Electrochemically Activated Water Cleaning With Anolyte-Catholyte Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning systems leave unwanted residues on surfaces and pose health and environmental risks due to the use of chemical detergents, and there is a need for improved cleaning methods that reduce detergent usage while maintaining cleaning and disinfecting effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

The use of electrochemically activated (EA) water, produced by a functional generator that separates anolyte and catholyte liquids, which are then used as a cleaning solution without surfactants, enhancing cleaning and sanitizing properties through the introduction of fine gas bubbles via sparging devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional chemical detergents are used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but unwanted residue is left on surfaces and health/environmental risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidunwanted residue and health risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from chemical detergent-based cleaning to electrochemically activated water with controlled pH levels (acidic or alkaline) and oxidation-reduction potential. The cleaning mechanism shifts from chemical surfactants to electrochemical parameters (pH, ORP, dissolved oxygen) that can be adjusted to achieve effective cleaning without harmful residues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical cleaning mechanism (surfactants and solvents) with an electrochemical system using electrodes, power supplies, and electrolysis cells to generate active species in situ. This substitution eliminates the need for stored chemical detergents and their associated harmful residues while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through electrochemically generated reactive oxygen species and pH control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If electrochemically activated water is used without surfactants, then residue and environmental impact are reduced, but cleaning efficiency may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresidue and environmental impactVSAvoidcleaning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent compensates for the lack of surfactants by precisely controlling electrochemical parameters: pH levels (adjusted to acidic or alkaline ranges), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and dissolved oxygen concentration. These parameter adjustments create optimal conditions for cleaning without requiring traditional surfactants, thereby maintaining efficiency while reducing harmful residues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces fine gas bubbles (oxygen, air, or other gases) as intermediaries to enhance the cleaning action of electrochemically activated water. The bubbles increase surface area contact, improve wetting properties, and provide mechanical agitation that compensates for the absence of surfactants, thereby maintaining cleaning efficiency without adding harmful chemical residues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a membrane separates anode and cathode for one-way ion transport, then anolyte and catholyte properties are optimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanolyte and catholyte propertiesVSAvoidmembrane separation system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses ion-exchange membranes as intermediaries to selectively separate anolyte and catholyte while allowing controlled ion transport. The membranes enable one-way transport of specific ions (cations or anions) to maintain optimal pH and composition in each compartment without requiring complex mechanical separation systems, thus balancing device complexity with optimized electrolyte properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 EA water effectively cleans and disinfects surfaces without surfactants, reducing residue and environmental impact, while maintaining or improving cleaning efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

water being in contact with an anode and a cathode... produced at least in part from water being in contact with an anode and a cathode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochemical reaction: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

The anode and cathode are separated by a membrane that permits one-way transport across the membrane of selected ions generated by the cathode or anode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon transport through membrane: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 3

enhancing cleaning and sanitizing properties through the introduction of fine gas bubbles via sparging devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas sparging: Sparging

Data Source

PatentEP1991371B1Electrochemically activated anolyte and catholyte liquid
Publication Date: 2011.06.01 TENNANT CO
  • EP1991371B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1991371B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP1991371B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

A method and an apparatus of manufacturing airtight safety garments via ultrasonic welding, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus of manufacturing safety garments by heating and melting synthetic fiber sheets at a melting point or higher via ultrasonic welding and then pressing the fiber sheets against each other to bond them together. The method includes: (a) feeding two fiber sheets; (b) automatically aligning edges of the fiber sheets so that the fiber sheets overlap partially with each other; (c) adjusting a height of a pattern roller according to a thickness of overlaps of the fiber sheets; and (d) transmitting energy to the pattern roller, by an ultrasonic generator, to weld and bond the overlaps of the fiber sheets.