SPIRAL INDUCTION ELECTRODE USED FOR AN ELECTROLYTIC CIRCUIT AND ELECTROLYTIC CIRCUIT THEREOF

Abstract

A spiral induction electrode used for an electrolytic circuit and an electrolytic circuit thereof are disclosed. In an electrolytic discharge system, at least one of electrodes is the spiral induction electrode. A potential difference is formed between at least two of the electrodes for the electrolytic discharge system to discharge. A magnetic field is formed on the spiral induction electrode. The magnetic field induces an ion flow to accelerate, and/or the magnetic field induces an electric current to increase in magnitude. Through the spiral induction electrode, the efficiency of the electrolysis effect is improved greatly, and the output efficiency has a net gain of energy.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrode, and more particularly to a spiral electrode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrolysis is an important industrial process, commonly used in electroplating and energy storage technologies. These technologies are mainly based on external power supply. The applied current flows through the electrode material for the electrolyte to perform an electrolysis reaction or to store electrical energy.

As disclosed in Chinese Patent Publication No. CN110731027A, titled “molten salt battery with solid metal cathode”, an energy storage device is provided, comprising at least one electrochemical cell which includes a negative current collector, a negative electrode in electrical communication with the negative current collector, an electrolyte in electrical communication with the negative electrode, a positive current collector, and a positive electrode in electrical communication with the positive current collector and the electrolyte.

The positive electrode includes a material that is solid at the operating temperature of the energy storage device.

However, the electrolysis efficiency of the aforementioned patent still needs to be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, an electrolytic circuit is provided. The electrolytic circuit comprises at least two electrodes and an electrolyte. At least one of the electrodes is a spiral induction electrode. The electrolyte is connected in series with the electrodes. The spiral induction electrode extends spirally in an axial direction. In the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode has a first end and an opposing second end. An interior of the spiral induction electrode is fully hollow from the first end to the second end. In an electrolytic discharge system, a potential difference is formed between the electrodes for the electrolytic discharge system to discharge, a magnetic field is formed on the spiral induction electrode, and the magnetic field induces an ion flow of the electrolyte to accelerate, and/or the magnetic field induces an electric current on the spiral induction electrode to increase in magnitude.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a spiral induction electrode used for an electrolytic circuit is provided. In an electrolytic discharge system, at least two electrodes and an electrolyte are connected in series to form an electrolytic circuit. At least one of the electrodes is a spiral induction electrode. The spiral induction electrode extends spirally in an axial direction. In the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode has a first end and an opposing second end. An interior of the spiral induction electrode is fully hollow from the first end to the second end. A potential difference is formed between the electrodes for the electrolytic discharge system to discharge. A magnetic field is formed on the spiral induction electrode. The magnetic field induces an ion flow of the electrolyte to accelerate, and/or the magnetic field induces an electric current on the spiral induction electrode to increase in magnitude.

Preferably, the electrodes include a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode that are in contact with the electrolyte. At least the first electrode, the third electrode and the electrolyte are connected in series to form the electrolytic circuit. Before the electrolytic discharge system is discharged, the electrolytic discharge system is powered on and then powered off after an ignition time. Through a process for destroying electrical neutrality, a potential difference is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode due to a difference in material energy levels of the first electrode and the second electrode and/or an electrical neutrality of the electrolyte being destroyed. The first electrode, the second electrode and the electrolyte further form a self-electrolytic discharge circuit for discharge.

Preferably, in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode has at least two different radial widths. When the magnetic field is formed on the spiral induction electrode, the magnetic field induces the ion flow of the electrolyte to further accelerate and/or the magnetic field induces induces the electric current to further increase in magnitude.

Preferably, the spiral induction electrode is gradually enlarged or tapered from the first end to the second end.

Preferably, the spiral induction electrode has a first section and an adjacent second section from the first end to the second end. From the first end, the first section is gradually enlarged and the second section is gradually tapered; or, from the first end, the first section is gradually tapered and the second section is gradually enlarged.

Alternatively, in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode has a consistent radial width.

Preferably, adjacent pitches of the spiral induction electrode are equal or unequal.

Preferably, the spiral induction electrode is formed by an electrode material that is a bundle of a plurality of wires extending together in a spiral shape, or the spiral induction electrode is formed by a single wire that serves as the electrode material and directly extends in a spiral shape.

