DE202004010572U1 - Water dispenser comprises electrolysis unit mounted between mains or bottled water supply and tap which consists of one or two electrolysis cells, reaction chamber and catalysis chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

Water dispenser comprises an electrolysis unit which is mounted between a mains or bottled water supply and the tap. This consists of one or two electrolysis cells, a reaction chamber and a catalysis chamber. Each cell has a tubular anode (a) and a central cathode (c) which are separated by a coaxial ion-selective diaphragm (b). The electrodes are made from metal oxide coated titanium and the diaphragm is made from a ceramic mixture of metal oxides.

Description

water dispenser different designs have problems with the microbiological quality of the tapped drinking water; it often corresponds not the requirements of the Drinking Water Ordinance that came into force on 1.1.2003 2001. For the purposes of this regulation, water dispenser systems are out from which drinking water is taken or released. The water must be at the time the release of the microbiological requirements for water for human Correspond to use (§4 Paragraph 2 and §5 Paragraphs 1 and 2). This means specifically: pathogens may undetectable and those measured in nucleating units (CFU) Total bacterial load must be less 100 CFU per milliliter.

In The water dispenser taps remain moist after each operation back. Germs (bacteria, spores from unicellular organisms, fungi and bacteria), the above the air or when touched over the Hands there penetrate, find ideal living conditions and multiply quickly. They penetrate further into the water-carrying pipes from the tap before (retrograde contamination) and form a stuck biofilm. These processes are caused by regular stagnation times (e.g. not used over Night or over the weekend). The biofilm releases germs into the water, making it microbiological is contaminated.

germs but also get with the water that the water dispenser loads will, in the water-bearing Components. Water taken from the house installation or as spring water etc. in large Bottles (called balloons) are not sterile (Germ-free). If the existing germs are deposited, they can too a biofilm in the aquifer Train parts of the water dispenser.

health facilities are particularly obliged to monitor the quality of the drinking water. After the microbiological problem of water dispensers in specialist circles water dispensers are also increasingly being discussed included in the investigations. In some facilities then all water dispensers removed.

State of the art

The Manufacturers of water dispensers have different on the situation reacted - in following a selection of measures (can also occur in combination):

• - It special cleaning measures are still not recommended.
• - It becomes a daily Cleaning of the tap is recommended.
• - It becomes a daily spray recommended at the tap.
• - It is required to disinfect the tap in the morning and evening and additionally regular cleaning according to the technical rules for Getränkeschankanlagen (TRSK 501 §11) make.
• - It a regular hygiene inspection is carried out Specialists offered.
• - The Space around the tap is irradiated with UV light.
• - It are in the device Bacterial filter or UV lamp used.

For the solution of the same So very different measures are proposed to the problem differ greatly in their effectiveness. The individual cleaning steps are often not specified in terms of their hygienic relevance. In the device Bacterial filters and UV lamps installed in front of the tap cannot capture the germs that over the tap from the outside penetrate and form biofilm in the water pipe near the outlet. The UV radiation at the tap does not detect the germs that pass through the Penetrate water inlet.

All in all complicates the structural and constructive execution of the water dispenser hygienic Cleaning measures.

The Germ load is also dependent from the location (office, Art practice, hardware store etc.) and compliance and control of hygiene and cleaning instructions from the operator. Usually exist here no requirements.

Explanation of the execution "Hygienic Water dispenser "

Under the term "water dispenser" in the sense of this Applications include drinking fountains, drinking water fountains, drinking water systems, Bottled water systems, water coolers etc., from which cooled and / or uncooled and / or heated water in the form of still water and / or carbonated Water and / or oxygenated water for human use is removed or delivered.

The installation location and the number of necessary electrolysis units is determined by the type of water dispenser (cooled / heated / still / carbonated / oxygenated water). A simple embodiment shows the 1 (Water dispenser for chilled still and carbonated water with connection to the house installation).

The specified in protection claim 1 The problem underlying the invention is to ensure the microbiological quality of the water from water dispensers in accordance with the requirements of the Drinking Water Ordinance 2001. This problem is solved with the features listed in protection claim 1.

With the invention it is achieved that water of drinking water quality can always be withdrawn from the water dispenser - regardless of the microbial load in the environment, the incoming water and the water supply lines and regardless of the strict adherence to cleaning intervals and short stagnation times (weekends). In the anode compartment ( 2 : 1 ) strong oxidants are created which kill germs and produce a positive redox potential in the water. The exposure time of the oxidants is recorded in a reaction chamber ( 3A and 3B : 3 ) extended. A flow sensor switches the electrical current on and off, so that only flowing water is treated electrolytically. Depending on the quality of the incoming water, an electrolysis unit is installed 3A or 3B used.

The electrolysis cell is characterized by a membrane (diaphragm) that separates the electrode space into the anode and cathode spaces ( 2 : b) and a mixing of the two partial water flows prevented. From the first electrolytic cell, only the partial water flow from the anode compartment reaches the tap, the partial water stream from the cathode compartment is discarded ( 3A and 3B : c). The cell can be controlled so that the microbial content of the water always meets the requirements of the Drinking Water Ordinance. When flowing through the anode compartment, the water receives a positive redox potential of up to + 800 mV. This redox potential is sufficiently stable even in the event of stagnation (non-operation) to safely kill all approach and skin germs at the tap over a few days. This prevents retrograde contamination of the water dispenser via the tap and the formation of biofilm.

