Multi-polar cell for the recovery of a metal by electrolysis of

Details Multi-polar cell for the recovery of a metal by electrolysis of Multi-polar cell for the recovery of a metal by electrolysis of

1998-01-13

1999-08-10

Valentine, Donald R.

Chemistry: electrical and wave energy

Apparatus

Electrolytic

204280, 204294, C25C 300, C25C 304

Patent

active

059353945

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to improved electrolytic cells for the production of metals from molten electrolytes. More particularly, the invention relates to multi-polar electrolytic cells used for this purpose.


BACKGROUND ART

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,604,177 and 4,514,269 describe electrolytic cells used for producing metals, such as magnesium, by electrolysis, which cells each have a housing in which one or more electrode assemblies are disposed. Each electrode assembly includes a cathode assembly, defining a vertical cavity in which an anode and one or more bipolar electrode assemblies are disposed between the anode and the cathode assembly. Baffles are provided for preventing or impeding the flow of electrolyte between adjacent cathode assemblies and/or between each cathode assembly and an adjacent wall of the housing. However, the geometry and design of such electrolytic cells makes them difficult to fabricate with uniform inter-electrode spacings and such designs are also expensive to produce and operate. Furthermore, leakage currents between electrodes cause reductions of current efficiency. Thus, there is a need to provide improved electrolytic cells in order to simplify the method of cell construction and repair while also achieving higher current efficiencies, lower power consumption per kilogram of metal produced, and more compact and less expensive cell designs.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide electrolytic cells of improved internal design.
Another object of the invention is to provide electrolytic cells that can be assembled, and preferably disassembled, simply and reliably.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide electrolytic cells that can be operated economically and efficiently.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrolytic cell for recovery of a metal from a molten electrolyte containing a metal compound, said cell having a housing containing at least one internal electrolysis compartment, at least one electrode assembly in each said compartment, said assembly including an anode, a cathode and at least one bipolar electrode disposed between said anode and said cathode so as to form interpolar spaces in which electrolysis occurs, and connections for conveying electrical current to and from said cell, characterized in that said bipolar electrode, or each said bipolar electrode when there is more than one, mechanically and electrically comprises a single entity and substantially completely surrounds the principal electrolysing surfaces of said anode, or a next innermost bipolar electrode, and in that said cathode substantially completely surrounds the principal electrolysing surfaces of said bipolar electrode or, when there is more than one of said bipolar electrodes, an outermost one of said bipolar electrodes.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrolytic cell for recovery of a metal from a molten electrolyte containing a metal compound, said cell having a housing containing at least one internal electrolysis compartment, at least one electrode assembly in each said compartment, said assembly comprising an anode, a cathode and at least one bipolar electrode disposed between said anode and said cathode so as to form interpolar spaces in which electrolysis occurs, and connections for conveying electrical current to and from said cell, characterized in that said cathode substantially completely surrounds said at least one bipolar electrode and said anode and in that said cathode and said at least one bipolar electrode are held together in the form of a unitary assembly that can be inserted into the electrolysis compartment as a unit during cell assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrode assembly for insertion into an electrolytic cell used for recovery of a metal from a molten electrolyte containing a metal compound, including at least one bipolar electrode and a cathode, characterized in that each said b

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