JP2646937B2 - Electrolysis controller of ion water generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water by applying a DC voltage to tap water and the like, and what kind of water is supplied between a positive electrode and a negative electrode for water electrolysis. However, the present invention provides an electrolysis control device of an ion water generator that can continuously electrolyze regardless of the water quality.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrolysis of ordinary domestic water containing various ions, the water on the cathode side is used as drinking water by increasing the alkali ion concentration, and the water on the anode side is used as astringent water having a cosmetic effect. Is known (Notice of the Ministry of Health and Welfare Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau, Yakuhin No. 763, October 8, 1965).

As a method of obtaining alkaline ionized water by electrolyzing water, a batch method (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 55-31459) has long been used.
In recent years, a continuous type in which a generator and water supply are directly connected and electrolysis is performed while water is flowing has become the mainstream. When a DC voltage of several tens of volts is applied between the positive and negative electrodes at intervals of several mm provided inside the water electrolysis tank, several tens of volts may be applied depending on the water quality.
/ Dm ² flows, and water is electrolyzed. On the cathode side, alkali ions contained in water (for example, Ca ²⁺ , Mg ²⁺ ,
As the concentration of K ⁺ , Na ⁺ increases, water is electrolyzed to generate hydrogen, hydroxyl ions are generated, and the cathode water becomes alkaline. On the other hand, on the anode side, anions (for example,
The concentration of Cl ⁻ , SO ₄ ²⁻ , NO ₃ ^−, etc.) increases and oxygen is generated to generate hydrogen ions, so that it becomes acidic.

[0004] Although the total amount of positive and negative ions in raw water has a deep relationship with the hardness of water, etc., when compared at the same applied voltage,
The electrolysis current decreases as the ion content decreases, and increases as the ion content increases. Since this current value and the PH value of the alkaline ionized water are closely related, monitor this
It is important to control. The electrolysis current value depends on the applied voltage
Not only operational factors such as flow rate of water flow but also environmental factors such as water quality and water temperature, that is, water sources, seasons, use time, and the like change. Therefore, even if the same voltage is always applied uniformly, the PH of the obtained water changes greatly each time. In addition, when the electrolysis current is too large, an excessive load exceeding the design specification is applied to the power transformer, which may cause a failure or water with a PH value more than necessary for the user. For this reason, the need to detect and control the electrolysis current is the same not only in this type of device but also in various industrial electrolysis devices including salt electrolysis in general.

In the ionic water generator, various means and devices for current control are used, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-1
1693, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-163494, JP-A-2-203
989 and the like have been proposed, and although each has its own characteristics, they are not always the best and have drawbacks.

[0006]

As one of the control devices of these conventional ion water generators, there is a method of stopping power supply to the electrodes by a breaker circuit. In this method, when an overcurrent is detected by an electrolytic current detection circuit, power supply is stopped using a breaker circuit and a timer circuit.
Although there is no problem in terms of safety, since power supply is stopped, electrolysis cannot be performed during this time, and untreated water comes out as it is, making continuous use impossible.

[0007] Apart from this, there is a method using a current adjusting transistor as a control means. However, if a large current is to be adjusted by using a power transistor, a large space is required to dispose the radiating fins, wasteful heat is generated, and power efficiency is deteriorated.

Another method is the same as that of using a current control transistor, but there is a method of controlling the voltage while detecting the electric resistance of water. In this case, as the resistance measuring element, the existing main electrode in the electrolytic cell may be shared for that purpose, but since current cannot flow through the electrolytic cell while switching to the resistance measuring circuit side, the electrolytic cell is used. Is interrupted, and a state in which no ohmic loss heat is generated when power is not supplied is measured. Therefore, unlike a resistance value during actual electrolysis, an error occurs and it is difficult to control the voltage at an optimum voltage.

[0009]

According to the electrolysis control device of the present invention, there is no need to cut off the current during electrolysis with a breaker, use a power transistor, or switch the main circuit of electrolysis as in the prior art. Is constituted by the following circuit. That is, the device of the present invention includes an amplifier and an AD converter as means for measuring the electrolytic current, and
A microcontroller that performs the calculations required for electrolysis control, and a feedback control device consisting of setting switches, decoders, relay circuits, and rectifier circuits connected to the microcomputer. The applied voltage for continuing the electrolysis can be selected.

