US 5,328,572 A · Dual system using three electrodes to treat fluid

Abstract

The present invention is drawn to a method and apparatus for treating electrically conductive fluid. Positive and negative electrodes of electrically conductive materials having different electrochemical potentials are spaced apart and electrically isolated from one another so that the only electroconductive connection that develops an electrochemical potential between the electrodes is established by fluid to be treated flowing between the electrodes. Such fluid is therefore ionized which will both prevent the precipitation of solids from the fluid which would tend to form a scale on the inner surface of piping through which the fluid flows, and aid in the removal of a previously formed scale. On the other hand, a third electrode is also provided so as to be electroconductively connected with the positive electrode but electrically isolated from the negative electrode. Therefore, the third electrode will release metal ions into the fluid. These ions will inhibit the release of a compound into the fluid having a principal element that is the same as that of the metal ions released by the electrode. In such a way, the fluid can also be treated to inhibit a particular compound, to which the fluid might be exposed, from dissolving into the fluid.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Apparatus for treating electrically conductive fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a positive electrode of electrically conductive material;
a negative electrode of electrically conductive material that is spaced apart and electrically isolated from the electrically conductive material of said positive electrode,
the electrically conductive materials of said electrodes having different electrochemical potentials such that when a body of electrically conductive fluid to be treated in the device flows between said electrodes, an electroconductive connection that develops an electroconductive potential between said electrodes is only established through the body of fluid whereby the fluid is ionized;
and
a third electrode of electrically conductive material,
the electrically conductive material of said third electrode being electrically isolated from the electrically conductive material of said negative electrode, and
the electrically conductive material of said third electrode being electrically connected to the electrically conductive material of said positive electrode such that when a body of fluid to be treated in the device extends between said third and said positive electrodes, metal ions of the electrically conductive material of said third electrode are released into the fluid.

4 more elements

A method of treating electrically conductive fluid in which the fluid so treated will inhibit a compound to which the fluid is exposed from dissolving into the fluid, said method comprising:

providing a positive electrode of electrically conductive material;
providing a negative electrode of electrically conductive material that is spaced apart and electrically isolated from the electrically conductive material of said positive electrode, and which has an electrochemical potential that is different from that of the electrically conductive material of said positive electrode;
providing a third electrode of electrically conductive material having an electrochemical potential substantially the same as that of the principle element of the compound which the fluid is to be treated for, the electrically conductive material of the third electrode being electrically connected to the electrically conductive material of said positive electrode and electrically isolated from the electrically conductive material of said negative electrode;
and
causing a body of the fluid to flow over said electrodes so as to establish an electroconductive connection of said positive and said negative electrodes only through the body of fluid thereby causing ionization of the fluid, and so as to cause metal ions of the electrically conductive material of said third electrode to be released into the fluid thereby inhibiting the release of the compound into the fluid.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual system using three electrodes to treat fluid

Life of this patent

Dual system using three electrodes to treat fluid

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19