Electrolysis device and related detergentless washing machine

Abstract

An electrolysis device is disclosed for producing alkaline water from water including an electrolysis vessel, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a bipolar membrane element, and at least one cation exchangeable membrane within the electrolysis vessel. The bipolar membrane element has a cation exchangeable side and an anion exchangeable side, the cation exchangeable side being closer to the negative electrode than the anion exchangeable side. The at least one cation exchangeable membrane is arranged between the anion exchangeable side of the bipolar membrane element and the positive electrode, so as to define an alkali chamber between the bipolar membrane element and the cation exchangeable membrane. An ionic exchange resin is associated with the vessel, whereby flow of the water though the vessel and the ionic exchange resin produces alkaline water in the alkali chamber. Various options and modifications are possible. A related washing machine such as a dishwasher is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrolysis device for producing alkaline water from water comprising:
 an electrolysis vessel;   a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a bipolar membrane element, and at least one cation exchangeable membrane within the electrolysis vessel, the bipolar membrane element having a cation exchangeable side and an anion exchangeable side, the cation exchangeable side being closer to the negative electrode than the anion exchangeable side, the at least one cation exchangeable membrane being arranged between the anion exchangeable side of the bipolar membrane element and the positive electrode, so as to define an alkalic chamber between the bipolar membrane element and the cation exchangeable membrane; and   an ionic exchange resin associated with the vessel, whereby flow of the water though the vessel and the ionic exchange resin produces alkaline water in the alkalic chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolysis device of  claim 1 , wherein an acidic chamber is defined between the anion exchange membrane and the bipolar membrane, whereby flow of the water though the vessel and the ionic exchange resin produces acidic water from the acidic chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolysis device of  claim 1 , further including an anion exchangeable membrane between the negative electrode and the cation exchangeable side of the bipolar membrane element, an acidic chamber being defined between the anion exchangeable membrane and the bipolar membrane element, whereby flow of the water though the vessel and the ionic exchange resin produces acidic water from the acidic chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolysis device of  claim 3 , wherein a second alkalic chamber is defined between the cation exchange membrane and the bipolar membrane, whereby flow of the water though the vessel and the ionic exchange resin produces alkaline water from the second alkalic chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolysis device of  claim 1 , further including a container for holding the alkaline water produced by the alkalic chamber and for supplying the alkaline water either back to the alkalic chamber or to an end use location. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolysis device of  claim 2 , further including a container for holding the acidic water produced by the acidic chamber and for supplying the acidic water either back to the acidic chamber or to an end use location. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolysis device of  claim 1 , wherein the ionic exchange resin is located within the alkalic chamber of the electrolysis vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolysis device of  claim 2 , wherein the ionic exchange resin is located within the acidic chamber of the electrolysis vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolysis device of  claim 1 , wherein the ionic exchange resin is held within a container located outside of the and in liquid communication with the electrolysis vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolysis device of  claim 1 , wherein the ionic exchange resin in the alkalic chamber is an anion exchange resin. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolysis device of  claim 2 , wherein the ionic exchange resin in the acidic chamber is a cation exchange resin. 
     
     
         12 . The electrolysis device of  claim 2 , wherein the ionic exchange resin in the alkalic chamber and the acidic chamber is a mixture of anion exchange resins and cation exchange resins. 
     
     
         13 . A detergentless washing machine comprising:
 a washing compartment for washing objects; and   an electrolysis vessel for supplying alkaline water to the washing compartment, the electrolysis vessel including:
 a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a bipolar membrane element, and at least one cation exchangeable membrane within the electrolysis vessel, the bipolar membrane element having a cation exchangeable side and an anion exchangeable side, the cation exchangeable side being closer to the negative electrode than the anion exchangeable side, the at least one cation exchangeable membrane being arranged between the anion exchangeable side of the bipolar membrane element and the positive electrode, so as to define an alkalic chamber between the bipolar membrane element and the cation exchangeable membrane; and 
 an ionic exchange resin associated with the vessel, whereby flow of the water though the vessel and the ionic exchange resin produces the alkaline water in the alkalic chamber to be provided to the washing compartment for washing the objects. 
   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein an acidic chamber is defined between the anion exchange membrane and the bipolar membrane, whereby flow of the water though the vessel and the ionic exchange resin produces acidic water from the acidic chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , further including a container for holding the alkaline water produced by the alkalic chamber and for supplying the alkaline water either back to the alkalic chamber or to an end use location. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , further including a container for holding the acidic water produced by the acidic chamber and for supplying the acidic water either back to the acidic chamber or to an end use location. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein the ionic exchange resin is located within the alkalic chamber of the electrolysis vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the ionic exchange resin is located within the acidic chamber of the electrolysis vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the ionic exchange resin is held within a container located outside of the and in liquid communication with the electrolysis vessel.