Scribd
Upload
68 views5 pages

Troubleshooting

problemas en lelectrolizadores

Uploaded by

Juan Carlos Ataurima Pucce
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
68 views5 pages

Troubleshooting

problemas en lelectrolizadores

Uploaded by

Juan Carlos Ataurima Pucce
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Possible damage from

impurities in gaskets,
piping, or equipment

YES

Feed brine quality within


specifications?

YES

Normal chloride in caustic?

YES

Normal H2 in Cl2

YES

Current density
1.5-6.0 kA/M2

YES

NaOH
concentration
30-35%

LOW CURRENT
EFFICIENCY

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

Possible brine impurity damage.


Return membrane sample to DuPont
for analysis.

Leakage in membrane. See


Mechanical Damage.

Significant leakage in membranes.


See Mechanical Damage
Note: H2/Cl2 may be explosive.

Possible permanent
damage at extremely high current
density. Dependent on electrolyzer
design.

High or low caustic


strength decreases current efficiency,
possible permanent damage with
excessively high NaOH

See Low Current


Efficiency

YES

Caustic current
efficiency
decreased?

YES

Acid addition rate


normal? (i.e., no
change)

HIGH OXYGEN
IN CHLORINE

NO

NO

Possible change in anode


coating performance

Reduction in acid addition


will increase oxygen always maintain anolyte
ph>2

Improper handling,
i.e. snagging
membrane on sharp
surface, creasing
membrane, handling
with humidity
below
recommended range

Improper
mounting
procedure or
inadequate
design

YES

AREA

GASKET

IN

YES

POSSIBLE
MICROSCOPIC
HOLES IN
MEMBRANE
FROM DP
VARIATION

Visible holes or
tears in
active membrane
area?

YES

AREA

ACTIVE

IN

Wrinkles or folds in
YES
membrane?

Damage from electrodes


or
DP variation

Inadequate expansion
during
pre-treatment and
mounting small holes possible

Tears or holes in or
Excessive gasket spread
YES
along
- poor
gasket area?
design or excessive
tightening

Mechanical
Damage

Possible holes in membrane.


See Mechanical Damage

YES

Chloride level OK in
NaOH make-up water

YES

NaOH concentration
within limits

YES

Anolyte NaCl
concentrated within limits?

YES

Temperature within normal


limits?

YES

Current density within


normal limits?

HIGH
CHLORIDE
IN CAUSTIC

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

Chloride in water directly adds


to chloride level in caustic

Chloride in caustic increases at


lower caustic concentrations

Chloride in caustic increases at


lower anolyte strength

Chloride in caustic increases at


higher temperature

Chloride in caustic increases at


lower current density

Temperature?

YES

YES

Proper assembly
and start-up
procedures?

YES

pre-startup
or shutdown
procedures?

NO Proper

YES

pretreatment
procedures?

YES

Current
efficiency
normal?

YES

DP within proper
limits?

YES

strength
>170 g/L NaCl?

NO Proper

NO

Chemical attack of electrolyzer


components or dissolved
NO
metals can cause metallic
deposits in membrane

Chemical attack of cathode


can result in metallic
deposits in the membrane

Excessive wrinkles in membrane


surface may increase voltage

Membrane(s) mounted
backward or possible
precipitated brine impurities

NO

NO Anolyte

Possible permanent
damage (blisters)

Membrane against cathode


(finite gap) or membrane flutter
raises voltage. Excessive
pressure
against anode can raise voltage

NO NaOH

Possible permanent reduction


of current efficiency

YES

pH > 2

concentration
< 32%?

NO Anolyte

YES

measurement accurate?

NO Current density

YES

SU)
149F (subsequent SU)

NO

NO

NO

NO

Possible permanent damage


from over-acidification

Low temperature causes


higher voltage

High current density


causes higher voltage damage unlikely

problem

electrolyzer

Possible

YES

Caustic make-up
water within
specifications?

YES

Electrode overvoltages normal?

YES

Feed brine within


specification

YES

Current
efficiency
normal?

YES

DP within proper
limits?

YES

Anolyte strength
> 170 g/L NaCl?

YES

NO

NO

Iron in caustic can deposit


on cathode and raise voltage
of some cathodes

Contact electrode
coating vendor

not reduce current efficiency

Some precipitated brine

Precipitated brine impurities


in membrane can also raise
voltage

Membrane against cathode


(finite gap) or membrane
flutter raises voltage.
Excessive pressure against
anode can raise voltage.

Possible permanent
damage (blisters)

NO impurities can raise voltage but

NO

NO

NO

NaOH concentration NO Possible permanent loss


< 35%?
of current efficiency

YES

Anolyte pH > 2

YES

Temperature 176203F?

YES

Current density
measurement
accurate?

During Start-up?

NO 171.5 + 13.5F (first

Possible permanent damage


from over-acidification

High current density causes


high voltage - damage unlikely

Permanent damage
possible. Contact Du Pont
immediately

YES

High Voltage

You might also like