Device for producing steam from electrochemically treated liquid

Abstract

The utility model relates to devices for generating steam from an electrochemically treated liquid. A device for generating steam from an electrochemically treated liquid comprises a liquid container, electrodes for electrochemically treating the liquid, a heating unit configured to heat the liquid, a steam outlet unit, and a control unit connected to the electrodes and the heating unit. The container is divided by a semipermeable membrane into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is in communication with the steam outlet unit. The electrodes form a first pair of electrodes and a second pair of electrodes, wherein the first pair of electrodes includes a first electrode located in the first chamber and a second electrode located in the second chamber, the second pair of electrodes being located in the second chamber. The control unit is configured to change the polarity of the first and second electrodes of the first pair. The technical result consists in increasing the efficiency of electrochemical preparation of a liquid prior to its evaporation. 5 c.p.F-ly, 1 year.

Description

[0001] Technical field

[0002] This utility model relates to devices for generating steam from electrochemically treated liquid. The utility model can be used in steam generators, devices for generating ionized steam, sanitization devices, and household and medical devices that utilize steam from electrochemically treated liquid.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] A device for steam cleaning using an electrochemically activated liquid is known, disclosed in the international application WO2009152149A2 (publication date: 12 / 17 / 2009). The known device comprises a liquid reservoir, a pump, an electrolysis cell, a steam generator and a dispenser for dispensing electrochemically activated steam. The electrolysis cell is configured to electrochemically activate the liquid to produce an anolyte and / or catholyte electrochemically activated liquid, which is then fed to the steam generator. The steam generator is configured to evaporate the electrochemically activated liquid to form electrochemically activated steam supplied through the dispenser. In some embodiments, the electrolysis cell comprises anode and cathode chambers separated by an ion-exchange membrane, and anolyte liquid, catholyte liquid, their separate flows or a mixed flow can be fed to the steam generator.

[0005] A drawback of the known device is the limited intensity of electrochemical treatment of the liquid before its evaporation. This is due to the fact that the liquid is treated by a pair of electrodes located on opposite sides of the ion-exchange membrane. With this design, the intensity of the treatment is determined by the parameters of the specific electrodes and the residence time of the liquid in the electrolysis cell before feeding the treated liquid into a separate unit of the steam generator.

[0006] Furthermore, the design of the known device involves a series connection of the tank, pump, electrolysis cell, steam generator, and dispenser, which increases the number of functional components and connections between them. This design may reduce the device's compactness and limit its operational reliability.

[0007] A device for generating ionized steam is disclosed in Russian Federation Patent for Utility Model No. 213444 (publication date: September 13, 2022, IPC F22B 1 / 28). The known device comprises a container with a lid, an outlet tube for ionized steam, horizontally mounted activator plates connected to a DC power source, and a heating element connected to an AC power source. The heating element is mounted beneath the horizontal activator plates. During operation, water is poured into the container, DC voltage is applied to the activator plates to activate the water, after which AC current is applied to the heating element to generate steam, and the resulting ionized steam is discharged through the outlet tube.

[0008] A device for generating ionized steam is known, disclosed in the Russian Federation patent for utility model No. 241810 (publication date: 02.03.2026, IPC C02F 1 / 46, C02F 1 / 04, F22B 1 / 28) - a prototype. The known device comprises a sealed container with a lid, activator plates connected to a DC source, a heating element connected to an AC source, and a control unit. The container has a cylindrical body, and the heating element is mounted opposite the activator plates. The control unit is equipped with automatic protection to shut off the device when the water level drops below the activator plates.

[0009] A common drawback of the patent analog No. 213444 and the prototype is the limited efficiency of electrochemical treatment of the liquid before its evaporation. This is due to the fact that the activator plates and the heating element are located within the same volume of the tank, resulting in steam being generated from the entire volume of electrochemically treated water. With this design, the electrochemical treatment products formed at the activator plates of different polarities are contained within the same liquid medium, eliminating the possibility of separate vaporization from the catholyte or anolyte. Additionally, these devices do not provide for the placement of electrodes in the form of vertically oriented electrode plates arranged along the tank's height. This design limits the use of the liquid volume for electrochemical treatment.

[0010] Thus, the above predetermines a technical problem consisting in the limited efficiency of electrochemical preparation of liquid before its evaporation in known devices in which steam is obtained from the total volume of processed liquid or inter-chamber treatment is used with a pair of electrodes separated by a membrane.

