JP3814648B2 - Water treatment equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water treatment device that purifies tap water, well water, and the like, and particularly relates to a technique for preventing miscellaneous bacterial growth in a water channel system inside the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Water treatment devices that purify tap water, well water, etc., and especially water treatment devices that are provided as water purifiers, pass water through a water purification unit mainly composed of activated carbon, so that chlorine odor, mold odor, trihalomethane in water It is formed to remove odorous components such as and organic substances.
[0003]
However, removing the chlorine odor from water means that the sterilizing effect by chlorine is reduced. That is, there is a possibility that various germs propagate in the water purified by the water purification unit and the water distribution channel in the apparatus after the water purification unit and are contaminated with the various germs. Therefore, various methods have been devised as countermeasures against the propagation of various bacteria.
For example, antibacterial activated carbon with silver impregnated on activated carbon has been devised as a countermeasure against the propagation of various bacteria in the early water purification section. However, it was not enough as pointed out by the Ministry of Health and Welfare notification “Use of household water purifiers attached to water taps” in November 1984.
[0004]
In addition, after that, as a countermeasure against breeding of germs in the water purification section, a hollow fiber membrane filter having fine holes with a pore diameter of 0.1 μm or less is used, and the germs are filtered and sterilized by passing water through the hollow fiber membrane filter. Was devised. Currently, the purification section is mainly provided with such a hollow fiber membrane filter downstream of the antibacterial activated carbon layer. However, even when this hollow fiber membrane filter is adopted, there is still a risk of propagation of germs on the water distribution path between the water purification unit and the water discharge pipe that discharges the water purified by the water purification unit. For this reason, the following various methods have been proposed as countermeasures.
[0005]
(1) As an example of using a disinfectant, as provided in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-13215, the disinfectant is automatically injected from the check valve when the water flow is stopped. In addition, there is one that prevents the propagation of germs with a disinfectant solution.
(2) Outflow of purified water from the water treatment device (water purifier) and hot water from the water heater as provided in JP-A-5-31480 as using hot water A bypass valve connected to the hot water pipe is provided with a connection valve, and hot water is guided to the purified water pipe and its faucet side when the purified water flow is stopped, and hot water is used to prevent germs from breeding. There is.
[0006]
(3) As an antibacterial agent is utilized, as provided in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-175297, a net-like material having silver on the surface is distributed between the open end face of the hollow fiber filtration module and the purified water outlet. Some are arranged on the road to prevent the propagation of bacteria by the antibacterial action of silver on the surface of the net.
In addition to the use of antibacterial agents, as in JP-A-4-256493, the use point portion (treated water discharge portion shower port) is filled with a fibrous structure holding the antibacterial agent and used. There are some which are made as described above, and others in which an electrode part composed of silver as a positive electrode is provided to elute silver as in JP-A-5-68968 and JP-A-5-317861.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the method (1) using the disinfecting solution, the disinfecting solution needs to be replenished, the smell of the disinfecting solution may be transferred to the purified water, and there is a risk of corrosion by the disinfecting solution. Therefore, from these drawbacks, although it can be implemented in a commercial water purification apparatus capable of daily management, it is difficult to implement in a household water purification apparatus.
[0008]
In addition, in the case of using hot water of (2), in addition to the water purification device, a water heater and a connecting valve for guiding the hot water to the water distribution channel are required, and safety measures by using hot water are included. There is a disadvantage that the apparatus becomes larger and the price becomes higher.
On the other hand, the method using the antibacterial agent (3), in particular, a metal having antibacterial properties such as silver or copper, attaches or attaches an antibacterial agent to a site to be antibacterial, or an antibacterial agent such as silver on a member to be antibacterial. By containing an agent, it is possible to realize countermeasures against miscellaneous bacteria propagation, and there is an advantage that it can be realized at a low cost with a simple structure.
[0009]
Here, the sterilization mechanism by antibacterial metals such as silver and copper has not been clarified, but at present, it is considered as follows. That is, it is considered that a part of oxygen in the air or water can be activated by the catalytic action of metal ions, and the active oxygen can act on bacteria to sterilize. Therefore, in order to exert an antibacterial effect against various germs present in water, it is necessary that silver or the like is eluted from the antibacterial agent as silver ions or the like and diffused throughout the water. However, in the case of simply disposing antibacterial metals in the water distribution channel, when the water temperature is low, the silver ion concentration becomes small due to the low solubility of silver, and dissolved oxygen, carbonic acid components, chlorine, etc. in the treated water In the case where many components that react with silver ions to form a silver salt or a silver complex are contained as described above, the silver ion concentration is reduced. Therefore, there is a drawback that a stable antibacterial effect may not be obtained depending on temperature and water quality.