Preferably, the at least two electrodes of the electrolytic discharge system are the spiral induction electrodes, and the spiral induction electrodes each include a different number of the wires.

Preferably, the wire is one of a tin-plated copper wire, a silver-plated copper wire, a lead-containing solder wire and a lead-free solder wire, or a combination thereof. The electrolyte is a single electrolyte or a composite electrolyte.

According to the above technical features, the present invention achieves the following effects:

• • 1. The spiral induction electrode extending in a spiral shape generates a magnetic field to induce the ions of the electrolyte to flow, thereby improving the efficiency of the electrolysis effect greatly.
  • 2. The spiral induction electrode with varying radial widths allows for axial gradient changes in the density of the magnetic field, which further induces an increase in electric current and acceleration of the ion flow and further enhances the efficiency of the electrolysis effect.
  • 3. After being configured in the electrolytic discharge system, the electrolytic discharge system is first energized with a small amount of electric current and then de-energized after the ignition time. Subsequently, without the need for energization, the spiral induction electrode and the electrolyte obtain several times to dozens of times the electric current output, forming a discharge system with a net gain of energy. Besides, the electrolyte is used for self-electrolytic discharge, which can reduce carbon emissions and save energy greatly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a first schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the spiral induction electrodes are in contact with the electrolyte;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the spiral induction electrodes are in contact with the electrolyte;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the spiral induction electrodes are in contact with the electrolyte;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a second schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that after the first electrolytic discharge system is configured, the first switch is disconnected, and both the second switch and the third switch are connected;

FIG. 9 is a third schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that when the first switch is disconnected and the second switch and the third switch are disconnected after the ignition time, the third electrode and the fourth electrode are removed;

FIG. 10 is a fourth schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the first switch is connected;

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between electric current and time of a strip-shaped electrode and the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between electric current and time after the first embodiment of the present invention is configured as a second electrolytic discharge system; and

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between electric current and time after the first embodiment of the present invention is configured as a first electrolytic discharge system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention discloses a spiral induction electrode used for an electrolytic circuit and an electrolytic circuit thereof. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the spiral induction electrode 100 of the present invention. The spiral induction electrode 100 may be used in a first electrolytic discharge system 200 (as shown in FIG. 8). According to the use of the spiral induction electrode in an electrolytic circuit of the present invention, in the first electrolytic discharge system 200, at least two electrodes and an electrolyte 2021 are connected in series to form an electrolytic circuit. At least one of the electrodes is the spiral induction electrode 100 for performing an electrolytic discharge method.

The spiral induction electrode 100 extends spirally in an axial direction. The pitches of the spiral induction electrode 100 may be changed according to the needs. The adjacent pitches of the spiral induction electrode 100 may be equal or unequal.

In a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode 100 has at least two different radial widths. In the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode 100 has a first end and an opposing second end. The interior of the spiral induction electrode 100 is fully hollow from the first end to the second end.

The first end of the spiral induction electrode 100 is connected to a power supply unit 201, referring to FIG. 8. The second end of the spiral induction electrode 100 extends into the electrolyte 2021 of the first electrolytic discharge system 200. The electrolyte 2021 maybe a single electrolyte or a composite electrolyte. The complex electrolyte means a mixture of two or more electrolytes, which may be a mixture of acid and salt, salt and salt, or alkali and salt.

In this embodiment, all the electrodes of the first electrolytic discharge system 200 are the spiral induction electrodes 100. All the spiral induction electrodes 100 are arranged in the same direction, so that all the spiral induction electrodes 100 are gradually enlarged from the first end to the second end, as shown in FIG. 8. In actual implementation, several of the spiral induction electrodes 100 are arranged reversely, so that several of the spiral induction electrodes 100 are tapered from the first end to the second end. Alternatively, in the radial direction, the spiral induction electrode 100 may have a consistent radial width, instead of being gradually enlarged or tapered.

