Electrolytic Ozone Generator

Abstract

An electrolytic ozone generator comprises a cavity, and electrodes and a membrane disposed in the cavity. The electrodes comprise an anode and a cathode. A water inlet and a water outlet are formed in two ends of the cavity respectively. The membrane has a side face parallel and opposite to the anode and a side face parallel and opposite to the cathode. An annular guide channel is formed between a periphery of the anode, the cathode and the membrane, and an inner wall of the cavity. A water distribution space is formed between the water inlet and the electrode at the water inlet end, and is communicated with the annular guide channel and the through holes in the electrode at the water inlet end. The anode and the cathode are electrically connected through water flowing therethrough. The ozone generator can increase the ozone concentration in water.

Claims

1. An electrolytic ozone generator, comprising a cavity, and electrodes and a membrane disposed in the cavity, wherein the electrodes comprise an anode and a cathode, the membrane is disposed between the anode and the cathode; a water inlet and a water outlet are formed in two ends of the cavity respectively; the membrane has a side face parallel and opposite to the anode and a side face parallel and opposite to the cathode; through holes are formed in the anode and/or the cathode, and the membrane is a non-porous membrane; an annular guide channel is formed between a periphery of the anode, the cathode and the membrane, and an inner wall of the cavity; a water distribution space is formed between the water inlet and the electrode at the water inlet end, and is communicated with the annular guide channel and the through holes in the electrode at the water inlet end; and the anode and the cathode are electrically connected through water flowing through the anode and the cathode.

2. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein an end face of the anode faces the water inlet, and an end face of the cathode faces the water outlet.

3. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein the electrolytic ozone generator further comprises a water inlet assembly located at the water inlet end of the cavity; the water inlet assembly comprises a water inlet pipe and a regulating port disposed on the water inlet pipe and used to regulate a water velocity and pressure, and the water inlet pipe has an end connected to a water source and an end connected to the water inlet; and water flowing out of the regulating port flows back to the water source.

4. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 3, wherein a steel ball provided with a notch and used for regulating a water flow is disposed in the regulating port, and steel balls with notches of different sizes are used to regulate the water flow.

5. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein the through holes of the anode are aligned with the through holes of the cathode, and axial projections of the through holes of the anode overlap with axial projections of the through holes of the cathode.

6. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein the through holes of the anode are staggered with the through holes of the cathode, and axial projections of the through holes of the anode do not overlap with axial projections of the through holes of the cathode.

7. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein multiple through holes are formed in the anode, and multiple through holes are formed in the cathode.

8. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein an area of the through holes in the anode or the cathode accounts for 5%-80% of a total area of the anode or the cathode.

9. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein a displacement buffer zone for displacement buffer of the anode or the cathode is disposed between the anode or the cathode and the inner wall of the cavity.

10. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 9, wherein a buffer assembly for buffering a water pressure applied to the anode or the cathode is disposed in the displacement buffer zone.

11. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 10, wherein the buffer assembly is an elastic member, and the elastic member is arranged in an axial direction and has an end acting on the anode or the cathode and an end acting on the inner wall of the cavity.

12. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 11, wherein the elastic member is any one of a spring, a tower spring and an elastic piece.

13. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is a PEM.

14. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein the anode and/or the cathode is in any one of a circular shape, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a square shape, a parallelogram shape, a rhombus shape and an irregular shape.

15. The electrolytic ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein the cathode is made of any one of stainless steel, carbon materials, metal materials, metal oxide, non-metal conductive materials and composite materials; and the anode is made of any one of diamond, platinum, titanium, electrolytic water electrode wear-resistant materials, conductive ceramic, conductors, carbon materials, graphite materials and other metal materials.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1-FIG. 3 are structural views of a first specific implementation of an electrolytic ozone generator according to the invention, wherein FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view, FIG. 2 is a right view, and FIG. 3 is a front view.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the electrolytic ozone generator in a vertical direction according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a cavity according to the invention.

