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    Us 2010270172 A 1

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    nthung115
    pat 117

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    co») United States c2) Patent Application Publication (0) Pub. No.: US 2010/0270172 Al Sano US 201002701721 (43) Pub, Date: Oct. 28, 2010 os) os) m a @ (86) (0) Nov. 20, 2007 ELECTROLYZER CEL ACIDIC OR ALKALINE WATER FOR PRODUCING CTROLYZED Inventor, Yoichi Sano, Kanagawa-ken (IP) Correspondence Address: ECOLAB USA INC. MAIL STOP ESC-F7, 6 EAGAN, MN $5121 (US) LONE OAK DRIVE, Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC., Fagan, MN (us) Appl. No, 12748,785 PCT Filed Nov: 19, 2008 PCT No. PCTAUSes/12921 $371 (00), (2),(4)Date: May 19,2010 Foreign Application Priority Data ) 2007-08959 Publication Classification (1) Inc CORE i461 (2006.01) C25 918, (2006.01) (2) US.CL 205/748; 204/258, 6 ABSTRACT A three-cletrode elctrolyzer cells described that can pro {duce ether alkaline water or acid water, by selecting polity ‘and fon exehange membrane type. The cell has a middle ‘chamber and two side electrolysis ehambers bordering the rile chamber. Each of the side electrolysis chambers is separated frm the mide chambers by amembrane, whichis the same on both sides. Porous eletrodes are placed on the clectolysis side of each membrane, The elecwolysis chamber electrodes are placed next to the membranes, and they are both changed with either postive or negative polarity atthe same time. The eleetrode inthe mile chamber is charged With the opposite polarity to the eletrolysis chamber ele twodes. Each ofthe electrolysis chambers has inlets and out Jets for lowing a solution to beeleetrolyzedthrough the cells The electolyte solution is in the middle chamber. Iti not circulated, oF is only circulated to replenish electrolytes or remove gases, The electralyzer of the invention is signifi cantly more efficent than prior ar electrolyzers, when only ‘one type of water (acid or alkaline) is rouized. US 2010/0270172 Al Oct. 28, 2010 Patent Application Publication US 2010/0270172 Al ELECTROLYZER CELL FOR PRODUCING ACIDIC OR ALKALINE BLECTROLYZED ‘WATER PRIORITY [0001] This application claims prorty to Japanese utility model application 2007-8959, filed Nov. 20, 2007, and assigned to Frst Ocean KK. BACKGROUND 0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] This invention describes an electrolysis cell which ‘can generate one kind of electrolyzed water continously, citer acidic water or alkaline wate, without producing & stream ofthe other kind of water. 0004] 2. Technical Background 10005] In thopast, two methods have boen use to generate scidie water and alkaline water through electrolysis. One method is the two chamber electoysis cell wherein water containing a small concentration of electrolyte is fed ino a cell divided by a membrane into a positive chamber and a negative chamber. The other method is the thre chamber ‘lectolysis cll, The cells divided by membranes into an ‘electrolysis chamber with positively charged electrode (an- ‘ode),a middle chamber, and an electrolysis chamber witha negatively charged electrode (cathode). (See for example Japan Patent Publication #3113645). Usually, lows of bath ‘acidic water and alkaline water are generated from thesetypes ‘of eels. However, fora user who needs only one of these typesof water, a flowing steam of the unwanted kindof water is generated at the same time, a s wasted as a result. PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION. [0006] The purpose ofthis invetion isto provide an elee- trolysis cell that produces a seam of alkaline electrolyzed Water ora stream of acidic elevtrolyzed water, but not Both ‘This invention offers an elocwolysis ell hat does not gene tea flowing siream of the unwanted type of eleetrolyzed ‘water, either acidic or alkaline. In addition, when water is, celecirolyzed to generate aide or alkaline water, this inven- tion enhances the production of the desired type of water relative to a conventional 3-chamber electrolyzer of similar ‘SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 10007] _ three chamber electrolysis cel for waterhas been used inthe prio art where here isa middle chamber between two electrolysis chambers, which generate acidic water and alkaline water. There is an electrode in each electrolysis, ‘chamber, one positively charged and one negatively charged ‘Generally, water or dilute electrolyte is flowed through each ‘lectrolysis chamber. In this setup, both acidic water and alkaline water are generated [0008] ‘The present invention also has three chambers, but insteat places a third electrode sheet inthe middle (orcentral) ‘chamber, and charges it othe oppesite