JP2017000918A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Functional water generator and method for controlling voltage applied to electrolysis cell

The present invention relates to a portable functional water generating apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for producing hydrogen water and alkaline ion water .

The portable functional water generator has an electrolytic cell that uses a substantially liquid-impermeable membrane such as an ion exchange membrane, a porous membrane, and a water blocking membrane as the membrane separating the anode and cathode between the anode and cathode. The container to be put in is structured so that it can be physically separated for each cathode and anode, and the container is arranged up and down, and the upper container includes an electrolytic cell element and is electrically opposed to the power receiving position to the electrode of the container. It has power supply means corresponding to attachment / detachment at a position, and is constituted by power supply means for applying electric power to the electrolysis cell via a contact.

As a method for producing dissolved hydrogen water, electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen gas, which it is known as a method for method for Dissolved in water to produce a high concentration of dissolved hydrogen water. 11, as electrolytic hydrogen water generator according to published numbers Laid Table 2013-52561 2 published patent, an anode, a cathode, an electrolytic cell including a liquid impermeable membrane, such as polymeric ion-exchange resin membrane, separable An electrolysis cell comprising a float valve configured to be provided at the bottom of a drinking cup, wherein the drinking cup can be deferred, and a constant level of water is continuously supplied from a storage tank and a reserve tank so that an anodic reaction of the electrolysis cell occurs. Is provided with a power supply device for applying a direct current. After pouring raw water into the drinking cup, attaching it to the tank base, and applying power, the electrolysis cell electrolyzes the water in the tank base, generating oxygen at the anode on the tank base side and hydrogen at the cathode on the drinking cup side. Has occurred, hydrogen gas is dissolved in the purified water in the drinking cup, and a dissolved hydrogen production apparatus capable of producing dissolved hydrogen water has been proposed.

The device of this configuration includes a cathode and an anode on the drinking cup side, and considering the ease of attachment and detachment, the power supply from the electrode pin side having elastic sliding property to the electrode contact side must be selected as a point contact power supply. There wasn't.
For this reason, the contact resistance is often different for each minute part due to contact contamination, deterioration, etc., and the occurrence of cuprous oxide growth exothermic phenomenon may cause malfunction of the device after the occurrence or thermal deformation of the surrounding synthetic resin casing. I understand.

It has also been found that the cuprous oxide growth exothermic phenomenon continues without a hot spot exceeding 600 ° C. disappearing unless the supplied power is cut off or significantly reduced once a spark occurs. This phenomenon occurs even in the energization environment of a DC power supply driven at a relatively low voltage, and it has been found that it occurs not only in copper-based metals but also in titanium-based metals. I have found out that

Publication number Special table 2013-525612

Incorporated Administrative Agency National Institute of Technology and Evaluation 2011 Product Center Product Safety Operation Report Material “Cuprous Oxide Growth Phenomenon” Korea Electrical Engineering Association (KEA): Journal of the Electric World / Monthly Magazine 2014.9 Electrical Safety in Housing

Therefore, since this phenomenon occurs from the spark of the contact portion, it is necessary to minimize the occurrence of the spark.

In the conventional apparatus, even when the drinking cup is removed during hydrogen water generation, the applied voltage is continuously applied (intermittently), and even after the drinking cup is set, the electric time is maintained until the initially set generation time is exceeded. The voltage for generation was continuously applied.
Furthermore, the applied voltage was applied intermittently and continuously until the drinking cup was removed to maintain the dissolved concentration even after the hydrogen water was generated.

Spark is relatively unlikely to occur in a given hydrogen aquatic growth voltage application, in the above operation mode,
(1) The moment the voltage is first applied to enter the hydrogen water generation mode (2) The cup is removed during the hydrogen water generation mode, and the terminals to which the voltage is applied are brought into contact with each other to install the cup again moment,
(3) After the hydrogen water generation mode has been completed, while instant the intermittent voltage is applied intermittently to hydrogen water generation mode to compensate for the decrease in the dissolved hydrogen concentration,
Sparks can occur. Ri by the Rukoto voltage is applied in a state where the contact terminals are contacted among them, joined terminals each other is the most likely to occur the moment of contact of voltage.

