JPH07222980A - Ionic water maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a user to easily confirm the deterioration of a pH sensor and to ensure accuracy by restoring the deteriorated pH sensor. CONSTITUTION:In an ionic water maker equipped with an electrolytic cell 2 making alkaline ionic water and acidic ion water by electrolysis to separately emit them and a pH sensor 7 measuring the pH value of made electrolytic water, a memory part 10b storing initial operation characteristics, a detection part 10a comparing the initial operation characteristics stored in the memory part with the operation characteristics at the present point of time to detect the deterioration of the pH sensor 7 and a display means 15 displaying abnormality on the basis of the output of the detection part are installed. Further, a restoration means restoring the capacity of the pH sensor is attached.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ion water generator for electrolyzing tap water or the like to continuously generate alkaline ion water and acidic ion water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When electrolyzing water to produce alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water, an ionized water generator equipped with a pH sensor is used to show the degree of progress of electrolysis. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-22. An ion water generator is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-22 in which ion water having a desired pH value is obtained by feedback controlling the electrolytic voltage and the flow rate based on the output signal of the pH sensor.
093 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-64785.

[0003]

The pH sensor utilizes the fact that the electromotive force generated between the glass electrode and the reference electrode is uniquely determined with respect to the pH of the solution to be measured. The pH sensor installed in the ion water generator is to be measured in a severe situation where a large amount of electrolyzed ionized water is continuously passed through, and a poorly soluble inorganic substance such as calcium carbonate ( If the scale) adheres to the electrode part, there is a problem in that its accuracy and responsiveness decrease. However, since there is no means for quantitatively measuring the scale adhered to the electrode part, this problem has been left unsolved in the past, and during use, the pH value is displayed due to the above deterioration of the pH sensor. And p
The accuracy of the H value control is lowered, and the deterioration cannot be judged by the user. As a result, the reliability of the ion water generator itself is lowered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an ion water generator in which a user can easily recognize deterioration of a pH sensor. For other purposes, the deteriorated p
An object is to provide an ion water generator capable of recovering the H sensor and ensuring accuracy.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, however, an electrolytic cell for generating alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water by electrolysis and discharging the ionized water separately, and a pH value of the generated ionized water. In a deionized water generator equipped with a pH sensor for measuring pH, a storage unit for storing initial operating characteristics and a comparison between the initial operating characteristics stored in this storing section and the operating characteristics at the present time The first feature is that the detection unit for detecting the deterioration of the sensor and the display unit for displaying the abnormality by the output of the detection unit are provided, and the recovery unit for recovering the performance of the pH sensor is provided. It is characterized by being equipped.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the deterioration of the pH sensor can be detected in order to compare the operating characteristic with the initial operating characteristic, and in the case where the recovery means is provided,
The sensor can be restored. As the operating characteristics that are the criteria for determining the deterioration of the pH sensor, the rising response of the pH sensor and its output voltage can be used, and feedback control of the electrolysis voltage of the electrolytic cell etc. is performed by the output of the pH sensor. In the case where ionic water having a target pH value can be obtained, the change with time of the electrolysis voltage can be used.

The pH sensor recovery means can be constructed so that the strongly acidic cleaning liquid can be brought into contact with the electrode of the pH sensor because the scale adhered to the electrode is basically an alkaline substance. The strong acid cleaning liquid at this time may be a liquid which is injected from the outside or strong acid water generated in the electrolytic cell. In the case of injecting from the outside, the method and the injection position are not particularly limited, and it is sufficient to select a means capable of filling the strongly acidic cleaning liquid in the path inside the apparatus.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. This ion water generator includes an electrolytic cell 2, a backwash unit 4, a constant flow valve 5, and a constant flow valve 5, as shown in FIG. Switching valve 6
The pH sensor 7, the calcium agent adding cylinder 8 and the like are housed in the housing 1.

