JPH07328625A - Electrolytic ionized water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sufficiently conduct reverse-voltage cleaning by providing an operation control means by which an electrode switching means is switched to a reverse-voltage state for a set time almost simultaneously with the stoppage of a motor-driven pump when the operation is suspended. CONSTITUTION:When a stop switch 102 is operated, the motor-driven pump P1, electrode-switching device 110 and power source circuit 120 are controlled by a controller 100. An OFF signal is received by the circuit 120 from the controller 100 to reduce the DC voltage between the minus electrode and plus electrode to zero, and the pump P1 is driven for a set time. Immediately after the stoppage of the pump P1, raw water is supplied to discharge pipes 37 and 38 from an electrolytic cell 30, or the raw water is transiently stopped. The water remaining in the discharge pipes 37 and 38 then flows back to a water storage tank 10. Accordingly, the electrodes 32 and 33 are entirely immersed in water for a sufficient time even without increasing the water remaining in the discharge pipes 37 and 38, the reverse-voltage cleaning time is prolonged, and reverse-voltage cleaning is sufficiently performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolytic ionic water producing apparatus for electrolyzing raw water such as water or saline to produce acidic ionic water and alkaline ionic water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of device, when the DC voltage applied to both electrodes is not switched between positive and negative and is used for a long period of time in a positive electric state, calcium, sodium, etc. will appear on the surface of the negative electrode. Adhere to each other in a layered form to reduce the electrical conductivity,
The desired electrolytic ionized water cannot be obtained. The problem is
For example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-7675, when the water supply to the electrolytic cell is stopped, the direct current voltage applied to both electrodes is switched between normal and reverse to make a reverse voltage state, and the residual water in the electrolytic cell is It can be eliminated by performing reverse electrolysis cleaning (peeling the above-mentioned deposits from the electrodes) until the discharge.

[0003]

By the way, in the electrolytic ionized water generator of the above-mentioned publication, the reverse electrolysis cleaning is performed during the time from the stop of the water supply to the electrolytic cell until the residual water in the electrolytic cell is discharged. Therefore, since the electrodes are sequentially exposed as the residual water is drained, it is impossible to sufficiently perform the reverse electrolysis cleaning. The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electrolytic ionized water production apparatus capable of sufficiently performing reverse electrolysis cleaning.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, the electrolytic ionized water generator is provided with a water storage tank for storing raw water such as water or saline.
The first and second electrodes are arranged to face each other and a diaphragm is provided between the electrodes to form first and second electrode chambers for accommodating the electrodes, and raw water flows into these electrode chambers. An outflowing electrolyzer, an electric pump for pumping raw water of the water storage tank to both electrode chambers of the electrolyzer through a connecting pipe, and a rising portion rising above the water surface of the water storage tank and the atmosphere. A first discharge pipe that has an opening and is connected to the first electrode chamber and discharges electrolytic ionized water generated in the first electrode chamber; and a rising portion that rises above the water surface of the water storage tank and the atmosphere can be communicated with each other. The second with a large opening
Second discharge pipe connected to the electrode chamber for discharging electrolyzed ionized water generated in the electrode chamber, electrode switching means for switching between direct and reverse of the DC voltage applied to the both electrodes from the power supply circuit, and the electric motor. The operation of the pump and the electrode switching means is controlled to maintain the electric pump in the driving state during the generating operation, maintain the electrode switching means in the positive electric state, and stop the electric pump when the operation is stopped. At the same time, an operation control means for switching the electrode switching means to a reverse electric state and maintaining the set time is provided.

[0005]

In the electrolytic ionized water producing apparatus according to the present invention, the electric control pump is maintained in the driven state by the operation control means and the electrode switching means is maintained in the positive electric state during the production operation. Raw water in the water storage tank is supplied to both electrode chambers of the electrolytic cell through a connecting pipe, and a DC voltage from a power supply circuit is applied to both electrodes of the electrolytic cell in a positive electric state. For this reason, the raw water supplied from the water storage tank to both electrode chambers of the electrolytic cell is electrolyzed in the electrolytic cell, and acidic ionized water with increased hydrogen ions is generated and discharged from the electrode chamber of the positive electrode. Also, alkaline ionized water with increased hydroxide ions is generated and discharged from the electrode chamber of the negative electrode, and each ionized water is guided to a desired location through each discharge pipe.

