Dual diaphragm electrolysis cell assembly and method for generating a cleaning solution without any salt residues and simultaneously generating a sanitizing solution having a predetermined level of available free chlorine and pH

Abstract

An Electrolysis cell assembly to produce diluted Sodium Hydroxide solutions (NAOH) and diluted Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL) solutions having cleaning and sanitizing properties. The electrolysis cell consists of two insulating end pieces for a cylindrical electrolysis cell comprising at least two cylindrical electrodes with two cylindrical diaphragms arranged co-axially between them. The method of producing different volumes and concentrations of diluted NAOH solutions and diluted HOCL solutions comprises recirculating an aqueous sodium chloride or potassium chloride solution into the middle chamber of the cylindrical electrolytic cell and feeding softened filtered water into the cathode chamber and into the anode chamber of the cylindrical electrolysis cell.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of making electrolyzed liquids utilizing an electrolysis cell comprising an outer cylindrical electrode separated from an inner cylindrical electrode by two cylindrical diaphragms arranged coaxially one within the other to create a cathode chamber, a middle chamber and an anode chamber; providing a pair of end pieces where the space between the inner tubular electrode and the membrane and the space between the membrane and the outer tubular electrode defines anode and cathode chambers; where the space between the diaphragms defines the electrolyte chamber and where one of the electrodes functions as an anode and the other electrode functions as a cathode; providing a saturated brine solution to the middle chamber of the electrolysis cell and providing softened water to the anode and cathode chamber applying a current across the electrodes, wherein each end piece provides a sealing engagement between the four sections of the end piece and each of the cylindrical electrodes and the two cylindrical diaphragms, wherein the end piece has a lateral inlet through an outer wall thereof, said inlet being provided with a fitting for tangential feeding of the liquid to the inside of the end piece, and wherein three pairs of ports for entrance or exit of fluid are situated in the upper and lower end piece, each comprising an external fitting for attachment of a hose or pipe, wherein said first pair of ports at opposite ends of said assembly internally addresses a space between said outer electrode tube and said outer diaphragm and said second pair of ports at opposite ends of said assembly internally addresses a space between said outer diaphragm and said inner diaphragm and said third pair of ports at opposite ends of said assembly internally addresses a space between said inner electrode tube and said inner diaphragm. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two diaphragms are a cylindrical ceramic membrane or a cylindrical polymer ion exchange membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anode and cathode, or both, comprise a titanium base activated with a mixed metal oxide coating structure comprising ruthenium, iridium, titanium, tantalum, rhodium and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said end piece comprises four stackable sections of complimentary topography with at least one seal forming feature at every interface between adjacent sections wherein said seal forming feature is a sealant or compressible ridge, a gasket, or an O-ring. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the end pieces comprise Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), said gaskets and O-rings comprised of Ethylene Propylene (EPDM), Nitrile (BUNA-N), Fluorocarbon (FKM any) or combination of a plastic and a rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an electrolyte is circulated through the middle chamber is a sodium chloride solution or a potassium chloride solution. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , where the electrolyte is saturated by circulating the electrolyte through an intermediate chamber lined with sodium chloride or potassium chloride and where the intermediate chamber can be opened to fill the reservoir with granular sodium chloride or granular potassium chloride and whereas the intermediate chamber is an external brine reservoir and not part of the cylindrical electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , whereas the electrolyte is circulated between the middle chamber and the brine reservoir using a variable speed peristaltic pump and where said pump being in communication with the reservoir through a main feed line made from a flexible and resilient material and to the middle chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , whereas the intermediate chamber is pressurized with softened water and whereas the electrolyte in intermediate chamber can be drained by opening a valve. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is brine and the method further comprises, isolating an alkaline cleaning liquid having a negative redox potential ranging from 600 to 1200 mV. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is brine and the method further comprises, isolating an acidic sanitizing solution having a positive redox potential ranging from 600 to 1200 mV. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the liquid exiting the cathode chamber is fed into the anode chamber and another portion collected in a storage tank or drained. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a part of the diluted Sodium Hydroxide solution (NAOH) is fed successively through the anode chamber to produce a more neutral pH Hypochlorous Acid solution (HOCL). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pH of the sanitizing solution is regulated by re-directing a volume of Sodium Hydroxide (NAOH) through the anode chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein softened water is supplied to both the anode chamber and cathode chamber at a lower end piece of the electrolysis cell and cleaning solutions (NAOH) and sanitizing solutions (HOCL) are obtained from an upper end piece of the cell. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a spiral feed of the softened water is fed to the anode and cathode chamber using tangential inlet and outlet ports and a spiral fed of electrolyte is fed into the middle chamber using tangential inlet and outlet ports. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current is a direct current is applied across the electrodes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the free available chlorine content is regulated by altering the voltage, volume of softened water through the anode chamber and cathode chamber, brine concentration and whereas the current across the electrodes is at least 20 amps. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode chamber comprises an inlet fitting connected to a tube that passes tangentially through a specific section of the lower end piece to communicate with the cathode chamber through an aperture and wherein the anode chamber comprises an inlet fitting connected to a tube that passes tangentially through a specific section of the lower end piece to communicate with the cathode chamber through an aperture 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a specific section of the lower end piece comprises an inlet fitting connected to a pipe that passes through the specific section of the lower end piece to communicate with the middle chamber through an aperture. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode chamber comprises an outlet fitting connected to an tube that passes tangentially through a specific section of the upper end piece to communicate with the cathode chamber through an aperture and wherein the anode chamber comprises an outlet fitting connected to a tube that passes tangentially through a specific section of the upper end piece to communicate with the cathode chamber through an aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein a specific section of the upper end piece comprises an outlet fitting connected to a pipe that passes through a specific section of the upper end piece to communicate with the middle chamber through an aperture. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said ports address said spaces through said end pieces or through said electrode tubes adjacent to the site of insertion of said electrode tubes into said end pieces. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said entrance ports direct the flow of said fluid at an angle of 0 to 15 degrees relative to the plane of said seats of said end pieces. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , where the generated diluted Sodium Hydroxide as cleaning solution is suitable for cleaning all surfaces, including textiles, fabrics and carpets. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , where the generated diluted Hypochlorous Acid as sanitizing solution is suitable for sanitizing all hard surfaces including glass, mirrors, plastics, wood, ceramic, granite, metals and laminate. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , where the generated cleaning and sanitizing solution contains no salt residues due to the fact that the electrolyte is circulated in the middle chamber and no electrolyte is fed into the cathode chamber and no electrolyte is fed into the anode chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the absence of salt residue means that no residue will appear on surfaces including fabrics that are cleaned and sanitized with the generated diluted Sodium Hydroxide and diluted Hypochlorous Acid solutions.