Device For Activating A Mediator Species

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for activating a mediator species by way of electrolysis, including a voltage source and an anode connected to the voltage source and a cathode connected to the voltage source, the anode being enclosed in a liquid-permeable, electrically non-conductive sheath.

Claims

1. A device for activating a mediator species by way of electrolysis, comprising a voltage source and an anode connected to the voltage source and a cathode connected to the voltage source, wherein the anode is enclosed in a liquid-permeable, electrically non-conductive sheath.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is deformable.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is in the form of a net.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sheath encloses the cathode and the voltage source.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage source has a housing and the sheath is fastened to the housing.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least half of the area of the effective surface of the anode is arranged inside the anode.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anode has a plurality of channels.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anode is deformable.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the anode is elastically deformable.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein substantially every first point on the surface of the anode is either exposed or rests against a second point on the surface of the anode, which second point is movable relative to the first point.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the anode is made of a material which is assigned to a group comprising steel wool, electrically conductive polymers, electrically conductive textiles and chips.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage source is protected from contact with external planes in all spatial directions by padding.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the padding comprises the anode and the sheath.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein it has a generator.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein it has a sensor for measuring conductivity, pH, temperature, acceleration or sound.

16. A method including the device, according to claim 1 for activating a mediator species during a washing process in the washing drum of a washing machine.

17. A method for activating a mediator species during operation of a washing machine, comprising inserting a device according to claim 1 into a washing drum of the washing machine such that the device comes into contact with washing liquor during operation of the washing machine, providing the mediator species in the wash liquor, and operating the device and the washing machine.

18. The device according to claim 3, wherein the sheath is in the form of a woven net.

19. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least 75% of the area of the effective surface of the anode is arranged inside the anode.

20. The device according to claim 6, wherein more than 90% of the area of the effective surface of the anode is arranged inside the anode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In the drawings:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a device according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a diagram of another embodiment of a device according to the invention;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a method according to the invention; and

[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a channel in different operating conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for activating a mediator species (not shown here in more detail) to form a bleach-active species by way of electrolysis, comprising a voltage source 2 and an anode 3 connected to voltage source 2 and a cathode 4 connected to voltage source 2. The anode 3 and the cathode 4 are each connected to the voltage source 2 by means of an electrical connection 5.

[0052] Furthermore, a liquid-permeable sheath 6, which electrically insulates against short circuits by direct contact, is provided, in which the anode 3—and also the cathode 4 and the voltage source 2—is enclosed. The sheath 6 is fastened by means of a fastening element 7 to a housing (not shown here in more detail) of the voltage source 2 and consists of a net which is woven from an electrically insulating textile. Alternatively, other electrically non-conductive and at the same time water-permeable and ion-permeable materials can be selected. To ensure electrical insulation by means of the sheath 6, the size of the meshes and the openings in the net and the thickness of the net are selected such that no part of the electrodes 3, 4 can protrude through the sheath 6.

[0053] Both the anode 3 and the cathode 4 are made of steel wool. Thus, the majority of their effective surfaces lies inside thereof. Inside is understood to mean the region located below a convex envelope of the electrode. In particular, forming the electrodes from steel wool also creates a plurality of channels within each electrode. This achieves a particularly compact design.

[0054] The electrodes are also elastically deformable because they are formed from steel wool. Thus, if the anode 3 is deformed, deformations of the channels and changes in their internal volumes also occur, as a result of which fluid exchange or convention can be promoted.

[0055] As indicated in the diagram, the anode 3 and the cathode 4 are arranged laterally on two opposite sides of the voltage source. Due to their elasticity in particular, the anode and the cathode thus act as a protective cushion in both lateral spatial directions. Since the two electrodes (likewise as indicated schematically) are also designed, perpendicularly to the lateral dimension, to be higher and wider than the voltage source 2, the electrodes act as a protective cushion in all spatial directions and thus prevent the voltage source from coming into contact with a plane, or thus a concave surface such as the inner wall of a washing drum.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention. This differs from the example in FIG. 1 in that the anode 3 and the cathode 4 are each enclosed by their own sheath 6a and 6b, respectively. The sheaths 6a, 6b simultaneously provide insulation of the lines 5a, 5b, in each case in the form of a hose (here indicated schematically), at the end of which a connecting element 7a, 7b is provided for the detachable mechanical and electrical connection of the anode 3 or cathode 4, respectively, to the voltage source 2. This can, for example, simplify the maintenance or the replacement of a sheath and/or the relevant electrode.

[0057] According to FIG. 3, in a first step 301 a device 1, for activating a mediator species by way of electrolysis, is placed in a washing drum (not shown here in more detail). In step 302 the washing liquor, i.e., a liquid which contains a mediator species, is provided in the washing drum such that the device and in particular the anode 3 come into contact with the washing liquor. The device 1 is operated in a step 303, i.e., a voltage is applied between the cathode and the anode by means of the voltage source and the mediator species is thus converted into the bleach-active species.

[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates the operating principle of convection within an anode 3, in particular in the case of an elastically deformable anode 3, using the example of a schematically shown channel 9.

[0059] In a first operating condition 401, the channel 9 is filled with a liquid which contains mediator molecules 10a that are predominantly or substantially in reduced form. In a subsequent second operating condition 402, the mediator molecules 10b are oxidized, i.e., activated, due to an electrochemical reaction on the wall of the channel 9, i.e., on the surface of the anode 3. In a third operating condition 403, the anode 3, including the channel 9, is elastically compressed, for example due to an impact with the inner wall of the washing drum, such that the activated mediator molecules 10b are conveyed out of the channel 9—and out of the anode 3. The anode 3 is then elastically deformed back into its basic state such that the channel 9 regains its original volume and thereby absorbs liquid—which, due to the reaction with the laundry to be bleached, contains predominantly or substantially reduced mediator molecules 10a—thereby achieving the first operating condition 401. The non-linear movement, which is typically subject to high accelerations, of the device according to the invention in the washing drum is thus used to make the anode effectively act as a pump.

[0060] The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above. Rather, embodiments are also included which are covered by the following claims. For example, a zip fastener can be provided to open a sheath. The voltage source can also have a generator, for example a flywheel.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0061] 1 device [0062] 2 voltage source [0063] 3 anode [0064] 4 cathode [0065] 5 connection [0066] 6 sheath [0067] 7 connecting element [0068] 9 channel [0069] 10 mediator molecule [0070] 301-303 method step [0071] 401-403 operating condition