US3679570A - Baseplate assembly for mercury-cathode cell - Google Patents

Baseplate assembly for mercury-cathode cell Download PDF

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Publication number
US3679570A
US3679570A US52859A US3679570DA US3679570A US 3679570 A US3679570 A US 3679570A US 52859 A US52859 A US 52859A US 3679570D A US3679570D A US 3679570DA US 3679570 A US3679570 A US 3679570A
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United States
Prior art keywords
plate
stud
aluminium
baseplate
steel
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Expired - Lifetime
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US52859A
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English (en)
Inventor
John Howliston King
Frank Smith
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Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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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
    • 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

Definitions

  • a baseplate assembly for an electrolytic cell having a flowing mercury cathode comprising a steel plate the upper surface of which in operation is wetted by and carries the flowing mercury cathode and a current extractor plate and made of a metal of higher electrical conductivity than steel, said plates being substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart by a plurality of aluminum studs distributed in a substantially uniform pattern over the common area of the two plates, one end of each stud being friction-welded to the steel plate and each stud being electrically-connected in rigid manner at or near its other end to the current extractor plate.
  • the present invention relates to a baseplate assembly for an electrolytic cell having a flowing mercury cathode. More particularly it relates to an assembly in which a steel baseplate is united with current collection means in novel manner so as to enable current to be withdrawn from the whole area of the baseplate in a substantially uniform pattern.
  • Cells for the electrolysis of alkali metal chloride solutions with a flowing mercury cathode are conventionally constructed with a baseplate of steel because steel is relatively cheap and is wettable by mercury and liquid alkali metal amalgam so that a thin layer of mercury or dilute amalgam can be caused to flow over the steel surface as a continuous film to form the working cathode of the cell when the baseplate is inclined at a suitable angle to the horizontal.
  • the electrolysing current is removed from the cathode through the baseplate by attaching conductors, e.g. copper tapes, to one or more points along one edge or along opposite edges of the baseplate.
  • the present invention provides a baseplate assembly which approaches more closely to the ideal of collecting the current individually from each anode into a lowresistance path and also allows operation of the cell at higher current densities without increasing the thickness of the conventional steel baseplate.
  • a baseplate assembly for an electrolytic cell having a flowing mercury cathode which comprises a steel plate for carrying the flowing mercury cathode and acurrent extractor plate'made of metal of higher electrical conductivity Patented July 25, 1972 "ice than steel, said plates being substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart by a plurality of aluminium studs distributed in a substantially uniform pattern over the common area of the two plates, one end of each stud being friction-welded to the steel plate and each stud being electrically connected in rigid manner at or near its other end to the current extractor plate.
  • the current extractor plate is made of aluminium.
  • Other materials of high electrical conductivity may alternatively be employed, for instance copper or an aluminium alloy containing a major amount of aluminium.
  • the extractor plate may itself be a composite ofnarrower plates placed with their edges parallel to each other and running substantially the length or the breadth of the steel plate. For minimum overall electrical resistance such narrower plates will be placed substantially edge-to-edge, but if the thickness of the plates in relation to current density allows it they may be spaced apart with any convenient gap.
  • the current extractor plate may extend along at least one edge beyond the area of the steel plate for the extensions to act as bus-bar and/or switching connections leading to the electrolysing current source or to neighbouring cells in a series of cells. 1
  • each aluminium stud friction-welded at one end to the steel plate is electrically connected in rigid manner to the current extractor plate by providing a corresponding opening in the extractor plate of approximately the same diameter as the stud, passing the other end of the stud into the opening or passing it through the opening so that it protrudes therefrom and making a fusion weld in an inert-gas-shielded protective atmosphere, e.g. by argon arc-welding, around the circumference of the stud at or near its free end so as to unite the stud with the extractor plate.
  • an inert-gas-shielded protective atmosphere e.g. by argon arc-welding
  • each aluminium stud fixed by friction-welding at one end to the steel plate is electrically connected in rigid manner to the current extractor plate by another friction weld, which is made with the aid of a second aluminium stud.
  • One method of producing an assembly according to this embodiment comprises providing an opening in the current extractor plate corresponding with the free end of each fixed stud and of smaller diameter than the fixed stud, abutting the free end of the fixed stud against the etxractor plate to cover the said opening and friction-welding to the fixed stud through the corresponding opening in the extractor plate and to the adjoining area of the extractor plate a second aluminium stud of substantially the same diameter as the said fixed stud.
  • the openings provided in the extractor plate before assembly may most suitably have a diameter about 0.8 times the diameter of the aluminium studs.
  • An alternative method of producing an assembly according to the second-mentioned embodiment is to taper the free end of each fixed stud over a length about inch greater than the thickness of the current extractor plate (a suitable taper is one of about 13 half-angle) and to provide a tapered hole in the extractor plate to fit the end taper of the stud so that when the parts are mated together the end of the stud protrudes about A: inch from the hole in the plate.
  • the friction Weld is then made by spinning a second aluminium stud of substantially the same diameter as the overall diameter of the fixed stud in end-to-end contact with the end of the fixed stud until it is forged into the current extractor plate as well as the end of the fixed stud.
