Apparatus and method for removal of ions from a porous electrode that is part of a deionization system

An electrode for use in treating a fluid comprising:

• an outer housing including a side wall defining an inner space;
• a partition within the outer housing dividing the inner space into a first portion and a second portion;
• one or more openings in the side wall in communication with the first portion;
• a granular conductive material encapsulated in the first portion;
• and
• an electrical terminal at least partially within the first portion and in electrical communication with the granular conductive material;
• wherein the openings are configured to permit ions in the fluid to be treated to pass there through so as to come into contact with the granular conductive material.

A system for deionization of a fluid comprising:

• a treatment tank;
• and
• a plurality of electrodes arranged within an interior of the treatment tank, each of the plurality of electrodes comprising:
• an outer housing including a side wall defining an inner space;
• a partition within the outer housing dividing the inner space into a first portion and a second portion;
• one or more openings in the side wall in communication with the first portion;
• a granular conductive material encapsulated in the first portion;
• and
• an electrical terminal at least partially within the first portion and in electrical communication with the granular conductive material;
• wherein the openings are configured to permit ions in the fluid to be treated to pass there through so as to come into contact with the granular conductive material;
• a voltage source configured to provide at least one direct current voltage to the plurality of electrodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is provided with a first polarity voltage, and a remaining portion of the plurality of electrodes are provided with an opposite polarity voltage.

A method of deionization of a fluid comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality of electrodes comprising:
• an outer housing including a side wall defining an inner space;
• a partition within the outer housing dividing the inner space into a first portion and a second portion;
• one or more openings in the side wall in communication with the first portion;
• a granular conductive material encapsulated in the first portion;
• and
• an electrical terminal at least partially within the first portion and in electrical communication with the granular conductive material;
• wherein the openings are configured to permit ions in the fluid to pass there through so as to come into contact with the granular conductive material;
• arranging the plurality of electrodes within an interior of a treatment tank so as to form a first space there between;
• applying a charge of a first polarity to at least one of the plurality of electrodes;
• oppositely charging a remaining portion of the plurality of electrodes;
• and
• flowing the fluid to be deionized within the first space so as come into contact with the polarized electrodes.