Patent ID: 6984296

Claim:
An electrochemical cell for the membrane electrolysis process, consisting of at least of 2 half-shells ( 8 , 10 ), which surround an anolyte chamber ( 16 ) and a cathode chamber ( 22 ) with a membrane ( 5 ) arranged in between, and an anode ( 6 ) in the anolyte chamber ( 16 ), with the cathode chamber ( 22 ) being provided with an oxygen-consuming cathode ( 4 ), with a plurality of pressure-compensated gas pockets ( 15 ) arranged one above the other, a catholyte gap ( 14 ) and optionally a back chamber ( 19 ), characterized in that electrically conducting supporting elements ( 7 ) are provided in the anolyte chamber ( 16 ) and supporting elements ( 3 , 2 , 1 ) are provided in the cathode chamber ( 22 ) at the same positions opposite one another and support one another, wherein the support in the cathode chamber ( 22 ) takes place by means of a multi-part supporting element ( 3 , 2 , 1 ), where one supporting part ( 1 ) is arranged in the catholyte gap ( 14 ), a further supporting part ( 2 a ; 2 b ) is arranged in the gas pocket ( 15 ) and, if a back chamber ( 19 ) is present, a third supporting part ( 3 ) is arranged in the back chamber ( 19 ) behind the gas pockets ( 15 ), the second supporting part ( 2 a ) or ( 2 b ) in the gas pockets ( 15 ) have openings ( 22 a , 22 b , 23 a ) or leave passages ( 24 ) open at selected points, in particular in their upper and lower region of the respective gas pocket ( 15 ), wherein the supporting part ( 1 ) in the catholyte gap ( 14 ) is formed from a plurality of bars ( 1 ) arranged one above the other, which are attached at their upper end via a detachable connecting means ( 13 ) to cross-braces ( 12 ) which carry the electrode ( 4 ), and wherein the supporting elements ( 3 , 2 , 1 ) extend over the entire height of the half-shell ( 10 ) and are located opposite a continuous supporting element ( 7 ) in the second half-shell 8 .