ELECTROLYSIS DEVICE

Abstract

An electrolysis device for the electrolytic treatment of liquids has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber which are separated from one another via an ion exchange membrane. The chambers are provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the flowing electrolyte, each with one electrode. The inner space of the anode chamber and/or of the cathode chamber are/is subdivided by webs or ribs extending transversely with respect to the electrodes. The webs or ribs are provided at least regionally with holes or cut outs. The webs or ribs include at least one lower region free of holes or cut outs. The electrolysis device provides sufficient mixing in the upper foam phase in the longitudinal direction and also at the same time the airlift pump effect is maintained by way of ascending gas bubbles in the lower region.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. An electrolysis device for the electrolytic treatment of liquids, the device comprising: an anode chamber including at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening configured to permit the flow of electrolyte and with at least one electrode; a cathode chamber including at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening configured to permit the flow of electrolyte and with at least one electrode; and an ion exchange membrane separating the anode chamber from the cathode chamber; wherein the inner space of the anode chamber and/or of the cathode chamber are/is subdivided by webs extending transversely with respect to the electrodes, wherein the webs are provided at least regionally with holes, and wherein the webs extend in the height direction of the electrolysis device and comprise, as viewed in the height direction, at least one lower region in which the webs are free of holes.

15. The electrolysis device of claim 14 wherein the webs comprise, as viewed in the height direction, at least one upper region with holes.

16. The electrolysis device of claim 14 wherein the lower region, in which the webs are free of holes, extends at least approximately over the lower half of the entire height of the webs.

17. The electrolysis device of claim 14 where the lower region, in which the webs are free of holes, extends at least approximately over the lower two thirds of the entire height of the webs.

18. The electrolysis device of claim 14 wherein the upper region, in which the webs comprise holes, extends at least approximately over the upper quarter of the entire height of the webs.

19. The electrolysis device of claim 14 wherein the upper region, in which the webs comprise holes, extends at least approximately over the upper third of the entire height of the webs.

20. The electrolysis device of claim 15 wherein the webs comprise, in the at least one upper region, multiple holes which are spaced apart from one another by solid regions in the height direction of the webs.

21. The electrolysis device of claim 15 wherein the webs at least partially have, in the at least one upper region, holes which have an approximately circular contour.

22. The electrolysis device of claim 15 wherein the webs comprise, in the at least one upper region, multiple holes which, as viewed in the direction of the height of the webs, have different spacings from one another.

23. The electrolysis device of claim 22 wherein the holes in the webs, in a first lower section of the upper region, are arranged with smaller spacings from one another than in a second section of the upper region adjoining a top thereof.

24. The electrolysis device of claim 14 wherein the free cross section of at least one of the holes is at least approximately 10 mm.sup.2.

25. The electrolysis device of claim 14 wherein the free cross section of at least one of the holes is at least approximately 15 mm.sup.2.

26. A method comprising electrolytic treatment of a flowable medium in the electrolysis device of claim 14.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the method comprises chlor-alkali electrolysis.

Description

[0032] The present invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the appended drawing. In the drawing:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematically simplified view of a cross section through an exemplary electrolysis device according to the invention as per a first embodiment variant;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a view of an exemplary electrolysis device according to the invention;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view in the longitudinal direction of the electrolysis device illustrated in FIG. 2;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view in the transverse direction of the electrolysis device illustrated in FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of an individual web with the holes for the longitudinal mixing of the electrolyte.

