Zero Gap Retrofit

Chlorine and caustic are manufactured in electrochemical cells; is one of the most energy intensive process. Among the three electrochemical technologies (viz., Diaphragm cell technology, Mercury cell technology & Membrane cell technology) Zero gap membrane cell technology is most energy efficient.

The Zero gap technology consists a polymer membrane with metallic electrodes activated with suitable precious metal oxide catalysts for the reactions, by contacting the membrane.

In the finite / narrow gap electrolyzer, there is a gap between anode and cathode surface to avoid high pressure on membrane which leads to increase in the cell voltage.

Hence, to reduce the cell voltage by decreasing the gap between anode and cathode using the zero gap technology. In zero gap technology, both anode and cathode surfaces are in contact with the membrane, i.e. electrode gap equals to membrane thickness. Achieving uniform current distribution the original anode and cathode mesh are not fully flat; this is creating some non-uniformity in the current distribution.

Objective

• Reduction of Cell Voltage in old finite / narrow gap cells.
• Minimum modification at lower costs.
• No changes in the original process.