DE102015220424A1 - Disinfecting device, method for disinfecting household appliances and use of a disinfecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a disinfecting device for disinfecting domestic appliances, comprising: an electrolysis unit (1) for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen; An arrangement (2) for providing the water for the electrolysis unit (1); A DC power source (3) for operating the electrolysis unit (1); An ozonization unit (4) for ozonating a portion of the electrolytically produced oxygen; and • one or more ports (6, 6 ', 6 "...) for discharging ozone-containing oxygen of the ozonization unit (4) for disinfecting the household appliances.

Description

The invention relates to a disinfecting device for disinfecting household appliances, e.g. For use in appliances in the home, such as in refrigerators and dishwashers, or for the Legionellenbeseitigung in a water cycle. The device is based on the production of on-site ozone, wherein the oxygen to be ozonized is produced electrolytically from water. The invention also includes a method for disinfecting household appliances, as well as uses of the disinfecting device.

State of the art

The EP 1 277 480 B1 describes an apparatus for disinfecting objects, comprising: a container for receiving the objects and a housing including an ozone generator, wherein the container is incorporated in a disassembled state relative to the housing, the container is closable with a lid, wherein the Cover has a mounting connector which is brought by sliding with a guide of the housing in engagement. The apparatus comprises an element having a plurality of tubes with ejection orifices, the ejection orifices being distributed along the inside of the container and configured to expel ozone to impinge directly upon the objects

• – Wasseraufbereitung, z.B. in Kläranlagen und Schwimmbädern;
• – Bleichen von Papier;
• – Ozon-Programme in Waschmaschinen in Wäschereien zum Desinfizieren der Wäsche;
• – Professionelle Geruchsbeseitigung, z.B. bei PKWs von Rauchern;
• – Reduzierung der Keimbelastung im Wasser von Aquarien;
• – Medizinische Desinfektion, z.B. zur Verbesserung der Wundheilung.

Ozone, O ₃ , a molecule of three oxygen atoms, is unstable and therefore highly reactive, breaking down into an oxygen molecule O ₂ and a single oxygen atom that is highly oxidizing. Ozone has therefore long been used as an oxidizing agent and in particular for disinfecting. For example, the following applications are found in the prior art:

• - water treatment, eg in sewage treatment plants and swimming pools;
• - bleaching paper;
• Ozone programs in washing machines in laundries for disinfecting the laundry;
• - Professional odor removal, eg for cars of smokers;
• - Reduction of bacterial load in the water of aquariums;
• - Medical disinfection, eg to improve wound healing.

In these professional applications, mainly the production of ozone from molecular air-oxygen by a silent electric discharge is used, or the decomposition of the oxygen by the action of UV radiation. Ozone production usually takes place on site, as ozone can only be transported to a limited extent due to its instability or can be stored for a long time. As far as pure oxygen is available, e.g. in oxygen bottles, it can be achieved about five times higher ozone concentration, compared with the use of atmospheric oxygen, and also arise in the ozone production no toxic nitrogen oxides, as they are unavoidable in the ozonization of (nitrogen-containing) air. Pure oxygen is therefore always used as the starting material, especially for medical applications.

Disclosure and advantages of the invention

The invention provides in a first aspect, a disinfecting device for disinfecting household appliances comprising: an electrolysis unit for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen; an arrangement for providing the water for the electrolysis unit; a DC power source for operating the electrolysis unit; an ozonization unit for ozonating a portion of the electrolytically produced oxygen; and one or more ports for discharging ozone-containing oxygen of the ozonating unit for disinfecting the home appliances.

An advantage of such a disinfection device is that not only the ozone, but already pure oxygen is produced as the starting material for the ozone on the spot by electrolysis in the household, in household normal, harmless quantities, so that in particular no oxygen bottles are used have to. Moreover, the use of pure, electrolytically produced oxygen avoids the formation of toxic nitrogen oxides in the ozonization process, with increased ozone yield. Also, the disinfection device is not targeted or optimized for a single application, but at the same time enables a plurality of applications. These advantages make it practically possible to use ozone as a household disinfectant at a reasonable cost.

The use of ozone for disinfection in private household makes sense. Because in many household appliances, e.g. Refrigerator or in the dishwasher, it comes in the course of time to infestation with germs that can lead to odor and possibly even to health hazards. High germ levels also lead to premature rotting of fruits and vegetables.

