JPH08290167A - Descaling method in continuous electrolytic ionic water generator and continuous electrolytic ionic water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To suppress the generation of scales, to remove the scales, to decrease the consumption of an electrode and to suppress the propagation of bacteria in an electrolytic cell by inverting the polarity of a voltage to be impressed on the electrode and lowering the voltage when the supply of city water is stopped and the water is left in the cell. CONSTITUTION: An acidic water discharge pipe 9 and an alkaline water intake passage 10 are set at a position higher than an electrolytic cell 4, and hence water is left in the cell 4 when the supply of city water is stopped. The stoppage is detected by a sensor 1, the polarity of a bath voltage from a power source 8 is inverted through a control part 11, and the voltage is impressed on the electrodes 6 and 7 as a low voltage. Consequently, the formation of scales on the cathode 7 is suppressed, and the electrolytically deposited calcium and magnesium are released before being accumulated. The propagation of bacteria in the cell 4 is suppressed due to an electric field generated by the low voltage impressed on the electrodes 6 and 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a continuous electrolytic ion water generator for electrolyzing tap water or the like to continuously generate electrolytic ion water, and more particularly to removing scale in the electrolytic cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a continuous electrolytic ionized water generator of this type, an electrolytic cell having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, which are arranged on an anode side and a cathode side, respectively, which are partitioned by a diaphragm, is provided, Tap water supplied to this electrolytic cell is electrolyzed by the electrolysis voltage applied to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode so that acidic water is continuously obtained from the anode side and alkaline water is continuously obtained from the cathode side. A continuous electrolysis ionized water producing apparatus is known. By the way, in the generation of ionized water by electrolysis of tap water or the like, calcium, magnesium, etc. contained in electrolyzed water such as tap water accompanying electrolysis are deposited as solid matter (scale) on the surface of the electrode serving as the cathode. Since this scale becomes an electric resistance, a predetermined electrolytic current will not flow, and it will not be possible to obtain ionic water having a desired PH value, or scale pieces will be mixed into the ionic water. In order to cope with this, reverse electrolytic cleaning is widely performed in which the polarities of the electrolytic electrodes are switched and the reverse voltage is applied manually or automatically every fixed integration time or integration flow rate.

[0003]

However, in the case of removing scale by reverse electrolysis as described above, the polarity is inverted by applying a voltage substantially equal to that during normal electrolysis, which shortens the life of the electrode. It becomes a factor. In addition, since the scale mainly composed of calcium and magnesium once generated on the electrode tends to peel off as a white thin plate-like solid matter, this remains in the running water path in the device, and the operation of the switching valve etc. There is also a problem that the scale that is obstructed or peels off is mixed with the ionized water that is discharged at the next water passage. The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and suppresses solidification of scale without performing reverse electrolytic cleaning with a high voltage after generating scale to some extent as in the conventional case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a scale removing method and a continuous electrolytic ion water generating device in a continuous electrolytic ion water generating device that can be used.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, a method for removing scale in a continuous electrolytic ionized water generator according to the present invention comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode on both sides of a semipermeable membrane. A continuous electrolytic ionized water generator that has an electrolytic cell in which a cathode electrode is arranged, tap water, etc. is circulated while applying a voltage between both electrodes to generate acidic water on the anode side and alkaline water on the cathode side. In, while retaining the residual water in the electrolytic cell when the inflow of the electrolyzed water such as the tap water is stopped, the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrode when the inflow of the electrolyzed water is stopped. As described above, the polarity of the electrolyzed water is opposite to that of the inflow of the electrolyzed water, and this voltage is set to be lower than that when the electrolyzed water is inflow. . The lowered voltage is 1 of the voltage when the electrolyzed water is flowing in.
It is preferably / 10 to 1/20.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, the continuous electrolytic ion water generator of the present invention is an electrolyzer in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are arranged on both sides of a semipermeable membrane. In a continuous electrolytic ion generator that has a tank and circulates tap water or the like while applying a voltage between both electrodes to generate acidic water on the anode side and alkaline water on the cathode side, electrolyzing the tap water or the like Even if the inflow of water is stopped, the residual water in the electrolytic cell is configured to be retained as it is, and the detecting means for detecting that the inflow of water to be electrolyzed is stopped, the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The polarity of the applied voltage is opposite to that when the electrolyzed water is flowing in, and a switching means for switching to a low voltage is provided, and the inflow of the electrolyzed water is stopped by the detection means. If it is detected that the The voltage applied to said anode electrode and the cathode electrode a the opposite polarity by means and is characterized in that it has to switch to a low voltage. The low voltage is preferably 1/10 to 1/20 of the voltage when the electrolyzed water is flowing.

