Non-Chemical Electrolytic cell - NOT reinventing the wheel

[bswartzwelder]

I really don't want to use an electrolytic cell with concentrated H2SO4, but have a question for those of you who do. Make your cathode from a lead sheet and lay it in the bottom of your cell. Make your anode from copper mesh as usual. But, instead of suspending the copper from the sides of the container, Lay 3 to 5 evenly spaced glass rods on top of the lead. The glass rods would have to be large enough in diameter so that if a stray pin fell through the mesh it couldn't contact both the anode and cathode at the same time. The big advantage I see is that the copper mesh doesn't have to support as much weight as it would be resting above the lead plate with glass insulators supporting it and if the copper thins out from use, it would be less likely to sag. Would it work? Would there be any advantage to it? This thinking stuff makes my head hurt.

 

[rickbb]

It could be made to work, current would need to be adjusted to compensate for how close the anode/cathodes would be to each other.

Hoke and Amman both describe these types of cells as Mobius cells with the cathode/anode being in horizontal positions like this. They are mostly describing them as parting cells and have the anode basket hanging from wood slats across the top of the cell tank. That might be better as it would put more space between the anode/cathode allowing you better control over current density.

 

[Geo]

you risk a short with the configuration you described. too, with the anode and cathode in such close proximity, it will built heat much quicker.

 

[bswartzwelder]

Yes, it will also build heat faster because there is less acid to carry away the heat. It was only a thought.