The present invention provides an electrochemical device (1b) for use in an electrochemical apparatus, such as in an
electrolytic cell. The device (1b) comprises an
electrode (10), a conduit (20) and an
interface layer (90). The
electrode (10) has a first part (12) for immersion in an
electrolyte (40), a second part (14) for making electrical contact with a current-carrying conductor (30c), and a third part (16) between the first and second parts (12, 14) for making
thermal contact with a
heat transfer fluid (HTF). The conduit (20) is arranged to bring the
heat transfer fluid (HTF) into
thermal contact with the third part (16) of the
electrode (10) via the
interface layer (90), which is between and in
thermal contact with both the third part (16) of the electrode (10) and an interior (22) of the conduit (20). The
interface layer (90), which is made of a thermally conducting and electrically insulating material, electrically isolates the electrode (10) from the HTF in case the HTF is electrically conducting, and also protects the electrode (10) against
chemical attack by the HTF. The electrode (10) is made of carbon, which has reduced electrical resistivity and
thermal conductivity at temperatures above ambient. Therefore, if the third part (16) of the electrode (10) is heated by means of the HTF, its electrical resistivity and
thermal conductivity are reduced. The former enables more efficient flow of
electrical current between the first and second parts (14, 16) of the electrode and therefore reduces the total
internal resistance of any electrochemical apparatus in which the electrochemical device (1a) is used. The latter reduces the flow of heat between the first and second parts (14, 16) of the electrode (10) and therefore helps to prevent heat loss from such an electrochemical apparatus via the electrode (10) to the current-carrying conductor (30c). Both effects make the electrochemical apparatus more energy efficient. The device may also be used to inject
waste heat from another process, such as from an exothermic
chemical reaction, into the electrochemical apparatus. This reduces the electrical
power consumption of the electrochemical apparatus and also makes the combination of the electrochemical apparatus with the other process supplying the heat more energy efficient overall. The invention also provides electrolytic cells comprising such an electrochemical device, methods of operating such electrolytic cells, and apparatuses comprising such cells. The invention is particularly suited to producing Group 1 and Group 2 metals by
electrolysis with increased energy efficiency.