ELECTROLYTIC CELLS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 8, 2012
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: February 21, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN. Separation and Removal
of Gases,
Separation of Gase8.
The two electrodes which dip into the water being electrolyzed may be
surrounded by iron hoods which are insulated from the electrodes. Hydrogen is
collected under one of the hoods and oxygen under the other. The gases are led away
,. attached to
through pipes a the top of the hoods. This arrangement is not very convenient for
industrial ,applicati.ana. If even cylindrical hoods which are open at the bottom
are used, the width of the hoods necessitates placement of the electrodes at a
rather large
ee i a1. distance from each other, so that a considerable resistance to the passage
a considerable portion of
of the current results. Furthermore, the hoods surround/the electrodes, thereby
lengthening the path of the current and increasing the resistance still :further.
bag-shaped porous
In modern industrial practice, ~agaw rl el~wse d diaphragms
~~event-~l~e~ which prevent the passage of gas bubbles (and consequently the
intermixing of gases )are attached to one or both hoods at the bottom . This
arrangement permits a considerable reduction of the diameter of the hoods, so that
the electrodes are brought closer together under corresponding reduction of the
resistance. Furthermore, the electrodes may protrude to a much greater extant
below the bottom edge of the hoods. If the level of the electrtlyte in the cell.
sinks to such an extent that the diaphragm is exposed to the air, the gases may diffuse
through the diaphragm. It is therefore necessary to prevent the level of the liquid
from dropping too low.
Diaphragms.
Diaphragms which serve for the separation of gases must satisfy the
following requirements: !1) they must have a low electrical resistance; 2) they must
be dense enough to prevent the gas bubbles from passing through; 3) they must have
sufficient mechanical strength; 4) they must b4 chemically resistant to the electxo.-
Thdrse requirements are satisfied most fully by asbestos fabric, which
is used almost exclusively in modern cells. The best alkali-resistant, long fiber
asbestos is used for weaving the fabric. Manually processed crude asbestos having a
~% fiber length of l5.?2~ mm is iwi4 preferred. The fabric must be dense, must not
in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
strength, In the majority of
and must have an adequate tearing
transmit light, i.2 mm
~~-thick can be used. In special cases,
ordinaxy wBav? ~
cases, a fabric of
serge /tagona1/ weave having a t
a fabric of double hickness of ~st
nickel wire 0.7,6 mm thick.
0
ccasina7,ly the waft thread is rei oresd with
be used. 0
t th to the asbestos fabric.
This lends a greater mechanical xen
s g unless the
dia hragms
Asbestos /may be used for several years (3N~ Yrs and more)
res\zlta.ng from fluctuatianw of the
e osed to unusual mechanieal strairis
fabric is xA
hydrogen and oxygen pressure as well as other causes
more seldom than asbEStoa cb.aphY'agms
al. die hxagrns are used considerably
Net p
d dLa hxagms of thin raa.ckel practical apPlicat3.ons are concerns, p
As far as p.
entetei? are used most of tens These
fail 8Q0~1!~OG small. 'Holes per square c
manufactured
d~aph sit~,on of the nickel. Maa~e?s~e~
eloetxolyt~-G po
,~'1g.s are ea by
a an which the nickel is deposited are
es~t~Ag~tl~eM~el~e~w ~,gaster sheets
dep matrix, The matrix
small pinMpo -nt depressio in a copper
prepared by first making
~hiCh fi:Lla the depressions ~ The excess
is then covered with an i.nsulattng lacquer, ~
lacquer is cleaned the rlopressions remain filled. Then
paned off the aurfacc~, as that an7.y
the a manner that e~:~ the whole surface is
matrix is nickel-plated in such
c rc~ssions filled with lacquer. '~
red with the na.ckel surface
exception of the yep may rove
for depositing the diaphragm foil, which Y be lifted
is ox~.di~ed 'lightly and used .
easily from the surface thus treated. rtheleeasily those of asbestos. Neve
g
Nickel diaphx'a~s are 5tx aner than
~e and for that reason require
under the action of the electrol~ ~ mu
they deteriorate e
in, 6~ Destru,ct7.on of the diapl~'ag
which are carried out by patch g
periodic repairs, if metal. r~iaph~'anms are used.
