OXYGEN-CONSUMING ZERO-GAP ELECTROLYSIS CELLS WITH POROUS/SOLID PLATES

摘要

An electrolysis stack (53) with oxygen-depolarized cathodes (31) employs solid-plate anodes (38) and porous-plate cathodes (42). The stack (53) of electrolysis cells (29) (e.g, hydrogen-chloride or chlor-allkali cells) each include an ion exchange membrane (32) sandwiched between an anode conductor (34) and a permeable cathode (35); an oxygen-consuming gas diffusion cathode (31) is adjacent the cathode conductor of each cell. Between the anode conductor of one cell and the gas diffusion cathode of an adjacent cell there is a composite bipolar plate (51) including a solid plate (38) having channels (39) for conducing salt solution and product of the process; the bipolar plates also include a porous plate (42) having channels (43) for conducting oxidant adjacent the gas diffusion cathode and channels (49) connected to a source of liquid (such as water or dilute sodium hydroxide).