WO2021175698A1

WO2021175698A1 - Control apparatus and method for controlling electrodes of at least one electrolysis device for the electrochemical production of nanoparticles

Info

Publication number: WO2021175698A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/054691
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio HÜTHER
Original assignee: Fabio And Markus Colloid Engineering Gmbh
Priority date: 2020-03-06
Filing date: 2021-02-25
Publication date: 2021-09-10

Abstract

The control apparatus (1) is designed to control electrodes (5a, 5b, 7a, 7b) of at least one electrolysis device for the electrochemical production of nanoparticles in water. Said control apparatus comprises an arbitrary waveform generator which is designed to generate individually predefinable voltages or voltage profiles for at least one electrode pair of each electrolysis device at successive intervals of time.

Description

Control device and method for controlling

Electrodes of at least one electrolysis device for the electrochemical production of nanoparticles. The invention relates to the technical field of water treatment. The subject matter of the invention is a control device and a method for controlling electrodes of at least one electrolysis device for the electrochemical production of nanoparticles in water according to the preambles of claims 1 and 10.

Various methods are known for treating water, ie for changing the water quality in a targeted manner. This includes in particular processes that remove substances from the water and / or add substances to the water. Examples of this are filtration, in particular micro-, ultra- and nanofiltration for removing particles that are larger than the pore size of the respective filter; Reverse osmosis to remove salts; Mineralization or addition of trace elements important for the metabolism in organisms of living beings; Disinfection, especially by adding chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium hyperchlorite or ozone or by UV radiation to reduce infectious germs. To prevent recontamination of drinking water in distribution networks, chlorine is added to this drinking water, for example using suitable chlorination processes. the Chemical contamination of the water by chlorine may only take place within the permitted limit values. Chlorinated water is odor and taste not neutral. Depending on the type and quality of the raw water to be treated and the requirements placed on the treated water for different types of use, treatment plants can combine one or more such processes with one another. For example, water can be treated to make drinking water, service water for industry and commerce, ultrapure water for technical or medical applications or water for agricultural irrigation. When producing drinking water, for example, it must be ensured that it does not contain any pathogenic germs and that the salt content is less than 0.1%.

A system for sterilizing water is known from EP0114364A1, with filtered and pretreated water flowing through a chamber with silver electrodes. An electronic control regulates the electrolytic current between the electrodes depending on the water flow in such a way that silver ions are released into the water flow in direct proportion to the water flow. Such so-called colloidal silver is known for its antimicrobial effect. In another chamber with

Silver-activated carbon are then used Microbes are destroyed in an oligodynamic process and filtered out together with excess silver particles. The activated carbon or the filter in the filter chamber must be replaced or regenerated regularly. If the purified water is fed into a distribution network, it must be ensured that no further contamination can take place there.

A device and a method for the electrolytic production of colloidal silver are known from DE112012001784B4. Two electrodes are arranged in a container with distilled water, at least one of which is made of high-purity silver. The electrodes are controlled with a rectified, amplitude-modulated alternating voltage. This causes a health-promoting spectrum of small to medium-sized silver particles to be released into the water. The size of the particles torn from the silver electrodes correlates with the level of the electrolysis current. The conductivity of the water in the container increases with the number of silver particles in the water. During the electrolysis process, the mean size of the silver particles torn from the electrode therefore increases. The effect of colloidal silver or, in general, of

Nanoparticles in water depend on various parameters. This includes in particular the water quality, which can be described by the type and concentration of foreign substances, the size and / or the mean size of the silver particles or the nanoparticles additionally released into the water and the spectrum or size distribution of these particles. Further parameters are, for example, the particle concentration, the electrical charge of particles, the proportions of charged and electrically neutral particles, the degree of homogeneity of the particle distribution in the water and the stability of these parameters.

Depending on the type of colloidal silver or the composition of the water with the colloidal silver, its effect can be, for example, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, toxic or promoting the basal metabolism. The effect and the efficiency of colloidal silver can also depend on other parameters or on the framework conditions in the respective application. For example, in applications on or in an organism, a high proportion of small silver particles, preferably less than 20 nm, can be essential for the particles to be able to reach the respective destination. For the reduction of germs in tap water, on the other hand, the concentration or the proportion by weight of the dissolved particles per liter of water is usually more important. The effect of colloidal silver in different applications can depend on other substances or Particles that are dissolved in the water or mixed with the water.

