Three-Chamber Electrolysis for Sterilization Water Without Corrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrolysis methods for producing sterilization water using tap water result in strongly acidic conditions due to the oxidation of chlorine ions, leading to equipment corrosion and reduced sterilization effectiveness at neutral or alkaline pH levels, especially when organic substances are present.
Innovation Solution
A three-chamber electrolysis vessel with a fluorine-containing cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane is used, along with an anion exchange resin in the intermediate chamber, to trap and concentrate chlorine ions, and a porous anode electrode is employed to increase the residual chlorine concentration by promoting ozone generation and oxidation reactions, thereby producing oxidized water with chlorine dioxide that maintains sterilization power across a neutral pH range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If halogen salts such as salt are added to raw water to produce chlorine ions for electrolytic oxidation, then the residual chlorine concentration and sterilization effect are improved, but the pH becomes strongly acidic leading to equipment corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes harmful chlorine ions from the feed water before electrolysis using ion exchange columns. This prevents the formation of strongly acidic conditions that cause corrosion while still enabling the production of sterilization-effective oxidized water through controlled electrolytic oxidation of naturally occurring chlorine ions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of chlorine ion concentration by removing excess chlorine ions through ion exchange treatment before electrolysis. This parameter modification prevents the downstream problem of strong acidity and equipment corrosion while maintaining adequate chlorine ion levels for effective sterilization.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electrolysis voltage is enhanced to promote electrolytic oxidation reaction without adding halogen salts, then equipment corrosion is reduced, but the residual chlorine concentration becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by removing excess chlorine ions from feed water before electrolysis using ion exchange columns. This pre-treatment enables the electrolysis process to operate at lower voltages (reducing corrosion) while still achieving adequate residual chlorine concentration through the controlled oxidation of naturally occurring chlorine ions.
Solution Approach 2:
The ion exchange columns act as intermediaries that selectively remove harmful chlorine ions while allowing the electrolysis process to proceed with adequate chlorine ion concentration. This intermediary treatment enables the system to achieve both low corrosion and sufficient sterilization effect.
3Productivity
If hypochlorite ions are used as the main oxidizable substance, then electrolytic oxidation is promoted, but sterilization effect is lost in alkaline pH range and decreased in presence of organic substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter by removing excess chlorine ions that would otherwise form hypochlorite ions and raise pH. This maintains the oxidizable substance as molecular chlorine or hypochlorous acid rather than hypochlorite ions, ensuring effective sterilization across a broader pH range and in the presence of organic substances.
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 effectively produces oxidized water with a residual chlorine concentration of 0.5 ppm or more, enhancing sterilization efficacy while maintaining a neutral pH, reducing equipment corrosion, and sustaining sterilization power in the presence of organic substances.
Implementation Method 1
anion exchange resin in the intermediate chamber, to trap and concentrate chlorine ions
Implementation Method 2
a porous anode electrode is employed to increase the residual chlorine concentration by promoting ozone generation and oxidation reactions
Implementation Method 3
electrolytically oxidizing the trapped chlorine ions on the anode electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing oxidized water for sterilization use which contains chlorine dioxide, said method comprising: electrolyzing tap water containing chlorine ions using a three-chamber-type electrolysis vessel, in which an intermediate chamber is located between an anode chamber and a cathode chamber; trapping the chlorine ions dissolved in the tap water; and electrolytically oxidizing the trapped chlorine ions on an anode electrode. A partitioning membrane that isolates the anode chamber from the intermediate chamber is composed of a fluorine-containing cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane, wherein a porous anode electrode is adhered onto the fluorine-containing cation exchange membrane in the partitioning membrane. A partitioning membrane that isolates the cathode chamber from the intermediate chamber is composed of a cation exchange membrane or an anion exchange membrane, wherein a porous cathode electrode is adhered onto the partitioning membrane; and an anion exchange resin is filled in the intermediate chamber.