The electrolytic cell 2 is provided with two kinds of electrodes 21, 22 and an electrolytic diaphragm 20 for partitioning the two, and has inlets 25, 26 on the bottom side and outlets 23, 24 on the upper side. The discharge ports 23 and 24 are connected to the discharge pipes 17 and 18 via the switching valve 6. Here, the inflow port 25 and the ejection port 23 communicate with the space surrounding the one electrode 21, and the inflow port 26 and the ejection port 24 communicate with the space surrounding the other electrode 22. 25 is made thinner than the inflow port 26 so that the flow rate flowing into the electrode 21 side becomes smaller than the flow rate flowing into the electrode 22 side at a ratio of about 1: 3. Further, the switching valve 6 causes the discharge port 24 and the discharge pipe 17 to communicate with each other when the discharge port 23 and the discharge pipe 17 communicate with each other, and discharges the discharge port 24 and the discharge port 18 when the discharge port 23 and the discharge pipe 18 communicate with each other. It is configured to communicate with the pipe 17.

The water purifier 3 is provided with a filter medium 31 made of activated carbon and a filter medium 32 made of a hollow fiber membrane, and two openings provided at the lower end thereof are connected to the backwash unit 4. The above two types of filter media 31 and 32 are contained in a single cartridge, and the cartridges can be replaced together. The backwash unit 4 is a water purifier 3
The clogging of the filter media 31 and 32 inside is solved by backwashing the purified water that has been filtered through the water purifier 3 by flowing it back to the water purifier 3. It also has 5 ports for convenience. Of these 5 ports, 2 are water purifiers 3 as described above.
One is connected to the faucet through the constant flow valve 5, and the other is
One is connected to the electrolytic cell 2 via the flow rate sensor 9 and the calcium agent addition cylinder 8, and the other one is connected to the drainage outlet 19.

The pH sensor 7 is provided in the middle of the discharge pipe 18 so that the ionic water flowing through the discharge pipe 18 passes through the inside of the pH sensor 7. The pH is measured by the flow sensor 9. PH under the flow conditions detected by
It is performed by the electromotive force generated in the working electrode and the reference electrode in the sensor 7. The ionized water generator thus formed operates as follows. That is, when the alkaline ionized water is discharged to the discharge pipe 18, the water that has entered the water purifier 3 from the tap through the constant flow valve 5 and the switching valve in the backwash unit 4 is filtered in the water purifier 3 and backwashed. After passing through the unit 4 again, it enters the electrolytic cell 2 through the calcium agent addition cylinder 8 and is electrolyzed there. The energization of the electrolytic cell 2 is started by the flow rate information obtained from the flow rate sensor 9.

At this time, if it is instructed to obtain alkaline ionized water, the electrolytic voltage is applied so that the electrode 21 of the electrolytic cell 2 serves as an anode and the electrode 22 serves as a cathode. Acidic ion water is obtained at the outlet 23 side and alkaline ion water is obtained at the discharge port 24 side, and alkaline ion water is discharged to the discharge pipe 18 side and acidic ion water is discharged to the discharge pipe 17 side.

When it is instructed to obtain acidic ionized water, there are the following two water streams depending on the instructed acidity. First, in the case of weakly acidic ionized water, electrolyzer 2
Since the electrolytic voltage is applied so that the electrode 21 of FIG. 2 serves as the cathode and the electrode 22 serves as the anode, alkaline ionized water is obtained at the ejection port 23 side and acidic ionized water is obtained at the ejection port 24 side. The valve 6 allows alkaline ionized water to flow to the discharge pipe 17 side and acidic ionized water to flow to the discharge pipe 18 side.

In the case of strong acidic ionized water, an electrolytic voltage is applied so that the electrode 21 of the electrolytic cell 2 serves as an anode and the electrode 22 serves as a cathode, so that the acidic ionized water is discharged to the discharge port 23 side.
Alkaline ionized water is obtained at the discharge port 24 side, and at this time, the switching valve 6 is switched to a state different from the above two states,
The alkaline ionized water is discharged to the discharge pipe 17 side, and the acidic ionized water is discharged to the discharge pipe 18 side. As described above, the reason why the electrode 21 side is the anode when the strongly acidic ionized water is discharged from the discharge pipe 18 side is that the inlet port 2 to the electrode 21 side is as described above.
This is because 5 is narrowed down from the inflow port 26 on the electrode 22 side to reduce the inflow amount, so that it is easy to obtain strongly acidic ionized water.

When a backwashing instruction is given, the switching valve in the backwashing unit 4 is switched so that the water stored in the cylinder in the backwashing unit, that is, the water purifier 3 is once passed. By backflowing the purified water back to the water purifier 3 side and discharging it from the drainage drain port 19, the inside of the water purifier 3 is backwashed. Here, the operation of the switching valve in the backwash unit 4, the switching valve 6, the electrolytic cell 2 and the like is controlled by the control device 1
Controlled by 0. A flow rate sensor 9 and a pH sensor 7 are also connected to the control device 10 to monitor the flow rate and the pH value of the ion water discharged from the discharge pipe 18,
The value is displayed on the display unit 15, and the pH of the ionic water obtained from the pH sensor 7 is obtained so that the ionic water having the pH value desired by the user can be obtained without being affected by the water quality of the raw water. Feedback control of the electrolytic voltage applied to the electrodes 21 and 22 of the electrolytic cell 2 via the switching power supply 11 is performed based on the value information, but the degree of deterioration of the pH sensor 7 is also detected.

Next, the operation of the deterioration detecting portion of the pH sensor 7 in the control device 10 will be described. In the control device 10, the electrolysis voltage VD0 corresponding to the set pH in the initial state changes with time until stabilization and is stable. Output voltage V corresponding to the electrolysis voltage at the time and pH from the pH sensor 7
A storage unit 10b is provided for storing, as operation characteristic values, the time change of P0 until it becomes stable and the output voltage when it is stable. That is, the flow rate and the electrolytic voltage with respect to the set pH and the output voltage of the pH sensor 7 when the electrode portion of the pH sensor 7 is not contaminated by impurities such as calcium carbonate in the ionic water are stored as initial operation characteristic data. There is.

As the ion water generator is used, the response of the output voltage and the output value of the pH sensor 7 change with time due to adhesion of impurities to the surface of the working electrode. Along with this, the electrolytic voltage corresponding to the set pH feedback-controlled according to the output voltage of the pH sensor 7 also changes with time. If the output voltage of the pH sensor 7 at this time is VP1 and the electrolysis voltage is VD1,
The detection unit 10a of the control circuit 10 uses the ion water generator every time it uses the deviations ΔVP and ΔVD from the initial value (ΔVP = VP).
1-VP0, ΔVD = VD1−VD0) is calculated and compared with the upper limit value of the deviation allowed by the system, and when the deviations ΔVP, ΔVD exceed the upper limit value,
An abnormality display is displayed on the display unit 15 to notify the deterioration of the pH sensor 7 and the user is prompted to perform a cleaning operation of the pH sensor 7.

The injection port 28 shown in FIG. 2 is for this cleaning, and when the above deterioration is notified, the injection port 28 which is normally closed is opened and the strong acid cleaning solution is injected from there. . The strongly acidic cleaning solution injected from the injection port 28 provided between the electrolytic cell 2 and the pH sensor 7 is p
The H sensor 7, the switching valve 6 and the electrolytic cell 2 are filled.
An electromagnetic valve 50 is arranged between the electrolytic bath 2 and the calcium agent addition cylinder 8, and at this time the electromagnetic valve 50 is closed. It does not flow to the water purifier 3 side.

As described above, the deterioration of the pH sensor 7 is affected by water quality, but a scale mainly composed of a poorly soluble inorganic substance such as calcium carbonate contained in a large amount in alkaline ionized water adheres to the electrode surface. That is the cause
By removing this scale, the pH sensor 7 can be recovered. Since the scale component is basically an alkaline substance and dissolves in a strongly acidic liquid,
It can be removed by injecting the above strongly acidic cleaning solution. As a strong acid cleaning solution to be injected from the outside,
Although not particularly limited, organic acids such as vinegar and citric acid can be used, and the pH is preferably 3 or less.

