JP2012013359A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water heater for reducing the oxidation power of tapping hot water.SOLUTION: This water heater is provided with: a hot water storage tank 2 for storing water or hot water; a raw water circuit 3 for introducing raw water to the hot water storage tank 2; a hot water tapping circuit 5 for mixing the hot water of the hot water storage tank 2 with the water of the raw water circuit 3, and for tapping hot water; and an electrolytic device 7 for reforming the hot water to be tapped from the hot water tapping circuit 5. The electrolytic device 7 is provided with: an electrode configured of at least a pair of anode (not shown in the figure) and cathode (not shown in the figure); a separator 16 for separating a water passage between the electrodes: and a DC power source (not shown in the figure) for applying a voltage between the electrodes. This water heater is configured to generate reduction components by introducing hot water passing through the electrolytic device 7 to the cathode, and carrying out electrolysis, and to decompose oxidation components contained in the hot water of the hot water tapping circuit 5 by reduction components, and to more reduce the oxidation power of the hot water to be supplied by the hot water tapping circuit 5 than that of the raw water. Thus, it is possible to obtain the hot water whose oxidation power is reduced with a simple configuration, and to use it. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide any maintenance such as the regular refilling of chemical agent.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus that improves the quality of hot water discharged and provides hot water with reduced oxidizing power.

  Conventionally, a water treatment apparatus used for a hot water supply apparatus that supplies hot water with reduced oxidation power of this type has a configuration as shown in FIG. 4 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a water treatment device used in a conventional hot water heater.

  In FIG. 4, the electrolytic cell 31 includes a cathode chamber 33 including a cathode 32 and an anode chamber 35 including an anode 34. The cathode chamber 33 and the anode chamber 35 are separated by a diaphragm 36. A tube 37 for taking out cathode water (electrolytically reduced water) is connected to the cathode chamber 33, and a tube 38 for discharging anode water (acidic water) to the outside is connected to the anode chamber 35.

  A water supply pipe 39 is connected to each of the cathode chamber 33 and the anode chamber 35, and a pure water producing apparatus 40 that purifies pure water by passing water guided to the electrolytic cell 31 through a reverse osmosis membrane, and pure water An NaOH addition device 41 that adds NaOH to pure water generated by the manufacturing device 40 is disposed on the water supply pipe 39.

  Operation | movement of the water treatment apparatus used for the conventional hot water heater comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

The water led by the water supply pipe 39 is removed by the pure water production apparatus 40 so that the residual chlorine (Cl ₂ ) concentration is less than 0.1 ppm and the chloride ion (Cl ⁻ ) concentration is 5 ppm or less so as not to contain substantially. Is done. Next, NaOH is added as an electrolyte to pure water generated by the pure water production apparatus 40 by the NaOH addition apparatus 41, and electrolysis is performed in the electrolytic bath 31. In the cathode chamber 33, electrolytic reduced water containing Na at a high concentration and having a residual chlorine concentration of less than 0.1 ppm is generated.

Japanese Patent No. 3933403

  However, in the configuration of the conventional hot water heater, in order to obtain a desired water quality, after pure water is produced by the pure water production apparatus 40, NaOH is added, and the configuration is complicated and the apparatus is expensive. In addition, there is a problem that NaOH needs to be replenished periodically and maintenance becomes complicated.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the hot water supply machine which can provide the hot water which was excellent in maintainability, and was able to provide the oxidation power with the cheap structure.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the water heater of the present invention includes a hot water storage tank that stores water and hot water, a raw water circuit that guides raw water to the hot water storage tank, hot water of the hot water storage tank, and water of the raw water circuit. And a reforming means for reforming the hot water discharged from the tapping circuit, the reforming means comprising at least a pair of an anode and a cathode, and a water channel between the electrodes And a direct current power source that applies a voltage between the electrodes, and hot water that passes through the reforming means is led to the cathode to electrolyze, and a reducing component is generated by the reducing component. It decomposes the oxidizing components contained in the hot water of the tapping circuit and reduces the oxidizing power of the hot water supplied from the tapping circuit from that of the raw water, and obtains hot water with reduced oxidizing power with a simple configuration. Can use it, It was, does not require the maintenance of supply, such as regular drug.