Preferably, the material of the spiral induction electrode 100 is one of a tin-plated copper wire, a silver-plated copper wire, a lead-containing solder wire and a lead-free solder wire, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the spiral induction electrode 100a of the present invention. The second embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment with the exceptions described below. In the first embodiment, the spiral induction electrode 100 is gradually enlarged or tapered from the first end to the second end, referring to FIG. 1. In the second embodiment, the spiral induction electrode 100a has a first section and an adjacent second section from the first end to the second end. From the first end, the first section is gradually enlarged and the second section is gradually tapered, so that the spiral induction electrode 100a has a funnel shape.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate a third embodiment of the spiral induction electrode 100b of the present invention. The third embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment with the exceptions described below. In the first embodiment, the spiral induction electrode 100 is gradually enlarged or tapered from the first end to the second end, referring to

FIG. 1. In the third embodiment, the spiral induction electrode 100b has a first section and an adjacent second section from the first end to the second end. From the first end, the first section is gradually tapered and the second section is gradually enlarged, so that the spiral induction electrode 100b has a spindle shape.

FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the spiral induction electrode 100c of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment with the exceptions described below. In the first embodiment, the spiral induction electrode 100 is formed by spirally winding a single wire, referring to FIG. 1. In the fourth embodiment, the spiral induction electrode 100c is formed by an electrode material that is a bundle of a plurality of wires extending together in a spiral shape.

In the case that the plurality of electrodes of the first electrolytic discharge system 200 (referring to FIG. 8) are all the spiral induction electrodes 100c, the plurality of spiral induction electrodes 100c may each include a different number of wires.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 8. When the spiral induction electrode 100 of the first embodiment is used for performing the electrolytic discharge method, two power supply units 201 are provided, and a first electrode 203, a second electrode 204, a third electrode 205 and a fourth electrode 206 that are all in contact with the electrolyte 2021 are provided in an electrolytic tank 202.

A first switch 207 is connected between the first electrode 203 and the second electrode 204. A second switch 208 is connected between the first electrode 203 and one of the power supply units 201 or between the third electrode 205 and one of the power supply units 201. A third switch 209 is connected between the second electrode 204 and the other power supply unit 201 or between the fourth electrode 206 and the other power supply unit 201.

The first electrode 203 or the second electrode 204 is the spiral induction electrode 100. Preferably, both the first electrode 203 and the second electrode 204 are the spiral induction electrodes 100, and even the third electrode 205 and the fourth electrode 206 are also the spiral induction electrodes 100.

First, the first switch 207 is disconnected, and then the second switch 208 and the third switch 209 are connected, so that the first electrode 203, the third electrode 205 and one of the power supply units 201 form the electrolytic circuit through the second switch 208 and the electrolyte 2021. The second electrode 204, the fourth electrode 206 and the other power supply unit 201 form another electrolytic circuit through the third switch 209 and the electrolyte 2021.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 9. A process for destroying electrical neutrality is performed, including cutting off the power supply of the power supply unit 201 after an ignition time, and disconnecting the second switch 208 and the third switch 209.

The process for destroying electrical neutrality further includes removing the third electrode 205 and the fourth electrode 206, as shown in FIG. 8, within a specified time. For example, the third electrode 205 and the fourth electrode 206 are quickly removed within 10 seconds to 30 seconds.

Thus, a potential difference is formed between the first electrode 203 and the second electrode 204 due to the difference in material energy levels of the first electrode 203 and the second electrode 204 and/or the electrical neutrality of the electrolyte 2021 being destroyed.

Depending on the capacity of the electrolytic tank 202, the ignition time is set according to the actual demand. For example, when the electrolytic tank 202 has a 30 ml capacity, the ignition time may be set 10 seconds; when the electrolytic tank 202 has a 50 ml capacity, the ignition time may be set more than 10 seconds.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 9. Finally, the first switch 207 is connected, so that the first electrode 203 and the second electrode 204 form a self-electrolytic discharge circuit through the first switch 207 and the electrolyte 2021 for discharge.

At this time, the potential difference forms an electric current, and the electric current flowing through the spiral induction electrode 100 forms a magnetic field on the spiral induction electrode 100. Due to the shape of the spiral induction electrode 100, the density of the magnetic field changes as the spiral induction electrode 100 is gradually enlarged/tapered, thereby inducing various ions of the electrolyte 2021 to flow and become an ion flow, even inducing the ion flow to accelerate to pass through the spiral induction electrode 100 or inducing the electric current to increase in magnitude, such that the efficiency of the electrolysis effect is improved greatly.

