Method of recycling process gas in electrochemical processes

Abstract

A method of recycling process gas into an electrochemical process comprising at least one gas diffusion electrode, the method comprising: feeding feed gas into the electrochemical process via a gas jet pump under a pressure which exceeds a process pressure, expanding the feed gas to process pressure in a gas jet pump, and generating a suction pressure which is less than the process pressure, and aspirating feed gas-containing tail gas by means of the suction pressure generated in a gas jet pump and recycling the tail gas into the electrochemical process.

1 . A method of recycling process gas into an electrochemical process comprising at least one gas diffusion electrode, said method comprising: 
 feeding feed gas into the electrochemical process via a gas jet pump under a pressure which exceeds a process pressure,    expanding the feed gas to process pressure in a gas jet pump, and generating a suction pressure which is less than the process pressure, and    aspirating feed gas-containing tail gas by means of the suction pressure generated in a gas jet pump and recycling the tail gas into the electrochemical process.    
     
     
         2 . Process A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said recycling of the tail gas into the electrochemical process takes place via at least one control member.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized wherein a part of the tail gas is discharged as an off-gas stream.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the process pressure is controlled via a further control member in the off-gas stream.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tail gas is fed to the electrochemical process via the gas jet pump together with feed gas.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed gas and tail gas are fed in via the gas jet pump in such a way that the process gas is supplied in 1.01- to 10-fold stoichiometric excess, based on consumption of feed gas of the electrochemical process.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the process pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure by from 0.001 to 10 bar.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the electrochemical process is carried out under atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the process pressure is from 1 to 500 mbar below atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed gas pressure exceeds the process pressure by from 0.1 to 40 bar.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein a part of the tail gas is discharged as an off-gas stream.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrochemical process is carried out under atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the electrochemical process is carried out under atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the process pressure is from 1 to 500 mbar below atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the process pressure is from 1 to 500 mbar below atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the feed gas pressure exceeds the process pressure by from 0.1 to 40 bar.  
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the feed gas pressure exceeds the process pressure by from 0.1 to 40 bar.  
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein the feed gas pressure exceeds the process pressure by from 0.1 to 40 bar.  
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 5 , wherein the feed gas pressure exceeds the process pressure by from 0.1 to 40 bar.  
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein the feed gas pressure exceeds the process pressure by from 0.1 to 40 bar.