Patent ID: 6372110
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B23H

Abstract:
A method for facilitating calibration of an electrochemical process for components which receive a flow of an electrolyte at a selected throughput per unit time during a working cycle in a processing unit (10) and which are subjected to an operating current measured during calibration at a constant high pressure, the process ending when the throughput is equal to a selected throughput, the method comprising:providing a pressure chamber (20) having an electrolyte compartment (18) and a fluid compartment (24) separated from the electrolyte compartment by a movable membrane means (22); providing an electrolyte tank (12) containing an electrolyte; providing an pressure-less fluid reservoir (32) containing a fluid; delivering a quantity of electrolyte from the electrolyte tank (12) at a low pressure to the electrolyte compartment (18) while simultaneously displacing a corresponding quantity of the fluid from the fluid compartment (24) into the reservoir (32); valving off (16) the pressure chamber (20) with respect to the electrolyte tank (12); building up a high pressure in the fluid compartment (24) by supplying fluid from the fluid reservoir (32) using a high pressure pump (34) via a highly accurate control valve (38) to exert the high pressure against the electrolyte in the electrolyte compartment (18) via the membrane means (22); and supplying a selected quantity of the electrolyte from the electrolyte compartment (18) to the electrochemical processing unit (10) under high pressure, by opening a connection (42) between the electrolyte compartment (18) and the electrochemical processing unit (10) to discharge electrolyte due to the exertion of the high pressure by the membrane means (22).