JP2017018896A - Hydrogen water server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen water server that suppresses growth of various bacteria using city water.SOLUTION: A hydrogen water server 1 includes a water storage tank 21, a circulation passage 32 for sucking drinking water from the bottom 21a of the water storage tank 21 and returning the drinking water to the water storage tank 21 by a pump 35, an electrolysis passage 33 for sending part of the drinking water from the circulation passage 32 to a hydrogen generator 37 for electrolysis, a hydrogen gas supply passage 41 for supplying hydrogen gas generated in the hydrogen generator 37 to the drinking water in the circulation passage 32, and a water supply passage 31 for connecting the bottom 21a of the water storage tank 21 and a faucet 13. The water storage tank 21 has an upper opening through which whole inner wall is visible and a lid 12 to seal the upper opening. The hydrogen generator 37 is equipped with a discharge passage 34 for discharging the drinking water from an exhaust valve 15. The water supply passage 31, the circulation passage 32, the electrolysis passage 33, and the discharge passage 34 have no filter and are washable with flushing water.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen water server that can generate hydrogen water (hydrogen-containing drinking water) and store the water so that it can be freely drunk at any time.

  In recent years, hydrogen water, in which hydrogen gas is dissolved in drinking water, has been consumed as a healthy drink. Hydrogen water is generated and stored in a tank so that it can be freely consumed at any time. Hydrogen water servers (also called water servers, water dispensers, etc.) have been proposed.

  A conventional hydrogen water server, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, purchases drinking water that has been subjected to aseptic processing by a user (hereinafter referred to as “sterile processing water”) in a drinking water container such as a gallon bottle, A necessary amount of aseptic treated water is transferred from the drinking water container to a water tank on the server side and cooled, or hydrogen water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved is taken out from the water tap of the server. In addition, since the amount of hydrogen dissolved in the generated hydrogen water decreases with time, a circulation channel for replenishing hydrogen gas so as to contain a certain amount or more of dissolved hydrogen is provided in the hydrogen water server. The amount of dissolved hydrogen in the drinking water is kept constant.

JP 2011-147923 A

In the conventional hydrogen water server described above, it is important to prevent germs from growing in the portion through which aseptic treated water passes. Therefore, while preventing the leakage of water at the portion of the attachment port connecting the drinking water container provided at the upper part of the water tank (cold water tank) on the server side, the diameter of the attachment port is set so that germs do not enter from the vicinity of the attachment port. It is made smaller according to the diameter of the connection port of the drinking water container. Therefore, the inside of the water storage tank is not visible.
Moreover, since aseptically treated water is charged, it is not preferable in terms of cost to use aseptically treated water for washing. For this reason, each flow path in the server eliminates an open portion other than the attachment port to prevent invasion of germs as much as possible, so that it is usually unnecessary to clean the flow path.

  Further, some hydrogen water servers have filters such as a cation filter and an air dressing filter arranged on the flow path as described in Patent Document 1 above. The filter mounted on the flow path is usually filled with a filter material for exerting the function as a filter, and this acts as a resistance that hinders the flow for aseptic treated water passing through the filter. The same applies to a filter attached with a function or purpose different from that of the filter described in Patent Document 1. Therefore, it is physically difficult for a hydrogen water server with a filter mounted on the flow path to perform sufficient cleaning with the filter attached even if the sterile water is used to wash the flow path with flowing water. .

  For the above reasons, the conventional hydrogen water server uses aseptic treated water, and the flow path through which the aseptic treated water flows has a sealed structure to suppress the growth of germs. There was no need to wash. Then, when performing maintenance work such as filter replacement after long-term use, the flow path is disassembled and washed.

  The present invention radically changes the design philosophy from the conventional hydrogen water server, and it is a hydrogen water server that uses tap water for drinking without purchasing aseptic treated water. An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen water server that can be cleaned.

