JP2003080253A - Equipment for producing electrolytic water - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide equipment for producing electrolytic water of which the lowering of the output of the deuterium lamp of a light source is prevented and which always displays available chlorine concentration, and can be used at ease. SOLUTION: A timer 41 is provided in a measuring part 30a, and the intermittent lighting of the light source 32 is carried out by the switching of the switches 40b and 40c of a power source 40a for the light source 32. While the light source 32 is on, a data processing part 38 collects data and measures absorbancy at regular time intervals according to a signal from photocells 36 and 37, and an output part 39a of a concentration display 39a displays effective chlorine concentration. While the light source 32 is turned off, the concentration display 39a displays the effective chlorine concentration measured value held just before lighting out.

Description

Description [0001] The present invention relates to the medical and food industries,
In connection with electrolyzed water production equipment used in fields such as agriculture,
In particular, the present invention relates to an electrolyzed water producing apparatus for monitoring the concentration of available chlorine (hypochlorous acid + chlorine gas + hypochlorite ion) contained in the generated strongly acidic water. 2. Description of the Related Art An electrolyzed water producing apparatus produces strongly acidic water on the anode side and strong alkaline water on the cathode side by electrolyzing chlorine-containing water. When water contains chlorine, the strongly acidic water generated on the anode side contains available chlorine having a sterilizing ability. In particular, when electrolysis is performed by adding sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or the like to water, the strong acid water generated on the anode side can reduce available chlorine to several tens of
It is known to have a strong bactericidal effect, containing low ppm (2.5 to 3.0), high ORP (the ORP representing the oxidation-reduction potential is about +1100 mV). The strongly acidic water produced there is used in the medical field as a product that is effective in disinfecting hands in hospitals and disinfecting MRSA that causes hospital infections. In the food industry, disinfection, disinfection of kitchen appliances, and marine products processing are used. For sterilization of fish and O-157. In the field of agriculture, strongly acidic water obtained by electrolyzing water added with potassium chloride is used for disinfection of pathogenic bacteria in house cultivation (melon, vegetables, pears, flowers, etc.), sterilization of rice fir, etc. There is a movement to reduce the amount of pesticides used and promote environmentally friendly agriculture. FIG. 2 shows a conventional apparatus for producing electrolyzed water. The electrolyzed water producing apparatus includes an electrolyzed water generating unit 10, a measuring unit 30, and a mixing unit 60 for sending a mixed liquid for measurement to the measuring unit 30. The electrolyzed water generator 10 has an electrolyzer 11 into which tap water to which about 20 mmol of sodium chloride is added is introduced through a valve 16. A DC voltage source 14 is connected between the anode 12 and the cathode 13 which are disposed with the diaphragm 15 interposed therebetween. The strongly acidic water generated on the side of the anode 12 is taken out from the strongly acidic water outlet 17, and the strongly alkaline water generated on the side of the cathode 13 is taken out from the strongly alkaline water outlet 18. Used for applications. Furthermore, these outlets 17, 18
Is provided with a branch for measurement, and a valve 21,
A part of the strongly acidic water and a part of the strongly alkaline water are taken out through 22 for measurement. [0004] The strongly acidic water and the strongly alkaline water sampled in this manner are supplied to the liquid tank 6 of the first liquid tank 61 of the mixing section 60.
After being guided to each of 2 and 63, it is guided to the second liquid tank 67 and mixed. The first and second two liquid tanks 61 and 67 are both liquid tanks that are open to the atmosphere, and are resistant to acidic water.
