JP2002119969A - Electrolytic water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly detect an idle operation state when the idle operation occurs during electrolysis operation of an electrolytic water generator to immediately stop the idle operation of the electrolytic water generator. SOLUTION: This electrolytic water generator is provided with a current sensor 43 for detecting current during the electrolysis operation. When the current detected by the current sensor 43 is equal to or lower than a predetermined value in comparison with a current value at the starting time of the electrolysis operation, or when the reduction rate of the current value per hour calculated from the detected current values is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the electrolysis operation is judged to idle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generating apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one type of an electrolyzed water generator, an electrolyzer having a pair of electrodes, water supply means for supplying water to be electrolyzed into the electrolyzer, and voltage applying means for applying a voltage to both electrodes are provided. There is an electrolyzed water generating apparatus that is configured to electrolyze water to be electrolyzed supplied into the electrolyzer by a water supply means at a predetermined electrolysis voltage in the electrolyzer, and to continuously discharge generated electrolyzed water.

In this type of electrolyzed water generator, when the supply of the electrolyzed water into the electrolysis tank is stopped due to a failure or the like during the electrolysis operation, the electrolysis operation is stopped to prevent idle operation. It is important to. Conventionally, in order to prevent this idling, a water flow detecting means for detecting a water flowing state of the electrolyzed water is provided, and an abnormality of the water flowing state of the electrolyzed water detected by the water flowing detecting means is detected. For stopping the operation or warning that the electrolytic operation is in an abnormal state.

[0004] However, even in the electrolyzed water generating apparatus provided with the idling operation prevention means, if an abnormality occurs in the water flow detection means and the abnormal state of the water flow of the electrolyzed water cannot be detected, the operation of the electrolyzed water generation apparatus is stopped. Idle driving is inevitable while a viewer can discover an abnormal condition of water flow. For this reason, in this type of conventional electrolyzed water generating apparatus, instead of or in combination with the water flow detecting means, a temperature detecting means for detecting the water temperature in the electrolytic cell, There is a means for providing a current detecting means for detecting the electrolytic current.

A method of providing a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of water in an electrolytic cell utilizes a rise in water temperature generated in the electrolytic cell when the electrolyzed water generator is running idle. When the temperature has risen to a predetermined temperature, it is determined that idle operation has occurred, and the electrolysis operation is stopped or a warning is given that the electrolysis operation is in an abnormal state. Further, the method of providing a current detecting means for detecting the electrolytic current during the electrolytic operation utilizes a decrease in the electrolytic current generated in the electrolytic cell during the idling operation of the electrolytic water generation device, and the electrolytic current is set to a constant current value. When it has fallen, this is determined as the occurrence of idle operation, and the electrolysis operation is stopped or a warning is given that the electrolysis operation is in an abnormal state.

[0006]

However, in the electrolyzed water generator, when the operation of the electrolyzed water is in an idling state due to an abnormal condition in the flow of the electrolyzed water, the electrolyzed water during the electrolysis in the electrolysis tank is not used. It takes time to transmit the temperature rise to the whole water, and when using the temperature detecting means for detecting the water temperature in the electrolytic cell, the response of the temperature detecting means to the occurrence of the idle operation is delayed. There is a possibility that the temperature inside the tank rises abnormally locally, and the tank body and each electrode of the electrolytic tank are damaged.

[0007] Raw water used as the electrolyzed water itself;
Alternatively, the temperature detection is performed when the temperature of the water in the electrolytic cell rises differently between the case of using high-temperature water and the case of using low-temperature water as raw water used for preparing the water to be electrolyzed. If there is a difference in the responsiveness of the means and there is a delay in the responsiveness, the temperature inside the electrolytic cell locally rises abnormally as described above, and the cell body and each electrode of the electrolytic cell may be damaged. There is.

