Oxygenated Water Generation via Low-Voltage Electrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for increasing the dissolved oxygen content in water, such as electrolysis, often require higher voltages than necessary, leading to inefficiencies and safety hazards, and fail to achieve desired oxygen levels effectively.
Innovation Solution
Adding a chemical oxidant like sodium hypochlorite or hypochlorous acid to water to increase the oxidation-reduction potential, followed by electrolysis at a voltage less than 300 mV, allowing for the generation of oxygen that remains dissolved in the water, achieving oxygen saturation to supersaturated levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If electrolysis is performed with higher voltage to generate oxygen from water, then oxygen production is achieved, but energy efficiency deteriorates and safety hazards increase due to hydrogen gas generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding a chemical oxidant (such as sodium hypochlorite or hypochlorous acid) to the water before electrolysis. This pre-treatment increases the oxidation-reduction potential of the water, which facilitates the electrolysis process and enables oxygen generation at lower voltages, thereby improving energy efficiency while achieving the desired dissolved oxygen content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the water through chemical oxidant addition. By changing this chemical parameter before electrolysis, the process enables efficient oxygen generation at reduced voltage levels, resolving the contradiction between achieving sufficient oxygen production and minimizing energy loss.
2Reliability
If electrolysis is performed with higher voltage to ensure oxygen generation, then oxygen production is reliable, but safety hazards worsen due to hydrogen gas accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
By adding chemical oxidants before electrolysis, the patent creates conditions where oxygen can be generated reliably at lower voltages. This preliminary chemical treatment ensures that the electrolysis process produces sufficient dissolved oxygen without requiring high voltages that would generate hazardous amounts of hydrogen gas, thus maintaining reliability while reducing safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of high voltage electrolysis (hydrogen gas generation and safety hazards) into a beneficial process by using chemical oxidants to enable low-voltage operation. The chemical oxidant addition transforms the electrolysis conditions so that oxygen generation becomes efficient and reliable without producing dangerous hydrogen accumulation.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional electrolysis methods are used to increase dissolved oxygen, then oxygen can be generated, but process efficiency deteriorates due to gas bubble formation and loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by chemically treating the water with oxidants before electrolysis. This pre-treatment modifies the water's electrochemical properties, enabling the electrolysis process to generate oxygen that remains dissolved in the water rather than forming bubbles that escape, thereby significantly improving process efficiency and oxygen retention.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the oxidation-reduction potential parameter through chemical oxidant addition, the patent transforms the electrolysis outcome from bubble formation to dissolved oxygen generation. This parameter change ensures that the oxygen produced during electrolysis remains in solution, eliminating the efficiency loss associated with gas bubble escape and improving overall productivity.
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 efficiently increases the dissolved oxygen content in water to 90% of saturation or higher, reducing safety hazards and operational inefficiencies, while maintaining the oxygen levels in oxygenated water for extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
adding a chemical oxidant to the water in an amount sufficient to increase the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the water
Implementation Method 2
increase the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the water to between 400 and 850 mV
Implementation Method 3
passing the cell feed through an electrolytic cell so as to generate oxygen from a portion of the cell feed thereby producing oxygenated water; wherein the voltage across the electrolytic cell is less than 300 mV
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for increasing the quantity of dissolved oxygen in water includes addition of an oxidant to the water to increase the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the water to between about 400 and 850 mV, followed by electrolysis to generate oxygen gas. The voltage applied to the electrolytic cells during electrolysis is less than 300 mV. The dissolved oxygen content of the water exiting the electrolytic cell is about 90% of saturation to super saturation.