Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus.
I HIPPLYTE MARIE EMIL ANDREOLI of 18 Summerleyton Road, Brixton,
Journalist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in an electrolytic apparatus for the
decomposition of salts such as chlorides, sulphates etc. for which I filed Complete
Specification No. 17426 on the 23rd October 1891.
The principle of the invention is the employment of a conducting porous
diaphragm or inner tank acting as a cathode in combination and contact with a
supplementary cathode which may be in the form of an outside metallic containing
tank or the conducting porous diaphragm and the supplementary cathode with
which it is in combination and contact may be placed, together with the anode, in
a non-conducting tank and may be disposed horizontally or at any convenient angle
at suitable distances from each other.
The above said porous conducting cathode may be made of very porous carbon
but it may also be advantageously made of metallic gauze or of several layers of
metallic gauze. One form consists of frames upon which are fixed layers of
metallic gauze. Pairs of these frames are coupled together leaving a clear space
from end to end between the gauze stretched upon them. These pairs of frames
are placed parallel with one another, and at a small distance apart so as to form
long narrow divisions in which the anodes are placed. Other forms of interior
cathode may also be used which will also be porous and conducting..
The internal tank containing the anodes may be completely closed and submerged
in the solution contained in the exterior tank.
The anodes themselves may be of plain or perforated platinum, or of strips or
trellis of platinum, or of retort carbon, or other substance not readily attacked, and
are usually fixed parallel with and near to the porous conducting diaphragm or to
the sides of the porous conducting tank by being attached to the lid.
The liquids and gases produced in the anode and cathode compartments may be
collected during the operation, and utilized separately or mixed in a collecting
vessel and then taken back to the supply tank and throngh an electrolyser or
through several electrolysers until they are sufficiently strong in the substance
desired to be produced or other methods of circulation with a like effect may be
used.
Dated th: 02nd tow of dvoust 1902
ERNEST SALAMAN,
61 & 62, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus.
I HIPPLYTE MARIE EMIL ANDREOLI 18 Somerleyton Road Brixton
Journalist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention refers to some improvements in an electrolytic apparatus for the
decomposition of salts, such as chlorides, sulphates etc., for which I filed a Complete
Specification No. 18597 (23rd October 1891).
The invention relates to the construction and employment of diaphragms or septa

page_text: which are so constructed as hereinafter 'described and of such material as to be
both porous and conducting and which are brought into electric contact more or
less complete with the principal cathode. Such diaphragms or septa will therefore
act as cathodes with more or less activity according to the amount of current
supplied to them. It also relates to special forms of anodes.
The porous conducting diaphragm or septum may be constructed thus.
A layer of metallic gauze which may consist of as many thicknesses as convenient
and if necessary be strengthened by a trellis of stont wire, is stretched on each side
of a frame, which may be made of iron, so as to leave a space between the two
layers. This space is filled with conducting material in fragments more or less
minute such as coarsely powdered carbon, coke, metallic fillings or borings, or their
equivalents, whereby I can obtain a porous and conducting diaphragm which whilst
impeding the commingling of the fluids on its opposite sides causes very little
resistance. The space between the gauze sides of the diaphragm thus filled may
have a width or thickness of inch or 1 inch. By varying the degree of com-
minution of the conducting material I alter the porosity of the diaphragm and thus
am enabled to adapt it to the work to be accomplished. The frame on which the
layers of gauze are stretched is left open at the top when the diaphragm is to be
placed vertically. Diaphragms or panels thus constructed may be used for the
sides and bottom of a tank, or may have a cylindrical or any other form.
To render iron or other gauze more durable it may be coated with a metal not
readily attacked.
I will take as an illustration the electrolysis of a chloride of sodium solution with
a view to produce hypochlorite of sodium or simultaneously chlorine and caustic
:soda.
Figure 1, shows an arrangement of the tanks, in which O is a feeding tank which
supplies a chloride of sodium solution to the electrolytic tanks A and B from
which a pump P brings it back to O.
Figure 2, is a longitudinal section of the electrolyser.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the electrolyser.
Figure 3 shows an anode of platinum trellis fixed to the lid of the inner tank.
The electrolytic apparatus Figures, 2 and 2^, consists of an outer tank A. made
of iron, which is directly connected with the negative pole of the electric generator
by the wire C and of an inner tank B made of porous conducting material such as
porous carbon, or metallic gauze, or of panels formed as herein before described,
which is in contact with the tank A by means of the wire C¹ and acts as a supple-
'mentary cathode. The inner tank B may be completely closed and submerged in
the solution of the tank A, as shown in the drawing Figure 1. It contains the
anodes E. E. E.
The anodes E E are made of retort carbon Figures 4 and 5, or of platinum,.or
perforated platinum, or of a network of platinum wire, Figure 3. so as to allow of
the free circulation of the solution. The four sides and bottom of such platinum
basket Figure 3, are close to and parallel with the porous tank.
My retort carbon anodes are made of square or rectangular pieces of a convenient
size (Figures 4 and 5). They are pierced transversely from edge to edge
(Figures, 4 and 5), through these holes copper rods are passed, molten metal is
then poured into the holes and thus good contact is made all along with the carbon.
To prevent corrosion of metal all exposed parts are covered with insulating
material.
Metallic gauze or several thicknesses of fine metallic gauze is a good substitute
for fporous carbon. I have found that instead of the carbon tank hereinbefore
described, I can use in a very advantageous manner metallic gauze, or,several
thicknesses of iron or other metallic gauze, or panels constructed of metallic gauze
and, granular conducting material as hereinbefore described, in the shape of the
above described porous carbon tank closed by a lid and immersed at least to
the top of the metallic gauze, or in any other convenient form and in suitable
electric contact, with the principal cathode.

page_text: Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
.
1. The construction of porous conducting diaphragms or septa in the form of
narrow baskets of metallic gauze filled with conducting material in fragments more
or less minute as herein before described.
2. An electrolytic apparatus consisting of an outer metallic tank directly
connected with the negative pole of an electric generator and an inner tank
(containing an anode or anodes) made of metallic gauze or of panels of metallic
gauze and granular conducting material as hereinbefore described, or other porous
conducting material, connected with the outer tank by a wire and which is com-
pletely closed, excepting inlet and outlet tubes, and submerged in the electrolyte
contained in the outer tank substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The construction of anodes substantially as described with reference to
Figures 3, 4 and 5.
Dated this 26th day of Januarv 1802
ERNEST SALAMAN,
61 & 62, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.