For example, it is made of a vinyl chloride-based material. The first liquid tank 61 is a two-tank type having independent liquid tanks 62 and 63, respectively, and each of the liquid tanks 62 and 63 has a large area open to the atmosphere (upper surface). Each of the liquid tanks 62 and 63 is provided with an inlet and an outlet, and the strongly acidic water and the strong alkaline water introduced from the inlet are temporarily stored in the liquid tanks 62 and 63, respectively. [0005] The strongly acidic water generated in the electrolytic cell 11 contains chlorine gas and oxygen gas, and the strongly alkaline water contains hydrogen gas, and both are a gas-liquid mixture containing a large amount of gas. Bubbles in these liquids vary in size from as large as 10 mm in maximum diameter to as small as 1 mm or less. Such strongly acidic water and strongly alkaline water are led out of the electrolytic cell 11 at a pressure close to that of raw water such as tap water, but are supplied to the liquid tanks 62 and 63 having a wide area open to the atmosphere on the upper surface of the mixing section 60. Since each gas is introduced and temporarily stored and returned to the atmospheric pressure, large bubbles having a diameter of about 2 mm to 10 mm are immediately collapsed, and the gas trapped in the bubbles is released to the surrounding atmosphere. Then, if the suction tubes 64 and 65 are inserted into each of the liquid tanks 62 and 63 and the supernatant liquid is sucked, strong acidic water and strong alkaline water from which large bubbles have been removed can be taken out.
The suction tubes 64 and 65 are made of a vinyl chloride tube, a fluororesin tube, or the like. By using independent ironing pumps 73 and 74, the suction tubes 64 and 65 suck strong acid water and strong alkali water at predetermined flow rates, respectively. Liquid tank 6
7 can be led. The second liquid tank 67 is an open-to-atmosphere liquid tank having an open upper surface, like the first liquid tank 61. Into the second liquid tank 67, the tip of a suction tube 68 provided with a filter 69, such as a vinyl chloride type or a fluororesin, is inserted. The liquid in the suction tube 68 is sucked at a predetermined flow rate by the ironing pump 75. The liquid mixture thus sucked is sent to the flow cell 31 of the optical measuring unit 30 at a predetermined flow rate. The second liquid tank 67 is provided with a stirrer 71 which is rotated by a stirring motor 72, whereby the introduced strongly acidic water and strongly alkaline water are forcibly stirred and mixed. And strong alkaline water are sufficiently mixed. This stirrer 71
A motor in which a flat propeller is attached to the tip of the rotating shaft of the motor 72 is used, and is disposed between the tips of the suction tubes 64 and 65 and the tip of the suction tube 68. The strong acid water and the strong alkaline water sucked from the first liquid tank 61 contain a large number of fine bubbles each having a diameter of 1 mm or less, but the bonding is repeated during the passage through the suction tubes 64 and 65 so that the diameter is 1 to 2 mm. Grows into bubbles before and after.
Although the mixed liquid contains these bubbles, the second liquid tank 6
By being introduced into 7, the bubbles are released into the atmosphere. Since the liquid mixture is sucked in this way by the suction tube 68, the liquid mixture from which relatively small bubbles have been removed can be sent to the measuring unit 30. Here, a fine mesh filter 69 is attached to the tip of the suction tube 68.
Is attached, so that air bubbles, precipitated salts, and the like are not sucked into the suction tube 68. That is, air bubbles having a diameter of about 1 to 2 mm remaining in the liquid mixture in the second liquid tank 67 cannot be pierced through the filter 69 and are diffused into the atmosphere. As the filter 69, for example, a resin such as a fluororesin or nylon, a cloth such as a cotton cloth, or a paper such as a filter paper is used. The measuring section 30 includes a flow cell 31 made of quartz glass or the like to which a mixed solution is sent, a light source 32 disposed to sandwich the flow cell 31, a photocell 36, and a photocell 3
7 is provided. As the light source 32, for example, a xenon flash lamp or a deuterium lamp is used. This light passes through the flow cell 31, is split into two by a beam splitter 33 such as a quartz plate, and is guided to photocells 36 and 37.
Optical filters 34 and 35 are attached to the photocells 36 and 37, and one of the optical filters 34 has a main transmission wavelength 2.
A band-pass filter (or a sharp cut filter) that passes light in a long wavelength range of 400 nm or more is used as the other optical filter 35. The photocells 36 and 37 are composed of, for example, Si photocells and the like, and detection signals (electric signals) are respectively sent to photometric electric circuits (not shown) to be converted into absorbances. An arithmetic process for conversion to an effective chlorine concentration is performed. That is, the absorbance with respect to light having a wavelength of 292 nm and 400 nm
The difference from the absorbance for the long wavelength light is determined.