polarity tothe elo trode sheets in the two outer electrolysis chambers, which are both ofthe same polarity. By doing this, one may generate ther acidic water alone or alkaline water alone in the two ‘eleciolysis chambers. Meanwhile, the electrolyte solution in the mide chamber shanges its composition through eletro- chemical rections oa the surface ofthe electrode or through Oct. 28, 2010 the production of reaction gas, but will not generate a flow of the unwanted kind of electrolysis water (either acid or alka- Tine.) The middle chamber will have provision for ventilation of gas, and may have provisions for circulating limitod vol umes of electrolyte to replenish the supply contained in the idle chamber Inthe case of generating alkaline water, if the composition electolyzedis selected no to produce chlo- rine gas, then one may use the same size anode inthe middle ‘chamber andthe same size membranes as would be used in a conventional cll t generate more of the desired water than could be produced ina conventional cell without damaging clectrodes or membranes. Is even possible o increase the ‘otal electric curren, s0 as (0 generate even more alkaline Water fora given size of cell and membrane than ia con ventional chamber electrolysis cel BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0009] FIG. 1 isa vertical cross section of an electrolysis, call of this invention, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0010] An electolysis call is presented that ean produce acid water or alkaline water separately. FIG. 1 shows a vert- calerss section of the cletrolysis ell ofthis invention, FIG. 1 has the following components: [0011] 1, 2the side wall ofthe electrolysis cell [0012] 3,4 shets forming the mide chamber [0013] 5, 6th ion exchange membranes [0018] 7,8 the entrances for the solsion to be let Iyzed {0013} 9, 10-the exis fr the solution which is electro lyzed [0016] 11 theenrance forthe electrolyte soliton intothe middle chamber [0017] 12, 13—the exits forthe electrolyte solution [0018] 15, 16—dhe electrolysis chambers [0019] 17, 18—theewo sections ofthe middle chamber [0020] A, B—the electrolysis chamber electrode sheets [0021] | C—the middle chamber electrode sheet [0022] This invention presents an electrolysis cell that can produce acidic water or alkaline water separately. The elec- trolysis cell consists of two electrolysis chambers with a rile chamber between them, The structure is a follows, ‘The electrolysis cll has setions 17 and 18 of a chamber in the middle. On the ouside ofthese two sections, there are electrolysis chambers 15 and 16. Each electrolysis chamber (13, 16) is separated from the chamber in the middle by membranes (8, 6) Electrodes A and B, having numerous pores or hoes, are placed on the eloctolysis chamber side of cach membrane. [0023] Electrodes A and B are both charged to either posi- tive ot negative polarity atthe same time, Each of the elec- teolyss chambers has an inlet 7 o¢ 8 below the cell to guide water into beeletrolyzed. Theo, to guide the water out there are outlets 9 and 10 in the upper section of the chamber. [0024] The electrolyte solution is contained in the mile chamber which is separated into two sections by the elec- ttode C, having many pores or holes. Below that, there is at least one inlet 11 to guide the eleetrolytesofution in. In the higher parton both sides ofthe electrode sheet, thereare to ‘outlets 12nd 13 forthe removal of electolytesolution or gas ‘oneach side of the elootrade C. The electrode Cin the middle chamber is charged tothe polarity opposite that of A and B. US 2010/0270172 Al [0025] Forthe before-mentioned electrolysis cell for water, the following setups may be aranged. The two electrodes Which are placed aext to each membrane may be charged to positive polarity, andthe electrode shootin the middle cham- ber can be charged to neyatve polarity, and, a the same ime, ‘each membrane is preferably selected to be @ negative ion ‘exchange membrane. In such a setup, it is also possible to have each membrane be a negative ion exchange membrane, and have te electrodes on the electrolysis sie ofeach mex brane, and to have each porous planar electrode separated from the ion exchange membrane by a protective membrane ‘with many slits. (Such a protective membrane is describe in US. Ser No. 11/438,552.) [0026] Inadifferent embodiment, thetwo electrodes which ‘replaced aextto each membrane may be charged to negative polarity, and the electrode shet which is placed in theme ‘chamber i charge to positive polarity. In that embodiment, ‘ach membrane may bea positive ion exchange membrane. protective membrane with many slits may be placed in the middle chamber to protet the ion exchange membranes, iP required by the