JPH0985245A - Electrolytic water preparation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sense the failure of a built-in equipment and adjust pH value properly. SOLUTION: This device comprises a concentration adjustment circuit 37 for adjusting the concentration of electrolytic water in the case the sensed value sensed by a pH sensor 18 is different from the preset reference value and an information device 36 for informing the difference in the case the difference sensed by the pH sensor 18 is less than the given value before or after the adjustment of concentration of the concentration adjustment circuit 37. In the case the difference of the sensed value of the pH sensor 18 is different from the reference value, generation of some kind of defective action or failure for a raw water feed valve 5, a flow sensor 6, a pump 32, the pH sensor 18 or the like is assumed, and an alarm sound is issued. The failure check of the device can thereby be carried out without fail and quickly by the arrangement, and the recovery of failure can be performed quickly, while not required preparation of water having undesirable pH value can be discontinued surely to make the life of a water purifier 2 longer and control the energy consumption to the minimum requirement.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generator for producing electrolyzed water (alkali ionized water, acidic water).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional electrolyzed water generator, electrolyzed water (alkaline ionized water, acidic water) discharged from an electrolyzer
A pH sensor that detects the pH (hydrogen ion concentration index) is installed, and the addition amount of electrolyte solution such as saline solution is increased or decreased based on the detection value of the pH sensor, or the voltage applied to the electrode installed in the electrolytic cell. In some cases, the pH value of the generated electrolyzed water is adjusted to a desired value by increasing or decreasing.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional electrolyzed water generator, p detected by the pH sensor is used.
When the H value was different from the reference value, the pH value was kept at the reference value by increasing or decreasing the addition amount of the electrolyte solution or increasing or decreasing the applied voltage, but the pH sensor failed. In such a case, the addition amount of the electrolyte solution or the applied voltage is increased or decreased regardless of the actual pH value of the electrolyzed water. Further, when the electrolyte solution addition amount adjusting mechanism or the applied voltage adjusting mechanism fails, the appropriate adjustment is not performed as described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and detects that the built-in device is out of order, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrolyzed water generator capable of properly adjusting the H value.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Water supply means capable of adjusting water supply amount, electrolysis means for electrolyzing water from the water supply means to obtain electrolyzed water, electrolyte solution supply means for supplying an electrolytic solution to the electrolysis means, and the electrolysis means PH detection means for detecting the pH of the electrolyzed water obtained in step 1, and when the detection value of the pH detection means is different from a preset reference value, the electrolytic solution supply means or the water supply means is controlled to produce electrolyzed water. And a notification means for notifying the user of the difference between the detected values of the pH detection means before and after the concentration adjustment by the pH adjustment means is less than a predetermined value. Characterize.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a water supply means capable of adjusting the water supply amount, an electrolysis means for electrolyzing water from the water supply means to obtain electrolyzed water, and an electrolytic solution for the electrolysis means. Electrolyte solution supply means for supplying, concentration adjusting means for controlling the concentration of electrolytic water by controlling the electrolyte solution supplying means or the water supplying means, and a voltage between electrodes for detecting a voltage applied between electrodes of the electrolyzing means. And a small voltage difference informing means for informing that when the difference between the detection values of the inter-electrode voltage detecting means before and after the concentration adjustment by the concentration adjusting means is less than or equal to a predetermined value. And

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An electrolyzed water generator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.
In the raw water supply source 1 such as a tap, a water purifier 2 provided with a filter made of non-woven fabric, antibacterial activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane
Are connected to remove foreign matter, bacteria, chlorine, etc. from the raw water W supplied from the raw water supply source 1. The water purifier 2 is provided with an electrolysis tank (electrolysis means) 4 via a raw water supply pipe 3.
Is connected so that the raw water W is supplied to the electrolytic cell 4. The raw water supply pipe 3 is provided with an electromagnetic raw water supply valve 5 for adjusting the water flow rate and a flow sensor 6 for detecting the water flow rate in this order from the upstream side.

The electrolytic cell 4 has a tank body 7 for storing raw water W and an electrolyte solution G mixed in the raw water W, an anode 8 and a cathode 9 arranged in the tank body 7, and a region M in which the anode 8 is arranged. ₁
And a diaphragm 10 arranged so as to separate the region M ₂ in which the cathode 9 is arranged. The diaphragm 10 is made of a material that is permeable to ions.