In the electrolyzed water generator, when the flow of the electrolyzed water is in an idling state due to an abnormal condition in the flow of the electrolyzed water, the state of the decrease in the electrolysis current in the electrolyzer is determined by the electric conductivity of the raw water. Depending on the degree, the time required to decrease to a constant current value is longer when using raw water having high electric conductivity, and becomes shorter when using raw water having low electric conductivity. For this reason, there is a time difference in detecting that the current has decreased to a certain value, and when the detection is delayed, the temperature inside the electrolytic cell locally abnormally rises as described above, and the electrolytic cell is heated. There is a possibility that the electrode itself and each electrode may be damaged.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to detect an idling state without delay when an abnormal state occurs in the passage of the electrolyzed water to the electrolyzed water generating apparatus, and detect the idling state without delay, and To stop immediately or to warn that the electrolysis operation is in an abnormal state.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generator, and a first electrolyzed water generator according to the present invention comprises an electrolytic cell having a pair of electrodes, and an electrolyzed water in the electrolytic cell. And a voltage applying means for applying a voltage to both the electrodes, and the water to be electrolyzed into the electrolytic cell by the water supplying means is supplied with a predetermined electrolytic voltage in the electrolytic cell. An electrolyzed water generating apparatus of the type for electrolyzing and continuously discharging generated electrolyzed water, comprising a current detecting means for detecting a current during electrolysis operation, and a current detected by the current detecting means. Is determined to be an idling operation of the electrolytic operation when the current value decreases by a predetermined value compared to the current value at the start of the electrolytic operation.

A second electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to the present invention comprises an electrolytic cell having a pair of electrodes, water supply means for supplying water to be electrolyzed into the electrolytic cell, and a voltage applied to both electrodes. It is provided with a voltage applying means for applying, and the electrolyzed water supplied into the electrolytic cell by the water supplying means is electrolyzed at a predetermined electrolytic voltage in the electrolytic cell, and the generated electrolytically produced water is continuously exposed. An electrolyzed water generation device formed to flow out, provided with current detection means for detecting a current during electrolysis operation, and a current reduction rate per fixed time calculated based on a current value detected by the current detection means. Is determined to be the idling operation of the electrolytic operation when is a predetermined value.

[0012]

In the apparatus for producing electrolyzed water according to the present invention, when the idling of the water to be electrolyzed causes an idling state, the current drop value of the electrolysis current or the current drop of the electrolysis current is reduced. The rate is detected immediately, and it is determined that the electrolytic operation is in the idling state. Therefore, based on the determination of the idling operation of the electrolysis operation, if the electrolysis operation is stopped immediately or a warning is given that the electrolysis operation is in an abnormal state, the idling of the electrolyzed water generation device is prevented, or The idle operation state is stopped in a short time, and damage to the cell body of the electrolytic cell and each electrode is prevented.

Therefore, according to the electrolyzed water generating apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate a time difference for detecting idle operation due to a difference in water temperature and electric conductivity of raw water, and to judge operation based on a time difference for detection of idle operation. The delay does not cause damage to the cell body and electrodes of the electrolytic cell.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to an example of the present invention. The apparatus for generating electrolyzed water includes an electrolyzer 1
0, water supply mechanism 20 for electrolyzed water, channel switching mechanism 3 for electrolyzed water
0, a power supply mechanism 40, and a control device 50.

The electrolytic cell 10 includes a cell body 11, a diaphragm 12, and a pair of electrodes 13a and 13b.
The left and right electrolysis chambers 14 are disposed at the center of the
a, 14b, and each electrode 13a, 13b is disposed in each of the electrolysis chambers 14a, 14b. The electrolytic cell 1
The zero tank main body 11 is connected to a later-described water supply pipe constituting the water supply mechanism 20, and is connected to an outflow pipe described later which constitutes the flow path switching mechanism 30.

The water supply mechanism 20 includes a water pipe 20a and the electrolytic cell 1
The water purifier 21 is disposed between the tank main bodies 11 and supplies tap water as raw water to be electrolyzed.
Water supply pipe 22, connecting water and water pipe 20a, water purifier 2
There is provided a second water supply pipe 23 connecting the tank 1 and the tank body 11, and a main cock 24 and a pressure reducing valve 25 are interposed in the first water supply pipe 22. The second water supply pipe 23 has a pipe main body 23a having a distal end side branched into two branch pipes 23b and 23c. One branch pipe 23b is connected to the electrolysis chamber 14a, and the other branch pipe 23b. 23c is connected to the electrolysis chamber 14b.
Each of the branch conduits 23b and 23c has a flowing water sensor 26a, 2
6b are interposed respectively, and the pipe main body 23a
, An electromagnetic on-off valve 27 is interposed.

The flow path switching mechanism 30 is provided between the electrolytic cell 10 and the supply line 30a of the electrolyzed water, and includes a flow path switching valve 31, a flow path switching valve 31, and a tank body 11 of the electrolytic cell 10. And a pair of inflow conduits 32a and 32b connecting the
Outlet lines 33a, 33b connecting the supply line 1 and the supply line 30a
It has.