Further, when the electric pump is stopped by the operation control means at the time of operation stop, the electrode switching means is switched to the reverse charge state and maintained for the set time substantially at the same time, and the reverse charge cleaning is performed immediately after the stop of the electric pump for the set time. Done. By the way, immediately after the stop of the electric pump, water is supplied from the electrolyzer to each discharge pipe, or the water is temporarily stopped,
After that, the effect that the water remaining in each discharge pipe flows backward toward the water storage tank is obtained. Therefore, even if the amount of water remaining in both drain pipes is not increased, it is possible to secure a sufficient period of time in which both electrodes are submerged, and it is possible to lengthen the reverse electrode cleaning time and to perform the reverse electrode cleaning sufficiently. In addition, the capacity of both discharge pipes can be reduced, and the device can be downsized.

[0007]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an electrolytic ion water generator according to the present invention, which is provided with a water storage tank 10 for storing a required amount of raw water (tap water). The water storage tank 10 is internally equipped with a water level sensor 11 (which detects the upper limit water level and the lower limit water level) connected to the control device 100, and a signal from the water level sensor 11 causes a water supply pipe 19 (connected to the water supply). Solenoid valve V1 installed in
Is opened and closed to maintain the water level in the water storage tank 10 within a predetermined range. Also, the water storage tank 10
Is provided with an overflow pipe 12,
A connection pipe 13 that is branched and connected to both inlets 31 a and 31 b of the electrolytic cell 30 is attached, and the connection pipe 13 has an electric pump P 1 whose operation is controlled by the control device 100.
And manually adjustable flow rate adjusting valves V2 and V3 are respectively provided, and it is configured that approximately the same amount of raw water is supplied to both inflow ports 31a and 31b of the electrolytic cell 30 through the connecting pipe 13. .

The electrolytic cell 30 includes a pair of inlets 31a, 31
A tank body 31 made of resin (deformed by overheating) having b in the lower part and a pair of outlets 31c, 31d in the upper part
And a pair of electrodes 32 disposed opposite to each other in the tank body 31,
33 and a diaphragm 36 disposed between the electrodes 32, 33 to form electrode chambers 34, 35 for accommodating the electrodes 32, 33. The electrodes 32, 33 are made of titanium base material. The surface of the electrode is platinum plated or platinum iridium is fired, and the electrode chamber 3 on the left side is used.
4, an inflow port 31a and an outflow port 31c communicate with each other, and an electrode chamber 35 on the right side communicates with an inflow port 31b and an outflow port 31d.

Further, discharge pipes 37, 38 are connected to the respective outlets 31c, 31d, and the discharge pipes 37, 38 have rising portions 37a, 38a rising upward, which are shown in FIG. As described above, the pipes are extended to the position where the sink T where each ion water is used is provided, and the discharge pipes 37, 38 are provided.
The storage tanks 37b, 38 are provided on the rising portions 37a, 38a of the
b is formed. Further, the respective rising portions 37a, 38a provided at the intermediate portions of the discharge pipes 37, 38 have upper ends communicating with the atmosphere through the ventilation thin pipes 37c, 38c, and the outlet ends of the discharge pipes 37, 38 are sinks. Even if the device is submerged in T, the function does not occur (for example, a siphon phenomenon occurs when the device is stopped). Further, in this embodiment, the bottom of the electrolytic cell 30 is the water storage tank 10.
A predetermined amount L from the upper end of the overflow pipe 12 provided in
1 is arranged so as to be located above 1, and water is not accumulated in the discharge pipes 37, 38 and the electrolytic cell 30 when the apparatus is stopped as shown in the figure.

The electrodes 32 and 33 are connected to a power supply circuit 120 via an electrode switch 110. Electrode changer 11
0 represents both electrodes 32, in response to a signal from the control device 100.
The DC voltage applied to the switch 33 is switched between normal and reverse, and when a positive electric signal is received from the control device 100 in the state shown by the virtual line in FIG. Is connected to the electrode 32, the positive electrode is connected to the electrode 33, and when a reverse signal is received from the control device 100 in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. The negative electrode is connected to the electrode 33 and the positive electrode is connected to the electrode 3.
It is designed to connect to 2. The power supply circuit 120 is for converting an AC voltage into a DC voltage having a predetermined value, so that when the OFF signal is received from the control device 100, the DC voltage between the negative electrode and the positive electrode becomes zero, and from the control device 100. When receiving the ON signal, a DC voltage having a predetermined value is applied between the minus electrode and the plus electrode.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 100 controls the electromagnetic on-off valve V1 and the electric valve based on the signals from the water level sensor 11 and the respective operations of the start switch 101 and the stop switch 102 arranged near the sink T. Pump P1, electrode changer 1
10, the operation of the power supply circuit 120 and the like is controlled, and the operation described below can be obtained by operating the switches 101 and 102.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, when the start switch 101 is operated, the control device 10 is activated.
0 is the electric pump P1, the electrode switching device 110, and the power supply circuit 12
0, the electric pump P1 is driven, the electrode switch 110 is maintained in a solid line state, the power supply circuit 120 receives an ON signal, and a DC voltage of a predetermined value A is applied between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. Both electrodes 32, 3 of the electrolytic cell 30
A DC voltage is applied to 3 in the positive electric state (see T1 in FIG. 3).