[0011] Disclosure of the essence of the utility model

[0012] The technical result achieved by implementing the claimed utility model consists in increasing the efficiency of electrochemical preparation of liquid before its evaporation.

[0013] The technical result is achieved by the present utility model, which is a device for generating steam from an electrochemically treated liquid. The claimed device comprises a liquid container, electrodes for electrochemically treating the liquid, a heating unit configured to heat the liquid, a steam outlet unit, and a control unit connected to the electrodes and the heating unit. According to the utility model, the container is divided by a semipermeable membrane into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is in communication with the steam outlet unit. The electrodes form a first pair of electrodes and a second pair of electrodes, wherein the first pair of electrodes includes a first electrode located in the first chamber and a second electrode located in the second chamber, the second pair of electrodes being located in the second chamber. The control unit is configured to change the polarity of the first and second electrodes of the first pair.

[0014] In particular, the heating unit is located at the bottom of the container.

[0015] In particular, the heating unit includes a first heating element located in the bottom of the first chamber and a second heating element located in the bottom of the second chamber.

[0016] In particular, the control unit is configured to separately control the first and second heating elements of the heating unit.

[0017] In particular, the second heating element is equipped with a thermostat.

[0018] In particular, the electrodes in the first and second pairs are oriented along the height of the corresponding chambers.

[0019] Increasing the efficiency of electrochemical liquid preparation prior to evaporation is achieved by interconnecting the tank, semipermeable membrane, first and second pairs of electrodes, vapor outlet unit, and control unit. Dividing the tank by the semipermeable membrane into a first and second chambers creates separate liquid zones, between which interchamber electrochemical action is possible via the first pair of electrodes located on opposite sides of the membrane. Furthermore, the placement of the first chamber in communication with the vapor outlet unit ensures the extraction of vapor from the liquid prepared in the first chamber.

[0020] Placing a second pair of electrodes in the second chamber provides additional electrochemical treatment of the liquid in the second chamber, increasing the intensity of electrochemical preparation of the liquid before its exposure to the interchamber action through a semipermeable membrane. Designing the control unit with the ability to change the polarity of the first and second electrodes of the first pair allows for varying the nature of the electrochemical treatment of the liquid in the first chamber and creating a liquid with different electrochemical properties before evaporation.

[0021] This utility model discloses a device whose component parts are mated or connected at the manufacturing plant. Moreover, the device parts are assembled as a single unit, ensuring the structural and functional integrity of the device.

[0022] Analysis of prior art information revealed that this utility model is characterized by essential features, the totality of which is unknown in patent and scientific literature. This supports the utility model's compliance with the patentability criterion of "Novelty."

[0023] This utility model was created in accordance with the laws of nature and modern scientific knowledge. This demonstrates the utility model's compliance with the patentability criterion of "Industrial Applicability."

[0024] Brief description of drawings

[0025] The figure shows a diagram of a device for producing steam from electrochemically treated liquid.

[0026] The following symbols are used in the Figure:

[0027] 1 - liquid container;

[0028] 2 - semi-permeable membrane;

[0029] 3 - first camera;

[0030] 4 - second camera;

[0031] 5 - the first electrode of the first pair;

[0032] 6 - the second electrode of the first pair;

[0033] 7 - the first electrode of the second pair;

[0034] 8 - the second electrode of the second pair;

[0035] 9 - first heating element;

[0036] 10 - second heating element;

[0037] 11 - steam outlet unit;

[0038] 12 - control unit.

[0039] Description of an embodiment of the utility model

[0040] According to the Figure, the device for producing steam from an electrochemically treated liquid comprises a liquid container 1, a semipermeable membrane 2, a first chamber 3, a second chamber 4, a first electrode 5 of a first pair of electrodes, a second electrode 6 of a first pair of electrodes, a first electrode 7 of a second pair of electrodes, a second electrode 8 of a second pair of electrodes, a first heating element 9, a second heating element 10, a steam outlet unit 11 and a control unit 12.

[0041] Tank 1 is designed to hold the liquid to be electrochemically processed and subsequently evaporated. Tank 1 may be a reservoir, tank, housing, or container equipped with a lid, filler hole, drain hole, and / or sealing means.

[0042] A semipermeable membrane 2 is installed in a container 1 and divides the internal volume of the container 1 into a first chamber 3 and a second chamber 4. The semipermeable membrane 2 is configured to separate the liquid located in the first chamber 3 from the liquid located in the second chamber 4, while allowing ions to pass between said chambers when a voltage is applied to the electrodes. The semipermeable membrane 2 may be implemented as an ion-exchange membrane, such as a cation-exchange or anion-exchange membrane.