In the electrochemical production of colloids, especially colloidal silver, the result depends on various factors. For example, the composition of the raw water and / or the type of manufacturing process can affect the result. Salts dissolved in the water or generally ions or charged particles, for example, increase its electrical conductivity. All other things being equal, this would cause a higher electrolysis current. This in turn would result in a higher concentration of the silver released and a larger mean particle size. Production can take place in an open system using a flow process or in a closed system, e.g. in a container with a circulation device. With the latter, the concentration of the particles released into the water increases during the process.

Further parameters that influence the result in the production of colloidal silver are, for example, the strength of the electric field between the electrodes or the mutual distance between the electrodes and the voltage signal applied to the electrodes, ie the time curve of the electrical voltage between the electrodes. The polarity of the voltage determines the Current direction. Factors such as polarity, frequency, maximum voltage values, the rate of change in voltage or, in general, its temporal course influence the result in the production of colloidal silver.

In addition to or instead of silver, nanoparticles of other materials such as copper can be electrochemically released into the water. As with the production of pure colloidal silver, the result of these processes also depends on many influencing factors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for improved control of the electrochemical process in the electrolytic production of nanoparticles for water treatment.

This object is achieved by a control device and by a method for controlling electrodes of at least one electrolysis device for the electrochemical production of nanoparticles in water according to the features of claims 1 and 10.

The control device comprises a voltage generator which is designed as an arbitrary generator to generate voltages or voltages that can be individually specified for one or more electrode pairs in successive time intervals To generate voltage curves or generally time-dependent voltage functions. The control device preferably comprises a microcontroller which, based on at least one specified variable, determines an analog or digital output variable which represents the respective time-dependent voltage function and is used to control a driver for the respective electrode pair.

The default value can be a function that, for example, directly defines at least one output value for controlling the driver for a finite number of consecutive time intervals. In combination with the driver, this defines the associated values of the electrode voltage or the output voltage of the driver. The output value (s) can e.g. mean values,

Define the initial or final values for the electrode voltage in the respective time interval. Alternatively, for example, output values could be calculated and output within each of the time intervals by interpolation from an initial value and an end value in the respective time interval. The duration of the time intervals can, for example, be specified individually for each time interval or, alternatively, the same size for all time intervals. It can be determined e.g. by a timer or by a certain number of system cycles of the microcontroller.

The function that defines the output values for controlling the driver can be used in addition to the parameter Time from be dependent on one or more further parameters. Such further parameters can include values that can be selected or set by means of operating elements and / or values stored in a memory of the control device and / or values that can be detected by sensors.

Examples of selectable, adjustable or stored values are in particular the maximum permissible electrode current, the maximum permissible electrode voltage, an offset voltage or a minimum electrode voltage, the polarity when driving the electrodes, time information such as the duration of time intervals, the period duration for voltage signals with a self periodically repeating patterns, the duration between changes in polarity, geometric information on the arrangement of the electrodes in one or more electrolysis devices such as distance and / or effective area of the electrodes, flow cross-sectional area between the electrodes, material of each of the electrodes, degree of purity of the water to be treated or proportions Foreign matter. An electrolysis device can, for example, comprise two or three plates arranged parallel to one another as electrodes, which are made of the same or different material. An arrangement with three electrodes corresponds to a combination of two electrolysis devices with two electrodes, the middle plate being a common electrode. In the case of electrolysis devices with electrodes made of different materials, it is advantageous to specify an offset voltage other than zero. Examples of values that can be detected by sensors are in particular the electrode current that can be detected for each pair of electrodes, for example by means of a shunt resistor of the control device, the flow rate of the water in a chamber through which water can flow, the water temperature, the

Conductivity of the raw water to be treated, e.g. the degree of turbidity of the raw water that can be recorded by means of a transmitted light sensor. Values of such further parameters are also

Default values that can be taken into account by the microcontroller when determining the respective output variable in each of the time intervals. For example, the output value for the electrode voltage can be determined in each of the time intervals by multiplying a setpoint value for the electrode voltage stored for the respective time interval by a correction value specific to the electrode material selected. In alternative configurations of the control device, for example, for different electrode materials for each of the time intervals, a target value for the Electrode current be stored. In each time interval, the microcontroller checks the sensor-recorded electrode current and controls or regulates the associated output value in such a way that the deviation of the measured electrode current from the associated setpoint value for the selected electrode material is minimal.

