ELECTROLYTIC CELL USING GAS DIFFUSION ELECTRODE AND POWER DISTRIBUTION METHOD FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC CELL

摘要

The invention relates to electrolytic cells employing an oxygen cathode which are used for, e.g., sodium chloride electrolysis by the ion-exchange membrane method. Disclosed are electrolytic cells of: the type in which a caustic chamber frame comprising an upper chamber, as caustic solution discharge openings, and a lower chamber, as caustic solution introduction openings, which are connected to each other through caustic solution passageways is disposed at outer edges of the electrolytic cell to thereby diminish caustic solution leakage; the type in which a lower gas chamber is disposed at the lower outer edge of a cathode element so as to cope with caustic solution leakage through the gas diffusion electrode into the gas chamber; the type in which the thickness of a caustic chamber is reduced as much as possible to thereby attain a reduced energy loss and low voltage; the type in which chambers having many holes for oxygen gas feed and discharge are attached to the cathode collector frame to thereby enable oxygen gas to be evenly fed to and discharged from the gas chamber having a gas diffusion electrode; the type in which a gas- and liquid-permeable gas diffusion electrode is used so that oxygen gas and water are fed from an upper chamber connected to the gas chamber and the gas and caustic solution are discharged into a lower chamber; the type in which a cathode collector frame of an oxygen cathode is disposed so as to face a meshed metallic material of a cathode chamber frame conductor of a cathode element and a necessary planar pressure is maintained with a gas pressure to bring the cathode collector frame into contact with the meshed metallic material and electrically connect these; etc. The electrolytic cells thus have constitutions in which, for example, caustic solution leakage is prevented or oxygen gas can be evenly fed to and discharged from the gas chamber. <IMAGE>