JP2007319778A - Apparatus for generating weakly-electrolytic water - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for generating weakly-electrolytic water, in which the concentration of electrolytic water is kept approximately constant even when city water different in characteristics is supplied to the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for generating weakly-electrolytic water by making a current flow between two electrodes immersed in water is characterized in that data expressing a purification plant are output through the Internet and the amount of the current flowing between two electrodes is set on the basis of the obtained data on the quality of city water. Data expressing the purification plant are a plurality of information on the purification plant, an address of a user, a zip code of the user, a phone number of the user and the like. When there are a plurality of information on purification plants to be obtained through the Internet, one of the data on the water quality is selected from the plurality of information on purification plants is selected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a weakly electrolyzed water generating device that generates weakly electrolyzed water from tap water.

  The present invention relates to a weakly electrolyzed water generator used as a weak alkaline ion water generator, and a sterilizer that disinfects water in a storage tank such as a humidifier, a beverage vending machine, a washing machine, an ice maker, and a water cooler. The present invention relates to a weakly electrolyzed water generator used as a device.

  In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus that generates hypochlorous acid by electrolysis by applying a voltage between a pair of anode and cathode electrodes immersed in a tap water storage tank.

  As a weak electrolyzed water generating device that generates electrolyzed water without using an electrolysis auxiliary agent, it is used in weak alkaline ion water generators or in storage tanks for preserving the humidifier's stored water. Some generate acid.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a weakly electrolyzed water generating device that generates hypochlorous acid. In Patent Document 1, an applied voltage is set according to the chloride ion concentration in the water to be treated. It is described to control.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an example of an alkaline ionized water generator.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an example of a weakly electrolyzed water generating device that controls the amount of electricity according to the electrical conductivity of water to be treated. And in this weak electrolyzed water production | generation apparatus, the electricity supply amount is further corrected according to the water temperature of to-be-processed water.

  Patent Document 4 also shows an example of a weakly electrolyzed water generating device that controls the amount of electricity according to the electrical conductivity of water to be treated.

  Thus, it has been conventionally proposed to control the energization amount in accordance with the characteristics of the water to be treated (tap water).

  However, adding a function for measuring the characteristics (water quality) of tap water with the weakly electrolyzed water generator itself increases the cost. For this reason, it is common to measure the conductivity that can be applied at a relatively low cost. However, it is not possible to accurately control the energization amount only with this conductivity.

  By the way, conventionally, exchanging water quality data of a water purification plant via the Internet is known as shown in Patent Documents 5 and 6. In particular, Patent Document 6 proposes providing water quality data to a contractor via the Internet.

Conventionally, as shown in Patent Documents 7 and 8, it is known that information is exchanged via the Internet in an electrolyzed water generator.
Japanese Patent No. 3495722 JP-A-5-237477 JP-A-8-206659 JP 2003-117555 A JP 2002-251505 A JP 2003-103250 A JP 2001-70943 A JP 2004-280411 A

  The present invention provides a weakly electrolyzed water generating device capable of controlling the concentration of electrolyzed water more accurately using the Internet in an electrolyzed water generating device (weakly electrolyzed water generating device) to which no electrolysis auxiliary is added. .

  The present invention is a weakly electrolyzed water generating device that energizes between two electrodes immersed in water, wherein the energization amount between the two electrodes is set based on the water quality data of tap water obtained via the Internet. To do.

  The present invention relates to a weak electrolyzed water generating apparatus that energizes between two electrodes immersed in water, based on the water quality data obtained by outputting data indicating a water purification plant via the Internet, between the two electrodes. The energization amount is set.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the data indicating the water purification plant is information such as the water purification plant, the user's address, the user's postal code, the user's telephone number, and the like.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that when there are a plurality of water purification plant candidates obtained via the Internet, one of the candidate water quality data is selected.

