JP2011173038A - Device for discharging ozone bubble-containing water - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for discharging ozone bubble-containing water, which achieves an excellent sterilization effect even when low-concentration ozone gas is used, and in which safety is taken into consideration. <P>SOLUTION: The device for discharging ozone bubble-containing water is provided with a discharge port 2 at the downstream end of a water supply passage 1. In the middle of the water supply passage 1, the device is also provided with an ozone gas mixing control part 3 for mixing ozone gas into the water supply passage 1 to produce ozone gas-mixed water and a bubble generating part 4 which forms a Venturi tube-like flow passage having a depressurizing part on the upstream side and a pressurizing part on the downstream side. The bubble generating part 4 is disposed downstream of the ozone gas mixing control part 3 in the water supply passage 1. The ozone gas-mixed water produced in the ozone gas mixing control part 3 is allowed to pass through the depressurizing and pressurizing parts of the bubble generating part 4 to generate ozone gas bubbles micronized by shearing of bubbles in the ozone gas-mixed water, and the ozone bubble-containing water, which contains the ozone gas bubbles, is discharged from the discharge port 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ozone bubble-containing water discharge device.

  Conventionally, dissolved ozone water has been sterilized by reacting with harmful substances and bacteria in water. In order to generate dissolved ozone water, there are a method in which high-concentration ozone gas is introduced into water and dissolved, and a method in which electrolysis is performed in water. Since the former uses high-concentration ozone gas, sufficient consideration is required for waste ozone gas treatment and safety. The latter has the advantage of being able to generate high-concentration dissolved ozone water, but has a problem that the apparatus for electrolysis is large, regular maintenance is required, and the initial running cost is high.

  Then, the trial using the bubble containing water containing a fine bubble is performed as a technique which produces | generates the sterilization functional water which replaces dissolved ozone water cheaply and efficiently. For example, the present applicant has proposed a technical means for mixing ozone gas into water and miniaturizing bubbles (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, since ozone gas is used, improvement of safety is still an issue, and an apparatus having a sterilizing effect is desired even when ozone gas having a low concentration is used. In addition, as a method for generating fine bubbles, there are a method using a venturi tube, a method of releasing pressure of water in which a gas is dissolved under pressure, a method using a diffuser tube, etc., but using a low-concentration ozone gas. The bactericidal effect of ozone bubble-containing water produced by each of these methods has not been studied much.

JP 2007-117314 A JP 2007-89707 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and is capable of realizing an excellent sterilizing effect even when a low-concentration ozone gas is used, and providing an ozone bubble-containing water discharge device in consideration of safety. It is an issue.

  The present invention is characterized by the following.

  1stly, the ozone bubble containing water discharge apparatus of this invention equips the downstream end of a water supply channel with a discharge outlet. Also, an ozone gas mixing control unit that generates ozone gas mixed water by mixing ozone gas with an ozone concentration of 30 ppm or less into the water channel in the middle of the water channel, and a venturi tube having a pressure reducing unit on the upstream side and a pressure unit on the downstream side The bubble generation unit is provided in a water supply channel downstream of the ozone gas mixing control unit. The ozone gas mixed water generated by the ozone gas mixing control unit is supplied to the pressure reducing unit and the pressurizing unit of the bubble generating unit and passed therethrough, and the bubbles in the ozone gas mixed water are sheared to generate fine bubbles of ozone gas. Ozone bubble-containing water containing ozone gas bubbles is discharged from the outlet.

  Second, in the first invention, a water stop valve is provided in the water supply channel upstream of the ozone gas mixing control unit, and the water supply channel downstream of the water stop valve and upstream of the ozone gas mixing control unit. Is provided with an air release valve. The air release valve is provided at a position above the discharge port.

  Thirdly, in the first or second invention, the ozone gas mixing control unit generates ozone gas mixed water having a void ratio of 5% or more.

  Fourth, in the first to third aspects of the invention, the ozone gas mixing control unit has an ozone gas generation unit that generates ozone gas by corona discharge.

  Fifth, in the first to fourth inventions described above, in the first to fourth aspects of the invention, water flow detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of water flow in the water supply channel downstream of the water stop valve, and ozone gas supply for stopping supply of ozone gas to the water supply channel And a stop control unit. The ozone gas supply stop control unit stops the supply of ozone gas when the water flow detection means detects that there is no water flow in the water supply channel.

