES324745A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1103783A (de)
NL (2) NL6603492A (de)
SE (1) SE317657B (de)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH23834A (de) * 1901-02-01 1902-09-30 Parietti Dr Mario Apparat zur elektrolytischen Herstellung von Ätzalkalien, Chlor und Wasserstoff
US742863A (en) * 1898-10-04 1903-11-03 Solvay Process Co Electrolytic apparatus.
US1055504A (en) * 1912-07-30 1913-03-11 August Albrecht Salting apparatus.
FR1376105A (fr) * 1962-12-13 1964-10-23 Pintsch Bamag Ag Dispositif de distribution de mercure sur la largeur de cellules d'électrolyse à chlorures alcalins par une cathode en mercure horizontale mobile

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US742863A (en) * 1898-10-04 1903-11-03 Solvay Process Co Electrolytic apparatus.
CH23834A (de) * 1901-02-01 1902-09-30 Parietti Dr Mario Apparat zur elektrolytischen Herstellung von Ätzalkalien, Chlor und Wasserstoff
US1055504A (en) * 1912-07-30 1913-03-11 August Albrecht Salting apparatus.
FR1376105A (fr) * 1962-12-13 1964-10-23 Pintsch Bamag Ag Dispositif de distribution de mercure sur la largeur de cellules d'électrolyse à chlorures alcalins par une cathode en mercure horizontale mobile

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES324745A1 (es) 1967-03-01
DE1567981B1 (de) 1971-01-14
NL6603492A (de) 1966-09-19
CH443235A (fr) 1967-09-15
BE678018A (de) 1966-09-01
GB1103783A (en) 1968-02-21
DK116936B (da) 1970-03-02
NL131804C (de)
SE317657B (de) 1969-11-24

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