  Furthermore, when there are a plurality of water treatment plant candidates obtained via the Internet, the present invention compares the water quality data of the candidates with the result of measuring the treated water, and selects one of the water quality data. It is characterized by.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that when there are a plurality of water purification plant candidates obtained via the Internet, the water quality data of the candidates are averaged and used.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that when there are a plurality of water purification plant candidates obtained via the Internet, the water quality data with the smaller amount of generated chlorine is employed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the electrolyzed water generating apparatus (weak electrolyzed water generating apparatus) which does not add an electrolysis adjuvant, the density | concentration of electrolyzed water can be controlled more accurately.

  As shown in FIG. 1, there is a correlation between the total hardness and conductivity of tap water in various parts of Japan. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a correlation with the chlorine ion concentration of tap water in various parts of Japan.

  Conventionally, it has been considered that there is a correlation between the chlorine ion concentration or conductivity and the generation of chlorine in the weak electrolyzed water generator.

  Fig. 3 shows the relationship between the chlorine ion concentration of tap water in Japan and the chlorine generation efficiency. As can be seen from FIG. 3, there is a correlation between the chlorine ion concentration and the chlorine generation efficiency.

    In addition, FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the conductivity of tap water in various parts of Japan and the chlorine generation efficiency. As can be seen from FIG. 4, it seems that there is a correlation between the conductivity and the chlorine generation efficiency.

  However, as can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, there is some variation in this correlation.

  FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the value obtained by dividing the conductivity by the chlorine ion concentration and the chlorine generation efficiency. As can be seen from FIG. 5, there is a good correlation between the value obtained by dividing the conductivity by the chlorine ion concentration and the chlorine generation efficiency.

  That is, if the weak electrolyzed water generating device is controlled based on this relationship, chlorine generation can be controlled with high accuracy.

  In a weakly electrolyzed water generator that energizes between two electrodes immersed in water, the chlorine ion concentration and conductivity data of the water treatment plant in the treated water are obtained via the Internet, and a value representing the chlorine ion concentration in the treated water is conducted. Dividing by the value representing the rate, the energizing amount such as the applied voltage value, energizing current value, and applying time between the two electrodes is set based on the division result value.

  The value representing the conductivity is a value of the conductivity itself or a value of total hardness.

  The present invention is also a method for correcting the concentration of electrolyzed water in a weak electrolyzed water generator that energizes between two electrodes immersed in water, and obtains data on the chlorine ion concentration and conductivity of a water purification plant to be treated on the Internet, Divide the value representing the chlorine ion concentration in the water to be treated by the value representing the electrical conductivity, compare the division result value with the reference value, and based on the comparison result, apply voltage value / energization between the two electrodes. The amount of generated chlorine, which fluctuates depending on tap water, is suppressed by correcting the amount of electricity such as current value and current conduction time.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Example 1 is a weakly electrolyzed water generating device used for preserving water in a storage tank of a humidifier.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a main part, and FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a control circuit.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a water supply tank in a humidifier having a prismatic casing. Reference numeral 2 denotes a storage tank that stores water from the water supply tank 1 through the water channel 3.

  A pair of electrodes 4 is disposed in the storage tank 2. The storage tank 2 is provided with a float (not shown), and when the water in the storage tank 2 falls below a predetermined water level, a switch (not shown) is operated to forcibly stop the operation.

  In addition, a honeycomb-shaped humidifying water absorbent 5 is disposed in the storage tank 2 such that a lower end portion (a part thereof) is immersed in water, and the humidifying water absorbent 5 causes the water in the storage tank 2 to be capillaryed. Suck up to the top. The humidifying water-absorbing body 5 is composed of a nonwoven fabric made of, for example, acrylic fiber or polyester fiber.

  And it is the structure which supplies the water vapor | steam vaporized from the said water absorbing body 5 for humidification by the air blower 6 indoors.

  The electrode 4 has, for example, two electrode plates in which the base is made of Ti (titanium) and the coating layer is made of Ir (iridium), Ta (tantalum), and Pt (platinum). A predetermined free residual chlorine concentration (for example, 1 ppm) is generated to obtain sterilization and antifouling effects (sterilization action).