  The hydrogen water server of the present invention made to solve the above problems includes a water storage tank for storing drinking water, and a circulation channel for sucking drinking water from the bottom of the water storage tank and returning it to the water storage tank using a liquid feed pump. A part of the drinking water from the circulation flow path to be sent to a hydrogen generator for electrolysis, and hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen generator is joined to the circulation flow path to A hydrogen water server comprising a hydrogen gas supply channel for supplying hydrogen gas to drinking water flowing through a circulation channel, and a water supply channel for connecting a bottom of the water storage tank and a water tap, wherein the water storage tank comprises: A discharge passage that has an upper opening that allows visual confirmation of the entire inner wall of the tank and a lid that seals the upper opening, and that discharges drinking water in the hydrogen generator from a discharge valve. And the circulation is provided. Flow path, wherein the electrolysis flow path, the water supply channel, wherein the discharge channel has to be configured to be washed with running water without providing a filter.

According to the present invention, first, potable tap water is stored in the water storage tank as drinking water. Then, drinking water in the water storage tank is sucked using a liquid feed pump, the circulation passage is recirculated, and hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen generator of the electrolysis passage is transferred from the hydrogen gas supply passage to the circulation passage. The drinking water flowing through the circulation channel is converted into hydrogen water and returned to the water storage tank. The hydrogen water produced in this way can be taken out of the water tap and can be freely drunk.
And when stopping use of a hydrogen water server, running water washing is performed. In other words, all the drinking water (hydrogen water) remaining in the water storage tank is finally discharged from the water tap, but before that, the circulating flow path is washed with flowing water by circulating it in the circulation path with a liquid feed pump. I do. For the electrolysis channel, the drain valve of the discharge channel is opened, and residual water in the water storage tank is discharged through the discharge channel to perform running water cleaning.
If the amount of water required for washing the circulating flow path or electrolysis flow path is insufficient, wash the running water while opening the lid and adding tap water. At this time, since there are no filters in the circulation flow path, the electrolysis flow path, and the discharge flow path, the running water that becomes the washing water can flow through each flow path without resistance, and the running water washing can be easily performed. .
Further, since the water storage tank is provided with an upper opening through which the entire inner wall can be seen, the water tank can be opened to visually check the degree of dirt on the inner wall and can be easily cleaned. Here, the “top opening that allows visual confirmation of the entire inner surface of the water storage tank” means that the entire inner wall of the tank can be visually confirmed if the lid diameter is the same as or larger than the bottom of the tank. Applicable if it is a cylinder or a truncated cone with a narrow bottom.
After the circulation channel, the electrolysis channel, and the water storage tank are cleaned, the water in the water storage tank is discharged from the water tap. In this way, the entire flow path and the water storage tank in the hydrogen water server are cleaned.

  According to the present invention, since the inside of the water storage tank of the hydrogen water server and the entire piping channel can be washed with running water, hygiene management is facilitated. In addition, since tap water can be used for cleaning, the cost of water for running water cleaning can be kept low.

In the above invention, the diameter of the lid is preferably larger than 10 cm.
If the lid diameter is larger than 10 cm, it is possible to clean the inner wall of the water storage tank more carefully because it is possible to clean it with a hand directly.

In the above invention, the hydrogen generator is provided with an inlet for drinking water from the electrolysis channel at the top and an outlet to the discharge channel at the bottom, and the discharge valve is more than the hydrogen generator. It may be provided on the lower side.
Thereby, the water in a hydrogen generator or a discharge channel can be discharged from a discharge valve without forcibly sucking with a liquid feed pump.

The external view of the hydrogenous water server which is one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure and flow path inside the hydrogen water server of FIG. The flow-path figure which shows the use condition of the hydrogen water server of FIG. 1, and the state at the time of water tank washing | cleaning. The flow chart which shows the hydrogen water generation state (hydrogen generator operation state) which supplies and supplements hydrogen gas to drinking water, and the state at the time of pipe washing of a circulation channel (hydrogen generator stop state). The flow path diagram which shows the state at the time of piping cleaning of a hydrogen generator and a discharge flow path.

