Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Patent
1983-06-21
1985-10-08
Valentine, Donald R.
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
204265, 204283, 204284, 204290R, 204290F, 204291, 204295, 204296, C25B 900, C25B 1102, C25B 1108, C25B 1110
Patent
active
045458863
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to narrow gap electrolysis cells of the type having anode and cathode compartments divided by an ionically-permeable separator, and a current-feeder grid in electrical contact with particulate electrocatalytic material carried on a face of the separator.
BACKGROUND ART
In conventional electrolysis cells having separate anode and cathode compartments, the anode, intervening separator and cathode are spaced apart from each other to allow for gas release and electrolyte circulation. In order to reduce the cell voltage, it has already been proposed to bring the electrodes into contact with the separator to form a narrow gap cell. Thus, in such a narrow gap electrolysis cell the passage of current from one electrode to an opposite electrode takes place only through the ionically-permeable separator which typically will be an ionic selective and ionic conductive membrane. Current flows from the surface of one separator to the surface of the separator of an adjoining cell only by electronic conductivity (i.e. via the current-feeder grids and their associated connections or bipolar separators), then flows ionically to the opposite surface of the separator.
However, problems have been encountered with these narrow gap cells, such as the loss of active electrode surface due to masking by the separator and the consequent need for large quantities of particulate electrocatalytic material to make up an effective electrode. When it is desired to use platinum-group metals or platinum-group metal oxides as the active material, the cost of these electrodes becomes prohibitive. Consequently, conventional membrane and diaphragm electrolysis cells with electrodes spaced from the separator still remain competitive despite their voltage penalty.
The state-of-the-art relating to narrow gap electrolysis cells is illustrated by the following U.S. Patents:
Examples of the particulate electrocatalysts that have been proposed for narrow gap electrolysis cells are:
ANODE
The platinum-group metals, i.e. platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, in particular in the form of blacks such as platinum black and palladium black.
Alloys of the platinum-group metals, in particular platinum/iridium alloys containing 5 to 50% by weight of iridium and platinum/ruthenium alloys containing 5 to 60% by weight of ruthenium, as well as alloys with other metals such as the valve metals titanium, tantalum, niobium and zirconium.
Oxides of the platinum-group metals, especially reduced oxides, and mixtures of these oxides as well as stabilized mixtures of these oxides with oxides of the valve metals titanium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium and tungsten and oxides of other metals. This includes ternary "alloy" of oxides such as titanium/ruthenium/iridium oxides and tantalum/ruthenium/iridium oxides.
Carbides, nitrides, borides, silicides and sulphides of platinum-group metals.
"Intermetallic" compounds of platinum-group metals and of nonprecious metals including pyrochlores, delafossites, spinels, perovskites, bronzes, tungsten bronzes, silicides, nitrides, carbides and borides.
Graphite particles are frequently recommended as an extender for admixture with some of the abovementioned particulate anode catalysts.
CATHODE
The platinum-group metals, in particular blacks such as platinum black and palladium black, and iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, silver, gold, manganese, steel, stainless steel, and graphite, as well as alloys such as platinum/iridium, platinum
ickel, platinum/palladium, platinum/gold, nickel alloys, iron alloys and other compositions of nickel with molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, titanium and niobium.
Oriented particles with an embedded non-porous part of iron, steel, cobalt, nickel, copper, platinum, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and graphite having a protruding low hydrogen overvoltage porous part.
Oxides of the platinum-group metals, in particular reduced oxides such as oxides of Pt, Pt-Ir and Pt-Ru.
Active borides, nitrides, silicides and ca
REFERENCES:
patent: 4331523 (1982-05-01), Kawasaki
patent: 4448662 (1984-05-01), Du Bois et al.
patent: 4457822 (1984-07-01), Asano et al.
patent: 4465580 (1984-08-01), Kasuya
Beer Henri B.
De Nora Vittorio
Collins Arthur S.
Eltech Systems Corporation
Valentine Donald R.
LandOfFree
Narrow gap electrolysis cells does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Narrow gap electrolysis cells, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Narrow gap electrolysis cells will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2218371