[0038] FIG. 6-FIG. 7 are structural views of a third specific implementation of the electrolytic ozone generator according to the invention, wherein FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of the electrolytic ozone generator without a water inlet assembly and a spring, and FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of the internal structure of a cavity.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a structural view of a fourth specific implementation of the electrolytic ozone generator according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] To allow those skilled in the art to have a good understanding of the technical solutions of the invention, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with embodiments and accompanying drawings. Clearly, the implementations of the invention are not limited to the following description.

Embodiment 1

[0041] Referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 5, this embodiment provides an electrolytic ozone generator, comprising a cavity 1, an anode 2 and a cathode 3 disposed in the cavity 1, a proton exchange membrane 4 disposed between the anode 2 and the cathode 3, a water inlet assembly 5 disposed at an end, close to the anode 2, of the cavity 1, and a spring 6 disposed at an end, close to the cathode 3, of the cavity 1, wherein one end of the spring 6 acts on the cathode 3, and the other end of the spring 6 acts on an inner wall of the cavity 1; a water inlet is formed in a water inlet end of the cavity, a water outlet is formed in a water outlet end of the cavity 1, the water inlet is communicated with the water inlet assembly 5, the anode 2 is close to the water inlet, and the cathode 3 is close to the water outlet. When the water pressure is too high or too low, the cathode 3 can automatically adjust the distance to the anode 2 under the action of the spring 6 according to different water pressures in the cavity 1, so that the distance between the cathode 3 and the anode 2 is kept stable, the cavity 1 can work normally under different water inputs without causing damage to the cathode 3, the stability of the anode 2 and the cathode 3 in the electrolysis process is guaranteed, energy consumption is reduced, the cathode 3 is effectively protected, and the service life of the cathode 3 and the anode 2 is prolonged.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 5, an outer contour of the cavity 1, an outer contour of the anode 2, an outer contour of the cathode 3 and an outer contour of the membrane 4 are all rectangular, one side face of the membrane 4 is parallel and opposite to the anode 2, and the other side face of the membrane 4 is parallel and opposite to the cathode 3; six circular first through holes 201 are formed in the anode 2 and are regularly distributed in the anode 2 in two rows; six second through holes 3-1 are formed in the cathode 3 and are regularly distributed in the cathode 3 in two rows; the first through holes 2-1 are aligned with the second through holes 3-1, and axial projections of the first through holes 2-1 overlap with axial projections of the second through holes 3-1; and the membrane 4 is a non-porous membrane 4. By adoption of this structure, the surface contact area of water with the anode 2 and the cathode 3 can be effectively enlarged through the multiple through holes, so the electrolytic efficiency is improved, high-concentration ozone water can be prepared; electrolytic products can be discharged in the circumferential direction as quickly as possible via the multiple through holes and will not be blocked, so the heat dissipation efficiency is improved, and energy consumption is reduced. The non-porous membrane 4 is used, so water will be scattered around under the action of the non-porous membrane 4 when entering a gap between the anode 2 and the membrane 4 via the through holes in the anode 2, and the membrane 4 will move backwards under the impact force of water; although the gap between the membrane 4 and the anode 2 becomes larger, water is blocked by membrane 4 and will not impact the cathode 3 in the axial direction, so the distance between the anode 2 and the cathode 3 is kept stable, thus guaranteeing the voltage stability and further reducing energy consumption.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 5, an annular peripheral gap exists between the periphery of the anode 2, the cathode 3 and the membrane 4 and an inner wall of the cavity 1, and forms an annular guide channel 7; the ratio of the area of the first through holes 2-1 to the area of the annular guide channel 7 is 0.1-1; a water distribution space 8 is formed between the water inlet and the anode 2 and is communicated with the annular guide channel 7; the anode 2 is connected to a positive electrode of a power supply, the cathode 3 is connected to a negative electrode of the power supply, and the anode 2 and the cathode 3 are electrically connected through water (electrolytic solution). The power supply of the anode 2 and the cathode 3 is turned on to electrolyze water in the cavity 1, and in the electrolysis process, the anode 2 generates ozone, and the cathode 3 generates hydrogen. After entering the cavity 1, water is divided into two paths in the water distribution space 8; one path of water flows into the gap between the anode 2 and the membrane 4 via the first through holes 2-1 of the anode 2 at the water inlet end of the cavity 1, so as to be electrolyzed; the other path of water flows in the annular guide channel 7; water flowing through the first through holes 2-1 is blocked by the non-porous membrane 4, so that the water velocity in this position is low, while the water velocity in the annular guide channel 7 is increased, so an Venturi effect is generated in the annular guide channel 7, a low pressure is formed near the high-velocity water, a pressure difference is generated between the middle of the cavity 1 and the annular guide channel 7, and thus, gases and ozone water generated on the anode 2 or the cathode 3 by electrolysis are sucked into the annular guide channel 7 under the effect of water in the annular guide channel 7. In this way, prepared ozone can be taken away quickly, the quantity of ozone dissolved in water is increased, and the ozone concentration is increased accordingly.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 5, the space between the cathode 3 and the inner wall of the cavity 1 forms a displacement buffer zone 9 for displacement buffer of the cathode 3, and the spring 6 is disposed in the displacement buffer zone 9; when the water pressure is too high or too low, the anode 2 or the cathode 3 can automatically adjust the distance between the anode 2 and the cathode 3 through the displacement buffer zone 9 to keep the distance stable, so that the scouring force of the anode 2 or the cathode 3 is improved.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 5, the water inlet assembly 5 comprises a water inlet pipe 5-1 and a regulating port 5-1 disposed on the water inlet pipe 5-1 and used for regulating a water velocity and pressure, wherein one end of the water inlet pipe 5-1 is connected to a water source, and the other end of the water inlet 5-1 is connected to the water inlet; water flowing out of the regulating port 5-2 flows back to the water source; a steel ball provided with a notch and used for regulating the water flow is disposed in the regulating port 5-2, and steel balls with notches of different sizes may be used to regulate the water flow. By adoption of this structure, when the anode 2 generates too much heat due to excessively high power of the anode 2, the water velocity of the water inlet pipe 5-1 can be increased through the regulating port 5-2 to take away heat of the anode 2, so that the anode 2 is cooled, the power is stabilized, and the service life of the anode 2 is prolonged; and the ozone absorption capacity of the annular guide channel 7 is improved by increasing the water velocity.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 5, the area of the first through holes 2-1 in the anode 2 accounts for 5%-80% of the total area of the anode 2, and the area of the second through holes 3-1 in the cathode 3 accounts for 5%-80% of the total area of the cathode 3. In this way, the heat dissipation area of the anode 2 and the cathode 3 with water is enlarged, so the ozone electrolysis efficiency of the anode 2 is improved, and high-concentration ozone water is prepared; and the heat dissipation efficiency is improved, the current density is increased by 10% without damaging the membrane 4, and the service life of the membrane 4 is further improved.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 5, the buffer assembly is an elastic member that is arranged in an axial direction, one end of the elastic member acts on the anode 2 or the cathode 3, and the other end of the elastic member acts on the inner wall of the cavity 1. Through the elastic member, the anode 2 or the cathode 3 can automatically adjust a gap between the anode 2 and the cathode 3 according to different water pressures in the cavity 1, so the cavity 1 can work normally under different water inputs without causing damage to the anode 2 or the cathode 3, the anode 2 and the cathode 3 are kept stable in the electrolysis process, energy consumption is reduced, the anode 2 or the cathode 3 is effectively protected, and the service life of the anode 2 or the cathode 3 is prolonged.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 5, the anode 2 is made of diamond, the cathode 3 is made of stainless steel, and the membrane 4 is a PEM which has good proton electrical conductivity and electrochemical stability.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 5, the operating principle of the electrolytic ozone generator is as follows:

