Diaphragm cells bipolar electrolyzers

In bipolar electrolyzer stacks, the face of the electrode to the left can be negative, whereas its other side, facing the next cell to the right can be positive. Naturally, these electrodes are separated and their electrical connections are provided by a metal separator plate (separation diaphragm). These units require less floor space and can operate at higher temperatures and pressures. 

In the United States, 76% of the chlorine produced is from diaphragm cells. Production is equally divided between bipolar and monopolar electrolyzers. 

PPG and DeNora jointly developed a bipolar filter-press diaphragm cell called the Glanor electrolyzer [32]. The central design feature is the bipolar electrode where one side acts as an anode and the other as a cathode. The electrode consists of a steel plate to which anode fingers are connected on one side and cathode fingers on the other. 

Conventional hydrochloric acid electrolyzers consist of 30-36 individual cells connected in series (bipolar arrangement). The cells are formed from vertical electrode plates manufactured from graphite, between which there are diaphragms (for instance made from PVC fabric, distance to the plates ca. 6 mm). The feed with hydrochloric acid (22 wt%, identical for anode and cathode compartment) and the removal of the gases produced take place according to the filter press principle (see Chapter 2). Chlorine leaves the cell with the anolyte, hydrogen with the catholyte. 

The technological development of electrolyzers started with a mono polar cell consisting of a cathode part and an anode part separated by a diaphragm, hi multi-cell systems, bipolar plates are used carrying the cathode material for one cell and on its backside the anode material for the neighbor cell. The functions of the bipolar plate are the continuous supply of the membrane electrode with H2 on one side and with O2 or air on the other side and the regulation of the water balance by providing moisture for the membrane on the H2 side and remove the product water on the O2 side. 

Vertical Electrolyzers. Diaphragm and membrane cells are genoally vertical. In the case of a bipolar-type electrolyzer, electricity is supplied ftom both ends of the cell stack, and the current is perpendicular to the electrode surface. On the other hand, electricity is supplied to a tank-type vertical electrolyzer from the top or bottom of the electrode, and this results in ohmic voltage drops within the electrode [1,13,14]. 

Electrolyzers for the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide, including both diaphragm and membrane cells, are classified as either monopolar or bipolar. The designation does not refer to the electrochemical reactions that take place, which of course require two poles or electrodes for all cells, but to the electrolyzer construction or assembly. There are many more chlor-alkali production facilities with monopolar cells than with bipolar cells. 

Principles. Hydrochloric acid (22wt% HCl) is fed into the cells in two separate circuits, a catholyte circuit and an anolyte circuit. During electrolysis the concentration is reduced to ca. 17 %, and the temperature increases from 65 to 80 °C. A part of the depleted acid is separated from the catholyte stream, concentrated in the absorption plant to ca. 30 %, and fed back into the main stream. The electrolyzer is bipolar, with pairs of electrodes arranged like the leaves of a filter press. A diaphragm or membrane (e.g., Nafion 430) separates the anode compartment from the cathode compartment to prevent mixing of the gaseous products. 

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