[0006]

In the scale removing method and continuous electrolytic ion water generating apparatus of the continuous electrolytic ion water generating apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, tap water that continuously flows into the electrolytic cell during electrolysis by passing water is provided. Etc. are held in the electrolytic cell at the same time when water flow is stopped, the cathode electrode does not come into contact with air, and Ca (OH) ₂ deposited on the cathode side during electrolysis reacts with CO ₂ in the air. The production of CaCO ₃ , which is poorly soluble in water, is reduced. In addition, after each use, a low reverse voltage (1 to 3 V) is applied with residual water as a medium, so that Ca (OH) ₂ and Mg (OH) ₂ deposited on the cathode side by electrolysis are also gradually released from the cathode. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the formation of solid matter (scale) as in the conventional case. further,
Due to the electric field due to the low voltage applied to this electrode, a bacteriostatic effect of suppressing the growth of bacteria is also produced in the electrolytic cell.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a continuous electrolytic ionized water generator. As is well known, electrolyzed water such as tap water supplied is detected by a water flow detection sensor 1 and comprises activated carbon, a hollow fiber membrane filter, or the like. After being purified by the well-known water purification unit 2, it is supplied to the well-known electrolytic bath 4 through the check valve 3. The electrolytic cell 4 is a semi-permeable diaphragm 5 which is divided into an anode side on which an anode electrode 6 is arranged and a cathode side on which a cathode electrode 7 is arranged. An electrolytic voltage from the power source 8 is applied. A discharge passage 9 for acidic water is provided in the upper portion on the anode side of the electrolytic cell 4, and a water intake passage 10 for alkaline water is provided in the upper portion on the cathode side.

When water flow is detected by the water flow detection sensor 1 as described above, the electrolysis power source 8 is controlled through the control unit 11 and the electrolysis voltage is applied to the electrodes 6 and 7. Electrolytic ionized water is continuously generated by this applied electrolysis voltage, alkaline water generated on the cathode side is discharged from the water intake passage 10, and acidic water on the anode side is discharged from the discharge passage 9. In addition,
The electrolysis voltage applied to the electrodes 6 and 7 is about 10 to 40 V in the case of a general household ion water generator. Then, when the water flow is stopped, the discharge passage 9 and the water intake passage 10 are located higher than the electrolytic bath 4, so that the residual water remains in the electrolytic bath 4. Further, the water flow stop is detected by the sensor 1, the polarity of the electrolysis voltage from the electrolysis power source 8 is inverted via the control unit 11, and the voltage is 1/10 to 1/20 of the electrolysis voltage during the water flow. That is, a voltage of several V is applied to the electrodes 6 and 7 using the residual water in the electrolytic cell 4 as a medium.

By applying a low voltage whose polarity is reversed every time when water flow is stopped, generation of scale on the cathode electrode 7 is suppressed, and calcium and magnesium deposited by electrolysis are also released before they are accumulated. Further, at the beginning of the next water flow, the three-way solenoid valve 12 provided in the middle of the alkaline water intake passage 10 is controlled by a delay timer (not shown) of the control unit 11 so as not to accidentally drink the residual water. Then, the water flow is discharged from the discharge passage 13 for a certain period of time. FIG. 2 shows an example of an applied voltage pattern of a conventional apparatus that periodically performs reverse electrolytic cleaning, and FIG. 3 shows an example of an applied voltage pattern of the present invention.

[0010]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to effectively suppress and remove the scale generation in the continuous electrolytic ion water producing apparatus without requiring a complicated configuration and control. Since the polarity is not reversed at a high voltage, it is possible to reduce the decrease in the life of the electrode due to the consumption of the electrode. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress bacterial growth in the electrolytic cell.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an applied voltage pattern of a conventional apparatus for periodically performing reverse electrolytic cleaning.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an applied voltage pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Water Flow Detection Sensor 2 Water Purification Section 3 Backflow Prevention Valve 4 Electrolysis Tank 5 Diaphragm 6 Anode Electrode 7 Cathode Electrode 8 Electrolysis Power Supply 9 Discharge Path 10 Intake Path 11 Control Section 12 Three-way Solenoid Valve 13 Discharge Path

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electrolyzer having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode disposed on both sides of a semipermeable membrane, tap water or the like is circulated while applying a voltage between both electrodes, and acidic water is supplied on the anode side. In a continuous electrolytic ionized water generator that generates alkaline water on the cathode side, the residual water in the electrolytic cell when the inflow of electrolyzed water such as the tap water is stopped is held as is, and the inflow of electrolyzed water is The polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes when stopped is opposite to that when the electrolyzed water is flowing in as described above, and this voltage is set as the electrolyzed water inflows as described above. A method for removing scale in a continuous electrolytic ionized water generator, which is characterized in that it is lower than when the scale is on. 2. The continuous electrolyzed ionized water production according to claim 1, wherein the lowered voltage is 1/10 to 1/20 of the voltage when the electrolyzed water is flowing. Scale removal method in equipment. 3. An electrolytic cell having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode disposed on both sides of a semipermeable diaphragm, wherein tap water or the like is circulated while applying a voltage between both electrodes, and acidic water and a cathode are provided on the anode side. In a continuous electrolytic ionized water generator that generates alkaline water on the side, it is configured to retain the residual water in the electrolytic cell as it is even if the inflow of the electrolyzed water such as the tap water stops, Detection means for detecting that the inflow of is stopped, and the voltage applied to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode has a polarity opposite to that when the electrolyzed water is flowing in, and And a switching means for switching to a low voltage,
When the detection means detects that the flow of the electrolyzed water is stopped, the voltage applied to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode by the switching means is set to the reverse polarity and low voltage. A continuous electrolytic ion water generator characterized by being switched. 4. The continuous electrolyzed ionized water generator according to claim 3, wherein the low voltage is 1/10 to 1/20 of the voltage when the electrolyzed water is flowing. .