Closed-Loop Sodium Hydroxide Production for Stable Hypochlorite Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sodium hypochlorite manufacturing systems face environmental contamination, increased handling and storage burdens due to high-concentration sodium hydroxide toxicity, and complex equipment maintenance, particularly when producing high-concentration sodium hypochlorite.
Innovation Solution
A sodium hydroxide production device with a closed loop system using a sodium salt with two or more sodium ions, partitioned electrolysis units, and cation-exchange membranes, which reduces the need for external sodium hydroxide injection and simplifies equipment configuration, enabling efficient production and pH adjustment for sodium hypochlorite production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external sodium hydroxide injection equipment is added to maintain pH above 12, then sodium hypochlorite storage stability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolysis device produces sodium hydroxide in-situ through the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution, eliminating the need for external sodium hydroxide injection equipment. The system serves itself by generating the required pH-adjusting agent directly where needed, thereby maintaining storage stability without adding complex external equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The sodium hydroxide production function is merged into the electrolysis device itself by integrating the cathode chamber where sodium hydroxide is generated. This combines the electrolysis function with the sodium hydroxide generation function, eliminating separate equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If high-concentration sodium hydroxide is used to maintain pH above 12, then sodium hypochlorite storage stability is improved, but transportation and storage burdens increase due to toxicity and freezing point elevation
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates sodium hydroxide on-demand through electrolysis, avoiding the need to transport and store large quantities of high-concentration sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide is produced where needed in the electrolysis device, eliminating transportation and handling burdens associated with toxic, high-concentration sodium hydroxide storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter of sodium hydroxide from high-concentration (requiring special handling) to low-concentration in-situ generation. By producing sodium hydroxide at low concentrations directly in the electrolysis device, the system maintains pH control while avoiding the handling issues of concentrated sodium hydroxide.
3Productivity
If anode bath and cathode bath circulation systems are implemented, then electrolysis efficiency is improved, but environmental contamination increases due to anodic water discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the anode bath circulation system that causes environmental contamination. By eliminating the anode bath and its discharge of contaminated water, the system removes the source of environmental harm while maintaining electrolysis efficiency through direct electrolysis in the electrolysis chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful anodic water discharge into a beneficial closed-loop system where the anode chamber directly contacts the electrolyte. This eliminates contaminated water discharge while maintaining electrolysis efficiency, as the same electrolyte serves both as reactant and circulation medium without requiring separate bath systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system produces sodium hydroxide in an environmentally friendly manner, reduces transportation, storage, and handling burdens of sodium hydroxide, and minimizes environmental impact by eliminating the need for external sodium hydroxide injection and complex equipment, while maintaining stable pH for sodium hypochlorite storage.
Implementation Method 1
a anode and a cathode chamber which are partitioned by a cation-exchange membrane
Implementation Method 2
chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide, which are produced in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, respectively
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present invention provides a sodium hydroxide production device, which includes: a first tank configured to store a sodium salt including two or more sodium ions in a molecule; a first electrolysis unit including a first anode chamber and a first cathode chamber which are partitioned by a first separator; and a water supply unit configured to supply water to the first tank and the first cathode chamber, wherein the first tank, a pipe configured to supply an aqueous sodium salt solution produced in the first tank to the first anode chamber, the first anode chamber, and a pipe configured to supply a material produced in the first anode chamber to the first tank constitute a closed loop, and a sodium hypochlorite production device including the same.