JP7492486B2 - Electrolyzed water generating device and electrolysis control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrolytic water generating device.

Conventionally, a technology is known for generating electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid (electrolyzed hypochlorous acid water) by electrolysis (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-301541 A

Electrolyzed hypochlorous acid water has been attracting attention in recent years as it is effective in disinfecting and sterilizing viruses and other organisms. In order to obtain excellent disinfection and sterilization with electrolyzed hypochlorous acid water, the effective chlorine concentration of the electrolyzed hypochlorous acid water is important. For example, according to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), it has been confirmed that hypochlorous acid water with an effective chlorine concentration above a certain value is effective in disinfecting COVID-19.

However, it has been found that the device disclosed in Patent Document 1 may not be able to obtain a sufficient effective chlorine concentration depending on the electrolysis history of the electrodes, and further improvements are anticipated.

The present invention was devised in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its main objective is to provide an electrolytic water generating device and electrolysis control method that can generate electrolytic water with a desired effective chlorine concentration regardless of the electrolysis history.

The electrolytic water generating device of the present invention includes an electrolytic chamber for electrolyzing water, electrodes arranged in the electrolytic chamber, and a control unit that controls the electrolytic output of the electrodes. The control unit includes a memory unit that stores variables related to the electrolytic history of the electrodes, and a setting unit that sets the electrolytic output in accordance with the variables.

In the electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the variables include an integrated value of the electrolysis time of the electrodes.

In the electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the variables include the number of times the electrodes are electrolyzed.

In the electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the electrolytic output includes an electrolytic current supplied to the electrodes.

In the electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the setting unit sets the electrolytic current to a first current when the variable is less than a preset threshold value, and sets the electrolytic current to a second current greater than the first current when the variable is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

In the electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the setting unit sets the first current so that the electrolytic current increases as the variable increases.

In the electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the setting unit sets the first current so that the increment of the electrolytic current decreases as the variable increases.

In the electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the setting unit sets the second current to a constant value.

The electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention preferably further includes a non-volatile memory that stores information regarding the relationship between the variables and the electrolytic output, and the setting unit sets the electrolytic output based on the information stored in the non-volatile memory.

In the electrolytic water generating device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the information be updatable.

The electrolysis control method of the present invention also includes a first step of electrolyzing water, a second step of storing an electrolysis history, and a third step of setting an electrolysis current in accordance with the electrolysis history.

In the electrolytic water generating device of the present invention, in the control unit, the memory unit stores variables related to the electrolytic history of the electrodes, and the setting unit sets the electrolytic output according to the variables. This makes it possible to generate electrolytic water with a desired chlorine concentration regardless of the electrolytic history.

In the electrolysis control method of the present invention, the electrolysis current is set in the third step according to the electrolysis history stored in the second step. This makes it possible to generate electrolyzed water with a desired chlorine concentration regardless of the electrolysis history.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrolytic water generating device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the electrolytic water generating device of FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an electrolysis control method of the present invention. 1 is a graph showing the relationship between the change in available chlorine concentration and the electrolysis current with increasing integrated value of electrolysis time. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a modified example of the electrolytic water generating device of FIG. 2.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 shows the configuration of an electrolytic water generator 1 used to implement the electrolysis control method 100 of this embodiment. The electrolytic water generator 1 includes an electrolytic cell 2 for electrolyzing water, an electrode pair 3 disposed in the electrolytic cell 2, and a control unit 41 for controlling the electrolytic current supplied to the electrode pair 3. The electrolytic water generator 1 is a batch-type electrolytic water generator that replaces the water in the electrolytic cell 2 every time electrolytic water is generated.

The electrolytic cell 2 has an electrolytic chamber 20. Raw water to be electrolyzed is supplied to the electrolytic chamber 20. The raw water can be pure water, tap water, well water, or an aqueous solution obtained by adding an electrolytic auxiliary liquid such as dilute hydrochloric acid to these. In the electrolytic water generating device 1, hypochlorous acid water is generated by electrolyzing water to which dilute hydrochloric acid has been added. Hypochlorous acid water is said to be effective in destroying and detoxifying viruses due to its oxidizing effect. The conductivity of the water depends on the amount of electrolytic auxiliary liquid added (the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the case of dilute hydrochloric acid described above), etc.

The electrode pair 3 includes a pair of electrodes 31 and 32. For example, the electrodes 31 and 32 are made of a titanium base material with iridium dioxide, platinum, or the like formed on the surface by plating or the like.

The electrodes 31 and 32 are arranged facing each other at the bottom of the electrolysis chamber 20. When an electrolysis voltage is applied between the electrodes 31 and 32, an electrolysis current flows through the electrode pair 3.