The power supply mechanism 40 comprises a DC power supply 41 and an electromagnetic switch 42. Each electrode of the DC power supply 41 is connected to each electrode 13a, 13b in the electrolytic cell 10 via the electromagnetic switch 42. The DC power supply 41 is of a variable voltage type in which the applied voltage is variable. In addition, the electromagnetic switch 42 opens and closes to function to intermittently apply the voltage to each of the electrodes 13a and 13b, and inverts the polarity of the voltage applied to each of the electrodes 13a and 13b by the switching operation. In the power supply mechanism 40, the electromagnetic switch 42
A current sensor 43 is provided in the middle of a connection circuit for connecting the electrode 13b to the electrode 13b.

The control device 50 controls the operation of the electrolyzed water generating device. The control device 50 operates by turning on the power supply by the main switch 51 to control the opening and closing of the electromagnetic on-off valve 27 and the switching control of the flow path switching valve 31. By controlling opening and closing and switching of the electromagnetic switch 52, the electrolyzed water generator is operated, and the operation is interrupted or stopped.

In the electrolyzed water generator, the electrolysis operation is started by turning on the main switch 51 of the control device 50, and the tap water is supplied to the water supply mechanism 20 through the water purifier 21.
Is supplied to the second water supply pipe 23 as the water to be electrolyzed, and is supplied at a constant flow rate to each of the electrolysis chambers 14a and 14b through the branch pipes 23b and 23c on the distal end side of the pipe main body 23a. The electrolyzed water supplied to each of the electrolysis chambers 14a and 14b is
At 4a and 14b, the electrolytic water is electrolyzed by a constant electrolysis voltage and is generated in electrolyzed water. For example, acid water generated in the electrolysis chamber 14a on the positive electrode side is supplied to the flow path switching valve 31 of the flow path switching mechanism 30.
Through the outlet line 33a to the supply line 30a, and for example, the alkaline water generated in the electrolytic chamber 14b on the negative electrode side flows through the outlet line 33b through the flow path switching valve 31 of the flow path switching mechanism 30. After that, it flows out to the supply line 30a.

In the electrolyzed water generating apparatus, the electrolysis state is set to one cycle. Thereafter, the electromagnetic switch 52 is opened by operating the manual changeover switch 52 of the control device 50 to temporarily stop the electrolysis operation. Changeover switch 52
By re-operating, the electromagnetic switch 52 is switched to switch the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes 13a and 13b to each other, and the flow path switching valve 31 is switched to restart the electrolytic operation. In this case, the flow path switching valve 31 changes from the solid state in the figure to the switching state indicated by the two-dot chain line. For example, the alkaline water generated in the electrolytic chamber 14a on the negative electrode side switches the flow path of the flow path switching mechanism 30. Outflow line 33 through valve 31
b, and the acidic water generated in the electrolytic chamber 14b on the positive electrode side, for example, flows through the flow path switching valve 31 of the flow path switching mechanism 30 and flows out of the supply pipe 33a through the supply pipe 33a. It flows out of the road 30a.

Thus, in the electrolyzed water generating apparatus, during the electrolysis operation, each branch pipe 23 of the second water supply pipe 23
The flowing state of the electrolyzed water is monitored by the flowing water sensors 26a and 26b interposed between the electrodes 13b and 23c, and the flowing water sensors 26a and 26b are disposed in the middle of a connection circuit that connects the electromagnetic switch 42 of the power supply mechanism 40 and the electrode 13b. The state of the electrolytic current is monitored by the mounted current sensor 43.

The control unit 50 controls each of the flowing water sensors 26a, 26
6b, when the flow rate of the electrolyzed water calculated based on the detected water flow rates is equal to or less than the set flow rate, an abnormality occurs in the flow state of the electrolyzed water and the empty state occurs. It is determined that an operation state occurs, and the warning lamp 5
3 is turned on and the warning buzzer 54 is activated,
Further, the electromagnetic switch 52 is opened to stop and stop the electrolysis operation.

The control device 50 includes a current sensor 43
The current detection signal of the electrolytic current is input from the controller, and based on the current detection signal, the rate of decrease in current per fixed time (current decrease rate) is calculated. When it is determined that an abnormality occurs in the water flow state and an idle operation state occurs, the warning lamp 53 is turned on, the warning buzzer 54 is operated, and the electromagnetic switch 52 is opened to operate. Stop and stop the electrolysis operation.

