JPH081164A - Device and method for water conditioning - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a water conditioning device in which the life of active carbon is extended, the propagation of bacteria in an electrolytic bath is controlled and the initial electrolysis capacity is maintained by keeping the concentrations of chlorine and other ions in city water in the electrolytic bath. CONSTITUTION:Active carbon 4 is separated from a filter 2 such as a hollow fiber membrane and placed in an alkaline ionic water discharge pipe 5 so that only alkaline ionic water for drinking is filtered to extend the life of active carbon. Since fine refuse in city water is removed by the filter such as a hollow fiber membrane in the previous stage of an electrolytic bath to protect the electrodes, the sterilization capacity of city water is kept in the electrolytic bath, preventing the propagation of bacteria in the bath. The concentrations of ions are kept in the electrolytic bath to maintain the initial electrolysis capacity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water regulator and a water regulating method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, water purifiers have conventionally been provided with a filter layer consisting of activated carbon or activated carbon and a filter such as a hollow fiber membrane before the electrolyzer, and after filtering all of the water supplied, the electrolyzer. It is electrolyzed and is divided into alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water for supply. The conventional water purifier will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional water conditioner. In this water conditioner, a water purifier 74 composed of activated carbon 72 and a filter 73 such as a hollow fiber membrane is arranged in front of the electrolytic cell 71. The water supplied from the faucet 75 is first removed by the activated carbon 72 of harmful substances such as residual chlorine contained in the water and substances causing odor, and then by a filter 73 such as a hollow fiber membrane, a considerably small amount of dust. Is removed until.
The water thus filtered by the water purifier unit 74 is finally electrolyzed in the electrolytic bath 71, and alkaline ion water is supplied from the alkaline ion water discharge pipe 76 and acidic ion water is supplied from the acidic ion water discharge pipe 77. Further, as disclosed in JP-A-6-31278, raw water is filtered through a prefilter to remove relatively large contaminants, and after electrolysis in an electrolytic cell, only alkaline ionized water is filtered with an ozone reaction section, activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane filter. An ionized water conditioner adapted to be filtered by a part is shown.

[0004]

However, in the conventional water purifier shown in FIG. 7, the water supplied from the faucet is activated carbon 7
2 and the filter 73, the acidic ionized water that is not used for drinking is also filtered, and the life of the activated carbon 72 is shortened.

Further, in order to remove even chlorine in water having a sterilizing ability by the activated carbon 72 in the preceding stage of the electrolytic cell 71,
Bacteria may propagate inside the electrolytic cell 71.

[0006] Further, activated carbon 72 is provided in the preceding stage of the electrolytic cell 71.
As a result, the concentration of each ion decreases, which causes a problem such as a decrease in the electrolysis capacity of the electrolytic cell 71.

Further, the ion water conditioning apparatus disclosed in JP-A-6-31278 has a problem that the electrode action in the electrolytic cell is impaired only by passing through a prefilter which removes relatively large contaminants.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. A water purifier according to the first aspect of the present invention does not include activated carbon in the front stage of an electrolytic cell and is used in water. A filter for removing small dust is arranged, and activated carbon is separately arranged on the discharge side of alkaline ionized water.

Further, in the water conditioning method of the invention according to claim 3, the feed water is passed through a filter for removing small dust in water without containing activated carbon, and then electrolyzed by an electrolytic cell to discharge only alkaline ionized water. This is a method of filtering with activated carbon arranged in.

[0010]

The present invention is for drinking by arranging a filter for separating activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane or the like, removing a small dust in water in the preceding stage of the electrolytic cell, and arranging activated carbon on the discharge side of alkaline ionized water. By treating only alkaline ionized water with activated carbon to extend the service life of activated carbon, and maintaining the calcination concentration of tap water and the concentration of each ion to the inside of the electrolytic cell, the growth of bacteria in the electrolytic cell is reduced. In addition, the original electrolysis ability can be maintained.

[0011]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the water conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This water conditioner is composed of a filter such as activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane for filtering water as in the conventional case shown in FIG. 7, and an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water.

The water supplied from the faucet 1 is first removed by a filter 2 to remove small dust particles in the water for the purpose of protecting electrodes in the electrolytic cell, and electrolyzed in the electrolytic cell 3. Then, only the alkaline ionized water is removed by the activated carbon 4 from substances causing bleaching and odor, and other harmful substances, and discharged by the alkaline ionized water discharge pipe 5 on the discharge side of the alkaline ionized water. On the other hand, the acidic ionized water is discharged from the acidic ionized water discharge pipe 6 as it is. Therefore, all of the water treated with the activated carbon 4 is alkaline ionized water that is used for drinking, and there is no waste of treating even acidic ionized water that is not drinking, and the useful life of the activated carbon 4 can be extended. Further, when tap water is electrolyzed, the concentration of scaly contained in the alkaline ionized water becomes considerably lower than the concentration of scaly contained in the tap water, so that the service life of the activated carbon can be further extended.

