JP2006167684A - Method for supplying hydrogen water - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To swiftly carry out hydrogen water circulation operation in a hydrogen water supply apparatus for supplying hydrogen to a bathtub. <P>SOLUTION: Bath water is poured into a gas-liquid mixing tank filled with a hydrogen gas during previous operation from a suction pipe to dissolve hydrogen and the bath water dissolved with the hydrogen gas is subjected to reflux from a supply pipe to a bathtub (hydrogen dissolution operation). The hydrogen dissolution operation is complete and if the hydrogen gas is absent in the gas-liquid mixing tank, the bath water is passed through a by-pass pipe provided in parallel with the gas-liquid mixing tank, and water containing hydrogen in the bathtub is circulated and discharged from a bath adapter to the bathtub (hydrogen water circulation operation). After this hydrogen water circulation operation is complete or in parallel with the hydrogen water circulation operation, the hydrogen gas generated in an electrolyzer is moved to the gas-liquid mixing tank, the hydrogen gas is filled in the gas-liquid mixing tank (hydrogen gas filling operation), and preparation is made for next operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen water supply method, and more particularly to a technique for circulating hydrogen water in a bathtub by circulating hydrogen water in the bathtub to dissolve hydrogen gas.

  Hydrogen water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved has an effect of preventing proliferation of germs and is effective in preventing sliminess in a bathtub or the like, and SOD (active oxygen removing enzyme) activity contributes to the promotion of human health. In particular, water containing active hydrogen exhibits reducibility and exhibits SOD-like activity, thus detoxifying skin aging promoting substances such as lipid peroxide (produced by human exposure to ultraviolet rays), and Even if taken, it is effective for all diseases. Therefore, by supplying hydrogen water into the bathtub, slimming of the bathtub can be suppressed, and it can contribute to the beauty and health promotion of the bather.

  As a hydrogen water supply apparatus in which hydrogen gas is dissolved in hot water in a bathtub and hydrogen water is circulated in the bathtub, there is one described in Patent Document 1. In this apparatus, a circulation pump and a gas-liquid mixing tank are provided in a bath water circulation path connected to a bathtub. Further, hydrogen gas is generated by electrolyzing water in the electrolytic cell, and the hydrogen gas is supplied to the gas-liquid mixing tank. Then, the circulating pump is operated to circulate the bath water in the bathtub, and the hydrogen gas supplied from the electrolytic cell is dissolved in the bath water in the gas-liquid mixing tank, and the bath water in which the hydrogen gas is dissolved is put in the bathtub. Circulated.

  As an operation method of such a hydrogen water supply apparatus, for example, there is a patent application (Patent Document 2) filed by the applicant of the present invention. In the operation method disclosed in Patent Document 2, after the hydrogen dissolution operation switch is turned on, the gas-liquid mixing tank is filled with water, hydrogen gas is generated in the electrolytic cell, and the gas-liquid mixing tank is filled with water. After replacing the water with hydrogen gas and filling the gas-liquid mixing tank with hydrogen gas (this is referred to as hydrogen gas filling operation), the bath water is circulated in the bath water circulation path and the bath water is converted into the bath water in the gas-liquid mixing tank. Hydrogen gas is dissolved (this is called hydrogen dissolution operation), and hydrogen water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved is circulated in the bath water circulation path and discharged from the bath adapter (this is called hydrogen water circulation operation). When the hydrogen water circulation operation is completed, the water accumulated in the gas-liquid mixing tank is drained.

  However, in such an operation method, it takes a long time for the hydrogen gas filling operation and the hydrogen dissolving operation until the hydrogen gas is completely dissolved after the hydrogen melting operation switch is turned on (for example, the hydrogen gas filling operation and the hydrogen dissolving operation). It took about 40 minutes to drive.) The waiting time was long before the hydrogen water circulation operation could be performed. For this reason, for example, when hot water filling operation is started, the hot water filling operation is turned on at the same time when automatic hot water filling operation is started, in which hot water is automatically dropped into the bathtub and refilled to the set temperature. By the time, the hydrogen water dissolution operation is not over. For this reason, even after completion of the hot water filling operation, it was necessary to wait for bathing until the hydrogen dissolution operation was completed, which was unusable.

  Therefore, it is desired to shorten the time from when the hydrogen melting operation switch is turned on until the hydrogen water circulation operation can be performed. It is hoped that.

JP 2004-66071 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-31193 (Application Date: October 26, 2004)

  The present invention proposes an operation method different from the operation method proposed by Patent Document 2, and aims to enable a hydrogen water circulation operation to be performed quickly.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas / liquid mixing tank in which one end of each of a first water channel and a second water channel is connected to a gas / liquid mixing tank and hydrogen gas is filled. In the gas-liquid mixing tank, a first step of generating water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved by supplying water from the first water channel and sending out water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved through the second water channel; After hydrogen gas is dissolved in water, at least part of the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank is replaced with water and the first step is completed, and then the hydrogen gas is put in the gas-liquid mixing tank in a state where the air is shut off And a second step of filling the gas-liquid tank with hydrogen gas by discharging water in the gas-liquid mixing tank.