In addition to being configured in the first electrolytic discharge system 200, the spiral induction electrode 100 may replace the electrode of a general electrolytic battery (such as a zinc-copper battery). When the electrolytic battery is discharging, the spiral induction electrode 100 forms the magnetic field, which also achieves the function of inducing the acceleration of the ion flow or inducing the increase of the electric current.

Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The first electrolytic discharge system 200 is equipped with a voltmeter V and an ammeter A. The ammeter A is connected in series with a resistor R. According to the experimental results, if the spiral induction electrode 100c of the fourth embodiment is used and a multi-core tin-plated copper wire of American wire gauge (AWG) 14 is used, the magnitude of the electric current after induction will be an average of 359.024 microamperes per second.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 11. Under the same material condition, the material currently commonly used in zinc-copper batteries, such as a zinc-copper electrode with a thickness of 1 mm, when the electrode is in the form of a strip of 40 mm long and 2 mm wide, the discharge in 30 ml of 10% saline solution by weight is an average of 121 microamperes per second. As indicated by the bar graph in FIG. 11, when the electrode uses the spiral induction electrode 100 having a spiral shape, the discharge is an average of 257 microamperes per second. As shown in the data in FIG. 11, the spiral induction electrode 100 indeed increases the magnitude of the electric current effectively and improves the transmission efficiency.

Please refer to FIG. 8, and FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. The other power supply unit 201, the fourth electrode 206 and the third switch 209 of the first electrolytic discharge system 200 are removed, serving as a second electrolytic discharge system, and the spiral induction electrode 100 shown in FIG. 1 is used.

In the experiment of the second electrolytic discharge system, 30 ml of sulfuric acid with a volume concentration of 5% is used as the electrolyte 2021 (referring to FIG. 2). The power supply unit 201 uses a 9-volt battery, and the ignition time is set to 30 seconds. The total resistance of the resistor R and the ammeter A is 102.26 ohms. Multi-core tin-plated copper and lead-containing solder are used as the materials of different electrodes. According to the experimental result, when one of the spiral induction electrodes 100 (referring to FIG. 2), is gradually enlarged and the other is gradually tapered, the relationship between electric current and time is shown in FIG. 12.

In the experiment of the first electrolytic discharge system 200, 250 ml of sulfuric acid with a volume concentration of 5% is used as the electrolyte 2021. The two power supply units 201 each supply power with 0.1 amperes. The ignition time is set to 10 seconds. The total resistance of the resistor R and the ammeter A is 200 ohms. Multi-core tin-plated copper and lead-free solder are used as the materials of different electrodes. According to the experimental result, the relationship between electric current and time is shown in FIG. 13. The power efficiency (the total accumulated electric current per second measured by the ammeter A/the total accumulated electric current supplied by the power supply units 201) may be as high as 25.52 times.

From the above two experimental results, it can be known that both the first electrolytic discharge system 200 and the second electrolytic discharge system are first energized with a small amount of electric current and then de-energized after the ignition time.

Subsequently, without the need for energization, the spiral induction electrode 100 and the electrolyte 2021 obtain several times to dozens of times the electric current output, forming a discharge system with a net gain of energy. Besides, the electrolyte 2021 is used for self-electrolytic discharge, which can reduce carbon emissions and save energy greatly.

In addition, it should be noted that in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the spiral induction electrodes 100, 100a, 100b are briefly drawn in the same electrolytic tank 202 to illustrate that the spiral induction electrodes 100, 100a, 100b are in contact with the electrolyte 2021. The thick solid-line arrows indicate the direction of the magnetic field generated by the spiral induction electrodes 100, 100a, and 100b. The thin solid-line arrows indicate the direction of electric current flowing through the spiral induction electrodes 100, 100a, and 100b. The dashed-line arrows with different densities indicate the direction of the ion flow with different flow speeds after induction.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 8. In different types of implemented samples of the electrolyte 2021:

In the case of three electrodes, i.e., the second electrolytic discharge system, multi-core tin-plated copper and lead-free solder are used as the materials of the electrodes. The electrolyte 2021 is prepared in three different conditions: 60 milliliters of 1M potassium nitrate and 0.6M potassium hydroxide; 60 milliliters of 1.5M potassium nitrate and 0.9M potassium hydroxide; 60 milliliters of 2M potassium nitrate and 1.6M potassium hydroxide. According to the experimental results, the input power is increased from 0.65 mAh to the output power of 53.98 mAh; the input power is increased from 1.1389 mAh to the output power of 366.35 mAh; the input power is increased from 0.7153 mAh to the output power of 36.15 mAh, respectively. This is equivalent to increasing the discharge capacity by 50 to 321 times.

