Apparatus and a method of generating bubbles and foams

Abstract

The prior arts generate bubbles with fixed characteristics of the gas in the bubbles. The invention proposes an apparatus of generating bubbles and a method thereof. The apparatus comprising: a first unit (10) configured to determine at least one characteristic of a gas in the bubbles; a second unit (12) configured to generate the bubbles, comprising: an electrolyzer (120) configured to electrolyze an electrolyte to generate the gas in the electrolyte, thereby generating bubbles; and a controller (14), configured to control the second unit to generate the bubbles according to the at least one characteristic of the gas. In embodiments of the invention, the generation is controllable with respect to the gas in the bubble based on the practical requirement of the gas, and is more flexible and with wide applicability.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating bubbles, comprising: a first unit configured to determine at least one characteristic of a gas in the bubbles to be generated, wherein the at least one characteristic of the gas comprises (i) a type of the gas in the bubbles and (ii) a usage of the bubbles, wherein the type of the gas and usage of the bubbles is determined from at least one of (a) a user selection via a user interface, and (b) a device adapted to utilize the bubbles, via a machine-to-machine interface; a second unit configured to generate the bubbles, wherein the second unit comprises (i) an electrolyzer configured to electrolyze an electrolyte to generate the gas in the electrolyte, and thereby generate the bubbles, and (ii) an electrolyte source of at least two types of additional electrolytes; and a controller configured to control the second unit to generate the bubbles according to the determined at least one characteristic of the gas, wherein the controller controls the electrolyte source to provide at least one additional electrolyte to said electrolyte, wherein the at least one additional electrolyte is selected from the at least two types of additional electrolytes according to the determined at least one characteristic of the gas.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyzer comprises: a DC electric source; and at least two anodes with different features and/or at least two cathodes with different features, wherein the at least two anodes and/or the at least two cathodes are coupled to the DC electric source; wherein the controller is further configured to select, for electrolyzing the electrolyte, at least one anode of the at least two anodes and/or at least one cathode of the at least two cathodes according to the determined at least one characteristic of the gas.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electrolyzer comprises at least one of anodes and cathodes selected from the group consisting of (a) at least two of (i) an inert anode, (ii) an active metal anode and (iii) an anode with double electric layer capacity, and (b) at least two of (i) an inert cathode, (ii) a metal cathode and (iii) an cathode with double electric layer capacity, wherein the at least one characteristic of the gas further comprises a selection on which one or more of the anodes and cathodes the gas is to be generated, and wherein the second unit further comprises a separator between the anodes and the cathodes for preventing bubbles that are generated respectively on the anodes and the cathodes from mixing with each other.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electrolyzer comprises at least one of anodes and cathodes selected from the group consisting of (a) at least two anodes in different sizes and/or shapes, and (b) at least two cathodes in different sizes and/or shapes, wherein the at least one characteristic of the gas further comprises an amount of the gas in each bubble and/or a tininess of the bubbles, and wherein the controller is further configured to select (i) at least one anode of the at least two anodes in different sizes and/or shapes and/or (ii) at least one cathode of the at least two cathodes in different sizes and/or shapes, according to the determined at least one characteristic of the gas.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least on characteristic of the gas further comprises an amount of the gas in each bubble and/or a tininess of the bubbles, and wherein the controller is further configured to control a current and/or voltage used by the electrolyzer for the electrolyzing, according to the determined at least one characteristic of the gas.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further for use in generating foams from the generated bubbles, wherein the electrolyte includes one or more surfactant, or the first unit is further configured to determine an amount of the foam, and the second unit further comprises: a surface activity unit configured to provide the generated bubbles with a surface activity that includes at least one of: (i) a dispenser configured to dispense surfactants into the electrolyte, wherein the controller further controls a type and/or a concentration of a surfactant, dispensed via the dispenser, according to the determined amount of the foam; or (ii) an intermediate infrared source configured to generate a radiation of intermediate infrared to the bubbles, wherein the controller further controls an application duration and/or a strength of radiation, generated via the intermediate infrared source, according to the determined amount of the foam; or (iii) a magnet module configured to yield a magnetic field for the bubbles, wherein the controller further controls an application duration and/or a strength of the magnetic field, yielded via the magnet module, according to the determined amount of the foam.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the as further comprises a type of the gas in the bubbles and/or a usage of the bubbles, wherein the controller is further configured to control a voltage used by the electrolyzer for the electrolyzing, according to the determined at least one characteristic of the gas.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte source comprises: (i) at least one cation releasing module, wherein each of the at least one cation releasing module is configured to release at least one type of cations; and (ii) at least one anion releasing module, wherein each of the at least one anion releasing module is configured to release at least one type of anions, wherein the controller is further configured to: (i) determine a type of cation to release and/or a type of anion to release according to the determined at least one characteristic of the gas; and (ii) select and manipulate at least one said cation releasing module and/or at least one said anion releasing module according to the determined types of the cations and/or anions.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the cation releasing module comprises a first container for containing a first solution containing a first type of cation, the first container having a layer of cationic membrane for separating the first solution with the electrolyte, and wherein the controller is further configured to apply a positive voltage in the first solution such that said first type of cation is released into the electrolyte through the cationic membrane; and/or wherein the anion releasing module comprises a second container for containing a second solution containing a second type of anion, the second container having a layer of anionic membrane for separating the second solution with the electrolyte, and wherein the controller is further configured to apply a negative voltage in the second solution such that said second type of anion is released into the electrolyte through the anionic membrane.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the cation releasing module comprises a cation complexed polymer and/or gel storing the cation and configured to be immersed in the electrolyte, wherein the controller is further configured to electrolyze water in the electrolyte and generate H.sup.+ ions which enter the cation complexed polymer and/or gel and exchange said type of cation out of the polymer and/or gel and into the electrolyte; and/or wherein the anion releasing module comprises an anion complexed polymer and/or gel storing the anion and configured to be immersed in the electrolyte, wherein the controller is further configured to electrolyze water in the electrolyte and generate OH.sup.? ions which enter the anion complexed polymers and/or gels and exchange said type of anion out of the polymers and/or gels and into the electrolyte.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the gas further comprises a type of the gas in the bubbles and/or a usage of the bubbles, and wherein the second unit further comprises: a chemical adding unit configured to add at least two kinds of chemicals into the electrolyte, each of which reacts with a product of the electrolyzing of the electrolyte to generate the gas, and wherein the controller is further configured to control the chemical adding unit to add at least one said chemical according to the determined at least one characteristic of the gas.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first unit comprises at least one of: a user interface configured to receive the characteristic of the gas from a user; and a machine-to-machine interface configured to receive the characteristic of the gas from a device adapted to utilize the bubbles.