  In the hydrogen water supply method according to claim 1 of the present invention, after the first step of generating hydrogen water by dissolving hydrogen gas in water, the gas-liquid mixing tank is filled with hydrogen gas. Therefore, at the start of the next operation, the gas-liquid mixing tank is already filled with hydrogen gas. Therefore, hydrogen gas can be immediately dissolved in water to generate hydrogen water, and the waiting time until the start of the first step (hereinafter referred to as hydrogen dissolution operation) can be shortened.

  In addition, if hydrogen gas is charged before the hydrogen dissolution operation, water for replacement with hydrogen gas must be stored in the gas-liquid mixing tank when the hydrogen gas is charged, and this water must be drained. Water accumulated in the gas-liquid mixing tank after the dissolution operation must also be drained. On the other hand, in the case of the present invention, since the gas-liquid mixing tank is filled with hydrogen gas after the hydrogen dissolving operation, the water accumulated in the gas-liquid mixing tank as a result of the hydrogen dissolving operation is replaced with hydrogen gas. The amount of water drained into sewage can be reduced.

  The embodiment described in claim 2 is characterized in that the hydrogen gas supplied to the gas-liquid mixing tank is generated by electrolyzing water in an electrolytic cell. If hydrogen gas is generated by electrolyzing water in an electrolytic cell, hydrogen gas can be supplied more safely than when a hydrogen cylinder or the like is used. On the other hand, when an electrolytic cell is used, it takes a long time to generate hydrogen gas. However, according to the present invention, hydrogen gas can be generated and filled in the gas-liquid mixing tank in advance after the hydrogen melting operation, so that the hydrogen melting operation can be started in a short time during the next hydrogen melting operation. Can be made. Therefore, the present invention is particularly effective when an electrolytic cell is used as the hydrogen gas generating means.

  Further, if hydrogen gas is generated at the end of the previous operation and filled in the gas-liquid mixing tank, the preparation time before the hydrogen dissolution operation does not increase even if the time required for hydrogen generation increases. Therefore, since the amount of hydrogen generated per unit time in the electrolytic cell can be reduced, the electrolytic cell can be made small and the apparatus can be downsized.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, an oxygen exhaust port that can be freely opened and closed is provided on the oxygen generation side of the electrolytic cell, the hydrogen generation side of the electrolytic cell and the gas-liquid mixing tank are connected by a hydrogen gas supply pipe, and the hydrogen gas A check valve is provided in the supply pipe so that hydrogen gas can move only from the electrolytic cell side to the gas-liquid mixing tank side, and water is electrolyzed with the oxygen exhaust port closed to move the electrolytic cell to the gas-liquid mixing tank. It is characterized by supplying hydrogen gas. According to this embodiment, since the oxygen exhaust port is closed when hydrogen gas is generated, the hydrogen gas is generated with the internal pressure of the electrolytic cell increased, and the hydrogen gas is forcibly sent to the gas-liquid mixing tank by the internal pressure. be able to. Therefore, the supply time of hydrogen gas from the electrolytic cell to the gas-liquid mixing tank can be shortened.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the gas-liquid mixing tank includes a water level detector for detecting an internal water level, and the first level is detected when the water level detector detects a water level equal to or higher than a predetermined water level. It is characterized by determining that the process is completed. In hydrogen dissolution operation, when the gas-liquid mixing tank is filled with hydrogen gas, the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank is low, but the water level increases as the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank dissolves in water. Become. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the water level becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined water level, it can be determined that the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank is almost dissolved in water and the first step is completed.

  The embodiment according to claim 5 includes timer means, and measures water supply time from the first water flow path to the gas-liquid mixing tank in the first step by the timer means, and the water supply measured by the timer means. It is characterized in that it is determined that the first step has been completed when the time has exceeded a predetermined time. In this embodiment, if the water supply time measured by the timer means becomes a predetermined time or more, it can be determined that the water supply amount has become a certain amount or more, so when the water supply time measured by the timer means becomes a predetermined time or more It can be determined that the first step is completed.

  The hydrogen water supply method according to claim 6, wherein one end of each of the first water channel and the second water channel is connected to the gas-liquid mixing tank, and the first water channel and the second water stream are connected. A bypass pipe is provided so as to bypass the gas-liquid mixing tank, and both ends of the bypass pipe are connected to the first water flow path and the second water flow path by a three-way valve. A first step of generating water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved by supplying water from the first water flow path into the gas-liquid mixing tank filled, and sending the water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved through the second water flow path; The first water flow path after the first step is completed after hydrogen gas is dissolved in water in the gas-liquid mixing tank and at least a part of the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank is replaced with water. While circulating water through the bypass pipe and the second water channel, air A second step of filling the gas-liquid tank with hydrogen gas by supplying hydrogen gas into the gas-liquid mixing tank in a shut-off state and discharging water in the gas-liquid mixing tank. It is said.

