Claims
- 1. A side frame for an electrolytic cell, the cell having a flowable liquid metal cathode in a catholyte compartment, an anode, an anolyte compartment, a membrane with a major portion thereof positioned in an extended plane between the anode and the cathode and a catholyte inlet and catholyte outlet for the flow of catholyte into and out of the catholyte compartment in the cell comprising in combination:
- (a) an electrode frame with a pair of opposing ends having a first generally uniform height; and
- (b) a pair of opposing sides connected to the pair of opposing ends at a plurality of corners, each opposing side having an obliquely and downwardly angled portion extending from an upper portion adjacent each corner at the first generally uniform height to an extended lower portion at a second height that lies in a plane below the major portion of the membrane positioned in the extended plane, the obliquely and downwardly angled portion supporting the membrane in a obliquely angled position adjacent a gap between the anode and the cathode and being positioned only immediately adjacent each of the plurality of corners formed by the pairs of opposing ends and pair of opposing sides.
- 2. The side frame according to claim 1 further comprising the pair of opposing sides and the pair of opposing ends having a top surface.
- 3. The side frame according to claim 2 further comprising the top surface having a groove therein for receiving a gasket.
- 4. The side frame according to claim 3 further comprising the groove on the top surface having a gasket that extends about the opposing sides and the pair of opposing ends.
- 5. The side frame according to claim 2 further comprising each obliquely and downwardly angled portion having on opposing ends thereof a lead-in curve and a lead-out curve in the top surface to transition between the extended lower portion and the upper portion adjacent each corner.
- 6. The side frame according to claim 5 further comprising the lead-in curve and the lead-out curve having radii of between about 5 to about 125 millimeters.
- 7. The side frame according to claim 6 further comprising the lead-in curve and the lead-out curve having radii of between about 25 to about 78 millimeters.
- 8. The side frame according to claim 7 further comprising the lead-in curve and the lead-out curve having radii of between about 25 to about 42 millimeters.
- 9. The side frame according to claim 6 further comprising a cell bottom connected to the electrode frame defining a bottom of an electrolyte compartment.
- 10. The side frame according to claim 9 further comprising the electrode frame and the cell bottom being formed from a single piece of material.
- 11. The side frame according to claim 9 further comprising an outside surface and a membrane associated with the side frame such that the membrane extends to the outside surface of the side frame.
- 12. The side frame according to claim 9 further comprising a conforming coating of perfluorinated polymer thereabout.
- 13. The side frame according to claim 12 further comprising the perfluorinated polymer being formed from PFA.
- 14. The side frame according to claim 1 further comprising a first of the pair of opposing ends having a plurality of orifices for feeding catholyte through the inlet into a gap between the membrane and the flowable liquid metal cathode.
- 15. The side frame according to claim 14 further comprising a second of the pair of opposing ends having a plurality of outlet orifices for removing catholyte through the outlet from the gap.
- 16. The side frame according to claim 15 further wherein the membrane is held in place against the anode by differential pressure.
- 17. The side frame according to claim 16 further comprising the pair of opposing sides being lower in the central portion than the pair of opposing ends of the electrode frame.
- 18. A horizontal electrolytic cell having a liquid metal cathode in a catholyte compartment, an anode, a separator, a catholyte inlet and catholyte outlet for the flow of catholyte into and out of the catholyte compartment in the cell comprising:
- at least two electrode frame each having a pair of opposing ends having a first generally uniform height and a pair of opposing sides meeting the opposing ends at a plurality of corners, each opposing side having an obliquely angled portion extending from each corner at the first generally uniform height slopingly to an extended portion at a different lower level, each frame having a continuous interior intermediate surface against which lies the membrane such that each interior intermediate surface is substantially coplanar with the membrane and the extended portion lies substantially coplanar with the major portion of the separator positioned in the extended plane, the obliquely and slopingly angled portion supporting the membrane in an obliquely angled relationship adjacent a gap between the anode and the cathode and being positioned only immediately adjacent each of the plurality of corners formed by the pair of opposing ends and pair of opposing sides.
- 19. The electrolytic cell according to claim 18 further comprising each interior intermediate surface having a groove therein for receiving a gasket.
- 20. The electrolytic cell according to claim 19 further comprising the groove on the interior intermediate surface having a gasket that extends about the opposing sides and the pair of opposing ends.
- 21. The electrolytic cell according to claim 20 further comprising each obliquely and slopingly angled portion having opposing ends, the opposing ends thereof having a lead-in curve and a lead-out curve in the interior intermediate surface to transition between the extended lower portion and the upper portion adjacent each corner.
- 22. The electrolytic cell according to claim 21 further comprising the lead-in curve and- the lead-out curve having radii of between about 5 to about 125 millimeters.
- 23. The electrolytic cell according to claim 22 further comprising the lead-in curve and the lead-out curve having radii of between about 25 to about 78 millimeters.
- 24. The electrolytic cell according to claim 23 further comprising the lead-in curve and the lead-out curve having radii of between about 25 to about 42 millimeters.
- 25. The electrolytic cell according to claim 21 further comprising a cell bottom connected to the electrode frame defining a bottom of an electrolyte compartment.
- 26. The electrolytic cell according to claim 25 further comprising the electrode frame and the cell bottom being formed from a single piece of material.
- 27. The electrolytic cell according to claim 25 further comprising the electrode frame having an outside surface and a membrane associated with the electrode frame such that the membrane extends to the outside surface of the electrode frame.
- 28. The electrolytic cell according to claim 25 further comprising the electrode frame having a conforming coating of perfluorinated polymer thereabout.
- 29. The electrolytic cell according to claim 28 further comprising the perfluorinated polymer being formed from PFA.
- 30. The electrolytic cell according to claim 18 further comprising the pair of opposing sides being lower in the central portion than the pair of opposing ends of the electrode frame.
- 31. The electrolytic cell according to claim 18 further comprising one of the electrode frames being a cathode frame.
- 32. The electrolytic cell according to claim 31 further comprising a first of the pair of opposing ends having a plurality of orifices for feeding catholyte through the inlet into a gap between the membrane and the flowable liquid metal cathode.
- 33. The electrolytic cell according to claim 32 further comprising a second of the pair of opposing ends having a plurality of outlet orifices for removing catholyte through the outlet from the gap.
- 34. The electrolytic cell according to claim 33 further comprising the membrane being held in place against the anode by differential pressure.
- 35. The electrolytic cell according to claim 18 further comprising one of the electrode frames being an anode frame.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The U.S. Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DAAA 15-89C-0011 awarded by the Department of Army. Under this contract, the U.S. Government has certain rights to practice or have practiced on its behalf the invention claimed herein without payment of royalties.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Article entitled "Hydroxylamine Production by Electroreduction of Nitric Oxide in a Trickle Bed"--The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, vol. 57, Oct., 1979. |