The first invention is
The electrolytic cell 440 in which the liquid-impermeable diaphragm 430 is sandwiched between the cathode electrode 485 and the anode electrode 455 is integrally attached to the bottom of the removable cup unit 400, so that purified water is immersed in the anode electrode 455. In the functional water generating apparatus, the tank 100 side (126) for generating oxygen-dissolved water and the cup unit 400 side (124) for generating hydrogen water by dipping the cathode electrode are separated.
  The power supplied to the electrode of the electrolytic cell 440 has a structure in which the applied voltage is stopped in a state where the cup unit 400 is removed.

The second invention is
As a preferable condition of the first invention, a structure is provided that includes an applied voltage detecting means and a current detecting means for detecting that the cup unit 400 is removed by a voltage and a current applied to the electrolysis cell 440.

The third invention is
The electrolytic cell 440 in which the liquid-impermeable diaphragm 430 is sandwiched between the cathode electrode 485 and the anode electrode 455 is integrally attached to the bottom of the removable cup unit 400, so that purified water is immersed in the anode electrode 455. The functional water generating apparatus is separated into two parts, a tank 100 side (126) for generating oxygen-dissolved water and a cup unit 400 side (124) for generating hydrogen water by immersion of the cathode electrode 485. In the method of controlling the voltage applied to the electrolysis cell 440,
  The applied voltage was controlled to the electrolysis cell 440 of the functional water generator in which the applied voltage was stopped when the cup unit 400 was removed.

The fourth invention is
It was a preferable condition to detect that the cup unit 400 was removed by the voltage and current applied to the electrolytic cell 440.

The fifth invention is
After the cup unit 400 is removed and the power source is once cut off, when the cup unit 400 is attached again, it is a preferable condition that the applied voltage to the electrolysis cell 440 is resumed by another trigger means. .

And the sixth invention is:
The applied voltage is preferably a triangular wave, a sawtooth wave or a rectangular wave whose potential is changed by PWM control.

The raw water stored in the raw water storage container is separated into two chambers through a liquid-impermeable diaphragm, and the anode and the cathode are brought into close contact with the liquid-impermeable diaphragm, thereby applying desired power to the cathode. Includes an electrolytic cell element that generates oxygen-dissolved water, and an electrolytic cell that is detachable by an applied voltage detection means in a system in which the container on the side including the electrolytic cell among the raw water containers isolated in the two chambers is detachable A means for stopping the applied voltage by detecting that the container on the side including the detachment was removed during the hydrogen water generation mode was provided.

And a manual resumption trigger means for enabling the detection operation of the applied voltage detection means by the manual resumption trigger means when the container on the side including the detachable electrolysis cell is set at a predetermined position; did.

An electrolysis cell is included by detecting the removal of the container including the electrolysis cell detachable by the applied voltage detection means during the hydrogen water generation mode and stopping the operation of the applied voltage control means. If re-set the container side, without energizing by automatically resumes, can suppress the occurrence of resistance to glow discharge phenomenon, also when there is intention to continue the water Motomi generation mode, to perform the manual operation It is possible to continue the hydrogen water generation mode.

Also, it has a manual restart trigger means, and when the container including the detachable electrolytic cell is set at a predetermined position, the detection operation of the applied voltage detection means is made effective by the restart trigger means. Therefore, it is possible to improve the occurrence of the glow discharge resistance phenomenon by preventing the user from restarting without intention. In addition, the hydrogen water generation mode can be continued if there is an intention to stop.

It is a front view which shows one Example of the external appearance of the functional water generating apparatus of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a partially expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a figure explaining the movement of the water poured out from the float valve. It is a partially expanded sectional view of the cup unit of FIG. It is assembly explanatory drawing of the electrolysis cell 440 of FIG. A B-B cross-sectional view of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the block diagram which shows the power supply control method. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 9 . It is a figure which shows the conventional example.

The embodiment described below is an example, and various design improvements made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the appearance of the functional water generator of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 3 is an A-A sectional view of FIG.
4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG.

The base unit 320 may place the cup unit 400 includes a cup unit deferred portion 320a removably.
The cup unit 400 has a function as one purified water supply means for supplying purified water for electrolysis to the electrolytic cell 440 in the cup unit 400 .

The base unit 320 has a function as the other fixed side purified water supply means for supplying purified water for electrolysis to the electrolytic cell 440.
In addition, the base unit 320 also serves as means for supplying electrolysis power to the cup unit 400 and means for arranging user interface means such as electrical settings, control, and display (not shown) in response to a user request. Also serves as.