This absorbance difference is converted into an effective chlorine concentration by multiplying by a correction factor corresponding to the mixture ratio, and the concentration is displayed on a display device or the like. [0008] The conventional electrolyzed water producing apparatus is constructed as described above. However, a deuterium lamp is used as a light source 32 of an absorptiometer for measuring the effective chlorine concentration in a measuring section 30. , And continuous measurement is performed, and for a user who uses continuously for 24 hours, such as an ICU in a hospital, the light does not substantially go out after the start of use. In this case, a discharge tube such as a deuterium lamp tends to decrease its output by half every 500 hours of operation. After one year in simple calculation, (1/2)
^{(365 ×} 24/500 ⁾ = 5.3 × 10E− ⁶ , which is reduced to 5.3 / million. In practice, the output drops slightly more slowly. On the other hand, photocell 3 of the detector
6, 37 can increase the gain in the preamplifier part and amplify to some extent, but that also has a limit,
If the gain is increased unnecessarily, the S / N decreases and measurement becomes impossible. Therefore, considering the above calculation results,
It is necessary to replace the deuterium lamp up to five times. This increases the maintenance cost for the user, and also has a problem that the replacement work is troublesome. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to reduce a decrease in output of a deuterium lamp which is a discharge tube used as a light source of a measuring unit.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyzed water producing apparatus which displays the effective chlorine concentration of the electrolyzed water and can be used with a sense of security. [0010] In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus for producing electrolyzed water of the present invention comprises two electrodes and applies a positive / negative voltage to each of the electrodes. And a first liquid tank in which water respectively guided from both electrode sides is introduced into separated tanks, and water in each tank is independently sent. First and second liquid feeding means, a second liquid tank in which the liquids are stored and mixed by forcible stirring, and a liquid mixture in the second liquid tank at a predetermined flow rate. Liquor third
And a measuring means for measuring the light absorption intensity of the mixed liquid fed by the third liquid sending means in a wavelength range of 260 nm to 330 nm. A timer for intermittently turning on the light source of the absorptiometer used for the means, a data processing unit for measuring the absorbance at regular intervals while the light source is turned on, and a held measurement value immediately before the light is turned off when the light source is turned off And an output unit. The apparatus for producing electrolyzed water according to the present invention is configured as described above. A timer is provided in the measuring section, and the deuterium lamp used as the light source of the absorptiometer is intermittently turned on by the timer to perform measurement. The data processing unit of the unit performs absorbance measurement at regular intervals while the light source is on,
While the light is turned off, the measured value held immediately before the light is turned off is displayed on the output unit. Therefore, the lighting time of the deuterium lamp, which is the light source, is reduced, and the decrease in output light is reduced.
Life can be extended. In addition, even when the light is turned off, the held measurement value immediately before the light is turned off is displayed on the output unit, so that the user can use the device with peace of mind. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the apparatus for producing electrolyzed water according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electrolyzed water producing apparatus according to the present invention. The electrolyzed water producing apparatus includes a raw water supply unit (not shown) for mixing and supplying soft water and salt water, an electrolyzed water generating unit 10 for electrolyzing raw water into strongly acidic water and strongly alkaline water, A first liquid tank 61 having individual liquid tanks 62 and 63 for sampling and storing water;
First and second liquid feeding means including ironing pumps 73 and 74 for sending the sampling liquid from the individual liquid tanks 62 and 63;
The supplied electrolyzed water is stirred by rotating the stirrer 71 by the motor 72 to mix the two solutions, and the mixed solution is sent by the suction tube 68 and the ironing pump 75 through the filter 69 and the filter 69. A third liquid sending means, a light source 32 such as a deuterium lamp for projecting light to the mixed liquid in the flow cell 31 to which the liquid is sent, a power supply 40a having switches 40b and 40c for the light source 32, A timer 41 for intermittently lighting the light source 32 by the switches 40b and 40c;
During the lighting, a part of the light is reflected by the beam splitter 33 and the remaining light is transmitted at regular intervals, and a signal is received from a photocell 37 provided with an optical filter 35 and a photocell 36 provided with an optical filter 34. 2. Measure the absorbance at two wavelengths to calculate the effective chlorine concentration, display the data processing unit 38 with the data holding unit 38a, and display the measured value held in the data holding unit 38a immediately before the light is turned off while the light is off, and turn on the light And an output unit 39 for receiving and displaying the measured data from the data processing unit 38. The present electrolyzed water producing apparatus uses a light source 32 such as a deuterium lamp for a method of continuously monitoring for a long time in a measuring unit 30a for measuring an effective chlorine (hypochlorous acid + chlorine gas + hypochlorite ion) concentration. The switches 41b and 40c provided in the power supply 40a are turned on by the timer 41 in order to prevent the output characteristics (light source energy) of the
-Turn off, intermittently light the light source 32, measure the absorbance at regular intervals during the lighting, display it on the concentration display 39a of the output unit 39, and process the measured value immediately before the light is turned off when the light is turned off. The data is stored in the data storage unit 38a of the unit 38 and displayed on the density display unit 39a of the output unit 39. The raw water supplied to the electrolyzed water producing apparatus is supplied to the electrolytic cell 11, the first liquid tank 61, the second liquid tank 67, and the measuring section 30a.