Embodiments of the invention offer further advantages.

A controller for controlling the ozone concentration in the released oxygen of the ozonation unit can provide more stable operation.

The hydrogen produced during the electrolysis would have to be disposed of; however, by using a fuel cell, this hydrogen can be reconverted with atmospheric oxygen so that it contributes energetically to the power of the DC power source. The electrolysis also requires as starting material ultrapure water, eg DI water. These quality requirements also fulfilled the output of the fuel cell water and therefore can at least partially feed the electrolysis device. Both contributions - electricity and water - significantly reduce the operating costs of the disinfection device.

A further reduction in operating costs may be achieved by a household water conditioning and filtering unit designed to provide the water with sufficient purity for electrolysis so that the sanitizer is fed with tap water rather than DI water.

The ozonization unit may conventionally be a high voltage cell for silent electric discharge. Advantageously, because technically simpler, is the use of a UV-C radiation source, wherein the wavelength of the UV radiation generated with it is less than 240 nm. For this purpose, in particular UV LEDs are considered. In particular, no high voltage is required as for the silent discharge.

• – Elektrolysieren von Wasser zu Wasserstoff und Sauerstoff;
• – Ozonisieren des elektrolytisch hergestellten Sauerstoffs;
• – Regeln des Ozongehalts des elektrolytisch hergestellten Sauerstoffs; und
• – Bereitstellen des ozonhaltigen Sauerstoffs zum Desinfizieren der Haushaltsgeräte.

A second aspect of the invention is a method for disinfecting in household appliances, comprising the following steps:

• - electrolyzing water to hydrogen and oxygen;
• - ozonating the electrolytically produced oxygen;
• - controlling the ozone content of the electrolytically produced oxygen; and
• - Provide the ozone-containing oxygen for disinfecting the household appliances.

Again, the advantages are that no oxygen must be provided in bottles, however, no toxic nitrogen oxides and high ozone concentrations are possible.

Embodiments also provide further advantages in this aspect of the invention. In addition to using ultrapure water for electrolysis, alternatively, the treatment and filtering of household water may be done such that the water has a degree of purity sufficient for electrolyzing; This lowers the operating costs. By back-flow of the electrolytically produced hydrogen by means of a fuel cell using atmospheric oxygen and by supplying the water produced during the back-flow for electrolyzing, further reductions in the operating costs result.

The use of a UV-C radiation source to convert oxygen to ozone, where the wavelength of the UV radiation is less than 240 nm, and in particular the use of UV LEDs as a UV-C radiation source is technically particularly simple and requires none High voltage, such as ozonization by a silent electric discharge.

• – Desinfizieren von Lebensmitteln in einem Kühlschrank;
• – Desinfizieren von Lebensmitteln in einer Speisekammer;
• – Elimination von Gerüchen in einer Geschirspülmaschine;
• – Ozonisierungsprogramm in einer Waschmaschine;
• – Wasseraufbereitung in einem Swimmingpool;
• – Geruchselimination in einem Schuhschrank;
• – Legionellenbeseitigung in einem Wasserkreislauf.

A third aspect of the invention is the use of the disinfection device. The disinfection device has a plurality of connections for the devices to be disinfected and is therefore used for at least one of the following household applications:

• - disinfecting food in a refrigerator;
• - disinfecting food in a pantry;
• - elimination of odors in a dishwashing machine;
• - ozonization program in a washing machine;
• - water treatment in a swimming pool;
• - Odor removal in a shoe cabinet;
• - Legionella elimination in a water cycle.

Brief description of the drawings

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1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a disinfection device according to the invention with supplements according to different embodiments; and

2 a schematic representation of the process of a method for disinfecting in household appliances according to the invention with additions according to different embodiments.

In the figures, like reference numerals designate the same or functionally identical elements.

1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a disinfecting device according to the invention with additions according to different embodiments; which works with ozone as a disinfectant.

The starting material for the ozone is oxygen, which is in an electrolysis unit 1 by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen locally according to the formula 2H ₂ O → 2H ₂ + O ₂ will be produced. An arrangement 2 for providing water for the electrolysis unit 1 ensures electrolysis-capable ultrapure water from a storage tank 13 for the ultrapure water. In the simplest case, externally supplied DI water is stored for this purpose.