  In FIG. 7, reference numeral 10 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) for controlling the humidifier. Inside the CPU is a CPU 11 as a control device, a RAM (random access memory) 12 for storing various data, and a program. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 13 and a timer 14 are stored. Reference numeral 15 denotes an input operation unit for inputting the name of a water purification plant that supplies clean water to the user's home. Reference numeral 17 denotes a modem for connecting to the Internet.

  The microcomputer 10 issues a command for sterilization by the electrode 4, a command for the blower 6, a command for connection to the Internet, and the like.

  When the microcomputer 10 is connected to the Internet, the water purification plant name (water purification plant identification information) input by the user through the input operation unit 15 is connected to the server or the like shown in Patent Document 6 above, The water quality data of this water treatment plant is taken from the Internet. Here, the conductivity and the chlorine ion concentration are captured from this water quality data.

  When the microcomputer 10 performs sterilization using the electrode 4, for example, during the humidification operation, the electrode 4 is energized for 20 minutes and controlled to repeat energization and deenergization at a period of 2 hours of deenergization. . The microcomputer 10 is connected to a drive circuit 16 corresponding to tap water via ports P1 and P2, and the electrode 4 is connected to the drive circuit 16. Then, the drive circuit 16 controls the current flowing through the electrode 4 to correct the concentration of the electrolyzed water.

When the electrode 4 is energized, 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ + (4OH ⁻ ) becomes 2H ₂ + (4OH ⁻ ) at the anode, and 2H ₂ O + becomes 4H ⁺ + O ₂ + 4e ⁻ at the cathode and simultaneously into water. Chlorine contained (preliminarily added to tap water) is 2Cl ⁻ becomes Cl ₂ + 2e ⁻ at the anode, and this Cl ₂ (chlorine) is easily dissolved in water, and further Cl ₂ + H ₂ O is HClO + HCl. It becomes.

  Accordingly, when the electrode 4 is energized, HClO (hypochlorous acid), which is free residual chlorine having a large sterilizing power, is generated.

  The value obtained by dividing the electrical conductivity by the chlorine ion concentration is almost the average of tap water nationwide. For example, if there is a user's house in the area where the water purification plant supplies 0.2 μ · I / cm / mg of water, Based on the water quality data of the water purification plant obtained via the Internet, the microcomputer 10 causes the drive circuit 16 to pass a current of 10 mA (milliampere) through the electrode 4.

  The operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, when water (tap water) is put in the water supply tank 1 and incorporated in the humidifier body (not shown), the water is supplied from the water supply tank 1 via the valve to the storage tank 2 through the water channel 3, and the water absorption for humidification is performed. The body 5 sucks up the water in the storage tank 2 uniformly.

  The energization time to the electrode 4 is 30 minutes, and the non-energization time (energization interval time) is 2 hours.

  As a result, when the water in the storage tank 2 is the reference water, a current of 10 mA flows and chlorine is generated in the storage tank 2.

  In addition, if there is a user's house in the area of a water treatment plant that supplies water with a value obtained by dividing the conductivity by chloride ion concentration from the reference water, this water quality data is sent to the humidifier via the Internet. It is. The storage tank 2 is supplied with this tap water. At this time, the microcomputer 10 determines that the value obtained by dividing the conductivity by the chlorine ion concentration is larger than the obtained water quality data, and causes a current of 5 mA to flow through the electrode 4. As a result, the amount of chlorine generated at the electrode 4 is corrected so as to decrease, and the amount of chlorine approaches when the reference water is supplied to the storage tank 2.

  Next, if there is a user's home in an area where water is supplied from the water purification plant with a smaller value of conductivity divided by the chlorine ion concentration than the reference water, this water quality data is sent to the humidifier via the Internet. Brought about. At this time, the microcomputer 10 determines that the value obtained by dividing the conductivity by the chlorine ion concentration is smaller than the obtained water quality data, and causes a current of 15 mA to flow through the electrode 4. As a result, the amount of chlorine generated at the electrode 4 is corrected so as to increase, and the amount of chlorine approaches when the reference water is supplied to the storage tank.

