FLOW CELL FOR THE TREATMENT OF LIQUIDS

Abstract

The invention relates to a flow cell having a tube piece which extends along a longitudinal axis and within which a first electrode is coaxially arranged. The tube piece is formed by a first tube section and by a second tube section and by a second electrode which is arranged between the first and the second tube sections and which is circumferentially closed, so that its inner surface forms a part of the tube piece.

Claims

1. A flow cell having a tube piece which extends along a longitudinal axis and at the ends of which an inlet opening and an opposite outlet opening are arranged, with a first electrode which at least in part is arranged coaxially in the tube piece and which is coaxially encompassed by a spaced second electrode, wherein the tube piece is formed by a first tube section and by a second tube section and by a circumferentially closed second electrode which is arranged between the first and second tube sections, wherein a first radial carrier and a second radial carrier are arranged adjacent to the ends of the first tube section and of the second tube section, which ends lie opposite to the second electrode, and the first electrode is fixed to the first and second radial carriers, at least one of which is connected electrically conductive to the first electrode, and the first and second radial carriers are connected to the first electrode.

2. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode extends linearly between the first and the second radial carriers along a common longitudinal axis, and in the axial region in which it is encompassed by the second electrode (5) with a spacing, the first electrode has a larger outer diameter than in the axial regions which are encompassed by the first and second tube sections.

3. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the first and second radial carriers are tensioned towards one another by means of the first electrode.

4. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the first tube section and the second tube section are clamped against the second electrode and clamped between the first radial carrier and the second radial carrier only in that the first electrode tensions the first radial carrier towards the second radial carrier.

5. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the first radial carrier and the second radial carrier each have at least two webs which are arranged radially symmetrical and the first electrode is fixed to these.

6. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the first tube section, the section tube section, the second electrode and the first and second radial carriers each have circular inner cross sections.

7. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the first tube section and the second tube section, and arranged between these the second electrode, and the first and second radial carriers, which along the longitudinal axis between them encompass the first and second tube sections, have the same inner diameter.

8. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein a first connecting piece of an insulator is connected to the first radial carrier, and opposite a second connecting piece of an insulator is connected to the second radial carrier.

9. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode and the first and the second radial carriers consist of metal and the first and the second tube sections consist of insulator.

10. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein, optionally with a seal arranged in-between each, the first tube section abuts against the first radial carrier and against the second electrode each in a plane, arched or cone-shaped contact surface, which is annular, and the second tube section abuts against the second radial carrier and against the second electrode each in a plane, arched or cone-shaped contact surface, which is annular.

11. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the first tube section liquid-tight abuts against the first radial carrier and against the second electrode, and the second tube section liquid-tight abuts against the second radial carrier and against the second electrode, only in that the first radial carrier and the second radial carrier are tensioned against each other by the first electrode.

12. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is connected to a voltage source, and at least one of first and second radial carriers is connected electrically conductive to the first electrode and to a voltage source, wherein the voltage sources are configured to apply voltage of the same amount and opposite polarity to the electrodes.

13. The flow cell according to claim 1, wherein is provided in combination with a further first electrode having a different outer diameter in the axial region in which it is encompassed by the second electrode, and/or in combination with a further second electrode having a different inner diameter in the axial region in which it encompasses the first electrode.

14. A process for treatment of a liquid by electrical fields, wherein a flow cell according to claim 1 is provided and the liquid is moved through the flow cell, and voltages of opposite polarity are applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.

15. The process according to claim 14, in which upon a change of the liquid against a different one, the first electrode is exchanged for a further first electrode having a different outer diameter in the axial region in which it is encompassed by the second electrode, and/or the second electrode is exchanged for a further second electrode having a different inner diameter in the axial region in which it encompasses the first electrode.

Description

[0029] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures which show a preferred embodiment of the flow cell in

[0030] FIG. 1 in sectional view in parallel to the longitudinal axis,

[0031] FIG. 2 in a top view onto the flow cell in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein FIG. 1 shows the section A-A of FIG. 2,

[0032] FIG. 3 the sectional view B-B of FIG. 1 and

[0033] FIG. 4 the sectional view C-C of FIG. 1.