[0010]
Moreover, the method of eluting silver ion by arrange | positioning in a water distribution channel by using silver as an electrode, and energizing by making silver into an anode can compensate the fault of said antibacterial agent containing silver. However, since silver ions are heavy metals, the diffusion rate in water is slow, and silver ions are diffused by electrophoresis toward the cathode, but the eluted silver ions are localized near the anode. Therefore, there is a drawback that a sufficient antibacterial effect cannot be obtained at a site where silver ions do not diffuse.
[0011]
This invention is made | formed in view of said point, and it aims at providing the water treatment apparatus which can prevent propagation of miscellaneous bacteria with a simple structure and effectively.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object is achieved by the water treatment apparatus of the present invention configured to effectively use the antibacterial effect of a metal having antibacterial properties.
That water treatment apparatus according to the present invention is a water treatment device formed comprises a water purification unit 2, the metal elution member 7 having antimicrobial provided from water purification unit 2 on the downstream side of the water distribution channel 5, the metal elution An anode 6a and a cathode 6b of an electrode 6 that electrically act on the metal eluting member 7 via water are arranged on the downstream side of the member 7 and are provided.
[0014]
The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the metal elution member 7 is formed of any one of an antibacterial metal body and a rigid body such as a metal or a resin coated with an antibacterial metal, and a water distribution channel. 5 is attached.
The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that the metal elution member 7 is formed by attaching a metal having antibacterial properties to the fibrous body and is mounted on the water distribution channel 5. .
[0015]
The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that the metal elution member 7 is formed by coating the inner surface of the water distribution channel 5 with an antibacterial metal.
The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that the metal of the metal eluting member 7 having antibacterial properties is one or more selected from silver, silver compounds, copper and copper compounds.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 shows a water purifier as an example of an embodiment of a water treatment apparatus according to the present invention. Usually, since a hollow fiber membrane filter is arrange | positioned downstream in the inside of the water purification part 2, the water sterilized by the hollow fiber membrane filter flows into the downstream side of the water purification part 2. FIG. Therefore, the embodiment of FIG. 1 is configured for the purpose of preventing contamination of water accumulated in the water distribution section 5 that joins between the water purification section 2 and the water discharge pipe 4 that discharges the water purified by the water purification section 2. The Of course, when antibacterial activity on the upstream side of the water purification unit 2 is required, the antibacterial means of the present invention may be provided in the water distribution channel at this site.
[0017]
First, the structure of the water treatment apparatus formed as a water purifier shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body housing, which is provided with a water intake pipe 3 for taking in tap water or well water at the lower end of the main body housing 1. The water purification unit 2 is formed by incorporating a purification member such as activated carbon or ion exchange resin or a combination of one or more members such as a nonwoven fabric and a hollow fiber membrane filter in the casing 2a. The lower end inlet 15 is connected to the water pipe 3 and accommodated in the main body housing 1.
[0018]
An L-shaped connection pipe 16 is attached to the upper end portion of the main body housing 1 as a part of the water distribution path 5, and a water discharge pipe 4 arranged with a slight downward inclination on the upper side of the main body housing 1 is connected. Connected to the pipe 16. A water distribution pipe 18 is connected as a part of the water distribution path 5 between the outlet 17 at the upper end of the water purification unit 2 and the connection pipe 16. The main body housing 1 further accommodates a battery housing case 9 for housing a battery 8 serving as a power source for supplying power to the electrode 6, a control board 10, and the like.
[0019]
A metal elution member 7 for eluting antibacterial metal and an electrode 6 are disposed in the water distribution pipe 18 constituting a part of the water distribution channel 5. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, Ru Citea to place the electrodes 6 so as to be positioned on the downstream side of the metal elution member 7. The anode 6 a and the cathode 6 b constituting the electrode 6 are connected to the battery storage case 9 and the control board 10 by lead wires 11. As the material of the anode 6a, it is preferable to use an insoluble metal such as platinum or gold, or a material obtained by coating these insoluble metals by plating or baking. The material of the cathode 6b is not particularly limited since the cathode side is reducible and is difficult to corrode, but an insoluble metal is preferably used.
