Abstract: Electrolytic treaters for treating highly conductive liquid media include a conductive housing structure which is fluidically sealed and has inlet and outlet fluid connections, a conductive electrode structure positioned within the housing structure, and a DC power supply connected to components of the housing and electrode structure in such a manner that the output voltage of the power supply is applied across a substantial portion of the liquid media to be treated to control the current flow from the power supply. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode structure is formed by a center electrode rod with a plurality of ring electrodes positioned coaxially between the center electrode rod and the housing. Each ring electrode is formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced rod elements extending parallel to the center electrode. The rod elements in a given ring electrode are held in place by a plurality of annular spacer baffles which additionally affect the flow of liquid media through the treater.

Abstract: A thin film electrocoagulation liquid treatment apparatus includes a nonconductive housing formed by opposite top and bottom walls, opposite side walls, and tubular end members with slots therethrough which define a treatment chamber. Pluralities of elongated electrodes extend between the side walls and are spaced along the top and bottom walls in spaced apart interleaved relation to define a serpentine fluid treatment path. The tubular end members form fluid connections, one end member receiving liquid to be treated from a supply conduit and the other discharging the treated liquid to a discharge conduit. A DC power supply has opposite poles thereof connected respectively to the sets of electrodes in such a manner that the polarity on succeeding electrodes is opposite. The first two electrodes in the flow direction of the fluid path are preferably connected to the negative pole of the power supply.