  In the hydrogen water supply method according to claim 6, after the hydrogen water dissolution operation (first step) is completed, the three-way valve is switched to the bypass pipe side to switch between the first and second water flow paths and the bypass pipe. Hydrogen gas can be filled in the gas-liquid mixing tank while circulating water (hydrogen water circulation operation). Therefore, in the hydrogen water supply method of claim 5, since the gas-liquid mixing tank is filled with hydrogen gas after the first step of generating hydrogen water by dissolving hydrogen gas in water, At the start of the next operation, the gas-liquid mixing tank is already filled with hydrogen gas. Accordingly, hydrogen gas can be immediately dissolved in water to generate hydrogen water, and the waiting time until the start of the hydrogen dissolution operation can be shortened.

  In addition, if hydrogen gas is charged before the hydrogen dissolution operation, water for replacement with hydrogen gas must be stored in the gas-liquid mixing tank when the hydrogen gas is charged, and this water must be drained. Water accumulated in the gas-liquid mixing tank after the dissolution operation must also be drained. On the other hand, in the case of the present invention, since the gas-liquid mixing tank is filled with hydrogen gas after the hydrogen dissolving operation, the water accumulated in the gas-liquid mixing tank as a result of the hydrogen dissolving operation is replaced with hydrogen gas. The amount of water drained into sewage can be reduced.

  The embodiment described in claim 7 is characterized in that hydrogen gas is supplied to the gas-liquid mixing tank even during the first step. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the gas-liquid mixing tank can be filled with hydrogen gas not only after the end of the first step but also during the first step. Therefore, hydrogen gas can be charged separately during the first step and after the first step is completed, and the time required for the second step can be shortened.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the gas-liquid mixing tank is connected to a bathtub by a first water flow path and a second water flow path, and a circulation pump is connected to the first water flow path or the second water flow path. It is provided, The circulation pump is operated, The bath water in a bathtub is circulated between the said gas-liquid mixing tank and the said bathtub, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. In such an embodiment, since the water in the bathtub circulates between the bathtub and the gas-liquid mixing tank, water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved in the gas-liquid mixing tank is supplied into the bathtub. Therefore, it is effective in preventing the propagation of various bacteria in the bathtub and preventing the slimming of the bathtub, and can contribute to the health promotion of bathers by the SOD-like activity. In particular, in this embodiment, since hydrogen gas is filled in the gas-liquid mixing tank in a state of being blocked from air and oxygen, oxygen dissolved in hydrogen gas (active oxygen) ) Is less likely to be included.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and the design can be changed as appropriate according to the application.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a hydrogen water supply apparatus 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hydrogen water supply device 11 is configured to supply hydrogen water such as water in which hydrogen or active hydrogen is dissolved into the bathtub. The structure of the hydrogen water supply device 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is an apparatus for storing hydrogen (bath water) and hydrogen gas and generating hydrogen water by dissolving the hydrogen gas in water. The gas-liquid mixing tank 12 and the bath adapter 14 provided in the bathtub 13 are connected by a bath water circulation path including a suction pipe 15 (first water flow path) and a supply pipe 16 (second water flow path). The suction pipe 15 connects between the suction port 14a of the bus adapter 14 and a water supply nozzle 17 provided on the upper surface of the gas-liquid mixing tank 12. The suction pipe 15 includes a circulation determination switch 18, a circulation pump 19, and a suction pipe. An electric three-way valve 20 is provided. The supply pipe 16 connects between the pressure release nozzle 14 b of the bus adapter 14 and the bottom surface of the gas-liquid mixing tank 12, and the supply pipe 16 is provided with a supply pipe electric three-way valve 21. A bypass pipe 22 is connected between the suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 and the supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 so as to bypass the gas-liquid mixing tank 12. The suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 is normally open on the suction port 14a side, and the other can be switched between the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side and the bypass pipe 22 side. Similarly, the supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 is normally open on the pressure release nozzle 14b side, and the other can be switched between the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side and the bypass pipe 22 side.

  The gas-liquid mixing tank 12 includes a liquid level detector (water level electrode) 23 for detecting the liquid level (water level) in the tank. A baffle plate 24 is provided near the bottom of the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 so as to cover the bottom of the tank, so that the bath water supplied from the water supply nozzle 17 is immediately discharged from the supply pipe 16. It is preventing. Further, a drain pipe 25 is connected to the bottom surface of the gas-liquid mixing tank 12, and a drain electromagnetic valve 26 is provided in the drain pipe 25.

  The electrolytic cell 27 electrolyzes water to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The electrolytic cell 27 is divided into left and right by a partition wall 28, and the left and right chambers in the electrolytic cell 27 communicate with each other through a gap below the partition wall 28. A negative electrode 29a is provided in one chamber (hereinafter referred to as a right chamber) of the electrolytic cell 27, and a positive electrode 29b is provided in the other chamber (hereinafter referred to as a left chamber).

  The upper surface of the right chamber of the electrolytic cell 27 and the upper surface of the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 are connected by a hydrogen gas supply pipe 30, and the right chamber of the electrolytic cell 27 and the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 communicate with each other. A gas supply side electric three-way valve 31 is provided in the middle of the hydrogen gas supply pipe 30, an exhaust pipe 32 branches from the gas supply side electric three-way valve 31, and an air vent 33 is provided at the tip of the exhaust pipe 32. ing. The gas supply side electric three-way valve 31 is normally open on the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side, the electrolytic bath 27 side is opened and the air vent 33 side is closed, and the electrolytic bath 27 side is closed and the air vent 33 side is opened. And the closed state on both the electrolytic cell 27 side and the air vent 33 side. Further, the electrolytic cell 27 includes a liquid level detector (water level electrode) 34 for detecting the water level inside.

