JPH08299958A - Removing method for deposit in batch type electrolyzed water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a removing method for a deposit in a batch type electrolyzed water generator, which is capable of removing the deposit without taking in and out a generated water in an electrolytic cell, using the generated water without deteriorating the property of water quality attained by electrolysis and saving the labor of maintenance of cleaning of an electrode or the like. CONSTITUTION: The inner part of the proper body 10 of the electrolyzed water generator is divided into two of a 1st electrolytic cell 14 and a 2nd electrolytic cell 16 by a diaphragm 12 and a 1st electrode 18 is arranged in the 1st electrolytic cell 14 and a 2nd electrode 20 is arranged in the 2nd electrolytic cell 16. The polarities of the 1st electrode 18 and the 2nd electrode 20 are controlled to be reversed respectively at the time of electrolyzing and at the time of cleaning after electrolysis. The electric power to the electrode at the time of cleaning is controlled to 1/50 to 1/10 that at the time of electrolyzing and the deposit is removed without deteriorating the feature of water quality of the generated water by reversing the polarity of electric power at the time of cleaning.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for removing deposits adhering to electrodes in a batch electrolyzed water generator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrolyzed water generator for electrolyzing water (hereinafter referred to as "electrolysis") to generate acidic water and alkaline water has been provided. The electrolyzed water generator generally divides the inside of the main body into two electrolysis cells by a diaphragm, the anode electrode is arranged in one electrolysis cell, and the cathode electrode is arranged in the other electrolysis cell. Acidic water is produced from the electrolytic cell in which the anode electrode is arranged, and alkaline water is produced from the electrolytic cell in which the cathode electrode is arranged.

Raw water such as tap water introduced into the electrolyzed water generator contains various ions such as mineral ions. During electrolysis, negative ions are attracted to the anode and positive ions are attracted to the cathode to be concentrated. It Among the positive mineral ions, calcium and magnesium, which are contained in relatively large amounts, react with the hydroxyl groups in the cathode water to form calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, etc. Magnesium or the like is deposited on the surface of the cathode, the diaphragm or the electrolytic cell, especially on the surface of the cathode. The film of insoluble mineral deposited on the cathode has a drawback that it interferes with the electrolysis current, lowers the electrolysis efficiency, and finally disables electrolysis. Therefore, in the electrolyzed water generator, it is essential to remove and clean the deposits from the cathode surface.

As a method for cleaning the electrodes in the electrolyzed water generator, the polarities of the positive and negative electrodes are switched, and a positive voltage is applied to the electrode used as the cathode, whereby insoluble minerals (precipitates) are deposited on the surface of the cathode. Conventionally, a method of peeling off is known. In this method of switching the polarity of both the positive and negative electrodes, the water in each electrolytic cell when switching and cleaning the polarity is
It was discharged to the outside as unusable water.

The types of electrolyzed water generators are a flowing water type electrolyzed water generator which is connected to a water supply facility such as a tap and discharges the acidic water or alkaline water to the outside while electrolyzing it, and is not connected to the water supply facility. There is a batch-type electrolyzed water generator that has a simple and low-cost structure and electrolyzes water while storing it in an electrolyzer for a predetermined time to generate acidic water or alkaline water. In the flowing water electrolyzed water generator, the polarity of the positive and negative electrodes is switched at a predetermined electrolysis time or a predetermined amount of generated water, or the polarity of the positive and negative electrodes is switched immediately after electrolysis every time water is electrolyzed, so that Accumulation of deposits can be prevented. In this case, the water in the cleaned electrolytic cell should be discharged from the outlet for acidic water or alkaline water, or the outlet provided for that, while calling attention to the use prohibition with a warning display and a warning sound. Therefore, there is no problem in use.

However, in the conventional batch-type electrolyzed water generator, cleaning by switching the electrodes is not performed, and when the electrode capacity is lowered or at regular intervals, a weak acid such as vinegar is injected into the electrolyzer 5 By leaving it for -12 hours, the accumulated precipitate was dissolved and removed. This method has drawbacks such as the need for vinegar and the like, the time required for washing, the down time is long and inefficient, and the odor of the acid used for washing is transferred to the produced water after washing. In the batch-type electrolyzed water generator, when removing the deposits on the cathode surface by switching the polarities of the positive and negative electrodes, water for cleaning is added to switch the polarities and the cleaning is performed, and then the cleaned water is discharged, It is necessary to newly add water for electrolysis, which not only takes time and labor, but also wastes water used for cleaning.