The DC power required for the electrolysis is provided by a DC source 3 provided; In the simplest case, this is fed by the household power grid (230 V) and then includes an AC / DC converter.

The through the electrolysis unit 1 pure oxygen produced becomes an ozonation unit 4 fed. In this, a conversion of a proportion of oxygen into ozone, according to the formula 3O ₂ → 2O ₃ .

For this ozonization can be a high voltage cell 15 are provided, in which a quiet discharge takes place when a high voltage HS is applied to the electrodes. Alternatively or additionally, the conversion of oxygen to ozone can be effected by ultraviolet radiation. This requires UV-C radiation with a wavelength of less than 240 nm. This can be done by mercury low pressure lamps. But preferred are UV LEDs 16 (Light emitting diodes), because for this, just as with the usual visible light LEDs, only a low voltage voltage NV is needed.

The operation of both the electrolysis unit 1 as well as the ozonation unit 4 must - in accordance with the time-varying need for disinfectant and taking into account the decay of ozone at a, albeit low supply - with a control device 5 to regulate the ozone concentration in the oxygen to be delivered in order to ensure a uniform desinfizierendede effect. It measures a pressure sensor 17 the pressure of the O ₃ / O ₂ mixture to be delivered, and if this is not within a setpoint range, for example, the power supply 3 the electrolysis unit 1 with a switch 19a be switched on or off. An ozone sensor 18 additionally measures the partial pressure of the ozone, ie its percentage in the oxygen, and if this value is not within a setpoint range, the ozonization unit - again preferred by switching the power supply with switches 19b respectively. 19c - be switched on or off.

A plurality of connections 6 . 6 ' . 6 " , ... and pipes provides for the supply of ozone to the equipment in which the disinfection is to take place. These lines are preferably permanently laid, consist of O ₂ -tight and O ₃ -resistant material, and the devices have valves V, which are opened when disinfected. This can be done periodically, on the basis of measured values automatically or triggered by the user. The falling pressure in the stockpiled O ₃ / O ₂ mixture is detected by the control device, and the mixture is supplemented while keeping the ozone content constant.

The operating costs of the disinfecting device consist mainly of the cost of the required DI water and electricity costs. To mitigate this can be a processing and filtering unit 14 intended for household water, designed and constructed so that the water obtains a degree of purity sufficient for the electrolysis.

Preferably, a fuel cell 11 be provided, in which only to be disposed of hydrogen H ₂ 12 , which is produced during electrolysis next to pure oxygen, is reconverted, according to the formula 2H ₂ + O ₂ → 2H ₂ O.

The fuel cell uses oxygen from the ambient air. The power thus generated may account for a large proportion of that produced by the electrolyzer 1 required power via an output line 100 to the power supply 3 provide, according to the electrical efficiency of the electrolysis device 1 and the fuel cell 11 , The fuel cell 11 produced water is a priori sufficiently pure for the electrolysis and can quantitatively meet the needs of the electrolysis device 1 essentially cover, as here a closed H ₂ / H ₂ O cycle with the arrangement 2 is formed; only small losses can be compensated by DI water. In the material balance of the operation of the entire disinfection device, only the oxygen extracted by the fuel cell from the ambient air is provided as the O ₃ / O ₂ mixture for disinfecting.

2 symbolically shows the process steps of the method for disinfecting in household appliances by means of ozone, which takes place in the disinfection device. Central here are the electrolyzing S21 of water to hydrogen and oxygen and the ozonization S22 of the electrolytically produced oxygen. The regulation S23 of the ozone content of the electrolytically produced oxygen ensures a constant effectiveness of the disinfectant. Finally, providing S24, S24 ', S24 ", ... the ozone-containing oxygen is carried out for different applications in the household.

As ultrapure water for electrolyzing S21, it is possible to directly use S25 from externally supplied DI water; alternatively, in a step of conditioning and filtering S26 of household water, water having a degree of purity sufficient for electrolyzing S21 can be directly produced.

However, the backflow S27 of the by-produced hydrogen by electrolysis by means of a fuel cell using atmospheric oxygen is preferred, whereby not only electric current is produced, but also ultrapure water, which is electrolyzed 21 can be supplied again in step S28. The generated water of the fuel cell can be used in a closed loop for electrolyzing S21.