  On the other hand, an oxygen exhaust port 35 is provided on the upper surface of the left chamber of the electrolytic cell 27, and the oxygen exhaust port 35 is open to the atmosphere. The front end (discharge port) of the water supply pipe 36 connected to the city water or the like on the water inlet side is positioned vertically above the oxygen exhaust port 35 opened in a funnel shape, and a filter 37, An ion exchange resin 38 and a water replenishing electromagnetic valve 39 are provided so that pure water can be supplied from the water supply pipe 36 to the electrolytic cell 27.

  The hydrogen water supply device 11 is installed outdoors, and its operation is controlled by a built-in controller 40 (control means). The remote controller 41 is used to remotely operate the hydrogen water supply device 11 and includes a hydrogen dissolution operation switch 42, an operation stop switch 43, and the like. The remote controller 41 and the controller 40 are connected through a signal line 44. A DC electrolysis power supply 45 is connected to both electrodes 29 a and 29 b of the electrolytic cell 27. The electrolysis power supply 45 and the controller 40 are connected by a control line 46, and the electrolysis power supply 45 is on / off controlled by the controller 40.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration around the controller 40 in the hydrogen water supply apparatus 11. The controller 40 performs microcomputer control of the hydrogen water supply device 11 in accordance with a program for operation processing stored in a memory such as ROM or EEPROM. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 40 receives signals from the hydrogen dissolution operation switch 42, the operation stop switch 43, the liquid level detector 23, the liquid level detector 34, and the circulation determination switch 18, and in response to this, By controlling the circulation pump 19, the suction pipe electric three-way valve 20, the supply pipe electric three-way valve 21, the gas supply side electric three-way valve 31, the drainage electromagnetic valve 26, the water replenishing electromagnetic valve 39, and the electrolysis power supply 45 in the order of The bath water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved is circulated to the bathtub 13.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing the control operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 by the controller 40. 4, 5, and 6 are flowcharts showing in detail the control operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 by the controller 40. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when the hydrogen dissolution operation switch 42 is turned on (step S <b> 1) and the operation is started, the hydrogen charged in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is first filled. A hydrogen dissolving operation (step S2) for dissolving the gas in the bath water is performed, and then the bath water (hydrogen water) in which the hydrogen gas is dissolved is circulated and discharged into the bathtub 13 from the pressure release nozzle 14b (step S2). S3) is performed, and the hydrogen gas filling operation (step S4) for filling the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 with hydrogen gas is performed after the hydrogen water circulation operation is completed or in parallel with the hydrogen water circulation operation. .

  Hereinafter, the operation from the start to the end of the operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Before the operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 is started, the circulation pump 19 is stopped and the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is filled with hydrogen gas.

  When the hydrogen melting operation switch 42 of the remote controller 41 is pressed to turn it on (step S11), the hydrogen water supply device 11 starts operation according to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 is started, the controller 40 first switches the gas supply side electric three-way valve 31 so as to be closed on either the electrolyzer 27 side or the air vent 33 side (step S12), and the suction pipe electric three way While switching the valve 20 to the bypass pipe 22 side, the supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 is also switched to the bypass pipe 22 side (steps S13 and S14). The drain electromagnetic valve 26 remains closed.

  Next, the circulation pump 19 is operated (step S15), and it is determined by the circulation determination switch 18 whether or not there is hot water at the bath adapter level (the height at which the suction port 14a is provided) or more in the bathtub (step S16). . That is, when hot water is filled in the bathtub 13 to above the bath adapter level, when the circulation pump 19 is operated, the suction port 14a → the suction pipe 15 → Since bath water circulates through the path of suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 → bypass pipe 22 → supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 → supply pipe 16 → pressure release nozzle 14b, the circulation judgment switch 18 detects the water circulation and turns it on. Become. Accordingly, the controller 40 determines that there is bath water at the bath adapter level or higher in the bathtub 13. If the water level in the bathtub 13 is lower than the upper end of the bath adapter 14, the circulation judgment switch 18 is not turned on because the bath water does not flow in the suction pipe 15 even if the circulation pump 19 is operated. Therefore, it is determined that there is no bath water at the bath adapter level or higher in the bathtub 13.

  When it is determined that there is no bath water at the bath adapter level or higher in the bathtub 13 (in the case of no in step S16), the controller 40 stops the circulation pump 19 (step S17) and displays an error message on the remote controller 41. (Step S18), the operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 is stopped (Step S19). According to this process, when there is no bath water at the bath adapter level or higher in the bathtub 13, the hydrogen gas is discharged from the bath adapter 14 into the bathroom without being dissolved in the bath water. Can be prevented.

  When it is confirmed that there is bath water of the bath adapter level or higher in the bathtub 13 (in the case of yes at step S16), the circulation pump 19 is temporarily stopped (step S20), and the suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 is turned on. While switching to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side, the supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 is also switched to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side (steps S21 and S22).

  Thereafter, when the circulation pump 19 is restarted (step S23), as shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 1, the suction port 14a → the suction pipe 15 → the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 → the supply pipe 16 → the pressure release nozzle 14b. The bath water flows through the path, the bath water circulates between the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 and the bathtub 13, and the hydrogen water in which the hydrogen gas is dissolved is circulated to the bathtub 13 (hydrogen dissolving operation). That is, when the circulation pump 19 is operated, the bath water in the bathtub 13 is sucked into the suction pipe 15 from the suction port 14 a of the bath adapter 14 and dropped into the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 from the water supply nozzle 17. Since the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is filled with hydrogen gas, at this time, the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is dissolved in the bath water, and the bath water in which the hydrogen gas is dissolved in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12. It collects in. On the other hand, the bath water in which the hydrogen gas accumulated in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is dissolved is sent out from the supply pipe 16 to the bathtub 13 and discharged from the pressure release nozzle 14 b of the bath adapter 14 into the bathtub 13.

  Note that hydrogen gas may be supplied from the electrolytic cell 27 to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 even during the hydrogen melting operation.

  When the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is dissolved in the bath water in this way, the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is consumed and the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 rises. While performing the hydrogen dissolution operation, the controller 40 detects the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 by the liquid level detector 23 and monitors whether or not the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is full (step S24). .

  Here, when the bather turns on the operation stop switch 43 while the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is not full (that is, while hydrogen gas remains in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12) (Yes in step S25). In this case, the gas supply side electric three-way valve 31 is switched to open on the air vent 33 side. When the gas supply side electric three-way valve 31 is opened on the air vent 33 side, hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is released from the air vent 33 into the atmosphere as bath water is injected from the water supply nozzle 17. Hydrogen water is no longer discharged from the adapter 14, and the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 gradually rises.

  In this way, the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is exhausted and the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is filled with water (in the case of yes in step S24), and when the hydrogen dissolving operation is completed, the bath water in which the hydrogen gas is dissolved is sucked in. 14a → Suction pipe 15 → Bypass pipe 22 → Supply pipe 16 → Pressure release nozzle 14b is circulated, and bath water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved is discharged from the pressure release nozzle 14b into the bathtub 13 (hydrogen water circulation operation). At the same time, the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is filled with hydrogen gas (hydrogen gas filling operation). In addition, after the operation stop switch 43 is turned on, the circulation pump 19 is stopped, the hydrogen water circulation operation is terminated, only the hydrogen gas filling operation is performed, and when the hydrogen gas filling operation is also terminated, the hydrogen water supply device 11 Is finished. Hereinafter, a process when the operation stop switch 43 has not been turned on when the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is full will be described with reference to FIG. A process when the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is full or before the operation stop switch 43 is turned on will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is full and the operation stop switch 43 is not turned on yet (in the case of no in step S27), the suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 is switched to the bypass pipe 22 side and supplied. The pipe electric three-way valve 21 is switched to the bypass pipe 22 side (steps S28 and S29). As a result, the bath water circulating through the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is switched so as to pass through the bypass pipe 22, and the bath water in the bathtub 13 is changed to the suction port 14a → the suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 → the bypass pipe. 22 → Supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 → Pressure release nozzle 14b is circulated and discharged from the pressure release nozzle 14b into the bathtub 13 (hydrogen water circulation operation).

  Subsequently, the gas supply side electric three-way valve 31 is switched to the electrolytic cell 27 side, and the air vent 33 side is closed (step S30). The controller 40 turns on the electrolysis power supply 45 and applies a DC voltage between the negative electrode 29a and the positive electrode 29b of the electrolytic cell 27 to energize it (step S31). However, when the liquid level detector 34 detects that the water level in the electrolytic cell 27 is equal to or lower than the lower limit water level, the water replenishing electromagnetic valve 39 is opened to replenish water into the electrolytic cell 27 from the water supply pipe 36, and the electrolytic cell 27. When water of a predetermined water level or higher is supplied into the inside, the water replenishing electromagnetic valve 39 is closed.

  When electricity is passed between both electrodes 29a and 32b of the electrolytic cell 27, water in the electrolytic cell 27 is electrolyzed to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The generated hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are separated from the right chamber and the left by the partition wall 28. Separated into chambers. The oxygen gas generated in the left chamber escapes from the oxygen exhaust port 35 to the outside and is released into the atmosphere.

  Although hydrogen gas is generated in the right chamber of the electrolytic cell 27, the suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 and the supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 are still closed on the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side and the drain pipe 25 is also closed. Hydrogen gas cannot be supplied into the full-water gas-liquid mixing tank 12. Therefore, after energizing both electrodes 29a and 29b of the electrolytic cell 27, the drainage electromagnetic valve 26 is opened (step S32). However, if the drainage electromagnetic valve 26 is left open, the inside of the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 becomes negative due to the flow of the bath water flowing out from the drainage electromagnetic valve 26, and the electrolyte in the electrolytic bath 27 moves to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side. Since the liquid may be sucked out, the liquid level detector 34 actually controls the opening / closing of the drain electromagnetic valve 26 while monitoring the level of the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic bath 27, and the electrolytic solution moves to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side. I try not to be sucked out.