[0043] The semipermeable membrane 2 may be made of an ion-exchange polymer material, a fluoropolymer material, a sulfonated polymer material, a ceramic ion-exchange material, a porous ceramic material, or a composite material having ion conductivity.

[0044] The first chamber 3 communicates with the steam outlet unit 11. The first electrode 5 of the first pair of electrodes is located in the first chamber 3. The second chamber 4 contains the second electrode 6 of the first pair of electrodes, and the first and second electrodes 7 and 8 of the second pair of electrodes.

[0045] The first electrode 5 and the second electrode 6 are electrically connected to the control unit 12. The connection of electrodes 5, 6 to the control unit 12 can be achieved via conductors, buses, terminals, connectors, or other electrical connecting elements.

[0046] Electrodes 7, 8 form a second pair of electrodes located in the second chamber 4. Electrodes 7, 8 are electrically connected to control unit 12. The connection of electrodes 7, 8 to control unit 12 can be accomplished via conductors, buses, terminals, connectors, or other electrical connecting elements.

[0047] Electrodes 5-8 can be oriented vertically, i.e., along the height of container 1. This arrangement of electrodes 5-8 ensures electrochemical action on the liquid along the height of the corresponding chambers 3 and 4 and facilitates an increase in the volume of liquid undergoing electrochemical treatment. This reduces the localization of the electrochemical action in a particular zone of the liquid volume and improves the uniformity of liquid treatment.

[0048] In particular embodiments, electrodes 5-8 can be made flat, plate-shaped, mesh-shaped, perforated, rod-shaped, cylindrical, or have another shape suitable for electrochemical processing of liquid.

[0049] Electrodes 5-8 may be made of a conductive material suitable for contact with the liquid during electrochemical processing. Specifically, electrodes 5-8 may be made of metal, alloy, graphite, carbon material, material with a conductive coating, or another material that enables the application of electrical voltage to the liquid. Electrodes 5-8 may be secured in vessel 1 using holders, insulators, bushings, brackets, the lid of vessel 1, the walls of vessel 1, or other fastening elements.

[0050] The heating unit of the device is located in the bottom of the container 1 and includes a first heating element 9 and a second heating element 10. The first heating element 9 is located in the bottom of the first chamber 3 and is configured to heat the liquid in the first chamber 3. The second heating element 10 is located in the bottom of the second chamber 4 and is configured to heat the liquid in the second chamber 4. In a particular embodiment, the second heating element 10 is equipped with a thermostat.

[0051] The steam outlet unit 11 is connected to the first chamber 3 and is designed to remove steam obtained from the liquid located in the first chamber 3. The steam outlet unit 11 can be made in the form of a branch pipe, tube, channel, fitting or outlet located in the upper part of the container 1 or on the lid of the container 1.

[0052] The control unit 12 is connected to the electrodes 5, 6, 7, 8 and the heating elements 9, 10. The control unit 12 is configured to supply voltage to the first pair of electrodes 5, 6 and the second pair of electrodes 7, 8, and also to control the heating of the liquid by means of the first heating element 9 and the second heating element 10. The control unit 12 is configured to change the polarity of the first electrode 5 and the second electrode 6 of the first pair of electrodes.

[0053] In a particular embodiment, the control unit 12 is configured to separately control the first heating element 9 and the second heating element 10. The control unit 12 may include a power source, a polarity switch, a controller, a relay, controls, indicators, and protective elements.

[0054] The control unit 12 can be built into the device and secured to the container 1 or to the body part of the container 1. With this design, the control unit 12 is structurally connected to the container 1, which makes it possible to form the device as a single product and reduce the number of external connecting elements between the container 1, electrodes 5-8 and heating elements 9, 10.

[0055] The claimed device for producing steam from electrochemically treated liquid operates as follows.

[0056] The liquid to be electrochemically processed and subsequently evaporated is fed into tank 1. The liquid fills the first and second chambers 3 and 4.

[0057] An electrical voltage from control unit 12 is applied alternately or simultaneously to the electrodes of the first pair 5, 6 and the second pair 7, 8. At one of the electrodes in the second chamber 4, a region with a predominance of cathodic treatment products, including hydroxide ions, is formed, while at the other electrode of the second pair, a region with a predominance of anodic treatment products, including hydrogen ions, is formed. If dissolved salts and other electrolytes are present in the liquid, cations and anions contained in said liquid may also participate in the electrochemical treatment.

