JP2003010850A - Electrolytic water making apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrolytic water making apparatus capable of rapidly starting the formation of electrolytic water having a desired effective chlorine concentration by simple constitution. SOLUTION: The electrolytic water making apparatus is equipped with an electrolytic cell 10 for electrolyzing supplied dilute saline water to make electrolytic water, a water supply channel 30 for continuously supplying water to the electrolytic cell 10 and a concentrated saline water supply channel 40 for supplying the concentrated saline water stored in the concentrated saline water tank 50 arranged under the electrolytic cell 10 to the water supply channel 30 by the operation of an electromotive pump 60. An electric control circuit 70 responds to the operation of a forming switch 71 to control the start and stop of the formation of electrolytic water but measures a time by a timer 72 during the stop of the formation of electrolytic water and operates the electromotive pump 60 at each time when a predetermined time is elapsed to send a predetermined amount of the concentrated saline water in a concentrated saline water tank 50 to the water supply channel 30 and the electrolytic cell 10 within a concentrated saline water supply passage 40 to perfectly fill the concentrated saline water supply passage 40 with concentrated saline water.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water producing apparatus for electrolyzing dilute salt water to produce electrolyzed water used for sterilization or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of apparatus contains a pair of electrodes to which a DC voltage is applied, and an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing the supplied dilute salt water to produce electrolyzed water An electromagnetic valve that can be controlled to open and close is provided, and a water supply channel that continuously supplies water to the electrolytic cell when the electromagnetic valve is open, and an electrically-operated electrically controllable pump are provided. A concentrated salt water supply passage for supplying the concentrated salt water stored in the concentrated salt water tank disposed below the electrolytic cell to the water supply passage by the operation of the electric pump,
Generation instruction means for instructing the generation of electrolyzed water, and an electromagnetic valve that keeps the electromagnetic valve open so as to supply dilute salt water of a predetermined concentration to the electrolytic cell when the generation instruction means instructs generation of electrolyzed water. An electric control circuit for controlling the operation of the pump is provided, and electrolytic water having a predetermined effective chlorine concentration is generated by electrolyzing dilute salt water having a predetermined concentration in the electrolytic cell.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, while the production of electrolyzed water is stopped, the dilute salt water downstream from the electrolyzer flows backward to the concentrated salt water tank side due to its own weight with the passage of time, and the concentrated salt water supply passage is provided. There was something that could accumulate inside. in this case,
When the generation of electrolyzed water is restarted, even if the electric pump is operated for a while, only the diluted salt water accumulated by the above-mentioned backward flow from the concentrated salt water supply passage can be supplied, and the concentrated salt water cannot be supplied. . Therefore, at this time, the concentration of the dilute salt water supplied to the electrolytic cell could not be quickly raised to the desired concentration, and therefore the production of the electrolytic water having the desired effective chlorine concentration could not be restarted promptly. on the other hand,
If a check valve is provided in the concentrated salt water supply pipe in order to avoid this, an air vent passage for exhausting air that has entered the electric pump is also required, which complicates the configuration.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electrolyzed water producing apparatus for promptly starting production of electrolyzed water having a desired effective chlorine concentration with a simple structure. It is in.

A first structural feature of the present invention is that in the electrolyzed water producing apparatus provided with the electrolyzer, the water supply passage, the concentrated salt water supply passage, the production instructing means, and the electric control circuit, the electric control circuit comprises: The electric pump is operated every predetermined time while the production of the electrolyzed water is stopped, and the predetermined amount of the concentrated salt water in the concentrated salt water tank is sent to the water supply passage and the electrolytic cell side in the concentrated salt water supply passage. According to this, since the concentrated salt water in the concentrated salt water tank is sent to the water supply path and the electrolytic cell side in the concentrated salt water supply path at predetermined time intervals while the generation of the electrolyzed water is stopped, the time elapses. The diluted salt water that flows back to the concentrated salt water tank side and collects in the concentrated salt water supply path can be sent back to the downstream side of the water supply path to constantly fill the concentrated salt water supply path with the concentrated salt water.
As a result, when the generation of electrolyzed water is restarted, it is possible to rapidly supply the concentrated salt water from the concentrated salt water supply passage to the water supply passage to quickly raise the concentration of the diluted salt water supplied to the electrolytic cell to the desired concentration. Therefore, the generation of electrolyzed water having a desired effective chlorine concentration can be promptly restarted. In this case, the check valve,
The structure of the device is simple because there is no need for an air vent passage.