Further, the base unit 320 can be connected to an AC adapter (not shown) as a DC power source.

Next, operation | movement of the said fixed side purified water supply means as a purified water supply means for electrolysis is demonstrated.
Purified water 126 is supplied from the opening 110a of the upper cover 110 to the tank 100. The tank 100 is axially supported so as to be vertically slid according to the height of the float 250 is level shaft portion 130a of the removable ion-exchange resin container 130 as a guide, the electrolytic water (purified water) 126 The maximum capacity can be recognized visually. When the purified water 126 is supplied, it passes through the water intake 130b of the ion exchange resin storage container 130 , and the minerals such as magnesium and calcium are purified inside, and processed to become water suitable for electrolysis.

Next, the lowermost part of the tank 100 has an elastic body at the top at a position corresponding to the water outlet 255 projecting in the form of a dome in the lower outside, and the elastic body is brought into close contact with the dome portion of the water outlet 255 to stop water. , slidable in vertically, to form a valve mechanism in the valve 251 granted a flow path for passing the purified water when it becomes a non-contact state by sliding,
A force point 254b that rotates upward using the buoyancy of the float in conjunction with the amount of purified water 126 supplied from the tank 100 with the rotation center 254 as a fulcrum, and a protrusion that acts as an action point between the rotation center 254 and the force point 254b the sliding valving 251 by the action of leverage provided portions 259 constituting the float valve unit 300 for operating the valve mechanism by sliding in the projection 259.
Thus, the water level of the float chamber 260 located immediately below the tank of the base unit 320 is maintained so as not to fluctuate from a predetermined water level.

Float chamber 260 immediately below the tank 100 of the base unit 320 communicates with the cup unit stationary portion 320a, a predetermined float inside the through passageway 258 mosquitoes Ppuyunitto stationary portion 320a in guided inner periphery of the partition wall 320c The chamber 260 water level is filled up to the same water level as the predetermined float chamber 260 water level.

The tank 100 is gradually consumed due to electrolysis of purified water, evaporation, and the like. Therefore, a magnet 123 that is used to detect and notify the lack of electrolyzed water (purified water) 126 or to control whether or not to start electrolysis is provided at the bottom of the tank near the water inlet 130b of the ion exchange resin storage container 130. A residual amount warning sensor for electrolytic water (purified water) 126 in the tank by a combination of the built-in float 250 and Hall element 125 is provided.
These sensors are not particularly limited and need only fulfill their required functions.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the movement of water poured out from the float valve.

In FIG. 5 , when the electrolyzed water (purified water) 126 is consumed by electrolysis or the like in the electrolysis cell 440 , the electrolyzed water (purified water) 126 in the float chamber 260 slowly moves from the float chamber 260 as indicated by a black arrow. As indicated by the white arrow, the water level in the partition wall of the cup unit stationary portion 320a is set to the same water level as the predetermined float chamber 260 water level.

Next, the cup unit 400 having a function as another purified water supply means for supplying purified water for electrolysis will be described.

6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the cup unit section of FIG. 3, FIG. 7 details are shown (a) is assembled just before the state of the electrolytic cell 440, (b) is a set elevational view showing the post-assembly .

6 and 7, the sealing means 420 is arranged to surround the anode electrode 455 in the recess 450a of the cup base 450 where the anode electrode 455 by insert molding, liquid-impermeable membrane 430, further sealing means 420, on the cathode cover 480 and the cathode electrode 485 by insert molding, and set in the order of the sealing means 420, the cup body 410 and the cup base 450 by fixing by fastening means, not shown fitting convex portion 410b of the cup body bottom 410a of the cup body 410 Form a watertight structure between. The sealing means 420 sandwiched between the members may be an elastic packing, an elastic hardener, an adhesive, or a viscoelastic body on a gel.

Terminal portion of the insert molded anode cup base 450 455a cup base 450 the outer peripheral portion is exposed to the side surface, the cup base outer peripheral portion through the other cathode electrode 485 is also cup base in the position that does not overlap with the anode electrode 455 Expose to the side. Actually, in order to avoid problems such as electric corrosion and tracking, it is desirable to install the counter electrode at an offset of about 180 degrees. Also, because the required operation of the 10 to 30 minutes to produce, such as hydrogen water, it is also desirable that in terms of fall of hygiene minute foreign matter has a lid at the top. From the standpoint of preventing the dissolved hydrogen from escaping, it is also desirable to have a member that covers the front surface like a drop lid that covers the surface of the purified water in the cup.