  According to the first invention, the ozone gas is mixed into the water and the fine bubbles of the ozone gas are generated by using the venturi-shaped flow path, so that an excellent sterilizing effect is realized even if the low concentration ozone gas is used. it can. Moreover, since the concentration of ozone gas drifting from the discharge port can be reduced by using low concentration ozone gas, safety can be ensured.

  According to the second invention, after use, water containing ozone gas remaining in the water supply channel can be discharged from the discharge port. Moreover, it is possible to prevent water containing ozone gas from flowing backward to the upstream side of the water stop valve.

  According to 3rd invention, the ozone bubble containing water which was further excellent in the bactericidal effect can be produced | generated.

  According to 4th invention, ozone gas can be stably supplied to a water supply channel.

  According to the fifth aspect, since the supply of ozone gas is reliably stopped in a state where water is not passed through the water supply channel, safety can be further ensured.

It is the schematic explanatory drawing which showed one Embodiment of the ozone bubble containing water discharge apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view of a sink. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the bubble generation part of the ozone bubble containing water discharge apparatus of FIG. It is the figure which implemented the sterilization test using the ozone bubble containing water produced | generated by each system, and compared the sterilization effect of each ozone bubble containing water. It is the figure which implemented the bactericidal test using the ozone bubble containing water produced | generated by each system using ozone gas with a density | concentration of 50 ppm or 20 ppm, and compared the bactericidal effect of each ozone bubble containing water. It is the schematic explanatory drawing which showed another embodiment of the bubble generation part. It is the schematic explanatory drawing which showed another embodiment of the ozone bubble containing water discharge apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an embodiment of the ozone bubble-containing water discharge device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sink. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a bubble generation unit of the ozone bubble-containing water discharge device of FIG.

  The ozone bubble-containing water discharge device of this embodiment includes a discharge port 2 at the downstream end of a water supply channel 1 for supplying water to a kitchen sink 30, and an ozone gas mixing control unit 3 and a bubble generation unit 4 in the middle of the water supply channel 1. It has. A currant 31 is provided at the peripheral edge of the sink 30, and the discharge port is the discharge port 2 of the ozone bubble-containing water discharge device.

  A hot water pipe 5 is connected to the upstream end of the water supply channel 1 of the sink 30 so that hot water can be supplied to the water supply channel 1.

  In the middle of the water supply path 1, a constant flow valve 6, a water stop valve 7, an air release valve 8, the above-described ozone gas mixing control unit 3, and a bubble generation unit 4 are provided in order from the upstream side. In the constant flow valve 6, the water in the water supply channel 1 is depressurized and sent to the downstream side with a constant flow rate. To switch between discharging and stopping water from the discharge port 2. Here, the flow path downstream of the water stop valve 7 of the water supply path 1 is formed in an inverted J shape extending upward from the counter 32 constituting the upper surface of the sink 30 and turning downward. The upper part is also formed in the currant 31. In the present embodiment, the atmosphere release valve 8 is provided at the upper end of the currant 31, that is, the folded portion of the inverted J-shaped flow path, and the atmosphere release valve 8 is provided at a position above the discharge port 2. Yes. The air release valve 8 is a float valve that opens and closes due to a change in the water pressure of the water flowing through the water supply channel 1. When the water stop valve 7 is opened and water is flowing through the water supply channel 1, the air release valve 8 is closed to seal the water supply channel 1. State. On the other hand, when the water stop valve 7 is closed and the flow of water is stopped, the water supply path 1 is opened to the atmosphere.

  The ozone gas mixing control unit 3 includes an ozone gas mixing unit that mixes ozone gas into the water supply channel 1, an ozone gas supply amount adjustment unit 9 that adjusts the supply amount of ozone gas to the water supply channel 1, and an ozone gas generation unit that generates ozone gas of a predetermined concentration 10 and.

  The ozone gas mixing part is composed of an ozone gas supply channel 11 connected to a channel downstream of the air release valve 8 of the water supply channel 1 and ozone gas introduction means, and ozone gas is introduced into the water flowing through the water supply channel 1. Ozone mixed water is generated by mixing as bubbles. As the ozone gas introducing means, a forced mixing mechanism that pumps ozone gas into water by an air pump, or an ejector mechanism that can draw the ozone gas naturally into the water flowing through the water supply channel 1 by the ejector effect, which can simplify the configuration, is adopted. . In the case of the ejector mechanism, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the ozone gas supply flow path 11 is connected to the negative pressure generation section 13 of the water supply path 1 formed by providing the throttle section 12 in the water supply path 1. Composed.