A circuit board 4 is disposed below the electrolytic cell 2. A control unit 41 and a switching element 42 for supplying electrolytic current to the electrode pair 3 are mounted on the circuit board 4.

The control unit 41 may be, for example, a microcomputer chip. The switching element 42 may be, for example, a field effect transistor (FET) capable of switching at high frequencies.

The control unit 41 generates a pulsed PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal and outputs it to the switching element 42. The switching element 42 outputs a pulsed electrolytic voltage in response to the pulsed signal input from the control unit 41. The pulsed electrolytic voltage output from the switching element 42 is smoothed by a smoothing circuit in the circuit board 4 and applied to the electrode pair 3.

The control unit 41 controls the duty ratio (on-duty) of the PWM signal so that the desired electrolysis current is output from the switching element 42. For example, when the control unit 41 reduces the duty ratio of the PWM signal, the electrolysis voltage applied to the electrode pair 3 decreases, and the electrolysis current supplied to the electrode pair 3 decreases.

As a result of extensive research, the inventors discovered that the electrolytic capacity of the electrodes 31 and 32 drops significantly, especially in the initial stages after use begins, but that the electrolytic capacity thereafter remains relatively stable, which led to the invention.

The control unit 41 of the electrolytic water generating device 1 includes a memory unit 45 that stores variables related to the electrolysis history of the electrodes 31 and 32, and a setting unit 46 that sets the electrolysis output according to the variables. The variables related to the electrolysis history will be described later.

In the control unit 41, the memory unit 45 stores the above variables related to the electrolysis history of the electrodes 31 and 32, and the setting unit 46 sets the electrolysis output according to the above variables. The electrolysis output set by the setting unit 46 is then applied to the next and subsequent electrolysis operations in the electrolytic cell 2. This makes it possible to generate electrolyzed water with the desired chlorine concentration regardless of the electrolysis history.

Figure 3 shows the electrolysis control method, which is the operation of the electrolytic water generating device 1. This electrolysis control method includes the first to third steps.

In the first step S1, water is supplied to the electrolytic cell 2, and an electrolytic voltage is applied to the electrodes 31 and 32. In the initial first step S1, an electrolytic voltage is applied so that a predetermined electrolytic current is supplied to the electrodes 31 and 32. This causes water to be electrolyzed in the electrolytic chamber 20, and electrolyzed water is produced.

In the second step S2, the memory unit 45 stores variables related to the electrolysis history. These variables are used in the third step S3.

In the third step S3, the setting unit 46 sets the electrolysis output according to the above variables. The electrolysis output set in the third step S3 is then applied to the first step S1 of the next electrolysis onwards. This makes it possible to generate electrolyzed water with the desired chlorine concentration regardless of the electrolysis history.

Below, variables related to electrolysis history are explained. After further research, the inventors of the present application found that the electrolysis capacity of the electrodes 31, 32 decreases according to the accumulated value of the electrolysis time. Therefore, the accumulated value of the electrolysis time by the electrodes 31, 32 can be used as a variable related to the electrolysis history. The accumulated value of the electrolysis time is the accumulated value of the time that electricity is passed through the electrodes 31, 32. The time that electricity is passed through the electrodes 31, 32 is counted and accumulated by the control unit 41. The accumulated value of the time that electricity is passed through is stored in the memory unit 45 and is updated each time electrolysis is completed.

In a batch-type electrolytic water generating device such as the electrolytic water generating device 1, it is desirable from the viewpoint of ease of use to perform electrolysis for a predetermined electrolysis time when generating electrolytic water once (i.e., one full tank of electrolytic cell 2). In such an electrolytic water generating device 1, the number of times electrolysis is performed by electrodes 31 and 32 may be used as a variable related to the electrolysis history. In such a configuration, the processing of the control unit 41 is simplified.

The electrolysis strength in the electrolytic cell 2 depends on the electrolysis current and electrolysis time. Therefore, in the third step S3, the electrolysis output set by the setting unit 46 includes the electrolysis current and/or the electrolysis time.

The following describes a case where the variable related to the electrolysis history stored in the memory unit 45 is the integrated value of the electrolysis time, and the electrolysis output set by the setting unit 46 is the electrolysis current.

Figure 4 shows the relationship between the change in effective chlorine concentration and the electrolysis current set by the setting unit 46 with the increase in the integrated value of electrolysis time when electrolyzed water is repeatedly produced in the electrolytic cell 2.

In FIG. 4, the relationship between the integrated value of electrolysis time on the horizontal axis and the effective chlorine concentration on the first vertical axis (left side) is shown by a dashed line (D). The electrolysis time required to generate electrolyzed water once is constant (e.g., 3 minutes). The effective chlorine concentration is the effective chlorine concentration of the electrolyzed water in the electrolysis chamber 20 after each electrolysis.