Next, the stationary part 320a of the cup unit will be described.
8 is a cross - sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.

8, an attempt to set the cup unit stationary portion 320a of the base unit 320 placed purified water 124 into the cup unit 400, the contact 256a in the base unit 320 side of the elastic pressing sliding resistance, 256b of the cup unit 400 electrode 455a exposed from the cup base 450, 480a is sliding while being 256a, cup unit 400 bottom surface to maintain optimal contact grounded push the 256b cup unit stationary portion 320a is grounded.

At this time, the cup anode 455 is insert-molded to the base 450, a liquid-impermeable membrane 430 as an electrolytic cell 440 of the cup body bottom 410a is electrolysis inside the partition wall 320c in the cup unit stationary portion 320a of the base unit 320 Immerse in water (purified water) 126 . The purified water 124 in the cup unit 400 is immersed in the insert-molded cathode electrode 485 side.

Accordingly, the anode electrode 455 immersed in the electrolyzed water (purified water) 126 by electrical energization and the cathode electrode 485 immersed in the purified water 124 in the cup unit 400 are electrolyzed via the liquid-impermeable diaphragm 430 and the cup unit 400 is subjected to electrolysis. The purified water inside is hydrogen-rich water, and the cup unit stationary part 320a on the main body base side produces oxygen or ozone-rich water.

Has been described in terms of the purpose of hydrogen water produced as an example so far, as possible out also generate purified water 124 having anode 256a of the contact 256, the sterilizing ability ozone water when inverting the cathode 256b. What is necessary is just to optimize an electrode material and an electrical control method according to desired uses, such as alkaline ionized water and reduced water.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a block diagram showing a power supply control method.
A commercial power source is converted to a DC power source by an AC adapter (not shown) and supplied to a power source unit 507 in the main body via a connector for connection. The power supply unit 507 generates Vcc (not shown) that moves the entire circuit, and a positive power supply + Vaa and a negative power supply −Vaa for driving the electrolysis cell 440 . The waveform generation unit 503 generates a drive signal for driving the electrolysis cell 440 . As the shape of the waveform, a triangular wave is generated, a sawtooth wave is generated, or a rectangular wave is generated.

The waveform generation unit 503 generates a triangular wave by integrating the signal of the oscillation circuit with an integration circuit, or generates a sawtooth wave by changing the slope of the output signal waveform between the H level and the L level of the oscillation circuit signal. Or a triangular wave is generated by cutting a triangular wave at a threshold value. By changing the threshold value, the duty of the rectangular wave can be changed (PWM control), and the CPU 505 selects the threshold value change and the type of waveform to be generated. There may be a plurality of oscillation circuits having different oscillation frequencies, or the CPU 505 may be able to select them.

As a specific means of PWM control, the CPU 505 may use a counter function to control the H level and L level of the output port, and use this as a drive signal and directly as a signal source of the drive unit 504 .
The drive unit 504 is amplified based on the drive signal generated by the waveform generating unit 503 generates a voltage and current applied to the electrolytic cell 440, to drive the electrolytic cell 440. Further, the drive unit 504 has a function of controlling the applied voltage in order to make the current flowing through the electrolytic cell 440 constant. For this reason, when the current value decreases, the voltage is increased to maintain the current value. The voltage applied to the electrolysis cell 440 is generated from + Vaa and -Vaa.

The CPU 505 controls the waveform generation unit 503 based on the sensor processing unit 506 that detects the voltage and current applied to the electrolytic cell 440 , the operation panel 600 (shown in FIG. 1 ), and the like. Further, the operation of the operation panel 600 (shown in FIG. 1 ) controls the stop of the waveform generation unit 503 and ON / OFF of the applied voltage to the drive unit 504 . Further, it controls the polarity of the drive signal. Further, it has a function of outputting applied voltage information and current information to the sensor processing unit 506 . In addition, the sensor processing unit 506 may be mounted with a sensor for grasping the state of the system, for example, a set sensor for detecting whether or not a container is set.
The notification unit 508 notifies the end of the hydrogen water generation mode and notifies the abnormal voltage of the electrolytic cell 440 and the like. As a means for informing, a light emitting device such as an LED, a sound, sound, vibration or the like by a speaker is used alone or in combination.