  • FIGS. 1-3 show vertical sections througha single pair of co-operating studs at three stages during the first-described procedure for producing an assembly according to the second-described embodiment on the invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows a vertical section through one of a plurality of ,studs inan assembly produced according .to r
  • FIG. is a view from underneath in isometric projection of part of a baseplate assembly in accordance with this em- .between an aluminium stud and part of a mild steel baseplate.
  • FIG. 8 shows a suitable arrangement of the parts ready .for making an aluminium/ aluminium friction weld by the second-described procedure for producing an assembly according to the second-described embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 shows the arrangement used for measuring the electrical resistance between the aluminium plate and thesteel plate across both the friction weldsof a part assembly made by this procedure, after the-plates have been trimmed to the sizes shown, and
  • FIG. (section along the axis of the studs) shows the positions of pieces cut for electrical testing from the aluminium/aluminium and the aluminium/mild steel friction welds respectively of the same assembly.
  • FIG. 1 is shown part of the steel plate 1 (suitably I 0.5-1.0, inch thick) which will carry on its upper surface the flowing mercury cathode when the baseplate assembly is installed in the electrolytic cell.
  • 2 is an aluminium stud, suitably about -3-inch diameter, which has been fixed to the steel plate by a friction weld shown at 3.
  • FIG. 2 shows the next stage in making the assembly, where the free end of the aluminium stud 2 is abutted against a current extractor plate 4 (suitably an aluminium 'plate about 0.75 inch thick) which has been provided with an opening 5 in register with the stud 2 but' of smaller diameter (suitably about 2.5-inch diameter for a 3-inch diameter stud).
  • FIG. 1 is shown part of the steel plate 1 (suitably I 0.5-1.0, inch thick) which will carry on its upper surface the flowing mercury cathode when the baseplate assembly is installed in the electrolytic cell.
  • 2 is an aluminium stud, suitably about -3-inch diameter, which has been fixed to the
  • FIG. 3 shows the final stage, in which a second aluminium stud 6 of approximately the same diameter as the stud 2 has been applied to the opposite side of plate 4 and has been spun under increasing pressure so as to be forged through the opening in plate 4 to make a friction weld as indicated at 7 with the end of stud 2 and the surrounding area of plate 4.
  • a plurality (not shown) of studs 2 and 6 are similarly fixed in place to unite the plates 1 and 4.
  • the studs are fixed in parallel rows over the common area of the two plates withtheir centres between about 10 inches and 25 inches apart. It will, however, be understood that the diameter of the studs may be varied and their relative spacing may be also varied both inside and outside the above-stated range according to the current density at which the cell is intended to operate.
  • the steel plate'which is to carry the flowing mercury cathode in the working cell is again shown as 1.
  • Each aluminium I are secured thereto by welds 9.
  • the opposite edges ofthe plates 12 which stud, now shown as 8 is again fixed to plate 1 by a friction weld 3 but is of suflicient length to pass through an opening of the same diameter in the current collector plate 4, suitably an aluminium plate as before, and the stud has been fixed into the plate 4 by a peripheral fusion weld 9, made for instance by argon arc welding.
  • the .whole baseplate assembly there is a plurality of studs 8 suitably distributed over the common area of plates 1 and 4, for instance in parallel rows as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the left-hand side of this isometric view shows two rows of six studs 8 that have been friction-welded as indicated at 3 to the steel plate 1 and are ready for welding to the current extractor plate.
  • the right-hand side of the figure shows a current extractor plate formed as a composite of narrower plates 12 which run approximately edge-toedge of each other across the breadth of the steel plate.
  • the studs 8 pass through openings in the plates 12 and extend beyond the area of the steel plate 1 have been bent over at 13 to provide. a vertical surface for bolting on of switchgear or other electrical connections.
  • a further advantage of the baseplate assemblies of the invention is that the points beneath the assembly where the studs are fixed provide suitable positions for inserting a" jack to raise or lower local areas of the assembly so as to obtain a level upper surface of the steel plate 1' on which the mercury cathode is to .flow and thus avoid or reduce the need for grinding this surface to a true plane when installed in the cell.
  • the pendent end of each stud may be provided with a spigot of smaller diameter tofit the jack as shown at 10 in FIG. 3. In FIG.”3 this spigot is also shown with a transverse bore 11 for attachment of the jack when'a downward pull is needed for levelling the baseplate.
  • a 3-inch diameter aluminium stud was friction-welded at one'end to a mild steel plate 0.5 inch thick as described in he penultimate paragraph. The other end of the stud was then joined to an aluminium plate 1.125 inches thick by a friction weld made with the aid of a second aluminium stud.
  • the preparation of the parts before making this second weld is illustrated in FIG. 8,,wherein 23 is the aluminium plate, 24 is the free end of the aluminium stud which has its opposite end already fixed to the steel plate a 24 projecting through the opening in the plate 23 and.
  • FIG. 9 shows the finished part assembly after cutting the plates to the sizes shown for electrical testing.
  • the electrical resistance measured between points A and B was found to be only 1.40 microhms.
  • Six test pieces, each 2.54 cm. (1 inch) long and 0.9 cm. inch) diameter, were turned from the finished part-assembly in the areas of the two welds at the positions indicated by the numerals 31- 36 in FIG. 10.
  • a current of 50 amp was passed through each test piece and the potential difference was measured with probes over a distance of 1.45 cm. across the weld interface.
  • each stud being electrically-connected in rigid manner at or near its other end to the current extractor plate.
  • each of the said aluminium studs is connected to the current extractor plate by a fusion weld around the circumference of the stud.
  • each of the said aluminium studs is connected to the current extractor plate by way of a friction weld made through an opening in the extractor plate between the end of the said stud which is remote from the steel plate and one end of a second aluminium stud which second stud is also friction-welded to the adjoining area of the extractor plate.