chemistry of the reactive species generated. ‘With some chemistries no protective membrane is roquite. Preferred Embodiment to Carry Out the Invention [0027] A vertical eross section ofthis invention is shown in FIG. 1-InFIGS.1, Land 2aretheside walls ofthe electolysis ‘ell in rectangular parallelepiped. The walls are made of 2 material which does not condhct electricity. The electrolysis cells divided by membranes $ and 6, The electrolysis cham- ber 15s the space between te side wall 1 and the membrane 5. The electrolysis chamber 16 isthe space between the side ‘wall 2and the membrane 6, isthe electrode which is placed nextio themembrane on the sideof electrolysis chamber 15. Bis he electrode whichis placed next tothe membrane 6 on the side of electrolysischamber 16. TheseelectrodesA and B ‘re porous of have numerous holes. [0028] The space between the membrane § and the mem- brane 6 is the middle chamber. The middle chamber is betwen the elecrolysis chambers 18 and 16. In the mide chamber, thereare sections 17 and [8 ereated by the electade sheet C which is placed in the middle of the chamber. This ‘electrode sheet Cis porous of has numerous oles. Sheets 3 ‘and are gaskets inserted to create the spaces 17 and 18 in the middle chamber. They form the circumference ofthe spaces 17 and 18, with the middle area ofthe sheets 3 and 4 cutout. ‘They are made of electrically non-conductive materials such 8 plas [0029] Each electrolysis chamber has an inlet on the lower partto guide the water in tobe electrolyzed. Onthe upper pat, ‘hero isan outer to guide the water out aftr its eloctroyzed. As illustrated, on the lower part ofthe electrolysis chamber 1, there is an inlet To guide the water in to be electrolyzed (On the upper part of the electolyss chamber 1S, there isan ‘ute 9 to guide the water out after itis electolyzed, As for the electrolysis chamber 16, ithas an inlet 8 onthe lower part to guide the water int be electolyzed, On the upper part of the electrolysis chamber 16, there is an outlet 10 guide the Water out alter itis eleetrolyzed. There may be additional inlets or owes if required for efficiency in a particular cell. [0030] When the waters guided in to be eleetolyzed, the Water may first be divided into two portions; one portion may be sent othe lot 710 go into the eloctolysis chamber 15, and the other portion may be seat tothe inlet 8 to goto the Oct. 28, 2010 chamber 16, When te electrolyzed water leaves outlets 9 and 10, both sreams may be collected together asthe generated {0031} Another method may be to guide the water into inlet ‘Tro beeleciolyzedin the electolysis chamber 18, then when tne eletrolyzed water comes ont from outlet 9, it may be {hide into the inlet 8 to the eletrolysis chamber 16 10 e electolyzed there. The finished water may be guided out from he outlet 19a the generated water. {0032] The electrolyte solution is contained in sections 17 and 18 ofthe middle chamber, On the lower part there sat least one inlet to guide the electoyte solution in. For example, both sections 17 and 18 ofthe middle chamber may have their own inlet on the lower part. Or, a FIG. 1 shows, only the section 17 ofthe middle chamber may have the inet 11 o guide the clctoyt solution in, The eleerlyte which is guided in through the inlet 11, may aso be guided into section 18 ofthe mice chamber to ill. On the upper part of setion 17 ofthe mide chamber there isthe ontet 12 for the electroyte solution tobe ged out. On the upper part of section 18 ofthe middle chamber, there isthe outlet 13 t0 side the electrolyte out. The outlets 12 and 13 are also used {0 let gas out when itis generated atthe time of electrolysis There may be aditional inlets or outlets if required for el ciency in a particular cel [0033] This is how the electrolysis ellis constructed The ‘membrane $ andthe electrode sheet are placed next to each other. So are the membrane 6 and the electrode sheet B. However, they may be constructed in layer. The electrode shoots A,B and C ae porous or have numerous hoes from face to face tispreerred to have 1 0103.0mm caliberholes “The prefered materials for the electrode sheets are titanium coated by plating with platinum or platinum group elements or their oxides. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrolysis cel is constructed by lining up the side wall theeletrode shoot A, the membrane 8, th electrode sheet C, the membrane 6, the electrode sheet B andthe side wall 2 To create the mille chamber spaces 17 and 18, the gasket sheets 3 and 4 are inserted properly. The etre assembly shed tightly together by any ofa variety of means, inching an external frame ora ‘ulipliity of bots and nuts placed around the perimeter of tine housing. Forexample, in F1G- 1, boltsand ats, Wand 14, are used inthe upper part and the ower pat. {0034) The method for generating ether acidic water or alkaline water using the electrolysis cello this invention is shown here. When aviticeletrlyzed water isto be gener- ated, charge the electrode sheets Aan B with positive polar- ity, and the electrode sheet C with negative polarity. Then, apply te direct current Inthiscase the sections 17 and 18 oF the middle chamber are filed with a solution of sas with chloride ion, for example, sodium chloride, potassium chlo- Fide, or hydrochloric acid solutions, tobe elecrolyzed. Inthe electrolysis chambers 18 and 16, the acidic water is gener- ated. This acidic water is the electrolysis water with ypochlorous acid a a sanitizing ingrient at an effective chlorine concentration of 10-80 ppm. (Suitable operating conditions for such cell ae known, al some are described or refered to in our co-pending application US. Ser. No. 11/438,454, In sections 17 and 18 of the middle chamber, sox hydroxide or potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas are generated, The generate gas is discharged from nozzles ‘outlets £2 and 13. The electoyte solution tbe contained insects 17and 18 ofthe middle chamber may be circulated betweenthe midlechamberanda separatecellontheoutside US 2010/0270172 Al ‘withthe help of gravity oF a pump. Such circulation may be used to remove gas from the eel, o to maintain the concen- tration of electrolyte i the middle eel 10035] Under the above-mentioned conditions, chlorine 2s i generated onthe surface ofthe postive electrode shoots ‘A and B. By the action ofthat chlorine gas, the neighboring membrane (oeyative ion exchange membrane) deteriorates, Which causes unsteady production. To solve this problem, protective membranes with multiple slits are used. When the ‘electrode sheets A and Bare placed on the electrolysis cham berside ofeach membrane, these protective membranes with slits are placed between each membrane and electrode sheet (not illustrated) By doing this, the chlorine gas can escape through the multiple sits before itis confined around each membrane. Therefore, the amount of eblorine gas directly touching the membrane is reduced, which prevents the mem brane fom being attacked. [0036] | Materials forthe protective membrane are selected from asbestos, glass wool, poly vinyl chloride fibers, poly Vinylidene fibers, polyester fibers, aromatic polyamide bers, or their nonwoven cloth, Sometimes, paper and cellophane are used. The most desirable material is a nonwoven cloth ‘with good ion permeability, The desirable width between slits, which are oriented vertically on the protective mem- branes, is Ito 10mm, The most desirable with is 30 7 mum, ‘These protective membranes with slits are easy to produce However, there isa possibility of a negative nature where the chlorine gas may touch the ion exchange membrane because the unevea pressure may work onthe membrane, orth pees- sure opens the slits slighty to let the chlorine gas eseape toward the ion exchange membrane. [0037] Another example of a protective membrane is the use of rectangular pieces of nonssoven cloth. To achieve this ceffect, onto the edge of the fist piece of nonwoven cloth, the second piece of noawoven cloth i placed slightly oveelap- ping. Onto the edge ofthe second piece of nonwoven loth, the thied piece of aoawoven cloth is placed sighlly overlap: ping. Keep repeating this to cover the area. Then atthe ed, use adesive to put the pieces together atthe periphery. The ‘overlapped areas work as slits. How much to overlap depends ‘on the sizeof the membrane. Generally speaking, Ito S mm ‘of overapis preferable, Tis type of protective membrane is suitable to protect a Langer area. Even if the membrane is distorted by the uneven pressure, or the membrane expands for some reason, the overlapped areas still work as sis. [0038] | When aa alkaline water such a potassium hydox- ideo sodium hydroxide isthe desired electrolyzed water, the ‘electrodes A and B ate charged to negative polarity. The ‘electrode Cis charged to postive polarity, The, the direct ‘currents applied. In tis case the electrolyte solution inthe middle chambers 17 and I8is, Forexample, sodium carbonate solution, or potassium carbonate solution, or sodium hydro~ en carhonate (Sodium bicarbonate) solution, or potassium hydrogen carbonate (potasium bicarbonate) solution. Simi lar materials, or combinations ofthe materials aamed andlor similar materials, may also be used. In particular, the middle ‘chamber contains a solution comprising monovalent cations, ‘and preferably contains a potentially volatile anion such as ‘carbonate or biearbonate anions. Ina preferred embodiment, the carbonate or bicarbonate anions in the