JP2000084565A - Water treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water treatment device preventing degradation of sterilizing effect due to the influence of the turbid matter and exhibiting stabilized sterilizing effect. SOLUTION: In the water treating device provided with a water purifying means 5 for lowering the turbidity of water to be treated and a sterilizing means 6 for treating bacteria in the water to be treated, a control part 40 by which the water purifying means 5 is worked until the turbidity of the water to be treated becomes lower than a specified value, and the sterilizing means 6 is worked when the turbidity of the water to be treated became lower than a specified value, is provided. Thus, in the water to be treated being not constant in the turbidity, substance having a sterilizing effect and light are not affected with the turbid matter, then the sterilizing efficiency is excellent and stabilized sterilizing effect is obtained even the sterilization is performed under the same condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus provided with a purifying means for reducing the turbidity of the water to be treated and a sterilizing means for treating bacteria in the water to be treated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a simplified configuration diagram of a bath apparatus with a sterilization function as a prior art.

The conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 3 includes a pump 3 for circulating bathtub water, a heat exchanger 4 for heating water in the bathtub 1, and water in the bathtub 1 in a circulation flow path 2 connected to the bathtub 1. The apparatus is provided with a filtration device 5 for reducing turbidity and an electrolytic cell 6 for supplying silver ions from a silver electrode by supplying a direct current to the electrode.

In this configuration, the operation is described as follows. Water in the bathtub 1 enters the filtration device 5 through the circulation channel 2 by the action of the pump 3. In the filtration device 5, suspended matter in the bath water is removed. Thereafter, the mixture is heated to a predetermined temperature in the heat exchanger 4 and enters the electrolytic cell 6 through the pump 3. Electrolyzer 6
In this method, silver ions are supplied from a silver electrode by applying a direct current to the silver electrode, and the silver ions are brought into contact with microorganisms such as bacteria existing in the bathtub 1 to sterilize bathtub water.

[0005] By performing this series of operations, the suspended matter in the bathtub water is removed and sterilized, so that the bathtub water is kept clean and can be used repeatedly, which has a water saving effect. In addition, because the bathtub water is sterilized by silver ions, bacteria attached to the bather's body enter the bathtub water, prevent it from growing rapidly over time and increasing the turbidity of the bathtub water, Bath water infections such as skin diseases and other bacterial diseases can also be prevented.

[0006]

Oxidizing agents such as hypochlorous acid and ozone are substances having a bactericidal effect, which are highly reactive and are not only bacteria but also other oxidizable substances such as turbid substances. It acts on substances and disappears, so there is no sustained bactericidal effect. Also in a germicidal lamp using ultraviolet light, as the turbidity increases, the transmittance of ultraviolet light decreases and the sterilization efficiency decreases.

FIG. 4 shows that a predetermined amount of a disinfectant is added to water having various turbidities, and the disinfectant remaining without reacting with the suspended matter after the disinfectant is stabilized in water. The percentage is shown on the graph. However, in the case of ultraviolet sterilization, there is no inherent persistence,
Since the bactericidal activity is reduced by the fact that the ultraviolet light is not transmitted by the turbidity, the ratio of the light transmittance to the turbidity is shown instead of the persistence.

From FIG. 4, it is preferable that turbidity is 1.5 or less for silver sterilization and copper sterilization, and turbidity is 0.7 or less for chlorine sterilization so that 80% or more of the germicide remains. Further, in order for the transmittance of ultraviolet light to be 80% or more, turbidity of 2
The following is preferred. As described above, the bactericidal efficiency greatly changes depending on the turbidity.

However, the conventional water treatment apparatus as described above does not know the turbidity of the water to be treated when the sterilizing means is driven. For this reason, even if sterilization is performed under the same conditions, sterilization efficiency is poor due to turbidity when the sterilization unit is driven, and a stable sterilization effect may not be obtained.