13. A method for generating bubbles, wherein the method is carried out by an apparatus according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious by reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments with the aid of appended drawings.

(2) FIG. 1a schematically shows an absorption of large droplets into a surface.

(3) FIG. 1b schematically shows an absorption of foams into a surface.

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the second unit with different anodes and cathodes.

(6) FIG. 4 shows an operation of the second unit with one inert anode and one inert cathode.

(7) FIG. 5 shows an operation of the second unit with one active metal anode and one cathode.

(8) FIG. 6a shows an operation of the second units with one inert cathode and one anode with double electric layer capacity.

(9) FIG. 6b shows an operation of the second units with one inert anode and one cathode with double electric layer capacity.

(10) FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of one cation releasing module according to one embodiment of the invention.

(11) FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of one anion releasing module according to one embodiment of the invention.

(12) FIG. 9 shows an operation of the second unit according to another embodiment of the invention.

(13) Wherein, the same or similar reference sign refers to the same or similar component/module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(14) FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 1 for generating bubbles comprises: a first unit 10 configured to determine at least one characteristic of a gas in the bubbles; a second unit 12 configured to generate the bubbles, comprising: an electrolyzer 120 configured to electrolyze an electrolyte to generate the gas in the electrolyte, thereby generating bubbles; a controller 14, configured to control the second unit 12 to generate the bubbles according to the at least one characteristic of the gas.

(15) As to the method aspect, the embodiment of the invention provides a method for generating bubbles, and the method is carried out by the apparatus 1. Specifically, the method comprises steps of: determining at least one characteristic of a gas in the bubbles; electrolyzing an electrolyte to generate the gas in the electrolyte, thereby generating bubbles, according to the characteristic of the bubbles.

(16) In one embodiment, the bubbles with different gas characteristics are generated by using different electrodes.

(17) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the electrolyzer 120. The electrolyzer 120 comprises:

(18) a DC electric source 30;

(19) at least two anodes 32, 32 with different features and/or at least two cathodes 34, 34 with different features, which are coupled to the DC electric source 30.