[0050] During work, water is conveyed through the water inlet pipe 5-1, enters the cavity 1 via the water inlet, and is divided into two paths in the water distribution space 8; one path of water flows into the gap between the anode 2 and the membrane 4 via the through holes in the anode 2 at the water inlet end of the cavity 1, so as to be electrolyzed, and this path of water is blocked by the membrane 4 and enters the annular guide channel 7 around the membrane 4; then, part of water enters the gap between the cathode 3 at the water outlet end and the membrane 4 to be electrolyzed, and in the electrolysis process, the anode 2 generates ozone, and the cathode 3 generates hydrogen; because the membrane 4 is of a non-porous structure, water flowing in via the through holes in the anode 2 at the water inlet end is blocked and flows at a low velocity; after entering the water distribution space 8, the other path of water is blocked by the anode 2 or the cathode 3 at the water inlet end and is scattered around to enter the annular guide channel 7. By controlling the relationship between the sectional area of the annular guide channel 7 and the sectional area of the through holes in the electrode at the water inlet end, the water velocity in the annular guide channel 7 is made to be greater than the water velocity in the gap between the electrode and the membrane 4 to generate a Venturi effect in the annular guide channel 7, a low pressure is formed near the high-velocity in the annular guide channel 7, a pressure difference is generated between the gap between the electrode and the membrane 4, and the annular guide channel 7, and thus, gases and ozone water generated on the anode 2 by electrolysis are sucked into the annular guide channel 7 under the effect of water in the annular guide channel 7. In this way, prepared ozone can be taken away quickly, the quantity of ozone dissolved in water is increased, and the ozone concentration is increased accordingly. Ozone and ozone water are conveyed along the annular guide channel 7 and are finally discharged via the water outlet of the cavity, and thus, ozone preparation is completed. The high-velocity water in the annular guide channel can take away the heat of the electrode more rapidly, so that the heat dissipation effect is improved.

