Methods for operating water-carrying electrical equipment and water-carrying electrical equipment

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for operating a water-carrying electrical device, the device comprising a water receiving device, an electrochemical cell, and a metering unit for metering detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components into the electrochemical cell, comprising: a) conducting water into the electrochemical cell; b) metering detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components into the electrochemical cell or into water flowing through the electrochemical cell; c) determining the conductivity of the liquid in the electrochemical cell after steps a) and b); and d) adjusting the determined conductivity to a preset conductivity. The invention also relates to a corresponding water-carrying electrical device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for operating a water-carrying electrical device and the water-carrying electrical device itself. Background Technology

[0002] WO2018226706A1 describes a heating device that can be connected to a water-carrying electrical appliance to provide hot water. The heating device is designed as a continuous heater and includes a water storage tank, cold water connection, inlet and outlet, pump, and hot water return device. However, the system is complex and requires a large installation space. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the problem faced by the present invention is to provide a method for operating a water-carrying electrical device and the water-carrying electrical device, which is simple and requires little installation space.

[0004] According to the present invention, this problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a water-carrying electrical device having the features of claim 9. Preferred embodiments and further extensions of the invention can be found in the following dependent claims.

[0005] In addition to reducing system complexity and installation space, the advantages of this invention include providing standardized conditions for operating electrochemical cells. These standardized conditions are achieved by adjusting the conductivity of the liquid in the electrochemical cell to a preset conductivity.

[0006] Because water has varying electrical conductivity depending on the region, heating water typically requires different parameters. This leads to increased design work, such as the need for electrode surfaces and control operations to compensate for this. This invention addresses this problem by adjusting the conductivity of the liquid in the electrochemical cell to a preset conductivity, thereby eliminating or at least minimizing this design and control work, since the electrochemical cell can always operate under identical conditions. The water-carrying electrical device of this application has a compact design.

[0007] This invention relates to a method for operating a water-carrying electrical device, the water-carrying electrical device comprising a water receiving device, an electrochemical cell, and a metering unit for metering detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components into the electrochemical cell, the method comprising:

[0008] a) Introducing water into the electrochemical cell;

[0009] b) Metering detergents and / or cleaning agents containing conductive components into the electrochemical cell or into the water flowing through the electrochemical cell;

[0010] c) Determine the conductivity of the liquid in the electrochemical cell after steps a) and b);

[0011] d) Adjust the determined conductivity to the preset conductivity.

[0012] The power required to heat the liquid depends on the conductivity of the liquid being heated. By adjusting the conductivity to a preset level using a liquid supplied with water or a detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components, the electrochemical cell can operate under the same conditions regardless of the conductivity of the water supplied to it or the conductivity of the detergent and / or cleaning agent. This device is particularly advantageous in regions with low water hardness and therefore low water conductivity values.

[0013] Preferably, in step a), drinking water is supplied to the electrochemical cell T. The conductivity of the drinking water varies by region.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, step d) includes

[0015] - Compare the preset conductivity with the determined conductivity; and

[0016] When the determined conductivity is greater than the preset conductivity, water is introduced into the electrochemical cell; when the determined conductivity is less than the preset conductivity, detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components is introduced into the electrochemical cell.

[0017] This means that the specific conductivity of the liquid in an electrochemical cell can be easily adjusted to a preset conductivity.

[0018] Preferably, step c) includes applying a preset voltage to the electrochemical cell, measuring the current in the electrochemical cell, and determining the conductivity based on the measured current. This allows for easy determination of the conductivity of the liquid in the electrochemical cell.

[0019] Preferably, the electrochemical cell is designed to operate within a conductivity range exceeding that present in water with a hardness greater than 14°dH, or preferably greater than 17°dH, and even more preferably greater than 21°dH. The preset conductivity is preferably stored in the water-carrying electrical device.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the electrochemical cell is activated when the determined conductivity equals the preset conductivity, thereby heating the liquid therein. For example, the electrochemical cell is activated by applying an AC voltage to its electrodes. Preferably, during and / or after heating, the liquid is guided from the electrochemical cell to the water receiving device. The liquid can then wash and / or clean the water receiving device and / or objects located therein.

[0021] Preferably, the liquid is guided from the electrochemical cell to the water receiving device and returned from the water receiving device to the electrochemical cell, such that the liquid circulates between the electrochemical cell and the water receiving device. In a preferred embodiment, during and / or after heating the liquid in the electrochemical cell, the liquid circulates from a first region of the water receiving device through the electrochemical cell to a second region of the water receiving device. This further improves the cleaning and / or rinsing performance of the liquid.