A second structural feature of the present invention is the above first feature.
In the electric control circuit having the above feature, the electric control circuit opens the electromagnetic valve to fill the inside of the electrolytic cell with water every time the operation of the electric pump is completed while the generation of the electrolytic water is stopped. . According to this, even when concentrated salt water is sent to the downstream of the electrolytic cell by the operation of the electric pump while the production of the electrolytic water is stopped, the electrolytic cell is filled with water after the operation of the electric pump is completed. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electrolytic bath from being filled with concentrated salt water and flowing an excessive current between the electrodes when the generation of the electrolyzed water is restarted, so that the deterioration of the electrodes is suppressed.

A third structural feature of the present invention is that the electrolytic cell, the water supply channel, the concentrated salt water supply channel, the production instructing means, and the electrolytic cell when the production instructing means instructs the production of electrolyzed water. In an electrolyzed water generator equipped with an electric control circuit that keeps an electromagnetic valve open to supply a predetermined concentration of diluted salt water and controls the operation of an electric pump, from a concentrated salt water supply channel to a water supply channel from a concentrated salt water tank. This is because the concentrated salt water storage unit that temporarily stores the supplied concentrated salt water is installed. According to this, even when the diluted salt water downstream of the electrolytic cell flows backward to the concentrated salt water tank side and accumulates in the concentrated salt water supply passage with the passage of time while the production of the electrolytic water is stopped, Since a relatively large amount of concentrated salt water is stored in the concentrated salt water storage section, the concentration of salt water in the concentrated salt water supply channel is kept relatively high. Therefore, when the production of electrolyzed water is restarted, the production of electrolyzed water having a desired effective chlorine concentration can be promptly started. In this case, since a check valve, an air vent passage, etc. are not required, the structure of the device is relatively simple.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION a. First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The electrolyzed water generator shown in FIG.
0, DC power supply 20, water supply channel 30, concentrated salt water supply channel 4
0, a concentrated salt water tank 50, an electric pump 60, and an electric control circuit 70.

The inside of the electrolytic cell 10 is divided into a pair of electrode chambers 12 and 13 by a diaphragm 11, and each electrode chamber 1
A pair of electrodes 14 and 15 are housed in 2 and 13, respectively. A DC voltage is applied between the electrodes 14 and 15 by a DC power supply device 20, and the electrolytic cell 10 electrolyzes the diluted salt water supplied into the electrode chambers 12 and 13 by the voltage application. To produce acidic and alkaline electrolyzed water. The electrolyzed water generated in the electrode chambers 12 and 13 is discharged to the outside through the outlet pipes 16 and 17, respectively. An ammeter 22 that measures a current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 is connected to a voltage supply path from the DC power supply device 20 to the electrodes 14 and 15 via a shunt 21.

The water supply passage 30 is a pipe for guiding water pumped from an external water supply source (not shown) to the electrode chambers 12, 13 of the electrolytic cell 10. In the water supply passage 30, an electromagnetic valve 31 that is electrically controlled to be opened and closed to supply the water from the external water supply source to the electrolytic cell 10 in the open state and close the water in the closed state,
A flow rate sensor 32 that detects the amount of water supplied to the electrolytic cell 10 through the water supply passage 30 is interposed.

The concentrated salt water supply passage 40 has a suction pipe 41 having one end opened to the concentrated salt water stored in the concentrated salt water tank 50 and the other end connected to the electric pump 60, and the electric pump 6.
0 and a supply pipe 42 that connects the water supply passage 20 near the electrolysis tank 10 to each other. The concentrated salt water in the concentrated salt water tank 50 disposed below the electrolysis tank 10 is supplied by the electric pump 60. It supplies to 30.

The electric pump 60 includes a valve housing 61.
And a diaphragm 63 which cooperates with and defines a pump chamber 62. The diaphragm 63 is adapted to reciprocate when the solenoid 64 is repeatedly energized and de-energized. By the reciprocating motion of the diaphragm 62, the electric pump 60 sucks the concentrated salt water in the concentrated salt water tank 50. The water is sucked into the pump chamber 62 from the suction port 65 through the pipe 41 and discharged from the discharge port 66 to be supplied to the water supply passage 20 through the supply pipe 42. At this time, the amount of concentrated salt water to be sent per unit time is controlled by adjusting the repeating cycle of energization and de-energization. A check valve 67 is provided between the pump chamber 62 and the suction port 65 to allow only the flow from the suction port 65 toward the pump chamber 62 when the electric pump 60 is operated. Further, between the pump chamber 62 and the discharge port 66,
From the pump chamber 62 to the discharge port 66 when the electric pump 60 operates.
A check valve 68 is provided which allows only directional flow. Each of the check valves 67 and 68 allows a flow in both directions when the electric pump 60 is not in operation, so that the electric pump 60 particularly bleeds air when it enters the pump chamber 63. The required discharge pressure can be obtained without need.