Through each part of available chlorine (hypochlorous acid + chlorine gas +
The process of measuring the concentration of hypochlorite ion) will be described below, together with the function and operation of each unit. The raw water supply unit (not shown) mixes the soft water from the water softener and the salt water fed from the salt water tank by the feed pump with a mixer, and feeds the raw water to which about 20 mmol of sodium chloride is added into the electrolytic cell 11.
To supply. The electrolyzed water generation unit 10 is supplied with raw water from a raw water supply unit via a valve 16,
And a positive electrode 12, a negative electrode 13 and a DC voltage source 1
4, a DC voltage is applied through the switches 14a and 14b to electrolyze the chlorine-containing water, and to the strongly acidic water on the anode 12 side,
It generates strong alkaline water on the cathode 13 side. The strong acid water outlet 17 is an inlet for supplying acidic water to an acidic water tank (not shown) provided outside, and the strong alkaline water outlet 18 is an alkaline water outlet also provided outside. This is an intake for supplying alkaline water to a tank (not shown). The first liquid tank 61 of the mixing section 60 is a two-tank type having independent liquid tanks 62 and 63, respectively.
Reference numerals 2 and 63 denote an open-to-atmosphere type having a large upper surface. Each of the liquid tanks 62 and 63 is provided with an inlet and an outlet, and the strongly acidic water and the strong alkaline water introduced from the inlet are temporarily stored in the liquid tanks 62 and 63, respectively. The strongly acidic water generated in the electrolytic cell 11 contains chlorine gas and oxygen gas,
The strong alkaline water contains hydrogen gas, and both are a gas-liquid mixture containing a large amount of gas. Bubbles in these liquids vary in size from as large as 10 mm in maximum diameter to as small as 1 mm or less. Such strong acidic water and strong alkaline water are led out of the electrolytic cell 11 at a pressure close to that of raw water such as tap water. Because the water is stored and returned to atmospheric pressure, the diameter is 2mm to 10mm
Bubbles of a large size collapse immediately, and the gas trapped in the bubbles is released to the surrounding atmosphere. The first and second liquid sending means are suction tubes 64 and 65 of the mixing section 60.
And independent ironing pumps 73 and 74. The suction tubes 64 and 65 are made of a vinyl chloride tube, a fluororesin tube, or the like. By using independent ironing pumps 73 and 74, the strong acid water and the strong alkaline water are suctioned at predetermined flow rates, respectively, and the second liquid Vessel 6
7 can be led. The second liquid tank 67 is disposed between the first and second liquid feeding means and the third liquid feeding means, and is provided with an ironing pump 7.
This is a liquid tank that stirs the electrolyzed water fed by the liquids 3 and 74 and mixes both liquids. The second liquid tank 67 includes the first liquid tank 61.