With The electrolysis unit not only releases germs, but also toxins removed from the water:

• - The listed in claim 2 Catalyst chamber with catalyst granulate increases and completes the degradation of organic chemical compounds initiated by the oxidants. This means, for example, residues of pharmaceuticals or destroyed by pesticides. The catalyst is not consumed and does not have to be regenerated or replaced.
• - Due to the ion-selective diaphragm listed in protection claim 4, toxic heavy metals can be collected in the cathode compartment, precipitated and finally removed. Strong reducing agents are generated in the cathode compartment, which precipitate metal ions either as metal hydroxides or as neutralized metal atoms. The ion-selective diaphragm ( 2 : b) ensures that toxic metals are concentrated in the cathode compartment and minerals are retained in the anode compartment. The partial water flow from the cathode compartment of the first electrolytic cell is discarded (drainage, see 1 : Federation 3A and 3B : c) and thus toxic metals removed.

The listed in protection claim 3 oxygen-rich water arises from the interaction of several Factors. The oxygen mainly arises in the anode compartment of the first Electrolysis cell. Among the multitude of oxidants formed there the oxygen is relatively stable and inert. He will in the oxidative processes in the reaction and catalysis chamber not consumed and therefore accumulates in the water.

The listed in claim 5 Restructuring the water is a combination effect of strong electromagnetic field and strong shear forces in the electrolysis cells. Liquid water has a structure that is characterized by the dipole character (uneven charge distribution) and the asymmetrical shape of the water molecules is due. Up to over a hundred water molecules form cage-like molecules (Cluster). These are broken up and rearranged, whereby predominantly smaller water molecule clusters arise what the portability the water for small molecules such as. Gases increased.

The advantages the combination of water dispenser plus electrolysis unit

• - The microbiological quality of the tap water always corresponds to the drinking water ordinance 2,001th
• - The germicidal The effect of the redox potential makes regular disinfection of the tap unnecessary.
• - The Maintenance costs for drinking water hygiene by the operator low.
• - Higher hygienic safety standards are produced with little effort.
• - The Water is added enriched with oxygen.
• - Organic Pollutants such as halomethanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, Pesticides and others are destroyed.
• - Toxic Heavy metal ions such as lead or cadmium are removed.
• - The transport capacity of water (e.g. for oxygen) is through change the cluster structure increased.

illustration 1

arrangement of components in a water dispenser for still and carbonated water with connection to the house installation and electrolysis unit after the water inlet.

a

water supply

b

drainage

c

tap for carbonated water

d

tap for silent water

e

Access carbon dioxide

1

electrolysis unit with electronic control and flow sensor, optional

combined with pressure reducer and low water protection

2

pump

3

Karbonatortopf with level control

4

cooling coils

5

drain valve

6

check valve

7

gas valve with pressure reducer

Figure 2

cross-section through an electrolysis chamber

a

anode

b

diaphragm

c

cathode

1

anode chamber

2

cathode space

Figures 3A and 3B

Construction of an electrolysis unit - water-carrying parts 3A with two electrolytic cells, 3B with an electrolytic cell

a

water supply

b

purified water

c

drainage (Water supply litter)

1

electrolysis cell 1

2

electrolysis cell 2

3

reaction chamber

4

catalytic chamber with catalyst granules

5

controllable flow valve

Claims (5)

Hygienic water dispenser with disinfection of the incoming water and protection against contamination of the water-carrying parts, characterized in that an electrolysis unit is installed between the water connection on the device (house installation or the water bottle) and the tap / taps of the water dispenser. The electrolysis unit consists of one or two special electrolysis cells, a reaction chamber and a catalytic chamber. The electrolytic cells consist of cylindrical, coaxially arranged electrodes and an ion-selective diaphragm ( 2 : a – c) which separates the space between the electrodes into an anode space ( 2 : 1 ) and a cathode compartment ( 2 : 2 ) divided. The electrodes are made of titanium and coated with metal oxides, the diaphragm consists of a ceramic mixture of metal oxides. Anode and cathode compartments each have a water inlet and outlet. When water flows, an electrical current of greater than 1 ampere is switched on and kept constant by control electronics. The reaction chamber is connected downstream of the anode compartment of the first electrolytic cell, followed by the catalytic chamber ( 3A and 3B : 3 . 4 ). After flowing through the anode compartment of the first electrolytic cell, the incoming water flow is controlled by a controllable flow valve ( 3A and 3B : 5 ) divided into a drainage stream (discard) and a drinking water stream to the tap. Hygienic water dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that organic chemical contaminations of the water are destroyed by electrolytically generated oxidants. The effectiveness of these processes is determined by a catalyst chamber with catalyst granules ( 3A and 3B : 4 ) potentiated, which is downstream of the reaction chamber. Hygienic water dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water is additionally enriched with oxygen by electrolysis. Oxygen formation mainly occurs in the anode compartment ( 2 : 1 ) of the first electrolytic cell ( 3A and 3B : 1 ). Hygienic water dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that heavy metal ions pass through the ion-selective diaphragm into the cathode compartment ( 2 : 2 ) are transferred to the first electrolytic cell ( 3A and 3B : 1 ) and thus get into the drainage stream. Hygienic water dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure of the water (size distribution of the water molecule clusters) in the two electrolysis cells ( 3A and 3B : 1 . 2 ) is changed electrolytically.