[0034] In the figures, identical reference numerals designate functionally identical elements.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a flow cell, the tube piece 1 of which forms a flow cell with the first electrode 2 contained therein, wherein the tube piece 1 is formed by a first tube section 3 and a second tube section 4 with a second electrode 5 which is circumferentially closed arranged between these. The first tube section 2, the second tube section 4 and the second electrode 5 arranged between these are arranged between a first radial carrier 6 and a second radial carrier 7. The first radial carrier 6 and the second radial carrier 7 between them clamp the first tube section 3, the second tube section 4 and the second electrode 5 arranged between these.

[0036] The first and second radial carriers 6, 7 each have at least two radial webs 12 to which the first electrode 2 is attached along the common longitudinal axis 13. The first electrode 2 is each terminally connected to a central opening of the webs 12 by a screw connection. The first electrode 2 loads the webs 12, so that the first radial carrier is loaded against the second radial carrier and the two radial carriers 6, 7 are tensioned towards one another by means of the first electrode 2. By this tensioning, the first tube section 3, the second tube section 4 and the second electrode 5 arranged between these are fixed between the first and second radial carriers 6, 7.

[0037] The first radial carrier 6 has an annular recess 8 facing the adjacent first tube section 3, into which annular recess 8 a terminal section of the first tube section 3 engages. Correspondingly, the second radial carrier 7 has an annular recess 9 into which a terminal section of the second tube section 4 engages. The second electrode 5 on opposite sides, which are preferably its front faces, has annular recesses 10 into which terminal sections each of the first tube section 3 or resp. of the second tube section 4 engage.

[0038] Seals 11, for example O-rings, are each arranged between the tube sections 3, 4 and each of the oppositely arranged first radial carrier 6, second electrode 5, and second radial carrier 7.

[0039] Opposite the first tube section 3, a first connecting piece 19 is connected to the first radial carrier 6, for example screwed into the recess 14 of the first radial carrier 6 opposite its annular recess 8 by means of a thread. The first connecting piece 19 has a nozzle 15 at its end. At the opposite end, the flow cell has a second connecting piece 16 which is arranged in a recess 14, which is arranged at the second radial carrier 7 opposite of its annular recess 9 or resp. opposite the second tube section 4. The second connecting piece 16 has e.g. an outlet opening.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows that preferably the first electrode 2 can be connected to at least three evenly radially arranged webs 12 of the first radial carrier 6 and of the second radial carrier 7.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows that the first electrode 2 has a larger outer diameter in the axial area in which it is circumferentially encompassed by the second electrode 5 than in an axial section in which the first electrode 2 is encompassed by the first or second tube sections 3, 4, or in which it is attached to the second radial carrier 7 or resp. to the first radial carrier 6.

[0042] Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that the second electrode 5 as an electrical terminal 17 can e.g. have a connection surface with a thread cut into the second electrode 5.

[0043] The figures show that the first electrode 2 according to the preferred embodiment is formed single-pieced and that the second electrode 5 is formed single-pieced.

[0044] FIG. 4 further shows that at least one of the radial carriers 6, 7 has a further electrical terminal 18, e.g. a connection surface with a thread cut into the radial carrier 6, 7.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0045] 1 tube piece [0046] 2 first electrode [0047] 3 first tube section [0048] 4 second tube section [0049] 5 second electrode [0050] 6 first radial carrier [0051] 7 second radial carrier [0052] 8 annular recess [0053] 9 annular recess [0054] 10 annular recess [0055] 11 seal [0056] 12 web [0057] 13 longitudinal axis [0058] 14 recess [0059] 15 nozzle [0060] 16 second connecting piece [0061] 17 electrical terminal [0062] 18 electrical terminal [0063] 19 first connecting piece [0064] 20 carrier surface