[0007]

As a means for solving this, a method of electrolyzing the polarity of the positive and negative electrodes for each electrolysis can be considered, but the electrolysis chamber that generates acidic water and alkaline water at each electrolysis is replaced, The acidity and alkalinity of the generated water discharged from the discharge port connected to it are switched, and there is a drawback that the user needs more attention than necessary in order to prevent misuse. In order to discharge acidic and alkaline generated water from a fixed discharge port, a solenoid valve or a motorized valve for switching the flow path in synchronization with the switching of the polarity is installed, resulting in increased cost and increased maintenance factors. Therefore, the advantage of low cost batch electrolyzed water generator is lost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to remove precipitates without moving the generated water into and out of the electrolytic cell, and to impair the water quality characteristics obtained by electrolysis. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for removing deposits in a batch-type electrolyzed water generator, which allows the generated water to be used without any damage and saves the maintenance work for cleaning the electrodes and the like.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention divides the inside of the main body into two electrolytic cells containing water by a diaphragm, and arranges the first electrode in one of the electrolytic cells. Batch type electrolysis in which a second electrode is arranged in the other electrolytic cell, water is electrolyzed using one of the two electrodes as an anode and the other electrode is as a cathode to produce water, and the produced water is stored in the electrolyzer. In the water generator, when the generated water is stored in the electrolytic cell after electrolysis, the polarity of the voltage applied to each electrode is reversed between positive and negative when energized, and when it is reversed and energized. 1/5 of the power used to generate water
It is set to 0 to 1/10.

[0010]

[Function] After the electrolysis is completed, while the acidic water and the alkaline water are contained in the electrolyzed water generator, the polarity of the electrodes is reversed to energize, and this washing power is supplied from the power during electrolysis. Select small. This makes it possible to remove the deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode without degrading the quality of the generated water and without replacing the generated water in the electrolytic cell.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a batch-type electrolyzed water generator used in the present invention. The inside of the main body 10 of the electrolyzed water generator is divided by a diaphragm 12 into two electrolysis cells, a first electrolysis cell 14 and a second electrolysis cell 16, and a first electrode 18 is provided in the first electrolysis cell 14.
And the second electrode 20 is arranged in the second electrolytic cell 16. An openable lid 22 that covers the first electrolytic cell 14 and the second electrolytic cell 16 is provided on the upper portion of the main body 10.
Inside the body 10, the lid 22 is opened and a predetermined amount of water is poured. An appropriate water amount mark (not shown) is provided inside the first electrolytic tank 14 and the second electrolytic tank 16. 2 for the lid 22
Individual holes 24 are provided, and oxygen and chlorine gas generated at the anode are discharged to the outside from one hole 24, and hydrogen generated at the cathode is discharged to the outside from the other hole 24. The acidic ionized water produced by electrolysis is taken out from the first electrolytic cell 14 through the first discharge pipe 26, and the second electrolytic cell 1
From 6, the alkaline ionized water generated by electrolysis is taken out from the second discharge pipe 28.

An electrolysis power source 36 for electrolyzing water by energizing the first electrode 18 and the second electrode 20 and an electrolysis power source switch 38 thereof are provided, and the control circuit 34 is provided.
Thus, the electrolytic power switch 38 is turned on / off. Further, a cleaning power supply 40 for supplying a cleaning reverse current to the first electrode 18 and the second electrode 20 and a cleaning power supply switch 42 are provided, and the cleaning power supply switch 42 is turned on / off by the control circuit 34. To be done. This cleaning power supply 40
May be a variable power supply, and in the case of a variable power supply, it can be changed manually or by the control circuit 34. Further, the electrolytic power supply 36 may also serve as the cleaning power supply 40.