  Since the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is closed except for the hydrogen gas supply pipe 30 and the drain electromagnetic valve 26, the water in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is not immediately drained even if the drain electromagnetic valve 26 is opened. Water in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is drained from the drain pipe 25 to the sewer as much as hydrogen gas is supplied from the electrolytic cell 27 through the gas supply pipe 30.

  Thus, the water in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is gradually replaced with hydrogen gas generated in the electrolytic cell 27, and the water in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is drained from the drain pipe 25 and the water level is lowered (hydrogen gas). Filling operation). During this time, the controller 40 monitors whether or not the operation stop switch 43 is turned on by the bather (step S33). Further, the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is monitored by the liquid level detector 23, the filling of hydrogen gas into the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is completed, and the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is a predetermined water level near the bottom surface. It is monitored whether it has fallen to (step S35). If it is determined that the operation stop switch 43 is turned on before the filling of the hydrogen gas is completed, the circulation pump 19 is stopped (step S34), and the gas-liquid mixing is performed with the circulation of the bath water stopped. The supply of hydrogen gas into the tank 12 is continued.

  If it is determined that the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 has dropped to a predetermined water level and the filling of the hydrogen gas into the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 has been completed, the electrolysis power supply 45 is turned off to stop the generation of hydrogen gas, The supply of hydrogen gas from the electrolytic cell 27 to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is stopped (step S36).

  When the supply of hydrogen gas is stopped, if the operation stop switch 43 has not been turned on yet (in the case of no in step S38), the circulation pump 19 is continuously operated until the operation stop switch 43 is turned on. , And the operation stop switch 43 is turned on (in the case of yes in step S38), the circulation pump 19 is stopped (step S39), and the operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 is ended.

  The process when the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is full in step S27 of FIG. 4 or when the operation stop switch 43 is turned on before that will be described with reference to FIG. If the operation stop switch 43 is turned on in step S27, the circulation pump 19 is stopped to stop the circulation of the bath water (step S40), and then the suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 is moved to the bypass pipe 22 side. The switch is closed on the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side, and the supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 is switched to the bypass pipe 22 side and closed on the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side (steps S41 and S42). Next, the gas supply side electric three-way valve 31 is switched to the electrolytic cell 27 side, and the air vent 33 side is closed (step S43).

  The controller 40 turns on the electrolysis power supply 45 and applies a DC voltage between the negative electrode 29a and the positive electrode 29b of the electrolytic cell 27 to energize it (step S44). When electricity is passed between both electrodes 29a and 29b of the electrolytic cell 27, water in the electrolytic cell 27 is electrolyzed to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The generated hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are separated from the right chamber and the left by the partition wall 28. Separated into chambers. The oxygen gas generated in the left chamber escapes from the oxygen exhaust port 35 to the outside and is released into the atmosphere.

  Although hydrogen gas is generated in the right chamber of the electrolytic cell 27, the suction pipe electric three-way valve 20 and the supply pipe electric three-way valve 21 are still closed on the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side and the drain pipe 25 is also closed. The hydrogen gas cannot be supplied into the full liquid-liquid mixing tank 12. Therefore, after energizing both electrodes 29a and 29b of the electrolytic cell 27, the drainage electromagnetic valve 26 is opened (step S45).

  Since the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is closed except for the hydrogen gas supply pipe 30 and the drain electromagnetic valve 26, the water in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is not immediately drained even if the drain electromagnetic valve 26 is opened. Water in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is drained from the drain pipe 25 to the sewer as much as hydrogen gas is supplied from the electrolytic cell 27 through the gas supply pipe 30.

  Thus, the water in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is gradually replaced with hydrogen gas generated in the electrolytic cell 27, and the water in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is drained from the drain pipe 25 and the water level is lowered (hydrogen gas). Filling operation). During this time, the controller 40 monitors the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 by the liquid level detector 23, and the filling of hydrogen gas into the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is completed, and the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is reduced to the bottom surface. It is monitored whether or not it has dropped to a nearby predetermined water level (step S46). If it is determined that the water level in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 has dropped to a predetermined water level and the filling of the hydrogen gas into the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 has been completed, the electrolysis power supply 45 is turned off to generate hydrogen gas. The supply of hydrogen gas from the electrolytic cell 27 to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is stopped (step S47), and the operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 is terminated.

  In the flow of the above embodiment, when the operation stop switch 43 is pushed before the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 becomes full (in the case of yes in step S25), the gas supply side electric three-way valve 31 is vented. It opened on the 33rd side, and it was made to fill the inside of the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 with water. As a different processing method when the operation stop switch 43 is pushed before the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 becomes full, the circulation pump 19 is immediately stopped and the remaining hydrogen gas is left as it is in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12. Hydrogen gas may be replenished. In that case, if yes in step S25, the process of steps S40 to S50 shown in FIG.