Further, the filter 2 is provided in the preceding stage of the electrolytic cell 3.
As a result, only small dust in the tap water is removed, so that the bacteriostatic ability of the tap water itself due to scaly or the like can be maintained inside the electrolysis tank 3 and the propagation of bacteria inside the electrolysis tank 3 can be prevented. Further, since each ion concentration is maintained inside the electrolytic bath 3, the original electrolysis ability can be maintained without adding calcium or the like.

(Embodiment 2) A water conditioner according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. This water conditioner is composed of a hollow fiber membrane cartridge 22 composed of a hollow fiber membrane 21 acting as an electrode protection filter from the water supply side, a flow rate sensor 23 for measuring the water flow rate, and then a cathode 24, an anode 25 and a diaphragm 26. It has an activated carbon cartridge 30 composed of an electrolytic bath 27, activated carbon 28, and an activated carbon holder 29, which is the heart of the water conditioner. When performing backwashing of hollow fiber membranes and electrode cleaning in each water passage, a hollow fiber membrane water supply solenoid valve 31, a hollow fiber membrane discharge solenoid valve 32, and a hollow fiber membrane backwash switching solenoid valve 33 for changing the water passages. , Hollow fiber membrane drainage solenoid valve 3
4. The electrolysis tank drainage solenoid valve 35 is arranged. Further, since the hollow fiber membrane 21 arranged in the preceding stage of the electrolytic cell has a backwash function, its service life becomes considerably long.

FIG. 3 is a principle diagram of the water conditioner of the present invention. Hollow fiber membrane backwash switching solenoid valve 33, hollow fiber membrane drainage solenoid valve 3
4. When the electrolysis tank drainage solenoid valve 35 is closed and the hollow fiber membrane water supply solenoid valve 31 and the hollow fiber membrane discharge solenoid valve 32 are opened, the water supplied from the faucet 36 first enters the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 22 and the hollow fiber membrane. 21 removes small dust in tap water and enters the electrolytic cell 27 via the flow sensor 23. In the electrolysis tank 27, a cation of a highly alkaline alkali metal or alkaline earth metal contained in the raw water in a small amount is contained on the cathode side, and chlorine contained in the raw water as a component of chlorine is contained on the anode side. Strongly acidic anions migrate through the diaphragm 26, and alkaline ionized water containing a large amount of cations such as alkaline ions on the cathode side is removed by the activated carbon 28 in the activated carbon cartridge 30 from substances causing harmful substances and odors. It is obtained as alkaline ionized water from the alkaline ionized water discharge pipe 37. On the other hand, acidic ionized water containing a large amount of anions on the anode side is directly obtained as acidic ionized water from the acidic ionized water discharge pipe 38.

The hollow fiber membrane 21 filters dust in the water and reduces the flow rate when the clogging becomes severe. Flow sensor 2
3 detects the flow rate, and when the flow rate decreases, the hollow fiber membrane 2
Perform backwash of 1. When the hollow fiber membrane 21 is backwashed, the flow of water is shown in FIG.
1. When the hollow fiber membrane water discharge solenoid valve 32 is closed and the hollow fiber membrane backwash switching solenoid valve 33 and the hollow fiber membrane drainage solenoid valve 34 are opened, the water supplied from the faucet 36 is the hollow fiber membrane backwash switching solenoid valve 3
The hollow fiber membrane cartridge 2 from the hollow fiber membrane water outlet through 3
The small dust trapped in the hollow fiber membrane 21 is pushed out from the opposite side to be removed, and is discharged through the hollow fiber membrane drainage electromagnetic valve 34. FIG. 4 shows the mechanism of backwashing the hollow fiber membrane. Fig.4 (a) is normal water passage,
(B) is under backwashing. The hollow fiber membrane 21 is in the form of a hollow fiber, and the hollow fiber membrane used in a water purifier usually has a wall surface with a pore diameter of 0.2 μm or less. In the case of normal water flow, the supplied water enters from the wall surface of the hollow fiber membrane as shown in FIG. 4 (a) and is discharged through the internal cavity. Therefore, filtered dust and the like is trapped on the outer wall of the hollow fiber membrane. On the other hand, during backwashing, water enters from the cavity inside the hollow fiber membrane and is discharged from the wall surface, and is discharged at the same time as dust trapped on the outer wall of the hollow fiber membrane.

