초록 ▼

A water purification system and method suitable for use in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, water storage tanks, wells and water cooling towers employs a galvanic cell having a silver or copper or zinc anode electrically connected to a cathode made from a metal of still higher electrochemical potenti

A water purification system and method suitable for use in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, water storage tanks, wells and water cooling towers employs a galvanic cell having a silver or copper or zinc anode electrically connected to a cathode made from a metal of still higher electrochemical potential, normally a platinum group metal and preferably palladium. A galvanic cell of some tens of square centimeters in size and some hundreds of grams in weight liberates sufficient silver or copper ions so as to treat a multi-thousand liter body of water, such as a swimming pool, for, typically under normal contamination, some months until the anode is consumed. Copper and/or silver ions liberated from the galvanic cell suppress bacterial, fungal and/or algae growth, thus, significantly reducing the amount of chlorine, bromine or other chemicals needed to maintain water quality. The invention operates on the current generated by the galvanic action between the dissimilar metals of the anode and cathode, and does not require external electrical power.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A water purification device for use in water rendered electrically conductive by the presence of ions but with so few ions as to permit acidity to remain within a range suitable for a swimming pool, the device comprising:a galvanic cell consisting essentially ofa first

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A water purification device for use in water rendered electrically conductive by the presence of ions but with so few ions as to permit acidity to remain within a range suitable for a swimming pool, the device comprising:a galvanic cell consisting essentially ofa first metal drawn from the group of silver and copper and zinc, in physical and electrical contact witha second metal having a higher electrochemical potential than does the first metal,where at least one of the first metal and the second metal is in the form of a planar mesh while the other metal is also in a planar form laid flat against the mesh, immersed in the water rendered electrically conductive by the presence of ions;wherein openings within the at least one mesh permit circulation of the water so that the ions within the water may readily come into contact with both the first and the second metals where there is little distance between them;wherein by galvanic action an effective amount of the first metal is liberated into the water so as to serve as to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi and algae.