(20) And the controller 14 is further configured to select, for electrolyzing the electrolyte 38, at least one anode and/or at least one cathode according to the characteristic of the gas.

(21) There could preferably be a membrane 36 between the anodes and the cathodes for separating the cations and anions.

(22) In one embodiment, the first unit 10 determines on which one or more electrodes the gas is to be generated as the characteristic of the gas,

(23) the electrolyzer 120 comprises at least two of an inert anode 32, a active metal anode 32 and an anode with double electric layer capacity 32, and/or

(24) the electrolyzer comprises an inert cathode 34, a metal cathode 34 and an cathode with double electric layer capacity 34.

(25) In a first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the controller 14 applies electricity through one inert anode 32 and one inert cathode 34 or metal cathode 34. Gas G1 is generated at the anode 32, and gas G2 is generated at the cathode 34. In one example, neural water is used as the electrolyte, and the gas G1 is oxygen O.sub.2 and gas G2 is hydrogen H.sub.2. The electrolysis equation on the anode is:
2H.sub.2O?4e.sup.?.fwdarw.4H.sup.++O.sub.2.

(26) And the electrolysis equation on the cathode is:
2H.sub.2O+2e.sup.?.fwdarw.H.sub.2+2OH.sup.?.

(27) In this example, the water is added with a surfactant, thus the foam enriched with O.sub.2 is formed from the bubbles on a surface of the water at the anode 32, and the foam enriched with H.sub.2 is formed from the bubbles on a surface of the water at the cathode 34. In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a separator 36 between the anode 32 and the cathode 34 for avoiding the two foams mixed. If the foams are required to be mixed, the separator 36 can be removed.

(28) In a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the controller 14 applies electricity through one active metal anode 32 and one inert cathode 34 or one metal cathode 34. Gas G2 could be generated on the cathode. On the anode, the active metal will lose electron and release metal ions. Thus there is no gas generated on the anode 32. The active metal should be more active than hydrogen. According to the chemical activity, K>Ca>Na>Mg>Al>Zn>Fe(>H)>Cu>Pt>Au. Thus an active metal anode made from Al, Zn and Fe can be used. The electrolyte filled in container could be water or an acid solution. For example, using Fe as electrode, the electrolyte is with acidity, and the electrolysis would only generate H.sub.2 gas on the cathode 34, while Fe.sup.3+ would be generated on the anode 32.

(29) The electrolysis equation on the anode is:
Fe?3e.sup.?.fwdarw.Fe.sup.3+.

(30) And the electrolysis equation on the cathode is:
2H.sup.++2e.sup.?.fwdarw.H.sub.2.

(31) In a third embodiment, the anode or cathode is with the material which has Double Electric Layer Capacity character such an activated carbon. As shown in FIG. 6a, the controller 14 applies electricity through one inert anode 32 and cathode 34 with double electric layer capacity. The cathode 34 with double electric layer capacity will adsorb ions in water, therefore the reaction that gas should have been generated on the cathode would stop. In FIG. 6a, only gas G1 could be generated on the anode 32. In a varied embodiment, the controller 14 applies electricity through one anode 32 with double electric layer capacity and one inert cathode 34 or metal cathode 34. In this embodiment, only gas G2 will be generated on the cathode, as shown in FIG. 6b.

(32) In another embodiment, the electrolyzer 120 comprises at least two anodes in different sizes and/or shapes, and/or at least two cathodes in different sizes and/or shapes, the first unit determines an mount of gas in each bubble and/or a tininess of the bubbles as the characteristic of the gas, and the controller is further configured to select at least one said anode and/or at least one said cathode according to the characteristic of the gas. The shapes of the electrodes can be needle or plate. Electrodes with different sizes and/or shapes could generate bubbles in different tininess, namely provide different amount of gas in the bubbles. And this in turn could form foams with different tininess. The controller 14 selects an anode and/or a cathode with a proper size and/or shape, and the bubbles with a certain tininess can be generated on the anode and/or the cathode.

(33) As to the method aspect corresponding to the above technical solution, the characteristic of the gas comprises an mount of gas in each bubble and/or a tininess of the bubbles, the generating step further comprises: selecting, for electrolyzing the electrolyte, at least one anode from at least two anodes with different sizes and/or shapes and/or at least one cathode from at least two cathodes with different sizes and/or shapes according to the characteristic of the gas.