[0010] In particular, in a disinfecting apparatus, such as bathtub water, which is harmful to the human body when too much disinfectant is added,
It is necessary to add a predetermined amount of a bactericide that is harmless to the human body according to the amount of water in the bathtub. However, since the turbidity is affected by the number of bathers, dirt on the bather's body, the number of days of bathing, etc., sterilization efficiency is poor and insufficient sterilization may be performed. At this time, problems such as skin diseases, other bacterial diseases, and bath water infection may occur.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has been applied to water to be treated having various turbidities.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water treatment device that efficiently exhibits a stable sterilizing effect.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a water treatment apparatus provided with a purifying means for reducing the turbidity of the water to be treated and a sterilizing means for treating bacteria in the water to be treated. Since the control unit operates the purifying means until the turbidity of the water to be treated becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value and activates the sterilizing means when the turbidity of the water to be treated becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. The substance having a sterilizing effect in the water to be treated whose turbidity is not constant, the light is not affected by the turbidity, the sterilizing efficiency is good, and a stable sterilizing effect can be obtained even when sterilizing under the same conditions. .

[0013] Preferably, a turbidity detector for detecting turbidity is provided. In this case, since the turbidity of the water to be treated can be detected, the accuracy and the filtration and sterilization can be performed smoothly and in a short time.

Further, in a water treatment apparatus provided with a purifying means for reducing the turbidity of the water to be treated and a sterilizing means for treating bacteria of the water to be treated, the purifying means may be configured so that the turbidity of the water to be treated is a predetermined value. The control unit operates until the turbidity of the water to be treated becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. A turbidity estimating unit for estimating is provided. In this case, a device for detecting turbidity or the like is not included, and the device is simple and easy to assemble.

[0015] Preferably, for an object such as bathtub water which needs to keep clean water at all times, the turbidity estimating unit in the above-mentioned configuration may be such that the turbidity is considered to be a predetermined value or more. A control unit for operating the purifying unit and the sterilizing unit as needed is provided. In this case, clean water can always be supplied stably.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

A reheating circuit 20 for circulating water in the bathtub 1 to the heat exchanger 4 and a three-way valve 94 branching from the reheating circuit 20 to recirculate water without passing through the heat exchanger 4. A bypass pipe 50 connected to the path 20 is provided. On the other hand, the bath hot water supply passage 10 is provided with a spout P from the connection point P1 between the bypass pipe 50 and the reheating circuit 20 to the bathtub 1.
2 and a hot water supply valve 1 on the hot water supply path 10.
6 are provided. The pump 3 for circulating bath water and the filtering device 5 as a purifying means for removing turbidity are provided between the water suction port P3 from the bath tub 1 on the reheating circuit 20 and the three-way valve 94. Further, an electrolytic cell 6 for supplying silver ions from the electrode by supplying a direct current to the silver electrode in the bypass tube 50 is provided as a sterilizing means. Fifteen
Is a check valve. Further, the control unit 40 controls the amount of bathtub water,
The turbidity estimating unit 42 for calculating the driving time of the pump 3 for reducing the turbidity to a predetermined value or less from the turbidity removing performance of the filtration device 5 and the circulating performance of the pump 3, and controls the driving of the pump 3 and the electrolytic cell 6 And a drive control unit 43 that performs the operation.

The sterilizing means is not limited to the electrolytic cell 6 as long as it can supply silver ions into water, and may be a well-known device capable of supplying silver ions. For example, A. Filling of silver zeolite pellets A tank, B. a tank filled with silver-containing activated carbon, and C. a combination of a silver ion-containing solution such as silver nitrate and an injection pump can be used.

Next, the operation of this embodiment in the above configuration will be described. At the time of bath water supply, by opening the bath water supply valve 16, water is guided to the heat exchanger 7, and the heated hot water passes through the bath water supply path 10 and the reheating circuit 20,
It is introduced into the bathtub 1 from the spout P2.

At the time of bath reheating, the three-way valve 94 is switched to the reheating circuit 20 via the heat exchanger 4 and the pump 3 is driven, so that bathtub water passes through the reheating circuit 20 for heat exchange. The water is circulated to the vessel 4 so that the bath water can be heated.

