MB elements

History of development and improvement of flow-through electrochemical module elements – compact universal electrochemical reactors.

Name	Year of creation	Patent	Differences
FEM-1 1	1989	GB 2 253 860	Flow-through electrochemical module elements for electrochemical treatment of diluted solutions of electrolytes and fresh water
FEM-2 2	1992	RF № 2042639
FEM-3	1994	RF № 2078738
FEM-4	1998	RF № 2145940
FEM-7	2000	RF № 2176989	Flow-through electrochemical module elements for electrochemical treatment of concentrated solutions of sodium chloride
FEM-9	2004	RF № 2270885
МB-11 3	2009	RF № 2350692	Flow-through electrochemical module universal elements – Bakhir modules for electrochemical treatment of water solutions of nonorganic electrolytes – chlorides, sulphates, carbonates – of any possible concentration
МB-26 4	2009	RF № 2350692
MB-10, MB-20, MB-30, MB-40, MB-50, MB-100, MB-500, MB-10005	2012	RF № 2012105962	Bakhir Modules are used both for electrochemical treatment of aqueous and nonaqueous solutions of electrolytes of any possible concentration including some element models for usage under conditions of increased pressure (till 20 kilogram-force/cm2) and temperature (till 120 ?С).

Notice: 

1. Number of model in a name of FEM elements shows increase of level of constructive and technological perfection of elements. 
2. FEM – flow-through electrochemical module elements. 
3. MB – flow-through electrochemical module elements of new generation – Bakhir Modules. 
4. Number of MB element model characterizes passage diameter of ceramic diaphragm. 
5. Number of MB element model characterizes average working value of current strength in amperes.

Years of research for optimal design of electrochemical cell run by V.M. Bakhir in early 70s of the last century resulted in creation of Flow-through Electrochemical Cell known as FEM-1 (Patent GB 2 253 860) in 1989.

Until that moment devices for production of electrochemically activated solutions were called in technical literature as devices for electrical treatment of water or electroactivator or (rarely) diaphragm electrolizers. In the beginning of 90-th term “electrochemical reactor” was put into technical vocabulary and for the first time its distinguishing features were formulated. Electrochemical reactor in comparison to its closest analogue diaphragm electrolyzer has additional technical and technological advantages in electrochemical conversion of various liquids, i.e. water and aqueous solutions of electrolytes with TDS from zero to saturated; milk, vegetable oil, mineral oil, solutions of carbohydrates, ammonia, alcohols, surface active agents, organic and inorganic fertilizers, pesticides etc. Electrochemical reactor provides optimal conversion of various by nature and by chemical composition liquids and gases due to combination of physical-chemical, electrical and mechanical properties of its construction and auxiliary materials, geometry and configuration of electrodes, electrode chambers, inter-electrode space and inside-diaphragm space. Optimal combination of all outlined parameters must be met for each cross-section of electrochemical chambers as intensity and mass transfer are changed significantly along the direction of inter-electrode media in proportion to current density, flows, chemical composition and concentration of initial components and products of electrochemical reactions in every micro-volume of inter-electrode space, including diaphragm.

First FEM-1 elements were produced during 3 years (1989 - 1991) by pilot plant of All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute of Medical Enginering (VNIIIMT), where the inventor V.M. Bakhir worked at that time.

FEM elements went through multiple improvements and a number of systems incorporated FEM elements were increased. Total number of commercially used FEM-1 elements did not exceed 1,000; a total number of FEM-2 (Patent RF N2042639, 1992) installed in electrochemical devices were 80,000 elements; a total number of FEM-3 (Patent RF N2078738, 1994) were over a million elements.

FEM-2 elements were produced by Soviet-British enterprise “Emerald” until 1996 based on the licensing agreement from patent holder. Emerald was manufacturing FEM-2 elements for some period of time after license was revoked, but had to stop after improved element, FEM-3, was introduced to the market. FEM-3 elements were serially manufactured by Laboratory of Electrotechnology (LET ltd.) from 1994 till 2008 by agreement between patent holder and enterprise.

New applications of electrochemical processes, which could result in economical and technical advantages in compare to traditional processes, required creation of new electrochemical modules, FEM-7 (Patent RF N2176989, 2000) and FEM-9 (Patent RF N3370885, 2004). Analysis of production and exploitation of FEM-3, FEM-4 (Patent RF N2145940, 1998) and FEM-9 helped to create electrochemical elements MB-11 and MB-26 (Patent RF N2350692, Bakhir's module) in 2009. MB-11 and MB-26 have improved electrochemical characteristics in comparison to previous generations of elements. All cells were manufactured at that time by LET according to agreement between patent holder and enterprise.

In the beginning of 2011, scientists and specialists of Vitold Bakhir Electrochemical Systems and Technologies Institute completed research work that served as the basis for the creation of a number of fundamentally new designs for MB elements and, accordingly, new technical electrochemical systems, the right to series production of which in mid-2011 was transferred by the patent owner to the company LLC "Delfin Aqua". At the same time, LET Ltd. was deprived of the right to produce electrochemical devices and elements for all above mentioned patents, as well as for any other patents of Vitold Bakhir and his colleagues. From July 2011 to November 2015, the serial production of MB elements of various models was carried out by Delfin Aqua.

At present, MB elements are produced only by Vitold Bakhir Institute.

In the design of the new generation of MB elements, all the latest achievements, including know-how, are concentrated. In particular, the performance of MB elements of the latest modifications has increased more than threefold, and the duration of continuous operation - more than 10 times. The consumed electric power of new models of MB elements is in the range from 60 to 2000 W. Electrochemical reactors MB are made of the most modern materials. All electrochemical plants are equipped with them.