Electrolyser

Abstract

An electrolyser comprising a stack of electrolysis plates, the plates being maintained in substantial alignment to comprise an electrolysis cell, and a press for applying a compressive force to opposed ends of the cell whereby the press maintains the electrolysis plates in substantial alignment when the electrolyser is in operation.

1 . An electrolyser, comprising
 a stack of electrolysis plates, the plates being maintained in substantially parallel alignment, and   a press for applying a compressive force transversely to the stack, to compress the stack between opposed faces of the cell, the press comprising
 a front face, 
 a compression support plate fixed in position relative to the front face and spaced from the front face, 
 a moving platen, the stack being disposed between the platen and the front face, and 
 a compression member for applying a compressive force to the platen such that the platen applies a transverse compressive force substantially uniformly over a face of the stack, 
   whereby the press maintains the electrolysis plates in substantially parallel alignment when the electrolyser is in operation.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolyser of  claim 1  wherein the compression member comprises a spring bearing against the platen. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolyser of  claim 2  wherein the spring is actuated by a disk threadedly secured to the compression support plate and bearing against the spring. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolyser of  claim 2  wherein the spring is disposed in a recess disposed on a face of the platen. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolyser of  claim 4  wherein the spring surrounds a hub disposed in the recess. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolyser of  claim 5  wherein the hub surrounds a key. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolyser of  claim 1  wherein the front face is formed by a jacket. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolyser of  claim 7  wherein the front face is formed integrally with side faces of the jacket. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolyser of  claim 8  wherein the compression support plate is affixed to the side walls. 
     
     
         10 . A method of stabilising an electrolyser comprising a stack of electrolysis plates, the electrolysis plates being in substantially parallel alignment, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. locating the stack of electrolysis plates in a press comprising a front face and a compression support plate fixed in position relative to the front face; and   b. rotating a threaded compression member to apply a compressive force to a platen bearing against the stack, such that the platen applies a transverse compressive force substantially uniformly over a face of the stack;   whereby the press maintains the electrolysis plates in substantially parallel alignment when the electrolyser is in operation.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein in step b. the compressive force is applied to the platen generally centrally.