Tubular electrolysis cell and corresponding method

• US 8,236,147 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hendricks, Keith
• Assistant Examiner(s): Friday, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US12/488,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20090314659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 204/260, 204/272, 205/742
• US Class Current: 204/260
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46133 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46152 characterised by the shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46161 Porous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/003 Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4611 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46115 Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46125 Electrical variables
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46175 Electrical pulses
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4618 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolyte

Abstract

An electrolysis cell is provided, which includes an inlet, an outlet, and coaxial, cylindrical inner and outer electrodes. A cylindrical ion-selective membrane is located between the inner and outer electrodes and forms respective first and second electrolysis reaction chambers on opposing sides of the membrane. Fluid flow paths along the first and second chambers join together as a combined inlet flow path through the inlet and a combined outlet flow path through the outlet.

Claims

1. An electrolysis cell comprising:

an inlet and an outlet;

coaxial, inner and outer electrodes; and

a membrane located in a gap between the inner and outer electrodes and forming respective first and second electrolysis reaction chambers on opposing sides of the membrane, wherein fluid flow paths along the first and second chambers join together as a combined outlet flow path through the outlet, wherein at least a portion of a volume of space within an interior of the inner electrode is blocked to fluid flow along a longitudinal axis of the inner electrode, such that a combined inlet flow path is directed from the inlet to the first and second reaction chambers.

2. The electrolysis cell of claim 1, wherein the combined outlet flow path passes radially through the inner electrode.

3. The electrolysis cell of claim 1, wherein fluid flow paths along the first and second chambers join together as the combined inlet flow path through the inlet.

4. The electrolysis cell of claim 3, wherein the combined inlet flow path and the combined outlet flow path pass radially through the inner electrode.

5. The electrolysis cell of claim 4, wherein:

the inner electrode is porous to fluid flow;

the inner electrode comprises a central longitudinal section and first and second end longitudinal sections;

the inlet flow path and the outlet flow path are fluidically coupled to a volume of space within an interior of the first and second longitudinal sections, respectively; and

the portion of the volume of space blocked to fluid flow is blocked along the central longitudinal section, such that the inlet flow path and the outlet flow path pass radially through the inner electrode.

6. The electrolysis cell of claim 1 and further comprising a solid inner core located within the interior of the inner electrode, which blocks fluid flow through the solid inner core.

7. The electrolysis cell of claim 6, wherein:

the solid inner core is cylindrical and comprises first and second ends;

at least one of the first or second ends comprises a set of circumferentially-spaced slots and interleaved legs; and

the fluid flow paths pass through the sets of slots of the solid inner core.

8. The electrolysis cell of claim 1, wherein:

the membrane has a length along a longitudinal axis of the cell, which is shorter than lengths of the inner and outer electrodes.

9. The electrolysis cell of claim 8, wherein the inner and outer electrodes each have first and second opposite ends that extend beyond first and second opposite ends of the membrane to form third and fourth electrolysis chambers with no membrane between the inner and outer electrodes, at longitudinally-opposed ends of the first and second electrolysis chambers.

10. The electrolysis cell of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner electrode, outer electrode or ion-selective membrane is cylindrical.

11. The electrolysis cell of claim 1 and further comprising:

a first end cap in which the inlet is formed; and

a second end cap in which the outlet is formed, wherein the first and second end caps support the inner and outer electrodes at a desired axial spacing from one another.

13. The electrolysis cell of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises an ion exchange membrane.

12. A method comprising:

a) passing a liquid through an electrolysis cell comprising, an inlet, an outlet, coaxial inner and outer electrodes, and a membrane located in a gap between the inner and outer electrodes, which forms respective first and second electrolysis reaction chambers on opposing sides of the membrane, wherein fluid flow paths along the first and second chambers join together as a combined inlet flow path through the inlet and a combined outlet flow path through the outlet;

b) blocking at least a portion of a volume of space within an interior of the inner electrode to fluid flow along a longitudinal axis of the inner electrode, such that the combined inlet flow path is directed from the inlet to the first and second reaction chambers; and

c) applying an energization voltage between the inner and outer electrodes.

14. An electrolysis cell comprising:

an inlet and an outlet;

coaxial, inner and outer electrodes; and

a membrane located in a gap between the inner and outer electrodes and forming respective first and second electrolysis reaction chambers on opposing sides of the membrane, wherein fluid flow paths along the first and second chambers join together as a combined outlet flow path through the outlet, and wherein the combined outlet flow path passes radially through the inner electrode.

15. The electrolysis cell of claim 14, wherein:

the inner electrode is porous to fluid flow;

the inner electrode comprises a central longitudinal section and first and second end longitudinal sections;

an inlet flow path through the inlet and the outlet flow path are fluidically coupled to a volume of space within an interior of the first and second longitudinal sections, respectively; and

at least a portion of a volume of space within an interior of the central longitudinal section is blocked to fluid flow along a longitudinal axis of the inner electrode, such that the inlet flow path and the outlet flow path pass radially through the inner electrode.

16. An electrolysis cell comprising:

an inlet and an outlet;

coaxial, inner and outer electrodes; and

a membrane located in a gap between the inner and outer electrodes and forming respective first and second electrolysis reaction chambers on opposing sides of the membrane, wherein fluid flow paths along the first and second chambers join together as a combined outlet flow path through the outlet, and wherein the membrane has a length along a longitudinal axis of the cell, which is shorter than lengths of the inner and outer electrodes.