JP3461030B2 - Alkaline ion water purifier - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an alkaline ionized water, a lotion, and a germicidal water used for drinking and medical purposes by electrolyzing raw water such as tap water and well water. The present invention relates to an alkali ion water conditioner for producing acidic ion water used as such. 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. Hereinafter, a conventional continuous electrolysis type alkali ion water conditioner will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a conventional alkali ion water conditioner. 1 is a raw water pipe such as tap water, 2 is a faucet, 32 is an alkali ion water conditioner, which is connected to the raw water pipe 1 via the faucet 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a water purifier provided with activated carbon for adsorbing residual chlorine in raw water, a hollow fiber membrane for removing general bacteria and impurities, and the like. Numeral 5 is a mineral supply unit for increasing conductivity by adding calcium ions such as calcium glycerophosphate and calcium lactate and other minerals to raw water. Reference numeral 6 denotes a flow rate sensor which checks the flow of water and instructs a controller to be described later to control. Reference numeral 7 denotes an electrolytic cell that electrolyzes water that has passed through the flow sensor 6. 8
Is a diaphragm, which divides the electrolytic cell 7 into two to form a pair of electrode chambers.
Reference numerals 9 and 10 denote electrode plates, which are disposed in the respective electrode chambers formed by dividing the diaphragm 8 into two. A drain pipe 11 discharges water on the electrode plate 10 side (acid ion water when the electrode plate 10 is an anode). Reference numeral 12 denotes a flow rate adjusting unit for adjusting the water discharge rate,
And the drain pipe 11 are disposed in the vicinity of the connection portion to efficiently generate alkaline ionized water. A discharge tube 13 discharges water on the electrode plate 9 side (alkaline ion water when the electrode plate 9 is a cathode). Numeral 14 denotes an electromagnetic valve for discharging accumulated water in the electrolytic cell 7 and cleaning water in which scale has been dissolved during electrode cleaning. Reference numeral 15 denotes a water discharge pipe, and the water on the electrode plate 10 side (the electrode plate 10
(If it is an anode), drain the accumulated water in the electrolytic cell 7 and the washing water. Reference numeral 16 denotes a water purifier sensor that detects the presence or absence of a cartridge in the water purifier 4. Reference numeral 17 denotes a power supply plug, and 18 denotes a power supply unit, which converts an AC power supply from the power supply plug 17 into a DC power supply. A controller 33 controls the operation of the alkali ion water conditioner 32 to gradually increase the applied voltage at the start of voltage application to the electrolytic cell 7 and to confirm that the electrolysis state has stabilized after the electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 7 has started. Detect. Reference numeral 20 denotes an operation display unit, which displays the operation state of the alkali ion water conditioner 32, sets operation conditions and the like, and is generated by the alkali ion water conditioner 32 when detecting that the electrolysis state in the electrolytic cell 7 is stabilized. Notification means for notifying the user that the quality of the alkaline ionized water and the acidic ionized water is stable. [0003] The operation of the conventional alkali ion water purifier constructed as described above will be described below. The raw water passed through the raw water pipe 1 by opening the water faucet 2 enters the alkali ion water conditioner 32, and the water purifier 4 removes residual chlorine odor and impurities such as general bacteria in the raw water. After minerals such as calcium glycerophosphate are dissolved in 5 and processed into water which is easy to electrolyze, the water is passed through a flow sensor 6 to an electrolytic cell 7. On the other hand, A
C100V is supplied, and the controller 33
A DC voltage and a current necessary for control and the like in the electrolytic cell 7 and a DC voltage and a current necessary for electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 7 are generated, and the DC voltage and current for the electrolytic supply are supplied to the electrode plates 9 and 10 of the electrolytic cell 7. You. The electrode that applies a relatively positive voltage is the anode,
Assuming that the electrode to which the negative voltage is applied is a cathode, an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by the diaphragm 8 are formed in the electrolytic cell 7. [0004] The controller 33 reads the flow level signal of the flow sensor 6, and when this signal exceeds a certain level, determines that water is flowing, and applies voltage to the electrode plates 9 and 10 of the electrolytic cell 7 to perform electrolysis. . As a result, acidic ion water is generated in the anode chamber, and alkaline ion water is generated in the cathode chamber. For example, when a voltage is applied so that the electrode plate 9 becomes a negative voltage while passing water, alkali ion water is continuously obtained from the discharge pipe 13. [0005] The alkali ion water conditioner 32 can switch between alkali ion water, acidic ion water, and purified water by changing the setting of the operation display section 20. That is, a negative voltage may be applied to the electrode plate 9 during acidic ionized water, and water may be passed without applying a voltage during purified water. At this time,
An electromagnetic valve (not shown) is added to the drain pipe 11 to open during electrolysis and to close during clean water.
It is also possible to prevent water from flowing out. Further, by changing the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell 7 to change the electrolytic strength, the pH of the generated alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water can be adjusted. Also, the electrode plates 9, 10
In the electrode washing for the regeneration of water, in the water-stopped state after use, the polarity of the voltage is applied to these in the same way as when acidic ionized water is generated, and the scale of the electrode surface attached during the generation of alkaline ionized water is applied. Is dissolved in the electrolyzed water, and the water in which the scale in the electrolysis tank 7 is dissolved is discharged from the water discharge pipe 15 by opening the solenoid valve 14. In addition, water discharge is also performed after generation of acidic ion water in order to prevent drinking of acidic ion water. Next, FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of a conventional alkaline ionizer, and the process of starting and ending the application of voltage to the electrolytic cell 7 by the controller 33 will be described in detail. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 denotes a transformer arranged inside the power supply unit 18, reference numeral 22 denotes a control DC power supply for generating a DC voltage and current required for control and the like, and reference numeral 23 denotes a DC for electrolysis which generates a DC voltage and current required for electrolysis. Power supply, 24 is DC power supply for electrolysis 23
A current transducer for monitoring an alternating current flowing into the current transducer; 25, a smoothing circuit for converting a signal from the current transducer 24 to a DC level;
5 is converted into a digital signal and the controller 3
3 is an A / D converter, 27 is an output control circuit for controlling the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell 7, 28 is an electrolytic cell-electromagnetic valve switching relay, and 29 is a polarity switch for switching the polarity of the electrode plates 9 and 10. The relay 30 is an electromagnetic valve solenoid that drives the electromagnetic valve 14. Here, the DC power supply for electrolysis 23
Is supplied to the electrode plates 9 and 10 of the electrolytic cell 7 via the output control circuit 27, the electrolytic cell-electromagnetic valve switching relay 28, and the polarity switching relay 29. First, when the alkaline ionized water / acidic ionized water is produced, the faucet 2 is opened, and when the flow rate level output from the flow rate sensor 6 becomes higher than a certain level, the controller 33 supplies the voltage to the electrolytic cell 7. Start application. At this time, control is performed so that the increase amount of the applied voltage per unit time does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, so that it takes a time Δt1 until the applied voltage reaches a predetermined set value. Conversely, when the flow rate level detected by the flow rate sensor 6 falls below a certain level, it is determined that the water is stopped, and the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell 7 is immediately stopped. Next, at the time of the electrode cleaning operation, the used amount of the electrode from the previous electrode cleaning is counted, and when this reaches the electrode cleaning timing and the flow rate level detected by the flow rate sensor 6 falls below a certain level, the operation is stopped. When it is determined that water has been drained, application of a reverse polarity voltage to the electrolytic cell 7 is started at that time. Also at this time, the applied voltage is gradually increased as described above. Then, when the specified time has elapsed, it is determined that the cleaning is completed, and the application of the voltage to the electrolytic cell 7 is stopped immediately. Here, the current flowing through the electrolytic cell 7 is constantly monitored by inputting an AC current flowing into the DC power supply 23 for electrolysis to the controller 33 via the current transducer 24, the smoothing circuit 25, and the A / D converter 26. In the event that an overcurrent condition occurs, an overcurrent prevention means is provided so that the controller 33 automatically determines and immediately reduces the applied voltage. Next, the solenoid valve 14 is opened, and the electrolytic cell 7 is opened.
