Claims
- 1. In a unit cell for use in a bipolar, filter press type, aqueous alkali metal chloride solution electrolytic cell comprising a plurality of unit cells which are arranged in series through a cation exchange membrane disposed between respective adjacent unit cells, each unit cell comprising:an anode-side pan-shaped body having an anode compartment and an anode-side gas-liquid separation chamber which is disposed in an anode-side non-current flowing space left above said anode compartment and extends over the entire length of the upper side of said anode compartment, and a cathode-side pan-shaped body having a cathode compartment and a cathode-side gas-liquid separation chamber which is disposed in a cathode-side non-current flowing space left above said cathode compartment and extends over the entire length of the upper side of said cathode compartment, said anode-side pan-shaped body and said cathode-side pan-shaped body being disposed back to back, said anode-side and cathode-side gas-liquid separation chambers having perforated bottom walls separating said anode-side and cathode-side gas-liquid separation chambers from said anode compartment and said cathode compartment, respectively, and each of said gas-liquid separation chambers having, at one end thereof, a gas and liquid outlet nozzle, the improvement comprising a bubble removing partition wall which is disposed at least in said anode-side gas-liquid separation chamber of said anode-side and cathode-side gas-liquid separation chambers and which extends upwardly of the perforated bottom wall of the gas-liquid separation chamber, said bubble removing partition wall extending along the entire length of said gas-liquid separation chamber to partition said gas-liquid separation chamber into a first passage A formed on said bottom wall in a perforated area thereof and a second passage B formed on said bottom wall in a non-perforated area thereof, said bubble removing partition wall having an apertured segment having a plurality of apertures, wherein the aperture ratio of said apertured segment is in the range of from 30 to 70%, based on the area of the apertured segment, and the average area of the apertures of said apertured segment is in the range of from 3 to 60 mm2, the apertures of said apertured segment of the bubble removing partition wall being positioned at least 10 mm above the inside surface of the bottom wall of the gas-liquid separation chamber, wherein said second passage B communicates with said gas and liquid outlet nozzle and wherein said second passage B communicates with the anode compartment through said apertured segment and said first passage A.
- 2. The unit cell according to claim 1, which further comprises, at least in the anode compartment of the anode and cathode compartments, a baffle plate disposed in an upper portion of the anode compartment, wherein said baffle plate is positioned so that an upward flow passage C is formed between said baffle plate and the anode and a downward flow passage D is formed between said baffle plate and a back-side inner wall of the anode compartment.
- 3. The unit cell according to claim 2, wherein:said baffle plate has a height of from 300 mm to 600 mm, said upward flow passage C has a broader width at a lower end thereof than at an upper end thereof, and has a width in the range of from 5 mm to 15 mm as measured at the smallest spacing between the baffle plate and the anode, and said downward flow passage D has a broader width at an upper end thereof than at a lower end thereof, and has a width in the range of from 1 mm to 20 mm as measured at the smallest spacing between the baffle plate and the back-side inner wall of the anode compartment.
- 4. The unit cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which further comprises, at least in the anode compartment of the anode and cathode compartments, an electrolytic solution distributor having a pipe-like morphology and disposed in a lower portion of the anode compartment,said distributor having a plurality of electrolytic solution feed holes and having an inlet communicating with an electrolytic solution inlet nozzle of the anode compartment, wherein each of said electrolytic solution feed holes has a cross-sectional area such that, during the operation of the unit cell, when a saturated saline solution is supplied as an electrolytic solution through said distributor at a minimum flow rate for conducting an electrolysis at a current density of 40 A/dm2, each electrolytic solution feed hole exhibits a pressure loss of from 50 mm·H2O to 1,000 mm·H2O.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-242002 |
Aug 1999 |
JP |
|
11-242759 |
Aug 1999 |
JP |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP00/05791 which has an International filing date of Aug. 28, 2000, which designated the United States of America.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/JP00/05791 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO01/16398 |
8/3/2001 |
WO |
A |
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