An acidic water discharge pipe 11 and an alkaline ionized water discharge pipe 12 are connected to the portions of the tank body 7 which face the regions M ₁ and M ₂ , respectively, and the acidic water D obtained by electrolysis and the alkaline water are discharged. The ionized water E is discharged, and the alkaline ionized water E and the acidic water D are discharged during the reverse electrolysis described below. Hereinafter, the acidic water D and the alkaline ionized water E are collectively referred to as electrolyzed water as appropriate.

The tip end side of the acidic water discharge pipe 11 is branched into first and second branch pipes 11a and 11b. The first and second branch pipes 11a and 11b are respectively provided with first and second electrolyzed water. Control valves 13 and 14 are provided. First branch pipe 11
The tip side of a extends into the storage tank 15, and the second branch pipe 11b extends outside the storage tank 15.

The storage tank 15 is generally composed of a tank body 16 for storing electrolyzed water and a faucet 17 for electrolyzed water provided on the lower side of the tank body 16. Tank body 1
A pH sensor 18 is provided inside 6 to detect the pH of the electrolyzed water. A liquid surface sensor 19 is provided on the upper side of the tank body 16 to detect the liquid surface level of the electrolyzed water inside the tank body 16 and determine whether or not the electrolyzed water has reached a specified amount, that is, whether it is full. You can do it.

The storage tank 15 includes a raw water supply auxiliary pipe 20.
One end of is extended. The other end of the raw water supply auxiliary pipe 20 has a water purifier 2 and a raw water supply valve 5 in the raw water supply pipe 3.
The raw water W is supplied to the storage tank 15 through the raw water supply auxiliary pipe 20. A raw water supply auxiliary valve 21 is provided in the raw water supply auxiliary pipe 20 to supply the raw water W to the storage tank 15.
Adjust the supply of.

A raw water feed pipe 22 is branched and connected to the raw water supply auxiliary pipe 20. A raw water introduction valve 23 and a solution tank flow sensor 24 are provided in the raw water introduction pipe 22 in this order. The front end side of the raw water introduction pipe 22 extends to the solution tank 25. The solution tank 25 includes a first and a second inside the solution tank 25.
A wall 28 that divides the two chambers 26 and 27 is arranged.
A hole 29 is formed in the lower side of the wall 28, and the first and second holes are formed.
The chambers 26 and 27 are communicated with each other.

A filter 30 for mounting an electrolyte H such as salt is provided on the lower side of the first chamber 26, and an electrolyte solution G produced by the raw water W entering through the filter 30 is provided in the filter 30. , The second chamber 2 through the hole 29 in the wall 28
It is supposed to flow out to 7. The tip end side of the raw water introducing pipe 22 extends into the second chamber 27, and the first chamber 26
And the raw water W from the raw water inlet pipe 22 are mixed to generate an electrolyte solution G having a predetermined concentration. Also,
One end of the solution supply pipe 41 extends into the second chamber 27. The other end of the solution supply pipe 41 is in the raw water supply pipe 3,
The raw water supply auxiliary pipe 20 is branched and connected to a portion between the connection portion 3 a and the raw water supply valve 5. A pump 32 driven by a motor 31 is interposed in the solution supply pipe 41 and supplies the electrolyte solution G to the raw water supply pipe 3. The second chamber 27 is provided with a liquid level sensor 40 that detects a storage material of the electrolyte solution G.

In the present embodiment, the solution tank 25, the solution supply pipe 41, the pump 32, and the motor 31 constitute the electrolyte solution supply means. In addition, the raw water supply source 1, the raw water supply pipe 3,
The water purifier 2, the raw water supply valve 5, the flow sensor 6, the solution supply pipe 41, the pump 32, and the motor 31 constitute water supply means. The solution supply pipe 41, the pump 32, the motor 31
Is also used as an electrolyte solution supply means and a water supply means.

A polarity conversion circuit 3 is provided for the anode 8 and the cathode 9.
A DC power supply 34 is connected via 3, and a positive voltage and a negative voltage (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a normal voltage) are applied to each of them, and a negative voltage and a positive voltage (hereinafter, a normal voltage) are applied by the switching operation of the polarity conversion circuit 33. A reverse voltage is appropriately applied), and the switching operation of the polarity conversion circuit 33 is performed to restore the normal voltage application state. By applying a normal voltage to the anode 8 and the cathode 9, acidic water D and alkaline ionized water E are generated in the region M ₁ where the anode 8 is arranged and the region M ₂ where the cathode 9 is arranged, respectively. , And the reverse voltage is applied, alkaline ionized water E and acidic water D are generated in the regions M ₁ and M ₂ , respectively (this state is referred to as reverse electrolysis for convenience).