(34) In one embodiment of the invention, the first unit 10 determines an amount of gas in each bubble and/or a tininess of the bubbles as the characteristic of the gas, and the controller 14 is further configured to control a current and/or voltage used by the electrolyzer 120 for the electrolyzing, according to the characteristic of the gas. Experiments have shown that: given the same area of the electrodes, the higher the amplitude of the current is, the smaller the diameter of the bubble is (Guohua Chen, Separation and Purification Technology, Volume 38, Issue 1, 15 Jul. 2004, Pages 11-41). Therefore, by controlling the current and/or voltage, the apparatus can generate bubbles with a required an amount of gas in each bubble and/or a tininess of the bubbles.

(35) In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is used for generating foams. The first unit 10 determines an amount of the foam formed from the bubbles, and the second unit 12 further comprises: a surface activity unit configured to provide the bubbles with the surface activity, comprising at lease one of:

(36) a dispenser configured to dispense surfactants into the electrolyte, and the controller 14 controls a type and/or a concentration of the surfactant according to the amount of the foam; or

(37) an intermediate infrared source configured to generate a radiation of intermediate infrared to the bubbles, and the controller 14 controls an applying duration and/or a strength of radiation of the source according to the amount of the foam; or

(38) a magnet module configured to yield a magnetic field for the bubble, and the controller 14 controls an applying duration and/or a strength of the magnetic field of the magnet module according to the amount of the foam.

(39) In this embodiment, the amount of the foams can be controlled, thus the apparatus has wide applicability.

(40) The following description will elucidate the generation of different types of gases in the bubbles for different usage in the apparatus.

(41) In one embodiment, this diversity is implemented by different voltage of the electrolyzer 120. The first unit 10 determines a type of the gas in the bubbles and/or a usage of the bubbles as the characteristic of the gas, and the controller 14 is further configured to control a voltage used by the electrolyzer 120 for the electrolyzing, according to the characteristic of the gas. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in one case, for a usage of skin care, the apparatus is used to generate oxygen O.sub.2 enriched bubbles. The first unit 10 determines this usage and/or the type of the gas, and controls the electrolyzer 120 to use a normal voltage that is suitable for generating oxygen. In another case, for a usage of disinfection, the apparatus is used to generate ozone O.sub.3 enriched bubbles. The first unit 10 determines this usage and/or the type of the gas, and controls the electrolyzer 120 to use an increased voltage that is suitable for generating ozone.

(42) In another embodiment, this diversity is implemented via electrolyzing different electrolytes. The first unit 10 determines a type of the gas in the bubbles and/or a usage of the bubbles as the characteristic of the gas, the second unit 12 further comprises an electrolyte source of at least two types of electrolytes, and the controller 14 controls the electrolyte source to provide at least one said electrolyte according to the characteristic of the gas. For example, for a usage of disinfection, the apparatus is used to generate chlorine Cl.sub.2 enriched bubbles. Then the controller 14 controls the electrolyte source to provide a solution of chloride, such as NaCl, as the electrolyte. Chlorine Cl.sub.2 will be generated on the anode. And for a usage of skin care, the apparatus is used to generate oxygen O.sub.2 enriched bubbles. Then the controller 14 controls the electrolyte source to provide pure water as the electrolyte. Oxygen O.sub.2 will be generated on the anode.

(43) As to the electrolyte source, in one embodiment, it could comprise:

(44) a tank for containing pure water; and

(45) at least one unit, each unit being configured to contain a corresponding salt such as chloride and add the salt into the water in the tank.

(46) The controller 14 selects and manipulates the at least one unit to or not to add salts in the water, according to the gas types and/or the usage of the bubbles, to provide pure water or solution of the salt.

(47) In another more controllable and flexible embodiment, the electrolyte source comprises: at least one cation releasing module, each of which is configured to release at least one type of cations; at least one anion releasing module, each of which is configured to release at least one type of anions;

(48) the controller is configured to:

(49) determine a type of cation to release and/or a type of anion to release according to the characteristic of the gas; and

(50) select and manipulate at least one said cation releasing module and/or at least one said anion releasing module according to the determined types of the cations and/or anions.

(51) As to the cation releasing module, in one specific embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, the cation releasing module comprises a first container 7 for containing a first solution containing a type of cation A.sup.m+, and the first container 7 is for example immersing into the electrolyte 38. The first container 7 has a layer 70 of cationic membrane for separating the first solution with the electrolyte 38, and the cation releasing module comprises an anode 72 with one end immersing in the first solution and the other end connected to the controller 14 which is configured to apply a positive voltage in the first solution such that said cations A.sup.m+ are released into the electrolyte 38 through the cationic membrane 72. As cations A.sup.m+ are driven out of the first solution, cations H.sup.+ are generated around the anode 72 thus the electric neutrality in the first solution is maintained.