It is described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14 the operation of the electric Minamotoyu knit 507 of FIG. The CPU 505 starts from S1 by a pre-recorded program, and waits for a signal from the restart trigger in S2 . When a signal from the restart trigger is input, the program proceeds to S3 and applies a drive voltage. At this time , the presence or absence of a cup is determined using the drive current information provided to the CPU 505 via the sensor processing unit 506 in S4 . Next, when it is determined that the cup is set, the timer is started in S6 . As after, when the cup is removed by or S8 set time expires at S7, the flow returns to S1 to stop the driving voltage in S5. If the timer is operating and the cup is not removed, the hydrogen water generation mode is continued.
In the normal operation of this embodiment, since the timer monitoring in S7 and the cup monitoring in S8 are performed in a loop, even when the timer is operating, if the cup is removed, the driving voltage is stopped in S5 and the process returns to S1 to restart the trigger. Since it waits, the drive voltage is not applied even if the cup is returned again. For this reason, when the cup is returned, no spark occurs and no glow phenomenon occurs. Similarly, when the timer expires, the process returns to S1 and waits for a restart trigger.

Conventionally, intermittent drive for maintaining the hydrogen concentration after the timer operation is completed until the cup is removed. Therefore, from a spark caused by the rise of the intermittent driving, there may result a glow phenomenon. Therefore, if the density maintenance mode cut-off timer means is provided at a predetermined time to prevent intermittent driving for a long time, the occurrence of the glow phenomenon can be further suppressed.
The first as a spark measures moment a voltage is applied in order to enter the predicate solid hydrogen water generation mode spark cause may take measures such as to smooth voltage rise curve during rising.

400 cup units
320 base unit
410 cup body
440 electrolytic cell
100 tanks
130 ion exchange resin storage container
260 float room
300 float valve unit
455 anode electrode
485 cathode electrode
430 liquid impervious diaphragm
480 cathode cover
420 sealing means
450 cup base
503 waveform generation unit
504 drive unit
505 CPU
506 sensor processing unit
507 power supply unit
508 notification unit
600 artificially activated switch

Claims (6)

The electrolytic cell (440) in which the liquid-impermeable diaphragm (430) is sandwiched between the cathode electrode (485) and the anode electrode (455) is integrally attached to the bottom of the removable cup unit (400). The tank (100) side (126) in which the anode electrode (455) is immersed to generate oxygen-dissolved water and the cup unit (400) side (124) in which the cathode electrode is immersed to generate hydrogen water. In the functional water generator separated into two)
The functional water generator according to claim 1, wherein the voltage supplied to the electrode of the electrolytic cell (440) is stopped when the cup unit (400) is removed . The functional water generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an applied voltage detecting unit and a current detecting unit for detecting that the cup unit (400) has been removed by a voltage and a current applied to the electrolysis cell (440) . The electrolytic cell (440) in which the liquid-impermeable diaphragm (430) is sandwiched between the cathode electrode (485) and the anode electrode (455) is integrally attached to the bottom of the removable cup unit (400). A cup unit (400) in which purified water is immersed in the anode electrode (455) to produce oxygen-dissolved water (126) and a tank unit (126) in which the cathode electrode (485) is immersed to produce hydrogen water. In the method of controlling the voltage applied to the electrolysis cell (440) of the functional water generator separated into two with the side (124),
  The control method of the applied voltage to the electrolysis cell of the functional water generating apparatus in which the applied voltage is stopped when the cup unit (400) is removed. The method for controlling the applied voltage to the electrolytic cell of the functional water generating device according to claim 3, wherein the removal of the cup unit (400) is detected by a voltage and a current applied to the electrolytic cell (440). After the cup unit (400) is removed and the power source is once cut off, the applied voltage to the electrolysis cell (440) is resumed by another trigger means when the cup unit (400) is attached again. The control method of the applied voltage to the electrolysis cell of the functional water generating apparatus of Claim 3 or 4. The control of the applied voltage to the electrolysis cell (440) of the functional water generating device according to claim 3, wherein the applied voltage is a triangular wave, a sawtooth wave or a rectangular wave whose potential is changed by PWM control. Method.