  The ozone gas supply amount adjusting unit 9 is provided in the ozone gas supply channel 11. The amount of water mixed in the water flowing through the water supply channel 1 is adjusted by the operation of the operation unit 33, and the void ratio (volume ratio of bubbles in water) flowing through the water supply channel 1 is adjusted. When a forced mixing mechanism is employed as the ozone gas introducing means, the void ratio can be increased up to about 50%. In the present embodiment, ozone gas mixed water is generated by adjusting the amount of ozone gas mixed by the ozone gas supply amount adjusting unit 9 so that the ozone mixed water has a void ratio of at least 5% or more. As a result, even if ozone gas having a low concentration of 30 ppm or less is mixed for safety, ozone bubble-containing water having an excellent sterilizing effect can be generated. The concentration of ozone gas needs to be 30 ppm or less for safety, but is preferably 20 ppm or less, and particularly preferably 10 ppm or less. In this case, the lower limit is about 0.3 ppm, and if it is lower than this, the bactericidal effect is hardly obtained. The void ratio is preferably 5 to 50%, particularly preferably 20 to 50%.

  The ozone gas generation unit 10 is composed of a high voltage discharge unit that generates ozone gas by corona discharge, and is connected to the upstream side of the ozone gas supply channel 11 so that the ozone gas can be mixed into the water supply channel 1. The ozone gas generation unit 10 is also configured to be able to adjust the concentration of ozone gas by taking in air from the outside, and the operation of the operation unit 33 can adjust the generation of ozone gas and the concentration of ozone gas to 30 ppm or less. It is possible.

  The bubble generating unit 4 has a venturi-shaped channel formed by reducing the channel diameter of the water supply channel 1. The pressure reducing unit 15 is provided on the upstream side of the narrow part where the channel diameter is reduced, and the pressure unit 16 is provided on the downstream side. Have. Specifically, the decompression unit 15 is a channel whose diameter is reduced toward the downstream side, and the pressure unit 16 is a channel whose diameter is enlarged toward the downstream side. Relatively large bubbles contained along with pressure fluctuations that occur when the ozone-mixed water passes through the decompression unit 15 and the pressurization unit 16 are sheared, whereby the bubbles are refined and the bubble diameter is about 0.1 to 1000 μm. Fine bubbles are obtained.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the bubbles are refined by the bubble generating part 4 forming the venturi-shaped flow path (hereinafter, also referred to as a venturi method) for the following reason. In addition to the Venturi method, methods for generating fine bubbles include a method of releasing the pressure of water in which a gas is dissolved under pressure (hereinafter also referred to as a pressure dissolution method) and a method using an air diffuser (hereinafter referred to as an air diffuser method). There is a method in which a shearing force is applied to bubbles in the gas-mixed water by generating a jet jet in the gas-mixed water (hereinafter also referred to as a shear method). However, as described above, the bactericidal effect of ozone bubble-containing water produced by each method using low-concentration ozone gas has not been studied much. As a result of detailed examination of the sterilizing effect of ozone bubble-containing water by these methods, the present inventors have found that the ozone bubble-containing water generated by the venturi method is excellent even when the concentration of ozone gas introduced is low. It was found that the bactericidal effect can be maintained.

FIG. 4 is a diagram comparing the bactericidal effect of each ozone bubble-containing water by performing a sterilization test using ozone bubble-containing water generated by each method (Venturi method, diffuser tube method, pressure dissolution method). The antibacterial activity value on the vertical axis is an index indicating how many digits the number of bacteria has decreased with respect to the blank sample, and the higher the numerical value, the higher the bactericidal effect. The sterilization test was performed according to the following procedure.
(1) After pre-culturing Escherichia coli (37 ° C., 1 day), prepare so that the number of bacteria becomes 10 ⁸ CFU / mL.
(2) 1 mL of the prepared solution of (1) is charged into the bucket and 10 L of ozone bubble-containing water is charged (10 4th power evaluation).
(3) After holding at room temperature for 3 minutes, the number of bacteria is measured by a plate dilution method (cultured at 37 ° C. for 1 day, Petri film for E. coli).