(52) Similarly, as to the anion releasing module, in one specific embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, the anion releasing module comprises a second container 8 for containing a second solution containing a type of anion B.sup.n?, and the second container 4 is for example immersing into the electrolyte 38. The second container 4 has a layer 80 of anionic membrane for separating the second solution with the electrolyte 38, and the cation releasing module comprises a cathode 82 with one end immersing in the second solution and the other end connected to the controller 14 which is configured to apply a negative voltage in the second solution such that said anion B.sup.n? are released into the electrolyte 38 through the anionic membrane 82. As anions B.sup.n? are driven out of the second solution, anions OH.sup.? are generated around the cathode 82 thus the electric neutrality in the second solution is maintained.

(53) There are other alternative embodiments for the cation releasing module. In one example, materials that can release cations under an electrical control could be used as the cation releasing module, such as polymer, gel. Specifically, the cation complexed polymer and/or gel storing the cation is immersing in the electrolyte, and the controller 14 is configured to electrolyze water in the electrolyte and generate H.sup.+ cations. The H.sup.+ cations enter into the cation complexed polymer and/or gel and exchange the stored cation out of the polymer and/or gel under the effect of the electric field, and the stored of cation enters into the electrolyte under the effect of the electric field.

(54) Similarly, there are other alternative embodiments for the anion releasing module. In one example, materials that can release anions under an electrical control could be used as the anion releasing module, such as polymer, gel. Specifically, the anions complexed polymer and/or gel storing the anions is immersing in the electrolyte, and the controller 14 is configured to electrolyze water in the electrolyte and generate OH.sup.? anions. The OH.sup.? anions enter into the anion complexed polymer and/or gel and exchange the stored anions out of the polymers and/or gels under the effect of the electric field, and the stored anion enters into the electrolyte under the effect of the electric field.

(55) As to the method aspect corresponding to the above technical solution, the determining step determines a type of the gas in the bubbles and/or a usage of the bubbles as the characteristic of the gas, the method further comprising the step before the electrolyzing step: providing at least one electrolyte from at least two kinds of electrolytes according to the characteristic of the gas.

(56) In the above embodiment, the gas is a direct product of the electrolysis of the electrolyte. In a varied embodiment, the gas is generated from a reaction between a product of the electrolysis and a chemical. In this embodiment, the first unit 10 determines a type of the gas in the bubbles and/or a usage of the bubbles as the characteristic of the gas, and the second unit 12 further comprises: a chemical adding unit configured to add at least two kinds of chemicals into the electrolyte, each of which reacts with a product of the electrolyzing of the electrolyte to generate the gas;

(57) and the controller 14 is further configured to control the chemical adding unit to add at least one said chemical according to the characteristic of the gas.

(58) In an example as shown in FIG. 9, to generate some carbon dioxide CO.sub.2, the chemical adding unit adds some calcium carbonate CaCO.sub.3 in the electrolyte near the anode 32. On the anode 32, similarly as the embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, not only oxygen but also H.sup.+ cations are generated as the product of the electrolysis, and the H.sup.+ cations reacts with the calcium carbonate CaCO.sub.3 to generate the carbon dioxide CO.sub.2.

(59) As to the first unit 10, it can have various implementations. In one embodiment, the first unit 10 comprises a user interface configured to receive the characteristic of the gas from a user. For example, the user can select the type of the gas and/or the usage by pressing buttons on a panel of the apparatus. In another embodiment, the first unit 10 comprises a machine-to-machine interface configured to receive the characteristic from a device adapted to utilize the bubbles, such as a washing machine.

(60) The controller 14 can be implemented by a MCU. The rules for the controller 14 to control the second unit 12 according to the characteristic of the gas, such as different selection of electrodes according to different amount of gas in the bubble, or different amplitude of voltage according to different type of gas, can be pre-stored or downloaded in a memory and load by the MCU. Those ordinary skilled in the art could understand and realize modifications to the disclosed embodiments, through studying the description, drawings and appended claims. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

(61) The word comprising does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim or in the description. The word a or an preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the practice of present invention, several technical features in the claim can be embodied by one component. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.