  The hot water supply apparatus of the present invention can provide hot water with reduced oxidizing power by electrolyzing the hot water to be discharged, so that it is possible to provide an inexpensive product by simplifying the configuration of the apparatus, This eliminates the need for periodic drug replenishment and frees you from the complexity of maintenance.

Configuration diagram of a water heater in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Configuration diagram of the electrolyzer of the water heater Configuration diagram of mineral supply means of the water heater Configuration of a conventional water heater

  The first invention includes a hot water storage tank that stores water and hot water, a raw water circuit that guides raw water to the hot water storage tank, a hot water discharge circuit that mixes hot water of the hot water storage tank and water of the raw water circuit, and the hot water circuit. Reforming means for reforming hot water discharged from the hot water, the reforming means comprising at least a pair of an anode and a cathode, a diaphragm separating a water channel between the electrodes, and a voltage between the electrodes. A direct-current power source for applying a gas to the hot water passing through the reforming means to the cathode and electrolyzing it to generate a reducing component, and the reducing component decomposes an oxidizing component contained in the hot water of the tapping circuit. In addition, the oxidizing power of the hot water supplied from the tapping circuit is reduced from that of the raw water, and with a simple configuration, hot water having a reduced oxidizing power can be obtained and used. Maintainers for regular drug replenishment, etc. It does not require a scan.

  In the second invention, in particular, the reforming means of the first invention has a mineral supply means for adding minerals that are diluted in raw water, and uses hot water rich in minerals or bathes in the hot water. Can do.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the mineral supply means of the second aspect of the invention also has an alkali supply means for increasing the alkalinity of the hot water discharged from the hot water circuit, and the space saving and simple configuration can be obtained. The hot water heater can be provided at low cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a water heater in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an electrolysis apparatus of the water heater, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of mineral supply means of the water heater.

  In FIG. 1, a hot water storage tank unit 1 of a water heater in the present embodiment has a hot water storage tank 2 for storing water and manufactured hot water therein, and is a raw water line supplied from water sources such as tap water, industrial water, and groundwater. (Not shown) is connected by the raw water circuit 3.

Usually, the hot water storage tank 2 is filled with hot water and water, and the water pressure of the raw water line is applied. When the hot water is discharged from the water heater, the mixing means 4 adjusts the water in the raw water circuit 3 and the hot water pushed out of the hot water storage tank 2 when the water flows into the hot water storage tank so as to reach an arbitrary temperature. The valve 6 is opened to discharge the hot water.

  As reforming means for reforming the hot water quality, an electrolysis device 7 for reducing the oxidizing power of the hot water to be discharged and a mineral supply means 8 for increasing the alkalinity by adding a rare mineral in the raw water are provided on the hot water circuit 5. Has been placed.

  A circulation circuit 10 that circulates the hot water in the bathtub 9 is circulated by a bathtub circulation pump 11, and the tapping circuit 5 is connected to the circulation circuit 10. The memory heat exchanger 12 guides hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 by the tank circulation pump 13 and supplies heat to the hot water in the circulation circuit 10. The hot water storage tank 2 stores hot water in the upper part and cold water in the lower part, and generates hot water from the lower water by heating means (not shown) of a heat pump unit (not shown). Has accumulated.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the electrolysis apparatus 7.

  In the electrolyzer 7, the anode 14 and the electrode of the cathode 15 are disposed so as to face each other, a separator 16 as a diaphragm for separating the flow path is disposed between the electrodes 14, 15, and the anode chamber 17 and the cathode chamber 18. Have been separated. As the anode 14, carbon graphite, platinum-plated titanium, or the like can be used, but a carbon graphite electrode having both durability and low cost is desirable. The cathode 15 can be made of titanium, stainless steel, carbon graphite, or the like.