[0038] Below, the basic structure of an electrolysis device of said type is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 1. Generally, an electrolysis cell 10 comprises in each case one housing having two half-shells, namely a cathode half-shell 11 and an anode half-shell 12, which are each provided at the top and bottom with flange-like edges between which in each case one membrane 13 is clamped by means of seals. Said membrane 13 forms a dividing wall between the cathode half-shell 11 (which corresponds to the cathode chamber or catholyte chamber) and the anode half-shell 12 (which corresponds to the anode chamber or anolyte chamber). The cathode half-shell 11 and the anode half-shell are connected to one another at the top and bottom, in each case in the region of their flange-like edges, via screws 14, which are oriented in the transverse direction, to form an electrolysis cell 10. In the lower region, in each of the two half-shells 11, 12, in each case one inlet distributor tube 15, 16 for electrolyte solution extends in the longitudinal direction of the electrolysis cell, and consumed electrolyte is discharged from the electrolysis cell via an outlet tube 17. The anode and the cathode each extend in a planar manner in the vertical direction close to the membrane in the respective half-shell.

[0039] As can be seen in FIG. 1, an obliquely oriented guide plate 18 is provided in the anode half-shell in the upper region such that, on that side of said guide plate 18 which faces the anode, gas-laden liquid ascends in the direction of the arrows and, on the rear side of the guide plate, the liquid which is laden with gas to a lesser extent or is not laden with gas at all descends. This results in circulation of the anolyte in the lower region, which leads to vertical mixing. Said circulation compensates for the concentration differences in electrolyte (for example NaCl) between the inflow and the liquid in the cell.

[0040] In the view of an electrolysis cell as per FIG. 2, the two inlet distributor tubes 15, 16 for the two half-shells, and the outlet tubes 17 which are each assigned to one half-shell, can be seen. The peripheral frame 19, in the region of which the flange-like edges of the two half-shells are screwed to one another, can furthermore be seen in FIG. 2.

[0041] The electrolysis cell illustrated in FIG. 2 is illustrated cut open in the longitudinal direction in FIG. 3. Here, it can be seen that, in the case of electrolysis cells of this type, the rear space of the two electrodes in both half-shells is in each case subdivided into individual compartments by webs 20 extending in an approximately vertical direction and in the transverse direction. Said webs also serve for the reinforcement and support of the cathode and anode. In the cross-sectional view as per FIG. 4, one of said webs 20 can be clearly seen in the drawing, on the left-hand side. It can be seen that the web 20 is provided in the upper region with holes 24 via which longitudinal mixing of the electrolyte is realized. Further details concerning the formation and function of said webs 20 will be explained in more detail below on the basis of the individual-part drawing as per FIG. 5.

[0042] The illustration as per FIG. 5 shows an individual web 20 which is bevelled in its lower end region 21 and thus continuously tapers in its width towards the lower end. As viewed in the direction of its height, said web has in principle two differently formed regions, namely a lower region 22 and an upper region 23. The lower region 22 is solid, with no holes or cutouts being provided therein. In the exemplary embodiment as per FIG. 5, said lower region 22 extends over slightly more than the lower two thirds of the entire height of the web 20. The upper region 23 of the web 20 adjoins the lower region 22 towards the top, with the web 20 being provided in said upper region 23 with holes 24 through which electrolyte can pass in the longitudinal direction of the electrolysis cell such that longitudinal mixing of the electrolyte is realized in said upper region 23. There, a foam phase of the electrolyte is situated as a result of the ascending gas bubbles.

[0043] As can be seen in FIG. 5, a number of multiple holes 24 spaced apart from one another are provided. In the exemplary embodiment, five such holes 24 are illustrated by way of example. It can furthermore be seen that the two lower holes 24 a as viewed in the height direction of the web 20 have a smaller spacing from one another than the upper holes. The number of the holes 24 and their respective spacings from one another may be varied more or less in any desired manner within the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0044] 10 Electrolysis cell [0045] 11 Cathode half-shell [0046] 12 Anode half-shell [0047] 13 Membrane [0048] 14 Screws [0049] 15 Inlet distributor tube [0050] 16 Inlet distributor tube [0051] 17 Outlet tube [0052] 18 Guide plate [0053] 19 Peripheral frame [0054] 20 Webs [0055] 21 Lower end region, bevelled [0056] 22 Lower region, solid [0057] 23 Upper region, with holes [0058] 23 Holes [0059] 24 a Lower holes, with relatively small spacings