JP2005226896A - Hot water supplier with water reducing function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply hot water in a short time, the hot water being provided with a reducing property which causes less damage on the skin and the hair. <P>SOLUTION: A water reducing means includes metal electrodes 2, 3 arranged on a flow channel 1 for supplying the hot water, applies a DC voltage between the metal electrodes by a DC power source 4, and absorbs and eliminates chlorine gas and hypochlorous ions generated by electrolysis by an adsorbent 5. Thereby, an oxidation-reduction potential of water is lowered in the short time and can be stabilized, and the hot water with the lowered oxidation reduction potential can be supplied for a shower, toilet, and kitchen or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a water heater with a water-reducing function mainly for home use, which supplies reduced water that is close to a biological oxidation-reduction potential and reduces damage to the skin due to oxidation.

Chlorine is added to normal tap water for sterilization, and the oxidation-reduction potential is high due to the oxidizing power of hypochlorite ions. And it is said that this oxidative power causes human skin to deteriorate due to oxidative damage. In addition, healthy skin is kept weakly acidic, and even if the redox potential is low and reducible, if the pH is alkaline, moisture is lost due to dissolution of sebum and the skin deteriorates. Moreover, skin deterioration is the same as the aging phenomenon, and it is important to eliminate damage to the skin and hair during bathing in order to keep the skin and hair healthy. Examples of a method for imparting reducibility to bathing water include a method in which hydrogen gas, which is a reducing gas, is supplied from a hydrogen gas cylinder (see, for example, Patent Document 1), water is electrolyzed using a carbon electrode, and carbon dioxide is obtained. And a method of generating hydrogen gas (see, for example, Patent Document 2), and first, second, and third electrodes, an AC voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, and the third electrode is There has been a method of generating hydrogen gas by grounding (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-19426 A JP 2000-308991 A Japanese Patent No. 2615308

  However, in the method of supplying hydrogen gas from the conventional hydrogen gas cylinder, it is necessary to replace the storage location or cylinder of the hydrogen gas cylinder, and therefore, it is not suitable as a hydrogen gas generating means of a domestic water heater, and the carbon electrode In the method of electrolyzing water using water, there is a problem that the carbon electrode is consumed at the time of water electrolysis, and it is necessary to replace it in a short period. Furthermore, there is a problem between the first and second electrodes. In the method of generating hydrogen gas by applying an alternating current and grounding the third electrode, it takes time to lower the oxidation-reduction potential, and when a large amount of water is required in a short time, such as bathing Each problem was not practical.

  Even if only the oxidation-reduction potential of the bath water is lowered, the hot water supplied from the shower, washroom, kitchen, etc. is normal tap water, so it is possible to prevent damage to the skin and hair when washing the human body. There was also a problem that it was not possible to prevent skin damage in daily housework.

  In order to solve the above problems, a water heater with a water reduction function of the present invention comprises a heat exchanger disposed in a flow path for supplying hot water, and a water reduction means connected to the heat exchanger, The water reduction means includes a plurality of metal electrodes, a DC power source that applies a DC voltage between the metal electrodes, and an adsorbent that adsorbs and removes chlorine gas and hypochlorite ions generated by electrolysis. The metal component eluted from the electrode stably holds hydrogen generated by water electrolysis.

  As a result, the redox potential of the water decreases and stabilizes in a short time, and therefore hot water having a reduced redox potential can be supplied to a shower, a bathroom, a kitchen or the like.

  The water heater with water reduction function of the present invention allows the metal component eluted from the metal electrode to stably maintain hydrogen generated by electrolysis of water, thereby reducing the redox potential of water in a short time, and Since it stabilizes, the effect that hot water with a reduced oxidation-reduction potential can be supplied also to a shower, a washroom, a kitchen, etc. is acquired.

  The first invention comprises a plurality of metal electrodes disposed in a flow path for supplying hot water, a DC power source for applying a DC voltage between the metal electrodes, chlorine gas and hypochlorite ions generated by electrolysis. The water reduction means has an adsorbent to be adsorbed and removed, and the metal component eluted from the metal electrode keeps the hydrogen generated by electrolysis of the water stable, so that the redox potential of the water decreases in a short time. In addition, it is possible to supply hot water with a reduced oxidation-reduction potential to showers, washrooms, kitchens, and the like.

  In the second invention, the metal electrode is a noble metal electrode formed by sintering or plating a component containing one or more of platinum, iridium, palladium, and tantalum on a titanium base material, thereby increasing the hydrogen holding ability. And the redox potential of water can be lowered and stabilized in a short time.

  The third invention has a control means for switching the polarity of the voltage applied between the metal electrodes. By switching the polarity of the metal electrodes, it is possible to prevent the scale deposition of the metal electrodes, and stable electrolysis for a long period of time. Can be done.

  In the fourth invention, by setting the current density applied between the metal electrodes to 0.01 A to 2 A / cm 2, the metal can be forcibly eluted from the electrodes, and the redox potential of water is lowered and stable. The sex can be further enhanced.