As shown in FIG. 4, after the electrolytic cell 2 starts to be used, the available chlorine concentration D decreases as the accumulated value of electrolysis time increases. Therefore, the setting unit 46 of this embodiment is configured to compare the accumulated value of electrolysis time with a predetermined threshold value T and set the electrolysis current based on the result. A preset value can be used as the threshold value T.

In FIG. 4, the relationship between the integrated value of electrolysis time on the horizontal axis and the electrolysis current on the second vertical axis (right side) is shown by a solid line (C1) and a two-dot chain line (C2).

When the accumulated value of electrolysis time is less than the threshold value T, the setting unit 46 sets the electrolysis current to the first current C1. On the other hand, when the accumulated value of electrolysis time is equal to or greater than the threshold value T, the setting unit 46 sets the electrolysis current to the second current C2, which is greater than the first current C1. This compensates for the decrease in effective chlorine concentration D that accompanies an increase in the accumulated value of electrolysis time, making it possible to generate electrolyzed water with the desired chlorine concentration regardless of the electrolysis history.

The inventors of the present application have confirmed that the pH of the electrolyzed water changes with an increase in the accumulated value of electrolysis time in a similar manner to the available chlorine concentration D. Therefore, with the present electrolyzed water generating device 1, the decrease in pH that accompanies an increase in the accumulated value of electrolysis time is compensated for, making it possible to generate electrolyzed water of the desired pH regardless of the electrolysis history.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the accumulated value of electrolysis time is less than the threshold value T, the effective chlorine concentration D drops significantly. Therefore, it is preferable that the setting unit 46 of this embodiment sets the first current C1 so that the electrolysis current increases as the accumulated value of electrolysis time increases. This further compensates for the drop in effective chlorine concentration D that occurs as the accumulated value of electrolysis time increases, making it easy to generate electrolyzed water with the desired chlorine concentration regardless of the electrolysis history.

As shown in FIG. 4, as the integrated value of electrolysis time approaches the threshold value T, the effective chlorine concentration D decreases more slowly. Therefore, it is desirable for the setting unit 46 of this embodiment to set the first current C1 so that the increment of the electrolysis current decreases as the integrated value of the electrolysis time increases. This makes it possible to generate electrolyzed water with a stable effective chlorine concentration D.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the accumulated value of electrolysis time exceeds the threshold value T, the effective chlorine concentration D becomes approximately constant. Therefore, it is preferable that the setting unit 46 of this embodiment sets the second current C2 so that the electrolysis current is constant regardless of an increase in the accumulated value of electrolysis time. In other words, when the accumulated value of electrolysis time exceeds the threshold value T, the setting unit 46 sets the second current C2 to a constant value. This makes it possible to generate electrolyzed water with a more stable effective chlorine concentration D.

In an embodiment in which the second current C2 is set to a constant value, it is desirable to set the threshold value T to the time at which the effective chlorine concentration D begins to become approximately constant, regardless of an increase in the integrated value of the electrolysis time.

In FIG. 4, the integrated value of the electrolysis time is set so that the electrolysis current changes smoothly and continuously around the threshold value T, but the electrolysis current may also be set so that it changes suddenly or discontinuously.

When the electrolysis time is applied as the electrolysis output, if the integrated value of the electrolysis time is less than the threshold value T, the setting unit 46 sets the electrolysis time to the first time. On the other hand, if the integrated value of the electrolysis time is equal to or greater than the threshold value T, the setting unit 46 sets the electrolysis time to the second time, which is greater than the first time. The first time and the second time are set in accordance with the first current C1 and the second current C2 described above.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of an electrolytic water generator 1A, which is a modified example of the electrolytic water generator 1 in Figure 2. The configuration of the electrolytic water generator 1 described above can be adopted for the parts of the electrolytic water generator 1A that are not described below.

The electrolytic water generating device 1A includes a control unit 41, a switching element 42, an electrode pair 3, and a non-volatile memory 47. The non-volatile memory 47 stores information regarding the relationship between variables related to the electrolysis history and the electrolysis output. Here, the relationship between the variables related to the electrolysis history and the electrolysis output is, for example, the relationship between the integrated value of the electrolysis time and the electrolysis current shown in FIG. 4. As with the electrolytic water generating device 1, the number of electrolysis events may be applied instead of the integrated value of the electrolysis time, and the electrolysis time may be applied instead of the electrolysis current.

