Ppg Industries, Inc.

Thomas C Jeffery

Carl W Raetzsch

Colonel R Dilmore

Hugh Cunningham

Henry W Rahn

Wilmer B Graybill

Dallas D Dupre, Iii

Disclosed is a bipolar electrolyzer having a plurality of individual electrolytic cells electrically and mechanically in series with a bipolar element between pairs of adjacent individual cells. The bipolar element has an anodic side with anodes of the first electrolytic cell of a pair of electrolytic cells depending therefrom, and a cathodic side with the cathodes of the second electrolytic cell of the pair of electrolytic cells depending therefrom. The anodic side of the bipolar element has an acidified alkali metal chloride resistant valve metal surface, and the cathodic side of the bipolar element has an alkali metal hydroxide resistant transition metal surface. The bipolar electrolyzer is characterized by the bipolar element having a bonded laminate of a valve metal and a transition metal, a first metal plate of a transition metal, intermittently bonded to the transition metal member of the bonded laminate at the first joints, and a second transition metal plate above the first joints, that is, above the joints between the first transition metal plate and the bonded laminate. The second metal plate is bonded to the first metal plate and second joints whereby to protect the first joints from contact with the catholyte liquor.

Bipolar electrolyzer element

Disclosed is an electrolysis cell and method of operation in which metal anodes (preferably titanium) provided with an electrically conducting electrocatalytic coating in an anode compartment face diaphragm covered metal cathodes in a cathode compartment, in which the anodes are spaced from an imperforate valve metal separating partition by a separating wall behind which the anolyte can recirculate downward, the anodic gases rising in the anode compartment 'gently' circulate the anolyte and the gases are discharged into a brine box above the anode compartment near the center thereof and the anolyte recirculates downward near at least one end of the anode compartment; and a method of operation which provides circulation from front to back of the anode compartment and from center to sides of the anode compartment and means for adding new diaphragm material to the circulating anolyte to deposit said new diaphragm material on the diaphragms and methods of determining when and how much new diaphragm material to add.

Method of operating an electrolytic cell having an asbestos diaphragm

Liquid if present in a gas stream is detected by expanding the volume per unit weight of the gas in a vessel to the point where liquid collects in the bottom of the vessel and weighing the liquid.

Detection of liquid in a gas stream

Disclosed is a bipolar electrolyzer having a horizontal hydrogen channel separate from the catholyte chamber. There are apertures between the horizontal hydrogen channel and the catholyte chamber to enable catholyte gas, i.e., hydrogen, with entrained cell liquor, to enter the channel. At one end of the channel is a gas disengaging chamber. The gas disengaging chamber includes a catholyte gas deflector interposed between the outlet of the horizontal channel and the interior of the disengaging chamber, hydrogen recovery means, and catholyte liquor recovery means. In the operation of an electrolytic cell as disclosed herein, catholyte gas, i.e., hydrogen gas with entrapped catholyte liquor, is removed from the catholyte chamber to the horizontal channel. The catholyte gas is then transported through the horizontal channel to the outlet of the horizontal channel and into the disengaging chamber. As the catholyte gas enters the disengaging chamber, its direction of flow is deflected while its linear velocity is reduced. The direction of flow of the gas is then reversed and the linear velocity reduced further, disengaging the catholyte liquor from the hydrogen. Finally, the hydrogen gas, substantially free of catholyte liquor, is recovered from the disengaging chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Charles, LA, United States of America

Thomas C Jeffery