The ozonization S22 is preferably carried out by means of UV LEDs as UV-C radiation source, wherein the wavelength of the UV radiation is less than 240 nm, or by a silent electrical discharge in a high-voltage chamber.

• – Desinfizieren von Lebensmitteln in einem Kühlschrank;
• – Desinfizieren von Lebensmitteln in einer Speisekammer;
• – Elimination von Gerüchen in einer Geschirspülmaschine;
• – Ozonisierungsprogramm in einer Waschmaschine;
• – Wasseraufbereitung in einem Swimmingpool;
• – Geruchselimination in einem Schuhschrank;
• – Legionellenbeseitigung in einem Wasserkreislauf.

The disinfecting device is designed to provide ozonated oxygen to a plurality of devices. Therefore, it should be used simultaneously for at least two of the following household uses, in particular:

• - disinfecting food in a refrigerator;
• - disinfecting food in a pantry;
• - elimination of odors in a dishwashing machine;
• - ozonization program in a washing machine;
• - water treatment in a swimming pool;
• - Odor removal in a shoe cabinet;
• - Legionella elimination in a water cycle.

In these and other applications, which focus on hygiene and cleanliness, potentially harmful degradation products may arise when disinfected with ozone. For this, the connected devices should have closed systems with appropriate ventilation. Optionally, a vacuum or vacuum flushing of the chamber to be disinfected or the area to be disinfected with ozone can be carried out.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1277480 B1 [0002]

Claims (14)

Disinfecting device for disinfecting household appliances comprising: • an electrolysis unit ( 1 ) for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen; • an arrangement ( 2 ) for providing the water for the electrolysis unit ( 1 ); A direct current source ( 3 ) for operating the electrolysis unit ( 1 ); An ozonation unit ( 4 ) for ozonating a portion of the electrolytically produced oxygen, and • one or more terminals ( 6 . 6 ' . 6 " ...) for discharging ozone-containing oxygen of the ozonation unit ( 4 ) for disinfecting household appliances. Disinfecting device according to claim 1, comprising a fuel cell ( 11 ) which is adapted to react the electrolytically produced hydrogen ( 12 ) of the electrolysis unit ( 1 ) with atmospheric oxygen ( 12 ) and reconnect the power to the DC power source ( 3 ). Disinfecting device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a regulating device ( 5 ) for controlling the ozone concentration in the released oxygen of the ozonization unit ( 4 ). Disinfecting device according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising means ( 14 ) for feeding externally supplied DI ultrapure water into the arrangement ( 2 ) for providing water. Disinfecting device according to claim 4, wherein the device ( 14 ) a processing and filtering unit ( 14 ) for household water, designed to match that of the arrangement ( 2 ) receives a purity sufficient for the electrolysis to provide water fed with water. Disinfecting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a UV-C radiation source ( 16 ) in the ozonation unit ( 4 ), wherein the wavelength of the UV radiation generated with it is less than 240 nm. Disinfection device according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising UV LEDs as UVC radiation source ( 16 ) in the ozonation unit ( 4 ). Method of disinfecting in household appliances, with the steps Electrolyzing (S21) from water to hydrogen and oxygen; Ozonating (S22) the electrolytically produced oxygen; and • providing (S24, S24 ', S24 ", ...) the ozone-containing oxygen for disinfecting the household appliances. A method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of controlling (S23) the ozone content of the electrolytically produced oxygen. A method according to claim 9, comprising the further step of conditioning and filtering (S26) household water such that the water has a degree of purity sufficient for electrolyzing (S21). Method according to one of claims 8 to 10 with a further step of reconverting ( 27 ) of the electrolytically produced hydrogen by means of a fuel cell using atmospheric oxygen. A method according to claim 11, comprising a further step of supplying (S2) the water to be electrolyzed during the back-flow (S25) (S21). Method according to one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the ozonization (S22) by means of a UV-C radiation source ( 16 ), wherein the wavelength of the UV radiation is less than 240 nm, and / or the ozonization (S22) by means of UV LEDs as UV-C radiation source ( 16 ) he follows. Use of a disinfection device according to one of claims 1 to 7 for at least one of the following household applications: • disinfecting food in a refrigerator; • disinfecting food in a pantry; • elimination of odors in a dishwashing machine; • ozonization program in a washing machine; • water treatment in a swimming pool; • Odor removal in a shoe cabinet; • Legionella removal in a water cycle.

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