DE102010044315B4 - Electrolysis cell in a compact form - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrolytic cell (200) in a compact design, comprising at least one electrolysis body (211) with a cathode (210) and an anode (209) and a current / voltage source (212), wherein the electrolytic cell (200) has a rod-shaped form and the cathode (210) tubular for receiving a centrally arranged, rod-shaped anode (209) is formed and the cathode (210) and the anode (209) with a minimum possible distance from each other are arranged membrane-free, characterized in that the electrolytic cell (200) formed as immersion cell is, wherein the interior of the electrolytic cell (200), in which the current / voltage source (212) is arranged, is completely waterproof, and that the electrolysis body (211) has two openings (207, 208) in the extension direction of the electrolysis body (211) are spaced from each other, wherein at the inlet opening (208) of the electrolysis body (211) a protective grid is arranged, and that d The cathode (210) consists of an outer tube (206), which is simultaneously a conductor.

Description

The invention relates to an electrolytic cell in a compact design, comprising at least one electrolysis body with a cathode and an anode and a current / voltage source, wherein the electrolytic cell has a rod-shaped form and the cathode is tubular for receiving a centrally arranged, rod-shaped anode and the cathode and the anode are arranged with a minimum possible distance from each other membrane-free.

In the disinfection / sterilization of very small amounts of drinking water (0.25 liters to 0.5 liters) of water infected with germs and pathogens were previously mainly chlorine preparations in the form of tablets or powder in use. These products have only a limited shelf life and can not be obtained everywhere, for example abroad, easily or due to embargoed guidelines, as only the relevant specialist retailer is considered to be a supplier.

From the US Pat. No. 5,795,459 a method is known in which a diaphragm electrolysis cell is introduced as immersion electrode in the water to be treated. The disadvantage of this process is that caustic sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) is produced in the separated chamber and passes directly into the drinking water to be treated in the described arrangement. NaOH, however, leads to an increase in the natural pH. The result is that three to five times the amount of oxidizing agent is required for effective disinfection performance in drinking water, for example at an elevated pH of 7.8-8. Another disadvantage is the arbitrary and uncontrolled addition of common salt (NaCl), which is not completely electrolysed in an overdose and thus leads to a deterioration in taste due to salination of the drinking water to be treated.

From the EP 0 803 476 A1 is an emergency drinking water method known. Here, the natural salinity of naturally occurring surface water is used for electrolysis, that is, for the conversion of NaCl to NaClO. This instrument incorporates a small ammeter that indicates whether there is enough NaCl (salinity) in the water and, at a lower limit, indicates to the user that saline must be added until a defined flow of current is established. If there are very high levels of organic pollution in the raw water tank, a higher amount of NaClO must be generated as an oxidant for safety reasons.

From the DE 2 003 426 A a device for the purification of water, in particular for sanitary purposes, without the addition of chemicals by means of a arranged in a water vessel electrolytic cell is known, which can be used for example in toilet facilities. Operation of the electrolysis cell is intended to kill off pathogens in sanitary system piping systems. Since this method is intended for larger amounts of water to be treated, a very complex and expensive and expensive apparatus construction is required.

From the US 6 261 464 B1 there is known a stick-type electrolyzer which comprises a salt reservoir, a voltage source and an electrolysis space. The device may be configured such that a saline solution can be transferred to the electrolysis space by manual action on the device. After the electrochemical production of oxidation or reduction products, they are again conveyed out of the electrolysis space by manual action so that a liquid, such as water, can be disinfected by the oxidation or reduction products.

From the US Pat. No. 6,524,475 B1 Also, a pin-shaped electrolysis device with a salt reservoir, an electrolysis space and a voltage source is known. The inclusion of a salt solution to be generated by the electrochemical reaction oxidation or reduction products, carried out manually. The delivery of the reaction products is also done manually, so that by the reaction products, a liquid, such as drinking water, can be disinfected. In addition, the device has a potential sensor and a control circuit, so that the potential can be adjusted depending on the progress of the electrochemical reaction.

