Energy-efficient automatic dishwashing appliances

• US 20030213505A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Waugh, Kevin Lindsey, Price, Kenneth Nathan, Scheper, William Michael, Showell, Michael Stanford, Tremblay, Mario Elmen, Ballas, Julia Elizabeth, Chiao, I-Chun Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/222,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213505A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/25.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0015 other treatment phases, e.g. steam or sterilizing phase
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4238 by using electrolytic cells
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4291 Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/30 Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/34 Other automatic detections
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2601/06 Electrolysed water
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/035 Electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/003 Colloidal solutions, e.g. gels; Thixotropic solutions or pastes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/14 Hard surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/44 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/46 applying energy, e.g. irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/046 Salts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/386 Preparations containing enzymes , e.g. protease or amylase
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3953 Inorganic bleaching agents C11D3/3951 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3956 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

An automatic dishwashing appliance containing a cell and/or device comprising same for electrolyzing tap water and/or wash and/or rinse liquor for treating tableware to improve cleaning, sanitizing and stain removal. The present invention also relates to methods of use and articles of manufacture.

Claims

1. An automatic dishwashing appliance having a washing basin for treating tableware to provide an improvement in cleaning, sanitizing, and/or stain removal, said appliance comprising a source of electrical current supply, and an attached, integrated, recirculating electrochemical cell and/or an electrolytic device comprising said recirculating cell;

wherein said recirculating cell comprises at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening, and at least one pair of electrodes defining at least one cell gap comprising at least one cell passage formed therebetween through which an aqueous electrolytic solution can flow; and

wherein at least some of said aqueous electrolytic solution recirculates through said recirculating cell and is discharged into said appliance as an electrolyzed discharge effluent.

2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculated electrolytic solution comprises at least some electrolyzed water from electrolysis of a water supply source selected from the group consisting of incoming tap water, recirculated wash and/or rinse liquors, and mixtures thereof.

3. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said cell gap between said pair of electrodes having a spacing between about 0.1 mm to about 5.0 mm.

4. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said source of electrical current supply is alternating current.

5. An appliance according to claim 4, wherein said source of electrical current supply is drawn from said appliance'"'"'s internal electric current or from the household electrical current from which said appliance draws its electrical current.

6. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said source of electrical current supply comprises at least one battery, at least one rechargeable battery, and mixtures thereof, wherein the operating voltage of said recirculating cell and/or device is between about 1.5 to about 12 volts.

7. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance allows for at least some wash and/or rinse liquor to:

(a) continuously pass through said recirculating cell and/or device as a discharge effluent, (b) be bypassed back into the washing basin of said appliance without undergoing electrolysis, and (c) combinations thereof, wherein when recirculating wash and/or rinse liquor is discharged from said recirculating cell and/or device, said discharge effluent comprises at least some electrolyzed recirculated wash and/or rinse liquor.

8. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a non-recirculating cell and/or device, wherein said non-recirculating cell and/or device does not allow for recirculation of wash and/or rinse liquor;

wherein the only water treated by said cell and/or device is tap water from an incoming tap water supply;

wherein when tap water is treated and discharged from said non-recirculating cell and/or device as discharge effluent, said discharge effluent comprises at least some electrolyzed tap water.

9. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculating cell is a dual-purpose cell comprising a recirculating portion and a non-recirculating portion.

10. An appliance according to claim 9, wherein said dual-purpose cell providing (a) electrolyzed, recirculated wash and/or rinse liquor from said recirculation portion, (b) electrolyzed, non-recirculated tap water from said non-recirculating portion, and (c) combinations thereof, at specific time intervals throughout the wash and/or rinse cycles of said appliance when activated.

11. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculating cell is disposable and/or replaceable.

12. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculating cell and/or device is non-partitioned.

13. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculating cell and/or device is partitioned.

14. An appliance according to claim 13, wherein said pair of electrodes comprises at least one anode and at least one cathode, wherein all or part of the electrolyzed water is split into two separate streams, an anode stream and a cathode stream, and wherein said split streams are optionally used separately at different times during the wash and/or rinse cycles of said appliance and for different purposes.