The electric control circuit 70 is composed of a microcomputer, and has the power source 20, the ammeter 22, the electromagnetic valve 31, the flow rate sensor 32, the solenoid 64 of the electric pump 60, and the generation for instructing the generation of the electrolyzed water. It is connected to the switch 71. The electric control circuit 70 executes the programs corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 based on the inputs from the sensors 22, 32 and the switch 71 to operate the DC power supply device 20, the electromagnetic valve 31, and the electric pump 25. Control. Further, the electric control circuit 70 has a built-in timer 72 for measuring the timing of operating the electric pump 60 while the production of the electrolyzed water is stopped.

Next, the operation of the salt water treatment device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

First, when a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the electric control circuit 70 starts executing the program in step 100, and repeatedly executes the processing in step 102, and waits for the generation switch 71 to be turned on. At this time, when the generation switch 71 is turned on, the electrical control circuit 7
In 0, the processes of step 104 and thereafter are sequentially executed to start generation of electrolyzed water.

In step 104, the electric pump 6
0 is operated for a predetermined time, and the concentrated salt water in the concentrated salt water tank 50 is fed into the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 in the water supply passage 30 and the electrolytic cell 1.
Send to 0 side. In this case, the electric pump 60 is controlled to maximize the amount of water to be fed, and the time for operating the electric pump 60 is the time required for the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 to be completely filled with concentrated salt water, that is, the concentrated salt water tank. The time is set in advance so that the concentrated salt water in 50 reaches at least the water supply channel 30.

In step 106, the electromagnetic valve 3
1 is opened and the supply of water into the electrolytic cell 10 is started. Then, the determination process of step 108 is repeatedly executed to wait for the flow rate sensor 32 to detect a predetermined flow rate. this is,
In step 104, the concentrated salt water supplied from the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 and accumulated in the water supply passage 30 and the electrolytic bath 10 is further sent downstream from the electrolytic bath 10, and the electrolytic bath 10 is newly supplied from the external water supply source. It is a process to wait for the water to be filled. Therefore, the predetermined flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 32 is preset to the flow rate required for the water accumulated in the water supply passage 30 downstream from the position where the concentrated salt water supply pipe 42 joins to reach the electrolytic cell 10. Has been done.
If the amount of water pumped from the external water supply source is constant, instead of the determination process, it may be possible to simply wait for a predetermined time after opening the electromagnetic valve 31.

When the flow rate sensor 32 detects a predetermined flow rate during the repeated execution of step 108, the electric control circuit 7
0 advances the program to step 110 to activate the DC power supply device 20 to start the application of voltage to the electrodes 14 and 15, and to activate the electric pump 60 to start the supply of concentrated salt water to the water supply passage 30. . The water supply amount of the electric pump 60 at the start of the operation is controlled so as to be a preset amount. As a result, the concentrated salt water is mixed with the water supplied from the external water supply source through the water supply passage 20 to generate diluted salt water, and the diluted salt water is supplied to the electrolysis chambers 12 and 13 of the electrolytic cell 10 for electrolysis. Then, electrolyzed water starts to be generated.

After the production of the electrolyzed water is started, the production switch 7
While 1 is maintained in the ON state, the electric control circuit 70 continues to repeatedly execute the process of step 112 based on the determination of “YES” in step 114. Step 11
2 is a process of controlling the water supply amount of the electric pump 60 based on the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 measured by the ammeter 22. When the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 is larger than a predetermined current value set in advance, the water supply amount of the electric pump 60 is reduced to reduce the supply amount of concentrated salt water to the water supply passage 30. When the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 is smaller than the predetermined current value, the amount of water supplied by the electric pump 60 is increased to increase the amount of concentrated salt water supplied to the water supply passage 30. As a result, the concentration of the dilute salt water supplied to the electrolyzer 10 is kept at a predetermined concentration and the electrolysis strength in the electrolyzer 10 is always kept constant, so that the effective chlorine concentration of the electrolyzed water produced is always kept constant. To be kept.

