Electrolytic Water Treatment With Vortex Mixing for Continuous Disinfection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water treatment methods face challenges in ensuring continuous operation without recontamination, limited efficiency, chemical contamination issues, and inefficiencies in removing pathogens and salts, particularly in the context of drinking water production.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method utilizing electrolysis devices with alternating polarity electrodes, vortexing, and magnetic fields to release antimicrobial particles like silver and copper into the water stream, enhancing disinfection and mineralization while preventing deposits and scale formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chlorine is added for disinfection, then pathogen removal is improved, but chemical contamination and taste degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen removalVSAvoidchemical contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical disinfection (chlorine addition) with electrochemical disinfection using electrolysis devices. The electrolysis process generates antimicrobial particles (silver, copper) and reactive oxygen species through electrical energy, eliminating the need for chemical additives while maintaining pathogen removal effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the disinfection mechanism from chemical addition to electrochemical generation. By applying electrical energy to electrodes, the system transforms electrical energy into antimicrobial particles and reactive species, fundamentally changing how disinfection is achieved and avoiding chemical contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If dead-end filtration is used, then pathogen removal is improved, but continuous operation becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen removalVSAvoidcontinuous operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous operation by using electrolysis devices that continuously generate antimicrobial particles and reactive oxygen species as water flows through the chamber. The vortexing device maintains continuous water circulation and particle distribution, ensuring uninterrupted disinfection without the need for filter replacement or system shutdown

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The electrolysis system is self-regenerating, continuously producing antimicrobial particles from the electrodes as water flows through. The vortexing device continuously recirculates and distributes these particles throughout the water stream, creating a self-sustaining disinfection process that requires no external intervention or filter replacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Duration of action of stationary object

If tangential flow filtration is used, then continuous operation is enabled, but process efficiency is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidprocess efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical filtration (tangential flow filtration) with electrochemical disinfection. Instead of physically removing particles through membrane filtration, the system uses electrolysis to generate antimicrobial particles and reactive oxygen species that destroy pathogens chemically, achieving higher efficiency without continuous operation constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental mechanism from physical filtration to electrochemical destruction. By applying electrical energy to generate reactive oxygen species and antimicrobial particles, the system achieves more efficient pathogen removal compared to tangential flow filtration, which loses a significant portion of water as retentate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Achieves continuous, efficient disinfection and mineralization of water with reduced chemical contamination, improving pathogen removal and salt reduction, and preventing recontamination in distribution networks.

Implementation Method 1

Each electrolysis device is intended to electrochemically release particles of the electrode material to the water flowing through the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

The chamber comprises at least one electrolysis device having two spaced-apart electrodes and a vortexing device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex flow: Vortex Ring

Data Source

PatentUS12459839B2Device and method for treating a flow of water

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 FABIO & MARKUS COLLOID ENG GMBH

AI summary

A device for treating a flow of water having a chamber (1) through which the flow of water passes. In the chamber (1), a voltage with alternating polarity is fed to two electrodes (15a, 15b) of at least one electrolysis device, whereby particles of the electrode material are released to and entrained by the flow of water. The particles in the flow of water are mixed in at least one nozzle (45) of a vortexing device.