Improvements in Apparatus for Electrolysing Sodium Chloride or other Salts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Electrolysing Sodium Chloride or
other Salts.
FRANK TAYLOR, Doagh, Bleacher; ALEXANDER COOKE, 20, Calender Street,
Belfast, Merchant; BOUGHEY WILLIAM DOLLING MONTGOMERY; 20, Calender
Street, Belfast, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
_
Cells, ordinary earthenware in open tank. Continuous from lower edge of gas
cell to bottom of tank are strips of glass overlapping each other and opening from
cathode cell inward and upward.
Anodes, are of hard round carbon cemented to conductor on their ends forming a
corrugated sheet of tlie length of the cell and inserted through the opening in top
of cell are closed round by a non-corrosive cement. All metallic connections
being outside the cell there is no formation of lead chloride or anything to create
resistance to current.
Cathodes, are of sheet iron, and surrounded by strips of glass in louver form open-
ing from the cathode outward. The lower strip of glass on each side of cathode
is entered into a semicircular trough of iron, which is supported at ends by the
metal uprights in which are the grooves for the glass strips.
The cathode or conductors do not touch the metal ends or trough.
The action of this diaphragm is that when decomposition commences the lighter
cations rise through the space between the strips and the soda is dropped from strip
to strip to the trough below, where it is run off at cock outside of tank.
There is no polarisation of cathode from hydrogen or any hypochlorite.
To prevent polarisation and assist the heavy chlorine to the surface of anodes,
we insert a perforated pipe from outside a short distance below carbons, and running
the length of cell. Through this is pumped either air or the electrolyte in pulsa-
tions causing an upward flow.
In connection with the taking off of the gas from chlorine cell we do away with
pumps or aspirators by connecting gas pipe to the gland of a hollow agitator spindle
and arms, which are rotated at a medium speed in solution of lime or magnesia
for absorbing the chlorine. A vacuum is created in the cells by this action.
March 12th 1807

page_text: MULTIVATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Electrolysing Sodium Chloride or
other Salts.
We, FRANK TAYLOR, of Doagh, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, 'Bleacher, and
ALEXANDER COOKE, and BOUGHEY WILLIAM DOLLING MONTGOMERY, both of
20, Calender Street, Belfast, Antrim, aforesaid, Merchants, 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 reference more particularly to apparatus for effecting the
electrolysis of sodium chloride and for separating the resulting chlorine. The said
improvements are applicable however to apparatus for electrolysing other salts
besides sodium chloride."
An important feature of the invention consists in arranging on each side of the
anodes and cathodes a series of inclined strips of glass or other suitable material
disposed in louvre fashion. These strips serve to direct the heavier caustic soda or
ether solution resulting from the electrolysis, to the bottom of the cell whence it
is withdrawn by suitable means, while the gaseous products can escape upward
freely between the strips.
A further important feature of the invention consists in providing special means
for ensuring the rapid absorption of the chlorine generated by the electrolysis of
sodium chloride such absorption being effected in a separate tank or vessel contain-
ing a suitable alkaline solution.
In carrying out our invention according to one arrangement we support the
anodes and cathodes in suitable frames in which the aforesaid louvre strips are
arranged. The anodes have their upper ends hermetically secured in comparatively
shallow inverted troughs or cells serving as collectors for the ascending gases, and
beneath which the aforesaid louvre strips extend in regular series down both sides
of the anodes. A pipe with a branch leading to each anode cell serves to conduct
the chlorine to the absorption tank or vessel, into which it passes by means of a
revolving trunk or pipe having hollow arms which serve to agitate the liquid in
the tank as the trunk revolves, and also to bring the gas into intimate contact with
the said liquid.
To prevent polarisation of the anodes the electrolyte is kept agitated either by
discharging air into it or by carrying the said electrolyte to be supplied by pumps
or otherwise intermittently or in pulsations.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect we will proceed to describe the same by aid of the accompanying drawings,
which illustrate an arrangement such as that above referred to and in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and
Figure 2 a plan partly in horizontal section on the line a Figure 1, showing
part of an electrolytic apparatus provided with our improvements.
Figures 3 and 4 are detail views showing respectively in side elevation an anode
and a cathode of the said apparatus.
Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the means for absorbing the chlorine
generated during the electrolysis.
a represents the outer tank or vessel of our improved apparatus which may be
formed of earthenware or other suitable material and in which the cathodes and
anodes are arranged side by side as shown. The cathodes are formed of sheets of
iron 6 which are suspended in a suitable wooden or other framing 61 by means of
17

page_text: wires and are provided with conducting strips 63 preferably of copper whereby
they are connected to the cable for the supply of the current.
The anodes consist of a series of carbon rods arranged vertically side by side
so as to form corrugated sheets or plates. At their upper ends they are secured
in a conducting strip cl
are the inverted troughs or cells, which serve to collect the ascending gas.
The strips are hermetically sealed in the upper parts or covers of these cells,
the lower parts or mouths of which are open.
dd are the louvre-like strips with which the anode and cathode are provided
on both sides, sufficient space being left between the lower or inner edges of the
strips and the plates to permit the electrolyte to circulate between them.
The strips belonging to the cathode are secured in the side members of the fram-
ing, while those of the anode are secured in side plates ³ to which the cells & are
also secured.
e is the pipe by which the chlorine is withdrawn from the cells, the latter being
connected with the said pipe by means of branch pipes e¹ secured in lead nipples
or sockets in the top or covers of the cells.
The action of the above described apparatus is as follows:
On a current being sent from the anodes to the cathodes, chlorine will be liber-
ated on the anodes, assuming sodium chloride solution to be the electrolyte, and
caustic soda will be produced on the surface of the cathodes and will sink down-
wards gradually, while hydrogen will be evolved and will ascend to the surface of
the electrolyte. The caustic soda is prevented by the strips d from diffusing into
the electrolyte and descends regularly into V-shaped or other suitable troughs d
arranged beneath but out of contact with the cathodes. From these troughs the
said caustic soda may be removed by a draw-off tap provided for the purpose.
The chlorine collects in the inverted cells and passes therefrom into the
pipes e.
In the present arrangement polarisation of the anodes is prevented and the with-
drawal of the chlorine is facilitated by means of air forced into the electrolyte in
proximity to the anode through suitable pipes f, in such a manner as to keep the
electrolyte agitated. As previously stated this agitation may also be effected by
injecting the electrolyte in an intermittent manner or in pulsations.
We will now proceed to describe the means for absorbing the chlorine generated
during the electrolysis.
g is the absorption tank into which the chlorine is conducted from the electro-
lytic apparatus. This tank may be charged with water in which lime or magnesia
for example are suspended.
g is the revolving trunk or pipe arranged inside the said tank and connected
with the pipe e by a joint or stuffing box g² which permits the said pipe g' to
revolve whilst maintaining a gas tight connection therewith. are the hollow
arms by which the gas passes into the liquid.
The pipe or trunk g' is caused to revolve by any suitable means.
The action of this arrangement is so rapid that the chlorine is absorbed more
quickly than it is produced, and a partial vacuum is set up on the pipe e and in
the cells connected therewith, thus considerably facilitating the disengagement
of the chlorine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
-
1. An electrolytic apparatus in which the electrodes are combined with louvre-
like strips, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The means herein before described for ensuring the rapid absorption of the
chlorine generated in the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution, substantially as
and for the purposes described,
3. Our improved electrolytic apparatus constructed arranged and operating

page_text: substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings, for the purposes specified.
AL 10L
1
1008
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.