When the generation switch 71 is turned off during the repeated execution of the steps 112 and 114, the electric control circuit advances the program to step 116 based on the judgment of "NO" in step 114, and the electric motor is operated. Pump 6
0 and the operation of the DC power supply device 20 are stopped, and the electromagnetic valve 31 is closed to stop the generation of the electrolyzed water. At this time, the timer 72 is reset and started at step 118 to start measuring the time. Then, thereafter, the processes of steps 120 and 122 are repeatedly executed, and the process waits until the generation switch 71 is turned on again. At this time, when the generation switch 71 is turned on, the electrical control circuit 70
Based on the determination in step 120, step 1
After opening the electromagnetic valve 60 at 24 and starting water supply,
The program is advanced to step 110 and subsequent steps to start generation of electrolyzed water again.

On the other hand, if the generation switch 71 is not operated and the generation of the electrolyzed water continues for a predetermined time T during the repeated execution of the processing of steps 120 and 122, that is, while the generation of the electrolyzed water is stopped, The electric control circuit 70 advances the program to step 126 and the subsequent steps based on the determination in step 122 based on the measured value by the timer 72. Steps 126 to 130 are the same processes as steps 104 to 108. In step 126, the electric pump 60 is operated for a predetermined time,
A predetermined amount of concentrated salt water in the concentrated salt water tank 50 is sent to the water supply passage 30 and the electrolytic cell 10 side in the concentrated salt water supply passage 40. As a result, the diluted salt water that flows back to the concentrated salt water tank 50 side and accumulates in the concentrated salt water supply path 40 with the passage of time while the production of the electrolyzed water is stopped is sent back to the downstream side from the water supply path 30, and the concentrated salt water supply path 40 is completely filled with concentrated brine. In step 128, the electromagnetic valve 31 is opened to open the electrolyzer 10.
Start supplying water to the inside. After the start of the water supply, the determination process of step 130 is repeatedly executed to wait until the electrolytic cell 10 is newly filled with the water supplied from the external water supply source.

When the flow rate sensor 32 detects the predetermined flow rate during the repeated execution of step 130, step 1
At 32, the electromagnetic valve 31 is closed to stop the water supply, and then the program is advanced to the step 118 to set the timer 7
The time counting by 2 is started again. Then, thereafter, the processes of steps 120 and 122 are repeatedly executed again, and the process waits until the generation switch 71 is turned on or the timer 71 counts a predetermined time T.

By executing the above program, the electric control circuit 70 continues to repeatedly generate and stop the electrolyzed water in response to the operation of the generation switch 71. In this case, while the generation of electrolyzed water is stopped, the time is measured by the timer 72,
Every time the predetermined time T elapses, a predetermined amount of concentrated salt water in the concentrated salt water tank 50 is sent to the water supply passage 30 and the electrolytic cell 10 side in the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 to completely concentrate the concentrated salt water supply passage 40. Fill with salt water. Therefore, in the same embodiment,
When the generation of electrolyzed water is restarted, the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 to the water supply passage 3
Since the concentration of the diluted salt water supplied to the electrolyzer 10 can be rapidly increased to a desired concentration by rapidly supplying the concentrated salt water to 0, it is possible to promptly restart the generation of the electrolytic water having the desired effective chlorine concentration. You can In this case, since the check valve and the air vent passage are not required, the structure of the device is simple.
Further, since the concentrated salt water flows regularly, it is possible to avoid the salt adhered to the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 and the electric pump 60.

When the electric pump 60 is operated while the production of electrolyzed water is stopped as described above, the electromagnetic valve 31 is opened to fill the electrolyzer 10 with water each time the operation is completed. I am trying. According to this, even when concentrated salt water is sent to the downstream of the electrolytic cell 10 by the operation of the electric pump 60 while the production of the electrolytic water is stopped, the electric pump 6 is also provided.
After completion of the operation of 0, the electrolytic cell 10 will be filled with water. Therefore, when the production of electrolyzed water is restarted, the electrolyzer 1
Since the inside of 0 is filled with concentrated salt water and an excessive current is prevented from flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15, deterioration of the electrodes is suppressed.