middle chamber are more than 90% ofthe anions in the middle chamber (by rnmber) 10039] In the elotolysis chambers 18 and 16, a flowing, alkaline water is generated, having a main component of Oct. 28, 2010 potassium andor sodium hydroxide, which has Tower redox potential and high pH. Such a solution is vsefil for many purposes. and i particular fr cleaning and disinfecting. In sections 17 and 18 ofthe mde chamber, carbon diode and ‘oxygen gis are generated, but the unwanted acidic water is not generated. The generated gas is discharged through nozzles 12 and 13. The electrolyte solution to be contained in sections 17 and 18 ofthe middle chamber may be circulated between the middle chamber anda separatecellon theoutsie ‘with the help of a pump. (Sodium or poiassium eatbonate oF bicarbonate is consumed in the reaction and may be replaced.) With these chemicals, no protective membrane is needed. However, a protective membrane may be placed between the electrode inthe middle chamber and the sem branes on each side ofthe middle chamber, if required by the chemistry ofthe solutions in use Example 1 [0040] FIG. 1 shows the electrolysis cell ofthis invention, In this example, an acidie wate is generated through elec= teolysis in the electrolysis cell. resin membrane with ne tiveion exchange ability isused forthe membranes Sand 610 separate each electrolysis chamber from the middle chamber, The electrode sheets and B are sheets which, in this example, have a usable overall area of $5 cm*, and are pro- Vided with numerous holes (caliber of 2 mm). The material forthe sheets is titanium with platinum iridium fied on. The electrode sheet C has a usable area of $5 em? with numerous holes (caliber of 2mm), The material forthe sheet is ttanium with platinum plated on. Between the electrode sheet A and the membrane §, and aso between the membrane 6 and the cletrode sheet B, the protective membrane is plaed in close contact. For this, protective flim MF2S0B manufactured by ‘Yuasa Membrane System is used. Numerous vertical slits of $5 mm in separation are added to this membrane. [0041] As teelectrolyte solution in the middle chamber, sodium chloride solution of about 30% in conceatation is used, To each ofthe electrode sheets A and B, a direct current ‘of 65 amperes at 7 volts is applied. To the electrode sheet C, a direct current of 13 amperes at 7 volts is applied. The original solution to be supplied to the electrolysis cell is directed into two Hows, One flow is supplied to theelectroly- sischambers 1S and 16 as the solution tobe electrolyzed. The other flow is the solution not to be electalyzed, which is rmixed with the electolyzed solution which comes out ofthe electrolysis chambers 1 and 16. That is the acidic water intended to be generated. The amount of solution to be elec- ‘eolyzedinthechambers 15nd 16issetat 200 ce/minute, and the amount of solution not to be electrolyzed is set at 2000 ceciminut, then after electrolysis, the solution are mixed, so that the generated amouat of the acid electolyzed water is 2200 ce/minute. The pH valve 3.2, and the effective chlo- Fine concentration is 35 ppm, Such a solution is useful for ‘many purposes and in particular for cleaning and disinfoct Jing. In this case, the pH! of the electrolyte solution in the mille chambers atthe start is pf1=100. It begins to climb until it eaches 13. However, the goal of not generating a continuous flow of alkaline wate is reached. Example 2 [0042] FG. 1 shows an electrolysis cell ofthis invention Ia this example, alkaline wate is gonerated through electrolysis inthe electrolysis cells. A resin membrane with positive ion US 2010/0270172 Al ‘exchange is used forthe membranes Sand 6 o separate ach ‘electrolysis chamber from the middle chamber, Theelecteode sheets A and B are placed in close contact with the mem- branes § and 6, The electrode showts A andl B, and also the ‘lectrode shoot havea usable area of $5 ens with numerous holes (caliber of 2 mm). They are made of titanium sheet ‘with platinum plated on, In the middle chamber, the elect Iyte solution of potassium carbonate at approximately 50% ‘concentration by Weight is contained. [0043] The original solution to be supplied tothe eleetroly- sis cel is directed into two flows, One half of the solution is supplied tothe electrolysis chamber 15, andthe other half is supplied to the electolysis chamber 16. By combining the solutions coming out ofthe chamber 15 and the chamber 16, the alkali water is successfully gained, The direct cuereat applied to the electrode shoots is 20 amperes at 9 volts. The ‘combined amount of solution supplied to the electolysis, ‘chambers is measured. The amount is varied, from 200

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