  5th invention can improve electrolysis efficiency by providing a water reduction means in the heat exchanger downstream, and electrolyzing the heat-exchanged warm water.

  The sixth aspect of the present invention provides a bypass channel in the channel for supplying hot water, and by providing a flow rate adjusting valve and a water reducing means in the bypass channel, electrolysis is continued even when the hot water heater is not used to generate strongly reduced water. To do. In use, a large amount of hot water can be treated by mixing with raw water.

  7th invention is equipped with the bathtub connected to the flow path which supplies hot water, and the pump which circulates bathtub water, and is set as the structure which provided the water reduction means in the circulation flow path of bathtub water, and is a bathtub for a long time Even when the water is kept warm, it is possible to maintain hot water with a reduced redox potential.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a hot water heater with a reduction function in the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, metal electrodes 2 and 3 disposed in a flow channel 1 for supplying hot water, a DC power source 4 for applying a DC voltage between the metal electrodes 2 and 3, chlorine gas generated by electrolysis, and hypochlorous acid. A water reducing means 6 having an adsorbent 5 for adsorbing and removing chlorate ions is provided. The raw water is supplied to the water reduction means 6 provided in the flow path 1 through the heat exchanger 7, and the hot water having a reduced oxidation-reduction potential generated by the water reduction means 6 is a bathtub 8 or a shower 9 and a washroom 10. It is configured to be supplied to the kitchen 11 or the like.

  Moreover, the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes 2 and 3 is configured to switch the polarity of the electrode every time it is used by the control means 12. The metal electrodes 2 and 3 are composed of noble metal electrodes formed by sintering or plating a component containing one or more of platinum, iridium, palladium, and tantalum on a titanium base material.

  In the above configuration, the hot water heated by the heat exchanger 7 is supplied to the water reducing means 6, and the hot water is electrolyzed by the voltage applied to the metal electrodes 2 and 3 by the DC power supply 4. By this electrolysis, oxygen gas and chlorine gas are generated from the electrode having the positive potential, and hydrogen gas is generated from the electrode having the negative potential. A trace amount of metal is eluted from the electrode having a positive potential, and the generated hydrogen is retained by the metal eluted from the electrode and is stabilized in water.

  The generated chlorine gas dissolves in water and forms hypochlorite ions. Hypochlorite ions have strong oxidizing power and increase the redox potential, so that the adsorbent 5 adsorbs and removes chlorine gas and hypochlorite ions. By removing the oxidizing hypochlorite ion generated by electrolysis of water by the adsorbent 5, the metal eluted from the electrode having a positive potential retains and stabilizes the hydrogen generated by electrolysis, Hot water with a reduced oxidation-reduction potential is supplied to the bathtub 8 or the shower 9, the washroom 10, the kitchen 11, etc., so that bathing and daily housework with little damage to the skin and hair can be performed.

  Next, a case where water with a reduced redox potential is generated by direct current electrolysis will be described. For metal electrodes 2 and 3, an electrode obtained by sintering an alloy of platinum and iridium on a titanium base material having an area of 47 cm 2 is used. And electrolysis was performed for 3 minutes.

  Water with reduced oxidation-reduction potential can be obtained with an oxidation-reduction potential of 400 mV after electrolysis at a current density of 0.02 A / cm2 against an original hydroxide-reduction potential of 750 mV (vs. standard hydrogen electrode) at 25 ° C It was. Further, by increasing the current density to 0.05 A / cm 2, the redox potential after electrolysis was reduced to −280 mV, and water with a further reduced redox potential could be obtained. The redox potential of the water after electrolysis was -300 mV even after being left for 20 minutes, and the state in which the redox potential was lowered was maintained. However, the oxidation-reduction potential of water electrolyzed at a current density of 0.004 A / cm 2 with a small electrode elution amount is 520 mV, and the decrease in oxidation-reduction potential is small. It was no different from the case of only removing chlorate ions.

  Thus, in electrolysis at a current density with almost no metal elution from the metal electrodes 2 to 4, water having a reduced redox potential cannot be obtained, and the current density at which the metal elutes from the metal electrodes 2 to 3 is obtained. Electrolysis at is required. By setting the current density to 0.01 A to 2 A / cm 2, desirably 0.01 A to 1 A / cm 2, water having a reduced redox potential can be obtained stably.

  In this way, the metal component eluted from the metal electrode stably retains hydrogen generated by electrolysis of water and removes hypochlorite ions generated by electrolysis with an adsorbent, so that the oxidation-reduction potential of water is increased. The water can be lowered and stabilized in a short time, and hot water having a reduced oxidation-reduction potential can be supplied to a shower, a bathroom, a kitchen or the like.

  In addition, as a metal electrode, by using a noble metal electrode formed by sintering or plating a component containing one or more of platinum, iridium, palladium, and tantalum on a titanium base material, it is possible to increase the hydrogen retention capability, Can be reduced and stabilized in a short time.