Therefore, the raw water in the water storage tank 10 is the electric pump P1, the connecting pipe 13, and the flow rate adjusting valves V2 and V3.
Is supplied to each of the electrode chambers 34, 35 of the electrolytic bath 30 and the raw water is electrolyzed in the electrolytic bath 30, and hydroxide ions are increased from the electrode chamber 34 of the negative side electrode 32 to a predetermined pH of alkaline ions. Water is guided to the sink T through the drain pipe 37, and the electrode chamber 35 of the positive electrode 33
From the above, acidic ionized water having a predetermined PH with increased hydrogen ions is introduced to the sink T through the discharge pipe 38.

When the water level in the water storage tank 10 reaches the lower limit of the set range due to the ion water generation operation by applying the above-mentioned positive voltage, the water level sensor 11 is activated, and based on this, the control device 100 opens the electromagnetic on-off valve V1. A signal is output, the electromagnetic opening / closing valve V1 is opened, and tap water is supplied to the water storage tank 10 through the water supply pipe 19. When the water level in the water storage tank 10 reaches the upper limit of the set range due to the supply of tap water,
The water level sensor 11 operates, and based on this, the control device 100
Outputs a valve closing signal to the electromagnetic opening / closing valve V1, the electromagnetic opening / closing valve V1 is closed, and the supply of tap water is stopped.

When the stop switch 102 is operated, the control device 100 controls the electric pump P1, the electrode switching device 110 and the power supply circuit 120 based on the operation, and the power supply circuit 120 receives an OFF signal from the control device 100. The driving of the electric pump P1 is maintained for a set time (T2 to T3 in FIG. 3) in a state where the DC voltage between the negative electrode and the positive electrode is set to zero, and substantially at the same time when the electric pump P1 is stopped after the set time. The switch 110 switches the electrode connection from the solid line state to the phantom line state to connect the electrode 32 of the electrolytic cell 30 to the positive electrode of the power supply circuit 120 and the electrode 33 to the negative electrode of the power supply circuit 120. Receives an ON signal from the control device 100, a DC voltage having a predetermined value is applied between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and the electrolytic cell 3
A DC voltage is applied to both electrodes 32 and 33 of 0 in a reverse electric state (see T3 in FIG. 3). This state is set by the control device 100 after the electric pump P1 is stopped for a set time (T3 to T in FIG. 3).
4) The power supply circuit 12 is maintained and, when the set time has elapsed,
0 receives the OFF signal from the control device 100 to set the DC voltage between the negative electrode and the positive electrode to zero, and then the control device 100 switches the electrode connection from the virtual line state to the solid line state by the electrode switch 110. Electrode 3 of electrolyzer 30
2 is connected to the negative electrode of the power supply circuit 120, and the electrode 33 is connected to the positive electrode.

Therefore, from the time when the stop switch 102 is operated (T2 in FIG. 3) to the time when the electric pump P1 is stopped (T3 in FIG. 3), the electrolytic cell 30 and each discharge pipe 37,
The unelectrolyzed raw water is pumped into the inside of 38, and the electric pump P
The set time from immediately after the stop of No. 1 to the middle of the backflow state in which the residual water remaining in the discharge pipes 37 and 38 is automatically supplied to the electrode chambers 34 and 35 by the drop (T3 to T4 in FIG. 3).
Then, so-called reverse electrolysis cleaning is performed to remove deposits such as calcium and sodium from the electrode 32, and the backflow water is discharged to the outside of the electrolytic cell 30 toward the water storage tank 10 through the connecting pipe 13 and the electric pump P1.

Immediately after the electric pump P1 is stopped, the raw water is supplied from the electrolytic cell 30 to the discharge pipes 37, 38 or the raw water is temporarily stopped, and then the discharge pipes 37, 38 are stopped. The effect that the water remaining inside flows back toward the water storage tank 10 is obtained. Therefore, even if the amount of water remaining in both drain pipes 37 and 38 is not increased, both electrodes 3
It is possible to secure a sufficient time for the whole 2, 33 to be submerged in water, it is possible to lengthen the reverse electrolysis cleaning time, and it is possible to sufficiently perform the reverse electrolysis cleaning.
The capacity of 38 can be reduced (for example, the rising portions 37a and 38a can be shortened or the storage tank portions 37b and 38b can be eliminated), and the device can be downsized.

