JPH0619893U - Alkaline ion water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an alkaline ionized water generator in which acidic ionized water is regenerated to eliminate waste caused by waste water. [Constitution] In the anion exchanger 8, acidic ion water or alkaline ion water is brought into contact with an ion exchange material such as an anion exchange resin to perform ion exchange, and the acidic ion water before and during passage through the anion exchanger. The ion amount (k1) of each of them is measured by a plurality of ion amount measuring devices 8A ...
Send to 0. Ion amount k1 before passing is the ion amount k during passing
When it is lower than 2 (k3), the alkaline ionized water is used for drinking water or the like from the main passage. Ion amount before passage k
When 1 is equal to or higher than the amount of passing ions k2 (k3), the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell 6 is switched to the opposite polarity to change the polarity of the electrode, and the acidic ionized water is supplied to the first extraction port 15
To the drainage passage through the main passage, the alkaline ionized water is passed from the second outlet to the anion exchanger 8 in the feedback passage to enhance the ion exchange capacity and then discharged.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an alkaline ion generator used as a water purifier for general households and businesses.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Generally, this type of equipment mainly consists of a water purifier and an electrolyzer. When tap water is used as raw water, the tap water is passed through the water purifier to be purified with activated carbon and then sent to the electrolyzer. When electricity is applied to the positive (+) electrode and the negative electrode (-) in the electrolytic cell, the (+) ions containing mineral components such as calcium and magnesium gather at the (-) electrode and generate "alkali ionized water". At the same time, the (-) ions gather at the (+) pole and produce "acidic ion water". Alkaline ionized water is suitable for drinking water and cooking as mineral water, while acidic ionized water is not suitable as drinking water, but it is said to be effective for cleaning and washing daily products.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the case of the conventional alkaline ion generator, the acidic ionized water generated in the electrolytic cell has been mostly discarded as discarded water, which is wasteful and uneconomical. Generally, it has been confirmed that acidic ionized water still contains about 100 ppm of mineral ions, and it can be used as long as the harmful anions are removed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an alkaline ionized water producing apparatus in which acidic ionized water is regenerated to eliminate the waste of waste water.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve this object, according to claim 1, a first switching valve provided in the main passage on the outlet side of the sterilization tank to switch to either the spout or the drainage passage, the second outlet of the electrolytic bath and the raw water intake. A feedback passage connecting the mouth side, a regeneration means provided in the feedback passage for measuring the ion amount of the acidic ionized water discharged from the second outlet and performing ion exchange, and a feedback on the downstream side of the regeneration means. A signal that applies a voltage to the voltage circuit of the electrolytic cell, which is provided in the passage and controls based on the second switching valve that switches to either the raw water intake side or the drain passage and the ion amount measurement signal from the regeneration means. And a control device that sends an operation signal to the first and second switching valves.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the regenerating means has an anion exchanger containing an anion exchange material for performing ion exchange by contacting with acidic ion water or alkaline ion water, and before the passage through the anion exchanger. It may be provided with a plurality of ion amount measuring devices for measuring the ion amount of the acidic ionized water passing therethrough and sending a signal to the control device.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the amount of acidic ionized water before and after passing through the anion exchanger is compared, and when the amount is equal to or higher than that during passing, the controller reverses the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell. The acidic ionized water is sent from the first outlet through the sterilization tank of the main passage and then drained from the drainage passage, and the alkaline ionized water is passed from the second outlet to the regeneration means of the feedback passage and ionized. It is designed to be discharged after increasing the exchange capacity.

Further, in the fourth aspect, the feedback passage may be formed by connecting the second outlet of the electrolytic cell and the inlet side of the reforming cell.