[0058] The first pair of electrodes 5, 6 provides inter-chamber electrochemical action through the semipermeable membrane 2. An electric field is created between electrodes 5 and 6, which affects the liquids in the first and second chambers 3, 4.

[0059] The user can use control unit 12 to select the polarity of the first electrode 5 and second electrode 6 of the first electrode pair to prepare a liquid with specified electrochemical properties in the first chamber 3. In one mode, the liquid in the first chamber 3 can be formed with a predominance of cathodic treatment products, while in another mode, it can be formed with a predominance of anodic treatment products. The choice of mode depends on the desired properties of the vapor obtained from the specified liquid.

[0060] Depending on the polarity of the first electrode 5 selected by the user on the control unit 12, ions of the corresponding charge located in the second chamber 4 are directed to the first chamber 3 through the semipermeable membrane 2.

[0061] The passage of ions through the semipermeable membrane 2 is ensured by the membrane being ion-permeable. Depending on the type of membrane 2, either cations or anions may pass through it preferentially.

[0062] The second heating element 10, located in the second chamber 4, heats the liquid in the second chamber 4 to a predetermined temperature. The thermostat of the second heating element 10 maintains the predetermined temperature of the liquid in the second chamber 4, enabling electrochemical treatment of the liquid at a controlled temperature and reducing the risk of unwanted overheating of the liquid in the second chamber 4.

[0063] The first heating element 9, located in the first chamber 3, heats the liquid in the first chamber 3 to the vaporization temperature. This results in the formation of steam from the liquid, previously prepared by electrochemical action. The resulting steam from the first chamber 3 enters the steam outlet unit 11 and is then discharged to the outside of the device.

[0064] Depending on the selected operating mode of the device, the electrochemical treatment of the liquid and its heating can be performed in different sequences. In one embodiment, the electrochemical treatment of the liquid is first performed using electrodes 5, 6, 7, and 8, followed by heating of the liquid using the first heating element 9 and the second heating element 10.

[0065] In another embodiment, the liquid is first preheated to a predetermined temperature, after which it is electrochemically treated.

[0066] In another embodiment, the electrochemical treatment of the liquid and its heating are carried out simultaneously.

[0067] The user can select the specified mode via control unit 12 depending on the required properties of the resulting steam.

[0068] The steam outlet unit 11 can be connected to a pipeline, hose, steam channel, nozzle, steam distributor, or other steam consumer. Depending on the intended use of the device, steam can be supplied, for example, to a room, steam cabin, bathhouse, sauna, treatment container, or other steam-using area.

[0069] The properties of the resulting vapor may depend on the composition of the source liquid, the type of semipermeable membrane 2, the selected polarity of the first pair of electrodes 5, 6, the operating mode of the second pair of electrodes 7, 8, the liquid temperature, and the vaporization mode. The resulting vapor may contain water vapor, volatile components, as well as aerosol particles and microdroplets of electrochemically treated liquid.

[0070] Thus, the claimed device provides a combination of intra-chamber electrochemical treatment of liquid in the second chamber 4 and inter-chamber electrochemical action through a semi-permeable membrane 2 with the subsequent production of steam from the liquid formed in the first chamber 3. Due to this, the intensity and controllability of the electrochemical preparation of the liquid before its evaporation are increased, which ensures the achievement of the technical result, which consists in increasing the efficiency of the electrochemical preparation of the liquid before its evaporation.

Claims

1. A device for producing steam from an electrochemically treated liquid, comprising a liquid container, electrodes for electrochemically treating the liquid, a heating unit configured to heat the liquid, a steam outlet unit, and a control unit connected to the electrodes and the heating unit, characterized in that the container is divided by a semipermeable membrane into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber is in communication with the steam outlet unit, the electrodes form a first pair of electrodes and a second pair of electrodes, wherein the first pair of electrodes includes a first electrode located in the first chamber and a second electrode located in the second chamber, the second pair of electrodes is located in the second chamber, and the control unit is configured to change the polarity of the first and second electrodes of the first pair.

2. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the heating unit is located in the bottom part of the container.

3. The device according to paragraph 2, characterized in that the heating unit includes a first heating element located in the bottom of the first chamber, and a second heating element located in the bottom of the second chamber.

4. The device according to paragraph 3, characterized in that the control unit is designed with the possibility of separate control of the first and second heating elements of the heating unit.

5. The device according to paragraph 3, characterized in that the second heating element is equipped with a thermostat.

6. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the electrodes in the first and second pairs are oriented along the height of the corresponding chambers.

Images