At the time of sterilization, the three-way valve 94 is switched to the circulation path side via the bypass pipe 50. First, in order to reduce the turbidity, the turbidity estimating unit 42 determines the amount of bathtub water,
From the turbidity removal performance and the circulation performance of the pump 3, the drive time of the pump 3 required to reduce the turbidity to a predetermined concentration or less is calculated, and the drive control unit 43 drives the calculated drive time pump 3, The bath water is passed through the filtration device 5 to remove turbidity. Subsequently, pump 3 was used to supply silver ions.
The silver ions can be supplied to the bathtub water by energizing between the electrodes of the electrolytic cell 6 while driving the electrode.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, the turbidity estimating unit 42 drives the pump 3 necessary to reduce the turbidity to a predetermined concentration or less based on the amount of bathtub water, the turbidity removing performance of the filtration device 5, and the circulating performance of the pump 3. The turbidity was removed by calculating the time, and silver ions were subsequently supplied. However, as shown in FIG. 2, a turbidity detector 41 for detecting the turbidity of the bath water was provided in the bath tub 1, and the control was performed. In place of the unit 40, a control unit 44 including a drive control unit 43 for controlling the driving of the pump 3 and the electrolytic cell 6 is provided, and the control unit 44 controls the turbidity of the bathtub water detected by the turbidity detecting unit 41. Silver ions are supplied after detecting and removing the turbidity until the turbidity of the bath water becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

When a filling tank such as a filling tank of silver zeolite grains or a filling tank of silver-containing activated carbon is used as a silver ion supply device instead of the electrolytic cell 6, when the pump 3 for lowering turbidity is driven. If the three-way valve 94 is switched to the heat exchanger side and the three-way valve 94 is switched to the silver ion supply device only when the pump 3 for supplying silver ions is driven, the consumption of silver ions from the filling tank is minimized. Can be suppressed.

The time required for the turbidity reduction is as follows: standard bath water (water having a turbidity of 1 to 2 degrees after 4 to 6 people take a bath per 200 liters of water in a bathtub) Turbidity 0.5
Degrees or less), 30
When using a sponge having a thickness of 5 to 50 mm or a mesh filter having an opening of 30 to 100 meshes per inch, the number of turns (the amount of water passed through the filtration device 5 is The value is preferably set to 1 or more and 10 or less (value divided by the amount of water), and 10 or more and 20 or less depending on the value of turbidity.

By performing the above operations, according to the present invention,
Since the sterilization is performed when the turbidity becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the substance having a sterilizing effect from the sterilizing apparatus is not consumed by the turbid component. Also, light having a sterilizing power (ultraviolet light) is not hindered by the turbid component.
Therefore, a substance having a bactericidal effect is effectively used only by bacteria, and sterilization can be performed with a minimum necessary amount of bactericide.
Further, since the sterilization is performed after removing the turbid substance which is a disturbing substance of the sterilization, by performing the sterilization under the same conditions, it is possible to provide a water treatment apparatus that exhibits a stable sterilization effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a water treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a water treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional water treatment apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a probability of a predetermined amount of a disinfectant remaining in water having different turbidity and a ratio of light transmission.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bathtub 2 ... Circulation flow path 3 ... Pump 4, 7 ... Heat exchanger 5 ... Filtration apparatus 6 ... Electrolyzer 7 ... Turbidity sensor 10 ... Bath hot water supply path 16 ... Bath hot water supply valve 20 ... Recirculation path 50 ... Bypass pipe 94 ... three-way valve

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) C02F 1/50 550 C02F 1/50 550L 560 560Z A47K 3/00 A47K 3/00 K A61L 2/16 A61L 2 / 16 A B01D 35/027 C02F 1/00 K C02F 1/00 1/32 1/32 1/46 Z 1/46 F24H 1/00 602L F24H 1/00 602 B01D 35/02 J (72) Inventor Tsuneda Masahiro 2-11-1, Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture Touchi Equipment Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shuji Nishiyama 2-1-1, Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Totoki Equipment Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water treatment apparatus comprising a purifying means for reducing the turbidity of the water to be treated and a sterilizing means for treating bacteria of the water to be treated. A water treatment apparatus, comprising: a control unit that operates until the following conditions are satisfied, and activates the sterilizing unit when the turbidity of the water to be treated becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. 2. The water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a turbidity detecting unit for detecting turbidity. 3. The water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a turbidity estimating unit that estimates turbidity from an operation state of the purification unit.