In arrangements that are operated using the flow method, the control device for calculating the output values can optionally also take into account the output signals of a flow sensor and adapt the value of the output variable to the volume flow of the water, for example by multiplying it with an assigned correction factor. Below a minimum value for the volume flow, the value of the correction factor is preferably equal to zero. This ensures that the electrolysis device is only active from a minimum volume flow of the water, and that the proportion of nanoparticles released into the water increases as the volume flow increases. This can be done by changing the output function for the electrode voltage, with, for example, a mark-to-space ratio and / or the output values for controlling the driver being adapted accordingly in one, several or all time intervals. Optionally, in order to calculate the output values for the electrode voltage, additional default values, for example maximum values for the electrode voltage and / or for the electrode current must be taken into account. By correspondingly limiting the output values, the electrode voltage and / or the electrode current and thus the size of the nanoparticles emitted can be limited.

The microcontroller includes a control program or stored processing instructions with which one or more specified variables can be processed for each electrode pair to be controlled to form an output variable for the respective electrode pair.

In devices with at least two electrode pairs, for example with one electrode pair made of silver and one electrode pair made of copper, each of these electrode pairs can be controlled individually with a suitable voltage function tailored to the respective application.

In the electrochemical production of colloids, the size of the nanoparticles that are released from the electrodes to the water depends on the current density or the level of the electrode current flowing per effective unit area of the electrodes. To produce nanoparticles with a size range of about 5 to about 20 nm, the effective current density is preferably limited to a value in the order of magnitude of about 0.1 to about 0.5 mA / cm ² , for example about 0.2 mA / cm ² , or from about 0.5 to about 1 mA / cm ² , e.g. about 0.9 mA / cm ² . The effective The area of each electrode can be selected according to the respective application, for example in the range from about 10 cm ² to about 200 cm ² , in particular about 15 cm ² or about ^{70 cm 2} , or about 150 cm ² .

The electrode current and the current density are dependent on the conductivity of the water between the electrodes at a certain electrode voltage. The control device therefore preferably comprises means for detecting a measured variable that is dependent on the conductivity of the water. A current sensor, for example, is suitable for this, with which the electrode current that flows at a certain voltage on a pair of electrodes can be recorded. The current sensor can in particular comprise a shunt resistor in the electrode circuit, with which a voltage drop proportional to the electrode current is measured. Since the conductivity of the water can change at least locally as a result of the introduction of nanoparticles, it is advantageous to arrange a current sensor for each electrode circuit. The local conductivity of the water relevant for this pair of electrodes can thus be determined for each pair of electrodes. In particular in the case of devices which are designed for the treatment of flowing water, with several pairs of electrodes being arranged one after the other in the flow direction of the water, the discharge can thus from nanoparticles to the water can be better controlled in each of the electrode pairs.

In the case of control devices which comprise a current sensor for at least one pair of electrodes, this can

Control program, for example, control or regulate the output voltage of the associated driver in such a way that the electrode current corresponds to an associated default value in each of the successive time intervals. By regulating the electrode current according to the specifications of a stored current function, the sizes and size distribution of the nanoparticles emitted by the electrodes can be controlled particularly well in such devices. When producing colloids in containers, where a certain amount of water is enriched with nanoparticles without adding or removing water, the size and size distribution of the released nanoparticles can be controlled well despite the increasing conductivity of the water. This is particularly important because the effectiveness and efficiency of nanoparticles in different applications depend on the size of these particles. For example, the antimicrobial effect of colloidal silver with particles on the order of about 5 to about 20 nanometers is particularly high because such small particles can penetrate cell membranes. Inside of Bacteria, viruses or fungi can block such nanoparticles, for example enzymes, and thus the metabolism. The antimicrobial effect is enhanced by the fact that the dissolved nanoparticles are at least partially ionized. Non-ionized silver particles have a regenerative effect on cells.

In such arrangements, a pump or some other conveying means is preferably provided for circulating and / or swirling the water in the respective container. The control device can optionally comprise a control element with which the power supply of such conveying means can be controlled in a coordinated manner with the activation of the electrodes. Provision can be made in the control program of the microcontroller to periodically repeat a defined voltage or current function. The period duration and thus the repetition frequency can be predefined in the control program or, for example, can be set or selected using an operating element.