  As a result, for example, even if the characteristics of the water supplied into the storage tank 2 change due to the difference in the place where the humidifier is used (water purification plant), the current flowing through the electrode 4 is automatically corrected accordingly, The amount of chlorine generated at the electrode 4 is corrected, the amount of chlorine approaches when the reference water is supplied to the storage tank 2, and the sterilization effect can be kept substantially constant.

  As described above, the current flowing through the electrode 4 is controlled, but the indoor humidification operation is performed as follows. That is, the humidifying water absorbent body 5 sucks up the water in the storage tank 2 and mixes it with the water vapor evaporated from the water absorbent body 5 by the blower 6 to supply the air humidified indoors.

When the electrode 4 is energized, 2Cl ⁻ becomes Cl ₂ + 2e ⁻ at the anode and this Cl ₂ (chlorine) is easily dissolved in water, so that Cl ₂ + H ₂ O becomes HClO + HCl as described above. As a result, HClO (hypochlorous acid) having a high sterilizing power is generated. For this reason, propagation of Legionella bacteria, large intestine and other fungi can be prevented, and the Legionella bacteria and the like are not released indoors.

  Although the first embodiment has been described above, various alternatives, modifications, and variations can be made by those skilled in the art based on the above description, and the above-described various alternatives, modifications, and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Is included.

  In the first embodiment, the input operation unit 15 allows the user to input the name of the water purification plant to be used. This is because the user's telephone number, the user's postal code, and the user's address. Etc. However, in this case, there may be a plurality of water purification plant candidates. In this case, one of them may be selected or averaged.

  Further, since the value of total hardness is related to conductivity and can be substituted, the data of conductivity may be replaced with data of total hardness.

  The conductivity value may be obtained by actually measuring the water in the storage tank 2.

  Further, the water temperature in the storage tank 2 may be measured and corrected.

  Moreover, in Example 1, although the electric current value which supplies electricity between electrodes was changed, you may make it correct a chlorine generation amount by changing a voltage value, energization time, etc. FIG.

It is a figure showing the relationship between the total hardness of national tap water, and electrical conductivity. It is a figure showing the relationship between the total chlorine ion density | concentration of tap water of the whole country, and electrical conductivity. It is a figure showing the relationship between the electrical conductivity of national tap water, and chlorine generation efficiency. It is a figure showing the relationship between the chlorine ion concentration of national tap water, and chlorine generation efficiency. It is a figure showing the relationship between the value which divided the conductivity of the tap water of the whole country, and the chlorine ion concentration, and the chlorine generation efficiency. It is a principal part schematic of a humidifier. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the control circuit of a humidifier.

Explanation of symbols

2 storage tanks,
4 electrodes,
10 Microcomputer,
11 CPU,
15 Input operation part,
16 drive circuit,
17 Modem.

Claims (7)

In the weakly electrolyzed water generator that energizes between two electrodes immersed in water,
The weakly electrolyzed water generating apparatus characterized by setting the energization amount between the two electrodes based on water quality data of tap water obtained through the Internet. In the weakly electrolyzed water generator that energizes between two electrodes immersed in water,
The weakly electrolyzed water generating apparatus characterized by setting the energization amount between the two electrodes based on the water quality data obtained by outputting data indicating a water purification plant via the Internet.   3. The weakly electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data indicating the water purification plant is information such as a water purification plant, a user address, a user zip code, a user telephone number, and the like.   The weakly electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when there are a plurality of water purification plant candidates obtained via the Internet, one of the candidate water quality data is selected.   When there are a plurality of water purification plant candidates obtained via the Internet, the water quality data of the candidates is compared with the result of measuring the treated water, and one of the water quality data is selected. 4. The weak electrolyzed water production | generation apparatus of 4.   4. The weakly electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when there are a plurality of water purification plant candidates obtained via the Internet, the water quality data of the candidates is averaged and used.   4. The weakly electrolyzed water generating device according to claim 3, wherein the water quality data for the amount of generated chlorine is reduced when there are a plurality of water purification plant candidates obtained via the Internet.

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