Method and apparatus for improving electrochemical processes
First Claim
1. Apparatus for improving the operation of an electrochemical system utilizing at least one positive and at least one negative electrode, said apparatus comprisingmeans for periodically applying a voltage across said electrodes to provide a current in a first direction between the electrodes through the electrolyte of the electrochemical system;
- means for periodically reversing the direction of the current through the electrolyte; and
said means for periodically applying the voltage including current changing means for changing said current in response to voltage changes occurring across said electrodes caused by perturbations in said electrochemical process where the slope of the function representing the current change with respect to a voltage change caused by said perturbations is at least five.
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Abstract
An electrochemical process and apparatus utilizing a positive and negative electrode. A current is periodically provided in a first direction between the electrodes through the electrolyte of the electrochemical process. The direction of the current is periodically reversed through the electrolyte to repolarize the electrodes, to at least decrease the electric double layer at the electrodes, and to exercise the electrolyte. The current is changed in response to voltage changes occuring across the electrodes caused by perturbations in the electrochemical process itself where the slope of the function representing the current change with respect to a voltage change caused by the perturbations is sufficiently large to enhance the repolarizing, the decreasing of the electric double layer and the exercizing of the electrolyte to thus effect improvement in the electrochemical process.
21 Citations
41 Claims
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1. Apparatus for improving the operation of an electrochemical system utilizing at least one positive and at least one negative electrode, said apparatus comprising
means for periodically applying a voltage across said electrodes to provide a current in a first direction between the electrodes through the electrolyte of the electrochemical system; -
means for periodically reversing the direction of the current through the electrolyte; and said means for periodically applying the voltage including current changing means for changing said current in response to voltage changes occurring across said electrodes caused by perturbations in said electrochemical process where the slope of the function representing the current change with respect to a voltage change caused by said perturbations is at least five. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- 13. Apparatus as in claim 12 where said means for adjusting the magnitude of VSET is so adjusted that
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">V.sub.SET >
V.sub.E.P. +V.sub.D1
where VD1 is the lower limit voltage of said logarithmic range. - space="preserve" listing-type="equation">V.sub.SET >
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- 14. Apparatus as in claim 10 where said means for adjusting the magnitude of VSET is so adjusted that
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">V.sub.SET =V.sub.E.P. +1 volt.
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33. In an electrochemical process utilizing at least one positive and at least one negative electrode, the improvement of
periodically applying a voltage across said electrodes to provide a current in a first direction between the electrodes through the electrolyte of the electrochemical process; -
periodically reversing the direction of the current through the electrolyte; and changing said current in response to voltage changes occurring across said electrodes caused by perturbations in said electrochemical process where the slope of the function representing the current change with respect to a voltage change caused by said perturbation is at least five. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. In an electrochemical process utilizing at least one positive and at least one negative electrode, the improvement of
periodically providing a current in a first direction between the electrodes through the electrolyte of the electrochemical process, periodically reversing the direction of the current through the electrolyte to repolarize said electrodes, to at least decrease the electric double layer at said electrodes, and to exercise said electrolyte; - and
changing said current in response to voltage changes occurring across said electrodes caused by perturbations in said electrochemical process where the slope of the function representing the current change with respect to a voltage change caused by said perturbations is sufficiently large to enhance said repolarizing, said decreasing of the electric double layer and said exercising of the electrolyte to thus effect improvement in the electrochemical process. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification