JP3358234B2 - Alkaline ion water purifier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention electrolyzes raw water such as tap water and well water to produce alkaline ionized water used for drinking and medical use and acidic ionized water used as lotion and sterilization washing water. It relates to an alkali ion water purifier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a continuous electrolysis-type alkali ion water conditioner has become widespread. This alkali ion water purifier is
In the electrolytic cell, tap water or the like is electrolyzed to generate acidic ionized water on the anode side and alkaline ionized water on the cathode side.

[0003] A conventional continuous electrolysis type alkali ion water conditioner will be described below. FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a conventional alkali ion water conditioner, and FIG. 5 is a main part electric circuit diagram of a general alkali ion water conditioner. 1 is a raw water pipe such as tap water, 2 is a faucet, 3 is an alkali ion water purifier connected to the raw water pipe 1 via a faucet 2, 4 is an activated carbon which internally absorbs residual chlorine in raw water and general 5 is a water purifier equipped with a hollow fiber membrane and the like for removing bacteria and impurities, 5 is a mineral supply unit for increasing conductivity by adding calcium ions and other minerals such as calcium glycerophosphate and calcium lactate to raw water,
Reference numeral 6 denotes a flow sensor for detecting the flow rate and instructing the controller to be described later. 7 denotes an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water passing through the flow sensor 6, 8 denotes an electrolytic bath divided into two parts, and a lower part has a water flow portion. Diaphragms forming a pair of electrode chambers, 9 and 10
Electrodes disposed in each of the divided electrode chambers, 11 is a drain pipe for discharging water on the electrode 10 side (acid ion water when the electrode 10 is an anode), 12 is an electrolytic tank 7 and a drain pipe 11 A flow rate adjusting unit for adjusting the water discharge flow rate for efficiently generating alkali ion water and the like, which is disposed near the joint of the electrode, and 13 is a discharge for discharging water on the electrode 9 side (alkaline ion water when the electrode 9 is a cathode). A pipe 14 is an electromagnetic valve for draining the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell 7 and the washing water in which the scale is dissolved when washing the electrodes.
Reference numeral 15 denotes a water discharge pipe for draining water (acidic ion water when the electrode 10 is an anode) on the electrode 10 side or retained water or washing water in the electrolytic cell 7 via a drain pipe 11, and 16 denotes a cartridge ( A water purifier sensor for detecting the presence / absence of not shown), 17 is a power supply plug, 18 is a power supply unit for converting an AC power supplied from the power supply plug 17 to a DC power supply, and 19 is an alkali ion water purifier 3. A controller 20 for controlling the operation is an operation display section for displaying an operation state of the alkali ion water purifier 3. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 denotes the power supply unit 1.
8, a control DC power supply for generating a DC voltage and current required for control, etc., 23, an electrolytic DC power supply for generating a DC voltage and current required for electrolysis, and 24, a DC power supply for electrolysis A current transducer, which is arranged in front of 23 and detects the current flowing through the electrodes 9 and 10 of the electrolytic cell 7, 25 is a smoothing circuit that converts the signal of the current transducer 24 into a DC level and inputs it to the controller 19, and 26 is described later. An output control circuit for controlling the output voltage and the like by the controller, 27 is an electrolytic cell-electromagnetic valve switching relay, 28 is a polarity switching relay for switching the polarity of the electrodes 9 and 10, and 29 is an electromagnetic valve solenoid of the electromagnetic valve 14. .

[0004] The operation of the conventional alkali ion water purifier constructed as described above will be described below. After passing through the raw water, the water purifier 4 removes residual chlorine odor and impurities such as general bacteria in the raw water, and the mineral supply unit 5 dissolves calcium glycerophosphate or the like and treats it into water that can be easily electrolyzed. Water is passed to the electrolytic cell 7 via the sensor 6.
On the other hand, AC 100 V is supplied from the power supply plug 17, a DC voltage current necessary for control and the like is generated by the control DC power supply 22 through the transformer 21 inside the power supply unit 18, and a DC voltage current required for electrolysis is Generates DC voltage and current. The DC voltage and current from the DC power supply for electrolysis 23 are supplied to the electrodes 9 and 10 of the electrolytic cell 7 via the output control circuit 26, the electrolytic cell-electromagnetic valve switching relay 27, and the polarity switching relay 28. If the electrode that applies a relatively positive voltage is the anode, and the electrode that applies the negative electrode is the cathode,
An anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by the diaphragm 8 are formed.

