JP3138050B2 - Chlorine generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chlorine generator used for sterilizing stored tap water, such as a storage device for storing tap water (for example, a beverage vending machine).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In equipment for storing tap water, the chlorine concentration in the stored tap water decreases with time, and the sterilizing effect is lost. Therefore, for example, a proposal has been made to improve the sterilization effect by energizing a pair of electrodes in contact with tap water in a tank storing tap water and converting chlorine ions contained in the tap water to chlorine by electrolysis (JP-A-61-1986). 283391), and a proposal for further improving the function (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-29).
No. 0293). The former is a method in which electrolysis is performed for a predetermined time at a predetermined time set in advance by a timer, and the latter is a method of estimating a change in conductivity as a change in chloride ion concentration and correcting the time of electrolysis to correct chlorine. It controls the amount of generation. However, both perform electrolysis regardless of the chlorine concentration of the stored tap water, and even if the chlorine ion concentration is less than the concentration required for chlorine generation,
Electrolysis was carried out, and unnecessary electricity was supplied.

[0003]

In the prior art, chlorine is generated irrespective of the chlorine concentration of stored tap water,
Since electricity is supplied even after the reduction of chlorine ions, there are problems such as generation of chlorine odor and chlorine concentration not satisfying the water quality standard (0.1 ppm or more).

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a tank for storing tap water, a pair of electrodes disposed in the tank and in contact with the tap water, a power supply for energizing the electrodes, A chlorine measuring device for measuring the chlorine concentration, a comparator for comparing the chlorine concentration measured by the chlorine measuring device with a reference chlorine concentration, and a control for energizing or stopping the electrodes by the output of the comparator. When the chlorine concentration of tap water is equal to or less than a reference value based on the output of the comparator, the controller supplies electricity to the electrodes to convert chlorine ions into chlorine by electrolysis, and the chlorine meter performs the measurement multiple times. When the measured chlorine ion concentration falls below the reference value, the power supply to the electrode is stopped.

[0005] Further, a drain valve attached to the tank,
A drain device is provided, and the drain device stops energizing the electrode and opens a drain valve when a plurality of measured values of chlorine concentration are less than a reference value in the chlorine concentration measurement results. It is configured to drain the stored tap water and store new tap water.

[0006]

[Action] The chlorine concentration in tap water is measured by a chlorine measuring device, and the output of this comparator is compared with the reference chlorine concentration. Then, sterilization is performed by converting chlorine ions into chlorine, and when the chlorine ion concentration of the measurement results obtained a plurality of times falls below a reference value, the power supply to the electrodes is stopped.

When the results of the chlorine concentration measurement performed a plurality of times are below the reference value, the power supply to the electrodes is stopped and the drain valve is opened,
Drain the stored tap water and store new tap water.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1) is a tank for storing tap water, (2) is a water pipe connected to a water supply valve (3) connected to the upper part of the tank (1), and (4) is connected to a lower part of the tank (1). A drain pipe, (5) is an electromagnetic drain valve provided on the drain pipe, (6) is a water guide pipe connected to a lower portion of the tank (1), and has an open end facing, for example, a water supply window (not shown). The on-off valve (7) provided in a part is opened and closed as necessary. (8) (8) is a pair of electrodes made of dissimilar materials disposed in the tank (1), and (9) is a chlorine measuring device disposed near the inner wall of the tank (1). Is measured a plurality of times at predetermined time intervals.

(10) A comparator connected to the chlorine measuring device (9), which compares the chlorine concentration measured by the chlorine measuring device (9) with a reference value (0.1 ppm or more) and outputs the result. is there. (11) is a controller connected to the electrodes (8) and (8). If the measured value of the chlorine measuring device (9) is at least one time smaller than a reference value, the controller is connected to the electrode (8).
Power is supplied to (8), and when it is larger than the reference value, the power supply to the electrodes (8) and (8) is stopped. (12) is a drainage device linked and connected to the water supply valve (3), the drainage valve (5) and the comparator (10). (13) is a power supply.