This generally applies mutatis mutandis to one or more of the further parameters that are used when calculating the output values for controlling one or more pairs of electrodes. In this way, for example, the length of one, several or all

Time intervals can be selected or set. So that the removal of electrode material takes place uniformly in both electrodes of each electrode pair, the polarity of the electrode voltage, for example, can be changed periodically, preferably with a frequency in the range from about 0.5 Hz to about 2 Hz. This also reduces the risk of unwanted deposits on the electrodes. Higher frequencies up to 100Hz or higher and lower frequencies for changing polarity are also possible. In the case of arrangements with silver electrodes in particular, the proportion of ionized ones increases

Silver particles decrease with increasing frequency. By specifying the frequency for the polarity change, the proportion of ionized nanoparticles can be influenced.

The polarity change can take place, for example, by means of an H-bridge on the driver. Controlled by the microcontroller, the polarity of the voltage provided by the driver is reversed periodically, e.g. according to a predefined or adjustable or selectable duration in the range from approx. 0.5 s to approx. 500 s. Alternatively, the voltage function itself could comprise positive and negative voltage values, the mean value of which is zero over a period.

The control device can comprise a high-frequency generator, with the vibrations in the range of one of the

Resonance frequencies of water at about 22.235 GHz and / or 183.31 GHz and / or 325.153 GHz can be generated. Such signals can, for example, be capacitively coupled into the supply lines of one or more electrode pairs. The voltage signal provided by the respective driver can thus be modulated with a high-frequency signal if necessary. Preferably the control device comprises

Control elements for switching on and off or in general for controlling the activity of the high-frequency generator.

The control device preferably comprises at least one display means, for example one or more light-emitting diodes and / or a screen which can be used, for example, to display status information and / or values of selectable parameters.

The control device preferably further comprises an operating hours counter or electricity meter for each electrolysis device. If the respective counter reading exceeds a specified limit value, a corresponding maintenance indicator can be activated so that worn electrodes can be replaced in good time.

The invention is described in more detail below with the aid of a few figures. Show it

Figure 1 shows a schematically illustrated arrangement of a control device with connected

Electrolysis equipment,

Figure 2 shows a function which setpoints of the

Electrode voltage for at least one Indicates the pair of electrodes as a function of time,

FIG. 3 shows the function from FIG. 1, scaled with three different scaling factors, FIG. 4 shows a function which specifies setpoint values of the electrode current for at least one electrode pair as a function of time,

FIG. 5 shows a further function with setpoint values for the electrode current,

FIG. 6 shows a further function with setpoint values for the electrode current.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a device for the electrochemical production of nanoparticles in water with a control device 1 which is connected via electrical connecting lines 9 to two electrodes 5a, 5b and 7a, 7b of two electrolysis devices arranged in a chamber 3. The chamber 3 can be designed as a flow chamber, as shown, wherein water can flow into the chamber 3 in the direction of the arrow PI through an opening 3a and can flow out again through a further opening 3b. In alternative embodiments, the chamber 3 can be a reaction vessel that is not operated in the flow process

(not shown). A certain amount of water in the reaction vessel is electrochemically treated and then withdrawn again from the reaction vessel. Alternative devices for the electrochemical production of nanoparticles can also comprise only one pair of electrodes or several pairs of electrodes. In each electrolysis device, the two electrodes 5a, 5b and 7a, 7b are preferably made of the same material. Alternatively, they could also be made from different materials. In embodiments with multiple electrolyzers, the material of each electrode or each

Electrode pairs can be specified individually, preferably from a category of metals such as silver, copper, gold, or from alloys with these metals. Tin, iron, bismuth and lead can also be used for special applications.

Alternatively or additionally, electrodes made of other materials can be used to enrich water with other substances, e.g. to mineralize it with trace elements such as calcium and / or magnesium. For different applications such as water treatment systems in

Swimming pools or medicinal baths, desalination plants, plants for the treatment of drinking water or water for agricultural applications can thus be provided with the desired water quality.

The control device 1 is preferably arranged in a housing 11, which, for example, connection sockets 13 for Includes connecting the connecting lines 9 for each pair of electrodes. The housing 11 can comprise connecting elements for direct attachment to a housing of the chamber 3 (not shown). The control device 1 comprises a supply 15 which provides one or more operating voltages, for example a first operating voltage of 3.3VDC or 5VDC for a digital logic part, a second operating voltage of 8VDC or 12VDC for an analog part of the electronics and an operating voltage of 48VDC for the provision the electrode voltages. The energy is preferably supplied via a commercially available power supply unit with a voltage of, for example, 12V. Alternatively, a battery, a rechargeable battery and / or a solar module could also be used as an energy source.

