US 11,746,428 B2
Filter press end assembly and fluid management system for use in unipolar electrochemical devices
Andrew T. B. Stuart, Ravenna (CA); Raynald G. Lachance, Levis (CA); Edward D. B. Stuart, Ravenna (CA); and Jaideep S. Spal, Brampton (CA)
Assigned to KEY DH IP INC./IP STRATEGIQUES DH, INC., Toronto (CA)
Filed by KEY DH IP INC./IP STRATEGIQUES DH, INC., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Jul. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/858,786.
Application 17/858,786 is a continuation of application No. 17/469,734, filed on Sep. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,401,615.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/076,180, filed on Sep. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0349071 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C25B 9/73 (2021.01); C25B 9/60 (2021.01); C25B 15/08 (2006.01); C25B 1/04 (2021.01); C25B 1/34 (2006.01)
CPC C25B 9/73 (2021.01) [C25B 1/04 (2013.01); C25B 9/60 (2021.01); C25B 15/08 (2013.01); C25B 1/34 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end assembly for use in a unipolar filter press electrolyser having a plurality of filter press frame components arranged to form a filter press stack, the end assembly comprising:
an end plate component having:
at least two apertures defined therein, the at least two apertures being alignable with channels formed in the filter press frame components of the plurality when the end assembly is operatively connected to the filter press stack, the at least two apertures include a first aperture configured to receive a stream of liquid electrolyte and gases from the filter press stack, and a second aperture configured to receive a stream of recirculated liquid electrolyte; the first aperture being disposed adjacent to an upper end of the end plate component and a second aperture being disposed adjacent to a lower end of the end plate component;
a pair of opposite faces and at least one mechanical support member attached to one of the faces of the end plate component; the at least one mechanical support member being positioned near one of the upper and lower ends of the end plate component to reinforce an area about one of the first and second apertures; the at least one mechanical support includes a first mechanical support positioned near the upper end of the end plate component to reinforce an area about the first aperture; the first mechanical support includes a horizontal flange portion;
a first gasket member positionable between the end plate component and one of the filter press frame components of the plurality;
an end clamp configured to apply a clamping force on the end plate component to securely retain the filter press stack, the end clamp having an open-faced shell formed with a hollow, and at least one gas offtake port configured to discharge out of the unipolar filter press electrolyser gases separated from the stream of liquid electrolyte and gases; the hollow of the shell of the end clamp being configured to redirect a stream of liquid electrolyte substantially free of gases toward the second aperture for recirculation in the filter press stack; and
a second gasket member positionable between the end plate component and the end clamp, the second gasket configured to provide a seal for isolating the internal pressure within the filter press stack from external atmospheric pressure.