Hereinafter, a hydrogen water server according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a hydrogen water server 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The hydrogen water server 1 includes a server main body 11 and a lid 12 attached to the upper surface thereof. On the front surface of the server main body 11, a faucet (cock) 13 that serves as an outlet for drinking water (hydrogen water), a water tray (drain) 14, a discharge valve 15 that serves as an outlet of a discharge passage 34 described later, and an operation panel 16. Is provided.

  On the operation panel 16, a cooling operation by an evaporator 22, which will be described later, and a hydrogen supply / compensation operation (automatic / manual) by a liquid feed pump 35 and a hydrogen generator 37 can be performed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration and flow path of the hydrogen water server 1. A cylindrical and bottomed water storage tank 21 is disposed immediately below the upper surface of the server body 11 so that the upper opening of the water storage tank 21 can be sealed with a lid 12. A cooling evaporator 22 is wound around the outer wall of the lower portion of the water storage tank 21, and the entire water storage tank 21 except for the upper opening portion is covered with a heat insulating material 23.

  The diameter of the water storage tank 21 is about 16 cm (preferably about 10 cm to 20 cm). When the lid 12 is opened, the entire inner wall can be visually confirmed, and the inner wall should be cleaned with a soft and clean cloth or a soft brush. It is made to be able to. In addition, the water storage tank 21 is provided with an inlet / outlet of a flow path at the bottom 21a so that the remaining water in the water storage tank 21 can be discharged in its entirety.

  Next, each flow path will be described. The flow path through which the drinking water in the hydrogen water server 1 flows includes a water supply flow path 31, a circulation flow path 32, an electrolysis flow path 33, and a discharge flow path 34.

  The water supply channel 31 connects the water intake 31 a of the bottom 21 a of the water storage tank 21 and the water tap 13. While being used as the hydrogen water server 1, the water supply channel 31 is used to send drinking water (hydrogen water) stored and cooled in the water storage tank 21 to the water tap 13. After the use is stopped, it is used as one of the channels for discharging the residual water in the water storage tank 21.

  The circulation channel 32 is connected to the inlet 35a of the liquid feed pump 35 through the circulation channel inlet 32a, the branching portion 32b, and the merging portion 32c of the bottom 21a, and further hydrogen gas is introduced into the liquid from the outlet 35b of the liquid feed pump 35. It is connected to the circulation channel return port 32d of the bottom portion 21a through a mixer 36 for mixing.

  The electrolysis channel 33 is connected to the inlet 37a provided on the hydrogen generator 37 from the branch part 32b.

  The discharge channel 34 is connected to the discharge valve 15 from a drinking water outlet 37 c provided at the lower part of the hydrogen generator 37. The discharge valve 15 is provided below the hydrogen generator 37 (drinking water outlet 37c). When the discharge valve 15 is opened, drinking water is discharged without using a pump.

  In the hydrogen generator 37, hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are generated by electrolysis. Among these, the hydrogen gas passes through the hydrogen gas outlet 37b at the bottom of the hydrogen generator 37, and reversely blocks the passage of water. The gas is supplied to the circulation flow path 32 via the hydrogen gas supply flow path 41 that reaches the junction 32 c via the stop valve 38. Further, the oxygen gas is discharged to the outside through the oxygen gas discharge channel 42 from the oxygen gas outlet 37d above the hydrogen generator 37.

