C25C7/00

System and method for controlling a multi-state electrochemical cell

A system for controlling an electrochemical production process includes a variable controllable power circuit and an electrolytic cell. The cell includes two electrodes and operates in different states dependent on the potential difference across the electrodes. The system includes a power circuit controller that causes the power circuit to apply a given potential difference across the electrodes to initiate operation of the cell in the one of multiple possible states associated with the given potential difference. The possible states include a production state associated with a first non-zero potential difference in which a product of interest is produced, and an idle state associated with a second non-zero potential difference in which the product of interest is not produced. A monitoring and control subsystem maintains a predefined set of production process conditions, including a predefined operating temperature range, while the cell operates in both the production state and the idle state.

ASSEMBLIES FOR ALIGNMENT AND LEVELING OF AN ELECTROLYTIC TANK UPON EXPANSION OR RETRACTION THEREOF
20220154871 · 2022-05-19 · ·

There is provided an electrolytic tank assembly facilitating alignment and levelling of an electrolytic tank with respect to adjacent electrolytic tank. A levelling assembly can include a plurality of adjustable levelling mechanisms being independently actuable to cause upward or downward movement of the electrolytic tank. A sole assembly can include friction and sliding soles for controlling transversal movement of an electrolytic tank with respect to support beams onto which the tank is supported. A strap assembly comprising a vertically extending strap and a connector provided at an end of the vertically extending strap can be connected to each adjustable levelling mechanism of the levelling assembly. Various type of connectors can be provided at the other end of the strap to provide anchorage to accessory for operation, lifting, maintenance, etc.

Electrode material and use thereof for the manufacture of an inert anode

The invention relates to an electrode material, preferably an inert anode material comprising at least a metal core and a cermet material, characterized in that: said metal core contains at least one nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe) alloy, said cermet material comprises at least as percentages by weight: 45 to 80% of a nickel ferrite oxide phase (2) of composition Ni.sub.xFe.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.4 with 0.60 ≤x≤0.90; 1.90≤y≤2.40; 0.00≤z≤0.20 and M being a metal selected from aluminum (Al), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), tin (Sn), vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta) and hafnium (Hf) or being a combination of these metals, 15 to 45% of a metallic phase (1) comprising at least one alloy of nickel and copper.

AN ELECTROCHEMICAL METHOD OF REDUCING METAL OXIDE

There is provided a method of electrochemically reducing multiple metal oxide pellets simultaneously, the method comprising: contacting an anode and a cathode with multiple metal oxide pellets with an electrolyte, wherein the multiple metal oxide pellets are secured to the cathode; and applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode to reduce multiple metal oxides comprised in the multiple metal oxide pellets to its respective metals. There is also provided an electrochemical cell for electrochemically reducing multiple metal oxide pellets simultaneously.

Alkaline and chlorine solutions produced using electro-chemical activation
11326261 · 2022-05-10 · ·

An electro-chemical activation (ECA) system includes an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a neutralization chamber. The anode chamber includes an anode configured to convert water having an alkaline-metal chloride into an anodic electrolyte that includes hypochlorous acid. The cathode chamber includes a cathode configured to convert water into a cathodic electrolyte. The neutralization chamber includes a neutralization cathode configured to remove protons from the anodic electrolyte after it leaves the anode chamber. The ECA system is configured to recirculate the anodic electrolyte back through the anode chamber and the neutralization chamber at least one more time to produce a concentrated chlorine solution. The ECA system is further configured to recirculate the cathodic electrolyte back through the cathode chamber at least one additional time to produce a concentrated alkaline solution.

INTERVENTION TOOL FOR THE OPERATION OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL
20220136120 · 2022-05-05 ·

This intervention tool is movable and designed to reposition an anode assembly of an electrolytic cell. The intervention tool comprises a mount provided with one or more bearing surfaces allowing the intervention tool to bear and be stably supported directly on at least one element of the electrolytic cell, and an intervention unit designed to reposition the anode assembly.

METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR PREPARING AND INSTALLING BRICK ASSEMBLIES ON THE FLOOR OF AN ELECTROLYSIS CELL
20220119969 · 2022-04-21 ·

Brick assemblies are prepared for covering the floor of an electrolysis cell. A tiling pattern is overlaid on a floor plan. Virtual tiles of the tiling pattern have a size and a shape of a template. Each brick assembly is formed to match zero or more departures from the template of a portion of the floor overlaid by each virtual tile. The brick assemblies are placed in piles and successively picked up for placement in adjacent positions on the floor of the electrolysis cell. Successive brick layers may be installed, in which tiling patterns are shifted to avoid overlap of the edges of bricks of the successive brick layers. A system comprises a working bench to prepare the brick assemblies, a vacuum brick lifter carried by a motorized structure to pick up and position the brick assemblies, and a controller to control the preparation and installation of the brick assemblies.

Apparatus, systems and methods for high efficiency metal particle regeneration

A regenerator cell for regenerating metallic particles is provided. The regenerator cell includes: a housing for containing a quantity of electrolyte; an anode; a cathode; a cavity at least partially defined by the housing, the cathode and the anode; an inlet port for supplying electrolyte to the cell, the inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; and an outlet port for expelling electrolyte, particles and/or gas from the cell, the outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity.

Apparatus, systems and methods for high efficiency metal particle regeneration

A regenerator cell for regenerating metallic particles is provided. The regenerator cell includes: a housing for containing a quantity of electrolyte; an anode; a cathode; a cavity at least partially defined by the housing, the cathode and the anode; an inlet port for supplying electrolyte to the cell, the inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity; and an outlet port for expelling electrolyte, particles and/or gas from the cell, the outlet port in fluid communication with the cavity.

CENTRIFUGAL MOLTEN ELECTROLYSIS REACTOR FOR OXYGEN, VOLATILES, AND METALS EXTRACTION FROM EXTRATERRESTRIAL REGOLITH
20220025535 · 2022-01-27 ·

A centrifugal molten regolith electrolysis (MRE) reactor that can volatilize and capture volatiles (i.e., .sup.3He or other noble gases) and electrochemically decompose, while under centrifugal action, lunar regolith into oxygen, metals, and semiconductor materials is disclosed. The high-temperature centrifugal MRE reactor comprises four principal components; namely: (1) a rotatable concentric electrolytic cell comprising an outer metallic shell cathode positioned about an inner central drum anode; (2) a motor sized and configured to rapidly spin (rotate) the concentric electrolytic cell reactor about its central longitudinal axis; (3) a stationary (relative to the spinning electrolytic cell) induction coil (connected to an external stationary AC current source) wrapped about, and adjacent to, the rotatable concentric electrolytic cell (for, when selectively energized, melting regolith contained within the concentric electrolytic cell); and (4) a stationary voltage source (for supplying an applied voltage to the concentric electrolytic cell). The centrifugal MRE reactor electrowins metals and oxygen.