Next, the operation will be described. When the storage time of tap water in the tank (1) is short, when the chlorine concentration measured by the chlorine measuring device (9) is equal to or higher than the reference value, there is no output from the comparator (10) and the controller ( No current is supplied from 11) to the electrodes (8) and (8).

For this reason, various bacteria in the tank (1) and the like are sterilized by chlorine originally contained in tap water.

However, when the storage time is prolonged, the chlorine concentration is reduced due to evaporation, oxidation and the like, and the sterilization ability is reduced. Therefore, the chlorine concentration measured by the chlorine measuring device (9) becomes equal to or less than the reference value, the comparator (10) outputs, and the controller (11) applies a voltage to the electrodes (8) and (8). Electrolysis is performed by applying a voltage to the electrode to convert chlorine ions in the water to chlorine, thereby performing a sterilizing action. In a state where the electrodes (8) and (8) are energized, the measurement interval of the chlorine measuring device (9) is made shorter than when the energization is stopped to prevent the chlorine concentration from becoming much higher than the reference value.

[0013] Thus, in the chlorine concentration measurement device (9), when the measured values of the chlorine concentration in a plurality of times are all less than the reference value, the chlorine concentration has decreased to a value at which conversion to chlorine cannot be performed. The power supply to the electrodes (8) and (8) is stopped, and the drainage valve (5) is opened at the output of the water draining device (12) to drain the stored water in the tank (1) which has become easily rotted. After emptying, the drain valve (5) is closed and the water supply valve (3) is opened to store fresh tap water.

In this case, the replacement of tap water is performed, for example, by dividing the inside of the tank (1) equally and replacing the tank by every divided amount, and when the output of the chlorine measuring device (9) exceeds the reference value. Returns to the normal chlorine concentration measurement mode, and if the reference value is not reached, the electrodes (8) and (8) are energized to return to the normal chlorine concentration measurement mode when the reference value is reached. If the reference value is not reached at this time, the same check is performed by further replacing the divided amount.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the chlorine concentration in tap water is measured, and when the chlorine concentration is less than the reference value, electricity is supplied to the electrode to convert chlorine ions to chlorine, thereby maintaining the sterilizing effect. When the chlorine ion concentration measured by the chlorine measuring device a plurality of times falls below the reference value, the power supply to the electrodes is stopped to prevent useless electrolysis.

Further, when the measured values of a plurality of times are equal to or less than the reference value, the power supply to the electrodes is stopped and the drainage valve of the tank is opened to replace the tap water. Water can be obtained without germ propagation without impairing the bactericidal effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a chlorine generator according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tank 5 Drain valve 8 Electrode 9 Chlorine measuring device 10 Comparator 11 Controller 12 Drainage device 13 Power supply

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI C02F 1/46 C02F 1/46 Z 1/76 1/76 A JP-A-3-181389 (JP, A) JP-A-3-206596 (JP, A) JP-A-3-258393 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1 / 50,1 / 46,1 / 76 G07F 13/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tank for storing tap water, a pair of electrodes disposed in the tank and in contact with the tap water, a power supply for energizing the electrodes, and a chlorine meter for measuring a chlorine concentration in the tap water. A comparator for comparing the chlorine concentration measured by the chlorine measuring device with a reference chlorine concentration, and a controller for energizing or stopping the electrode by an output of the comparator, wherein the controller When the chlorine concentration of tap water is below the reference value based on the output of the comparator, the electrode is energized to convert chloride ions into chlorine by electrolysis, and the chlorine ion concentration measured multiple times by a chlorine meter is the reference value. The chlorine generator stops supplying power to the electrode when the voltage is lower than the above. 2. A drain valve attached to the tank and a water draining device, wherein the water draining device has a plurality of measured values of a chlorine concentration less than or equal to a reference value in a plurality of chlorine concentration measurement results. 2. The chlorine generator according to claim 1, wherein the current supply to the electrode is stopped, the drain valve is opened, the stored tap water is drained, and new tap water is stored.