Patent ID: 8114258

Claim:
An electrolysis apparatus for preparing alkali metal from a liquid alkali metal-heavy metal alloy, comprising: at least two tubes which are arranged essentially horizontally above one another and are connected to one another by a connecting piece and form an electrolysis unit; two solid electrolyte tubes arranged in each of the tubes, which conduct alkali metal ions and are closed at one end and have an opening at the other end, with the solid electrolyte tubes being arranged concentrically in the tube and having the opening facing one end of the tube so that a first annular gap for conducting the liquid alkali metal-heavy metal alloy which forms one anode is present between the inside of the tube and the outside of the solid electrolyte tubes; an alloy inlet and an alloy outlet for the liquid alkali metal-heavy metal alloy in each of the tubes which open at a horizontal distance from one another from the top or from the bottom, respectively, into the first annular gap of one tube; an interior space in each of the solid electrolyte tubes for accommodating the alkali metal which can be employed as a cathode, which space is sealed from the alloy inlet, the first annular gap, and the alloy outlet and is connected to an alkali metal outlet; and two closure devices which are located at the two ends of each tube.