  The ozone bubble-containing water used in the sterilization test was generated by mixing ozone gas with a concentration of 3 ppm into pure water while changing the mixing amount, and generating fine bubbles in each method.

  From the results of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the venturi method improves the sterilization effect by increasing the void ratio, and is superior to other methods. In the air diffuser method, the bubble diameter cannot be made as fine as the Venturi method and the bubble size is large, so that a sufficient sterilizing effect cannot be obtained. It is considered impossible. As described above, the venturi system exhibits an excellent sterilizing effect even when a low concentration ozone gas is used.

  FIG. 5 shows the use of ozone bubble-containing water (void ratio 3%) generated by various methods (pressure dissolution method, venturi method, shear method, air diffuser method) by mixing ozone gas with a concentration of 50 ppm or 20 ppm into pure water. It is the figure which implemented the bactericidal test and compared the bactericidal effect of each ozone bubble containing water. (A) is the result of using ozone gas with a concentration of 50 ppm, and (b) is the result of using ozone gas with a concentration of 20 ppm. The conditions of the sterilization test are the same as those in FIG.

  From the result of FIG. 5, when 50 ppm ozone gas with a high ozone concentration is used, each method shows an excellent sterilizing effect, and there is not much difference in the sterilizing effect due to the difference in the method. This is considered to be because there was no difference in the bactericidal effect between the methods because of the high ozone concentration. On the other hand, when ozone gas with a relatively low ozone concentration of 20 ppm is used, the antibacterial activity value of the venturi method and the pressure dissolution method is comparable, and the antibacterial activity value of the venturi method and the pressure dissolution method is the other method. Lower than. In other systems, it is considered that a sufficient bactericidal effect cannot be obtained because the bubble diameter is large.

  By the way, it is considered that the bactericidal effect can be improved by increasing the contact efficiency between the bubbles of ozone gas and the bacteria. For this reason, it is effective to improve the bactericidal effect by reducing the bubbles and increasing the void ratio. . In this respect, the pressure dissolution method is disadvantageous because the void rate cannot be increased from 4%. In fact, the results shown in FIG. 4 do not provide a sufficient sterilizing effect when ozone gas having a lower concentration is used.

  Based on the above knowledge, the present embodiment adopts a venturi method that can refine bubbles and increase the void ratio, and achieves an excellent sterilizing effect even when low-concentration ozone gas is used. .

  As another embodiment of the bubble generating unit 4, as shown in FIG. 6, the decompression unit 15 and the pressurization unit 16 may be provided in multiple stages. In the example of FIG. 6, one narrow portion is provided in the upstream side, and five narrow portions are provided in parallel on the downstream side, one set of the pressure reducing unit 15 and the pressure unit 16 on the upstream side, and five sets on the downstream side. A decompression unit 15 and a pressurization unit 16 are provided. Since the decompression unit 15 and the pressurization unit 16 are provided in multiple stages as described above, the bubbles are pulverized in the previous stage (upstream side) to make small bubbles to some extent, and then smaller and smaller in the subsequent stage (downstream side). Therefore, a large amount of smaller fine bubbles can be generated.

  In order to discharge the ozone bubble-containing water to the sink 30 using the ozone bubble-containing water discharge device described above, the water stop valve 7 is opened by operating the operation unit 33 provided on the currant 31. Thereby, water is supplied to the water supply channel 1 through the hot water pipe 5, and the supplied water is discharged from the discharge port 2 of the currant 31 after passing through the constant flow valve 6 and the water stop valve 7. At this time, in the water supply channel 1 in the currant 31, a predetermined amount of ozone gas is mixed into the water flowing through the water supply channel 1 from the ozone gas mixing control unit 3 to generate ozone gas mixed water. Thereafter, the bubbles included in the ozone gas-mixed water are refined by the bubble generation unit 4 to become ozone bubble-containing water, which is discharged from the discharge port 2. The discharged ozone bubble-containing water is used, for example, as sterilizing functional water for hand washing, sterilization of foodstuffs, towels, cutting boards, and the like, and deodorization of foodstuffs.