The control device 1 comprises an arbitrary generator 17 with a microcontroller 19 and each with a driver 21 for the electrodes to be controlled in each electrolysis device. Each of the drivers 21 is designed to convert values of an output variable, which is provided by the microcontroller 19 and which represents an output voltage, into a corresponding output voltage for controlling the respective electrode pair. The microcontroller 19 can output the values, for example, as serial or parallel digital signals or as through provide output signals converted into an analog voltage signal by a digital-to-analog converter. The microcontroller 19 comprises a program or stored processing instructions with which at least one setpoint value of the output variable is calculated for a plurality of successive time intervals and provided as an output signal. The calculation of the output size is based on at least one default size. The default variable can be, for example, a function which directly specifies the respective setpoint value of the output variable as a function of the time t parameter. Such functions can, for example, simply be stored as a sequence of n data records (ti, Ui) in a memory of the control device. The number n of data records can in principle be determined as desired. Depending on the degree of complexity and the required resolution, a value between 1 and 256 is usually sufficient. The index i is an integer that defines the sequence of the time intervals, where 1 ^ i ^ n. Ti specifies the duration of the time interval i. Ui is a representative setpoint value for the electrode voltage U in this time interval i. For each of the electrode pairs, the output variable can include individually predeterminable setpoint values U _± for the electrode voltage U in the respective time interval.

During the active operation of the device, the microcontroller 19 provides for each driver 21 in each of the n successive time intervals t _± the respective associated setpoint value Ui for the respective electrode voltage ready as an output variable.

This sequence is repeated until the control device 21 is placed in an inactive state. This can be done, for example, by interrupting the energy supply by means of a manually operated switch or by an electronic switch after a preset time has elapsed.

In alternative embodiments or configurations of the control device 1, instead of the data sets (ti, Ui), data sets (ti, Ii) can be stored in an analogous manner, where I _{± is} a representative setpoint for the electrode current I in the respective time interval i. A current sensor 23, for example a shunt resistor, with which the actually flowing electrode current can be measured, is arranged in the circuit of each of the electrode pairs. During the active operation of the device, the microcontroller 19 records the electrode currents measured by the current sensors 23 in each of the n successive time intervals ti and regulates the output values U _± for the electrode voltage so that in each of the time intervals t _± the sensor-recorded electrode current corresponds to the associated setpoint I. _± corresponds to. This sequence is repeated until the control device 21 is placed in an inactive state. This can be done, for example, by interrupting the energy supply by means of a manually operated switch or by means of an electronic switch after a preset time has elapsed.

The calculation of the setpoint values Ui for the electrode voltage for each of the electrode pairs can also take place at time t as a function of one or more further parameters, for example as a function of the volume flow of the water detected by a flow sensor 25 and / or as a function of the water quality detected by a suitable sensor and / or as a function of the electrode current detected by a current sensor and / or as a function of one or more selectable or adjustable values for the respective electrode material and / or for the frequency or the period of the time intervals t _± . The above list of possible parameters is not exhaustive. Depending on the respective application purpose, the firmware of the control device 1 can be designed to take into account one or more such additional parameters when calculating the output variable. The control device 1 can be configured in such a way that all parameters to be taken into account are permanently specified. Alternatively, the control device 1 can be designed for this purpose be to select one or more parameters to be taken into account by means of an operating element arrangement 27 and / or to select or set values for one or more of the parameters. In particular, settings for several different configurations can be stored in a memory of the control device 1. By means of the control element arrangement 27, for example, different operating modes with the corresponding configurations can easily be selected. An example of such configurations are different combinations of the values of the following parameters:

- Electrode material first pair of electrodes: 0 / Ag, Ag /

Cu, Cu / Ag, Cu - electrode material second pair of electrodes: 0 / Ag, Ag /

Cu, Cu / Ag, Cu

- Operating mode: Ui / I ±

Intensity: normal / strong

"0" means "no electrode material" and consequently no corresponding electrode pair. With alternatives

Embodiments, an electrolysis device can comprise, for example, two pairs of electrodes which have a common electrode. The material configuration can be selected from the following values, for example: Ag, Ag, Ag / Ag, Ag, Cu / Ag, Cu, Ag / Cu, Cu, Cu / Cu, Cu, Ag / Cu, Ag, Cu. The mean value corresponds in each case to the material of the common electrode. In the operating mode Ui, the electrode voltage U is set to the value U _± _{in each time interval t ±.}

In the operating mode I _± , the electrode voltage U is regulated in each time interval t _{± in} such a way that the sensor-detected electrode _current assumes the value I ±.

