Electrolytic Cell Bipolar Electrode Water Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment systems face inefficiencies in chlorine generation, requiring large energy inputs and frequent maintenance, and suffer from stagnant water quality in storage reservoirs leading to biological regrowth and poor water quality.
Innovation Solution
An electrolytic cell system that efficiently generates chlorine from a base solution using bipolar electrodes, allowing for self-cleaning and minimal maintenance, while also generating oxygen and improving water treatment delivery by using a modular design to separate hydrogen and sodium hypochlorite via density differentials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional electrochemical processes with fixed amperage control are used, then chlorine generation is achieved, but energy consumption is high and maintenance is frequent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic control by switching from fixed amperage to variable voltage control with floating amperage. The system allows voltage to be controlled while amperage floats according to system conditions, optimizing energy efficiency. This is achieved through rectification control that permits voltage to lead and amperage to follow, creating a dynamic operating regime that reduces energy consumption while maintaining chlorine generation productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed amperage to variable voltage. By controlling voltage rather than amperage, and allowing amperage to float based on system conditions, the system optimizes energy efficiency. This parameter change enables the system to operate at optimal points across varying conditions, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective chlorine generation.
2Ease of operation
If phase angle-fired SCR control is used for rectification, then current control is achieved, but system reliability decreases due to frequent failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the problematic phase angle-fired SCR control component from the system. By eliminating this unreliable control mechanism and replacing it with a simpler rectification system that uses voltage control with floating amperage, the system maintains current control capability while significantly improving reliability. The extraction of the faulty component resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-regulating system where amperage floats automatically based on system conditions rather than requiring active SCR control. The voltage-controlled system naturally adjusts current flow according to load and system state, providing self-service current control without the reliability issues of SCR-based phase angle firing. This self-adjusting mechanism improves reliability while maintaining operational ease.
3Volume of stationary object
If water is stored in large reservoirs with low turnover, then storage capacity is maintained, but water quality deteriorates due to biological regrowth and stagnation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuous electrolytic treatment to stored water in the reservoir. By maintaining continuous electrical treatment that generates disinfectants in-situ, the system ensures ongoing water quality maintenance without requiring high turnover rates. This continuous useful action prevents biological regrowth and maintains water quality reliability even when storage volumes are large and turnover is low.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service water quality maintenance through in-situ electrolytic generation of disinfectants. The electrolytic cell continuously produces chlorine or other disinfectants directly in the storage reservoir, allowing the water to treat itself without external intervention or high turnover. This self-service approach maintains water quality reliability while accommodating large storage volumes with low turnover rates.
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 achieves efficient and reliable chlorine generation with reduced energy consumption and maintenance needs, while enhancing water quality by actively removing hydrogen and preventing calcification, thus improving overall water treatment efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
An electrolytic cell system that efficiently generates chlorine from a base solution
Implementation Method 2
oxygen generation system that generates oxygen via electrolytic liberation of hydrogen in water
Implementation Method 3
separate hydrogen and sodium hypochlorite via density differentials
Data Source
AI summary
A water treatment system is disclosed having an electrolytic cell for liberating hydrogen from a base solution. The base solution may be a solution of brine for generating sodium hypochlorite or potable water to be oxidized. The cell has first and second opposing electrode end plates held apart from each other by a pair of supports such that the supports enclose opposing sides of the end plates to form a cell chamber. One or more inner electrode plates are spaced apart from each other in the cell chamber in between the first and second electrode plates. The supports are configured to electrically isolate the first and second electrode plates and the inner electrode plates from each other. The first and second electrode plates are configured to receive opposite polarity charges that passively charge the inner electrode plates via conduction from the base solution to form a chemical reaction in the base solution as the base solution passes through the cell chamber.