APPARATUS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESSING

• US 3,859,195 A
• Filed: 10/17/1973
• Issued: 01/07/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John M. Williams
• Original Assignee: John M. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tufariello, T. M.
• Application Number:
  US05/407,248
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 204/130,140,153,151,272
• US Class Current: 204/272
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46109 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4678 of metals
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46157 Perforated or foraminous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/20 Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4611 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46115 Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/03 perforated or foraminous
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/19 with diaphragms

Abstract

An apparatus for electrochemical processing characterized by extended surface electrodes maintained at a substantially uniform electrical potential while presenting a relatively low pressure drop to liquids in treatment passed through the apparatus.

Claims

1. AN ELEECTROLYTIC CELL COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO INTERFUNCTIONING ELECTRODES DISPOSED AT A COMMON TRANSVERSE LEVEL WITHIN A VERTICALLY ORIENTED LEAK-TIGHT HOUSING PROVIDED, AT THE LOWER END, WITH AN INLET PORT FOR ELECTROLYTE INTRODUCTION, AND AT THE UPPER END WITH AN OUTLET PORT FOR DISHARGE OF SAID ELECTROLYTE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES BEING OF UNIFORMLY RETICULATED OPEN CONSTRUCTION SO AS TO OPPOSE LOW RESISTANCE TO ELECTROLYTE FLOW THERETHROUGH AND HAVING AN EXTENDED SURFACE AREA OVER WHICH A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM REACTION-PRODUCING ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL IS MAINTAINED WITH RESPECT TO SURROUNDING ELECTROLYTE THROUGHOUT THE PORTION OF SAID AREA IN CONFRONTATION WITH THE ELETROLYZING AREA OF THE REMAINING ELECTRODE, AND SAID REMAINING ELECTRODE BEING DISPOSED WITHIN AN ELECTRICALLY INSULATOR SEPARATOR ENVELOPE CLOSED ON ALL SIDES EXCEPT AT THE EDGE ADJACENT TO SAID OUTLET PORT FABRICATED FROM AN ELECTROLYTEINERT MATERIAL WHICH IS RELATIVELY LIQUID-TIGHT IN CONSTRUCTION SO AS TO BAR THE READY PASSAGE OF SAID ELECTROLYTE THERETHROUGH

2. An electrolytic cell comprising at least two interfunctioning electrodes disposed at a common transverse level within a vertically oriented leak-tight housing according to claim 1 wherein said separator envelope is fabricated from an electrically insulative web consisting of one of the group made up of ion exchange membranes, textile fabrics, paper and spunbonded products having a pore size barring penetration of dendrites built up by metal depositing on the cathode electrode of said interfunctioning electrodes.

3. An electrolytic cell according to claim 2 wherein the permeability to said ionic passage is equivalent to a pore size of about 0.2 mil.

4. An electrolytic cell comprising at least two interfunctioning electrodes disposed at a common transverse level within a vertically oriented leak-tight housing according to claim 2 wherein said separator envelope is a spunbonded high-density polyethylene having a density of substantiaLly 1.6 oz./yd.2 (corresponding to 0.0054 gm/cm2), and 6 mils (corresponding to 152 Mu m) thick, made up of individual fibers in the range of 0.2 mil (corresponding to 5 Mu m) diameter.

5. An electrolytic cell comprising at least two interfunctioning electrodes disposed at a common transverse level within a vertically oriented leak-tight housing according to claim 1 wherein said uniformly reticulated electrode having an extended surface area over which substantially uniform reaction-producing electrical potential is maintained with respect to said surrounding electrolyte throughout the portion of said area in confrontation with the electrolyzing area of said remaining electrode is a composite made of a plurality of double layers of electrically conductive metal having good corrosion resistance to said electrolyte, each of said double layers being opposite sides of a flattened tubular knit formation fabricated from wire measuring in the range of about 2-4.5 mils (corresponding to a range of about 0.51- 0.115 mm) diameter.

6. An electrolytic cell comprising at least two interfunctioning electrodes disposed at a common transverse level within a vertically oriented leak-tight housing provided with a separator envelope according to claim 1 wherein said electrodes and said separator envelope are sufficiently flexible to be wound into a layered spiral composite fitting tightly within said leak-tight housing and being closed off centrally and peripherally to bar electrolyte bypass flow around said electrodes and said separator.

7. An electrolytic cell comprising at least two interfunctioning electrodes disposed at a common transverse level within a vertically oriented leak-tight housing according to claim 1 wherein there is interposed between said separator envelope and said remaining electrode a relatively thin spacer fabricated from material substantially inert with respect to said electrolyte having a ribbed structure defining full-length open vertical passages confronting said remaining electrode and isolating said separator envelope from contact with said remaining electrode.

8. An electrolytic cell comprising at least two interfunctioning electrodes disposed at a common transverse level within a vertically oriented leak-tight housing according to claim 7 wherein said spacer constitutes an extruded netting of high density polyethylene having a thickness of between about 15-30 mils (0.76 mm) made up of about eight strands/iunch with said strands intersecting each other in a 90* diamond pattern.

9. An electrolytic cell comprising at least two interfunctioning electrodes disposed at a common transverse level within a vertically oriented leak-tight housing according to claim 1 wherein said electrodes are generally planar in form.