[0009]

[Action]

 In the case of claim 1, the control device performs control based on the ion amount measurement signal from the regeneration means, and sends an operation signal to the first switching valve and the second switching valve. By switching the valve, either acidic ionized water or alkaline ionized water exiting the electrolytic cell is sent to the feedback passage. The regeneration means performs ion exchange of passing acidic ion water or alkaline ion water.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the anion exchange material is contacted with acidic ion water or alkaline ion water to perform ion exchange, and a plurality of ion amounts of acidic ion water before and during passage through the anion exchanger are used. The signal is sent to the control device by measuring with the individual ion amount measuring devices. The regenerator contacts the ionized ion water or alkaline ionized water leaving the electrolytic cell while passing through the anion exchanger to perform ion exchange. The amount of ions is measured inside the anion exchanger and on the upstream side before entering, and the signal is sent to the control device.

In the third aspect of the present invention, comparing the ion amounts of the acidic ionized water before and after passing through the anion exchanger, when the amount is equal to or higher than that during passing, the applied voltage from the controller to the electrolytic cell is increased. A signal is sent to switch to the opposite. By changing the polarity of the electrode of the electrolyzer, acidic ionized water is drained from the drainage passage after passing through the sterilization tank of the main passage from the first outlet, and alkaline ionized water is recycled to the feedback passage from the second outlet. It is passed through to enhance the ion exchange capacity and then discharged.

Further, according to claim 4, the feedback passage is connected to the second outlet of the electrolytic cell and the inlet side of the reforming tank, so that the feedback passage is directly connected to the raw water inlet of the electrolytic cell. Compared with the above case, the acidic ionized water can be treated before being directly taken into the electrolytic cell, and the alkaline ionized water can be efficiently extracted from the acidic ionized water.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of an alkaline ionized water generator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus has a prefilter 2 for passing tap water as raw water 1 first, followed by a constant pressure valve 3, a water purification tank 4, a reforming tank 5, and an electrolysis tank in this order. 6, and the sterilization tank 7 is arranged so as to be connected to the pipes 20 to. A flow sensor 41 is provided in the pipe 22 that connects the constant pressure valve 3 and the water purification tank 4, detects the passage of the raw water 1 and sends a signal to a control device 40 such as a microcomputer for control from here. A signal is applied to the voltage circuit 13 of the electrolytic cell 6.

The pre-filter 2 is made of, for example, a filter material having a pore size of about 10 μm, and filters the raw water 1 supplied from the water source through the pipe 20. The water purification tank 4 is configured by filling activated carbon and a catalyst-supporting adsorbent (for example, platinum-supported activated carbon) between a pair of filters made of, for example, non-woven fabric. The reforming tank 5 is also configured as a mineral eluator by filling a mineral elution substance such as coral sand between filters made of non-woven fabric.

In the electrolytic cell 6, an anode (+) electrode 11 and a cathode (−) electrode 12 are arranged inside the main body cell 10 so as to face each other, and a power supply circuit 13 for applying a predetermined voltage between both electrodes is provided. I have it. Further, the main body tank 10 is provided with an inlet port 14 connected to the reforming tank 5 by a pipe 24, and the raw water 1 treated in the reforming tank 5 is introduced from here. Further, the main body tank 10 has a first take-out port 15 and a second take-out port 16, and when the electrolyzed alkaline ionized water is taken out from the one first take-out port 15, the acid is taken out from the other second take-out port 16. It is designed to take out ionic water.

The first outlet 15 is connected to the sterilization tank 7 by a pipe 25, and a water inlet such as a faucet (not shown) is provided on the outlet side of the sterilization tank 7 via a pipe 26. The pipe 26 is provided with a three-way switching valve (first switching valve) 30 that is an electromagnetic valve, and the outlet of the sterilization tank 7 is connected to the water injection port of the pipe 26 or the drain pipe (drain passage) 27 by a switching signal. It is designed to communicate with either one. The pipe 20 to the outlet of the sterilization tank 7 to the pipe 26 having a water injection port form a "main passage", and the alkaline water can be supplied as mineral water from the water injection port.