  When the hot water is discharged from the water heater, a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes 14 and 15 by a DC power source (not shown), and the hot water in the hot water circuit 5 is branched when it is led to the electrolyzer 7 and passes through the cathode chamber 18. Hot water is poured out. On the other hand, the hot water that has passed through the anode chamber 17 is discharged to the outside by opening the drain valve 19. Tap water is injected with a chlorine agent for disinfection, and has oxidizing power due to residual chlorine.

The concentration of residual chlorine (ClO ⁻ ) is 0.1 ppm or more in the Water Supply Law Enforcement Regulations, and 1 ppm or less is shown as a water quality management target setting item. At the cathode 15 to which a voltage is applied, water as a reducing component is generated by electrolyzing water, and residual chlorine is decomposed into chloride ions (Cl ⁻ ) having no oxidizing power by reacting with hydrogen, Oxidizing power decreases.

  The applied current determines the amount of residual chlorine decomposed and the amount of decrease in oxidizing power. Since the electrical conductivity of water increases by about 2% when the temperature rises by 1 ° C., the voltage applied to obtain a necessary current can be kept low by increasing the water temperature.

  Since the hot water heater in this embodiment can perform electrolysis on hot water to be discharged, the applied voltage can be kept low and the power source can be simplified, so that it is space-saving and inexpensive. Goods can be offered. Moreover, since hot water with reduced oxidizing power can be provided, hot water gentle to the skin and hair can be used, and irritation to the skin when taking a bath is reduced. As for the residual chlorine concentration in tap water, the average value of the amount of purified water is 0.4 ppm, and it has oxidizing power. The electrolyzer 7 can reduce the residual chlorine in tap water to 0.02 ppm or less, which is below the normal detection limit, and provide hot water that is gentle to the skin and hair.

  On the other hand, in the anode chamber 17, oxygen generated by electrolysis of water reacts with chloride ions dissolved in water, and a reaction for generating residual chlorine occurs simultaneously. Oxidized components generated in the anode chamber 17 are separated and discharged by the separator 16 so as not to be mixed with the hot water to be discharged.

  The separator 16 is a conductive material that separates water so as to prevent mixing of the reducing component and the oxidizing component in the electrolysis apparatus 7 and that allows current to flow between the electrodes. A membrane filter, a continuous foamed film, a granulated sintered body, or the like can be used.

  Note that the cation exchange membrane is most suitable because the movement of water is small and the alkalinity of the hot water to be discharged can be increased by permeating the cation. When the hot water is stopped, the application of voltage between the electrodes is stopped to eliminate the generation of water electrolysis gas, and the drain valve 19 is closed to prevent the leakage of hot water.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the mineral supply means 8.

  The mineral supply means 8 has a dissolving portion 20 that holds a solid inorganic salt mineral, which is a human essential element, in a substantially cylindrical upper part with a resin net or the like, and the mineral dissolves when the hot water supply of the hot water supply is stopped, Mineral can be supplied to the hot water discharged by pouring together with the mineral dissolved at the time of hot water.

  Mineral supply means 8 can add dilute minerals in tap water, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, potassium, calcium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, selenium, molybdenum Inorganic salts such as oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, chlorides and the like can be used.

  In addition, since the mineral supply means 8 needs to be replenished when all the mineral is eluted, an oxide of a metal element having low solubility is desirable in order to reduce the frequency of maintenance. Moreover, the mineral replenishment effect can be maintained for a long time by selecting a trace element with a small required amount.

Moreover, the alkalinity can be increased by selecting a hydroxide, and hot water with a high pH and a strong penetration into the skin can be provided. As the mineral agent, zinc hydroxide (Zn (OH) ₂ ), zinc oxide (ZnO), and zinc carbonate (ZnCO ₃ ) are suitable and can be used alone or as a mixture.

  The daily requirement for zinc for adults is 10 to 15 mg, and the intake from food is an average of 9.1 mg for men and an average of 7.6 mg for women. Zinc is a component of an enzyme important for cell division, and deficiency causes dermatitis, taste disorder, attenuation of gastrointestinal function, decreased immune function, and the like.

  Zinc is well established as a supplement, and it is recognized as a nutrient that is necessary for maintaining a healthy taste, a nutrient that helps maintain the health of the skin and mucous membranes, and a nutrient that helps maintain health by being involved in protein and nucleic acid metabolism. Yes.