[0020]
Next, operation | movement of the water purifier of FIG. 1 is demonstrated. First, when tap water or well water is supplied, it flows into the water purification unit 2 from the inlet 15 through the intake pipe 3 and is purified by a purification member or a filtration member. Thus, the water purified by the water purification unit 2 flows out from the outlet 17 and flows out from the water discharge pipe 4 through the water distribution pipe 18 and the connection pipe 16 of the water distribution path 5. When the water supply is stopped, the water discharge pipe 4 is inclined, so that the water in the water discharge pipe 4 flows out from the tip, but in the water distribution pipe 18 of the water distribution path 5 between the water purification unit 2 and the water discharge pipe 4. The water purified by the purification unit 2 stays and remains. Here, by applying an electric current to the electrode 6 provided in the water distribution pipe 18 of the water distribution channel 5, the metal elution member 7 receives an electrical action through the water in the water distribution pipe 18, and the metal elution member 7 The potential becomes high, and the metal having antibacterial properties is easily eluted in water. As described above, by eluting the antibacterial metal from the metal elution member 7 in the water distribution pipe 18 of the water distribution channel 5, it is possible to prevent germs from breeding in the water distribution pipe 18. The application to the electrode 6 is always performed, but of course, control may be performed so that the application to the electrode 6 is performed only when the water stops.
[0021]
Here, an embodiment relating to the arrangement of the electrodes 6, and FIG. 2 having electrodes formed 6 a plate shape, will be described with reference to FIG. 3 forming the electrode 6 to the rod-shaped. The water treated in the water purification unit 2 flows in the direction of the arrow, and the metal elution member 7 is disposed along the inner wall of the water distribution pipe 18 of the water distribution channel 5 on the downstream side of the water purification unit 2. In the case where the anode 6a and the cathode 6b of the electrode 6 are formed in a plate shape as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable to arrange them so as to be parallel to the water flow direction in order to reduce water flow resistance. Positions of the electrodes 6 that are arranged on the downstream side of the metal elution member 7 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Since antibacterial metal ions eluted from the metal elution member 7 are attracted to the cathode 6b side by electrophoresis, in order to prevent back-contamination due to invasion of germs from the water discharge pipe 4, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. It is preferable to arrange the electrode 6 on the side close to the water discharge pipe 4. Further, the electrode 6 of the anode 6a and the cathode 6b and the metal elution member 7 need to be more appropriately arranged according to the shape of the water channel. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the distance between the anode 6a and the cathode 6b. Was set to about twice the distance between the anode 6a and the metal eluting member 7.
[0022]
The potential of the metal elution member 7 is increased by providing the electrode 6 and the metal elution member 7 configured as described above in the water distribution pipe 18 of the water distribution channel 5 and electrically acting through water. Metals are likely to elute into water. When the anode 6a and the metal elution member 7 are close, the metal elution amount increases, and when the anode 6a is separated, the elution amount decreases. Therefore, the metal elution amount from the metal elution member 7 can be adjusted. In particular, when it is necessary to elute a large amount of metal in a short time, it is effective to contact the anode 6a and the metal eluting member 7. The amount of metal elution can be adjusted by controlling the voltage applied to the electrode 6. Moreover, since elution is restricted when the elution concentration of the metal reaches solubility equilibrium, excessive elution can be suppressed. Further, in the vertical connection pipe 16 above the electrode 6, gentle convection of water is generated by the heat generation of the electrode 6, and metal ions having antibacterial properties can be diffused in the connection pipe 16 by this convection. It is possible to prevent germs from growing in the connection pipe 16.
[0025]
Next, the metal eluting member 7 will be described. The metal eluting member 7 can be formed of a metal body having antibacterial properties, or can be formed by coating a rigid body such as metal or resin with a metal having antibacterial properties (Claim 2 ). And the metal elution member 7 formed in this way can be attached to the inner surface of the water distribution channel 5 by bonding or the like. Since the metal elution member 7 formed in this way has rigidity, there is an advantage that it can be used for the water distribution channel 5 at a site subjected to mechanical stress.
