Patent briefs

Descaling by electrolysis. The tendency of sea‐water to scale metallic surfaces with which it comes in contact can be minimised by the application of an electrolytic process. To do this the water is first acidified to create carbonic acid in it. The sea‐water then passes in a continuous manner through two diaphragm electrolytic‐cells, one of which consists of an amorphous carbon and the other a metallic anode, the latter being composed of iron. Anodic effluents are collected exclusively and the respective rates of flow of the effluents and/or the liquid passing through the two cells is regulated so that the pH of the mixed anodiceffluents is maintained at 5.2. It is possible to feed the two cells in parallel or alternatively to feed the metallicanode cell with the anodic effluent of the other. (906,440—Compagne de Construction de Gros Materiel Electro Mechanique, France.)