Non-membrane electrolytic cell for electrolysis of water

• US 5,865,966 A
• Filed: 12/27/1996
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toto Limited
• Original Assignee: Toto Limited
• Inventors: Watanabe, Kazuyuki, Ando, Shigeru, Takamatsu, Hiroshi, Nishi, Tomohiro, Miyahara, Hidetaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Valentine, Donald R.
• Application Number:
  US08/765,578
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 204/263, 204/275-278, 204/279
• US Class Current: 204/278.5
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4602 for prevention or elimination of deposits
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46176 Galvanic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46138 Electrodes comprising a substrate and a coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46152 characterised by the shape or form electrodes in particulate form or with conductive or non-conductive particles between them C02F1/46114
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4611 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/022 Laminar

Abstract

A non-membrane type electrolytic cell (10) comprises an anode plate (16, 20) and a cathode plate (18) which are arranged opposite to each other with an electrically insulating spacer (22) sandwiched therebetween. The spacer (22) is formed of plastics having a water absorption of not more than 0.3%, preferably not more than 0.2%, more preferably not more than 0.01%. Deposition of scale, such as calcium carbonate, on the spacer (22) is prevented.

Claims

1. A non-membrane electrolytic cell wherein an anode plate and a cathode plate forming a pair are arranged opposite to each other with an electrically insulating spacer sandwiched therebetween to form a flowpath serving as an electrolytic chamber and wherein water is subjected to electrolysis as it flows through said flowpath to thereby produce alkaline and/or acidic water, characterized in that said spacer is made of an electrically insulating material having a water absorption equal to or less than about 0.3%, and further wherein said cell comprises a water distribution path connected to an inlet of said flowpath and having a cross-sectional flow area larger than that of said flowpath, and wherein the cross-section of said distribution path is selected such that turbulent flow region formed in the inlet region of flowpath is minimized.

2. A non-membrane electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein side walls defining the cross-section of said distribution path is inclined toward the inlet of the flowpath.

3. A non-membrane electrolytic cell comprising an anode plate and a cathode plate arranged opposite to each other and having an electrically insulating spacer sandwiched therebetween to form a flowpath serving as an electrolytic chamber, wherein said electrolytic cell comprises a water distribution path connected to an inlet of said flowpath and having a cross-sectional flow area larger than that of said flowpath, and wherein the cross-section of said distribution path is selected such that turbulent flow formed in the inlet region of the flowpath is minimized.

4. A non-membrane electrolytic cell according to claim 3, wherein side walls defining the cross-section of said distribution path are inclined toward the inlet of the flowpath.