15. An appliance according to claim 14, wherein said electrolyzed water from said anode stream of said partitioned cell is used during one of the rinse cycles in said appliance.

16. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculating cell and/or electrolytic device further comprises a means for activating and/or deactivating said recirculating cell and/or device to enable and/or disable electrolysis at specific time intervals throughout the wash and/or rinse cycles of said appliance.

17. An appliance according to claim 16, wherein said means of activation and/or deactivation of said recirculating cell and/or device comprises at least one sensor capable of analyzing and/or detecting a target composition of the fluid or gaseous environment within said appliance, recirculating cell, and/or device, and wherein when said sensor detects said target composition, said sensor provides an electric and/or electronic signal to said appliance, recirculating cell, and/or device, to activate and/or deactivate said recirculating cell and/or device.

18. A appliance according to claim 17, wherein said target composition comprises a volatile compound or gas selected from the group consisting of perfumes, perfume raw materials, volatile organic compounds, inorganic gases, and mixtures thereof.

19. An appliance according to claim 17, wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of turbidity sensor, water hardness sensor, pH sensor, conductivity sensor, and combinations thereof.

20. A appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculating cell is robust, wherein said robust, recirculating cell comprises at least one cathode of stainless steel and at least one anode of titanium, and wherein said anode is coated and/or layered with at least one of the materials selected from the group consisting of platinum, ruthenium iridium, and oxides, alloys, and mixtures thereof.

21. An appliance according to claim 20, wherein said robust, recirculating cell is non-partitioned, having a cell gap between said pair of electrodes with a spacing between about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm.

22. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculating cell and/or device further comprising a filtering means to minimize fouling of said cell passage from flow of said recirculated electrolytic solution through said cell passage, and wherein said filter is optionally self-cleaning.

23. An appliance according to claim 22, wherein said filtering means comprises a disposable and/or replaceable filter that removes food particles and debris greater than about 0.1 mm in size from said recirculating electrolytic solution prior to said solution entering said cell passage.

24. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance comprises a cycle setting using words selected from the group consisting of “

economy”

, “

energy”

, “

anti”

, “

low”

, “

efficient”

, “

econo”

, “

regular”

, “

heavy duty”

, “

drying”

, “

sanitization”

, “

sanitizing”

, “

sanitary”

, “

antimicrobial”

, “

antibacterial”

, “

energy-savings”

, “

low-energy”

, and combinations thereof.

25. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a storage means for storing at least one product prior to its release.

26. An appliance according to claim 25, wherein said storage means comprises at least one sealed or sealable compartment for housing and delivering said product to the wash and/or rinse liquor of said appliance, such that said product is discharged in conjunction with at least one predetermined point in time during the wash and/or rinse cycle of said appliance, wherein when said sealed or sealable compartment houses said product said sealed or sealable compartment is optionally recloseable such that the contents of said sealed or sealable compartment are not contaminated by an external medium.

27. An appliance according to claim 25, wherein said product is in the form selected from the group consisting of a tablet, pellet, prill, powder, gel, liquid, and combinations thereof.

28. An appliance according to claim 25, wherein said product is selected from the group comprising electrolytic solution containing chloride ions, chlorite ions, electrolytic solution containing salts having the formula (M)_x(XO₂)_y and/or (M)_x(X)_y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I, wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity, and wherein x and y are chosen such that said salt is charge balanced, electrolysis precursor compounds, electrolysis salts with low water solubility, electrolysis precursor compounds contained within a medium for controlled release, electrolyzed water, detergent compositions, rinse aid compositions, electrode cleaning agents, bleach-scavenging agents, metal-protecting agents, adjunct ingredients, and mixtures thereof.

29. An appliance according to claim 28, further comprising an autodosing system for delivery of said product.

30. An appliance according to claim 28, wherein said bleach-scavenging agent and/or metal-protecting agent is selected from the group consisting of perborate, percarbonate, ascorbic acid or derivatives thereof, carbamate, ammonium, sulfite, bisulfite, aluminum tristearate, sodium silicate, benzotriazole, amines, amino acids, and mixtures thereof.

31. An appliance according to claim 1, comprising an interior stainless steel tub.

32. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance comprises a drying cycle to remove moisture from the inside of the machine.

33. An appliance according to claim 32, wherein said drying is by air convection.

34. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said recirculated electrolytic solution passes through said recirculating cell and/or device by gravity flow, by pumping, by mass transport, by gradient, and combinations thereof.

35. An appliance according to claim 34, wherein said recirculated electrolytic solution passes through said recirculating cell and/or device by pump.

36. An appliance according to claim 35, wherein said pump is housed in said appliance, said cell, and/or said device.

37. An appliance according to claim 34, wherein said recirculated electrolytic solution passes through said recirculating cell and/or device by gravity flow.

38. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance further comprises a water softener.

39. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance further comprises a means for communicating to the consumer when it is time to refill and/or replace a component selected from the group consisting of a recirculating cell, recirculating dual-purpose cell, recirculating device comprising said recirculating cell, product refill and/or replacement cartridge, filter, elastomeric slit valve, porous basket comprising a product for dispensing, and combinations thereof.

40. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance and/or device further comprises a disposable, replaceable, and/or self-contained source of halide salts having the formula (M)_x(XO₂)_y and/or (M)_x(X)_y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I, wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity, and wherein x and y are chosen such that said salt is charge balanced.

89. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance is a commercial dishwasher selected from the group consisting of conveyor-low-temperature type, cabinet-low-temperature type, and combinations thereof.

90. An appliance according to claim 89, wherein said source of electrical current supply is the building electrical outlet, wherein said device comprises a power cord and plug for connection to said electrical outlet to allow for higher levels of bleaching species to be generated.

91. An appliance according to claim 90, wherein disinfectancy of said tableware can be achieved in the wash and/or rinse liquor at water temperatures below 48 degrees C.

95. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance is free of a tank selected form the group consisting of salt brine tank, acidic water tank, alkaline water tank, and combinations thereof.

41. An energy-saving automatic dishwashing appliance for treating tableware to provide an improvement in cleaning, sanitizing, and/or stain removal, said appliance comprising a source of electrical current supply, and an attached, integrated, energy-saving electrochemical cell and/or an electrolytic device comprising said energy-saving cell;

wherein said energy-saving cell comprising at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening, and at least one pair of electrodes defining at least one cell gap comprising at least one cell passage formed therebetween through which an aqueous electrolytic solution can flow;

wherein said appliance has a total energy consumption of less than about 1.8 kWh per operating cycle and/or less than about 600 kWh per year; and

wherein said total energy consumption of said appliance includes any energy used to heat wash and/or rinse liquor in said appliance.

42. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 41, wherein said total energy consumption is less than about 1.7 kWh per operating cycle and/or about 555 kWh per year.

43. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 42, wherein said total energy consumption is less than about 1.2 kWh per operating cycle and/or about 400 kWh per year.

44. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 41, wherein said appliance further comprising an incoming tap water supply comprising at least a cold water supply.

45. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 44, wherein said incoming tap water supply consists of a cold water supply.

46. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 41, wherein said appliance does not contain a water-heating booster, a water-heating element, and/or other means of providing additional thermal energy to said incoming tap water supply.

47. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 41, wherein said energy-saving cell is selected from the group consisting of partitioned, non-partitioned, robust, recirculating, non-recirculating, and combinations thereof.

48. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 41, further comprising a storage means for storing at least one product prior to its release.

49. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 48, wherein said storage means comprises at least one sealed or sealable compartment for housing and delivering said product to the wash and/or rinse liquor of said appliance, such that said product is discharged in conjunction with at least one predetermined point in time during the wash and/or rinse cycle of said appliance, wherein when said sealed or sealable compartment houses said product said sealed or sealable compartment is optionally recloseable such that the contents of said sealed or sealable compartment are not contaminated by an external medium.

50. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 48, wherein said product is in the form selected from the group consisting of a tablet, pellet, prill, powder, gel, liquid, and combinations thereof.

51. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 48, wherein said product is selected from the group comprising electrolytic solution containing chloride ions, chlorite ions, electrolytic solution containing salts having the formula (M)_x(XO₂)_y and/or (M)_x(X)_y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I, wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity, and wherein x and y are chosen such that said salt is charge balanced, electrolysis precursor compounds, electrolysis salts with low water solubility, electrolysis precursor compounds contained within a medium for controlled release, electrolyzed water, detergent compositions, rinse aid compositions, electrode cleaning agents, bleach-scavenging agents, metal-protecting agents, adjunct ingredients, and mixtures thereof.

52. An energy-saving appliance according to claim 41, wherein said appliance further comprises a means for communicating to the consumer when it is time to refill and/or replace a component selected from the group consisting of an energy-saving cell, energy-saving dual-purpose cell, energy-saving device comprising said energy-saving cell, energy-saving dual-purpose cell, product refill and/or replacement cartridge, filter, elastomeric slit valve, porous basket comprising a product for dispensing, and combinations thereof.

53. An automatic dishwashing appliance for treating tableware to provide an improvement in cleaning, sanitizing, and/or stain removal, said appliance comprising a source of electrical current supply, and an attached, integrated, electrochemical cell comprising at least one disposable and/or replaceable component, and/or an electrolytic device comprising a disposable and/or replaceable electrochemical cell;

wherein said disposable cell comprising at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening, and at least one pair of electrodes defining at least one cell gap comprising at least one cell passage formed therebetween through which an aqueous electrolytic solution can flow; and

wherein when said disposable cell becomes fouled, said disposable cell is removed from said appliance and/or device and replaced, as needed.

54. An appliance according to claim 53, further comprising a storage means for storing at least one product prior to its release.

55. An appliance according to claim 54, wherein said storage means comprises at least one sealed or sealable compartment for housing and delivering said product to the wash and/or rinse liquor of said appliance, such that said product is discharged in conjunction with at least one predetermined point in time during the wash and/or rinse cycle of said appliance, wherein when said sealed or sealable compartment houses said product said sealed or sealable compartment is optionally recloseable such that the contents of said sealed or sealable compartment are not contaminated by an external medium.

56. An appliance according to claim 55, wherein said product is in the form selected from the group consisting of a tablet, pellet, prill, powder, gel, liquid, and combinations thereof.

57. An appliance according to claim 55, wherein said product comprises a component selected from the group consisting of electrolytic solution containing chloride ions, chlorite ions, electrolytic solution containing salts having the formula (M)_x(XO₂)_y and/or (M)_x(X)_y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I, wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity, and wherein x and y are chosen such that said salt is charge balanced, electrolysis precursor compounds, electrolysis salts with low water solubility, electrolysis precursor compounds contained within a medium for controlled release, electrolyzed water, detergent compositions, rinse aid compositions, electrode cleaning agents, bleach-scavenging agents, metal-protecting agents, adjunct ingredients, and mixtures thereof.

58. An appliance according to claim 53, wherein said disposable cell is selected from the group consisting of partitioned, non-partitioned, robust, recirculating, non-recirculating, and combinations thereof.

59. An appliance according to claim 53, wherein said appliance has a total energy consumption of less than about 1.8 kWh per operating cycle and/or less than about 600 kWh per year;

and wherein said total energy consumption of said appliance includes any energy used to heat wash and/or rinse liquor in said appliance.

60. An appliance according to claim 59, wherein said total energy consumption is less than about 1.7 kWh per operating cycle and/or about 555 kWh per year.

61. An appliance according to claim 60, wherein said total energy consumption is less than about 1.2 kWh per operating cycle and/or about 400 kWh per year.

62. An appliance according to claim 53, wherein said appliance further comprises a disposable and/or replaceable component selected from the group consisting of product refill and/or replacement cartridge, filter, elastomeric slit valve, porous basket comprising a product for dispensing, and combinations thereof.

63. An appliance according to claim 53, wherein said appliance further comprises a means for communicating to the consumer when it is time to refill and/or replace a component selected from the group consisting of an electrochemical cell, dual-purpose electrochemical cell, electrolytic device comprising said cell and/or dual-purpose cell, product refill and/or replacement cartridge, filter, elastomeric slit valve, porous basket comprising a product for dispensing, and combinations thereof.