In the electrolyzed water generator, when a normal voltage is applied to the anode 8 and the cathode 9 for a long time, impurities such as calcium ions adhere to the cathode 9 side, the electric conductivity decreases, and the electrolysis efficiency decreases. Therefore, after a lapse of a predetermined time, a reverse voltage is applied to remove adhered impurities and maintain a desired electrolysis efficiency.

The DC power source 34 is composed of, for example, an AC power source (not shown) and a rectifier circuit (not shown). By controlling the rectifier circuit, the output current including ON and OFF can be adjusted. ing.

A voltage measuring device (inter-electrode voltage detecting means) 35 is connected to the anode 8 and the cathode 9. Voltage measuring device 35
Is an alarm device (informing means, informing means having a small voltage difference) 36
Is connected. The voltage measuring device 35 includes an anode 8 and a cathode 9.
In addition to detecting the voltage value between them, the processing shown in FIG. The alarm device 36 receives a signal from the voltage measuring device 35 or the concentration adjusting circuit 37 and generates an alarm sound.

The concentration adjusting circuit 37 controls the raw water introducing valve 23, the motor 31, and the raw water supply auxiliary valve 21 based on the detection value of the pH sensor 18 to adjust the pH value of the electrolyzed water. Regarding the adjustment contents of the concentration adjusting circuit 37, the voltage measuring device 3
It will be described together with the processing contents of No. 5 in the explanation of the operation of the present apparatus.

The operation of this electrolyzed water generator will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, taking the case where the acidic water D is stored in the storage tank 15 as an example. In the initial state, the first electrolyzed water control valve 13 is open, the second electrolyzed water control valve 14 is closed, the raw water supply auxiliary valve 21 is closed, and a normal voltage is applied to the anode 8 and the cathode 9. It is supposed to be done. The case where a reverse voltage is applied to the anode 8 and the cathode 9 will be described later. In addition, in FIG. 2, in the initial state, the pH value of the electrolyzed water (acidic water D) is the reference pH value α (7 <
It is assumed that the state is smaller than α <1) (strongly acidic).

First, the pH sensor 18 detects the pH value of electrolyzed water (acidic water D) (step S11), and whether the detected value is smaller than a preset reference pH value α, that is, whether the acidity is strong (reference value). It is determined whether or not the pH value α has been reached (step S12). PH detected in step S11
The value is smaller than the standard pH value α (strongly acidic)
If NO (strongly acidic) is determined in S12, storage tank 15
It is determined whether or not the amount of electrolyzed water stored in is equal to or more than a specified amount (full tank) (step S13). If YES is determined in step S13, the raw water supply valve 5 is opened to mix the raw water W into the electrolyzed water (step S14), and the mixing time is measured from the time of mixing.

It is determined whether the mixing time started in step S14 has reached a certain time (step S15). If NO is determined in step S15, the process returns to step S11 and is performed. If YES is determined in step S15 (the mixing time has reached a certain time), the pH sensor 18 is again charged with p
The H value is detected and this detected value is input (step S16
). The pH value is detected in step S16 on condition that the mixing time reaches a certain time. This is because the pH value of the electrolyzed water is constant even if the operation of the concentration adjusting circuit 37 is started. It takes care of the time required.

It is determined whether or not the detected value of the electrolyzed water detected in step S16 has reached the reference pH value α (step S1
7). If NO is determined in step S17, an alarm sound is generated in the alarm device 36 to notify the operator that some failure has occurred, and the raw water supply auxiliary valve 21 is closed to stop mixing water into the electrolyzed water. (Step S18) to end the process.

If YES is determined in step S12,
Alternatively, when YES is determined in step S13, the raw water supply auxiliary valve 21 is closed to stop mixing the raw water W into the electrolyzed water (step S19), and the process returns to step S11. If YES is determined in step S17, the process returns to step S11.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, in the initial state, the pH value of the electrolyzed water (acidic water D) is higher than the reference pH value α, that is, the acidity is weak (close to pH value 7). The processing contents of the density adjusting circuit 37 will be described as an example.