[0022] Preferably, steps c) and d) are performed during the heating of the liquid in the electrochemical cell. This ensures that the electrochemical cell operates under constant conditions during heating.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the conductive component is selected from alkali carriers, inorganic or organic acids, organic acid salts, phosphonates, surfactants, and / or mixtures thereof. The conductive component may form part of a detergent and / or cleaning agent, which may further contain detergent and / or cleaning active substances. The detergent and / or cleaning agent may also be composed of the conductive component. The conductivity generated by the conductive component is higher than the conductivity of water that can be used to dilute the detergent and / or cleaning agent containing the conductive component.

[0024] The present invention also relates to a water-carrying electrical device, the water-carrying electrical device having

[0025] -Water receiving device

[0026] - Electrochemical battery

[0027] - A metering unit designed to meter detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components into the electrochemical cell or into water flowing through the electrochemical cell.

[0028] - A control unit, which is designed to perform the methods of one or more of the foregoing embodiments.

[0029] The electrochemical cell has electrodes in the form of an anode and a cathode to which a voltage can be applied. Preferably, the electrochemical cell is designed to heat the liquid therein when an alternating voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode.

[0030] Preferably, the water-carrying electrical equipment is designed as a washing machine or a dishwasher.

[0031] Preferably, the device further includes a circulation system designed to transport water from a first region of the water receiving device to a second region of the water receiving device via the electrochemical cell. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention are shown only schematically in the accompanying drawings and are described in more detail below. They show:

[0033] Figure 1 A partial flowchart of the method according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Figure 1 A partial flowchart of the method according to the present invention is shown. The method is performed in a water-carrying electrical device having an electrochemical cell, in which water is introduced and a detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components is metered into the electrochemical cell, such that a liquid is present in the electrochemical cell. In step 1, the conductivity value of the liquid present in the electrochemical cell is determined by the water and the detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components. Subsequently, step 2 is performed, wherein the determined conductivity is compared with a preset conductivity.

[0035] In step 3, if the determined conductivity is greater than the preset conductivity, water is introduced into the electrochemical cell to adjust the liquid's conductivity to the preset conductivity. In step 5, if the determined conductivity is equal to the preset conductivity, the electrochemical cell is put into operation in step 6, causing the liquid inside the electrochemical cell to be heated. In step 7, if the determined conductivity is less than the preset conductivity, detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components is metered into the electrochemical cell in step 8 to adjust the liquid's conductivity to the preset conductivity. Step 1 can be repeated after steps 4, 6, and 8.

Claims

1. A method of operating a water-carrying electrical device, the water-carrying electrical device comprising a water receiving device, an electrochemical cell, and a metering unit for metering the introduction of detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components into the electrochemical cell, the method comprising: a) Introducing water into the electrochemical cell; b) Metering of detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components into the electrochemical cell or into the water flowing through the electrochemical cell; c) Determine the conductivity of the liquid in the electrochemical cell after steps a) and b); d) Adjust the determined conductivity to the preset conductivity; Step d) includes: - Compare the preset conductivity with the determined conductivity; and - If the determined conductivity is greater than the preset conductivity, water is introduced into the electrochemical cell; if the determined conductivity is less than the preset conductivity, detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components is injected into the electrochemical cell or into the water flowing through the electrochemical cell. When the determined conductivity equals the preset conductivity, the electrochemical cell is activated to heat the liquid in the electrochemical cell. The power required to heat the liquid depends on the conductivity of the liquid to be heated.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step c) includes applying a preset voltage to the electrochemical cell, measuring the current in the electrochemical cell, and determining the conductivity based on the measured current.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrochemical cell is designed to operate at a higher conductivity than that present when the water hardness is greater than 14°dH.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrochemical cell is designed to operate at a higher conductivity than that present when the water hardness is greater than 17°dH.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrochemical cell is designed to operate at a higher conductivity than that present when the water hardness is greater than 21°dH.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, When the determined conductivity is equal to the preset conductivity, the electrochemical cell is operated by heating the liquid in the electrochemical cell.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, During and / or after heating the liquid in the electrochemical cell, the liquid is circulated from a first region of the water receiving device through the electrochemical cell to a second region of the water receiving device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Steps c) and d) are performed during the heating of the liquid in the electrochemical cell.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The conductive component is selected from alkaline carriers, inorganic or organic acids, organic acid salts, phosphonates, surfactants and / or mixtures thereof.

10. A water-carrying electrical device, which has - Water receiving device - Electrochemical cells - A metering unit designed to meter detergent and / or cleaning agent containing conductive components into the electrochemical cell. - A control unit configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-9.

11. The water-carrying electrical equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that, The water-carrying electrical equipment is designed as a washing machine or dishwasher.

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