US1379453A - Apparatus for the electrolysis of solutions of metal salts - Google Patents

Description

'2 SHEETSSHEE, I.

Patented May 24 19211..

J. K. LANGHARD. APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYSIS 0F SOLUTIONS OF METAL SALTS.

7 APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. I920.

. J. K; LANGHARD. APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYSIS 0F SOLUTIONS-0F METAL SALTS APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, I920.

Patented. May 24. 192R STATES JOHANN KonnAD LANGHARD, or rnnnarxss'ran, Nonwar, assrsnon 'roq RIKSSTAD ELEKTROKEMISKE FABRIKER A/S., or rnnnnrnssran, NORW'AY.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYSIS 01? SOLUTIONS OF METAL SALTS.

incense.

Patented May 24L, 12921..

Application filed February 6, 1920. Serial No. 356,652.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHANN KONRAD LANG- nano, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at l redrilrsstad, Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Electrolysis of Solutions of Metal Salts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to electrolyzers in which a layer of a loose granular material is employed to separate the anode and cathode space from one another. The hitherto known electrolytic cells of this type have been connected with various drawbacks involving inconveniences during the operation. Thus when a soluble separating layer such as a metal salt has been employed it has not been possible to compensate for the salt dissolved during the electrolysis in such a manner as to attain a uniform distribution of the salt over the supporting means.

This and also other drawbacks are avoided according to the present invention by arranging the supporting means for the granular material at such an angle of in clination. that the introduced granular material is distributed over the surface of the supporting means in consequence of its own gravity.

By so arranging the apparatus it is also attained that the salt which is dissolved during the operation of the apparatus can be successively replaced by new quantities of salt introduced through a charging open ing arranged along the upper edge of the partition.

The invention also comprises means toprevent gas evolved during the electrolysis from escaping through the charging opening for granular m-aterial.-

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a sectional view of the aggregate comprising three individual cells.

Fig. 2 is an end View partly in section on the line A-B, Fig. 1, the cover 14 being removed.

F 1g. 3 is a plan view of a.- single cell, the cover of the anode compartment bein removed. D

In the following description it is presumed that the apparatus is employed for the electrolysis of chlorid of sodium. The apparatus comprises a plurality of cells each having a vertical end wall 1, a wall 1 arranged atan angle to the latter, and constituting an inclined bottom, and two side walls 1 connecting the end and bottom walls. The anode chamber 2 and cathode chamber 3, of each cell is separated by thin asbestos cloth 5 supported on an iron wire-cloth frame a which forms the ca t-hode. The cathode frame '4: rests upon'narrow offsets 18 formed on the side-walls 1 of the cells (Figs. 2 and 3) and current is supplied to said cathode through the connection 9 (l 'ig. 2). The thin asbestos cloth 5 which rests upon the cathode frame l prevents the granular material 19, employed, from falling through the cathode. A wedge 6 of hydraulic cement, a glass plate or the like prevents the chlorin gas from escaping, the electrolyte itself forming a liquid seal at the lower end. At the top the anode compartment is closed by a cover 7. The anodes 8 are inserted through holes in the cover and into the anode chamber and are supported upon a small offset at the lower end. The cover is also provided with outlet openings 11. for the chlorin gases and with openings 17 for the introduction of salt solution. The hydrogen evolved escapes at 10, while the ly from the cathode compartment is drawn off through the outlets l2 and 13.

By means of uniting a greater or less number of single cells electrolyzer aggregates of a greater or less size can be built up. By giving to the cells the construction illustrated in the drawing the inclined bottom wall of one cell will form the inclined cover of the adjacent cell. In the illustrated example the individual cells are connected to one another by means of screws through the flanges 15 a. cover 14c being screwed on to the terminal cell.

When the electrolyzer aggregate is built up and it is to be put in operation it is charged first with the salt solution to be electrolyzed. Solid salt is a crystalline condition is then introduced through the opening 16. The salt rapidly descends and becomes distributed over the entire'surface. Thisdistribution of the salt may also be controlled in the manner that the cathode surface is constructed with a greater or less inclination. The apparatus can also be mounted so, as to enable its degree of inclination of being controlled as desired within certain limits. The salt which is dissolved during the electrolysis is then replaced by maintaining the charging opening filled.

Concentrated pure salt solution is introduced through the pipe 17 either continuously or at intervals. When a pure salt is charged into the cells the formation of sludge will be practicallyexcluded.

Owing to the fact that solid salt is constantly present in the cell the advantage is also attained, that the electrolyte is maintained in a concentrated condition which as known has an important influence upon the current output.

It may be mentioned as an example that in practical operation of a cell of the construction above described a lye containing between 12 and 14 per cent. caustic soda has been produced with a satisfactory current output.

I claim:

1. In an electrolytic cell, a layer of loose granulated material separating the anode and cathode chambers, and supporting means for said material arranged at such an angle of inclination that granular material supplied thereto is distributed by gravity over the lower parts thereof.

2. An apparatus for the electrolysis of solutions, comprising a plurality of cells each having a layer of loose granulated material separating the anode and cathode chambers,

inclined supporting means for said material, said cells having openings for the introduction of the granulated material onto the supporting means, and partitions adjacent-said openings extending below the level of the electrolyte forming closed gas collecting chambers above said separating layer.

3. An apparatus for the electrolysis of solutions comprising a plurality of cells each having an inclined wire-cloth between the anode and cathode chambers, an asbestos cloth placed over the wire cloth, and a layer of loose granulated material deposited on the asbestos cloth. 1

4. An apparatus for the electrolysis of solutions comprising a plurality of cells each having an inclined wire-cloth, between the anode and cathode chambers, an asbestos cloth placed over the wire cloth, a layer of loose granulated material deposited on the asbestos'cloth, and an inclined anode mounted 1in each cell above the granulated mater1a 5. An apparatus for the electrolysis of solutions, comprising a plurality of cells each having a vertical end wall and an inclined bottom wall, said cells being so arranged in relation to each otherthat the inclined bottom wall of one cell constitutes a cover for the adjacent cell.

6. 'An apparatus for the electrolysis of solutions comprising a plurality of cells each having a vertical end wall, a bottom wall arranged at an angle to the latter, a cathode mounted in each cell parallel to the bottom wall, an anode mounted above the cathode, a partition at the top of the cell between the anodes and cathodes and arranged to form an opening above the cathode, said partition extending below the level ofthe electrolyte and forming a closed gas collecting chamber above the anode. v

7. An apparatus for the electrolysis of solutions comprising a plurality of cells each having a vertical end wall and an inclined bottom Wall, said cells being so arranged in relation to each other that the inclined bottom wall of one cell constitutes a cover for the adjacent cell, a wire frame mounted in each cell parallel to the bottom wall, and forming a cathode between the anode and cathode chambers, an asbestos cloth over the wire frame, a layer of loose granulated material on the asbestos cloth, an anode mounted above the granulated material, a partition between the anode and cathode and arranged to form an opening above the cathode, said partition extending below the level of the electrolyte forming a closed gas collecting chamber above the granulated material.

8. The method of electrolyzing solutions which consists in continuously supplying-a quantity of soluble substance during the electrolysis sufiicient to compensate for said substance as it is dissolved.

9. The method of electrolyzing solutions, which comprises maintaining by gravity a layer of salt to be electrolyzed on an inclined surface adjacent the cathode, thereby forming a continuous layer of said salt separating the anode and the cathode chambers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J OHANN KONRAD LANGHARD.

Witnesses:

NATH. A. LnnnNscHoN, ROBERT H. FRAZIER.

Images