JP2991111B2 - Non-diaphragm type water electrolyzer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrolytic device for producing acidic water and / or alkaline water by electrolysis of water. More specifically, the present invention relates to a diaphragmless electrolysis device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional water electrolysis apparatus is of a diaphragm type, and an electrolysis flow path between opposed electrodes is a nonwoven fabric which restricts the passage of water.
The cathode compartment and the anode compartment are separated by a diaphragm such as an unglazed plate. When a voltage is applied between both electrodes, water is electrolyzed, so that acidic water is generated in the anode chamber and alkaline water is generated in the cathode chamber. The generated acidic water and alkaline water are
It is taken out from an acidic water outlet and an alkaline water outlet, respectively.

It is desirable that the obtained electrolyzed water (acidic water and / or alkaline water) exhibit a desired pH according to its use. In view of the above, in the prior art relating to the diaphragm type electrolysis device, it has been proposed to provide a flow control valve in the acidic water extracting system and / or the alkaline water extracting system to control the pH of the acidic water and / or the alkaline water ( For example, JP-A-53-5850). The principle is that if the flow velocity in the cathode chamber or anode chamber is reduced by controlling the flow rate, the residence time of the water in the electrolysis chamber becomes longer, so that the electrolysis is performed strongly and strong alkaline water with a high pH value (or pH (Strongly acidic water with a low value).

[0004]

However, the problem of the diaphragm type electrolysis apparatus is that bacteria and microorganisms tend to adhere and proliferate on the diaphragm, and the diaphragm is clogged by the insulator due to long-term use. That is, the current flow is interrupted to lower the electrolysis efficiency.

That is, bacteria and microorganisms such as Escherichia coli easily inhabit the water-wetted membrane, and insoluble and insulative precipitates such as magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate adhere and deposit on the membrane.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a non-diaphragm type electrolysis apparatus which eliminates bacteria and microorganisms and can guarantee efficient electrolysis over a long period of time by eliminating the diaphragm. Is to do.

[0007]

One feature of the present invention is that a pair of flat anode and cathode plates are placed in an electrolytic cell provided with a raw water inlet without a diaphragm interposed therebetween, and A non-diaphragm-type electrolytic flow path is formed between the electrode plates by being opposed in parallel with a minute gap such that a laminar flow is formed when passing water, and the anode plate side is provided downstream of the electrolytic flow path. And an alkaline water outlet communicating with the cathode plate side.

[0008] Since the gap between the anode plate and the cathode plate is set to be minute, the water flow flowing into the electrolytic flow channel is subjected to viscous action while flowing along the surface of the electrode plate to form a laminar flow. I do. The water flow in the form of laminar flow is electrolyzed while flowing through the electrolysis channel,
Acidic water is generated on the surface of the anode plate, and alkaline water is generated on the surface of the cathode plate. Since a laminar flow is maintained in the electrolytic flow channel, the acidic water generated on the surface of the anode plate flows along the surface of the anode plate as it is, and flows out from the acidic water outlet. Further, the alkaline water generated on the surface of the cathode plate flows along the surface of the cathode plate and flows out from the alkaline water outlet. In this way, the acidic water and the alkaline water generated by the electrolysis can be separately taken out without using a conventional diaphragm.

By the way, unlike the conventional diaphragm type electrolysis apparatus having a diaphragm for separating the cathode chamber and the anode chamber, in the non-diaphragm / laminar flow type electrolysis apparatus of the present invention, the cathode chamber and the anode chamber are separated. Since there is no separating membrane, a laminar flow whose pH changes gradually from the anode plate to the cathode plate is formed in the electrolytic flow channel. In order to obtain acidic water (or alkaline water) having a desired pH, acidic water (or alkaline water flowing along the surface of the cathode plate) flowing along the surface of the anode plate is obtained by: It must be smoothly extracted from the rest of the laminar flow without creating turbulence.