First, the pH sensor 18 detects the pH value of the electrolyzed water (acidic water D) (step S31), and this detected value is larger than a preset reference pH value β, that is, whether the acidity is weak (reference pH). It is determined whether or not the value β has been reached (step S32). PH detected in step S31
When the value is larger than the reference pH value β (the acidity is low) and NO is determined (the acidity is weak) in step S32, the operation of the pump 32 via the motor 31 causes the electrolyte solution G to be added to the raw water W.
Is increased, the conductivity of the raw water W supplied to the electrolysis tank 4 is increased to improve the electrolysis efficiency, the pH value of the electrolyzed water is decreased to increase the acidity (step S33), and the treatment of step S33 is performed. Measure the time from the time (pump additional operation time).

It is judged whether or not the additional pump operation time has reached a certain time (step S34). If NO is determined in the step S34, the process returns to the step S31 and is performed. If YES is determined in step S34 (the pump additional operating time has reached a certain time), the pH sensor 18 is again charged with electrolytic water p.
The H value is detected, and this detected value is input (step S3
Five). The pH value is detected in step S35 on condition that the additional pump operation time has reached a certain time. This is because the electrolysis stored in the storage tank 15 is started even if the operation of the concentration adjusting circuit 37 is started. This is because it takes a certain amount of time for the pH value of water to change.

It is determined whether or not the detected value of the electrolyzed water detected in step S35 has reached the reference pH value β (step S3
6). If NO is determined in step S36, an alarm sound is generated in the alarm device 36 to notify the operator that some failure has occurred, and at the same time, the generation of electrolyzed water is stopped to wait for the inspection of the abnormal portion. The state is set (step S37), and the process is terminated.

YES in step S36, that is, p of electrolyzed water
When the H value reaches the reference pH value β, the amount of the electrolyte solution G supplied by the pump 32 is returned to the original state and the process is returned to step S31 (step S38).

As described above, even if the concentration adjusting circuit 37 is operated for a certain period of time, steps S17 and S36 are performed.
Is determined to be NO, that is, the detected value of electrolyzed water is the reference pH.
The value α has not been reached (this means that the difference between the detection values of the pH sensor 18 before and after the concentration adjustment by the concentration adjustment circuit 37 is extremely small), that is, the raw water supply valve 5 and the flow sensor. 6. It is estimated that there is some malfunction or failure in the pump 32, the pH sensor 18, etc., and the alarm sound is generated as in step S18 or step S37 described above, so that the failure check of the device can be performed reliably and quickly. It is possible to perform quick recovery from failure, to surely stop the unnecessary generation of electrolyzed water having an undesired pH value, and thus to prolong the life of the water purifier 2 and to minimize energy consumption. it can.

The voltage measuring device 35 has the p
When the detected value of the H sensor 18 is different from the reference pH value and the pH value of the electrolyzed water is changed by the control of the concentration adjustment circuit 37, first, as shown in FIG. 4, before the concentration adjustment of the concentration adjustment circuit 37, After that, the voltage value between the anode 8 and the cathode 9 is detected (step S41), and it is determined whether or not the difference between the two detected values is less than or equal to a preset reference value (step S42).
). Here, before and after the density adjustment of the density adjusting circuit 37 is, for example, in the process of FIG. 2, before the density adjustment, the step S13 and the step when the NO is determined in step S13.
Corresponds to S14, YES after step S15 in density adjustment
This corresponds to between step S15 and step S16 when it is determined that. Further, as an example in the process of FIG. 3, before the concentration adjustment, step S3 when NO is determined in step S32
2 corresponds to step S33, and after the density adjustment, the step S34 and step when YES is determined in step S34
Corresponds to S35. In the process of step S42, if the concentration adjustment of the concentration adjustment circuit 37 is properly performed, the electric conductivity of water in the electrolytic cell 4 changes, and the inter-electrode voltage changes greatly (above the reference value). It was set based on. Therefore, when the difference between the inter-electrode voltages before and after the density adjustment of the density adjusting circuit 37 is less than or equal to the reference value, it can be estimated that the density is not properly adjusted for some reason.

If YES is determined in the step S42, the alarm device (voltage difference informing means) 36 is activated to generate an alarm sound, the process returns to the step S41, and the process is performed in the step S42.
If YES is determined, the alarm sound continues to be generated. And
If NO is determined in step S42, the generation of the alarm sound is stopped (step S44).