The second outlet 16 is connected to the anion exchanger 8 by a return pipe 28 that constitutes a part of the “feedback passage” in the present invention. The anion exchanger 8 is filled with a resin such as a styrene-based weak anion exchange resin or an anion exchange material using an exchange membrane, and is generally used for softening hard water and removing metal components. It is used for the purpose, and in the embodiment, it is possible to exchangeably remove the anions by contacting the acidic ionized water generated and sent out in the electrolytic cell 6.

In the anion exchanger 8, a first ion amount measuring device 8A is provided in the return pipe 28 immediately before the inlet on the upstream side, and the inside of the anion exchanger 8 is provided with a first ion amount measuring device 8A at the center and a downstream side. 2 and 3rd measuring instruments 8B and 8C are provided. The first ion amount measuring device 8A measures the amount of anions of the acidic ionized water at the stage of being generated and sent out from the electrolytic cell 6. The second and third ion amount measuring devices 8B and 8C in the anion ion exchanger 8 show how the ion amount of the acidic ionized water changes by bringing it into contact with the internal ion exchange material. It is for measuring in. The signals of the values measured by the first to third ion amount measuring devices 8A to 8C are input to the control device 40, and here, the measured values of the first ion amount measuring device 8A and the second and third ion amount are measured. Control such as comparison with measured values of the measuring instruments 8B and 8C is performed.

The first to third ion amount measuring devices 8A to 8C can detect the following various data values in addition to the detection of the amount of anions. That is, as a conductivity measuring instrument, the total ion content of water to be detected is measured and used as a measure of ion exchange capacity. Further, as the ion sensor, it is possible to measure a specific type of ion such as chlorine ion and nitrate ion. Further, as a pH sensor, it is possible to measure the relative ratio of alkali or acidic ions of water. Based on these measured values, the processing capacity of the anion exchanger 8 (anion adsorption state) can be grasped and used as a signal to the control device 40 and the like.

The outlet side of the anion exchanger 8 is connected to the upstream pipe 23 of the reforming tank 5 by a return pipe 29 that constitutes a feedback passage together with the return pipe 28, and the second take-out of the electrolytic bath 6 is performed. The port 16 is fed back to the upstream side of the reforming tank 5. A three-way switching valve (second switching valve) 31 formed by a solenoid valve is provided at the intersection of the return pipes 28 and 29, and the second switching valve 31 performs a switching operation to bring the upstream return pipe 28 into the downstream return valve 28. Besides connecting to the pipe 29, the return pipe 28 on the upstream side can be directly connected to the drain port.

A pump 34 is provided in the downstream return pipe 29, and the acidic ionized water that has passed through the second switching valve 31 is forcibly sent to the upstream pipe 23 of the reforming tank 5, that is, to the main passage. It is supposed to be returned with. The forced reflux by the pump 34 is because the water pressure of the acidic ion water sent to the return pipe 29 is lower than the water pressure of the pipe 24 of the main passage on which the supply pressure of the raw water 1 is acting.

The sterilization tank 7 is connected to the first outlet 15 of the electrolysis tank 6 through the pipe 25, has a fibrous activated carbon housed in a cylindrical body, and applies a voltage to the electrode connected to the cylindrical body. A structure of applying voltage is used.

Next, the operation mode and operation of the alkaline ionized water generator of the embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The raw water 1 sent from the supply source is first filtered by the prefilter 2, and in the embodiment, the passage of the raw water 1 is detected by the flow rate sensor 41, and a control signal based on this detection signal is output from the control device 40. It is sent to the power supply circuit 13 of the electrolytic cell 6 and a predetermined voltage is applied between both electrodes of the anode (+) 11 and the cathode (-) 12 (S4). The raw water 1 that has passed through the pre-filter 2 is successively contacted with activated carbon, platinum-supported activated carbon, and mineral-eluting substances such as coral sand in a water purification tank 4 and a reforming tank 5. (Steps 1, 2, 3 ... Hereinafter referred to as S1, S2, S3) Next, the purified raw water 1 is introduced into the electrolytic cell 6 (S4). Since a voltage is applied between the anode 11 and the cathode 12 inside the main body tank 10, the introduced raw water 1 is immediately electrolyzed. The electrolysis produces alkaline ionized water rich in minerals and acidic ionized water containing a large amount of anions. The alkaline ionized water is led out from the first outlet 15, sterilized in the sterilization tank 7 of the main passage, and then supplied to drinking water or the like through the pipe 26 (S6, 7).