However, the gap between the anode plate and the cathode plate is extremely small so as to form a laminar flow, and furthermore, strongly acidic water (or the cathode plate) flowing along the surface of the anode plate. The boundary layer (the layer closest to the electrode plate) of the strongly alkaline water flowing along the surface of the electrode is extremely thin (its thickness is generally less than a fraction of the electrode gap), so that the desired pH
It is extremely difficult to selectively extract acidic water (or alkaline water), particularly strong acidic water (or strong alkaline water), having residual water from the rest of the laminar flow.

Therefore, another feature of the present invention is that one or both of the acidic water outlet and the alkaline water outlet are provided with:
By providing flow rate control means for controlling the ratio between the flow rate to the acidic water outlet and the flow rate to the alkaline water outlet, and by controlling the flow rate ratio between the acidic water outlet and the alkaline water outlet, the diaphragmless electrolysis is performed. The purpose is to control the ratio of the laminar flow having a gradual pH flowing in the flow channel to be distributed to the acidic water outlet and the alkaline water outlet.

For example, when it is desired to obtain a strongly acidic water, the boundary layer of the strongly acidic water flowing along the surface of the anode plate is sent exclusively to the acidic water outlet, and the remainder of the laminar flow containing the alkaline water is discharged. By controlling the flow rate ratio so that is sent to the alkaline water outlet, strongly acidic water can be obtained. Similarly, when it is desired to obtain strongly alkaline water, the boundary layer of strongly alkaline water flowing along the surface of the cathode plate is exclusively sent to the alkaline water outlet, and the remainder of the laminar flow containing acidic water is converted to acidic water. What is necessary is just to control a flow rate ratio so that it may be sent to a water intake.

That is, by controlling the flow rate ratio, a laminar flow component having an unnecessary pH, out of the laminar flow whose pH changes gradually, can be mixed into the outlet on the opposite side. For example,
When it is desired to obtain a strongly acidic water, the weakly acidic water is mixed into the alkaline water outlet, and when it is desired to obtain a strongly alkaline water, the weakly alkaline water is mixed into the acidic water outlet.
In this way, acidic water (or alkaline water) having a desired pH, particularly strong acidic water (or strong alkaline water), can be obtained without a diaphragm.

In a preferred embodiment, the acidic water outlet or the alkaline water outlet is opened on the downstream side of the electrolytic flow passage substantially perpendicularly to a plane passing through the working surface of the anode plate or the cathode plate, and the water is electrolyzed. And the alkaline water flowing along the anode plate or the alkaline water flowing along the cathode plate is separated from the laminar flow in the electrolytic flow channel in a substantially vertical direction.

[0015] According to this configuration, the acidic water and the alkaline water can be separated without generating turbulence in the downstream portion of the electrolytic flow path, and the strong acidic or alkaline water can be recovered. .

In another embodiment of the present invention, a tank having a predetermined capacity is provided between the raw water inlet and the electrolytic flow path,
An upstream portion of the electrolytic flow path is communicated with the tank chamber over substantially the entire width thereof.

With this configuration, since the tank chamber has a predetermined capacity and the electrode gap is narrow, the water flowing in from the raw water inflow port first fills the tank chamber slowly.
Therefore, when the water flows from the tank chamber into the electrolytic flow path, the water flow quickly forms a laminar flow, so that the approach distance required for forming the laminar flow can be minimized, and the size of the electrolytic apparatus can be reduced.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the accompanying drawings, an electrolysis apparatus according to the present invention has an electrolyzer 1. The electrolytic cell 1 has a raw water inflow port 2 at one end side, and a pair of flat electrodes 8 and 9 are accommodated in the electrolytic cell 1 in parallel to form a narrow electrolytic channel 7a therebetween. On the other end side of the electrolytic cell 1, there are provided an acidic water outlet 3 communicating with the anode plate 8 side of the electrolytic flow channel 7a, and an alkaline water outlet 4 communicating with the cathode plate 9 side of the electrolytic flow channel 7a. is there. As the electrolytic cell, a cell obtained by omitting a diaphragm from a conventional diaphragm-type electrolytic cell may be used. In this embodiment, the electrolytic cells shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are used in order to minimize the occurrence of turbulence. is there.