  In the hydrogen water supply device 11 of the present embodiment, since the hydrogen gas filling operation is performed after the hydrogen dissolution operation is completed, the hydrogen gas is already in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 at the end of the operation or at the start of the next operation. It is in a filled state. Therefore, when the operation of the hydrogen water supply device 11 is started, the circulation pump 19 can be circulated to start the hydrogen dissolution operation in a short time, and the waiting time until the hydrogen dissolution operation can be shortened. Therefore, the usability of the hydrogen water supply device 11 is improved. In particular, when an electrolytic cell is used as the hydrogen gas supply means, it takes time to generate a necessary amount of hydrogen gas. In this hydrogen water supply device 11, the hydrogen gas filling operation is performed last. Inconvenience can be avoided.

  Further, according to the hydrogen water supply device 11 of the present invention, the hydrogen gas generated in the electrolytic cell 27 is filled in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 without coming into contact with air or oxygen, and the bath water is stored in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12. Therefore, there is no fear that the hydrogen gas reacts with oxygen and burns or undergoes a small explosion, and the safety of the hydrogen water supply device 11 can be improved. It is also possible to prevent the bath water from being mixed with oxygen (particularly active oxygen). Furthermore, since the bath water filled in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 as a result of the hydrogen dissolution operation can be used as the bath water for replacing with hydrogen gas, the drainage amount of the bath water drained into sewage or the like Can be reduced.

  Further, according to the hydrogen water supply apparatus 11 of the present invention, the hydrogen gas is stored in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 by replacing the bath water and hydrogen gas filled in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 with the gas. The amount of hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 can be detected by a simple method of detecting the water level in the liquid-mixing tank 12.

  The preferred embodiment 1 has been described above, but this embodiment can be modified as appropriate. For example, when it is desired to simplify the processes of FIGS. 4 to 6, steps S <b> 28 to S <b> 39 of FIG. 5 may be immediately executed in the case of yes in step S <b> 24. In this way, it is not necessary to divide the processing as shown in FIG. 5 and the processing as shown in FIG. 6 depending on whether the operation stop switch 43 is off or on, and the processing can be simplified. Even in this case, even when the operation stop switch 43 is on, the timing for stopping the circulation pump 19 is only slightly shifted.

  In step S24 of the above embodiment, the liquid level detector 23 determines whether or not the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is full. As another method, the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 has a constant flow rate. The bath water is supplied, and the capacity of the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 is inputted to the controller 40 in advance, and the water supply time is measured using the timer function of the controller 40 to fill the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 with water. It may be.

  Further, in the above embodiment, even after hydrogen gas is exhausted in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 and the hydrogen dissolution operation is completed, the operation of the circulation pump 19 is continued until the operation stop switch 43 is turned on, and the hydrogen water circulation operation is performed. However, this hydrogen water circulation operation may be omitted as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Each step shown in FIG. 7 represents the same processing as each corresponding step shown in FIGS. In the modification shown in FIG. 7, as shown in steps S24 and S40 to S48, when there is no hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank and the hydrogen dissolving operation is completed, the circulation pump 19 is stopped and only the hydrogen gas filling operation is performed. To do. Therefore, in this modification, the operation stop switch 43 can be omitted. In addition, the circulation determination by the circulation determination switch 18 in steps S13 and S14 can also be performed by passing the bath water through the gas-liquid mixing tank 12, and in the processing of steps S41 and S42, the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side. Since it is sufficient if the suction pipe 15 and the supply pipe 16 are closed, the bypass pipe 22 can be eliminated in this modification.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing a part of the hydrogen water supply apparatus 11 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, only the portions of the electrolytic cell 27 and the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 are shown, but the structure of the other portions is the same as that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, an open / close electromagnetic valve 47 is provided at the oxygen exhaust port 35 of the electrolytic cell 27. The hydrogen gas supply pipe 30 is provided with a check valve 48 so that hydrogen gas passes only from the electrolytic cell 27 side to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side.

  This embodiment is characterized by a hydrogen gas filling operation in which hydrogen gas is supplied from the electrolytic cell 27 to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 as described below. In the hydrogen gas filling operation, the electrolysis power supply 45 is turned on while the open / close solenoid valve 47 of the oxygen exhaust port 35 is closed, the negative electrodes 29a and 29b are energized, and water is electrolyzed to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. generate. As the amount of gas generated increases, the pressures of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas increase, and the pressure in the electrolytic cell 27 increases. When the pressure in the electrolytic cell 27 exceeds the pressure in the gas-liquid mixing tank 12, the check valve 48 is opened, and hydrogen gas moves from the electrolytic cell 27 to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 side. At this time, the open / close solenoid valve 47 is not closed but is opened or closed at an appropriate timing while balancing the amount of movement of the hydrogen gas in order to eliminate the bias of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell 27. If the hydrogen gas is supplied in this way, the hydrogen gas can be moved to the gas-liquid mixing tank 12 using the generated pressure of the hydrogen gas, so that the time for the hydrogen side filling operation can be shortened.

