Improvements in the Means Employed in the Electrolytic Production of the Chlorates of Sodium and Potassium.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means Employed in the Electrolytic Production
of the Chlorates of Sodium and Potassium.
I, THOMAS PARKER, F.R.S.E., M.Inst: .C.E., etc:, of the Manor House, Tetten-
hall, near Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object means for use in the electrolytic production
of the chlorates of sodium and potassium which will ensure a greatly increased
energy efficiency compared with the means heretofore employed in the production
of such chlorates; and the invention consists in the peculiar constitution of cell
substantially as hereinafter described.
The tank of a cell for the purpose above described, constituted according to
this invention, is made of iron or other suitable metal which forms part of the
electric circuit and is made to act as the cathode for the liberation of the sodium
or potassium. This tank being in the electric circuit, and the sodium or potassium
being liberated at its surface, is thereby preserved from attack by the chlorine or
other corrosive substance which is liberated or formed as a result of the electro-
lytic action. The cathode area may be increased by means of an iron or other
suitable metal plate or plates placed between the anodes, proper contact being
made between the said plate or plates and the tank.
The anode, at the surface of which the chlorine is liberated, is conveniently made"
up of pieces of carbon, either gas retort carbon or other carbon, and any con-
venient number of rows of such may be arranged within the cell. These pieces
are connected, by means of suitable bolts, to rods of copper, or other suitable
conductors, which form a portion of the electric circuit, whereby a direct contact
is ensured between the pieces and conductors which permits of an easy detach-
ment, for the purpose of cleaning contacts or otherwise, and also replacement,
of each or any, piece, without interfering with the working of the cell.
The solution employed within the cell is sodium chloride or potassium chloride.
Important features of the invention, as tending greatly to promote the
efficiency of working, consist in omitting altogether a diaphragm, and in covering
the solution with a thick layer of pomice, broken fine, or other non-conducting
material.
The most efficient working temperature of the cell for the production of sodium
chlorate and potassium chlorate is between 30° and 40° Centigrade.
In practical working, several cells, each constituted substantially in the
manner above described, are, of course, worked together in series.
Dated this 13th dor of November
1896
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Means Employed in the Electrolytic Production
of the Chlorates of Sodium and Potassium.
I, THOMAS PARKER, F.R.S.E., M.Inst: C.E., etc. of the Manor House, Tetten-
hall near Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Engineer, 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 has for its object means for use in the electrolytic production
of the chlorates of sodium and potassium which will ensure a greatly increased
energy efficiency compared with the means heretofore employed in the production
of such chlorates; and the invention consists in the peculiar constitution of cell
substantially as hereinafter described.
The tank of a cell for the purpose above described, constituted according to
thus invention, is made of iron or other suitable metal which forms part of the
electric circuit and is made to act as the cathode for the liberation of the sodium
or potassium. This tank being in the electric circuit, and the sodium or potassium
being liberated at its surface, is thereby preserved from attack by the chlorine or
other corrosive substance which is liberated or formed as a result of the electro-
lytic action. The cathode area may be increased by means of an iron or other
suitable metal plate or plates placed between rows or lines of the anode, proper
contact being made between the said plate or plates and the tank.
The anode, at the surface of which the chlorine is liberated, is conveniently
made up of pieces of carbon, either gas retort carbon or other carbon, and any
desired number of rows of such may be arranged within the cell. These pieces
are connected, by means of suitable bolts, to a rod (or rods) of copper or other
suitable conductor (or conductors) which forms a portion of the electric circuit,
whereby a direct contact is ensured between the pieces and conductor which
permits of an easy detachment, for the purpose of cleaning contacts or otherwise,
and also replacement, of each or any piece, without interfering with the working
of the cell."
The areas of the anode and cathode surfaces are, of course, arranged to ensure
a current density suitable to economic working.
The solution employed within the cell is sodium chloride or potassium chloride;
or a mixed solution of both may be used.
Important features of the invention, as tending greatly to promote the
efficiency of working, consist in omitting altogether a diaphragm, and in covering
the solution with a thick layer of pumice, broken fine, or other non-conducting
material such, for instance, as cork.
An important feature of the invention consists in maintaining the temperaturo
of the cell about between 30° and 40° centigrade whilst working, and this is
most conveniently effected by regulating the current density at about twenty
amperes per square foot of the cathode area.
In practical working, several cells, each constituted substantially in the manner
above described, are, of course, worked together in series.
Platinum may be used for the anode in place of carbon, if desired.
A double cell, constituted according to this invention, is illustrated, by way of
example, by the drawings herewith, of which figure 1 is a longitudinal section,
figure 2 a plan, and figure 3 a transverse section.
The tank A is made of sheet or thin plate metal, conveniently iron. The top
edge of the tank is surrounded by an angle metal stiffener a, which serves also to
rest longitudinal wood bearers upon. These bearers support cross bearers c,
upon which rest longitudinal copper rods d to which the pieces of carbon B, form-

page_text: ing the anode, are connected by means of hook bolts e. The hinder ends of these
bolts are hooked over the bars d, and their forward ends are passed through the
pieces of carbon and have fly nuts f screwed thereon to tighten the carbons against
the bars d. Any carbon may thus be readily removed and replaced, without
interfering with the working of the cell. The tank itself forms, as above stated,
the cathode; and the surface area of the cathode may be increased by the intro-
duction of a metal plate C between two rows of carbons, as shewn in the
drawings, in which case the cell becomes a double one; or two or more metal
plates, such as C, may be placed within the tank each by itself between two
adjacent rows of carbons, in which case the cell becomes triple, quadruple, etc.,
according to the number of plates used. The plate C, or each plate is formed
with holes therethrough or is otherwise of such character as to allow free com-
munication between the solution or liquid on opposite sides thereof; and the
plate, or each plate, is of course electrically connected with the metal tank in a
manner which constitutes it part of the cathode. If no plate C is inserted within
the tank, one row of carbons only is used, and the cell is then a simple or single
cell. In practice, any desired number of single, double, treble, etc., cells may,
of course, be worked together in series. No diaphragm is used in the cell, and
the material which, as above stated, floats on the top of the solution may be about
one inch in thickness, formed of pieces about the size of hedge nuts.
The carbons B shewn in the drawings are pieces of gas retort carbon, but
carbons may of course be specially prepared of symmetrical shape, for use as the
anode.
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. A cell for use in the electrolytic production of the chlorate of sodium or
potassium, of which the tank is made of iron or other suitable metal and forms
part of the electric circuit and acts, either alone or in combination with a
plate or plates electrically connected therewith, as the cathode for the separation
of the sodium or potassium, and of which the anode consists of pieces of carbon
or platinum suspended from a bar or bars, the temperature of the cell during
working being maintained at about between 30° and 40° centigrade, substantially
as described.
2. A cell for use in the electrolytic production of the chlorate of sodium or
potassium, of which the tank is made of iron or other suitable metal and forms
part of the electric circuit and acts, either alone or in combination with a plate
or plates electrically connected therewith, as the cathode for the separation of
the sodium or potassium, and in which a diaphragm is dispensed with and a layer
of pumice or other non-conducting material, such for instance as cork, floats upon
the surface of the solution, substantially as described.
3. A cell for use in the electrolytic production of the chlorate of sodium or
potassium, working under the conditions substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of August. 1897
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.