In the electrolytic water generating device 1A, the setting unit 46 sets the electrolytic current based on the information stored in the non-volatile memory 47. The information stored in the non-volatile memory 47 is updatable. By updating the information according to the raw water, the electrolytic auxiliary liquid, and the materials of the electrodes 31 and 32, electrolytic water with the desired chlorine concentration can be easily generated. Note that the information stored in the non-volatile memory 47 can be updated more easily than, for example, updating the information stored in the microcomputer chip constituting the control unit 41.

The electrolytic water generating device 1 of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described above and may be modified and implemented in various forms. That is, the electrolytic water generating device 1 includes at least an electrolysis chamber 20 for electrolyzing water, electrodes 31, 32 arranged in the electrolysis chamber 20, and a control unit 41 that controls the electrolysis output of the electrodes 31, 32, and the control unit 41 may include a memory unit 45 that stores variables related to the electrolysis history of the electrodes 31, 32, and a setting unit 46 that sets the electrolysis output in accordance with the variables.

1 Electrolyzed water generating device 1A Electrolyzed water generating device 20 Electrolysis chamber 31 Electrode 32 Electrode 41 Control unit 45 Storage unit 46 Setting unit 47 Non-volatile memory 100 Electrolysis control method C1 First current C2 Second current S1 First step S2 Second step S3 Third step T Threshold

Claims (9)

An electrolytic water generating device,
The electrolysis device includes an electrolysis chamber for electrolyzing water, electrodes disposed in the electrolysis chamber, and a control unit for controlling the electrolysis output of the electrodes,
The control unit is
A memory unit that stores variables related to the electrolysis history of the electrode;
A setting unit that sets the electrolysis output in response to the variable,
the electrolysis output includes an electrolysis current supplied to the electrodes;
The setting unit is
setting the electrolysis current to a first current when the variable is less than a preset threshold value during an initial stage after start of use ;
setting the electrolysis current to a second current greater than the first current when the variable is greater than or equal to the threshold;
The electrolytic water generating device further sets the first current so that the electrolytic current increases and the increment of the electrolytic current decreases as the variable increases. The electrolytic water generating device according to claim 1, wherein the variables include an integrated value of the electrolysis time of the electrodes. The electrolytic water generating device according to claim 1, wherein the variables include the number of times the electrodes are electrolyzed. An electrolytic water generating device,
The electrolysis device includes an electrolysis chamber for electrolyzing water, electrodes disposed in the electrolysis chamber, and a control unit for controlling the electrolysis output of the electrodes,
The control unit is
A memory unit that stores variables related to the electrolysis history of the electrode;
A setting unit that sets the electrolysis output in response to the variable,
the electrolysis output includes an electrolysis current supplied to the electrodes;
The variables include an integrated value of electrolysis time of the electrode,
The setting unit is
setting the electrolysis current to a first current when the variable is less than a preset threshold value during an initial stage after start of use ;
setting the electrolysis current to a second current greater than the first current when the variable is greater than or equal to the threshold;
Thereafter, the second current is set to be constant regardless of an increase in the integrated value of the electrolysis time,
The threshold value is the time at which the available chlorine concentration begins to become constant regardless of an increase in the integrated value of the electrolysis time.
Electrolyzed water generator. The electrolytic water generating device according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit sets the first current so that the electrolytic current increases with an increase in the variable. a non-volatile memory for storing information relating to a relationship between said variables and said electrolytic output;
6. The electrolytic water generating device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the electrolysis output based on the information stored in the non-volatile memory. The electrolytic water generating device according to claim 6, wherein the information is updatable. 1. A method for controlling electrolysis, comprising:
A first step of electrolyzing water;
A second step of storing the electrolysis history;
and a third step of setting an electrolysis current in accordance with the electrolysis history,
The third step is
When an integrated value of electrolysis time is less than a preset threshold value in an initial stage after starting use, the electrolysis current is set to a first current;
When the integrated value of the electrolysis time is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the electrolysis current is set to a second current that is greater than the first current;
Furthermore, the first current is set so that an increment of the electrolysis current decreases with an increase in the integrated value of the electrolysis time.
Electrolysis control method. 1. A method for controlling electrolysis, comprising:
A first step of electrolyzing water;
A second step of storing the electrolysis history;
and a third step of setting an electrolysis current in accordance with the electrolysis history,
The third step is
When an integrated value of electrolysis time is less than a preset threshold value in an initial stage after starting use, the electrolysis current is set to a first current;
When the integrated value of the electrolysis time is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the electrolysis current is set to a second current that is greater than the first current;
Thereafter, the second current is set to be constant regardless of an increase in the integrated value of the electrolysis time,
The threshold value is the time at which the available chlorine concentration begins to become constant regardless of an increase in the integrated value of the electrolysis time.
Electrolysis control method.

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