Electrolyzed Water Production with Solid Polymer Electrolyte Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrolyzed water production apparatuses struggle to effectively electrolyze purified water with low electric conductivity, such as reverse osmosis membrane treat water or ion-exchange resin treat water, while maintaining the pH in a neutral range suitable for drinking and ensuring high concentrations of dissolved oxygen and hydrogen gases.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a solid polymer electrolyte membrane with a bipolar plate and a power feeder having gas diffusion ability, circulating electrolysis raw water between an anode and cathode chambers to achieve neutral pH electrolyzed water without added electrolytes, allowing oxygen and hydrogen gases to dissolve at high concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If purified water with low electric conductivity is used as electrolysis raw water, then the electrolyzed water can be suitable for drinking with neutral pH, but the electrolysis efficiency is poor and insufficient gas dissolution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the electrolysis system by using a solid polymer electrolyte membrane with specific ion conductivity and selecting electrode catalysts with appropriate catalytic activity. This enables efficient electrolysis of purified water with low electric conductivity while maintaining neutral pH, resolving the contradiction between drinking suitability and electrolysis efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The solid polymer electrolyte membrane acts as an intermediary between the electrodes and purified water, facilitating ion transport and enabling efficient electrolysis without requiring high electric conductivity in the raw water. This mediator allows the system to achieve both high electrolysis efficiency and neutral pH output
2Quantity of substance
If high electrolysis energy is applied to increase dissolved gas concentration, then the pH value shifts to strongly acidic or alkaline range, but drinking safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The solid polymer electrolyte membrane serves as a mediator that enables efficient gas dissolution through its unique ion transport properties, allowing high dissolved gas concentration to be achieved without applying excessive electrolysis energy that would cause dangerous pH shifts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes parameters including membrane ion conductivity, electrode catalyst activity, and circulation flow rate to achieve the optimal balance between dissolved gas concentration and pH stability, ensuring drinking safety while maximizing gas dissolution
3Device complexity
If separate collection of anode and cathode waters is performed, then the pH control is simplified, but the apparatus complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anode and cathode water streams into a single mixed output stream. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane ensures that this mixing produces neutral pH electrolyzed water suitable for drinking, thereby simplifying the collection system while maintaining pH control precision through the membrane's inherent properties
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 efficiently produces neutral pH electrolyzed water suitable for drinking, with high concentrations of dissolved gases, and reduces the need for separate collection of anode and cathode waters, while minimizing energy usage and apparatus size.
Implementation Method 1
electrolyzing water using a solid polymer electrolyte membrane as an electrolyte
Implementation Method 2
allowing oxygen gas and hydrogen gas to coexist and dissolve in the electrolyzed water at a high concentration
Data Source
AI summary
An electrolyzed water production apparatus and methods are provided and comprise an electrolysis raw water supplying means, an electrolysis tank connected to the electrolysis raw water supplying means, and an activated carbon filter connected to the outlet side of the electrolysis tank. The electrolysis tank is equipped with a pair of bipolar plates arranged in parallel with each other. A membrane-electrode assembly is provided between the bipolar plates in parallel with the bipolar plates. An outlet side of a first electrolysis chamber and an inlet side of a second electrolysis chamber are connected to each other in an outside of the electrolysis tank in a liquid-tight manner and a liquid-permeable power feeder is arranged approximately uniformly in each of the first electrolysis chamber and the second electrolysis chamber and comprises a metallic mesh having a three-dimensional structure.