The water inside is discharged from the water discharge pipe 15. On the other hand, when the alkali ion water conditioner 32 generates alkali ion water and acidic ion water, the electrolysis state is unstable immediately after the start of electrolysis, and the controller 33 displays the operation display for a predetermined time T1 after the start of electrolysis. The user is informed that the quality of the alkaline ionized water and the acidic ionized water is unstable, for example, by blinking the indicator light of the unit 20. Here, the alkali ion water conditioner 32 keeps the output voltage of the DC power supply 23 for electrolysis constant, changes the output pulse width of a basic pulse of several hundred Hz by the output control circuit 27, and adjusts the average voltage. Is adopted. The control during the voltage application is performed by automatically setting the average applied voltage based on the electrolytic strength selected and set by the user on the operation display unit 20 and the water flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 6. The control is performed by sending a signal to 27. [0010] However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the average applied voltage is determined immediately after the alkaline ionized water is generated because the average applied voltage is determined from the electrolytic strength and the water flow rate selected and set by the user. When acidic ionized water is generated, or vice versa, or even when alkaline ionized water or acidic ionized water is generated by applying a reverse polarity voltage immediately after the electrode cleaning operation is completed, it is generated on the cathode side in the previous process. Due to the influence of the hydrogen compound, the current in the electrolytic cell becomes difficult to flow, and it takes a long time to reach the pH of the electrolytic strength selected and set by the user. The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and controls the pH of the electrolysis intensity selected and set by the user immediately after the start of electrolysis, thereby improving the convenience and the quality of the alkali ion preparation. The purpose is to provide a water dispenser. [0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a water purifier, a mineral supply unit disposed downstream of the water purifier, and a water supply unit downstream of the mineral supply unit. An electrolytic cell disposed therein, a controller for controlling the electrolytic cell, and an overcurrent prevention for gradually increasing a voltage applied to the electrolytic cell when starting voltage application to the electrolytic cell to suppress a rush current to the electrode. Means is a continuous electrolysis type alkali ion water purifier provided in the controller, provided with a reverse polarity electrolysis detection circuit to check whether the reverse polarity voltage is applied after starting the voltage application to the electrolytic cell, After the application of the reverse polarity voltage, the alkali ion water conditioner was provided with a controller provided with an applied voltage control means for temporarily applying a voltage higher than a predetermined voltage to stabilize the pH quickly. With the above configuration, the average applied voltage is:
Not only is it determined from the electrolytic strength and water flow rate selected and set by the user, but also when the acidic ionized water is generated immediately after the alkaline ionized water is generated, or vice versa, and further, immediately after the electrode cleaning operation is completed. When alkaline ionized water or acidic ionized water is generated by applying a polar voltage, the reverse polarity electrolysis detection circuit detects it, and the controller temporarily applies a voltage higher than a predetermined voltage, so that in the process at the previous stage, Due to the effect of hydrogen compounds generated on the cathode side,
Even when the current in the electrolytic cell becomes difficult to flow, the pH of the electrolytic strength selected and set by the user can be reached immediately after the start of the electrolysis. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an alkali ion water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an alkali ion water purifier in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of the same. In FIG. 1, 1 is a raw water pipe, 2 is a faucet, and 3 is an alkali ion water conditioner. In this alkali ion water purifier 3,
4 is a water purifier, 5 is a mineral supply unit, 6 is a flow sensor, 7
Is an electrolytic cell, 8 is a diaphragm, 9 and 10 are electrode plates, 11 is a drain pipe, 12 is a flow control section, 13 is a discharge pipe, 14 is a solenoid valve,
Reference numeral 15 denotes a water discharge pipe, 16 denotes a water purifier sensor, 17 denotes a power supply plug, 18 denotes a power supply unit, 19 denotes a controller, and 20 denotes an operation display unit. In FIG. 2, 21 is a transformer, 22 is a control DC power supply, 23 is an electrolytic DC power supply, 24 is a current transducer, 25 is a smoothing circuit, 26 is an A / D converter, 27 is an output control circuit, Reference numeral 28 denotes an electrolytic cell-electromagnetic valve switching relay, 29 denotes a polarity switching relay, and 30 denotes an electromagnetic valve solenoid. Those having the same reference numerals as those in the conventional example have the same configuration and operate in the same manner, and therefore description thereof is omitted. . The controller 19 of the present invention applies a voltage higher than a predetermined voltage temporarily if the reverse polarity voltage is applied at the start of the voltage application to the electrolytic cell 7 and starts the electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 7 after the start of the electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 7. A controller that detects that the state has been stabilized, 31 generates acid ion water immediately after generating alkaline ion water, or vice versa,
Further, it is a reverse polarity electrolysis detection circuit which detects a case where alkali ion water and acidic ion water are generated by application of a reverse polarity voltage immediately after the end of the electrode cleaning operation, and outputs to the controller 19. The operation of the alkali ion water conditioner in this embodiment will be described below. When the alkali ion water conditioner 3 generates alkali ion water and acidic ion water, when the faucet 2 is opened and the flow rate level output from the flow rate sensor 6 exceeds a certain level, the controller 19 performs electrolysis. The voltage application to the tank 7 is started. At this time, if a reverse polarity voltage is applied, the reverse polarity electrolysis detection circuit 31 detects and outputs to the controller 19. The controller 19 that has received the output temporarily increases the set value of the applied voltage. In addition, since the increase in the applied voltage per unit time is controlled so as not to exceed a predetermined threshold value, a time Δt2 is required until the applied voltage reaches a predetermined set value.
Here, the value of the current flowing through the electrolytic cell 7 is the DC power supply 2 for electrolysis.
