Electrolytic activation of water

• US 8,287,702 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rodolfo Antonio M. Gomez
• Original Assignee: Rodolfo Antonio M. Gomez
• Inventors: Gomez, Rodolfo Antonio M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phasge, Arun S
• Application Number:
  US12/284,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20090071844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 205/701, 205/742, 204/242, 204/272, 204/275.1
• US Class Current: 204/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/02 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/035 Electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• 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 2201/46155 Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46195 Cells containing solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection

Abstract

The commercial unipolar activation of water to disinfect raw water supply from rivers or wells, seawater, or waste water from sewage, animal waste, processing plant waste, cooling tower water, swimming pool and spa water, ship ballast water and similar polluted waters. Disinfection is accomplished by hydrogen peroxide and ozone including biocides from chlorine and sulphur compounds in the water that are produced during the electrolytic unipolar activation of the water. Unipolar activation can also be used to perform chemical reactions such as in the activation of seawater. This invention can also produce alkaline water that is beneficial for health.

Claims

1. A unipolar electrolytic apparatus to activate separate streams of raw water, the apparatus comprising;

an anode cell assembly and a cathode cell assembly,

the anode cell assembly including an anode electrode and an anode cell solution electrode, a raw water inlet and a treated anolyte outlet;

the cathode cell assembly including a cathode electrode and a cathode cell solution electrode, a raw water inlet and a treated catholyte outlet;

a power supply that provides a DC pulsed current to the anode cell assembly and the cathode cell assembly,

the anode electrode comprising an expanded metal mesh and comprising or being coated with a material providing a low over-voltage and resistance to corrosion, a baffle surrounding the anode electrode, the baffle comprising an electrically non-conductive material to force the water to weave in and out of the expanded metal electrode, the anode cell solution electrode comprising a sheet metal and the anode cell solution electrode surrounding the baffle; and

the cathode electrode comprising an expanded metal mesh and comprising or being coated with a material providing a low over-voltage and resistance to corrosion, a baffle surrounding the cathode electrode, the baffle comprising an electrically non-conductive material to force the water to weave in and out of the expanded metal electrode, the cathode cell solution electrode comprising a sheet metal and the cathode cell solution electrode surrounding the baffle;

a raw water supply to each of the anode cell and the cathode cell, a treated anolyte take off line from the anode cell and a treated catholyte take off line from the cathode cell,

the electrical connections of the cathode solution electrode and the cathode electrode being interchanged to result in the cathode cell behaving like an anode cell in an anode mode, or the electrical connections between the anode solution electrode and the anode electrode being interchanged to result in the anode cell behaving like the cathode cell in a cathode mode, whereby oxidizing reactions occur in the water at both anode cell and cathode cell in the anode mode, such that strong biocides are produced in both the anode cell and the cathode cell, and where reducing reactions occur in the water at both anode cell and cathode cell in the cathode mode, whereby to produce the treated anolyte from the anode cell and the treated catholyte from the cathode cell.

2. A unipolar electrolytic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the DC current applied has a pulse frequency of 20 to 200 kilohertz.

3. A unipolar electrolytic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the DC pulsing current has a duty cycle of the range of from 20 to 80 percent.

4. A unipolar electrolytic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the anode cell assembly and the cathode cell assembly operates at a temperature of from 10 degrees Celsius to 200 degrees Celsius.

5. A unipolar electrolytic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the anode and cathode cell assembly operate at a pressure of from atmospheric pressure up to 300 psig (22 atm).

6. A unipolar electrolytic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the anode cell and cathode cell solution electrodes are of solid construction to guide the water to weave in and out of the expanded metal electrode.