Electrolyzed Water Generator Using Cation Exchange Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrolyzed water generators using two and three compartment cells face issues with high corrosivity due to alkaline-metal chlorides, low energy efficiency, and instability in producing high-quality acidic and alkaline electrolyzed water, leading to limited applications and durability problems.
Innovation Solution
A two compartment cell system is used where raw water free from alkaline-metal chloride is supplied to the cathode chamber, and anodic electrolyte with dissolved alkaline-metal chloride is circulated to produce chlorine gas, which is then dissolved in a chloride-free solution to generate acidic electrolyzed water, eliminating alkaline-metal chlorides and improving durability by omitting anion exchange membranes and enhancing current efficiency with a porous cathode configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional two or three compartment cells are used for electrolyzed water generation, then both acidic and alkaline electrolyzed water can be produced, but the system suffers from high corrosivity due to alkaline-metal chlorides, low energy efficiency, and limited durability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes alkaline-metal chlorides from the electrolyzed water production system. By using a two-chamber cell with a cation exchange membrane, sodium ions are separated into the anode chamber while the cathode chamber produces alkaline electrolyzed water free from alkaline-metal chlorides, eliminating the corrosivity issue while maintaining durability
Solution Approach 2:
The cation exchange membrane acts as an intermediary that selectively transports sodium ions from the cathode chamber to the anode chamber during electrolysis. This intermediary component enables the separation of alkaline-metal chlorides from the alkaline electrolyzed water while maintaining system durability and reducing corrosivity
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional electrolyzed water generators are used, then acidic and alkaline electrolyzed water can be produced, but energy efficiency is low due to unnecessary electrolysis of water in the anode chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes chlorine gas from the anode chamber and dissolves it in separate dissolution fluid. This prevents the waste of electrolysis energy that would otherwise be required to generate hypochlorous acid in situ, significantly improving energy and current efficiency while maintaining productive output
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary action by collecting and dissolving chlorine gas in advance before it would be wasted. By capturing chlorine gas from the anode chamber and dissolving it in dissolution fluid, the system prepares the acidic electrolyzed water component efficiently, avoiding redundant energy consumption
3Reliability
If conventional systems are used to produce high-quality electrolyzed water, then sterilization effectiveness is achieved, but the system lacks stability for long-term operation due to corrosivity and quality inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts alkaline-metal chlorides from the production system, ensuring consistent and high-quality alkaline electrolyzed water free from corrosive contaminants. This extraction process guarantees stable composition and quality for long-term operation while maintaining sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The cation exchange membrane serves as a stable intermediary that ensures consistent separation of ions during electrolysis. This intermediary component maintains stable production quality by reliably preventing alkaline-metal chloride contamination in the alkaline electrolyzed water, enabling long-term operational stability
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 produces high-quality acidic and alkaline electrolyzed water efficiently, free from alkaline-metal chlorides, with improved durability and energy efficiency, allowing for stable long-term operation and adjustable pH levels for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a two compartment cell separated by a cation exchange membrane
Implementation Method 2
a porous cathode which absorbs and adsorbs the generated hydroxyl ions and sodium ions
Implementation Method 3
electrolysis is performed while raw water free from alkaline-metal chloride is being supplied to the cathode chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Subject: An electrolyzed water generating method and a generator to produce both acidic electrolyzed water free from alkaline-metal chloride (19) and alkaline electrolyzed water free from alkaline-metal chloride (9) by electrolyzing aqueous solution (7) with dissolved alkaline-metal chloride (11). Solution: An electrolyzed water generating method, comprising the steps of anodic electrolyte comprising aqueous solution with dissolved alkaline-metal chloride is supplied and circulated from a storage tank (10) of anodic electrolyte which retains anodic electrolyte to an anode chamber (2) of a two compartment cell (1) separated by a cation exchange membrane (4) into two chambers of an anode chamber (2) accommodating an anode (5) and a cathode chamber (3) accommodating a cathode (6), raw water free from alkaline-metal chloride (7) is supplied to the cathode chamber (3), and electrolysis is carried out, whereby alkaline electrolyzed water free from alkaline-metal chloride at the cathode chamber (3) is produced and simultaneously chlorine containing gas is produced at the anode chamber (2), after the gas is separated (12) and collected from the anodic electrolyte, let it come in contact with dissolution fluid free from alkaline-metal chloride to be dissolved, and acidic electrolyzed water free from alkaline-metal chloride (19) is produced.