[0051] The flow velocity in the annular guide channel 7 can be regulated through the regulating port 5-1. When the anode 2 or the cathode 3 generates to much heat due to excessively high power of the anode 2 or the cathode 3, the flow velocity in the annular guide channel 7 is increased to facilitate heat dissipation of the anode 2 and the cathode 3; and because the anode 2 is close to the water inlet, the flow velocity at the water inlet end of the annular guide channel 7 is higher, so that the ozone absorption capacity of the annular guide channel 7 is further improved, and the quantity of ozone dissolved in water is increased.

[0052] Referring to the following table, the technical solution in this embodiment is compared with another two technical solutions in which the same anode 2, membrane 4 and cathode 3 are used. Wherein, Table 1 shows test and comparison results of this embodiment and a first technical solution (Patent Authorization Publication No. CN107177861B), and the test conditions are that the area of the electrodes in the first technical solution is twice that of the electrodes in this embodiment, the water flow rate and the water temperature remain unchanged, and the water conductivity test power and concentration are changed. Table 2 shows test and comparison results of this embodiment and a second technical solution (Patent Authorization Publication No. CN109487293A), and the test conditions are that the area of the electrodes in the second technical solution is the same as that of the electrodes in this embodiment, the current density is the same, the water flow rate and the water temperature remain unchanged, and the water conductivity test power and concentration are changed.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 First technical Water Electrical parameters Embodiment solution 10 us/cm Voltage (V) 22 18 normal-temperature Current (A) 0.4 0.4 water Power (W) 8.8 7.2 Ozone concentration 2.0 1.0 (ppm) 100 us/cm Voltage (V) 15 12 normal-temperature Current (A) 0.4 0.4 Power (W) 6 4.8 Ozone concentration 1.8 0.9 (ppm)

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Second technical Water Electrical parameters Embodiment solution 10 us/cm Voltage (V) 21 31 normal-temperature Current (A) 0.4 0.4 water Power (W) 8.4 12.0 Ozone concentration 2.0 1.7 (ppm) 100 us/cm Voltage (V) 15 22 normal-temperature Current (A) 0.4 0.4 water Power (W) 6 8.8 Ozone concentration 1.8 1.5 (ppm)

[0053] As can be seen from test data, the test result in Table 1 is as follows: compared with the first technical solution, the technical solution in this embodiment reduces the area of the electrodes by 50% in the same water environment and increases the ozone concentration in water by one time under the same current.

[0054] The test result of Table 2 is as follows: compared with the second technical solution, the technical solution in this embodiment reduces energy consumption by 40% in the same water environment and increases the ozone concentration in water by 20%.

