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US 5,843,291 AGranted
Water electrolyzer
AssigneeToto Ltd.
InventorsToshio Eki, Toshiharu Otsuka, Kazuyuki Enomoto, Tomohiro Nishi
Life of this patent
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AssigneeToto Ltd.
InventorsToshio Eki, Toshiharu Otsuka, Kazuyuki Enomoto, Tomohiro Nishi
Estimating the term…
An electrolyzer for producing alkaline and/or acidic water by way of electrolysis of water. In order to remove scale such as calcium carbonate deposited on the electrodes of the electrolytic cell (36) during electrolysis, the control unit (166) operates a polarity reversal switch (186) at a predetermined timing to reverse the electric potential applied to the electrodes of the electrolytic cell (36). The control unit (166) includes means (190/192) for detecting the hardness of water and varies the duration of application of DC voltage of opposite polarity in accordance with the hardness of water. Hardness of water is preferably determined by detecting the electric conductivity of water. Time required for removal of scale is shortened.
In a water electrolyzer having an electrolytic cell provided with a pair of electrodes forming an electrolytic flowpath therebetween, means for applying between said electrodes a DC potential of a first polarity to electrolyze water flowing through said flowpath and thereby produce alkaline and acidic water, switching means for reversing the polarity of the DC potential applied between said electrodes, and control means for controlling said switching means in such a manner that a DC potential of a polarity opposite to said first polarity is applied between the electrodes to remove scale precipitated on the electrodes during electrolysis of water;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.