Abstract:
The invention relates to an electrolytic cell of vertical cylindrical design provided with a coaxial central anode and tangentially oriented inlet and outlet nozzles in order to establish a spiral upward electrolyte flow particularly suitable for the deposition of metals starting from solutions of medium-low concentration. The cell is of the type equipped with an elastic sleeve mechanically forced into the cathode body: the metal is deposited on the sleeve which at the end of the electrolysis can be extracted from the cathode body together with the deposit. The anode consists of a thin-walled metal tube containing an internal metal rod welded thereto and further equipped with a protecting net of plastic material, said anode and said net being respectively directed to prevent the dendrite growth and the possible deformation of the elastic sheet from causing short-circuits. In one preferred embodiment, the internal metal rod of the anode has a length lower than the thin-walled tube.
Abstract:
The invention describes heat exchange devices for dry-type inlet end-boxes of mercury cathode chlor-alkali electrolysis cells. The devices increase the heat exchange between recycled mercury and feed brine with the purpose of reducing the temperature of mercury to a substantial extent. The devices consist of a first element directed to subdivide the mercury flow into a fine and a stable dispersion of rivulets and droplets and of a second element capable of increasing the brine level to allow the prolonged contact thereof with mercury. The decrease of mercury temperature below the critical value of 90-95 °C determines an advantageous duration improvement of the end-box internal lining.
Abstract:
It is described an amalgam decomposer for mercury cathode electrolytic cells, provided with a liquid distributor (8) consisting of an arrangement of conduits comprising an external annulus (15), one or more internal annuli (16) and a central distributing tube (17) suitable for being crossed in sequence by a water flow. The distributor of the invention is suited to the upward feed of a graphite pack (7) crossed by the amalgam under gravity comprising at least one gas diffuser of anyone of the preceding claims. Arrangements of graphite packs disposed as a bundle of tubes, each fed by a distributor of the invention are also provided.
Abstract:
It is herein described an electrowinning cell with a spouted bed electrode (16) of growing metallic beads (15), separated by a semi-permeable diaphragm and suitable for being assembled in a stack in a modular arrangement.
Abstract:
It is described an amalgam decomposer for mercury cathode electrolytic cells, provided with a liquid distributor consisting of an arrangement of conduits comprising an external annulus, one or more internal annuli and a central distributing tube suitable for being crossed in sequence by a water flow. The distributor of the invention is suited to the upward feed of a graphite pack crossed by the amalgam under gravity comprising at least one gas diffuser of anyone of the preceding claims. Arrangemnts of graphite packs disposed as a bundle of tubes, each fed by a distributor of the invention are also provided.
Abstract:
A distributing element for an electrolyte percolating-type electrochemical cell comprises an external feeding manifold and an assembly formed by a gas diffusion electrode, a percolator and optionally an ion-exchange membrane. The element is particularly suitable for chlor-alkali electrolysis cells and alkaline fuel cells. It is also disclosed a method for retrofitting membrane electrochemical cells by inserting the distributing element of the invention therein.
Abstract:
The invention describes a current collector for electrochemical cells, consisting of a sandwich of compressible and resilient layers of metal wires, which imparts a predetermined mechanical load under a broad compression range. It may have an uncompressed thickness comprised between 5 and 15 millimeters. It may be made of nickel, titanium, and alloys thereof, optionally with a protective coating. Said coating comprising silver or a noble metal.
Abstract:
A new internal design for ion-exchange membrane electrolyser suitable for electrochemical reactions accompanied by gas evolution and anolyte concentration decrease and/or catholyte concentration increase is described. The electrolyser is of the type provided with a channel suitable for collecting and de-mixing the gas-liquid electrolyte bi-phase fluid positioned in the upper part, with vertical downcoming ducts connected to said channel for recirculating a portion of de-mixed liquid electrolyte, with a duct, also vertical, for discharging the gases and part of the de-mixed electrolyte to the external environment, with a lower distributing pipe for feeding the electrolyte and with vertical strips of sheet for supporting the electrodes. The device of the invention consists in an intermediate plate indicatively halfway between the anode and/or the cathode and the respective compartment wall, wherein said intermediate plate has the upper and lower edge respectively spaced apart from the channel and from the lower distributing pipe. The intermediate plate of the invention allows to increase the liquid recirculation inside the compartment, to uniform the flow of bi-phase fluid along the whole length of the channel with a reduction of the inner pressure fluctuations and to improve the electrolyte concentration homogeneity in both the longitudinal and the vertical direction.
Abstract:
It is described a bipolar plate consisting of a single wall and a perimetrical sealing frame obtained by folding and provided with a planar abutment surface for the frame-to-wall welding. The wall is further provided with projections on one face thereof preferably obtained by moulding, and with supports on the other face consisting of sheet strips housed in the recesses formed by the concave part of the projections. The projections substantially extend along the entire length of the bipolar plate. The projections and supports are connected to electrodes or current distributors. The projections, the supports, the single wall and the perimetrical frame are made of the same metal or alloy. The electrode or current distributor supported by the projections, the same projections and the supports are welded together by a single pass of arc-welding or preferably laser-welding. The electrode or current distributor connected to the support and the support themselves are mutually welded by a subsequent pass of arc-welding or preferably laser-welding. The welding between wall and perimetrical frame on the abutment surface of the frame is carried out by diode-laser technique, allowing to obtain a robust connection but without a complete melting of the sheet, thereby eliminating the risk of process fluid leakage to the external environment.
Abstract:
It is described a membrane electrolysis cell comprising an anodic compartment and a cathodic compartment, wherein at least one of the two compartments contains a gas- diffusion electrode, and a planar porous element traversed by an electrolyte flow is interposed between membrane and gas-diffusion electrode. The electric current transmission to the gas-diffusion electrode is effected through a current distributor provided with elastic conductive protrusions pushing the electrode against the porous element.