The electrolytic power source 36 is connected to the fixed contacts 46a and 46b of the relay 44, and the cleaning power source 4 is connected.
0 is connected to the fixed contact 48a and the fixed contact 48b of the relay 44. The positive side of the electrolytic power source 36 is connected to the fixed contact 46a, and the negative side of the electrolytic power source 36 is the fixed contact 48a.
Connected with. On the other hand, the negative side of the cleaning power supply 40 is connected to the fixed contact 46b, and the positive side of the electrolytic power supply 36 is connected to the fixed contact 48b. One movable contact 46c of the relay 44 is a fixed contact 46a connected to the electrolytic power supply 36 or a fixed contact 4 connected to the cleaning power supply 40.
4b, and its movable contact 46c.
Is connected to the first electrode 18. The other movable contact 48c of the relay 44 is a fixed contact 48a connected to the electrolytic power supply 36 or a fixed contact 4 connected to the cleaning power supply 40.
The movable contact 48c for connecting to any of 8b
Is connected to the second electrode 20. These movable contacts 4
Switching of connection to either of the fixed contacts 6c or 48c is performed by a signal from the control circuit 34.

An audiovisual recognition means 50 such as a visual means such as a lamp and / or an aural means such as a buzzer is provided directly or near the main body 10. The audiovisual recognition means 50 is operated by a signal from the control circuit 34, and notifies the state in which washing is completed and water can be collected.

Next, the operation will be described. First, when electrolysis is performed in a state in which water has been poured into the first electrolysis tank 14 and the second electrolysis tank 16, the control circuit 34 turns on the electrolysis power switch 38. At the same time, one movable contact 46c of the relay 44 is connected to the fixed contact 46a, and the other movable contact 48c of the relay 44 is connected to the fixed contact 48a. As a result, a current flows from the electrolysis power source 36 to the first electrode 18 and the second electrode 20, the first electrode 18 serves as an anode, the second electrode 20 serves as a cathode, and water is electrolyzed, so that the first electrolytic cell Acidic water is generated in 14 and alkaline water is generated in the second electrolytic cell 16.

When the electrolysis is completed, the electrolysis power switch 38 is turned off by the control circuit 34. Further, the cleaning circuit power switch 42 is turned on by the control circuit 34, and one movable contact 46c of the relay 44 is fixed to the fixed contact 4
6b, and the other movable contact 48c of the relay 44 is connected to the fixed contact 48b. As a result, the first electrode 18 becomes a cathode and the second electrode 20 becomes an anode,
With the polarity reversed, the current from the cleaning power supply 40 flows. That is, at the same time as the electrolysis is completed, the polarities of the first electrode 18 and the second electrode 20 are switched, and a predetermined predetermined electric power ("power" in the present invention is defined as voltage x current x time) is applied to each electrode. .

The electric power applied to the first electrode 18 and the second electrode 20 in the state where the polarities are reversed is 1/50 to 1/10 of the electric power when electrolyzing water to produce water. That is, in the state in which the polarities are reversed, the electric power applied to the first electrode 18 and the second electrode 20 is made sufficiently smaller than that when electrolyzing water. By reversing the polarity with this relatively small electric power, the deposit attached to the cathode (second electrode 20) by electrolysis can be removed. The time for which the polarity is reversed, that is, the time for which the cleaning power switch 40 is turned on is controlled by the control circuit 34.

The electric power of which polarity is reversed removes the precipitates and prevents the water quality of the produced water from being impaired. When using ordinary water such as tap water,
Reverse power for cleaning is 1/30 to 1/1 of the power during electrolysis
In the range of 0, the deposits on the cathode surface and the like were removed, and the water quality of the generated acidic or alkaline electrolyzed water was not impaired in practical use. Further, when using an electrolyte having a high solubility limit in water, such as sodium chloride or potassium chloride, when the hardness of raw water is 100 or less, 1/50 of the electric power was sufficiently effective in practice. That is, in the range of 1/50 to 1/10, precipitates on the cathode surface and the like were removed, and the quality of the generated acidic or alkaline electrolyzed water was not impaired in practical use.

