Improved Means for Carrying Off the Gases Generated in Electrolytic Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Carrying Off the Gases Generated in Electrolytic
Apparatus.
I, WILLY BEIN, Dr. Phil., of No. 36, Schaper Strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The electrolytical process described in my British Patent No. 21,838 of 1894
comprises a substantially horizontal arrangement of the electrodes in the electro-
lytic cell in combination with the production and retention of an intermediate
layer or body of liquid, which is under certain circumstances unalterable and is
kept between the electrode layers, as a substitute for the diaphragms ordinarily
employed. The present invention consists of an electrolytical apparatus for carry-
ing out said process with the additional novel feature which consists of means
provided for leading off the gases generated in the lower part of the cell and pre-
venting them from disturbing, by ebullition the layer formation of the cell. The
end in view is attained by arranging a frame over the electrode at the lower part
of the cell, the said frame having a slanting cover of osmotically pervious
The frame is so shaped and
material, such as asbestus, parchment or the like.
arranged as to keep the gases generated by the electrolytic process entirely sepa-
rated from that part of the cell which contains the electric current lines, whilst
of these lines will not be restricted or interrupted to any perceptible
extent by the frame and the liquid will have a mechanically free passage from the
space beneath the frame to that above it.
the
passage
By this means the layer formation in the cell, which must necessarily be re-
tained in order to carry out the process properly, cannot possibly be disturbed by
any gases generated at the lower electrodes.
The process may be carried out continuously or periodically and in the former
case the liquid is advantageously conducted off from all the lower parts of the
apparatus evenly so that the layer formation will be evenly moved and no deforma-
tion of the same will take place, which could easily happen were the bulk of the
liquid drawn off from a point not centrally situated.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improved Means for Carrying off the Gases Generated in Electrolytic
Apparatus.
I, WILLY BEIN, Dr. Phil., of No. 36, Schaper Strasse, Berlin, Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement;
-
The electrolytical process described in my British Patent No. 21838 of 1894
comprises a substantially horizontal arrangement of the electrodes in the electro-
lytic cell in combination with the production and retention of an intermediate
layer or body of liquid, which is under certain circumstances unalteratble, and is
kept between the electrode layers, as a substitute for the diaphragms ordinarily
employed. The present invention consists of an electrolytical apparatus for
carrying out the said process with the additional novel feature which consists of
means provided for leading off the gases generated in the lower part of the cell
and preventing them from disturbing, by ebullition, the layer formation of the
cell. The end in view is attained by arranging a frame over the electrodes at the
lower part of the cell, the said frame having a slanting cover of osmotic pervious
material, such as asbestos, parchment or the like. The frame is so shaped and
arranged as to keep the gases generated by the electrolytic process entirely sepa-
rated from that part of the cell which contains the electric current lines, whilst
the passage of these lines will not be restricted or interrupted to any perceptible
extent by the frame and the liquid will have a mechanically free passage from
the space beneath the frame to that above it.
By this means the layer formation in the cell, which must necessarily be re-
tained in order to carry out the process properly, cannot possibly be disturbed by
any gases generated at the lower electrodes.
The process may be carried out continuously or periodically and in the former
case the liquid is advantageously conducted off from all the lower parts of the
apparatus evenly so that the layer formation will be evenly moved and no deforma-
tion of the same will take place. This effect is obtained by uniformly drawing
off the catholyte at points situated symmetrically to the centre of the apparatus.
The arrangement of the slanting frame above the electrode generating the gas
which leads the latter out of the way of the electric current lines and prevents
the disturbing of the intermediate layer or body of liquid will hereafter be ex-
plained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a
diagrammatical illustration of an apparatus in accordance with the present in-
vention Fig. 2 represents a perspective elevation of the frame and Figs. 3 is a
section of a part of the apparatus for carrying the invention into effect. At this
construction I arrange the cathodes and outlets for the catholyte symmetrically
to the centre line X-X. Fig. 4 is a section on the line Y-Y of Fig.
the left.
.
seen from
Fig. 1 corresponds to Fig. 3 of my Brit. Pat. 21838 of 1894. In the said Fig. 3
of this patent the negative electrodes, at which is generated hydrogen when
electrolysing chloride of sodium is placed at the side of the impervious partion w,
extending into the cell, such position being shown in dotted lines. in Fig. 1 of
my present application. By means of this arrangement the hydrogen may be con-
veyed to the compartment B, being arranged adjacent to the main part A of the
cell without disturbing the layers.
In accordance with my present invention I dispense with the large compartment
B and arrange the electrode N in the lower part of the cell A and finally provide

page_text: above the said electrode the frame E covered with osmotic material. A suitable
form of this frame is represented in Fig. 2. The said slanting frame E abuts
with its highest portion to the lower part of the partition w and allows the gases,
rising from the electrode, to be conveyed to the chamber or compartment B. By
means of this arrangement the layers of liquid contained in A and marked by
different hatching are kept undisturbed viz. the caustic-lye at the bottom of the
said cell, the intermediate layer of liquid in the middle and the layer in which
chlorine is generated around the upper electrode P so that the said layers are pre-
vented from ebullition. The frame E may be recessed at its lower edges or may
be provided with openings in the side walls having covers of osmotic material so
By this construction the
that the liquid may freely communicate from A to B.
disadvantages are obviated, which arise from mechanically separating A and B
during the electrolysis by a diaphragm, as well as a uniform horizontal movement
of the layers of the liquid is attained by means of the said situation of the outlets,
in order to maintain the formation of the layers.
In Figures 3 & 4, P P are the upper electrodes consisting of carbon, which
immerge into the upper layer of the electrolyte, contained in the chamber D.
The greatest part of the cell A¹ is filled with the intermediate layer which ends
at the lower edge of the chamber D. The lower electrode N is contained in the
chamber A2, the interior of which is separated from the cell A by means of the
frame E of osmotic material. The frame E is provided with the cover e consisting
of any suitable material and effects by its slanting surface the deviation of the
gases, generated beneath the frame, to the compartment F, where they are sucked
off at 7. The liquid may communicate from the cell A' to the chamber A2 through
the recesses el in the frame E.
Whilst the electric current is passing through the apparatus, the layers are
maintained in such a manner that the electrolyte to be decomposed is led into the
cell A (Fig. 3 and 4) containing the intermediate layer for continuously re-
freshing the bath, whereas the products are partly-drawn off through the open-
ings g beneath the lower electrodes N or from the chambers A3 and partly through
the pipes hand auxiliary conducts h¹, shown in dotted lines and arranged near
the upper, electrodes P P.
By leading off the gases generated at the lower electrode in apparatus of this
kind all disadvantages are obviated which occurred by the ebullition of the gas
and prevented an even, continuous electrolysis. It is obvious that the apparatus
may be constructed in an angular or annular form with out departing from the
spirit of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
Means for leading off the gases generated in electrolytic apparatus having
electrodes substantially horizontally arranged at the top and bottom of the electro-
lytic cell insofar as a layer of the electrolytic liquid is provided between the
electrodes, which is to be kept undisturbed and serves as a diaphragm, consisting
in covering each lower electrode with a frame or box, provided with a slanting
cover of osmotic pervious material and having recesses at its sides for enabling
the liquid to enter the frame, the latter causing the gases generated at the lower
electrode to escape beyond an impervious partition to a compartment, where-
from they are drawn off, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of October 1900.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.