Abstract: A porous electrode for an electric cell, said electrode including a support layer and an active or catalytic layer, the thickness of the electrode (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) lying between about 50 and 600 microns and preferably between 100 and 250 microns, the active or catalytic layer (2) and the support layer (3) each including 60 to 99% by weight of a hydrophobic polymer or binder and 40 to 1% by weight of a carbon-based divided conductive compound the two layers being, in the aggregate, hydrophobic and intimately joined, current being drawn off at points or lines which are spaced apart by a distance of about one millimeter from one another by an electronically conductive collector (4) in contact at the points or lines with the support layer (3).

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-compartment fuel cell wherein each cell has an anode and a cathode separated by a membrane partly immersed in the electrolyte and contains means for the progressive removal of carbonates formed during operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electrolyzer power supply, especially for use in the industrial production of hydrogen. It is constituted by four sub-assemblies placed side-by-side in a filter-press type structure. These sub-assemblies each comprise electrodes coupled two by two, electrolytic compartments being defined between two groups of electrodes. One group of these electrodes, preferably half of them being made of a metal that has a rectifying effect on AC current, and preferably being aluminum, aluminum-zinc alloys, niobium or tantalum. The counter-electrodes are adapted to evolve oxygen. They are preferably iron, nickel or carbon. A generator providing an alternating current is connected between the end electrodes and between the second and third sub-assemblies. DC is taken from between the first and second and from between the third and fourth sub-assemblies.

Abstract: Electrochemical device for producing very pure oxygen. The device contains at least one electrochemical cell comprising an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a semi-permeable membrane. The apparatus also includes an oxidation reactor chamber wherein air oxidizes the reduced form of a compound to form a peroxide capable of spontaneously decomposing into water and into the oxidized form of said compound. A portion of said decomposed peroxide is fed to the anode compartment and another portion to the cathode compartment. Oxygen is formed at the anode by electrolysis of water. The cathode reduces the oxidized form of said compound. Oxygen is removed from the anode compartment products. The remaining products of the anode compartment and the cathode compartment are returned to the oxidation reactor chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing high purity oxygen comprising an oxidizing reactor coupled to at least one compartment of an electrochemical cell. Air is used to oxidize a reduced form of a special compound to form a peroxide which spontaneously decomposes to a mixture of the oxidized form of said compound and hydrogen peroxide. This mixture is positoned in the anode compartment of said cell and oxidized to cause the hydrogen peroxide to give off oxygen which is removed and recovered. The oxidized form of said compound is transferred to the cathode compartment wherein it is reduced and then recycled to the oxidizing reactor. The apparatus also provides a filter press-type cell containing a plurality of side-by-side compartmented electrochemical cells formed by alternating bipolar electrodes separated by porous membranes.

Abstract: The component plates stacked in a filter press type structure in a repeated cathode, separator, anode and conductive plate sequence are of hexagonal or duodecagonal shape with an outer frame carrying the channels for supplying and withdrawing the reagents. Hollowed-out inlet and outlet portions communicating with appropriate channels passing through the frames are provided for passing the reagents across the active portions of the components at a desired cross-feed angle between adjacent units, 30.degree. in some cases and 60.degree. in others.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric cell having an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and a membrane separating said compartments. The cell also has a peroxidation vessel in which sodium anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonate is peroxidized. The peroxide then decomposes to form a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and the anthraquinone oxide. This mixture is fed to the cathode compartment. When the electric cell is operated as a fuel cell, the anthraquinone oxide from the cathode compartment is conveyed to a reduction vessel in which it is reduced by contact with fuel. All or a portion of the reduced anthraquinone is then contacted with oxygen to form the anthraquinone oxide. The electric cell may also be utilized as a storage battery. The invention also includes the method of operating these electric cells.

Abstract: Method for preparing very pure oxygen, consisting in making air in a basic medium react with the reduced form of a compound so as to form a peroxide which is capable of decomposing spontaneously into hydrogen peroxide and into the oxidized form of the said compound, and electrochemically oxidizing said hydrogen peroxide to evolve oxygen, and reducing the said oxidized form to regenerate the reduced form of the said compound. The invention is implemented in the chemical industry.

Abstract: The component plates stacked in a filter press type structure in a repeated sequence of cathode, separator, anode and conductive plate are of cylindrical shape with an outer frame carrying the channels for supplying and withdrawing the reagents. Hollowed-out inlet and outlet portions communicating with appropriate channels pressing through the frames are provided for passing the reagents across the active portions of the components at a desired cross-feed angle between adjacent units, 30.degree. in one case and 60.degree. in another.

Abstract: The invention concerns the regulation of an electrochemical system of the Redox type. It consists in immersing three electrodes in a stream to or from a cell in the said Redox system. Two of the electrodes, referred to as measuring electrodes, are connected by two resistors defining a junction point therebetween. A direct current is applied across these electrodes. The potential of the other electrode, called the reference electrode, is compared with the potential of said junction point. The ratio between the resistors is determined so that the potentials of the said junction point and of the said reference electrode is equal, this being so for a determined power supplied by the said electrochemical system. Variation of the potential are used to regulate the flow of fuel and/or of oxidizing agent to the said electrochemical system. The invention is more particularly implemented in fuel cells using the Redox system containing anthraquinone 2-7 sodium disulphonate.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalytic carbon deposit on a conductive support mprising admixing (i) a suspension of between 200 and 400 grams per liter of catalytic carbon in a liquid medium, with (ii) a solution of between 20 and 50 grams per liter of polyvinyl chloride in a cyclic ketone solvent, to form an emulsion, depositing said emulsion on said support, and evaporating the liquid components of said emulsion from said support to form a layer of catalytic carbon in a polyvinyl chloride binder.