Electrochemical half cell

Abstract

An electrochemical half-cell, in particular for the electrochemical production of chlorine from aqueous solutions of an alkaline metal chloride, comprising at least an electrode space for holding electrolyte, the electrode space having an electrolyte feed and an electrolyte discharge, a plurality of gas pockets for holding gas, the bottom gas pocket having a gas feed, a connecting passage which connects two gas pockets to one another, the gas flowing through an outlet opening of a first gas pocket into the connecting passage and from the latter through an inlet opening into a second gas pocket, a gas diffusion electrode which separates the electrode space from the gas pockets, and a retaining element arranged in the connecting passage for retaining electrolyte located in the connecting passage.

1 . An electrochemical half-cell, in particular for the electrochemical production of chlorine from aqueous solutions of an alkaline metal chloride, comprising at least 
 an electrode space for holding electrolyte, the electrode space having an electrolyte feed and an electrolyte discharge,    a plurality of gas pockets for holding gas, the bottom gas pocket having a gas feed,    a connecting passage which connects two gas pockets to one another, the gas flowing through an outlet opening of a first gas pocket into the connecting passage and from the latter through an inlet opening into a second gas pocket,    a gas diffusion electrode which separates the electrode space from the gas pockets, and    a retaining element arranged in the connecting passage for retaining electrolyte located in the connecting passage.    
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is based on a mesh, cloth, braided fabric, nonwoven or foam made from plastic, metal or ceramic.  
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is arranged in the region of the inlet opening.  
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting passage is partially filled with electrolyte and partially filled with gas, and the retaining element is arranged closer to the inlet opening than to the electrolyte surface.  
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the retaining element is arranged in that half of the gas-filled part of the connecting passage which is connected to the inlet opening.  
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening is arranged in the lower region of a gas pocket, and the inlet opening is arranged in the upper region of a gas pocket.  
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the retaining element is arranged in the region of the inlet opening.  
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the connecting passage is partially filled with electrolyte and partially filled with gas, and the retaining element is arranged closer to the inlet opening than to the electrolyte surface.  
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the connecting passage is partially filled with electrolyte and partially filled with gas, and the retaining element is arranged closer to the inlet opening than to the electrolyte surface.  
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the outlet opening is arranged in the lower region of a gas pocket, and the inlet opening is arranged in the upper region of a gas pocket.  
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the outlet opening is arranged in the lower region of a gas pocket, and the inlet opening is arranged in the upper region of a gas pocket.  
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical half-cell as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the outlet opening is arranged in the lower region of a gas pocket, and the inlet opening is arranged in the upper region of a gas pocket.