Further, since the above-mentioned reverse electrolysis cleaning is performed by the electrolytic reaction in the unelectrolyzed raw water, the hydrogen brittle reaction caused by the adsorption of hydrogen ions on the electrode 33 is suppressed, and the electrode 33 is damaged. Is suppressed. Further, in this embodiment, the acidic ionized water and the alkaline ionized water produced by the above-mentioned reverse electrolysis are merged and mixed at the base of the connecting pipe 13 to be neutralized, and this is neutralized via the electric pump P1. Return to 10. Therefore, the electric pump P1
No touch resistance is required, and an inexpensive general electric pump can be used.

The above set time (reverse electrolysis cleaning time)
Is usually set appropriately within a range of several seconds to several tens of seconds, and in the present embodiment, the time when the water surface that causes backflow water descends to the lower end of each storage tank part 37b, 38b (during the backflow state). Is set so that the back electrolysis cleaning ends. Therefore, in this embodiment, unelectrolyzed water accumulates in both branch portions of the connecting pipe 13 at the end of the backflow,
The electrode 32 does not react with hydrogen ions at the start of the next generation operation. In addition, in this embodiment, the electrolytic cell 30 is used.
Since the bottom part of the above is arranged so as to be located above the upper end of the overflow pipe 12 provided in the water storage tank 10 by a predetermined amount L1, water can be completely discharged from the electrolytic cell 30 at the end of the backflow, Even if both electrodes of the electrolytic cell 30 are applied in a reversely charged state after the completion of reverse electrolysis cleaning, no current flows between the electrodes 32 and 33, and the electrolytic cell 30 is overheated due to energization in a water-stopped state. Does not occur.

In the above embodiment, the stop switch 10
A time lag is provided between the time when the production operation is stopped (T2 in FIG. 3), which is obtained almost simultaneously with the operation of 2, and the start of the reverse cleaning (T3, which is obtained), which is obtained almost simultaneously with the stop of the electric pump P1. The reverse electrolysis cleaning was started in the unelectrolyzed raw water, and the hydrogen embrittlement reaction caused by the adsorption of hydrogen ions on the electrode 33 was suppressed, but the ionization concentration of the ion water produced by the device was suppressed. If the hydrogen embrittlement reaction is low and the above hydrogen embrittlement reaction is not a problem, the stop switch 102
When the production operation is stopped, which can be obtained almost simultaneously with the operation of
In 2), the electric pump P1 may be stopped and the reverse electric cleaning may be started at substantially the same time.

In the above embodiment, the present invention was carried out by using tap water as raw water.
It is also possible to carry out the present invention using saline solution obtained by the device shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6 as raw water. Also,
The present invention was carried out in such a manner that the raw water is supplied to the electrode chambers 34 and 35 of the electrolytic cell 30 by the branched connecting pipe 13 and the single electric pump P1 in the above-described embodiment. It is also possible to implement the present invention by configuring so that the raw water is supplied to the electrode chambers 34, 35 of the electrolytic cell 30 by electric pumps respectively interposed in the connection pipes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an electrolytic ionized water generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a use state of the electrolytic ionized water generator shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the electrolytic ionized water generator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Water tank, 13 ... Connection pipe, 30 ... Electrolyzer, 3
2, 33 ... Electrodes, 34, 35 ... Electrode chambers, 36 ... Diaphragm, 3
7 ... 1st discharge pipe, 38 ... 2nd discharge pipe, 37a, 38a ...
Rise, 110 ... Electrode changer, 120 ... Power circuit, 10
0 ... Control device, P1 ... Electric pump.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water storage tank for storing raw water such as water or salt water, and a first and a second electrode which are arranged facing each other inside, and a diaphragm is arranged between these two electrodes to accommodate each electrode. An electrolysis tank in which first and second electrode chambers are formed so that raw water can flow into and out of the two electrode chambers, and an electric pump for pressure-feeding raw water in the water storage tank to both electrode chambers in the electrolysis tank through a connecting pipe. And a first upper portion that rises above the water surface of the water storage tank and an opening that can communicate with the atmosphere.
A first discharge pipe connected to the electrode chamber for discharging electrolytic ionized water generated in the electrode chamber, a rising portion rising above the water surface of the water storage tank, and an opening communicating with the atmosphere. A second discharge pipe connected to the second electrode chamber for discharging electrolytic ionized water generated in the electrode chamber; electrode switching means for switching between direct and reverse of the DC voltage applied from the power supply circuit to the both electrodes; When the operation of the electric pump and the electrode switching means is controlled to maintain the electric pump in the driving state during the generating operation, the electrode switching means is maintained in the positive electric state, and the electric pump is stopped when the operation is stopped. An electrolyzed ionized water production apparatus comprising operation control means for switching the electrode switching means to a reverse electric state at substantially the same time and maintaining the set time.