Device for forming concretions with regulated autonomous source

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for forming concretions in an electrolytic medium by electrolysis, which comprises an anode 110 and a cathode 120 submerged in the electrolytic medium and a regulating circuit 100 configured to regulate an electrolysis current in order to form concretions on the cathode 120. The anode 110 and the cathode 120 are used as a current source for supplying the electrolysis process and are connected in the regulating circuit by at least one regulating element capable of limiting the electrolysis current.

1 . A device for forming concretions in an electrolytic medium by electrolysis, which comprises an anode and a cathode submerged in the electrolytic medium and a regulating circuit configured to regulate an electrolysis current in order to form concretions on the cathode, in which the anode and the cathode are used as a current source for supplying the electrolysis process and are connected in the regulating circuit by at least one regulating element capable of limiting the electrolysis current, the device further comprising a control device which controls the regulating element in order to regulate the electrolysis current, the control device being configured to regulate the electrolysis current according to an established time program. 
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the regulating element comprises a controlled variable resistance circuit for adjusting the current flowing between the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of anodes and wherein the regulating element comprises switches allowing the selection of one or more anodes for closing the circuit to the cathode. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises one or more anodes and wherein the regulating element comprises one or more MOS or MOSFET transistors placed between the anodes. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the control device is configured to modulate the control signal for the one or more transistors using pulse-width modulation according to the established time program. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the control device is further configured to modulate the control signal for the one or more transistors according to a measurement of the voltage across the terminals of said transistor when said transistor is open and according to an intensity of the cathode current when said transistor is closed. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises an independent power supply for supplying the regulating circuit with electricity independently of the anodes and cathodes. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the anode and the cathode are used as the current source for the regulating circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a battery for supplying the regulating circuit with electricity and a charge pump configured to draw electrolysis current and charge the battery. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises an additional anode electrically connected to the cathode to provide a minimum concretion current. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the one or more anodes are made of magnesium and the cathode is made of an iron or copper alloy. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises at least one current sensor and in which the control device is configured to regulate the current according to the measured current. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises at least one voltage sensor and in which the control device is configured to regulate the current according to the measured voltage. 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises at least one sensor for measuring at least one particular characteristic of the medium and in which the control device is configured to regulate the current according to this measured characteristic. 
     
     
         15 . A method for forming concretions in an electrolytic medium by means of a device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is placed in an electrolytic medium. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the electrolytic medium is chosen from seawater, brackish water, industrial fluids and soils impregnated with an electrolytic liquid.