In this ion water generator, as described above, since the strongly acidic water can be produced, the strongly acidic water produced in the electrolytic cell 2 is replaced with p.
The scale can also be removed by flowing it to the H sensor 7 side. In this case, the detection unit 10 of the control device 10 can be removed.
When an abnormality of the pH sensor 7 is detected in a, it is possible to automatically generate the strongly acidic water and cause the strongly acidic water to flow to the pH sensor 7 side. Also,
The scale adhering to the pH sensor 7 slowly elutes in the neutralization reaction. Therefore, determine whether the pH sensor 7 has recovered by performing until the pH indication of the strongly acidic water converges and use the end of washing. The user can be notified, and various input operations by the user should not be accepted until the cleaning is completed.

Next, a specific example of recovery of the pH sensor 7 will be described. A system in which the electrodes 21 and 22 of the electrolytic cell 2 are made of platinum-plated titanium and a switching power supply 11 capable of applying an electrolytic voltage of 0 to 40 V is used as a power supply, and feedback control of the electrolytic voltage according to pH is performed in this range. And the pH sensor 7 has a pH for 1 pH
When the output voltage change of the sensor 7 is 0.5V,
The limit of the deviation ΔVP was set to ± 0.5V with respect to the initial value, or the upper limit of the deviation ΔVD was set to 7V with respect to the initial value. When 800 l of alkaline ionized water having a pH of 9.5 is produced from raw water having a total hardness of 150 ppm and free carbonic acid of 40 ppm, the electrolysis voltage increases,
An abnormal display appears. At this point, the water flow was stopped and drained, and then a 5% citric acid aqueous solution was introduced from the inlet 28 to the electrolytic cell 2.
Inject into the part including the pipe on the more downstream side, and 60 to 180
I kept it for a minute. At this time, the pH sensor output, electrolysis voltage and flow rate were 9.5, 21 V, 3 l / min in the initial stage,
When the pH sensor deteriorates, 9.4, 29V, 2.5l / mi
n, pH sensor is 9.5, 22V, 3l / mi after regeneration
It was n. The pH sensor 7 could be restored to almost the initial state.

Similarly, showing the data when the set pH is 3.5, the pH sensor output, electrolysis voltage and flow rate are 3.5, 36 V, 1.5 l / min and p at the initial stage, respectively.
When the H sensor deteriorates, 5.1, 40V, 1.2l /
When the pH sensor was regenerated by injecting a 5% citric acid aqueous solution for 5 min, the values were 3.5, 37 V and 1.5 l / min. When the pH sensor deteriorates, the electrolytic voltage reaches its maximum value, and it is not possible to apply the electrolytic voltage to obtain the acidic ionized water of the target pH. Therefore, the acidic ionized water of the set pH is obtained. Although not available, performance is restored by acid cleaning.

In the case of recovering with strongly acidic water generated in the electrolysis tank 2, if a specific example is shown, the pH is set to 9.5, the electrolysis voltage is 21 V, and the flow rate is 3 l / min. , Electrolysis voltage 30V, flow rate 2.5l /
It became min, and the deterioration of the pH sensor 7 was observed. The pH sensor 7 is regenerated by applying an electrolysis voltage corresponding to the strongly acidic water setting pH of 3.0 in the initial stage and passing 50 l of the strongly acidic water thus obtained,
After that, when it was operated again with the set pH set to 9.5, the pH value by the output of the pH sensor 7 was 9.5, the electrolysis voltage was 21 V, and the flow rate was 3 l / min, and the initial state could be restored. .

