Electrode Capsule Water Management System for pH Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling pH, alkalinity, and sanitation in water treatment often rely on chemicals and additives, which are not always effective or scalable, and may require additional equipment like filters.
Innovation Solution
A water management system that generates a reactant gas using an electrode capsule submerged in a reactant liquid, which is then combined with water to gasify and strain it, allowing for pH and alkalinity control without chemicals, and can be scaled by adding multiple electrode capsules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemicals and additives are used to control pH and alkalinity, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and chemical management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for chemical additives from the water treatment system. Instead of adding chemicals to control pH and alkalinity, the system uses an electrode capsule that generates reactant gas (oxygen and/or ozone) through electrolysis of water, which then reacts with dissolved carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid, naturally adjusting pH and alkalinity levels without external chemical inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service by using the water itself as the reactant. The electrode capsule performs electrolysis on the water being treated, generating oxygen and ozone in situ. These gases react with dissolved CO2 to produce carbonic acid, which automatically adjusts pH and alkalinity. The system sustains itself without requiring external chemical supplies or complex dosing equipment.
2Manufacturing precision
If chemical additives are used for water treatment, then pH and alkalinity control is achieved, but scalability is limited due to dilution and exponential chemical usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the fundamental parameter from chemical concentration to electrical energy input. Instead of adding chemicals and dealing with dilution effects, the electrode capsule uses electricity to generate oxygen and ozone gases that react with water. This allows precise control of pH and alkalinity through adjustable electrical parameters (voltage, current, time) without the exponential chemical usage problem, enabling linear scaling with system size.
3Reliability
If filters are employed with chemicals to control water quality, then sanitation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single electrode capsule component. The capsule simultaneously generates oxidizing gases (oxygen and ozone) for sanitation, produces carbonic acid for pH and alkalinity control, and does so without requiring separate filtration systems or chemical dosing equipment. This consolidation reduces device complexity while maintaining or improving sanitation control through the dual action of ozone (disinfection) and carbonic acid (pH adjustment).
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
This method effectively controls pH and alkalinity levels within specific ranges for various applications, improving treatment efficiency and scalability while avoiding chemical-related issues, such as dilution and exponential chemical usage, and reduces bacterial and algal presence.
Implementation Method 1
an electrode capsule removably retained within the container and submerged in the reactant liquid, the electrode capsule comprising: a housing having a housing body, an inner volume within the housing bodying and a plurality of holes in the housing body that extend from an outer surface of the housing body to within the inner volume; a first electrode and a second electrode having a space between them, wherein a first flat face of the first electrode is facing and spaced apart from a second flat face of a second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are retained within the housing, wherein the plurality of holes in the housing allow reactant liquid to fill voids within the housing and the electrodes operate within the reactant liquid to form a reactant gas
Implementation Method 2
gasify and strain a portion of water from a water source by combining the reactant gas and the portion of water with a pump
Data Source
AI summary
A water treatment system is provided. The system includes a container holding a reactant liquid within the container. The system further includes an electrode capsule removably retained within the container and submerged in the reactant liquid. The electrode capsule operates to generate reactant gas by operating within the reactant liquid. The system includes a cap releasably coupled to an opening of the container. The cap includes a nozzle that allows flow of reactant gas out of the container to treat an amount of water. The use of the system operates to treat water for particular applications and controlling pH level range and/or alkalinity for each particular application.