AC current flowing into the current transducer 24
And is input to the controller 19 via the smoothing circuit 25 and the A / D converter 26 to be constantly monitored. Thereafter, when the current value becomes stable, the controller 19 makes a decision,
It is controlled so that the applied voltage is promptly reduced to a predetermined set value. Meanwhile, in the alkali ion water conditioner 3,
Since the electrolysis state is unstable, the controller 19 flashes the indicator lamp of the operation display unit 20 for a predetermined time T2 after the start of electrolysis, and the quality of the alkaline ionized water and the acidic ionized water is unstable. To the user. On the other hand, if the reverse polarity voltage is not applied, it takes a time Δt1 until the applied voltage reaches a predetermined set value. Similarly, for a predetermined time T1 after the start of electrolysis, the user is notified that the water quality is unstable by, for example, blinking the indicator lamp of the operation display unit 20.
At this time, the relationship between Δt1 and Δt2 and the relationship between T1 and T2 are Δt1 <Δt2 and T1 <T2. Using the alkali ion water dispenser constructed as described above, a time-dependent change in pH generated from the discharge pipe was confirmed. In the experiment, when the alkaline ionized water was generated, the water was passed again after the electrode cleaning operation was completed, and the generation of the alkaline ionized water was restarted, the average value of the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell by the controller and the pH at that time were measured. The measurement was performed.
As a comparative example, the average value of the voltage applied by the controller and the pH at that time were measured in the same manner except that a conventional alkali ion water conditioner was used. The results will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (d). FIG. 3A is a graph showing the change over time of the flow rate level by the flow sensor 6, FIG. 3B is a graph showing the change over time of the average value of the applied voltage, and FIG. FIG. 3D is a graph showing the change over time of the pH of the alkaline ionized water generated from the discharge pipe. When the water is stopped as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the maximum value -Vmax of the reverse polarity voltage due to the electrode cleaning operation is applied. During that time, hydrogen compounds are generated on the cathode side. At the start of the subsequent passage of water, the hydrogen compound generated by temporarily applying the maximum value Vmax of the applied voltage is electrolyzed, and a current is allowed to flow as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the amount of increase in the applied voltage per unit time of the applied voltage to In order not to exceed Δt2, the voltage is raised to the maximum value Vmax by applying Δt2. When the current value is stabilized as shown in FIG. As described above, once the pH becomes higher than the electrolytic strength selected and set by the user, the pH immediately reaches the set electrolytic strength level. On the other hand, in the comparative example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell is increased to a predetermined set value by applying Δt1, and therefore, as shown in FIG. It took a long time to reach the electrolytic strength level selected and set by the user. In the present embodiment, as the applied voltage control means, the applied voltage is forcibly increased to the maximum value Vmax once at the start of electrolysis after application of the reverse polarity voltage, and then is set to a predetermined value. Since the change in pH is affected by the change in current flowing through the electrolytic cell 7, the current value during electrolysis is learned and recorded by the controller 19, and the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell 7 is controlled by the constant current circuit. How to
Similarly, in the electrolysis after the application of the reverse polarity voltage, the pH of the generated water discharged from the discharge pipe 13 can be immediately stabilized. As described above, the present invention relates to the case where the acidic ionized water is generated immediately after the alkaline ionized water is generated, or vice versa, and further, the application of the reverse polarity voltage immediately after the electrode cleaning operation is completed. If alkaline ionized water or acidic ionized water is generated by the above, at the start of electrolysis to start applying a voltage to the electrolytic cell, a voltage higher than a predetermined voltage is forcibly applied once by a controller by a controller, so that the process in the previous stage is performed. Even if a hydrogen compound is generated on the cathode side, the pH of the discharged product water is controlled so as to immediately reach the electrolytic strength level selected and set by the user, so that it is excellent in convenience and high quality alkali ion water preparation. Vessel can be realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view showing one embodiment of an alkali ion water conditioner. FIG. 2 is a main part electric circuit diagram of the alkali ion water conditioner. FIG. 3 (a) Flow rate sensor (B) Graph showing the time-dependent change of the average value of the applied voltage (c) Graph showing the time-dependent change of the current flowing through the electrolytic cell (d) Time-dependent change of the pH of the discharged alkaline ionized water FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional example of an alkali ion water purifier. FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of the conventional example. [Description of References] 3 Alkaline ion water purifier 4 Water purifier 5 Mineral Supply unit 7 Electrolyzer 19 Controller 31 Reverse polarity electrolysis detection circuit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] A water purifier, a mineral supply unit disposed downstream of the water purifier, an electrolytic tank disposed downstream of the mineral supply unit, and the electrolytic cell. Continuous electrolysis comprising a controller for controlling a cell and an overcurrent prevention means for suppressing overrush current to an electrode by gradually increasing a voltage applied to the electrolytic cell when starting voltage application to the electrolytic cell. An alkali ion water purifier of the type, provided with a reverse polarity electrolysis detection circuit to check whether the reverse polarity voltage has been applied when starting the voltage application to the electrolytic cell, An alkaline ionized water dispenser comprising a controller provided with an applied voltage control means for applying a voltage higher than a predetermined voltage to stabilize pH quickly.