Importance

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Abstract

An electrochemical cell having a porous carbon fiber cathode supported on an elongate support member of open structure and a surrounding tubular anode. The cathode is provided with a current feeder that comprises a plurality of feeder strips, each extending substantially the length of the cathode, and in which the feeder strips are disposed substantially evenly around the elongate cathode support member. The feeder strips have an aggregate total width of at least about 20 percent of the characteristic circumferential dimension of the cathode support member. The feeder strips may be formed to conform to the curvature of the cathode support member. The cell may also be provided with an anode that is spaced apart from the inner wall of the outer casing by a distance of at least 2.5 mm, which provides an effective means of preventing gas buildup between the anode the outer casing. The cell is further provided with an improved microporous divider assembly that is disposed between the cathode and the anode so as to define separate anolyte and catholyte flow chambers. The divider assembly comprises a microporous membrane sandwiched between two porous supporting sleeves which squeeze the membrane so as to limit flexing movements under conditions of use. Certain modular constructions are also disclosed that serve to make the cell easily adaptable to different flow rates.

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First Claim