JPH08299957A - Continuous electrolyized ionic water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To suppress the solidification of scales without conducting a high- voltage reverse electrolytic cleaning by holding the internal residual water as such when the inflow of the water to be electrolyzed is stopped, inverting the polarity of the voltage to be impressed on an electrode at the same time and lowering the voltage. CONSTITUTION: The water to be electrolyzed is detected by a water passage detector 1, purified in a water purifying part 2 and supplied to the lower part of an electrolytic cell 4 through a check valve 3. The cell 4 is divided by a semipermeable diaphragm 5 into the anode 6 side and cathode 7 side, and an electrolyzing voltage is impressed on both electrodes from an electrolyzing power source 8. Meanwhile, an acidic water discharge passage 9 is formed in the anode side of the cell 4 at a position slightly higher than an alkaline water intake passage 10, and accordingly the upper part of the cell 4 is inclined. When the stoppage of water passage is detected by the detector 1, the polarity of the electrolyzing voltage is inverted by a control part 11, and an extremely low voltage is impressed on both electrodes 6 and 7 so that a feeble current flows between both electrodes 6 and 7 with the water remaining in the cell 4 as a medium.

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 means for removing scale in the electrolytic cell. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a continuous electrolytic ionized water generator of this type, an electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode respectively disposed on the anode side and the cathode side, which are partitioned by a diaphragm, is provided. Tap water supplied to the tank is electrolyzed by the electrolysis voltage applied to the anode and the cathode, acidic water from the anode side, alkaline water from the cathode side is a continuous type so that alkaline water can be obtained continuously Electrolytic ionized water generators are known.

By the way, in the production of ionic water by electrolysis of tap water or the like, calcium, magnesium, etc. contained in electrolyzed water such as tap water accompanying electrolysis are formed as solid matter (scale) on the surface of the electrode serving as a cathode. To deposit. 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.

[0004]

However, in the case of removing scale by reverse electrolysis as described above, a voltage almost equal to that in normal electrolysis is applied to invert the polarity, which shortens the life of the electrode. It becomes a factor. In addition, the scale containing calcium and magnesium as the main components once generated on the electrode tends to peel off as a white thin plate-like solid substance, so it remains in the running water path inside the device and hinders the operation of the switching valve, etc. There is also a problem in that the scale that has been peeled off or that the scale is about to come off is mixed with the ionized water that is discharged during 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 continuous electrolyzed ionized water producing apparatus that can be used.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the above-mentioned objects, a continuous electrolytic ionized water generator of the present invention has an anode electrode and a cathode electrode on both sides of a semipermeable membrane. In a continuous electrolytic ion generator that has an electrolytic cell provided 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, the electrolysis With respect to the water inlet of the tank, the installation positions of the alkaline water outlet and the acidic water outlet are increased in this order, and at the same time when the inflow of electrolyzed water such as the tap water stops, the voltage applied to the electrode It has an applied voltage switching means for reversing and lowering the polarity of when the electrolyzed water is flowing.

The reverse polarity current value flowing between the electrodes when the electrolyzed water is stopped may be in the range of several mA to several tens of mA. Further, the reverse polarity voltage applied to the electrode when the electrolyzed water is stopped, when a certain time or more has elapsed from the time of stop,
It may be controlled to be intermittent.

[0007]

In the continuous electrolytic ionized water generator of the present invention constructed as described above, during electrolysis by water flow, tap water or the like continuously flowing into the electrolytic cell is filled in the electrolytic cell at the same time when the water flow is stopped. Since the cathode is not kept in contact with air, Ca (OH) ₂ deposited on the cathode side during electrolysis does not contact the CO _{2 in the} air.
The formation of CaCO ₃ which reacts with the water and is difficult to dissolve in water is reduced. In addition, after each use, a reverse polarity low voltage, which is set so that the reverse polarity current value flows from several mA to several tens mA with the residual water as a medium, is applied, so that C deposited on the cathode side by electrolysis is applied.
The a (OH) ₂ and Mg (OH) ₂ are also gradually released from the cathode, and do not reach a solid matter (scale) as in the conventional case.

