Water Ionizer Stacked Electrolyzer Separate Inlets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water ionizers face issues with reliability due to backward flow of tap water, inefficient electrolysis, and complex fabrication processes, particularly with insert molding of electrode plates, leading to high replacement costs.
Innovation Solution
A water ionizer design featuring a stacked electrolyzer with separate inlets and outlets, where water is distributed at a predetermined ratio and flows in a crossing manner through the electrolyzer module, allowing for alternating polarities of electrode plates and simplifying assembly by fixing electrode plates into a frame, along with a synchronized input regulator and flow switching output unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If tap water is supplied through a single inlet to two chambers of the electrolyzer, then the device structure is simple, but tap water may flow backwards due to orifice difference, lowering reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single inlet into two separate inlets, one for each chamber of the electrolyzer. This segmentation prevents water from flowing backwards by eliminating the orifice difference problem that occurs with a single inlet serving multiple chambers, thereby improving reliability while maintaining structural simplicity
2Device complexity
If tap water is directly discharged through a flow switching valve after electrolysis, then the discharge process is simple, but the efficiency of electrolysis is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a water storage tank that temporarily stores the electrolyzed water before discharge. This preliminary storage action allows the system to optimize the electrolysis process by controlling water flow more effectively, improving electrolysis efficiency while maintaining a simple discharge process through the flow switching valve
3Extent of automation
If electrode plates are fabricated by insert molding, then the fabrication process is automated, but the fabrication process becomes complicated and replacement costs are significantly expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrode plates from the molded housing structure, making them separate replaceable components. This allows electrode plates to be fabricated using simpler, more cost-effective methods while maintaining automation where needed, and enables easier replacement without requiring complex insert molding processes
4Device complexity
If acidic water is discharged without minimizing unnecessary amount, then the discharge system is simple, but environmental friendliness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the flow switching valve to dynamically change the discharge parameters, selectively directing acidic water to appropriate disposal channels or neutralization systems. This parameter control minimizes unnecessary acidic water discharge into the environment while maintaining a relatively simple discharge system structure
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 design minimizes unnecessary acidic water discharge, enhances electrolysis efficiency, simplifies assembly, reduces fabrication complexity, and improves reliability by synchronizing operations and reducing platinum electrode plate replacement costs.
Implementation Method 1
Filtered tap water is subjected to electrolysis within the electrolyzer inside of the water ionizer. Created water may be pure neutral water if pH, a symbol indicating a hydrogen ion index, is 7, acidic water if pH is smaller than 7, and alkaline water if pH is greater than 7.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A water ionizer includes a stacked electrolyzer and a flow switching device, with an inlet being separate from an outlet. Water entering an input regulator is distributed at a predetermined ratio before being supplied to an electrolyzer module to minimize acidic water to be discarded. Water supplied from the input regulator is directed to pass through the electrolyzer module in a crossing manner to delay flows of water to improve the efficiency of electrolysis. Electrolyzer cells are stacked on and fitted to each other to simplify an assembly process and improve convenience. Electrode plates of the electrolyzer module are fixedly fitted into a frame to facilitate an assembly process and improve a fabrication process. The input regulator and a flow switching output unit are connected via a connecting shaft to synchronize the operations thereof to obtain reliability.