The control device 50 has an arithmetic function for comparing the current value based on the input current detection signal with the current value at the time of starting operation, instead of the arithmetic function for calculating the current decrease rate. If the value falls below a predetermined value compared to the current value at the time of starting the operation, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the flowing state of the electrolyzed water and an idle operation state has occurred, and the warning lamp 53 is activated. At the same time, the warning buzzer 54 may be activated, and the electromagnetic switch 52 may be opened to stop the electrolysis operation and interrupt it.

As described above, in the electrolyzed water generating apparatus, the electrolyzer 1 is used for various reasons such as a failure during the electrolysis operation.
When the supply of electrolyzed water into 1 is stopped,
Each water flow sensor 26a. That detects the flow state of the water to be electrolyzed.
Based on the water flow detection signal from 26b, it is determined that idling occurs due to an abnormality in the water flow state, and the electrolysis operation is stopped or a means for warning that the electrolysis operation is abnormal is employed. I have.

In the electrolyzed water generator, each of the water flow sensors 26a. As a backup means when an abnormal state such as a failure occurs in 26b, an abnormality in the water flow state is detected based on the current detection signal from the current sensor 43 for detecting the electrolytic current, and the abnormality is caused by the abnormal water flow state. Means for judging that idling occurs and stopping the electrolysis operation or warning that the electrolysis operation is in an abnormal state is employed.

By the way, in the backup means, when the idling state occurs due to the abnormal flow of the water to be electrolyzed, the current decrease value of the electrolytic current or the current decrease rate of the electrolytic current is immediately detected. Therefore, it is determined that the electrolytic operation is idle. Therefore, based on the determination of the idling operation of the electrolysis operation, if the electrolysis operation is stopped immediately or if it is warned that the electrolysis operation is in an abnormal state, the idling operation of the electrolyzed water generation device is prevented, The tank body 1 of the electrolytic cell 10
1 and the electrodes 13a and 13b are prevented from being damaged. Therefore, according to the electrolyzed water generation device, it is possible to eliminate a time difference for detecting idle operation due to a difference in water temperature or electric conductivity of the raw water, and an electrolytic cell caused by a delay in determination of idle operation due to the time difference in idle operation detection. Of the tank body and the electrodes can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an electrolyzed water generation device according to an example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 10: electrolytic cell, 11: tank body, 12: diaphragm, 13a, 1
3b: electrode, 14a, 14b: electrolytic chamber, 20: water supply mechanism, 20a: water pipe, 21: water purifier, 22: first water supply pipe, 23: second water supply pipe, 23a: pipe main body, 23b,
23c: branch line, 24: main plug, 25: pressure reducing valve 26a,
26b: running water sensor, 27: solenoid on-off valve, 30: flow path switching mechanism, 30a: supply line, 31: flow path switching valve, 32
a, 32b: Inflow pipeline, 33a, 33b: Outflow pipeline, 4
0: power supply mechanism, 41: DC power supply, 42: electromagnetic switch, 43: current sensor, 50: control device, 51: main switch, 52: manual changeover switch, 53: warning lamp, 54: warning buzzer.

Claims (2)

[Claims] An electrolytic cell having a pair of electrodes, a water supply means for supplying water to be electrolyzed into the electrolytic cell, and a voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the two electrodes, wherein the water supply means An electrolyzed water generating apparatus of a type in which electrolyzed water supplied into an electrolyzer is electrolyzed at a predetermined electrolysis voltage in the electrolyzer and the generated electrolyzed water is continuously flowed out. Current detection means for detecting the current of the current, when the current detected by the current detection means is reduced by a predetermined value compared to the current value at the start of the electrolytic operation, the idle operation of the electrolytic operation An electrolytic water generation device characterized in that the determination is performed. 2. An electrolytic cell having a pair of electrodes, a water supply means for supplying water to be electrolyzed into the electrolytic cell, and a voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the two electrodes, wherein the water supply means The electrolyzed water supplied into the electrolyzer is electrolyzed at a predetermined electrolysis voltage in the electrolyzer, and an electrolysis water generator that continuously flows out generated electrolyzed water detects a current during electrolysis operation. Current detection means for determining whether the current reduction rate per predetermined time calculated based on the current value detected by the current detection means is a predetermined value is determined to be an idling operation of the electrolytic operation. An electrolyzed water generation device characterized by the above-mentioned.