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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)
  • Arc Welding In General (AREA)
  • Pressure Welding/Diffusion-Bonding (AREA)
  • Connections Effected By Soldering, Adhesion, Or Permanent Deformation (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
US52859A 1969-07-22 1970-07-07 Baseplate assembly for mercury-cathode cell Expired - Lifetime US3679570A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB3683269 1969-07-22

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US3679570A true US3679570A (en) 1972-07-25

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US (1) US3679570A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5023385B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT298518B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE753726A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH511637A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2035405C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2053078B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1259222A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
MY (1) MY7300109A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7010836A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ZA (1) ZA704703B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1206996A3 (en) * 2000-11-17 2003-06-11 Rolls Royce Plc Friction welding

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2105562A1 (de) * 1971-02-06 1972-08-10 Uhde Gmbh Friedrich Elektrolysezelle mit flüssiger Elektrode
GB2383968B (en) * 2002-01-15 2005-07-27 Rolls Royce Plc Friction welding

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1757625U (de) * 1956-05-19 1957-12-12 Farbwerke Hoechst A G Vorm Mei Amalgambildende zelle fuer die chlor-alkali-elektrolyse.
US3502561A (en) * 1966-09-05 1970-03-24 Basf Ag Alkali-chlorine cell having a horizontal mercury cathode

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1206996A3 (en) * 2000-11-17 2003-06-11 Rolls Royce Plc Friction welding

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA704703B (en) 1972-02-23
AT298518B (de) 1972-05-10
JPS5023385B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-08-07
MY7300109A (en) 1973-12-31
DE2035405A1 (de) 1971-02-18
FR2053078B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-01-12
DE2035405C3 (de) 1982-01-28
CH511637A (fr) 1971-08-31
FR2053078A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-04-16
GB1259222A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-01-05
DE2035405B2 (de) 1981-01-29
NL7010836A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-01-26
BE753726A (fr) 1971-01-22

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