On the other hand, the produced acidic ionized water is sent out from the second outlet 16 to the feedback passage. That is, from the return pipe 28 to the anion exchanger 8, the acid ion water is brought into contact with the anion exchange resin to remove the anions exchangeably.

The acidic ionized water has its ion content k1 to k3 immediately before entering the anion exchanger 8 and at three locations in the center and the downstream side inside the anion exchanger 8 by the first to third ion content measuring devices 8A to 8C. Is measured. That is, the first ion amount measuring device 8A provided in the return pipe 28 on the inlet side measures the ion amount of the acidic ionized water immediately after being discharged from the electrolytic cell 6. The second and third ion amount measuring devices 8B and 8C in the anion exchanger 8 contact the anion exchange resin to measure the ion amount of the acidic ionized water stepwise. Each signal of the measured values by the first to third ion amount measuring devices 8A to 8C is input to the control device 40, and the ion amount of the acidic ionized water is changed by bringing it into contact with the anion exchange resin. See if you want to do it.

In normal use, when the ion amount of the acidic ion water contacted with the anion exchange resin inside the anion exchanger 8 is lower than that before entering, that is, when k1> k2 (k3), It is judged that the ion exchange capacity of the anion exchange resin in the exchanger 8 has not deteriorated. That is, anions are removed from the acidic ionized water, and this acidic ionized water approaches the quality of alkaline ionized water. A control signal is sent from the control device 40 to the second switching valve 31 on the basis of such a comparison judgment, and the return pipe 28 on the upstream side is communicated with the return pipe 29 on the downstream side by this switching operation. At this time, an operation signal is also sent from the control device 40 to the pump 34, and the treated acidic ionized water that has passed through the second switching valve 31 due to the operation of the pump 34 is forced to the upstream side of the reforming tank 5. Send it back to the pipe 24 and return it.

That is, the acidic ionized water is fed back from the electrolytic cell 6 and passed through the return pipes 28 and 29 to the reforming tank 5 again, and electrolysis is performed again in the electrolytic cell 6. This regeneration treatment is based on the background that the acidic ionized water contains about 100 ppm of mineral ions, and alkaline electrolysis can extract the alkaline ionized water from the acidic ionized water (S8).

On the other hand, in the anion exchanger 8, the ion amounts k1 and k2 (k3) of the acidic ionized water before and after the contact with the anion exchange resin are measured, and the both ion amounts are equal or high. At this time, that is, when k1 ≦ k2 (k3), it is determined that the ability of the anion exchange resin to exchange and remove anions from acidic ionized water has decreased. In such a case, the instruction lamp blinks or a warning alarm is issued by a command from the control device 40, and the "regeneration" process of the anion exchanger 8 is performed (S9).

That is, each signal of the measured values by the first to third ion amount measuring devices 8A to 8C is input to the control device 40, and here, the control based on the signal that the measured values are equal is performed. The voltage applied between the anode 11 and the cathode 12 of the electrolytic cell 6 is switched in reverse by the control signal output from the controller 40, and the polarity is reversed (S10). As a result, the electrolytically generated alkaline ionized water is introduced into the anion exchanger 8 through the return pipe 28 from the second outlet 16 of the main body tank 10 which is the feedback passage this time (S12, 13). In the anion exchanger 8, the cations (alkali ions etc.) contained in the alkali ion water are contacted with the anion exchange resin to desorb the anion, thereby enhancing the ion exchange capacity of the anion exchange resin for regeneration. On the contrary, since the usability of the alkaline ion water is reduced, the second switching valve 31 is switched to the drain port and discharged. The second switching valve valve 31 is switched by a control signal from the control device 40 almost in synchronization with the reverse rotation of the applied voltage in the electric field tank 6.

