Electrolytic Sterilizing Apparatus for Ship Ballast Water

Abstract

An electrolytic sterilizing apparatus comprises an electrolytic module ( 10 ) including an inlet port ( 11 - 1 ) disposed at one end thereof for allowing ballast water ( 40 ) to be introduced therethrough, an outlet port ( 11 - 2 ) disposed at the other end thereof for allowing the ballast water ( 40 ) to be discharged therethrough, a baffle unit ( 20 ) mounted at the inlet port ( 11 - 1 ) side for generating eddy flow, a sensor ( 30 ) mounted at the outlet port ( 11 - 2 ) side for measuring residual chlorine concentration, and a chamber ( 11 ) disposed between the baffle unit ( 20 ) and the sensor ( 30 ), the chamber ( 11 ) having electrode sets ( 12 - 1 ) mounted therein, each of the electrode sets ( 12 - 1 ) including a pair of electrodes ( 12 ), a power supply unit ( 50 ) for supplying power to the electrolytic module ( 10 ), and a connecting unit ( 60 ) including a pump ( 61 ) for introducing and discharging the ballast water ( 40 ), a pipe ( 62 ) connected to the pump ( 61 ), and a valve ( 63 ).

1 . An electrolytic sterilizing apparatus for eliminating or inactivating aquatic organisms remaining in ship ballast water, such as bacilli, wherein the electrolytic sterilizing apparatus comprises:
 an electrolytic module including an inlet port disposed at one end thereof for allowing ballast water ( 40 ) to be introduced therethrough,   an outlet port disposed at the other end thereof for allowing the ballast water to be discharged therethrough,   a baffle unit mounted at the inlet port side for generating eddy flow,   a sensor mounted at the outlet port side for measuring residual chlorine concentration, and   a chamber disposed between the baffle unit and the sensor, the chamber having a plurality of electrode sets mounted therein, each of the electrode sets including a pair of electrodes;   a power supply unit for supplying power to the electrolytic module; and   a connecting unit including a pump for introducing and discharging the ballast water, a pipe connected to the pump, and a valve.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is an oxidation-resistance nonconductive member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes include plate-shaped electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes include mesh-shaped electrodes. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are manufactured by coating titanium with iridium oxide. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are arranged at an interval of approximately 5 to 20 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode sets are disposed in parallel with the flow direction of the ballast water such that the amount of current can be adjusted according to the flow speed and the flow rate of the ballast water. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the electrodes of the first-group electrode set, which comes into first contact with the introduced ballast water, is formed of the plate-shaped electrodes, and the other-group electrode sets are formed of the mesh-shaped electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 ,  3  or  7 , wherein the plate-shaped electrodes are used only when the electrode sets are disposed in parallel with the flow direction of the ballast water. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode sets are disposed perpendicular to the flow direction of the ballast water such that the amount of current can be adjusted according to the flow speed and the flow rate of the ballast water. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode sets are arranged such that a positive power source of one of the electrode sets is adjacent to a positive power source of a neighboring electrode set, and a negative power source of one of the electrode sets is adjacent to a negative power source of another neighboring electrode set, and the electrode sets are constructed such that negative electrodes and positive electrodes are alternately arranged, and the negative electrodes of one of the electrode sets correspond to the positive electrodes of the neighboring electrode set while the positive electrodes of one of the electrode sets correspond to the negative electrodes of the neighboring electrode set. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the power supply unit converts alternating current power into direct current power, periodically switches the polarities of the electrodes using a timer, and supplies power having low direct current voltage, 20 V or less, to the electrodes. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the power supply unit converts direct current power into alternating current power, adjusts a cycle of the direct current using a frequency inverting unit, and supplies power having low alternating current voltage, 20 V or less, to the electrodes. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 ,  12  or  13 , wherein the amount of current supplied from the power supply unit to the electrolytic module is controlled by the residual chlorine concentration measuring sensor.