[0026]
The metal eluting member 7 can also be formed by attaching an antibacterial metal to a fibrous body (Claim 3 ). And the metal elution member 7 formed in this way can be attached to the inner surface of the water distribution channel 5 by bonding or the like. Since the metal elution member 7 formed in this way has flexibility, there is an advantage that it can be installed in the water distribution channels 5 having various shapes.
[0027]
Further, the metal elution member 7 may be formed by coating the inner wall surface of the water distribution channel 5 with an antibacterial metal (claim 4 ). In this case, since the metal elution member 7 is integrally provided in the water distribution channel 5, there is an advantage that the assembly process of the water treatment device can be simplified.
Moreover, as a metal of the metal elution member 7 which has antibacterial property, what is chosen from silver, a silver compound, copper, and a copper compound can be used, These are used individually by 1 type, 2 or more types. A combination can also be used. Here, as the silver compound, dithiosulfate silver salt, dicyano silver salt, diamine silver salt, dichlorosilver salt, or the like can be used, and as the copper compound, dicyano cuprate, dichlorocuprate, or the like can be used. it can.
[0028]
As described above, the embodiment of the water treatment device of the present invention has been described by taking the water purifier as an example. In addition, for example, an electrolyzed water generator such as an alkali ion water conditioner or an acidic water generator, or a bath water treatment device. It can also be applied to toilet washing machines and the like.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention provides an electrode for providing a metal eluting member having antibacterial properties in a water distribution channel and electrically acting on the metal eluting member via water in a water treatment apparatus formed with a water purification unit. Since the electric potential of the metal eluting member is increased by making it act electrically through water, the metal eluting member is likely to elute into water, and the electrode elutes from the cathode. Elution metal can be dispersed in water by electrophoresis of metal ions, and propagation of bacteria can be effectively prevented with a simple structure of providing an antibacterial metal elution member and electrode in the water distribution channel It is.
[0030]
Also, since the provided metal elution member and the electrode to the distribution channel downstream of the water purification unit, downstream of the distribution channel from the water purification unit which water chlorine is purified by a water purification unit has been removed flows, bacteria breeding It is possible to prevent effectively.
Further, since the anode and cathode of the electrode are arranged on the downstream side of the metal eluting member, the antibacterial metal ions eluted from the metal eluting member are attracted to the cathode side by electrophoresis, and are downstream of the metal eluting member. It is possible to prevent contamination due to invasion of germs from the side.
[0032]
In the invention of claim 2 , the metal eluting member is formed of either a metal body having antibacterial properties or a rigid body such as a metal or a resin coated with a metal having antibacterial properties. The metal elution member formed in the above has rigidity and can be used for a portion subjected to mechanical stress.
In the invention of claim 3 , since the metal elution member is formed by attaching an antibacterial metal to the fibrous body, the metal elution member thus formed has flexibility. It can be installed in various forms of water distribution channels.
[0033]
In the invention of claim 4 , since the metal elution member is formed by coating the inner surface of the water distribution channel with an antibacterial metal, the metal elution member can be integrated with the water distribution channel, The assembly process of the apparatus can be simplified.
The invention of claim 5 uses at least one selected from silver, silver compounds, copper and copper compounds as the metal of the metal elution member having antibacterial properties. It is possible to effectively prevent germs from breeding.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing an example of the arrangement of electrodes in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing an example of the arrangement of electrodes in the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Water Purification Unit 5 Water Distribution Channel 6 Electrode 6a Anode 6b Cathode 7 Metal Elution Member

Claims (5)

In the water treatment apparatus formed with the water purification unit , a metal eluting member having antibacterial properties is provided in the distribution channel downstream from the water purifying unit , and the metal eluting member is disposed downstream of the metal eluting member via water. A water treatment apparatus comprising an anode and a cathode arranged electrically to be disposed . Metal elution member, and wherein a metal having antimicrobial properties, with have been formed by any of those coated with a metal having antimicrobial properties to the rigid, such as metal or resin, that you have been attached to the distribution channel The water treatment apparatus according to claim 1. Metal elution member was formed with those obtained by depositing a metal having antimicrobial fibrous body, the water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, characterized that you have been attached to the water distribution passage. Metal elution member, water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, characterized that you have been formed by coating a metal having antimicrobial properties on the inner surface of the water distribution passage. The metal of the metal elution member having antimicrobial properties, silver, silver compound, copper, water treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in der Rukoto those selected one or more of copper compounds.

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