GB1072722A - Improvements in or relating to chemical reactors - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:1072722/C6-C7/1> In a chemical reactor comprising a stationary column for effecting chemical exchange between two liquids of different densities, e.g. in isotopic enrichment processes, means are located in annular chambers at spaced levels in the column for effecting electrolysis of the lighter phase between anode members contacting the lighter phase and the heavy phase which is employed as cathode and spreads out in sheet like form in the annular chambers. Typically the heavy phase is an amalgam of isotopic elements and the light phase contains ionized compounds of such elements. The electrolytic action may assist or effect the exchange or inhibit or compensate for perturbative side reactions, or the applied voltage may be insufficient to effect electrolysis but sufficient to prevent undesired side reactions. As shown, a column 1 containing packing 2 is divided into sections by assemblies including annular chambers 3, the light phase following the ascending path G, H while the heavy phase 5 descends through the column and is spread out within an apertured packing support member 4, baffles 8 rendering the heavy phase quiescent. Electrolysis is effected at 6 between hollow anodes 7 traversed by a temperature-regulating fluid and the heavy phase contacting the cathodic members 12, 13. Gas evolved is extracted via orifices 10, 11. Additional anodes may be provided by packing elements comprising porous insulating flattened rods each containing an electrode core and stacked in crossing layers with the longer axes of the rods in alternate layers being oppositely inclined Fig.5 (not shown). In an alternative arrangement Figs. 2, 3 (not shown), the column is of annular form and the whole of both phases passes through the electrolysis chamber each of which is formed by plates (41, 43) carried alternately by the inner and outer column walls (40, 42) to define a plurality of intercommunicating levels, the plates including insulators (44) to prevent contact of the heavy phase with the anodes. Insulating baffles (45) are disposed on the plates at each level to define sectors (47, 49) which are alternately plain and provided with vertical peripheral channels (48) for passage in counter-current of the light and heavy phases, the channels of one level being disposed over the plain sectors of the next lower level. Helicoidal guide members e.g. of cruciform cross-section may be located adjacent the exchange surface of the two phases parallel to the directions of flow for accelerating renewal of the exchange surface.