During this time, a small amount of hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine gas generated from each electrode is concentrated at the acid water outlet provided at the highest position in the inlet and outlet of the electrolytic cell. Even if scale is generated on the anode during stoppage due to excessive release effect, the scale will be mixed into the drinking water (alkaline water) because it is washed by the countercurrent effect at the next electrolysis and discharged from the acidic water side. There is no. Further, in the case of usability in which the stop time is much longer than the water passage time, the reverse polarity voltage is controlled to be intermittently applied when the stop time exceeds a certain time. 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.

[0009]

DETAILED 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 showing an embodiment of the present invention. As is well known, supplied electrolyzed water such as tap water is detected by the water flow detection sensor 1, is purified by a known water purification unit 2 including activated carbon, a hollow fiber membrane filter, etc., and is then passed through the check valve 3. It is supplied to the lower part of the well-known electrolytic cell 4. 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.

An acidic water discharge passage 9 is provided above the anode side of the electrolytic cell 4 at a position slightly higher than the alkaline water intake passage 10 above the cathode side. It is inclined. When water flow is detected by the water flow detection sensor 1 as described above, the electrolysis power source 8 is controlled via the control unit 11 and an 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. 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.

Next, when the water flow is stopped, the residual water remains in the electrolytic cell 4 due to the overflow structure in which the discharge channel 9 and the water intake channel 10 are located higher than the electrolytic cell 4. Further, the sensor 1 detects the stoppage of water flow, reverses the polarity of the electrolysis voltage from the electrolysis power source 8 via the control unit 11, and uses the residual water in the electrolysis tank 4 as a medium between the electrodes for several mA or more. A minute voltage such that a weak current of several tens of mA flows is applied to the electrodes 6 and 7. At this time, generated gas such as oxygen and chlorine generated on the plus side (original cathode) 7 to which a minute voltage is applied and the minus side (original anode) 6
Although the amount of generated gas such as hydrogen generated in the above is small, the residual water is accumulated in the electrolytic cell 4 because the residual water is in a stationary state.
The acid water is concentrated at the highest outlet of the acidic water and is discharged from the acidic water discharge passage 9 at the next use without increasing the internal pressure of the electrolytic cell 4 due to the overflow structure.

By applying a minute voltage of which polarity is reversed every time when the passage of water 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. In addition, in order to prevent accidental ingestion of residual water at the beginning of the next water flow, the alkaline water intake channel 1
The three-way solenoid valve 12 provided in the middle of 0 is controlled by a delay timer (not shown) of the control unit 11, and the discharge passage 1
Drain water from 3. In the case of usability in which the stop time is much longer than the water passage time, the control unit 11 may control so that the reverse polarity voltage is intermittently applied when the stop time exceeds a certain time. FIG. 2A shows an example of an applied voltage pattern of a conventional apparatus for periodically performing reverse electrolytic cleaning, FIG. 2B shows an example of an applied voltage pattern of the present invention, and FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a typical reverse polarity voltage application pattern.

[0013]

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 schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a voltage pattern diagram showing an applied voltage pattern in one embodiment of the present invention in comparison with an applied voltage pattern in a conventional or another embodiment.

[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 Channel 11 Control Section 12 Three-way Solenoid Valve 13 Constant Time Discharge Path

Claims (3)

[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 ion generator that generates alkaline water on the cathode side, with respect to the inlet of the electrolytic cell, the installation positions of the alkaline water outlet and the acidic water outlet are increased in this order, and the tap water is used. When the inflow of electrolyzed water such as water is stopped, the internal residual water is maintained as it is, and at the same time, the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrode is reversed and lowered with respect to the time when the electrolyzed water is inflow and the applied voltage is switched. A continuous electrolytic ionized water generator characterized by comprising means. 2. The continuous electrolyzed ionized water generator according to claim 1, wherein the reverse polarity current value flowing between the electrodes when the electrolyzed water is stopped is in the range of several mA to several tens of mA. . 3. The reverse polarity voltage applied to the electrode when the electrolyzed water is stopped, when a certain time or more elapses after the stop,
The continuous electrolytic ionized water generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is controlled to be intermittent.