Methods are also known by irradiation of the water with UV light. Here, microorganisms are also effectively killed. However, no disinfectant is produced with a corresponding depot effect against Nachverkeimung. Another disadvantage is that the disinfecting effect can not be detected metrologically or only with great effort by measuring the redox potential, whereas this in the presence of excess chlorine equivalents without problems with the DPD method (diethyl-phenylene-diamine) or by means of litmus paper strips by simple Reading on the color scale of every layman is possible.

Other known methods for the sterilization of drinking water are boiling with the disadvantage of high energy costs, the technically complex centrifugation and the even more expensive and expensive osmosis process.

The transmission of dangerous pathogens, especially in hot countries, is already possible when brushing your teeth through contaminated drinking water. Even so-called bottled mineral water is no exception.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for fast, easy and inexpensive as safe disinfection available.

The task is solved by an electrolytic cell with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a small transportable immersion electrolysis cell, which is installed in an internally illuminated rod-shaped housing and can be immersed directly in a drinking vessel and in which the cathode as a tube and the anode as a round rod centric with a defined minimum distance of the surfaces, parallel arranged opposite and not separated by a diaphragm membrane.

By an electrolytic cell in the rod-shaped format, with the smallest dimensions and lowest weight for the disinfection of contaminated drinking water, but also for effective disinfection of water, for wound treatment and brushing or for rinsing fruits and vegetables, especially abroad, is a possibility for sterilizing Which requires no special expertise from the user and is operated via a replaceable, built-in lithium-ion battery or additionally via a small solar power module with integrated buffer accumulator and connection cable with plug-in device.

The object of the invention is achieved in particular by the fact that all the necessary components are integrated in a multicolored, bar-shaped housing, no external power supply is required and in the event of battery failure, a solar cell in the breast pocket format via a small integrated buffer accumulator, the further function of the invention Maintains electrolytic cell.

The illuminance indicates the state of charge of the batteries and at the same time allows an observation of the emission of the hydrogen gas, which in turn is an indication of the flow of current in the electrolysis cell and thus indicates the production of sodium hypochlorite.

The advantage of this invention over other immersion electrolysis cells is that not unnecessarily dissolved salt enters the drinking water and thus the quality and taste are not affected, since usually the natural sodium chloride content of the drinking water is sufficient and only with completely demineralized osmosis a very small salted saline tablet with a sodium chloride content of only 250 mg, as a dietary supplement available in almost all pharmacies, must be added.

The advantage of this very small and handy electrolysis cell in pocket size over other immersion electrolysis cells is that only small amounts of energy (20-30 mA) for very short operating times of about 1-2 minutes are sufficient to ensure efficient disinfection, and no large equipment expense of power supplies is required.

When the operating voltage is switched on by means of a built-in pressure switch, DC voltage is applied to the electrodes, and sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is produced in the electrolysis cell of the electrolytic cell, whereby the natural pH value of the drinking water to be disinfected is largely retained. At the same time a colored LED is activated, and by repeatedly pressing the pressure switch is switched to the next LED. With only a single switch-on pulse, the integrated microprocessor-controlled changeover switch alternately switches over to the other colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This cycle serves as a timer for the individual electrolysis process of 1-1.5 minutes and as an indication of the operating state of the electrolysis cell.

In particular, the electrolytic cell is designed watertight and thus allows the electrolysis cell can be completely immersed or inserted into the water to be treated and does not have to be kept by the user during the electrolysis process. This is particularly advantageous, since this considerably simplifies the application, in that the user does not have to take any special care when using the electrolysis cell, and user errors that lead to impairment of the functioning of the electrolysis cell are avoided.

The formation of hydrogen gas (H ₂ ) produces in the electrolysis body a turbulence and an overpressure, which ensures that the disinfecting and oxidizing agent NaClO produced emerges in the upper region of the electrolysis body and at the same time by the negative pressure at the foot of the electrolysis body, the controlled subsequent flow of Sodium chloride is supported.

Biologically contaminated water becomes germ-free by the disinfection process, whereby the atomic oxygen (O) in the status nascendi together with the resulting chlorine (Cl) causes a very efficient oxidation of carbon chains (Cn).

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG.

It shows

1 a sectional view of the waterproof electrolysis cell according to the invention.