64. An appliance according to claim 63, wherein said communication means comprises an indicator.

65. An appliance according to claim 53, wherein said appliance and/or device further comprising at least one sealed or scalable compartment, and wherein all or part of said disposable cell is removable from said appliance and/or device via said sealed or sealable compartment.

66. An appliance according to claim 53, further comprising a cell regeneration means to extend the operating life of said pair of electrodes in said disposable cell and/or device by descaling and/or unfouling said pair of electrodes.

67. An appliance according to claim 66, wherein said cell regeneration means comprises a means for periodically reversing the polarity of said pair of electrodes, and/or a means for the addition of a liquid electrode cleansing composition into an aperture in fluid communication with the inlet opening of said disposable cell and/or optional inlet port of said electrolytic device comprising an electrochemical cell in order to descale and/or unfoul said pair of electrodes of said disposable cell and/or device;

and optionally wherein said aperture is greater than 0.5 mm in diameter and is located within the door of said appliance.

68. An appliance according to claim 53, wherein said appliance, disposable cell and/or device further comprises a disposable, replaceable, and/or self-contained source of halide salts having the formula (M)_x(XO₂)_y and/or (M)_x(X)_y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I, wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity, and wherein x and y are chosen such that said salt is charge balanced.

69. An appliance according to claim 53, wherein said disposable cell and/or device is easily removable and/or replaceable, and optionally comprises an aperture greater than 0.5 mm in diameter in fluid communication with said pair of electrodes of said disposable cell and/or device;

wherein said aperture allows for periodic addition of said liquid electrode cleansing composition.

70. An appliance according to claim 69, wherein said electrode cleansing composition comprises an anticorrosion or descaling agent.

71. An appliance according to claim 70, wherein said anticorrosion or descaling agent is vinegar.

72. A method of maintaining an appliance according to claim 53, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) removing said disposable cell and/or device from said appliance;

(b) placing said liquid electrode cleansing composition in fluid communication with said pair of electrodes of said removed disposable cell and/or device for an effective duration of time to allow for electrode descaling or defouling to occur;

(c) and placing said cleaned, disposable cell and/or device back into said appliance for reuse.

86. A method according to claim 53, wherein said cell is selected from the group consisting of energy saving, partitioned, non-partitioned, robust, recirculating, non-recirculating, and combinations thereof.

73. A method of sanitizing or disinfecting tableware in automatic dishwashing appliance without requiring additional heating of the wash and/or rinse liquor, the steps of said method comprising:

(a) placing tableware in need of treatment into said appliance;

(b) providing an attached, integrated, electrochemical cell and/or electrolytic device comprising said cell, wherein said cell comprising at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening, and at least one pair of electrodes defining at least one cell gap comprising at least one cell passage formed therebetween through which an aqueous electrolytic solution can flow;

(c) providing said aqueous electrolytic solution in fluid communication with said cell via said inlet opening;

(d) electrolyzing said aqueous electrolytic solution in said cell and/or device to produce at least some electrolyzed water;

(e) discharging an effluent comprising said electrolyzed water into the washing basin of said appliance at a specific time or times in the wash and/or rinse cycle;

(f) applying no additional heat to the wash and/or rinse liquor in the wash and/or rinse cycle(s) of said appliance;

(g) contacting said tableware in need of treatment with said wash and/or rinse liquor comprising at least some electrolyzed water; and

(h) optionally repeating steps (c) through (g) until said tableware are treated.

74. A method according to claim 73, said method further comprising the steps of removing and/or replacing a used refill and/or replacement cartridge and inserting a new refill and/or replacement cartridge into said appliance and/or electrolytic device;

wherein said used refill and/or replacement cartridge comprises a component selected from the group consisting of electrochemical cell, dual-purpose electrochemical cell, electrolytic device comprising said cell, product, filter, elastomeric slit valve, porous basket comprising a product for dispensing, and combinations thereof.

75. A method according to claim 73, said method further comprising step of providing and dispensing at least one product selected from the group consisting of electrolytic solution containing chloride ions, chlorite ions, electrolytic solution containing salts having the formula (M)_x(XO₂)_y and/or (M)_x(X)_y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I, wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity, and wherein x and y are chosen such that said salt is charge balanced, electrolysis precursor compounds, electrolysis salts with low water solubility, electrolysis precursor compounds contained within a medium for controlled release, electrolyzed water, detergent compositions, rinse aid compositions, electrode cleaning agents, bleach-scavenging agents, metal-protecting agents, adjunct ingredients, and mixtures thereof.