  On the other hand, the average concentration of zinc in tap water is 0.01 ppm or less, which is below the detection limit in most regions and is not contained. Mineral supply means 8 can use and bathe hot water rich in minerals by adding minerals that are diluted with tap water.

  The hot springs of Japan's three major beauties are widely known as Kawanaka Onsen, Ryujin Onsen, and Yunokawa Onsen, and have a pH of about 7.8 to 8.5 and are slightly alkaline. On the other hand, the pH of tap water is neutral, with an average value of 7.3, and a pH of less than 7.8 is 95% or more of the amount of purified water, and most areas are not weakly alkaline called Bijin-no-Yu. The mineral supply means 8 can increase the alkalinity to pH 7.8 to pH 8.5 along with the input of the mineral to provide weak alkaline hot water. Weak alkaline hot water has a strong water penetration ability to the skin, and it is possible to provide fresh skin by using and bathing weak alkaline hot water.

  The mineral supply means 8 branches from the hot water circuit 5 to the electrolyzer 7 and introduces hot water. Opening and closing means 21 and 22 are arranged upstream and downstream of the mineral supply means 8, respectively. The opening and closing means 21 and 22 are kept closed by a spring or the like when pouring is stopped, and minerals are saturated and dissolved in a space between the opening and closing means 21 and 22. At the time of pouring, the open / close means 21 and 22 are opened by a water flow, and the mineral components that are saturated and dissolved are discharged. The amount of mineral input can be adjusted by the size of the space sandwiched between the opening / closing means 21 and 22 because the mineral having saturated solubility is supplied.

  When the hot water heater is not used for a long period of time, it is desirable to discharge the internal water to prevent freezing. By disposing the release valve 23 between the mineral supply means 8 and the upstream opening / closing means 21 and opening it when not in use for a long period of time, water containing mineral up to the saturation solubility does not flow into the electrolyzer 7 and the mineral supply The water inside the means 8 and the electrolyzer 7 can be discharged.

  In addition, the water heater provided with the reforming means for reforming the hot water to be discharged according to the present invention is not limited to the heat pump type, but may be an electric heater type or fuel cell type heating means as long as it is a device that supplies hot water. Can adapt.

  In the above embodiment, the electrolyzer 7 and the mineral supply means 8 are arranged in parallel with the tap water circuit 5, but the mineral supply means 8 may be arranged downstream of the electrolyzer 7. There is no change in the ability to reduce the oxidizing power of the raw water by the electrolyzer 7 and to provide hot water to which the mineral is supplied by the mineral supply means 8.

  As described above, the water heater provided with the reforming means for reforming the hot water to be discharged according to the present invention can provide hot water having a lower oxidizing power than the raw water, and thus is limited to household use and industrial use. It can be applied to all hot water supply machines that provide hot water.

2 Hot water storage tank 3 Raw water circuit 5 Hot water circuit 7 Electrolyzer (reforming means)
8 Mineral supply means (modification means)
14 Anode (electrode)
15 Cathode (electrode)
16 Separator (diaphragm)

Claims (3)

A hot water storage tank for storing water and hot water, a raw water circuit for directing raw water to the hot water storage tank, a hot water discharge circuit for mixing hot water from the hot water storage tank and water from the raw water circuit, and hot water discharged from the hot water supply circuit are modified. Reforming means, and the reforming means comprises at least a pair of anode and cathode electrodes, a diaphragm for separating a water channel between the electrodes, and a DC power source for applying a voltage between the electrodes. The hot water passing through the reforming means is led to the cathode and electrolyzed to generate a reducing component, and the reducing component decomposes the oxidizing component contained in the hot water of the hot water circuit, from the hot water circuit. A hot water supply machine in which the oxidizing power of supplied hot water is less than that of the raw water. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reforming means includes a mineral supply means for charging a mineral that is dilute in raw water. The water heater according to claim 2, wherein the mineral supply means also has an alkali supply means for increasing the alkalinity of the hot water discharged from the hot water circuit.

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