Next, each operation | movement by the hydrogen water server 1 of this invention is demonstrated.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the state of use as the hydrogen water (drinking water) server 1 and the state when the water storage tank 21 is washed.
When used as the hydrogen water server 1, the evaporator 22 is operated to cool the drinking water (or hydrogen water in which hydrogen gas is dissolved) in the water storage tank 21, and the water supply passage 13 is opened by opening the water tap 13. 31 is free to drink cold water (hydrogen water) at any time.
Further, when the water storage tank 21 is washed and drained after the use as the hydrogen water server 1 is finished, the water tap 13 is opened and discharged.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which hydrogen gas is supplied to and supplemented with drinking water in the water storage tank 21 by operating the hydrogen generator 37 to form hydrogen water, and the hydrogen generator 37 is stopped to circulate the flow path. It is a flow path figure which shows the state which performs 32 piping washing | cleaning.
When hydrogen gas is generated and supplied to the drinking water in the water storage tank 21, the liquid feed pump 35 and the hydrogen generator 37 are operated. As a result, a flow that circulates in the circulation flow path 32 is formed, and the drinking water that has been divided by the branch portion 32b is electrolyzed by the hydrogen generator 37 to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The hydrogen gas passes through a check valve (hydrogen permeation valve) 38 via the hydrogen gas supply channel 41 to reach the junction 32c, and is sent to the mixer 36 together with the drinking water in the circulation channel 32 by the liquid feed pump 35. Thus, hydrogen gas is sufficiently dissolved and returned to the water storage tank 21. Thereafter, when the water tap 13 is opened, the hydrogen water can be drunk.

  Further, when the use as the hydrogen water server 1 is stopped and the circulation passage 32 is cleaned, only the liquid feed pump 35 is operated. Thereby, since the drinking water (hydrogen water) in the water storage tank 21 is circulated in the circulation flow path by the liquid feed pump 35, the running water is continuously washed. Thereafter, the water tap 13 is opened to drain the sewage after washing with running water.

FIG. 5 is a flow path diagram showing a state when pipe cleaning of the hydrogen generator 37 and the discharge flow path 34 is performed.
First, the liquid feed pump 35 is stopped and the hydrogen generator 37 is also stopped and the discharge valve 15 is opened, so that the drinking water (hydrogen water) in the water storage tank 21 flows into the hydrogen generator 37 from the branch portion 32b, Since it flows from the discharge flow path 34 to the discharge valve 15, running water washing is continued for a while.

  Since the water storage tank 21, the water supply channel 31, the circulation channel 32, the discharge channel 34, and the hydrogen generator 37 are washed with running water, all the channels through which drinking water flows can be washed with running water. , The generation of germs can be suppressed.

Although the above has been described when the use of the hydrogen water server is stopped, similar washing with running water may be performed not only at the time of stop but also immediately before the start of use.
In addition, an automatic cleaning program is incorporated so that the water storage tank, the circulation flow path, and the hydrogen generator are cleaned in order, and the whole water cleaning process is performed by a single button operation on the operation panel. Good.

  The present invention is used in a hydrogen water server that stores potable hydrogen water.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hydrogen water server 11 Server main body 12 Cover 13 Water faucet 14 Water receiving tray 15 Drain valve 16 Operation panel 21 Water storage tank 21a Bottom 31 Water supply flow path 32 Circulation flow path 33 Electrolysis flow path 34 Discharge flow path 35 Liquid feed pump 36 Mixer 37 Hydrogen generator 38 Check valve 41 Hydrogen gas supply flow path 42 Oxygen gas discharge flow path

Claims (3)

A water storage tank for storing drinking water;
A circulation path for sucking drinking water from the bottom of the water storage tank using a liquid feed pump and returning it to the water storage tank;
An electrolysis channel that diverts a part of drinking water from the circulation channel and sends it to a hydrogen generator for electrolysis;
A hydrogen gas supply channel for supplying hydrogen gas to drinking water flowing through the circulation channel by merging the hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen generator with the circulation channel;
A hydrogen water server comprising a water supply channel connecting a bottom of the water storage tank and a water tap,
The water storage tank has an upper opening capable of visually confirming the entire inner wall of the tank and a lid for sealing the upper opening.
The hydrogen generator is provided with a discharge flow path for discharging drinking water in the hydrogen generator from a discharge valve,
A hydrogen water server configured to be able to wash running water without providing a filter in the circulation channel, the electrolysis channel, the water supply channel, and the discharge channel. The hydrogen water server according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the lid is larger than 10 cm. The hydrogen generator is provided with an inlet for drinking water from the electrolysis channel at the top and an outlet to the discharge channel at the bottom, and the discharge valve is provided below the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen water server according to claim 1 or 2 to be used.

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