76. A method according to claim 75, wherein at least some of one of said at least one product undergoes electrolysis.

77. A method according to claim 75, wherein at least one of said at least one product does not undergo electrolysis.

78. A method according to claim 73, said method further comprising the steps of providing at least one product comprising a bleach-scavenging agent and/or metal protection agent, and discharging said product subsequent to the period or periods of electrolysis, or during one or more of the rinses, and after which no further electrolyzed water comes into contact with said tableware.

79. A method according to claim 73, wherein said electrolyzed discharge effluent is discharged only during one or more of the rinse cycles of said appliance.

80. A method according to claim 79, wherein said electrolyzed discharge effluent comprises hypochlorite and/or chlorine dioxide.

81. A method for washing tableware using an appliance according to claim 73, in conjunction with a composition selected from the group consisting of separate an electrolysis precursor composition of low water solubility, an electrolysis precursor compound contained in a medium for controlled release, and mixtures thereof, said separate electrolysis precursor composition comprising salts having the formula (M)_x(XO₂)_y and/or (M)_x(X)_y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I, wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity, and wherein x and y are chosen such that said salt is charge balanced.

82. A method according to claim 75, wherein said medium for controlled release comprises a form such that once placed inside a dishwashing appliance it provides a controlled release of electrolysis salts into the wash and/or rinse liquors during operation of an automatic dishwasher over a period of several weeks or months of regular household and/or commercial use.

83. An energy-saving method according to claim 73, wherein said total energy consumption is less than about 1.8 kWh per operating cycle or about 600 kWh per year, and wherein the total energy consumption of said appliance includes any energy used to heat wash and/or rinse liquor in said appliance.

84. An energy-saving method according to claim 83, wherein said total energy consumption is less than about 1.7 kWh per operating cycle or about 555 kWh per year.

85. An energy-saving method according to claim 84, wherein said total energy consumption is less than about 1.2 kWh per operating cycle or about 400 kWh per year.

88. An article of manufacture according to claim 82, wherein said replacement product is in the form such that once placed inside a dishwashing appliance it provides a controlled release of said electrolysis precursor compound into the wash and/or rinse liquors during operation of said automatic dishwasher over a period of several weeks or months of regular household and/or commercial use.

92. A method according to claim 75, wherein said appliance is a commercial dishwasher selected from the group consisting of conveyor-low-temperature type, cabinet-low-temperature type, and combinations thereof.

93. A method according to claim 92, wherein said source of electrical current supply is the building electrical outlet, wherein said device comprises a power cord and plug for connection to said electrical outlet to allow for higher levels of bleaching species to be generated.

94. A method according to claim 93, wherein disinfectancy can be achieved in the wash and/or rinse liquor at water temperatures below 48 degrees C.

87. An article of manufacture for an automatic dishwashing appliance comprising

(a) a package;

(b) a replacement component for said appliance selected from the group consisting of a;

(i) replacement electrochemical cell and/or electrolytic device,

(ii) replacement automatic dishwashing composition comprising a component selected from the group consisting of suds suppressor, perfume, bleach-scavenging agent, metal-protecting agent, and mixtures thereof;

(iii) replacement product comprising a component selected from electrolytic solution comprising chloride ions, an electrolytic composition comprising chlorite ions, electrolytic solution comprising salts having the formula (M)_x(XO₂)_y and/or (M)_x(X)_y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I and wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity and wherein x and y are chosen such that the salt is charge balanced, electrolysis precursor compound, an electrolysis salt with low water solubility, an electrolysis precursor compound contained within a medium for controlled release, and mixtures thereof, wherein said product optionally housed in a porous basket;

(iv) replacement filter or screen for said unattached electrolytic device;

(v) replacement elastomeric slit valve

(vi) replacement a porous basket comprising product for dispensing; and

(vii)combinations thereof, and

(c) information in association with said package comprising instructions to insert said replacement components in said appliance and/or said electrolytic device.