[0005] The controller 19 reads the signal of the flow rate sensor 6 and judges that water is flowing when the signal exceeds a certain level.
Electrolysis is performed by applying a voltage to the electrodes 9 and 10 of the electrolytic cell 7.

[0006] When the controller 19 applies a voltage, acidic ionized water is generated in the anode chamber and alkaline ionized water is generated in the cathode chamber.

When a voltage is applied by operating the polarity switching relay 28 so that the electrode 9 has a negative voltage while passing water, alkali ion water is continuously obtained from the discharge pipe 13.

The alkali ion water conditioner 3 includes an operation display unit 2
By changing the setting of 0, it is possible to switch between alkaline ionized water, acidic ionized water, and purified water. That is, a positive voltage may be applied to the electrode 9 during acidic ionized water, and water may be passed without applying a voltage during purified water. Similarly, by changing the setting of the operation display unit 20, the voltage applied to the electrodes 9 and 10 of the electrolytic cell 7 is changed, and the electrolytic strength is changed to change the alkaline ionized water and the acidic ionized water having a desired pH. Obtainable.

When alkaline ionized water is generated, raw water and minerals in the mineral supply unit 5 are deposited in the cathode chamber to form deposits 9a on the surfaces of the electrodes 9 and 10, thereby lowering the electrolysis efficiency. Therefore, the electrode cleaning for regeneration of the electrodes 9 and 10 is performed by applying a voltage to the electrodes 9 and 10 in a running water state with the voltage polarity reversed in the same manner as in the generation of the acidic ionized water, and the electrode surface adhered by electrolysis. Are eluted and removed in electrolytic water.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, since the electrode cleaning for regenerating the electrode is performed in flowing water, the pH of the cleaning water cannot be lowered and the cleaning efficiency is low. there were. In addition, there is a problem that deposits remain on the electrode surface due to low cleaning efficiency, and the electrolytic efficiency is reduced. The cleaning operation must be performed before the electrode condition exceeds the specified value.Although alkaline ionized water cannot be supplied during the cleaning operation, a large amount of alkaline ionized water is required in summer, etc. There has been a problem that it is difficult to perform the operation in a short time, which causes inconvenience.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, in which electrode cleaning is performed in still water, the acidity at the time of cleaning can be enhanced, and the cleaning effect can be significantly improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alkali ion water purifier in which the optimum cleaning operation is performed by grasping the above, the utilization efficiency is increased, and energy saving and durability are remarkably improved.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an alkali ion water conditioner of the present invention is provided with a previous electrode cleaning operation.
The total flow rate from the time, the number of times of use, the total use time
Compare with the preset cleaning threshold for
Of the total flow rate, number of uses, and total use time
Either one exceeds the cleaning threshold and the flow rate sensor
Voltage applied during cleaning when water stoppage is detected in
Is applied to the electrode in reverse polarity to perform the electrode cleaning operation.
Appropriate cleaning means are provided, and
Over time to correct each cleaning threshold for use conditions
Deterioration correction means is provided to reduce the total usage time from the start of use.
The current threshold is based on the standard operating state cleaning threshold.
Average current value obtained from the current value detected by the
Is characterized in that the correction is performed using the average current density.

Here, a general sensor such as a current transducer is suitably used as the current sensor.

[0014]

With this configuration, the controller can determine whether the user has stopped the water after using the apparatus and automatically perform the electrode cleaning operation. In addition, since the washing is performed in the still water, the pH near the surface of the electrode can be sufficiently reduced, and an environment in which the attached matter easily dissolves in the water in the electrolytic cell under an acidic atmosphere can be obtained. Efficiency can be improved, and the electrolytic performance of the electrolytic cell can be recovered and maintained at a high level.