That is, the electrolytic cell 1 is formed in a thin vertical two-part container shape by the one-side container part 1a and the other-side container part 1b. It is a matter of course that both the one-side container portion 1a and the other-side container portion 1b are made of a waterproof material such as a synthetic resin.
It is desirable to use an insulating material to house the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate 9 described later. Also, the one-side container portion 1a
The other container part 1b is formed into a thin container having liquid tightness by interposing a packing 11 in a fitting part and mutually fastening with a plurality of fastening screws 12.

A raw water inlet 2 is provided at one end of the electrolytic cell 1, and an acidic water outlet 3 and an alkaline water outlet 4 are provided at the other end. That is, in the electrolytic cell 1, raw water such as tap water flowing from the raw water inlet 2 passes through the electrolytic cell 1 and flows out from the acidic water outlet 3 and the alkaline water outlet 4.

Further, in a portion of the electrolytic cell 1 downstream of the portion where the raw water inlet 2 communicates, the cross-sectional area of the raw water inlet 2 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the raw water inlet 2 over substantially the entire width of the electrolytic cell 1. A weir 5 forming a slit-shaped constricted flow path 10 is provided, and the slit-shaped constricted flow path 10 is provided upstream of the weir 5.
A tank chamber 6 having the same width as that of a predetermined capacity is provided.
The total width of the electrolytic cell 1 means an inner dimension in the left-right direction in FIGS. Therefore, both the width of the slit-shaped constricted flow path 10 and the width of the tank chamber 6 (the inner dimension in the horizontal direction in FIGS. 2 and 3) are both the electrolytic cell 1 (more precisely, the electrolytic flow path 7 described later).
a) has the full width dimension.

The slit gap (width in the left-right direction in FIG. 4) of the slit-shaped constricted flow path 10 is set so that the cross-sectional shape of the slit-shaped constricted flow path 10 is smaller than that of the tank chamber 6. I have. As described above, since the tank chamber 6 has a predetermined capacity and the flow path downstream of the slit-shaped narrow flow path 10 is narrower than the tank chamber 6, the water flowing from the raw water inlet 2 is First, the inside of the tank chamber 6 is filled slowly. Next, from the tank chamber 6 to the stenotic flow path 1
As the water flows into the electrolysis flow path through 0, the water flow quickly forms a laminar flow (flow without turbulence).

In the illustrated embodiment, a pre-stage weir 5a is also provided upstream of the weir 5, and a pre-stage tank chamber 6a is further provided upstream of the weir 5 so that water passes through the two stages of the weir 5 and the pre-stage weir 5a. It is supposed to. However, the former weir 5a and the former tank chamber 6a may be omitted. Further, the weir 5 is provided with a plurality of rectification projections 13 in the vertical direction as shown most clearly in FIG. 3, but these rectification projections 13 can also be omitted.

In the electrolytic layer 1, the above-mentioned slit-shaped constricted flow path 1 is provided.
The electrolysis chamber 7 is provided downstream of the electrolysis chamber 7.
A pair of flat anode plates 8 and cathode plates 9 are provided inside the electrolytic flow channel 7.
a is installed in parallel to form a. Electrode plate 8,
The gap between the pipes 9 is set so small that a laminar flow is formed in the electrolytic flow path (7a) when water is passed.

The material of the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate 9 is not particularly limited, but it is a matter of course that a corrosion-resistant metal is used, and a power supply (not shown) is provided between the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate 9. Is applied as in the prior art.

The slit-shaped constricted flow channel 10 and the electrolytic flow channel 7a between the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate 9 have substantially the same dimensions, and are substantially on the same plane to prevent the flow of water. It is more practical because it does not generate turbulence.

The upstream end of the acidic water outlet 3 communicates with the anode plate 8 downstream of the electrolytic flow channel 7a, and the upstream end of the alkaline water outlet 4 also downstream of the electrolytic flow channel 7a and the cathode plate 9 side. It is communicated to.

That is, since the upstream end of the acidic water outlet 3 is located on the anode plate 8 side downstream of the electrolytic flow channel 7a,
The acidic water generated by the electrolysis and flowing along the surface (working surface) of the anode plate 8 is discharged. Alkaline water outlet 4
Discharges the alkaline water generated by electrolysis and flowing along the surface of the cathode plate 9 because its upstream end is located on the cathode plate 9 side downstream of the electrolytic flow channel 7a.