If a high intensity is selected, the values of the electrode voltage or the electrode current are multiplied in each interval by a factor of e.g. 1.1 to 1.5. The control device 1 preferably comprises one or more light-emitting diodes and / or a display as display means 29. This can be used, for example, to display information and / or to support the selection and setting of parameter values. Preferably, the control device 1 comprises a

Communication interface 31, which can be used, for example, for transferring or changing the firmware and / or for reading out information stored in the control device. The communication interface can be, for example, a wired USB interface or a wireless Bluetooth interface that can be connected directly to an authorized computer.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a sinusoidal function with a period P. The time t is divided into n = 40 time intervals ti of equal length. For each of the time intervals there is a memory of the control device 1 Data record with the associated function value U12 for controlling the driver 21 for the electrodes 5a and 5b of the first electrolysis device is stored. The period P corresponds to 40 times the duration dt of each of the time intervals t _± . The stored function values are established in such a way that the peak value of the electrode voltage generated by the driver 21 corresponds to _{a predeterminable maximum voltage value U max.} FIG. 3 shows three sinusoidal functions which only differ in terms of the different amplitudes A1, A2 and A3. These functions can be calculated by scaling the function shown in FIG.

When producing a colloid in a closed container, for example, the conductivity of the water is a

Parameter that can be used as a scaling factor for calculating the electrode voltage U12. As the conductivity increases, the amplitude of the electrode voltage U12 must be reduced so that the electrode current cannot rise above a predetermined maximum value.

Analogously to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows a sine function which is stored in the form of data records for 40 time intervals. In contrast to the function from FIG. 2, however, setpoint values for the electrode current are stored in the individual time intervals. FIG. 5 shows a further function which defines setpoint values for the electrode current I12 between two electrodes 5a, 5b. Since the amount of the electrode current can only have two values, namely I _max and I _min , these two values can be saved as default values. The function has a period P with six equally long sub-intervals Pi to Re. Each sub-interval comprises a first portion with I _ma x and a second portion having Imin · The ratio of the periods of I _m ax and I _m in each of the sub-intervals different. The function values in the last three sub-intervals correspond to those of the first three sub-intervals with the opposite sign. In this curve, for example, the following additional predefined values may be stored for their production: instants tl to t6 for changing between I _ma x and Imin, time t6 for the polarity reversal. With these default values, the control program can generate the target function for regulating the electrode voltage.

6 shows a function with three parabolic-like manner between a minimum value I _m and a maximum value I _m ax rising for the electrode current ramps. After every three partial periods, the polarity is changed analogously to the example shown in FIG. This function can also be generated by the control program using fewer stored default values.

Claims

1. Control device (1) for controlling electrodes (5a, 5b, 7a, 7b) of at least one electrolysis device for the electrochemical

Production of nanoparticles in water, a pair of electrodes of each electrolysis device being in contact with the water, comprising a voltage generator which is designed to generate an electrode voltage (U12) for the respective one

Provide a pair of electrodes, characterized in that the voltage generator is an arbitrary generator which is designed to generate individually predeterminable voltages or voltage curves for at least one pair of electrodes in successive time intervals.

2. Control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arbitrary generator comprises a microcontroller (19) and at least one driver (21) for providing an electrode voltage corresponding to an output variable of the microcontroller (19). 3. Control device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one function for specifying a voltage or a voltage curve is stored in successive time intervals in a memory of the control device (1).

4 Control device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the stored function represents voltage values for controlling at least one electrode pair as a function of time and one or more further parameters. 5 control device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the further parameters by means of operating elements selectable or adjustable and / or stored in a memory of the control device values and / or sensor-detectable values.

6 Control device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the electrode current of at least one electrolysis device and / or the flow rate of the water in a chamber through which water can flow are further parameters which can be sensed and which are taken into account when determining the electrode voltage.

7 control device (1) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the material or the material combination of each pair of electrodes and / or an operating mode and / or an intensity level means a control element arrangement (27) are selectable further parameters.

Control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for transferring or changing firmware and / or for reading out stored information a

Communication interface (31) is provided. 9. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one display means (29) for displaying

Status information and / or values of selectable parameters is provided.

10. A method for controlling electrodes of at least one electrolysis device for the electrochemical production of nanoparticles in water, characterized in that an arbitrary generator generates individually predeterminable voltages or voltage curves in successive time intervals for at least one pair of electrodes of each electrolysis device.