In the case of four electrodes, i.e., the first electrolytic discharge system 200, multi-core tin-plated copper and lead-free solder are used as the materials of the electrodes, and the electrolyte is 60 milliliters of 1.81M potassium nitrate and 0.56M potassium hydroxide.

The input power is increased from 1.5739 mAh to the output power of 9.8814 mAh. If aluminum (0.428 g) and zinc are used as the materials of different electrodes, and the electrolyte is 60 milliliters of 1.2M potassium nitrate and 0.75M potassium hydroxide. The input power is increased from 0.0574 mAh to the output power of 972 mAh for 30 hours.

Compare the theoretical capacity of aluminum (2980 mAh per gram), the measured capacity at this time is 2206 mAh per gram, with a material conversion rate of 76.21%.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrolytic circuit, comprising: at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being a spiral induction electrode;an electrolyte, connected in series with the electrodes;the spiral induction electrode extending spirally in an axial direction;in the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode having a first end and an opposing second end, an interior of the spiral induction electrode being fully hollow from the first end to the second end;wherein in an electrolytic discharge system, a potential difference is formed between the electrodes for the electrolytic discharge system to discharge, a magnetic field is formed on the spiral induction electrode, the magnetic field induces an ion flow of the electrolyte to accelerate, and/or the magnetic field induces an electric current on the spiral induction electrode to increase in magnitude.

2. The electrolytic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrodes include a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode that are in contact with the electrolyte, at least the first electrode, the third electrode and the electrolyte are connected in series to form the electrolytic circuit; before the electrolytic discharge system is discharged, the electrolytic discharge system is powered on and then powered off after an ignition time, through a process for destroying electrical neutrality, a potential difference is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode due to a difference in material energy levels of the first electrode and the second electrode and/or an electrical neutrality of the electrolyte being destroyed, the first electrode, the second electrode and the electrolyte further form a self-electrolytic discharge circuit for discharge.

3. The electrolytic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode has at least two different radial widths; when the magnetic field is formed on the spiral induction electrode, the magnetic field induces the ion flow of the electrolyte to further accelerate and/or the magnetic field induces the electric current to further increase in magnitude.

4. The electrolytic circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spiral induction electrode is gradually enlarged or tapered from the first end to the second end.

5. The electrolytic circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spiral induction electrode has a first section and an adjacent second section from the first end to the second end; from the first end, the first section is gradually enlarged and the second section is gradually tapered; or, from the first end, the first section is gradually tapered and the second section is gradually enlarged.

6. The electrolytic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode has a consistent radial width.

7. The electrolytic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein adjacent pitches of the spiral induction electrode are equal or unequal.

8. The electrolytic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spiral induction electrode is formed by an electrode material that is a bundle of a plurality of wires extending together in a spiral shape, or the spiral induction electrode is formed by a single wire that serves as the electrode material and directly extends in a spiral shape; the wire is one of a tin-plated copper wire, a silver-plated copper wire, a lead-containing solder wire and a lead-free solder wire, or a combination thereof; the electrolyte is a single electrolyte or a composite electrolyte.

9. The electrolytic circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least two electrodes of the electrolytic discharge system are the spiral induction electrodes, and the spiral induction electrodes each include a different number of the wires.

10. A spiral induction electrode used for an electrolytic circuit, comprising: in an electrolytic discharge system, at least two electrodes and an electrolyte are connected in series to form an electrolytic circuit, at least one of the electrodes being a spiral induction electrode;the spiral induction electrode extending spirally in an axial direction;in the axial direction, the spiral induction electrode having a first end and an opposing second end, an interior of the spiral induction electrode being fully hollow from the first end to the second end;wherein a potential difference is formed between the electrodes for the electrolytic discharge system to discharge, a magnetic field is formed on the spiral induction electrode, the magnetic field induces an ion flow of the electrolyte to accelerate, and/or the magnetic field induces an electric current on the spiral induction electrode to increase in magnitude.