B. Second Embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, in the same embodiment, in the electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to the first embodiment, a supply pipe 42 of the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 is provided with a concentrated salt water storage section 43 for temporarily storing concentrated salt water. It has been inserted. In the same embodiment, the electric control circuit 70 opens the electromagnetic valve 31 when the generation switch 71 is turned on and the DC power supply device 20 and the electric pump 6 as in the first embodiment.
When the generation switch 71 maintains the ON state, the amount of water supplied by the electric pump 60 is controlled and supplied to the electrolytic cell 10 when the generation switch 71 maintains the ON state. The concentration of the diluted salt water is kept constant, and when the generation switch 71 is turned off, the operation of the DC power supply device 20 and the electric pump 60 is stopped, and the electromagnetic valve 31 is closed to stop the generation of electrolytic water. .
However, the operation control of the electric pump 60 and the opening / closing control of the electromagnetic valve 31 during the stop of the production of the electrolyzed water executed in the first embodiment (steps 104, 108, 11).
8, 122, 126 to 132) are omitted so as not to be executed.

In the embodiment having the above-described structure, while the production of the electrolyzed water is stopped, the diluted salt water downstream of the electrolytic cell 10 flows back to the concentrated salt water tank 50 side with the passage of time and the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 is provided. Even when the salt water is accumulated inside, since a relatively large amount of concentrated salt water is stored in the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 by the concentrated salt water storage portion 43, the concentration of salt water in the concentrated salt water supply passage 40 remains relatively high. To be kept. Therefore, when the production of electrolyzed water is restarted, the production of electrolyzed water having a desired effective chlorine concentration can be promptly started. In this case, since a check valve, an air vent passage, etc. are not required, the structure of the device is relatively simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a salt water treatment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a program executed by the electric control circuit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a salt water treatment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Electrolyzer, 14, 15 ... Electrode, 20 ... DC power supply device, 30 ... Water supply channel, 31 ... Water supply valve, 40 ... Concentrated salt water supply channel, 50 ... Concentrated salt water tank, 60 ... Electric pump, 70 ...
Electric control circuit, 71 ... Generation switch, 72 ... Timer.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kyoichiro Yoshida             16 Hoshizaki, 3rd South Building, Sakaemachi, Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture             Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Fujita             16 Hoshizaki, 3rd South Building, Sakaemachi, Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture             Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4D061 DA02 DB07 DB09 EA02 EB01                       EB04 EB12 EB37 EB39 ED12                       GA02 GA12 GC06 GC20

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell that accommodates a pair of electrodes to which a DC voltage is applied and that electrolyzes the supplied diluted salt water to generate electrolyzed water, and an electromagnetic valve that can be electrically controlled to open and close. The electrolysis tank is equipped with a water supply path for continuously supplying water to the electrolysis tank when the electromagnetic valve is open, and an electric pump whose operation can be electrically controlled. A concentrated salt water supply path for supplying the concentrated salt water stored in a concentrated salt water tank disposed below the tank to the water supply path, a generation instruction means for instructing generation of electrolytic water, and an electrolytic water generated by the generation instruction means. In the electrolyzed water production apparatus, the electrolysis water is provided with an electric control circuit for keeping the electromagnetic valve open so as to supply dilute salt water having a predetermined concentration to the electrolysis tank when the production of , The electrical control circuit While the generation of electrolytic water is stopped, the electric pump is operated at predetermined time intervals to send a predetermined amount of concentrated salt water in the concentrated salt water tank to the water supply passage and the electrolytic cell side in the concentrated salt water supply passage. Characterized electrolyzed water generator. 2. The electrolyzed water producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric control circuit opens the electromagnetic valve every time the operation of the electric pump is completed while the production of the electrolyzed water is stopped. An electrolyzed water generator characterized in that the inside of an electrolyzer is filled with water. 3. An electrolytic cell that accommodates a pair of electrodes to which a DC voltage is applied and that electrolyzes the supplied diluted salt water to generate electrolyzed water, and an electromagnetic valve that can be electrically controlled to open and close. The electrolysis tank is equipped with a water supply path for continuously supplying water to the electrolysis tank when the electromagnetic valve is open, and an electric pump whose operation can be electrically controlled. A concentrated salt water supply path for supplying the concentrated salt water stored in a concentrated salt water tank disposed below the tank to the water supply path, a generation instruction means for instructing generation of electrolytic water, and an electrolytic water generated by the generation instruction means. In the electrolyzed water production apparatus, the electrolysis water is provided with an electric control circuit for keeping the electromagnetic valve open so as to supply dilute salt water having a predetermined concentration to the electrolysis tank when the production of , In the concentrated salt water supply passage, Electrolytic water generation apparatus for it, characterized in that interposed concentrated salt water reservoir to store the concentrated brine supplied temporarily to the water supply passage from dark brine tank.