1 shows a sectional view of the representation of an electrolytic cell according to the invention 200 consisting of an electrolysis body 211 with a cathode 210 and an anode 209 as well as a current / voltage source 212 ,

The small pocket-sized immersion electrolysis cell 200 is hung or inserted directly into the water-filled drinking vessel. In the downwardly open cathode 210 penetrates through the entrance opening 208 , on which a protective grid is arranged, now water and displaces the air contained therein, which through the outlet opening 207 escapes until the anode 209 below the outlet opening 207 completely surrounded by water.

By pressing the pressure switch 205 against the spring force of a contact spring 204 becomes the electrolytic cell 200 to a power / voltage source 212 , such as lithium-ion batteries 203 , connected so that a voltage at cathode 210 and anode 209 is applied. The current / voltage source 212 is through a seal 202 sealed, with the pressure switch 205 at the same time as a stopper 201 in the connecting pipe 206 protrudes. The current / voltage source 212 is opposite the electrolysis body 211 by means of a sealing element 213 sealed.

With sufficient conductivity of the housing of the electrolytic cell 200 An electric field builds up between the electrodes.

In the electrolysis of common salt (NaCl) produces hydrogen (H ₂ ), which produced the resulting sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) by appropriate turbulence in the electrolysis body 211 mixed with the resulting chlorine (Cl ₂ ) to form sodium hypochlorite (NaClO). The incoming electrolysis current can be due to the escape of the hydrogen gas from the outlet opening 207 the cathode 210 , which consists of a special alloy, are well observed. The leakage of the hydrogen gas is an indicator of the flow of current. The resulting ascending hydrogen gas generated in the electrolysis body 211 a slight overpressure, which ensures that the resulting disinfectant sodium hypochlorite through the lateral outlet opening 207 emerges and gets into the drinking water to be disinfected. The flow thus generated ensures that the dissolved brine rises and into the electrolysis body 211 can get.

In case of failure of the lithium-ion batteries 203 can the electrolysis cell 200 connected to an external 6V DC power source, such as a solar power module, via a power supply cable.

After completion of the electrolysis process and a total reaction time of 1-2 minutes, the small pocket-sized electrolysis cell 200 be taken out again. The water is now hygienically perfect and, if required or desired, can now be filtered via an open, pressureless activated carbon filter. The water in the drinking vessel is now safe for human consumption and hygienically flawless. There are no health risks after this treatment method.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

200

electrolysis cell

201

Plug

202

poetry

203

Lithium Ion Battery

204

contact spring

205

pressure switch

206

connecting pipe

207

outlet opening

208

inlet opening

209

anode

210

cathode

211

electrolysis body

212

Current / voltage source

213

sealing element

Claims (3)

Electrolysis cell ( 200 ) in a compact design, comprising at least one electrolysis body ( 211 ) with a cathode ( 210 ) and an anode ( 209 ) as well as a current / voltage source ( 212 ), wherein the electrolysis cell ( 200 ) has a rod-shaped form and the cathode ( 210 ) tubular for receiving a centrally arranged, rod-shaped anode ( 209 ) is formed and the cathode ( 210 ) and the anode ( 209 ) are arranged with a minimum possible distance from each other membrane-free, characterized in that the electrolytic cell ( 200 ) is formed as immersion cell, wherein the interior of the electrolysis cell ( 200 ), in which the current / voltage source ( 212 ), is completely waterproof, and that the electrolysis body ( 211 ) two openings ( 207 . 208 ), which in the extension direction of the electrolysis body ( 211 ) are spaced apart, wherein at the Inlet opening ( 208 ) of the electrolysis body ( 211 ) a protective grid is arranged, and that the cathode ( 210 ) from an outer tube ( 206 ), which is at the same time a conductor. Electrolysis cell ( 200 ) according to claim 1, characterized by a in a contact spring ( 204 ) integrated current limiter, which automatically shuts off the electrolysis process when exceeding a defined electrolysis current and, when falling below the defined electrolysis current, the electrolysis process starts again. Electrolysis cell ( 200 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a in the upper end face of the electrolysis cell ( 200 ) screw-in plug ( 201 ) and a seal ( 202 ), the interior of the current / voltage source ( 212 ) seals.

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