Disposable Cartridge for an Electrolytic Cell

Abstract

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a cartridge for use with an electrolytic cell having an interface. The cartridge includes a reservoir for containing a catholyte solution. The reservoir is removably coupleable with the cell. The cartridge also includes at least one cartridge port that is removably coupleable to an interface on the electrolytic cell. The port of the cartridge is also configured to cycle a catholyte solution between the reservoir and the electrolytic cell when the cartridge port is coupled to the interface of the electrolytic cell.

1 . A cartridge for an electrolytic cell having an interface, the cartridge comprising:
 a reservoir configured to contain a catholyte solution and being removably coupleable with the cell; and   at least one cartridge port for removably coupling with the interface of the electrolytic cell, the port being configured to cycle a catholyte solution between the reservoir and the electrolytic cell when the cartridge port is coupled to the interface of the electrolytic cell.   
     
     
         2 . An cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a catholyte solution contained within the reservoir.   
     
     
         3 . An cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge port comprises:
 a cartridge outlet port configured to allow passage of the catholyte solution from the reservoir; and   a cartridge inlet port configured to allow passage of the catholyte solution to the reservoir.   
     
     
         4 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge port further comprises:
 at least one valve to prevent the escape of catholyte solution when the cartridge port is decoupled from the interface.   
     
     
         5 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a hydrophobic membrane that contains the catholyte solution while providing for the passage of hydrogen gas from the reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . A cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein the catholyte solution is in a solid form. 
     
     
         7 . A cartridge according to  claim 6 , wherein the catholyte solution is in a pre-mixed powdered form. 
     
     
         8 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an indicator for indicating when the cartridge needs to be replaced.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for generating ozone and dissolving ozone into a water source, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing forming an interior;   an electrolytic cell within the interior, the cell having a cathode, a diamond anode, and a membrane between the cathode and the diamond anode; and   a cartridge including:
 a reservoir for receiving a catholyte solution and being removably coupleable with the cell; and 
 at least one cartridge port in fluid communication with the reservoir; 
   the housing having an interface for removably coupling with the at least one cartridge port, the at least one cartridge port and interface configured to cycle a catholyte solution between the reservoir and the cathode.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one cartridge port comprises:
 a cartridge outlet port configured to allow passage of the catholyte solution from the reservoir; and   a cartridge inlet port configured to allow passage of the catholyte solution to the reservoir.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the interface comprises:
 a cathode inlet port configured to be in fluid communication with the cartridge outlet port and to allow passage of the catholyte solution from the reservoir to the cathode; and   a cathode outlet port configured to be in fluid communication with the cartridge inlet port and to allow passage of the catholyte solution from the cathode to the reservoir.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the interface further comprises:
 at least one valve to prevent the escape of catholyte solution when the interface is decoupled from the cartridge port.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the cartridge port further comprises:
 at least one valve to prevent the escape of catholyte solution when the cartridge port is decoupled from the interface.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir includes a hydrophobic membrane that contains the catholyte solution in the reservoir while providing for the passage of hydrogen gas from the reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the catholyte solution is contained within the reservoir and is in a solid form. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the catholyte solution is in a pre-mixed powdered form. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes an anode inlet port and an anode outlet port such that source water flows through the anode inlet port to contact the diamond anode and then flows through the anode outlet port. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the diamond anode generates ozone from the source water in contact with the diamond anode and dissolves the ozone in the source water. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the membrane is a solid proton exchange membrane that provides for the exchange of protons between the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a sensor configured to monitor the performance of the electrolytic cell.   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the sensor senses at lease one of pH of the catholyte solution, conductivity of the catholyte solution, volume of the catholyte solution, and voltage draw in a power supply of the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an indicator for indicating when the cartridge needs to be replaced.   
     
     
         23 . A cartridge for an electrolytic cell having an anode, the cartridge being used with a housing, the cartridge comprising:
 a cathode; and   a reservoir for containing a catholyte solution and configured to provide the catholyte solution to the cathode during use when the reservoir contains the catholyte solution;   the cartridge having a port that is removably coupleable to an interface of the housing, the cathode being spaced from the anode of the electrolytic cell when coupled to the interface of the housing.   
     
     
         24 . A cartridge according to  claim 23 , wherein the reservoir includes a hydrophobic membrane that contains the catholyte solution while providing for the passage of hydrogen gas from the reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . A cartridge according to  claim 23 , wherein the catholyte solution is contained within the reservoir and is in a solid form. 
     
     
         26 . A cartridge according to  claim 25 , wherein the catholyte solution is in a pre-mixed powdered form. 
     
     
         27 . A cartridge according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 an indicator for indicating when the cartridge needs to be replaced.   
     
     
         28 . A cartridge according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a membrane spaced between the cathode of the cartridge and the anode of the electrolytic cell when the cartridge is coupled to the interface of the housing.   
     
     
         29 . A cartridge according to  claim 28 , wherein the membrane is a solid proton exchange membrane that provides for the exchange of protons between the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for generating ozone and dissolving ozone into a water source, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an anode; and   a cartridge including:
 a cathode; 
 a reservoir for containing a catholyte solution and configured to provide the catholyte solution to the cathode; 
   the cartridge having a port that is removably coupleable to an interface of the housing, the cathode being spaced from the anode of the electrolytic cell when coupled to the interface of the housing.   
     
     
         31 . An apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the cartridge includes:
 a membrane is spaced between the cathode of the cartridge and the anode of the electrolytic cell when the cartridge is coupled to the interface of the housing.   
     
     
         32 . An apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the membrane is a solid proton exchange membrane that provides for the exchange of protons between the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the reservoir includes a hydrophobic membrane that contains the catholyte solution in the reservoir while providing for the passage of hydrogen gas from the reservoir. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the catholyte solution is contained within the reservoir and is in a solid form. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the catholyte solution is in a pre-mixed powdered form. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the housing includes an anode inlet port and an anode outlet port such that source water flows through the anode inlet port to contact the anode and then flows through the anode outlet port. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the anode generates ozone from the source water in contact with the anode and dissolves the ozone in the source water. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the housing includes:
 at least one valve to prevent the escape of source water when the cartridge is decoupled from the interface on the housing.   
     
     
         39 . An apparatus according to  claim 30 , further comprising:
 an indicator for indicating when the cartridge needs to be replaced.