When the electrode is electrolyzed, a metal element in water is deposited on the cathode, which lowers the electrolysis capacity. Therefore, the water purifier of the present invention is designed to perform reverse electrolysis cleaning of the electrodes after each electrolysis. Immediately after electrolysis, the hollow fiber membrane water discharge solenoid valve 32 is closed,
Immediately begins reverse electrode cleaning of the electrodes. FIG. 5 shows the movement of each ion in the electrolytic cell during reverse electrolysis cleaning of the electrode. FIG. 5 (a) shows the movement of each ion immediately after electrolysis, FIG. 5 (b) shows the reverse electrolysis cleaning, and FIG. 5 (c) shows the movement of each ion immediately after the reverse electrolysis cleaning. During the electrolysis, each anode ion gathers around the cathode, electrons are taken away and deposited, and the electrolysis ability is reduced, and each anion gathers around the anode.
When the electrode is reversely charged after the electrolysis is completed, the metal element deposited on the cathode is given an electron again and becomes a cation and dissolves into water. Immediately after reverse electrolysis cleaning, electrolysis tank drainage solenoid valve 3
5 is opened, and the water in the electrolytic cell is drained from the drainage pipe 39 for reverse electrode cleaning as shown in FIG.

The alkaline ionized water is used for cooking water, tea,
Coffee is mainly used for drinking, while acidic ionized water is not used for washing water, disinfecting, etc. The water purifier of the present invention is mainly for treating alkaline ionized water that is drinkable with activated carbon to remove harmful substances and substances that cause odors. As long as it can be expected to have a long service life, electrolysis of tap water will almost eliminate the calcination contained in the tap water (an index that indicates the life of activated carbon) in alkaline ionized water, so the life of activated carbon can be expected to be extended. .

[0021] Generally, tap water contains chlorine in a concentration of 0.1 ppm or more in order to reduce the growth of bacteria. In the conventional water conditioner, since the activated carbon removes the scaly which has the ability to sterilize and sterilize the bacteria in the previous stage of the electrolytic cell, bacteria have propagated inside the electrolytic cell while the water is still stopped. However, the water purifier of the present invention removes only the dust mixed in the tap water in the preceding stage of the electrolytic cell, and maintains the scaly concentration in the tap water to the inside of the electrolytic cell. Can be reduced.

In order to electrolyze water, the water must have some conductivity. Therefore, in order to make water with a very low pH, such as acidic ionized water used as a disinfectant when activated carbon treatment is performed in the previous stage of the electrolytic cell like a conventional water purifier, An electrolyte such as saline must be added. Similarly, water conditioners generally used at home also require additives such as calcium. However, since the water purifier of the present invention does not perform activated carbon treatment in the preceding stage of the electrolytic cell as described above, each ion concentration contained in tap water is maintained up to the inside of the electrolytic cell, so that there is no additive such as calcium. Therefore, the original electrolysis ability can be maintained.

Since the hollow fiber membrane and the activated carbon, which have different lives, are separately arranged, the cost required for replacement can be reduced.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since only the alkaline ionized water for drinking is treated with activated carbon, it is possible to reduce waste and to bring the water into the electrolytic cell into tap water. Since the chlorine concentration is maintained, the proliferation of bacteria in the electrolytic cell can be reduced, and since the concentration of each ion is maintained inside the electrolytic cell, the electrolysis capacity can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a water regulator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a water regulator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a water passage of the same water purifier during backwashing with a hollow fiber membrane.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a mechanism of backwashing with a hollow fiber membrane of the water purifier.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of each ion when the electrode of the same water purifier is subjected to reverse electrolysis cleaning.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a drainage passage of the same water purifier after the electrode is reversely washed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional water conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Filter 3,27 Electrolyzer 4,28 Activated carbon 5,37 Alkaline ion water discharge pipe 6,38 Acidic ion water discharge pipe 21 Hollow fiber membrane 30 Activated carbon cartridge

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell having a cathode chamber and an anode chamber which are separated from each other by a diaphragm, and a filter for removing small dust in water is arranged in front of an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water. A water conditioner with activated carbon placed on the discharge side of alkaline ionized water. 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the filter is a hollow fiber membrane filter that removes small dust in water to protect the electrode. 3. Tap water, which has passed through a filter that removes small dust in water without containing activated carbon, which is placed in front of an electrolytic cell having a cathode chamber and an anode chamber which are separated from each other by a diaphragm, is supplied to the electrolytic cell. The water is electrolyzed and the alkaline ionized water produced by the electrolysis is filtered by activated carbon placed on the discharge side of the alkaline ionized water. 4. The method of water conditioning according to claim 3, wherein a hollow fiber membrane filter that removes small dust in water and protects the electrode is used as the filter containing no activated carbon.