Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Patent
1980-01-31
1981-06-30
Andrews, R. L.
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
204245, 204246, C25B 104, C25B 900
Patent
active
042761450
ABSTRACT:
A Castner type electrolysis cell, operating to produce alkali metal from molten alkali hydroxide, forms water at its anode which dissolves in surrounding anolyte. Normally, the water is itself electrolyzed and consumes as much electrical current at the Castner cell operating voltage as does production of the alkali metal. Since water has substantially lower decompositon voltage than alkali metal, electrolysis of water in the Castner cell represents unrecoverable energy loss.
This invention improves energy efficiency of alkali hydroxide electrolysis by electrolyzing the formed water at a lower voltage to produce hydrogen and oxygen and by reacting the hydrogen and oxygen electrochemically to recover a portion of the electrical energy used for the electrolysis of water. An anolyte electrolytic dehydrator, which is a cell designed for electrolysis of water in molten alkali hydroxide, receives anolyte from the Castner cell and dehydrates the anolyte by electrolysis for return to the Castner cell. The hydrogen and oxygen produced by electrolysis of water in the anolyte are delivered to a fuel cell. Electrical energy produced by the fuel cell is processed for transfer to the Castner cell and to the anolyte electrolytic dehydrator to reduce net use of energy for alkali hydroxide electrolysis.
In a preferred system, the anolyte is drawn through a porous anode so that water is removed from the Castner cell as it is formed to reduce its concentration in the anolyte and its concentration gradient at the anode. Dehydrated anolyte is returned to the Castner cell through a diaphragm assembly to reduce diffusion of alkali metal into the anolyte.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1126627 (1915-01-01), Gaus
patent: 3242059 (1966-03-01), Cottam et al.
patent: 3600228 (1971-08-01), La Conti
patent: 4062753 (1977-12-01), Falvo
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