Reversible Chloride Electrodes for Low-Energy Desalination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current desalination technologies, particularly reverse osmosis, are energy-intensive and limited in their ability to efficiently remove charged particles from aqueous solutions over a broad range of total dissolved solids (TDS), with most methods requiring inert materials that necessitate gas collectors for off-gassing, increasing operational complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical apparatus using a plate and casing design with reversible chloride-reacting electrodes and ion exchange membranes, allowing for efficient removal of charged particles from salt water by reversing the flow of charged particles through polarity changes, minimizing off-gassing, and operating over a wide TDS range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reverse osmosis is used for desalination, then water purification is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the desalination process into multiple electrochemical cells with alternating polarity, allowing continuous operation without gas accumulation. Each cell operates in a sequence where gas-producing reactions are separated from water production, enabling energy-efficient continuous desalination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic reversal of electrode polarity to prevent gas accumulation and maintain efficient operation. By alternating the polarity of electrode sets, the system periodically switches between salt removal modes and water production modes, ensuring continuous energy-efficient operation without gas blocking the electrodes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If inert materials are used in electrochemical processes, then electrode stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to gas collectors
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the gas collection function from the electrode structure by using removable electrode sets that can be easily replaced. Instead of integrating complex gas collectors with inert electrodes, the design allows direct-use electrodes to be simply removed and replaced when gas accumulation occurs, dramatically simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs disposable or regenerable electrode sets that can be removed, cleaned or replaced when gas accumulation occurs. This approach eliminates the need for permanent, complex gas collection systems while maintaining electrode stability through periodic maintenance of replaceable electrode components.
3Reliability
If conventional electrochemical processes are used, then charged particle removal is achieved, but adaptability decreases due to limited TDS range
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation by periodically reversing electrode polarity and adapting to different TDS concentrations. The electrochemical cells can switch between different operational modes depending on the salt concentration, allowing the system to effectively treat water across a broad TDS range from brackish to seawater applications.
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 apparatus reduces energy consumption, simplifies the process by eliminating the need for gas collectors, and enables desalination across a broad TDS range, making the process more economical and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
remove charged particles from salt water using electrochemical reactions
Implementation Method 2
the cathode is made of material that reversibly reacts with chloride and is insoluble in water; and an anode, wherein the anode is made of material that reversibly reacts with chloride
Implementation Method 3
an ion exchange membrane system comprising at least one cationic exchange membrane or anionic exchange membrane or both placed in between the at least one electrode set and in communication with the aqueous solution
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an apparatus and a method to desalinate aqueous solution. The apparatus disclosed herein comprises at least two electrodes and at least one ion selective membrane in continuous contact with the aqueous solution that is contained in the internal space created by connecting a top manifold and a bottom manifold of the apparatus. The ion selective membrane(s) are arranged in such a manner as to enable reversing the flow of the charged particles by direct or indirect means. The electrodes in this apparatus may be made of material that reversibly reacts with chlorides in water.