,hortcircut3.ng of the electrodes
may bring about
slectrodns too near to each ethers
son it is dangerous to place the
For that Tea ,
Gases' Re~;u].atio:~ of Gas S~ressr~re.
Coolj.ng and washing of along
a to a;ratuxe of 60~80o and carry
The gases leave the cell at ~
ctralyte~
l
e
elrolots containing e
ater vapor as well sas la
f
w
unt o
amo
a aonsiderdble
amount of water vapor in this
able
ider
oval of a coris
t that rem
fac In view of the
~-over of /causttc/ alkali
r
,~ eax
y
mariner raise th 8xpan 11 e ~.turo Of w,~ter a whit.
tsd
taken to cool the gases
ures are
meas
diture of alkali.,
xpen
w_i l incro ass the e
the ~a&e principal q~ntit~'
n
g
cooli
On
f the gases1
e11
F o
i.rnmediately after they have /aft the c
i
l To achieve adequate coolie
s cel
i. vapor condar~es and flaws back into th ,
of water cooled Frith water, the
e
which the gases leave the cell. ~'? ~
conduits through wh3.
wader which the gases collect are
the covers and Hoods s1~f f ici.entltil' lob;
d
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
The hydraulic pressure regulator also serves for washing the gases.
END.
in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
the gas is bubbled through a layer of cold feed water. If the latter procedure
simultaneous is applied
eheae~~ the gases are/freed from most of the alkali, carried away by them and
equalization of pressures in the hydrogen and oxygen pace of the electrolytic cell
13 brought about.
Unequal pressures of gases in the cell may result from various causes.
For instance, the pipe conduits may offer different resistance to flow, theca may be
formation of water locks in the pipes; the gases may be ,
~' withdrawn at an unequal rate;
etc. Iteeping the gas pressure constant is very important, because excessavase crs
ve/preessure
of one of the gases under the hood may result in lowering of the as lev
e1 to a point
This may have th
ff
e e
ect of
below the edge of the hood,.4h exposing the diaphragm or even ro ect'n~
p ~ x~ a part
of the electrolyte over the edge of the cell. Exposure of
the diaphragm to air wiU
result, as has already been ;nent.Loned, %p mixing of the gases so that an
explosive
Furthermorra
,
mixture may fora. (- g~g>~hbpw $nd, sharp and frequent fiuctuation, of a
g s pressure
strain the diaphragm and mac and lead to its rapid deterioration. Fox three reasons,
regulation of gas pressure is very important. Regulation can be carried out for
each cell individually or for a purge or sma11 group of cells.
maybe
A hydraulic pressure regulator i used, which e~eens eted~ ~a~ operates
in the following manner. Two vessels (1 and 2) are connected by a tube at
y the bottom.
Oxygen from the cell is conducted into Vessel 1, hydrogen en into
~ hlY g to Vessel 2. If the hydro
gen pressure should bec
hi
h
ome
g
er than thatf th
o oxygen,e water ],eve/ in geese/ ~ of
the regulator. would rise, thus compressing the o en and
g reestablishing equality of
pressure8 .
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5
Captions of 19.gures .
F.$3 p 21].. Separation of Gases By Means of Hoods. 1 and 2 electrodes;
3 and 4 ? iron hoods; S insulators.
Fi . 84, p? 212. Separation of Gases By Means of a Diaphragm. 1 and 2 M hoods;
3 , porous diaphragm.
Fig p, 213. Hydraulic Regulator of Gas Pressure 1 and 2 - connected
vessels of the regulator.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/08 : CIA-RDP82-00039R000100200004-5