[0015] In the controller, the number of uses from the previous cleaning operation, integrated flow, by measuring an integrated operating time, number of uses which had been previously internally stored cumulative flow, cumulative use
By comparing and judging the cleaning time with the cleaning threshold value of the working time, the next cleaning operation timing and cleaning time are automatically determined, and the cleaning can be performed under optimal cleaning conditions.

Further, the total use time from the start of use and the average power
By correcting the timing of the washing operation using the current values can be time used to estimate the degradation of the electrode from the use condition, performs the wash action accordingly.

[0017] Thus, the washing operation in which the alkali ion water cannot be supplied is performed at appropriate intervals without necessity, so that the time during which the user cannot use the alkali ion water can be minimized. It is possible to improve the use efficiency of the electrolytic cell, prevent the excessive cleaning operation, and improve the durability of the electrolytic cell.

[0018]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a main part electric circuit diagram of an alkali ion water conditioner in one embodiment of the present invention. Conventional example differs from the FIG. 4, the controller 30, the last electrode cleaning operation
Total flow rate, number of uses, and total use time from
Compare with the preset cleaning threshold
Of the total flow rate, number of uses, and total use time
Either one exceeds the cleaning threshold and the flow rate sensor
Voltage applied during cleaning when water stoppage is detected in
Is applied to the electrode in reverse polarity to perform the electrode cleaning operation.
Appropriate cleaning methods and markers based on total use time since start of use
The current transformer is applied to the cleaning threshold in the quasi-use condition.
The average current obtained from the current value detected by the
Aging compensation using current value or average current density
It is characterized by comprising corrective means .

The electrode cleaning operation of the alkali ion water purifier constructed as described above according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the electrode cleaning operation of the All-Ion water purifier in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3A is a graph showing a relationship between a flow rate cleaning threshold value, a total use time, and an average current. FIG. 3B is a graph showing the relationship between the number-of-times cleaning threshold value and the total use time and average current, and FIG. 3C shows the relationship between the time-cleaning threshold value and the total use time and average current. It is a graph.

First, in order to detect the degree of aging of the electrodes 9, 10 and the like, the total use time from the start of use is read (S1). Next, in order to detect the use state of the alkali ion water conditioner 3 such as the electrolytic strength, the current value flowing through the electrolytic cell 7 is detected from the current transducer 24, and the average current value during use is read (S2). Next, the electrodes 9 and 1
In order to detect the contamination index of 0, the integrated flow rate and the number of times of use since the previous electrode cleaning are read from the flow rate sensor 6 (S
3). Next, in order to detect the dirt index similarly to S3,
Read the total use time since the last electrode cleaning (S
4). Next, based on the total use time read in S1 from the data as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the flow rate cleaning threshold, the number of times cleaning threshold, and the time cleaning are performed in the standard use state. Threshold values are obtained, and based on the average current read in S2, the respective threshold values are subjected to a correction operation with respect to the use state up to that time to determine optimum threshold values (S5). Here, as is clear from FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c), it is assumed that the longer the total use time, the greater the deterioration of the electrodes 9, 10 and the like. When the average current value is larger than the standard value, the electrode cleaning operation is performed early by assuming that the deterioration of the electrodes 9 and 10 is large and the threshold values are similarly reduced. On the contrary, when this is smaller than the standard value, the electrode 9,
Assuming that the deterioration of the electrodes 10 and the like is small, the threshold values are increased to improve the durability of the electrodes 9 and 10. Next, it is checked whether the integrated flow rate read out in S3 is larger than the flow rate cleaning threshold value determined in S5 (S6). If Yes, the process jumps to S9. If No, the process checks whether the number of times of use read out in S3 is larger than the number-of-times cleaning threshold determined in S5 (S7). If yes, S
Jump to 9 and if no, check whether the integrated use time read out in S4 is greater than the time cleaning threshold determined in S5 (S8). If No, go to S1 j
If the answer is Yes, it is checked using the flow rate sensor 6 whether the water is still in the water (S
9). If No, jump to S1 to wait for the water to stop, and if Yes, electrode 9,1
The applied voltage at the time of cleaning of the required magnitude is set to 0, reverse polarity (reverse voltage)
In is applied performs the electrode cleaning operation (S10). Next, it is checked whether the cleaning has been completed, for example, when a required time has elapsed from the start of the cleaning (S11). If No, the process jumps to S10 to continue the cleaning. If Yes, the integrated flow rate, the number of uses, and the total use time are reset.
Is opened, and the washing water in which the scale and the like in the electrolytic cell 7 are dissolved is discharged from the water discharge pipe 15, and the processing is jumped to S1 to repeat the above processing (S12).