The cross-sectional area of the acidic water outlet 3 and the alkaline water outlet 4 is set to be at least half the cross-sectional area of the electrolytic flow channel 7a formed by the gap between the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate 9. Although turbulence hardly occurs in the upstream portion of the electrolysis flow channel, in the illustrated embodiment, the collision plate 1 corresponding to substantially half of the electrolysis flow channel 7a on the anode plate 8 side is provided downstream of the electrolysis flow channel 7a.
4, the acidic water flowing along the surface of the anode plate 8 collides with the impingement plate 14, and flows back from a folding gap 18 formed between the downstream end of the anode plate 8 and the impingement plate 14. It flows into the road 15. This folded channel 1
At the downstream end of 5, an acidic water outlet 3 is provided. The folded flow path 15 is formed in a bulging portion 16 (see FIG. 2) bulging out from the one-side container 1a, and is located along the back surface of the anode plate 8.

As described above, in the illustrated embodiment, the position of the acidic water outlet 3 is spaced from the downstream end of the anode plate 8, and the return flow path 15 functions as a tank chamber for recovering a predetermined volume of acidic water. Therefore, the influence of the turbulent flow which may occur at the upstream portion of the acidic water outlet 3 is avoided.

On the other hand, in the illustrated embodiment, the alkaline water flowing along the surface of the cathode plate 9
4 and the upper gap 19 formed between the other side container portion 1b
However, a downstream tank chamber 17 having a predetermined capacity communicating with the electrolytic flow channel 7a via the upper gap 19 is provided downstream of the electrolytic flow channel 7a. Is connected to the downstream-side tank chamber 17.

That is, the downstream tank chamber 17 is interposed between the alkaline water outlet 4 and the electrolytic flow channel 7a, and has a predetermined capacity, so that local pressure fluctuations can be made uniform. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the influence of the turbulent flow which may occur at the upstream portion of the alkaline water outlet 4 is avoided by the action of equalizing the pressure fluctuation in the downstream tank chamber 17.

Referring to FIG. 1, one or both of the acidic water outlet 3 and the alkaline water outlet 4 has an outflow from the acidic water outlet 3 and an outflow from the alkaline water outlet 4. Are provided, and flow restrictors 51 and 52 are provided for controlling the flow ratio between the two.

The flow restrictors 51 and 52 are fixed restrictors,
Any of the variable throttles may be used.
a, 52a, orifices 51b, 52b, variable throttle valve 5
Although 1c and 52c are shown, one of these may be used, and it is a matter of course that a reduced diameter pipe (not shown) may be used instead of the orifices 51b and 52b. It is.

When water is passed through the electrolytic cell while applying a DC voltage between the anode plate 8 and the cathode plate 9, the water flow is electrolyzed while forming a laminar flow in the electrolytic flow channel 7a. As the laminar flow proceeds through the electrolytic flow channel 7a, the boundary layer near the anode plate 8 becomes the most acidic, and the boundary layer near the cathode plate 9 becomes the most alkaline, and the p-layer extends from the anode plate 8 to the cathode plate 9.
A gradual laminar flow of H is formed. Flow restrictors 51, 52
Is set to the same throttle ratio, the acidic water and the alkaline water generated by the electrolysis are divided into two at the center of the electrolytic flow channel 7a, and the acidic water and the alkaline water outlet 4
It will flow out at a flow ratio of one to one. In this case, relatively mild acidic water and alkaline water can be obtained.

When the flow rate ratio between the acidic water outlet 3 and the alkaline water outlet 4 is changed by changing the settings of the flow restrictors 51 and 52, the laminar flow component sent to the acidic water outlet 3 in the laminar flow whose pH changes gradually is The ratio of the laminar components sent to the alkaline water outlet 4 changes.