Embodiment 2

[0055] This embodiment is basically identical with Embodiment 1 in structure, and differs from Embodiment 1 in the following aspects: the first through holes 2-1 of the anode 2 are staggered with the second through holes 3-1 of the cathode 3, and axial projections of the first through holes 2-1 do not overlap with axial projections of the second through holes 3-1. In this way, the surface contact area of water with the anode 2 or the cathode 3 can be effectively enlarged, so the electrolytic efficiency is improved, and high-concentration ozone water can be prepared; and electrolytic products can be discharged in the circumferential direction as quickly as possible and will not be blocked, so the heat dissipation efficiency is improved, and energy consumption is reduced.

Embodiment 3

[0056] Referring to FIG. 6-FIG. 7, this embodiment is basically identical with Embodiment 1 in structure, and differs from Embodiment 1 in the following aspects: the outer contour of the cavity 1, the outer contour of the anode 2, the outer contour of the cathode 4 and the outer contour of the membrane 4 are all circular, one side face of the membrane 4 is parallel and opposite to the anode 2, and the other side face of the membrane 4 is parallel and opposite to the cathode 3; six circular first through holes 2-1 are formed in the anode 2, one of the six first through holes 2-1 is formed in the center of the anode 2, and the other five first through holes are distributed in a ring array around the center of the anode 2; six second through holes 3-1 are formed in the cathode 3, one of the six second through holes 3-1 is formed in the center of the cathode 2, the other five second through holes 3-1 are distributed in a ring array around the center of the cathode 3; and the first through holes 2-1 are aligned with the second through holes 3-1, and axial projections of the first through holes 2-1 overlap with axial projections of the second through holes 3-1. By adoption of this structure, the cavity 1 is circular, so that water can flow smoothly in the annular guide channel 7, and the ozone preparation speed is increased; multiple through holes are arranged, so that the surface contact area of water with the anode 2 or the cathode 3 can be effectively enlarged, the electrolytic efficiency is improved, and high-concentration ozone water can be prepared; and electrolytic products can be discharged in the circumferential direction as quickly as possible and will not be blocked, so the heat dissipation efficiency is improved, and energy consumption is reduced.

Embodiment 4

[0057] Referring to FIG. 8, this embodiment is basically identical with Embodiment 1 in structure, and differs from Embodiment 1 in the following aspects: the water inlet assembly 5 is disposed at an end, close to the cathode 3, of the cavity 1, the spring 6 is disposed at an end, close to the anode 2, of the cavity 1, and the water distribution cavity 8 is formed between the cathode 3 and the water inlet. That is, the cathode 3 is disposed at the water inlet end of the cavity 1, and the anode 2 is disposed at the water outlet end of the cavity 1. By adoption of this structure, the cathode 3 is close to the water inlet, so that the water velocity at the water inlet end of the annular guide channel 7 is higher, hydrogen generated by the cathode 3 can be taken away, the cathode 3 is better cooled, the problem of scale accumulation in the cathode 3 is solved, the voltage becomes stable with the reduction of the scale, and the service life of the cathode 3 is prolonged.

Embodiment 5

[0058] This embodiment is basically identical with Embodiment 1 in structure, and differs from Embodiment 1 in the following aspect: the first through holes 2-1 of the anode 2 and the second through holes 3-1 of the cathode 3 may be in any one of a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a square shape, a parallelogram shape, a rhombus shape and an irregular shape.

Embodiment 6

[0059] This embodiment is basically identical with Embodiment 1 in structure, and differs from Embodiment 1 in the following aspects: the buffer assembly is a magnetic device, a magnetic field generated by the magnetic device acts on the electrodes to generate an axial action force on the electrodes to counteract an impact force applied to the electrodes by water, so that the electrodes are kept balanced. For example, magnets with the same polarity may be disposed on the inner wall of the cavity and the cathode to make the cathode movable.

[0060] The above embodiments are preferred ones of the invention, and the implementations of the invention are not limited to the above content. Any transformations, modifications, substitutions, combinations and simplifications made without departing from the spirit and principle of the invention are equivalent replacements falling within the protection scope of the invention.