An electrolyser of the non-submerged diaphragm type is the Allen-Moore
cell which has been adopted by the Montreal Water and Power Co. This
has been described by Pitcher and Meadows.[8] The general lay-out of the
installation is shown in Fig. 10, and the essential features are: a salt
storage bin having a capacity of 40 tons; the brine saturating and
purifying apparatus; duplicate 15 horse-power motor-generator sets; four
chlorine cells; and the silver ejectors and distributing lines for
carrying the chlorine solution to the point of application.
[Illustration: FIG. 10--Brine Saturating and Purifying Equipment.]
The brine solution, which is prepared by passing water through the
saturators previously filled with salt, is delivered to the two concrete
reaction tanks where an amount of soda ash and caustic liquor sufficient
to combine with the calcium and magnesium salts is added, and the
mixture filtered through sand and stored in the purified brine tanks. To
prevent the formation of hypochlorites by the interaction of chlorine
and alkali, the alkalinity of the liquor is determined and sufficient
hydrochloric acid added to ensure an acidity of 0.01 per cent. The acid
brine is delivered at one end of the four cells (Fig. 11) each of which
is 7 feet long and 20-3/8 inches wide and consumes 600 amperes at 3.3
volts. The cell box is built of concrete and is provided with a
perforated wrought iron cathode box and graphite anode plates which are
separated by an unsubmerged asbestos paper diaphragm.
[Illustration: FIG. 11.--Sections of Allen-Moore Cell.]
Each cell has a capacity of 32 pounds of chlorine per day and the gas
flow is determined by measuring the volume of caustic soda produced in a
given period of time and calculating the weight from the volume and
concentration as determined by titration with standard acid; each gram
of NaOH is equal to 0.88 gram of chlorine. The efficiency of the cell is
obtained by dividing the number of grams of chlorine produced per hour
by the product of the current volume (in amperes) and the factor 1.33,
the theoretical production of chlorine for one ampere hour. The average
efficiency of the Montreal cells was found to be 93 per cent. The
installation comprises four cells, one being held in reserve, and the
annual cost of producing 90 pounds of chlorine per day is given as
$2,500. The details are:
Salt at $8.00 per ton, delivered $500.00
Power, 15 H.P., at $30.00 flat rate 450.00
Labour and superintendence 500.00
Interest at 6 per cent on capital cost 300.00
Depreciation, 15 per cent 750.00
---------
$2,500.00
cost per pound of chlorine = 7.6 cents.
The diaphragm cells, like the non-diaphragm ones, operate most
efficiently under a constant load; they are consequently suitable for
treating the effluent of filter plants.
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