Parallel cell electrochemical production of modified anolyte solution

Abstract

A membrane-based electrochemical cell produces a first anolyte solution and a membrane-less electrochemical cell produces a bleach solution such as from a brine solution. The first anolyte solution and bleach solution are combined to form a modified anolyte solution. A dual electrochemical cell device includes two segments, one having a membrane-based electrochemical cell and the other having a membrane-less electrochemical cell, separated by a partition, and secured together into a single, unitary structure.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for producing modified anolyte solution comprising:
 a first electrochemical cell having a first anode, a first cathode, and an ionic exchange membrane therebetween, and having an anolyte space between the membrane and the first anode and a catholyte space between the membrane and the first cathode, whereby a first anolyte solution is produced from liquid in the anolyte space with the first anode and first cathode being powered; and   a second electrochemical cell having a second anode and a second cathode and having a bleach space between the second anode and the second cathode uninterrupted by a membrane, whereby a bleach solution is produced from a brine solution in the bleach space with the second anode and second cathode being powered;   the anolyte space and the bleach space being in fluid communication so as to mix the first anolyte solution and the bleach solution, whereby to produce a modified anolyte solution as a mixture of the first anolyte solution and the bleach solution.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising respective outputs coupled to the anolyte space and the bleach space, the respective outputs being coupled so as to provide at a further output the modified anolyte solution. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an anolyte tank for receiving the modified anolyte solution. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , whereby a catholyte solution is produced from liquid in the catholyte space with the first anode and first cathode being powered, the system further comprising a catholyte tank for receiving the catholyte solution. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising an output coupled to the catholyte space, the output being fluidically coupled to the catholyte tank. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , the membrane being a cation exchange membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , the membrane being an anion exchange membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , the first anode and the first cathode being foraminous, and the second anode and the second cathode being solid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , the first electrochemical cell comprising a plurality of first anodes, a plurality of first cathodes, and a plurality of respective ion exchange membranes therebetween to define a plurality of anolyte spaces between the respective membranes and first anodes and a plurality of catholyte spaces between the respective membranes and first cathodes, whereby a first anolyte solution is produced from liquid in the anolyte spaces with the first anodes and first cathodes being powered. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , the plurality of anolyte spaces and plurality of catholyte spaces being arranged to provide adjacent anolyte spaces and adjacent catholyte spaces. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising spacers between the anolyte spaces of adjacent anolyte spaces and between the catholyte spaces of adjacent catholyte spaces. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , the first cathode and first anode being generally planar. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , the membrane being generally planar. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , the second cathode and second anode being generally planar. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing modified anolyte solution comprising:
 producing a first anolyte solution in an anolyte space between a first anode and an ionic exchange membrane of a first electrochemical cell having the first anode, a first cathode, and the membrane therebetween;   producing a bleach solution in a bleach space between a second anode and a second cathode of a second electrochemical cell having the second anode and the second cathode uninterrupted by a membrane therebetween; and   combining the first anolyte solution and the bleach solution to form a modified anolyte solution.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , producing the first anolyte solution including coupling brine solution to the anolyte space and powering the first anode and cathode. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising coupling liquid to a catholyte space between the membrane and the cathode of the first electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising producing a catholyte solution in the catholyte space. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , producing the bleach solution including coupling brine solution to the bleach space and powering the second anode and cathode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first anode and the first cathode are foraminous and the second anode and the second cathode are solid. 
     
     
         21 . A dual electrochemical cell device comprising:
 a plurality of anode and cathode pairs   a partition between two of the pairs to define first and second segments, a first of the anode and cathode pairs being in the first segment, a second of the anode and cathode pairs being in the second segment; and   an ion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and cathode of the first pair, a fluid space between the anode and cathode of the second pair being uninterrupted by a membrane, the anode and cathode pairs and the partition being secured together as a single, unitary, generally fluid tight assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , the partition being fluid impermeable. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , the anode and cathode of the first pair being foraminous, and the anode and cathode of the second pair being solid. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , the membrane being a cation exchange membrane. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21 , the membrane being an anion exchange membrane. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21  further comprising a first input and a first output coupled to a catholyte space between the membrane and cathode of the first pair, a second input and a second output coupled to an anolyte space between the membrane and the anodes of the first pair, and a third input and a third output coupled to the fluid space between the anode and the cathode of the second pair. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , second and third outputs being fluidically coupled whereby to combine fluids from the anolyte and fluid spaces. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26 , the second output being coupled to the third input. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26 , the anodes and cathodes being generally planar.