Here, concrete experimental results are shown below.
As an example of an experiment, 1.16 g of sodium chloride and 0.58 g of calcium chloride were added to 2 liters of tap water for electrolysis (the electrode was a platinum plate fired on a titanium plate, and the power source was 1
In the case of using a constant current power supply of 2V and a generation current electrolysis time of 10 minutes), the polarity was reversed using the constant current power supply, and only the cleaning time was changed. The results are shown in Table 1 and Table 2. In Tables 1 and 2, 1/50 in the uppermost column indicates a cleaning for 12 seconds (1/50 for 10 minutes), and 1/30 below is a cleaning for 20 seconds (1/30 for 10 minutes), 1 /
20 is a 30 second wash (1/20 for 10 minutes), 1/15 is a 40 second wash (1/15 for 10 minutes), 1/10 is a 60 second wash (1/10 for 10 minutes) . (Below margin)

[0020] (Below margin)

[0021]

From the results shown in Table 1, in acidic water, the pH is 3.2 and the value of free chlorine is 23 ppm when the washing time is 1/10 of the electrolysis time. This pH of 3.
The value of 2 and the value of free chlorine of 23 ppm is the limit of instantaneous killing of bacteria as a sterilizing function of acidic water, and if it is lower than this, there is a possibility that the bacteria cannot be killed instantaneously. Therefore, the maximum value of the power with the polarity reversed is 1/10 of the power during electrolysis. Next, from the results of Table 2, in alkaline water, the dissolved oxygen amount was 6.6 p when the cleaning time was 1/10 of the electrolysis time.
pm, which is the limit for maintaining excellent reducing power,
Free chlorine is also 10 ppm, which is the limit of the amount of chlorine for drinks. If the washing power is longer than this, the amount of dissolved oxygen and free chlorine will increase, and the features of the electrolytic alkaline water may be impaired. On the other hand, if the cleaning time is 1/50 or less of the electrolysis time, the deposits cannot be reliably removed. In Tables 1 and 2, only the cleaning time is changed, but the voltage or current may be changed.

By the control circuit 34, it is possible to adjust the time, voltage and current for reversing the polarity to the electrodes. By this adjustment, the state of electrolyte and raw water (p
Since the minimum required cleaning can be set according to H, the amount and type of contained ions, it is more desirable from the economical aspect of time and electric power and the durability of electrodes. After the electrolysis is complete, the electrolytic cell is a storage battery with an electromotive force of 1.2 to 2 V depending on the type of electrolyte and electrodes. It is necessary to apply a cleaning voltage of at least 2 V or more to energize the device. Actually, 3V or more is desirable.

Considering the case where the storage-type electrolyzed water generator is used, the process of electrolysis and the subsequent cleaning is regarded as one process, and a signal indicating the end of the electrolysis process is displayed at the end of the cleaning process. desirable. For this reason, it is desirable that the visual and / or visual recognition means 50, such as a visual means such as a lamp and / or an aural means such as a buzzer, informs the user through one or both of the visual and visual senses.

[0025]

As described above, according to the method for removing deposits in the batch-type electrolyzed water generator according to the present invention, the polarity to the electrode is reversed after electrolysis to give a smaller electric power than during electrolysis, Precipitates adhering to the electrodes can be removed without taking in and out the generated water in the tank,
In addition, the water quality characteristics of the produced water obtained by electrolysis are not impaired, and the time and effort for maintenance such as cleaning of electrodes, diaphragms and electrolytic cells can be saved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a method for maintaining a pH value of an electrolyzed water generator according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 main body 12 diaphragm 14 first electrolysis tank 16 second electrolysis tank 18 first electrode 20 second electrode 34 control circuit 36 electrolysis power supply 40 cleaning power supply 50 audiovisual recognition means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. The inside of the main body is divided by a diaphragm into two electrolytic cells containing water, and a first electrode is arranged in one electrolytic cell and a second electrode is arranged in the other electrolytic cell. One of the electrodes is used as an anode and the other is used as a cathode to electrolyze water to produce water, and in a batch-type electrolyzed water generator that stores the produced water in the electrolyzer, the electrolyzed water produces electrolyzed water. The polarity of the voltage applied to each electrode in the stored state is the same as when the generated water is made, and the positive and negative polarity is reversed to energize.
The method for removing deposits in a batch-type electrolyzed water generator, characterized in that it is 50 to 1/10. 2. The method for removing deposits in a batch-type electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1, wherein the reverse voltage applied to the electrodes is 3 V or more. 3. The method for removing deposits in a batch-type electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1, wherein the time for applying the reverse power can be changed and adjusted. 4. The method for removing deposits in a batch-type electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1, wherein the voltage and current of the reverse power can be changed and adjusted. 5. The method for removing deposits in a batch-type electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1, further comprising displaying that electrolysis is completed or that water can be collected after the completion of the reverse power supply.