  To stop the discharge of ozone bubble-containing water from the discharge port 2, the operation unit 33 is operated to close the water stop valve 7. As a result, water supply from the hot water pipe 5 to the water supply channel 1 is stopped, the air release valve 8 is opened, and the inside of the water supply channel 1 is opened to the atmosphere. Here, since the discharge port 2 of the currant 31 is located below the atmosphere release valve 8, when the atmosphere release valve 8 is opened, ozone gas mixed in the downstream portion of the water supply channel 1 from the atmosphere release valve 8 is mixed. Water containing ozone gas such as water or water containing ozone gas bubbles is discharged from the discharge port 2. Thereby, after use, water containing ozone gas remaining in the water supply channel 1 can be discharged from the discharge port 2. Further, it is possible to prevent the water containing ozone gas from flowing backward to the upstream side of the water stop valve 7.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing another embodiment of the ozone bubble-containing water discharge device.

  In the present embodiment, in the ozone bubble-containing water discharge device of FIG. 1, the water flow detection means 17 such as a flow sensor is provided in the water supply channel downstream of the water stop valve 7, and ozone gas is supplied to the water supply channel 1. The operation unit 33 includes an ozone gas supply stop control unit 18 that stops supply. The water flow detection means 17 detects the presence or absence of water flow in the water supply channel 1, and the ozone gas supply stop control unit 18 detects that there is no water flow in the water supply channel 1 by the water flow detection means 17. Supply of ozone gas from the ozone gas mixing control unit 3 to the water supply channel 1 is stopped. When the water stop valve 7 is closed and the water supply from the hot water pipe 5 to the water supply path 1 is stopped, the water supply path 1 is not in a state of water flow. The supply of ozone gas to is stopped. For this reason, since the supply of ozone gas to the water supply channel 1 can be reliably stopped after the water supply to the water supply channel 1 is stopped, safety can be further ensured.

  In addition, a timer or the like may be installed as a safety device to stop the supply of ozone gas. For example, the ozone gas supply is automatically stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed since the ozone gas supply control unit started supplying the ozone gas. This further ensures safety.

  While the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the ozone bubble-containing water discharge device is applied to a kitchen sink is illustrated. However, water used in factories, etc., including equipment that uses water in bathrooms, toilets, bathrooms, and other dwelling units. It may be applied to surrounding equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water supply path 2 Discharge port 3 Ozone gas mixing control part 4 Bubble generation part 7 Stop valve 8 Atmospheric release valve 9 Ozone gas supply amount adjustment part 10 Ozone gas generation part 15 Decompression part 16 Pressurization part 17 Water flow detection means 18 Ozone gas supply stop control Part

Claims (5)

  A discharge port is provided at the downstream end of the water supply channel, and an ozone gas mixing control unit that generates ozone gas mixed water by mixing ozone gas having an ozone concentration of 30 ppm or less into the water supply channel in the middle of the water supply channel, and a decompression unit upstream And a bubble generating unit that forms a venturi-shaped flow path having a pressure unit on the downstream side, and the bubble generating unit is provided in a water supply channel on the downstream side of the ozone gas mixing control unit. Generated ozone gas bubbles are generated by passing the generated ozone gas-mixed water through the decompression unit and pressurization unit of the bubble generation unit and shearing the bubbles in the ozone gas-mixed water, and contain ozone gas bubbles from the discharge port. An ozone bubble-containing water discharge device that discharges ozone bubble-containing water.   A water stop valve is provided in the water supply path upstream from the ozone gas mixing control unit, an air release valve is provided in the water supply path downstream from the water stop valve and upstream from the ozone gas mixing control unit, The ozone bubble-containing water discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the air release valve is provided at a position above the discharge port.   3. The ozone bubble-containing water discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the ozone gas mixing control unit generates ozone gas mixed water having a void ratio of 5% or more. 4.   The ozone bubble-containing water discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ozone gas mixing control unit includes an ozone gas generation unit that generates ozone gas by corona discharge.   The ozone gas supply stop control is provided with water flow detection means for detecting the presence or absence of water flow in the water supply channel downstream of the water stop valve, and an ozone gas supply stop control unit for stopping the supply of ozone gas to the water supply channel. 5. The ozone bubble-containing water discharge according to claim 1, wherein when the water flow detection means detects that there is no water flow in the water supply channel, the unit stops the supply of ozone gas. apparatus.

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