US 2003/0188976 A1 · Redox bipolar cell fabric washer system

Abstract

A redox bipolar cell fabric washing system and method is disclosed that provides for washing fabrics without the use of any added detergents, fabric softeners, or bleaches, or other chemical al additives. The system includes a conventional fabric washing machine with a redox bipolar cell that through a circulation pump continuously treats the wash water by using mixed oxidants or charged wash water to remove contaminants from the fabric. The redox cell includes a housing, a plurality of cathode plates, a plurality of membranes, and a plurality of anodes proximately positioned in an alternate manner with a plurality of flow channels in the housing. The cell produces charged wash water by an electrochemical reaction utilizing electrically charged anodes and cathodes with semi permeable membranes, wherein the oxidation reduction potential of the charged wash water is continuously controlled with a sensor to determine when the fabrics are clean.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A redox bipolar cell in a fabric washing machine utilizing tap water with a low oxidation reduction potential and producing charged wash water by an electrochemical reaction to elevate the oxidation reduction potential of the wash water to remove contaminants from soiled fabrics forming charged waste water, without the use of a detergent, comprising:

(a) a housing, including an inlet aperture for the tap water or the charged recycled wash water, an outlet aperture for the charged wash water, an inlet opening for the tap water to form an electrolyte, an outlet opening for a hydrogen rich electrolyte and a plurality of electrical connections;
(b) a plurality of cathode plates, ion exchange membranes, and anode plates all disposed within said housing, said cathode and anode plates being separated by said membranes;
and
(c) a cathode spacer plate positioned between said cathode plates disposed within said housing, said cathode spacer plate forming an electrolyte chamber between said cathode plates, said cathode spacer plate positioned within said housing to facilitate the tap water or the charged waste water to flow over said anode plates.

1 more element

A method of using a redox bipolar cell in a fabric washing machine utilizing tap water with a low oxidation reduction potential and producing charged wash water by an electrochemical reaction to elevate the oxidation reduction potential of the wash water to remove contaminants from soiled fabrics forming charged waste water, without the use of a detergent, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the fabric washing machine with said redox bipolar cell;
(b) providing required utilities of, an electrical power supply, a charged wastewater drain, and a tap water supply;
(c) providing the contaminated fabrics;
(d) placing the contaminated fabrics in a washtub of the fabric washing machine;
(e) filling the washtub with the charged wash water from said redox bipolar cell connected to the tap water supply;
(f) starting a wash cycle in the fabric washing machine to continue for a selected period;
and
(g) draining the washtub into the charged wastewater drain.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Redox bipolar cell fabric washer system

Life of this patent

Redox bipolar cell fabric washer system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23