  In the initial stage of hydrogen gas generation, in order to quickly increase the pressure in the electrolytic cell 27, the energization current of the negative electrode 29a and the positive electrode 29b may be increased more than usual to increase the amount of hydrogen gas generated. Even in the initial stage of hydrogen gas generation, the amount of hydrogen gas generated is changed by adjusting the current flowing through the negative electrode 29 a and the positive electrode 29 b, and the water level and gas in the electrolytic cell 27 are controlled together with the open / close control of the open / close solenoid valve 47. The amount of hydrogen gas dissolved in the liquid mixing tank 12 may be adjusted.

  Moreover, although the said Example demonstrated the case where a hydrogen water supply apparatus was combined with the bathtub, the use of this invention is not restricted to a bath system, The liquid which dissolved hydrogen gas, and hydrogen water are manufactured. The device can be used in general.

It is one Example of this invention, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the hydrogen water supply apparatus for bathtubs. It is a functional block diagram for demonstrating the function of the controller of a hydrogen water supply apparatus same as the above. It is a schematic flowchart explaining the process which manufactures and supplies hydrogen water using the hydrogen water supply apparatus of this invention. It is a detailed flowchart explaining the process of manufacturing and supplying hydrogen water using the hydrogen water supply apparatus of this invention. It is a part of flowchart of FIG. It is a part of flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart in a modification of the first embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a part of hydrogen water supply apparatus by another Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Hydrogen water supply apparatus 12 Gas-liquid mixing tank 13 Bathtub 14 Bus adapter 15 Suction pipe 16 Supply pipe 17 Water supply nozzle 18 Circulation judgment switch 19 Circulation pump 20 Suction pipe Electric three-way valve 21 Supply pipe Electric three-way valve 22 Bypass pipe 23 Liquid level detection 25 Discharge pipe 26 Drain solenoid valve 27 Electrolysis tank 29a Cathode 29b Positive electrode 30 Hydrogen gas supply pipe 31 Gas supply side electric three-way valve 32 Exhaust pipe 33 Air vent 34 Liquid level detector 35 Oxygen exhaust port 40 Controller 41 Remote control 42 Hydrogen dissolution Operation switch 43 Operation stop switch 47 Open / close solenoid valve 48 Check valve

Claims (8)

Connecting one end of each of the first water channel and the second water channel to the gas-liquid mixing tank;
By supplying water from the first water channel into the gas-liquid mixing tank filled with hydrogen gas, water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved is generated, and the water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved is sent out through the second water channel. And the process of
After hydrogen gas is dissolved in water in the gas-liquid mixing tank, at least a part of the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank is replaced with water and the first step is completed, and then the gas-liquid is shut off in the air. And a second step of filling the gas-liquid tank with hydrogen gas by supplying hydrogen gas into the mixing tank and discharging water in the gas-liquid mixing tank.   The hydrogen water supply method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen gas supplied to the gas-liquid mixing tank is generated by electrolyzing water in an electrolytic cell.   An oxygen exhaust port that can be opened and closed is provided on the oxygen generation side of the electrolytic cell, the hydrogen generation side of the electrolytic cell and the gas-liquid mixing tank are connected by a hydrogen gas supply pipe, and gas-liquid mixing from the electrolytic cell side to the hydrogen gas supply pipe A check valve is provided so that hydrogen gas can move only to the tank side, and water is electrolyzed with the oxygen exhaust port closed to supply hydrogen gas from the electrolytic cell to the gas-liquid mixing tank. The method for supplying hydrogen water according to claim 2, wherein the method is characterized in that:   The gas-liquid mixing tank includes a water level detector for detecting an internal water level, and when the water level detector detects a water level equal to or higher than a predetermined water level, it is determined that the first step is completed. The method for supplying hydrogen water according to claim 1, 2, or 3.   Provided with a timer means, in the first step, the water supply time from the first water flow path to the gas-liquid mixing tank is measured by the timer means, and when the water supply time measured by the timer means becomes a predetermined time or more The method for supplying hydrogen water according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first step is determined to be completed. One end of each of the first water channel and the second water channel is connected to the gas-liquid mixing tank, and the gas-liquid mixing tank is bypassed between the first water channel and the second water channel. By providing a bypass pipe, the both ends of the bypass pipe and the first water flow path and the second water flow path are connected by a three-way valve,
By supplying water from the first water channel into the gas-liquid mixing tank filled with hydrogen gas, water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved is generated, and the water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved is sent out through the second water channel. And the process of
After hydrogen gas is dissolved in water in the gas-liquid mixing tank, at least part of the hydrogen gas in the gas-liquid mixing tank is replaced with water and the first step is completed, the first water flow path, A gas-liquid tank is provided by supplying hydrogen gas into the gas-liquid mixing tank and discharging the water in the gas-liquid mixing tank while the air is shut off while circulating water through the bypass pipe and the second water flow path. And a second step of filling the interior with hydrogen gas.   The method for supplying hydrogen water according to claim 1, wherein hydrogen gas is supplied to the gas-liquid mixing tank even during the first step.   The gas-liquid mixing tank is connected to the bathtub by a first water flow path and a second water flow path, and a circulation pump is provided in the first water flow path or the second water flow path, and the circulation pump is operated. The hydrogen water supply method according to claim 1, wherein bath water in the bathtub is circulated between the gas-liquid mixing tank and the bathtub.

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