Electrolyte Property Sensing Means (e.g., Temperature, Concentration, Ph, Conductivity, Etc.) Patents (Class 204/228.6)
  • Patent number: 6309519
    Abstract: A reactor for removing impurities from aqueous solutions, wherein the liquid is passed through series of plateshaped reaction electrodes. The reactor comprises one more interconnected units (A, B, C, D) with a series of plateshaped electrodes (1, 2) valves (8) and holes (5, 6) in the plates for redirecting the liquid flow into and through the series of reaction electrodes (1, 2). A control system consists of a number of sensors (9, 10, 11) at the liquid inlet (3) of the reactor for measuring the conductivity of the treated liquid, the organic contents of the liquid and the flow of the liquid, and the transferring the output commands from a processor (7) to valve (8) for redirecting the liquid flow and for activating or deactivating the electrode unit or units (A, B, C, D) in dependence on the measured parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Adept Technologies A/S
    Inventor: David Napper
  • Patent number: 6303009
    Abstract: A simple hydrogen generator system for maintaining zero PSI across the proton exchange membrane while generating ultra pure hydrogen gas at high pressure from water. The system includes a proton exchange membrane across which an electrolysis reaction is induced, thereby producing hydrogen gas on a first side of the proton exchange membrane and oxygen gas on a second side of the proton exchange membrane. The current source used to induce the electrolysis reaction is computer controlled so as to maintain a near constant pressure of hydrogen, even as hydrogen is drawn from the assembly. By minimizing the pressure differential across the proton exchange membrane, a more durable and efficient hydrogen generator is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Peter R. Bossard
  • Patent number: 6267855
    Abstract: In a water purifying apparatus (1) having inner and outer cylindrical electrodes (51,52) concentrically arranged together to form a water channel (500) therebetween, the outer electrode has a plurality of small perforations (55) penetrating therethrough. The electrodes are placed in a water tank (2) reserving raw water. A voltage is applied between the electrodes for causing electrolysis of the raw water in the water channel. As a result of the electrolysis, the raw water is processed into purified water. Resultant gases generated by the electrolysis may be released from the water channel through the small perforations of the electrodes. In addition, the inner electrode may have small perforations penetrating therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushige Watanabe, Motoharu Sato, Takaaki Suga
  • Publication number: 20010009226
    Abstract: An electroplating apparatus is provided with a metal target and a device for supporting a semiconductor wafer (or other workpiece) in an electroplating solution. The target (anode) may be located relatively far from the wafer surface (cathode) at the beginning of the plating process, until a sufficient amount of metal is plated. When an initial amount of metal is built up on the wafer surface, the target may be moved closer to the wafer for faster processing. The movement of the target may be controlled automatically according to one or more process parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventor: Scott E. Moore
  • Publication number: 20010004962
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new water treatment device comprising an electrolytic tank to put water in, an electrode provided in the electrolytic tank, a water treating path for pouring water in a pool and returning to the pool the water in the electrolytic tank, a residual chlorine sensor for measuring the residual chlorine concentration of water, and control means for controlling the energization of the electrode on the basis of the measured value by the residual chlorine sensor, and capable of simply and efficiently sterilizing water stored in pools of various sizes from a swimming pool to a home bathtub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hirota, Yoshihiro Inamoto, Kiyokazu Fujikawa, Yozo Kawamura, Minoru Nakanishi, Minoru Kishi, Takaaki Yonezawa, Tamotsu Kawamura, Kazuhiro Yamamoto, Yasuhiko Shimizu, Yasuhito Kondo
  • Patent number: 6187154
    Abstract: An electrolyzed water production system has a brine storage tank, brine supply means for supplying the saturated brine from the storage tank for mixing with raw water supplied from a source of raw water and an electrolytic cell for producing electrolyzed water. An electric control circuit comprises detection means for detecting the conductivity of the diluted brine supplied to the electrolytic cell, and feedback control means for controlling operation of the brine supply means in such a manner that the conductivity of the diluted brine detected by the detection means is adjusted to a predetermined target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamaguchi, Fumiyuki Hori, Yoshinori Kamitani
  • Patent number: 6179986
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel proton-exchange membrane (PEM) based solid polymer electrolyte electrochemical oxygen control (EOC) system that can deplete and control the oxygen from a closed container to levels sufficient for both disinfestation and preservation. With the use of this electrochemical process, many insects that infest raw agricultural products and other produce can be exterminated, without detriment to the quality of the produce and without deposition of harmful residue, by reducing the ambient oxygen to a controlled low level for several days. The electrochemical process features the use of a bipolar stack comprised of a selected number of PEM cells connected electrically in series and separated by an electrically conductive bipolar plate. Each cell contains a membrane and electrode assembly, consisting of an anode structure and cathode structure in intimate contact with a PEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Giner Electrochemical Systems LLC
    Inventors: Larry L. Swette, Anthony B. LaConti
  • Patent number: 6174419
    Abstract: In an electrolytic water producing apparatus, an anode and a cathode in an electrolytic cell are periodically switched to reduce degradation thereof. The concentration of hypochlorous acid formed in the strong acidic liquid is measured through a concentration sensor, and a concentration variation pattern varying in a sawteeth pattern according to the switching of the anode and cathode is taken into a control device. A control pattern inversely corresponding to the sawteeth pattern is calculated by the controlling device. Electrolytic current or voltage to be supplied to the electrodes may be controlled according to the control pattern, or supply quantities of raw water or a chloride solution may be controlled by a flow rate controlling valve and a metering pump. Thus, although the polarities of the electrodes are switched, the strong acidic liquid containing hypochlorous acid with a constant concentration can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation, Water Research Institute
    Inventor: Osamu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 6168692
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating alkali ion water includes an electrolytic cell. At least two electrodes are disposed in the electrolytic cell. A diaphragm disposed in the electrolytic cell extends between the electrodes. A dc voltage is supplied to the electrodes. A mean value of the dc voltage is varied at a given inclination. A first detecting device operates to detect an ac current and generate a signal representative thereof. The dc voltage is derived from the ac current. A second detecting device operates to detect the mean value of the dc voltage in response to the signal generated by the first detecting device. A third detecting device operates to detect an inclination in a variation in the mean value of the dc voltage in response to the mean value of the dc voltage which is detected by the second detecting device. The mean value of the dc voltage is controlled in response to the inclination detected by the third detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshisuke Sakai, Narumi Nagase