Electrolytic Bleach Generation for Low-Temperature Dishwashing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic dishwashers face challenges in balancing energy efficiency with effective bleaching and enzyme activity, as conventional bleaches require high temperatures and can deactivate enzymes, while liquid chlorine bleaches are unstable and hazardous.
Innovation Solution
An electrolytic system generates a bleaching species by electrolyzing an alkaline metal chloride salt solution within the dishwasher, allowing for in-situ bleach production at lower temperatures, which is then used in conjunction with an enzyme wash, ensuring efficient energy use and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bleaches (sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate) are used, then effective bleaching performance is achieved, but high temperature (50°C or above) is required which increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameter by using electrolytically generated hypochlorite instead of conventional oxygen-based bleaches, enabling effective bleaching at lower temperatures (below 50°C) and thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining bleaching performance
2Use of energy by moving object
If liquid chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is used for low temperature bleaching, then energy consumption is reduced, but storage stability deteriorates and safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the unstable chlorine bleach from the storage system and generates it in-situ through electrolysis of stable salt solutions, eliminating storage stability issues and safety hazards while maintaining the ability to perform low-temperature bleaching
Solution Approach 2:
The dishwasher system performs self-service by generating its own bleach through an integrated electrolysis cell, using stable salt solutions as feedstock, thereby eliminating the need to store unstable chlorine bleach and associated safety risks
3Stability of the object's composition
If solid NaDCC is used for bleaching, then storage stability is improved, but dosing flexibility deteriorates and additional components (bleach scavenger) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses stable salt solutions (e.g., sodium chloride) as feedstock for the electrolysis cell, which can be easily dosed in varying amounts, providing both storage stability and dosing flexibility without requiring additional bleach scavenger components
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical dosing of solid bleach with electrochemical generation of bleach through electrolysis, enabling flexible and precise dosing control through electrical parameters while maintaining storage stability of the salt feedstock
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 approach reduces energy consumption, maintains effective bleaching performance, and stabilizes the bleach for storage, while protecting enzymes and allowing for flexible dosing without consumer hazards.
Implementation Method 1
the electrochemical cell contains a solution comprising an alkal i metal chloride salt, wherein the dishwasher is configured to electrolyse the solut ion and to dose the electrolysed solut ion into the wash tank
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method of automatic dishwashing of dishware, comprising electrolytically generating a bleaching species, washing the dishware with a composition comprising said bleaching species, and afterwards washing the dishware with a composition comprising an enzyme. The invention also provides an automatic dishwasher comprising a wash tank, an electrochemical cell, and a first reservoir containing a composition comprising an enzyme, wherein the electrochemical cell contains a solution comprising an alkali metal chloride salt, wherein the dishwasher is configured to electrolyse the solution, and to dose the electrolysed solution into the wash tank before dosing the composition comprising the enzyme into the wash tank. The invention further provides a kit for use in the inventive method.