At this time, the other acidic ionized water produced in the electrolytic bath 6 passes through the sterilization bath 7 from the first outlet 15 of the main passage, which is originally an outlet for alkaline ionized water, at this point. It is discharged through the drain pipe 27 via the first switching valve 30 which has already been switched by the control signal from the control device 40 (S11, 15).

In the present invention, in order to obtain a suitable alkaline ionized water at each use, before the start of use, the “regeneration” treatment of the anion exchanger 8 is performed, for example, “pretreatment switch”. It is possible to set up a system that can be turned on for only 1 minute in a short time.

Further, in the present invention, as shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1, a cation detection sensor 42 is provided in the pipe 25 between the electrolytic bath 6 and the sterilization bath 7, and a return pipe near the second switching valve 31. An anion detection sensor 43 may be arranged at 29 (or 28).

[0035]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the alkaline ionized water generators of claims 1 to 3, the acidic ionized water once generated in the electrolytic cell is fed back, and useful alkaline ionized water can be taken out again in the electrolytic cell. Therefore, unlike the conventional device of this type, there is no waste of discarding acidic ionized water.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an alkaline ionized water generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an electrolytic cell according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Raw water, 6 ... Electrolyzer, 8 ... Anion exchanger, 8A-8
C ... Ion amount measuring device, 11 ... Anode, 12 ... Cathode, 13 ...
Voltage circuit, 14 ... Raw water inlet, 15 ... First outlet,
16 ... Second outlet, 20-26 ... Main passage piping,
27 ... Drainage passage, 28, 29 ... Return pipe (feedback passage), 30 ... First switching valve, 31 ... Second switching valve, 34 ...
Pump, 40 ... Control device, 41 ... Flow rate sensor, 42 ... Positive ion sensor, 43 ... Anion sensor.

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. Raw water that has passed through a reforming tank or the like is introduced into an electrolytic tank through an inlet, and the generated alkaline ionized water is first
In the alkaline ionized water generator that discharges acidic ionized water from the second outlet after passing it through the sterilization tank of the main passage from the outlet for use, it is installed in the main passage on the outlet side of the sterilizer. A first switching valve that switches to either the outlet or the drainage passage, a feedback passage that connects the second outlet of the electrolytic cell and the raw water inlet, and acidic ions discharged from the second outlet provided in the feedback passage. From the regeneration means, a regeneration means for measuring the amount of ions in water and performing ion exchange, a second switching valve provided in the feedback passage downstream of the regeneration means and switched to either the raw water intake side or the drainage passage The control is performed based on the ion amount measurement signal of, and the signal for applying the voltage to the voltage circuit of the electrolytic cell is sent, and the first and second switching valves are operated. Alkali ion water generation device characterized by and a control device for feeding the items. 2. The acid generator before and during passage through the anion exchanger, wherein the regeneration means has an anion exchanger containing an anion exchange material for performing ion exchange upon contact with acidic ion water or alkaline ion water. The alkaline ionized water generator according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ionizers for measuring the amount of ionized water and sending a signal to the controller. 3. A signal for switching the applied voltage to the electrolytic cell from the control device when the ion amount of the acidic ionized water before passing and the amount of acidic ionized water passing through the anion exchanger are equal or higher during passing. The acidic ionized water is sent from the first outlet through the sterilization tank of the main passage and then drained from the drainage passage. The alkaline ionized water generator according to claim 1, which is discharged after being raised. 4. The alkaline ionized water generator according to claim 1, wherein the feedback passage connects the second outlet of the electrolytic bath and the inlet of the reforming bath.