Improvements in the Generation of Chlorine in Forming a Solution therefrom and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct.,
1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug...
1889
Improvements in the Generation of Chlorine in Forming a Solution
therefrom and in Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES GREENWOOD, of 77ª Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London,
Metallurgical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for generating
chlorine by-electrolysis, and forming a chlorine solution therefrom as hereinafter more
particularly described.
In generating chlorine according to my invention, I employ, a current of electricity
of from five to six volts electro-motive force, to decompose a saturated solution of
chloride of sodium, or-common salt; for this purpose 1 take one or more large battery
jars, in which I place a number of carbon rods, and arrange them in a circle around
the jar so as to form a suitable electrode, which I connect with the negative polo or
terminal of a dynamo or other electrical generator.
Inside each battery jar, I place a porous cell of suitable dimensions, in which I
also arrange a number of carbon rods to form a suitable electrode, which I connect
with the positive pole or terminal of the dynamo or other.electrical generator.
The battery or outer jar 1 connect with a reservoir containing a saturated solution
of chloride of sodium, which flows into, and enters the jar named at the bottom, and
in slowly circulating upwards the solution is decomposed by a current of electricity
passing through the said cell. When decomposed, the solution flows out at the top
of the cell, the hydrogen liberated by the process also passing away at the same
time.
The inner or porous cell is also connected with a reservoir containing water, which
flows into and enters the said cell at the bottom, and in slowly circulating upwards
absorbs the chlorine evolved at the positive electrodo by the decomposition of the
chloride of sodium solution as above described, and forming a chlorine solution of the
strength required.
The flow of water in the inner or porous cell is advantageously regulated and
maintained in a simple and automatic manner by placing the supply reservoir at a
slightly higher elevation than the receiver into which the chlorine solution is
discharged, and according to the quantity of water flowing in, the speed of such flow,
and the current of electricity passing through the said cell, the water circulating
therein becomes more or less saturated with chlorine, and forms a.chlorine solution.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Generation of Chlorine in Forming a Solution
therefrom and in Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES GREENWOOD, of 77° .Queen Victoria Street, in the city of London,
Metallurgical Chemist, 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 stateinent:-
'My invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for generating chlorine

page_text: by electrolysis and forming a chlorine solution therefrom as hereinafter more
particularly described.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 represents an elevation of the arrangement and construction of the
apparatus I employ for carrying out my invention.
Figure 2 is a separate vertical section, and,
Figure 3 a horizontal section on a larger scale of the improved arrangement of
battery which I employ according to my process.
In generating chlorine by electrolysis 1 decompose, by means of a current of
electricity of from 5 to 6 volts electro-motive force, a saturated solution of chloride
of sodium, or common salt, and for this purpose I take one or more large battery
jars in which I place a number of carbon rod and arrange them in a circle round
the jar to form a suitable electrode, which I connect with the negative pole or
terminal of a dynamo or other electrical generator.
In the drawing, Figures 2 and 3 show the improved battery I employ for this
purpose a represents the large-battery jar; b, b represent the carbon rods arranged
round the interior of the jar and connected at the top to a ring or frame c. of suitable
conducting material; c¹ is the electric conductor connecting the ring c with the
negative pole or terminal of the dynamo or other electric generator.
Inside the battery jar a I place a porous cell d of suitable dimensions and in the
cell I also arrange a number of carbon rods e, e on a ring or frame e to form a
suitable electrode which I connect by means of the electric conductor e with the
positive pole or terminal of the dynamo or other electric generator. The battery is
shown at A Figure 1, and has its outer jar a connected with a reservoir d' containing
a saturated solution of chloride of sodium which flows into the bottom part of the
jar a through the pipe el and in slowly circulating upwards, the solution is decomposed
by a current of electricity passing through the said cell a. When decomposed the
solution flows out at the top of the cell through the pipe a', the hydrogen liberated by
the process also passing away at the same time.
The inner or porous cell d is connected by means of the pipe with a reservoir,
such as y containing water, which flows into and enters the said cell d at the bottom
part thereof, and in slowly circulating upwards absorbs the chlorine evolved at the
positive electrode by the decomposition of the chloride of sodium solution by the
current of electricity as described, thereby forming a chlorine solution which is dis-
charged into the receiver through the pipe h¹.
I regulate and maintain the flow of water in the inner or porous cell d and effect
the discharge of the chlorine solution into the receiver in a simple and automatic
manner by placing the water supply reservoir g at a higher elevation than the
receiver into which the chlorine solution is discharged, and according to the
quantity of water flowing into the cell d, the speed of such flow, and the quantity of
electricity passing through the said cell, the water circulating therein becomes more
or less saturated with chlorine, and I am thus enabled to obtain the chlorine solution
of any required strength. Taps or cocks z, z are placed on the pipes e¹ and f
respectively so as to allow of regulating and shutting off the flow of the liquids
therein as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained, the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) The use of apparatus such as that herein described for generating chlorine and
forming a chlorine solution therefrom by the use of an automatic supply and circula-
tion of water through the porous or inner cell of an electric battery, the outer cell of
which contains a solution of chloride of sodium substantially as described.

page_text: (2) The use of an electric battery such as that herein described for the generation
of chlorine provided with electrodes formed of rods of carbon, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.
Dated the 3rd day of July 1889
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.