METHOD FOR OPERATING A WATER-CONDUCTING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE AND WATER-CONDUCTING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE

Abstract

A water-bearing electrical apparatus and a method of operating a water-bearing electrical apparatus having a water absorption element, an electrochemical cell, a dosing device for metering a conductivity transmitter-containing detergent and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell. The method includes conducting water into the electrochemical cell, dosing of the conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell or into the water flowing through it, determining a conductance of the fluid in the electrochemical cell following the prior steps, and setting the determined conductance to a predetermined conductance.

Claims

1. A method of operating a water-bearing electrical apparatus having a water absorption element, an electrochemical cell, a dosing device for dosing a conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell, the method comprising: a) conducting water into the electrochemical cell; b) dosing of the conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell or into the water flowing through it; c) determining a conductance of the fluid in the electrochemical cell following steps a) and b); and d) setting the determined conductance to a predetermined conductance.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step d) includes comparing the predetermined conductance with the determined conductance; and conducting water into the electrochemical cell if the determined conductivity is greater than the predetermined conductivity and metering the conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell or into the water flowing through it if the determined conductivity is less than the predetermined conductivity.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step includes applying a predetermined voltage to the electrochemical cell, measuring a current flow in the electrochemical cell, and determining the conductance based on the measured current flow.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell is designed for a working area which is above a conductance present at a water hardness above 14 dH, more preferably above 17 dH, even more preferably above 21 dH.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when the determined conductance is equal to the predetermined conductance, the electrochemical cell is put into operation in such a manner that the liquid inside it is heated.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein during and/or after heating the liquid in the electrochemical cell, the liquid is circulated from a first area of the water absorption element through the electrochemical cell to a second area of the water absorption element.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein during heating of the liquid in the electrochemical cell, steps c) and d) are performed.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means contains a conductivity transmitter-containing means that is selected from the group consisting of alkali carrier, inorganic or organic acid, salt of organic acid, phosphonate, surfactant and/or mixtures thereof.

9. A water-bearing electrical apparatus comprising: a water absorption element, an electrochemical cell, a dosing device configured to dose a conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell, a control unit configured to perform a method according to any of the preceding claims.

10. The water-bearing electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a washing machine or dishwasher.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] An embodiment of the disclosure is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a partial flow diagram of a method according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a partial flow diagram of a method according to the disclosure. The method is performed in a water-bearing electrical apparatus having an electrochemical cell into which water is introduced and a conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means is metered so that a liquid is present in the electrochemical cell. In step 1, a conductivity value of the liquid present in the electrochemical cell is determined from water and conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means. Subsequently, a step 2 is performed in which the determined conductance is compared with a predetermined conductance.

[0036] In a finding 3, if the determined conductance is greater than the predetermined conductance, water is introduced into the electrochemical cell to adjust the conductance of the liquid to the predetermined conductance. If in a finding 5 the determined conductance is equal to the predetermined conductance, the electrochemical cell is put into operation in a step 6 such that the liquid inside it is heated. If in a finding 7 the determined conductivity is less than the predetermined conductivity, in a step 8 conductivity transmitter-containing detergent and/or cleaning means is metered into the electrochemical cell to adjust the conductivity of the liquid to the predetermined conductivity. After steps 4, 6 and 8, step 1 can still be performed again.