In the same manner as in the above, an open-to-atmosphere type liquid tank having an open upper surface. The strong acidic water and the strong alkaline water sucked from the first liquid tank 61 contain a large number of fine bubbles each having a diameter of 1 mm or less. During the passage through the tubes 64 and 65, the bonding is repeated to grow into bubbles having a diameter of about 1 to 2 mm. These bubbles are contained in the liquid mixture, but when introduced into the second liquid tank 67, the bubbles are diffused into the atmosphere. The second liquid tank 67 is provided with a stirrer 71 which is rotated by a stirring motor 72, whereby the introduced strongly acidic water and strongly alkaline water are forcibly stirred and mixed. As the stirrer 71, one having a flat propeller attached to the tip of the rotation shaft of the motor 72 is used, and is disposed between the tips of the suction tubes 64 and 65 and the tip of the suction tube 68. The tip of a suction tube 68 provided with a filter 69, such as a vinyl chloride-based resin or a fluororesin, is inserted into the second liquid tank 67. The filter 69 has a fine mesh shape attached to the tip of the suction tube 68, and is made of, for example, a resin such as a fluororesin or nylon, a cloth such as a cotton cloth, or a paper such as a filter paper. Therefore, bubbles, precipitated salts, and the like are not sucked into the suction tube 68. That is, the diameter of 1 to 2 m remaining in the mixed liquid in the second liquid tank 67
Air bubbles of about m cannot be pierced through the filter 69 and are radiated into the atmosphere. The third liquid sending means is configured such that a tip of a suction tube 68 provided with a filter 69 such as a vinyl chloride type or a fluororesin is provided in a second liquid tank 67.
The liquid mixture is sucked at a predetermined flow rate by an ironing pump 75 with a suction tube 68 and the sucked liquid mixture is sent to the flow cell 31 of the optical measuring unit 30a at a predetermined flow rate. The measuring section 30a includes a flow cell 31 made of quartz glass or the like to which the mixed liquid is sent,
Light source 32 such as a xenon flash lamp or a deuterium lamp for projecting light, and switches 40b and 40c for the light source 32.
, A timer 41 for intermittently turning on the light source 32 by the switches 40b and 40c, and a beam made of a quartz plate or the like that reflects a part of the light transmitted through the flow cell 31 and transmits the rest. A splitter 33, an optical filter 35 including a band-pass filter (or a sharp cut filter) that receives light reflected by the beam splitter 33 and transmits light in a long wavelength region of 400 nm or more, and Si that receives light transmitted through the optical filter 35. A photocell 37 made of an interference filter having a main transmission wavelength of 292 nm in response to light transmitted through the beam splitter 33; a photocell 36 made of Si or the like receiving light transmitted through the optical filter 34; While 32 is lit, it receives signals from photocells 36 and 37 at regular intervals and absorbs light at two wavelengths. And a data processing unit 38 having a data holding unit 38a by calculating the effective chlorine concentration and displaying the measured value held by the data holding unit 38a immediately before the light is turned off on the concentration display unit 39a while the light is turned off. An output unit 39 that receives the measured data from the data processing unit 38 and displays the measured data on the density display unit 39a. The light entering the photocell 36 of the measuring section 30a is light having a wavelength of the main transmission wavelength of 292 nm by the interference filter of the optical filter 34, and the light entering the other photocell 37 is 400n of the optical filter 35.
light of a wavelength by a band-pass filter (or sharp cut filter) that passes light in the long wavelength range of m or more,
This is an absorption photometer using a two-wavelength beam method. When the sample is irradiated with two types of monochromatic light, the absorbance E differs even at the same concentration because the molar absorption coefficient ε varies depending on the wavelength. Therefore, assuming that the absorbances at two wavelengths are E ₁ and E ₂ , E ₂
−E ₁ (or E ₂ −k × E ₁ ) is also proportional to the sample concentration c. This two-wavelength method has a feature that a floating amount of a background represented by, for example, turbidity is canceled. The data processing unit 38 adopts a two-wavelength method, measures the absorbance of the mixed solution in the flow cell 31 sent at regular intervals, and receives the signal from the photo cell 36 and the signal from the photo cell 37. The difference between the signals at the two wavelengths (or subtraction after multiplying the signal of one wavelength by a coefficient with another signal) is calculated and converted to calculate the effective chlorine concentration. A description will be given by comparing the data of the output decrease when the deuterium lamp used in the present electrolyzed water producing apparatus is intermittently lit with the data when the conventional deuterium lamp is continuously lit. The lighting time and the lighting time can be arbitrarily selected.