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 shows a case where an injection port 28 is provided in the portion of the calcium agent addition cylinder 8. The calcium agent addition cylinder 8 is composed of an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder containing the calcium agent, and the inner cylinder is positioned in the middle of the flow of water between the inlet and the outlet of the outer cylinder so that the calcium agent is added. Although it is configured to contact water, the inner cylinder here is made detachable, and the inner cylinder is taken out from the outer cylinder opening that is normally closed to replenish the calcium agent. The strong acid cleaning solution is injected into the inside. Since the calcium agent supply port is used as the injection port 28, it is not necessary to provide the injection port 28 separately. In this case, since the electromagnetic valve 50 that is closed at the time of injecting the cleaning liquid is installed between the calcium agent addition cylinder 8 and the flow rate sensor 9 arranged in the preceding stage, the cleaning liquid flows to the water purifier 3 side. There is no. The strong acid cleaning liquid is not particularly limited, but as in the case of the above-mentioned examples, an organic acid recognized as a food additive such as vinegar and citric acid and having a pH of 3 or less is desirable.

[0025]

As described above, in the present invention, since the detection unit for detecting the deterioration of the pH sensor by comparing the initial operating characteristic stored in the storage unit with the operating characteristic at the present time is provided, Deterioration of the pH sensor, which is difficult to detect quantitatively, can be detected easily and surely, and when there is deterioration, an abnormal display is made. It is possible to recognize the deterioration of the sensor, and it is possible to enhance the reliability as a device, and in the case where a recovery means is provided, the deteriorated pH sensor can be recovered, A highly accurate operation can be obtained.

As the recovery means, strong acid water generated in the electrolytic cell is used, and the recovery operation by the strong acid water is performed when deterioration is detected by the detection section, the predetermined performance is maintained. Is done automatically.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the above.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Electrolyzer 7 pH sensor 10 Control device 10a Detection unit 10b Storage unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshikazu Nishikawa 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72) Teruyuki Omochi 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshihisa Hirai 1048 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroyuki Noguchi Osaka 1048, Kadoma Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Norihiko Kawamura Osaka Inside the company, Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electrolysis tank for generating alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water by electrolysis and discharging the ionized water separately, and a pH sensor for measuring the pH value of the generated ionized water. In the ionized water generator, a storage unit that stores the initial operation characteristics, and a detection unit that detects the deterioration of the pH sensor by comparing the initial operation characteristics stored in this storage unit with the operation characteristics at the present time, An ion water generator, comprising: a display unit that displays an abnormality by the output of the detection unit. 2. An electrolytic cell for producing alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water by electrolysis and discharging the ionized water separately, and a pH sensor for measuring the pH value of the produced ionized water. An ion water generator, comprising a recovery means for recovering the performance of a pH sensor. 3. An electrolytic cell for generating alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water by electrolysis and discharging the ionized water separately, and a pH sensor for measuring the pH value of the generated ionized water. In the ionized water generator, a storage unit that stores the initial operation characteristics, and a detection unit that detects the deterioration of the pH sensor by comparing the initial operation characteristics stored in this storage unit with the operation characteristics at the present time, An ion water generator comprising display means for displaying an abnormality by the output of the detection section and recovery means for recovering the performance of the pH sensor. 4. The recovery means is a means for injecting an acidic cleaning liquid into the pH sensor, wherein the recovery means is a pH sensor.
The ion water generator described. 5. The ionized water generator according to claim 4, wherein the injection portion for the acidic cleaning liquid is provided in an addition portion for adding a calcium component to water sent to the electrolytic cell. 6. The ion water generator according to claim 2, wherein the recovery means is a flow path changing member that guides the strongly acidic water generated in the electrolytic cell to the pH sensor. 7. The ion water generator according to claim 6, wherein the flow path changing member is a switching valve that selectively guides the acidic water and the alkaline water generated in the electrolytic cell to the pH sensor. 8. The recovery means is a flow path changing member for guiding the strongly acidic water generated in the electrolytic cell to the pH sensor,
The ion water generator according to claim 3, wherein the flow path changing member is operated by an output of the detection unit.