[0010]

In the electrolysis controller for an ion water generator according to the present invention, a current measuring resistor called a shunt or a shunt is usually used as a means for measuring an electrolysis current. This is connected between a DC power supply and an electrode to measure the ohmic loss. Since this voltage difference is usually as small as several mV, the voltage difference is once amplified, converted to a digital signal, and input to a microcomputer. From the viewpoint of operation, the contents of the microcomputer program
Read the value of the electrolytic current that changes every moment, calculate and set the optimal applied voltage required to obtain water of the target PH intensity input from the setting switch, and if an excessive current is likely to flow , It automatically switches to the applied voltage one rank lower. Water quality, temperature,
If the flow rate or the like changes, the electrolytic current also changes, so that the change is reflected in the set voltage, so that the electrolysis is always performed under optimum conditions.

[0011]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing main constituent circuits used in an electrolysis control device of an ion water generator according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an electrolytic cell, which includes, as main components, an anode 2, a cathode 3, a separator 4,
A water inlet 5, an alkali outlet 6 and an acid outlet 7 are shown. The voltage applied to the positive and negative cathodes 2 and 3 is a voltage obtained by full-wave rectifying the secondary voltage of the transformer. Here, the cathode 3 is connected to a power supply circuit via a resistor 8 for measuring an electrolytic current. I have. The voltage signal across the resistor 8 is input to the microcomputer 9 through an amplifier and an AD converter. The microcomputer 9 is R
It is composed of an AM, a ROM and a CPU, and basic data and a sequence necessary for electrolysis are stored in a RAM in advance. Operating conditions, such as the PH value or strength of the ionic water or the time of water flow, electrolysis, and washing, are captured by operating the setting switch, and the calculation of the electrolytic current value required to obtain the target water and the actual current Comparison with the values or output control necessary for maintaining the electrolysis under the optimum conditions is performed on the microcomputer side. It is natural to start or stop energization every time the water tap is opened and closed.However, as a means for judging the presence or absence of water flowing into the electrolytic tank, always apply a minimum necessary low voltage, It is also possible to determine the energization timing by determining a change in the current flowing through the resistor 8 with a microcomputer. Reference numeral 10 denotes a voltage selection circuit, which includes a decoder, a transistor for driving a relay, a relay, and a contact thereof. The output signal from the microcomputer CPU is 2
Since it is a binary digital signal, it is processed by a decoder and then put into the base of a transistor for driving a relay, and an applied voltage suitable for a target electrolysis, that is, a secondary voltage of a transformer is selected and set by a relay contact.

[0012]

As described above, since the electrolysis control device of the ion water generator according to the present invention is a feedback system using a current measuring circuit, a microcomputer, and a voltage selection circuit, electrolysis is performed under the set conditions. Since it can be maintained, the ion water generator incorporating this control device can easily select and control the PH intensity of water freely and constantly, and therefore has a very large practical value.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration circuit of an electrolysis control device for an ion water generator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Electrolyzer 8 Resistance 9 Microcomputer 10 Voltage selection circuit. Reference Signs List 11 amplifier 12 AD converter 13 setting switch 14 rectifier circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-48-98084 (JP, A) JP-A-52-32886 (JP, A) JP-A-5-237477 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 293086 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 56-10991 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 48-111696 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 2-7676 (JP, Y2)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An amplifier (11) for amplifying a voltage between both ends of a current measuring resistor (8) for water electrolysis and converting the voltage to a digital signal, an AD converter (12), and a target PH intensity are selected. Setting switch (13), a microcomputer (9) as a means for receiving the digital signal, calculating an optimum applied voltage according to the water quality and protecting the overcurrent, and a transformer connected to the output of the microcomputer. A voltage selection circuit (10) for selecting and setting a secondary voltage; and a rectifier circuit (14).
And an electrolysis control device for an ion water generator.