3.

0 Electrolyzer Assembly

Uhde Technology

Uhde Electrolyzer Design

Pretreatment and installation
Bubble tests
Start-up

Uhde Electrolyzer Cell Design

Uhde Electrolyzer Single

Element

Element
Insertion to
Full
Electrolyzer

BM2.7 Narrow Gap 0.4 mm

Uhde Pretreatment and

Assembly
Unroll membranes in to alkaline water, 4-6 gpl NaOH
When ready for assembly, drill membrane bolt holes
Anode awaiting assembly is on table which must be flat and
level
Pour one liter of alkaline water in anode for humidification

Membrane is placed on to the anode half shell

Using four pins to guide cathode, it is carefully placed on top
of the anode/membrane
See diagrams for placement of PTFE cords and gasket
Bolts are tightened to specified torque

Pretreatment and Assembly

Element is placed in special clamp for pressure test.
This pressures both sides to 3500 mm to check for
external leaks (15 minutes)
Next (bubble test 1), only cathode side is pressured
to 400 mm; anode inlet hose is placed in ~35 mm
water.
If no bubbles in 2 minutes, element passes
Element is transported horizontally and placed in
horizontal storage. If no horizontal storage available,
may be placed in rack (electrolyzer) in vertical
orientation.

Assembly into Electrolyzer

Assembled elements can be stored
indefinitely
Bubble test one is repeated on assembly to
assure no damage in storage, transport, or
installation

Low power test

Recommended at every start-up
Cell voltages are measured at 2.7 ka
Old/new elements/membranes must be
segregated and averaged
Acceptable voltage deviations from average
< 300 mV
High deviation elements must be removed
and remembraned

New Plants
Maintain at 5.4 Ka (2 Ka/m2) for
minimum 12 hours

4.0 Membrane Electrolysis

Membrane Single Cell Element

Chlorine
Product

Hydrogen
Membrane

Anolyte
Outlet

Cl2 &
NaCl
Cl

Na+

H2 &
NaOH

H+
OH
OH

Depleted
Brine

Catholyte
Outlet

Caustic
Product

OH

Anode
Chamber

H 2O

Cathode
Chamber

Cl
Na+

Brine
Feed
(NaCl)

Na+

DI
H 2O
Caustic
Feed
(NaOH)

How Does the Membrane Work?

The membranes are CATION exchange membranes having functional
groups which are negatively charged. Cations and polar molecules move freely
through the membrane under the influence of electric fields, concentrations,
temperatures, and other gradients.
Anions are repelled by the membrane because of its fixed negative
charges. This is the fundamental reason that the membrane can transport cations
with little resistance, and offer a nearly impassable barrier to anions.
Neutral species, such as water, are not repelled by the membrane and
can be carried through the membrane along with cations.
Sodium ions (Na+) are cations, so theyre electrically attracted to the
negative cathode. Being cations, they pass freely through the membrane from the
anode side to the cathode side, carrying with them current and water.
Hydroxide ions (OH-) are anions, so theyre repelled by the membrane
They really want to go to the anode because its positive, and opposites attract. But
the membrane wont let them. The efficiency of the membrane to reject the hydroxide
ions is called current efficiency.

Membrane Cross Section

Inefficiency By-Products

Membrane Cross Section

Membrane Pinhole

Current Efficiency Change with Time

Example

CE

Time

As Current Efficiency Drops

the Inefficiency By-Products Increase

Curre
n

t Effic

iency

O2
ClO3
HOCl

Time

Effects of Membrane Damage

Occurrence of
Membrane Damage

Concentration

Current
Efficiency
O2
ClO3
HOCl

Time

NaOH
Na2CO3
Flocculant
Primary Brine
Treatment

TYPICAL MEMBRANE
ELECTROLYSIS PROCESS
SCHEMATIC
DI

HCl
Secondary
Filtration

H2 O
NaOH

Ion Exchange
Brine
Treatment

Vent

HCl

Salt Storage

Saturation

NaOH

Cl2
H2 0

H2 O

Na2 SO3
Cl2

Brine
Dechlorination

Ultra-Pure
Brine Storage

Cl2 Gas
to Processing

Process
Sulfate
Control

Hydrogen
to Processing

Cell Room
and
Renewal

Cl2
H2 0
HCl

H2
H2 0

NaCl
Cl2

30-32%
NaOH

D.I.
H2
H20
NaOH NaOH

Chlorine
Brine
Separation

Caustic
Circulation
Rectifier