In this embodiment, the average current during use is used to detect the use state such as the electrolytic strength, but the average current density may be used.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the controller automatically determines the state in which water is stopped after the user has used the apparatus, and determines the total flow rate, the number of times of use, and the total number of times of use since the previous cleaning operation.
By measuring the time, and automatically determine the timing and cleaning time for the next cleaning operation optimum washing conditions with the cleaning can be performed of the total use time from the start of use, the average current value or flat
By correcting the timing of the cleaning operation and the like using the average current density , it is possible to estimate the deterioration of the electrode from the use time and the use conditions, and to perform the cleaning operation according to the deterioration.

With this, the cleaning operation in which the alkali ion water cannot be supplied is performed at an appropriate interval in accordance with the contamination index of the electrode and the degree of deterioration thereof, without being neglected. Time can be minimized,
The use efficiency of the alkali ion water purifier can be improved, the workability is excellent, and an excessive washing operation can be prevented, so that an alkali ion water purifier with excellent durability can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part electric circuit diagram of an alkali ion water purifier in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an electrode cleaning operation of the alkali ion water purifier in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a graph showing a relationship between a flow rate cleaning threshold value, a total use time, and an average current. FIG. 3B is a graph showing a relationship between the number of times cleaning threshold value, a total use time, and an average current. Graph showing the relationship between the cleaning threshold value, the total use time, and the average current

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional alkali ion water conditioner.

FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of a general alkali ion water conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Raw water pipe 2 Water faucet 3 Alkaline ion water purifier 4 Water purifier 5 Mineral supply part 6 Flow rate sensor 7 Electrolysis tank 8 Diaphragm 9,10 Electrode 9a Attached matter 11 Drain pipe 12 Flow control part 13 Discharge pipe 14 Solenoid valve 15 Water discharge pipe Reference Signs List 16 water purifier sensor 17 power supply plug 18 power supply unit 19 controller 20 operation display unit 21 transformer 22 control DC power supply 23 electrolysis DC power supply 24 current transducer 25 smoothing circuit 26 output control circuit 27 electrolytic cell-electromagnetic valve switching relay 28 Polarity switching relay 29 Solenoid solenoid valve 30 Controller

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1/46

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water purifier, a flow sensor disposed downstream of the water purifier for detecting a flow rate, an electrolytic cell having an electrode disposed downstream of the flow sensor, and controlling the electrolytic cell . A continuous electrolysis type alkali ion water purifier comprising: a controller that performs integration from a previous electrode cleaning operation.
The flow rate, the number of times of use, and the total use time
This value is compared with the set cleaning threshold and
At least one of flow rate, number of uses, and total use time
1 exceeds the cleaning threshold and stops at the flow sensor
If it is detected in water, the applied voltage during
Apply the opposite polarity to the electrode to perform the electrode cleaning operation.
Current sensor provided with suitable cleaning means and detecting a current value flowing through the electrolytic cell
Each of which is provided in the controller and is used for a use state.
Aging deterioration correction means for correcting the cleaning threshold is provided.
The aging correction means calculates the total use time from the start of use.
The cleaning threshold for standard operating conditions based on
Average current value obtained from the current value detected by the flow sensor
Alternatively, a correction is performed using an average current density .