For example, when it is desired to obtain strongly acidic water at the acidic water outlet 3, the flow rate of the acidic water outlet 3 is reduced so that the strongly acidic boundary layer flowing along the surface of the anode plate 8 is exclusively used. The flow ratio may be controlled so that the remaining part of the laminar flow, which is sent to the acidic water outlet 3 and contains the weakly acidic, neutral and alkaline laminar components, is sent to the alkaline water outlet 4. On the other hand, when it is desired to obtain strong alkaline water at the alkaline water outlet 4, the boundary layer of the strong alkaline water flowing along the surface of the cathode plate 9 is exclusively sent to the alkaline water outlet 4, and the alkaline water is removed. The flow rate of the alkaline water outlet 4 may be reduced so that the remainder of the laminar flow containing neutral and acidic water is sent to the acidic water outlet.

In this way, only a very thin boundary layer of strongly acidic or strongly alkaline water flowing along the surface of the electrode plate is skillfully removed from the remainder of the laminar flow without generating turbulence. Can be separated. Alternatively, if the laminar flow component having an unnecessary pH in the laminar flow whose pH is gradually changed is caused to flow out from the outlet on the opposite side, acidic water or alkaline water having a desired pH can be supplied to one outlet. Can be obtained from

[0039]

The present invention provides a maintenance-free electrolyzer which is hygienic and can be operated with high electrolysis efficiency for a long period of time, since the diaphragm which was considered indispensable in the prior art is eliminated. be able to.

Further, a desired laminar flow component of the laminar flow whose pH changes gradually in the electrolytic flow channel 7a is distributed to the acidic water outlet 3 or the alkaline water outlet 4 by the flow control means 51, 52. Therefore, it is possible to extract an extremely thin boundary layer flowing along the surface of the electrode plate, and to obtain acidic water and / or alkaline water having a desired pH, particularly strong acidic water and / or strong alkaline water. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an electrolysis apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed front view of an electrolytic cell used in the electrolytic device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the other side container portion of the electrolytic cell.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Electrolysis tank 2: Raw water inlet 3: Acidic water outlet 4: Alkaline water outlet 7a: Electrolytic channel 8: Anode plate 9: Cathode plate 51, 52: Flow control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) C02F 1/46-1/48

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell (1) having a raw water inlet (2).
Inside, a pair of flat anode plate (8) and cathode plate (9)
A non-diaphragm-type electrolytic flow path is provided between the electrode plates (8, 9) by being opposed to each other in parallel with a small gap such that a laminar flow is formed when water is passed without any intervening diaphragm. (7a) is formed, and on the downstream side of the electrolytic flow path (7a), an acidic water outlet (3) communicating with the anode plate (8) side and an alkaline water outlet (3) communicating with the cathode plate (9) side. 4), and one or both of the acidic water outlet (3) and the alkaline water outlet (4) have a flow rate to the acidic water outlet (3) and an alkaline water outlet (4). Flow rate control means (51, 52) for controlling the ratio of the flow rate to the flow rate to the cathode plate (8) by controlling the flow rate ratio to flow through the non-diaphragm type electrolytic flow path (7a) from the anode plate (8). The laminar flow whose pH changes gradually during 9) is distributed between the acidic water outlet (3) and the alkaline water outlet (4). A non-diaphragm type water characterized by controlling the ratio of the acidic water or the alkaline water flowing out of the acidic water or alkaline water outlet (4) by controlling the ratio of the alkaline water flowing out of the acidic water outlet (3). Electrolysis equipment. 2. An electrolysis flow channel (3) substantially perpendicular to a plane passing through a working surface of an anode plate (8) or a cathode plate (9). 7a)
And the acidic water generated by the electrolysis of water and flowing along the anode plate (8) or the alkaline water flowing along the cathode plate (9) is substantially discharged from the laminar flow in the electrolytic flow path (7a). The diaphragmless electrolyzer according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyzer is separated in a vertical direction. 3. The raw water inlet (2) and an electrolytic flow path (7).
a tank chamber (6) having a predetermined capacity is provided between the tank chamber (6) and the upstream portion of the electrolytic flow path (7a) is communicated with the tank chamber (6) over substantially the entire width thereof. Item 7. A diaphragmless electrolysis device according to item 1 or 2.