Operating specifications, cell room

While the data gave little reason for concern over the exposure of the general population to the field in a chlor-alkali plant, it is possible for the field to interfere with the operation of low-power electronic devices. Cardiac pacemakers are one example. The ACGIH in the same list of TLVs referred to above suggested a value of 5 G for persons with these devices. Adams reported that one company had set its own limit of 1G. Since this is a small multiple of the normal background, the rule effectively bars those with pacemakers from approaching a cell room. While not covered specifically by these rules, there should also be special concern for those who wear or carry other medical devices such as aneurysm clips, suture staples, and prostheses. These can respond to forces produced by stronger fields, but no definite limits have been set. 

The brine system should be fully operational, on recycle and bypassing saturation and the electrolyzers, at a rate equivalent to that required for operation at 2-3 kA m. The brine temperature should be about 50°C at the cell room. Concentration should be as specified for normal operation (typically 300 gpl), and quality should meet all specifications. Analytical routines for the brine system should be in full operation by this time. 

General. Normal operating and monitoring routines for the individual electrolyzers, the cell room, and the associated plant are to be established and followed carefully. Process parameters should remain within the specified ranges. When upsets occur or an important parameter moves out of specification, the appropriate actions, which may include shutdown of the plant, must be taken. 

The basic instrumentation required for controlled-potential experiments is relatively inexpensive and readily available commercially. The basic necessities include a cell (with a three-electrode system), a voltammetric analyzer (consisting of a potentiostatic circuitry and a voltage ramp generator), and an X-Y-t recorder (or plotter). Modem voltammetric analyzers are versatile enough to perform many modes of operation. Depending upon the specific experiment, other components may be required. For example, a faradaic cage is desired for work with ultramicroelectrodes. The system should be located in a room free from major electrical interferences, vibrations, and drastic fluctuations in temperature. 

EFCs are electrochemical systems that consist of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. Design of EFC prototypes was inspired by conventional batteries and fuel cells, but there are substantial differences that lead to completely new design concepts and requirements. Specifically, in contrast to conventional batteries, the oxidized substance in the EFC is not carried in the electrodes, but instead stored as a fuel. In contrast to conventional fuel cells, EFCs use highly selective enzymes in the anode and cathode reactions and they can operate without any membrane separation, in neutral aqueous electrolyte, and at room temperature and are capable to provide deep, or complete, fuel oxidation. 

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