  Further, by switching the polarity of the metal electrode, scale deposition of the metal electrode can be prevented, and stable electrolysis can be performed for a long time.

  Moreover, by providing the water reduction means on the downstream side of the heat exchanger, the heat-exchanged hot water can be electrolyzed and the electrolysis efficiency can be increased.

  In this embodiment, electrolysis was performed without providing a diaphragm between the electrodes. However, a similar effect can be obtained by providing a diaphragm between the electrodes and mixing the water in the bipolar chamber after electrolysis of the water. it can.

(Embodiment 2)
In FIG. 2, a flow rate adjusting valve 14 and a water reducing means 6 are provided in a bypass flow path 13 branched from the flow path 1 for supplying hot water. Moreover, it has the circulation pump 15 which circulates the bathtub water of the bathtub 8, and the bathtub water is supplied to the heat exchanger 7 and the water reduction means 6 through the switching valve 16, and can be cooked and the oxidation-reduction potential can be lowered. It has become.

  In the above configuration, the hot water heated by the heat exchanger 7 is supplied to the water reducing means 6, and the hot water is electrolyzed by the voltage applied to the metal electrodes 2 and 3 by the DC power supply 4. By this electrolysis, oxygen gas and chlorine gas are generated from the electrode having the positive potential, and hydrogen gas is generated from the electrode having the negative potential. A trace amount of metal is eluted from the electrode having a positive potential, and the generated hydrogen is retained by the metal eluted from the electrode and is stabilized in water.

  The generated chlorine gas dissolves in water and forms hypochlorite ions. Hypochlorite ions have strong oxidizing power and increase the redox potential, so that the adsorbent 5 adsorbs and removes chlorine gas and hypochlorite ions. By removing the oxidizing hypochlorite ion generated by electrolysis of water by the adsorbent 5, the metal eluted from the electrode having a positive potential retains and stabilizes the hydrogen generated by electrolysis, Hot water with a reduced oxidation-reduction potential is supplied to the bathtub 8 or the shower 9, the washroom 10, the kitchen 11, etc., so that bathing and daily housework with little damage to the skin and hair can be performed.

  Further, the water reducing means 6 operates to continue the generation of hydrogen gas and electrode elution even when the water supply is stopped (when the water heater is not used), and further generates strongly reduced water having a reduced redox potential. In use, hot water having a reduced oxidation-reduction potential is supplied to the bathtub 8 or the shower 9, the washroom 10, the kitchen 11, etc. by mixing strong reduced water and raw water with the flow rate control valve 14, You can do bathing and daily housework with little damage to your hair.

  In this way, not only supplying hot water having a reduced oxidation-reduction potential during use, but also continuing electrolysis when not in use and mixing the generated strong reduced water with raw water, a large amount of hot water is obtained in a short time. The oxidation-reduction potential can be lowered.

  In addition, by supplying the hot water in the bathtub 8 to the water reduction means 6 through the switching valve 16 by the circulation pump 15, the hot water having a reduced oxidation-reduction potential can be maintained even when the bath water is kept warm for a long time. .

  As described above, since the water heater with a reduction function according to the present invention can reduce the oxidation-reduction potential of hot water by electrolysis, it can be applied to uses such as an electric water heater and a heat pump water heater. is there.

The block diagram of the water heater with a water reduction function in Embodiment 1 of this invention Configuration diagram of a water heater with a water reduction function in Embodiment 2 of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flow path 2, 3 Metal electrode 4 DC power supply 5 Adsorbent 6 Water reduction means 7 Heat exchanger 8 Bathtub 9 Shower 10 Washroom 11 Kitchen 12 Control means

Claims (7)

A heat exchanger disposed in a flow path for supplying hot water, and a water reduction means connected to the heat exchanger, wherein the water reduction means generates a DC voltage between a plurality of metal electrodes and the metal electrodes. A water heater with a water reduction function having an adsorbent that adsorbs and removes chlorine gas and hypochlorite ions generated by electrolysis and a direct current power source to be applied. 2. The water heater with a water reduction function according to claim 1, wherein the metal electrode is formed by sintering or plating a component containing at least one of platinum, iridium, palladium, and tantalum on a titanium base material. The water heater with a water reduction function according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising control means for switching the polarity of a voltage applied between the metal electrodes. The water heater with a water reduction function according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the current density applied between the metal electrodes is 0.01 A to 2 A / cm2. The water heater with a water reduction function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the water reduction means is provided on the downstream side of the heat exchanger. The water heater with a water reduction function according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a bypass channel is provided in a channel for supplying hot water, and a water reduction means is provided in the bypass channel. The water according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a bathtub connected to a flow path for supplying hot water and a pump for circulating the bathtub water, wherein a water reduction means is provided in the circulation flow path of the bathtub water. Water heater with a reduction function.

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