It is appropriate to turn on the light for 30 minutes and turn off the light for 30 minutes, and the reduction rate of the spectral energy was measured at a wavelength of 292 nm. The reason is that the absorption wavelength of the effective chlorine concentration is around 292 nm. As a result of actual measurement of the energy reduction rate, in the case of continuous lighting, the energy reduction rate is 0.43% / day for the use period of 38 days, and the energy reduction rate is 1.30% / day, 0.23% for the use period of 17 days. / Day, 0.32% /
Days, averaging 0.54% / day. In the case of intermittent lighting, the energy reduction rate is 0.17% for 43 days of use.
/ Day, 0.16% / day, averaging 0.17% / day. In the case of the intermittent lighting, it can be seen that the energy reduction rate is smaller than the energy reduction expected only by the simple lighting cumulative time as compared with the continuous lighting. This is considered to be due to a decrease in the return of energy when the light is turned off. In the above embodiment, the switches 41b and 40c of the power supply 40a are turned on and off by the timer 41. However, the input line of the power supply 40a may be turned on and off. Also, the control may be performed by software or hardware, but it is much simpler to perform the control by software, and the cost is reduced. The apparatus for producing electrolyzed water of the present invention is configured as described above, and a timer is provided in the measuring section to intermittently turn on the deuterium lamp as a light source, thereby extending the life of the light source. be able to. Then, while the light source is on, the absorbance measurement is performed at regular intervals, and the effective chlorine concentration is displayed on the output unit. While the light source is off, the effective chlorine concentration measurement value held immediately before the light is turned off Is displayed on the output unit. for that reason,
The lighting time of the deuterium lamp is shortened and the decrease in output light is reduced, so that it can be used for a long time even for a user who uses continuously for 24 hours, such as an ICU in a hospital. Even when the light is turned off, the density measurement value held immediately before the light is turned off is displayed on the output unit on the monitor, so that the user can use the apparatus with confidence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional electrolytic water production apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electrolyzed water generator 11 ... Electrolyzer 12 ... Anode 13 ... Cathode 14 ... DC voltage source 15 ... Diaphragm 16, 21, 22 ... Valve 17 ... Strong acidic water outlet 18 ... Strong alkali outlet 30 , 30a measuring unit 31 flow cell 32 light source 33 beam splitters 34 and 35 optical filters 36 and 37 photocell 38 data processing unit 38a data holding unit 39 output unit 39a density display unit 40a power supply 40b 40c Switch 41 Timer 60 Mixer 61 First liquid tanks 62, 63 Liquid tanks 64, 65, 68 Suction tube 67 Second liquid tank 69 Filter 71 Stirrer 72 Motor 73 74, 75 ... ironing pump

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    F term (reference) 2G059 AA01 BB04 CC02 DD05 DD12                       DD13 EE01 EE12 FF09 GG07                       HH03 HH06 JJ02 JJ03 JJ22                       KK02 MM01 MM07 NN05                 4D061 DA03 DB07 DB09 EA02 EB04                       EB12 EB37 EB38 ED13 GA20                       GB20

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An electrolytic cell having two electrodes and capable of electrolyzing chlorinated water by applying a positive or negative voltage to each electrode, and an electrolyzer which is connected from both electrode sides. A first liquid tank into which separated water is introduced into each of the separated tanks; first and second liquid sending means for independently sending the water in each tank; A second liquid tank that stores and mixes them by forcible stirring, a third liquid sending unit that sends a mixture of the second liquid tank at a predetermined flow rate, and a third liquid sending unit. For the mixed solution sent, the wavelength 26
In an electrolyzed water producing apparatus provided with a measuring means for measuring light absorption intensity in a range of 0 nm to 330 nm, a timer for intermittently turning on the light source of the absorptiometer used for the measuring means, and An electrolyzed water production apparatus, comprising: a data processing unit that performs absorbance measurement at regular time intervals; and an output unit that displays a measured value immediately before the light is turned off while the light is turned off.