As described above, even if the concentration adjusting circuit 37 is operated because the detected value of the pH sensor 18 is different from the reference value, it is determined to be YES in step S42 (this means that the concentration adjusting circuit is The difference between the two voltage values before and after the concentration adjustment of 37 is equal to or less than a predetermined value) means that the raw water supply valve 5, the flow sensor 6, the pump 32, or p
It is estimated that the H sensor 18 or the like has some malfunction or failure, and the above-described step S18 or step S43 is performed.
By issuing an alarm sound like this, it is possible to perform a failure check of the device surely and quickly, speed up failure recovery, and ensure unnecessary generation of electrolyzed water (acidic water D) with an undesired pH value. Therefore, the life of the water purifier 2 can be extended and the energy consumption can be minimized.

The operation described above is for the case where a normal voltage is applied to the anode 8 and the cathode 9. Next,
The operation when the reverse voltage is applied to the cathode 9 will be described. In this case, the alkaline ionized water E is stored in the storage tank 15. Then, the pH value of the electrolyzed water (alkali ionized water E) is the reference pH value α (14 <α <
7) Larger, that is, more alkaline (pH value 1
4) (approx. 4), the process corresponding to the process shown in FIG. 2 is applied. When the pH value of the electrolyzed water (alkali ionized water E) is smaller than the reference pH value α (14 <α <7) (weakly alkaline), the treatment corresponding to the treatment shown in FIG. 2 is applied. It

When the reverse voltage is applied to the anode 8 and the cathode 9 and the alkaline ionized water E is stored in the storage tank 15 as described above, even if the concentration adjusting circuit 37 is operated as described above. , YES in step S42 (this means that the difference between the two voltage values before and after the density adjustment of the density adjusting circuit 37 is less than a predetermined value).
Is presumed to have some malfunction or failure in the raw water supply valve 5, the flow sensor 6, the pump 32, the pH sensor 18 or the like, and an alarm sound is generated as in step S43 to check the device for failure. Reliable and quick, quick recovery from failure, and undesired pH
It is possible to surely stop the unnecessary generation of the electrolyzed water of the value, and thus to prolong the life of the water purifier 2, and to suppress the energy consumption to the necessary minimum.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the front end side of the raw water introducing pipe 22 extends into the second chamber 27 of the solution tank 25 is taken as an example, but it is provided above the first chamber 26 in which the electrolyte H is arranged. It may be extended. With this structure, the electrolyte H is easily melted.

[0038]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the detected value of the pH detecting means is different from the preset reference value and the concentration adjusting means is operated and the difference between the detected values of the pH detecting means is less than a predetermined value, It is estimated that there is some malfunction or failure in the water supply means, electrolyte solution supply means, concentration adjustment means, etc., and an alarm sound is generated, so that a failure check of the device can be performed reliably and quickly, and failure recovery can be performed quickly. Can be anything,
In addition, it is possible to reliably stop the unnecessary generation of electrolyzed water having an undesired pH value, and to suppress energy consumption to a necessary minimum.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the concentration adjusting means is activated and the difference between the detection values of the inter-electrode voltage detecting means before and after the adjustment of the concentration adjusting means is less than a predetermined value, the water supply means and the electrolyte. It is estimated that there is some malfunction or failure in the solution supply means, concentration adjustment means, etc., and by informing the voltage difference informing means, the failure check of the device can be performed surely and promptly, and the failure recovery can be made promptly. Can surely stop the unnecessary generation of electrolyzed water of undesired pH value,
Energy consumption can be minimized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an electrolyzed water generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of adjustment contents of a concentration adjustment circuit of the same electrolyzed water generator.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing processing contents of the density adjustment circuit different from those in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the voltage measuring device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Raw water supply source 3 Raw water supply pipe 4 Electrolysis tank 5 Raw water supply valve 15 Storage tank 18 pH sensor 25 Solution tank 32 Pump 35 Voltage measuring instrument 36 Alarm device 37 Concentration adjusting circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A water supply means capable of adjusting a water supply amount, an electrolysis means for electrolyzing water from the water supply means to obtain electrolyzed water, and an electrolyte solution supply means for supplying an electrolytic solution to the electrolysis means. A pH detection means for detecting the pH of the electrolyzed water obtained by the electrolysis means, and the electrolyte solution supply means or the water supply means when the detection value of the pH detection means is different from a preset reference value. A concentration adjusting means for controlling the concentration of the electrolyzed water by controlling, and a notifying means for notifying this when the difference between the detection values of the pH detecting means before and after the concentration adjustment of the concentration adjusting means is not more than a predetermined value. An electrolyzed water generator characterized by comprising. 2. A water supply means capable of adjusting a water supply amount, an electrolysis means for electrolyzing water from the water supply means to obtain electrolyzed water, and an electrolyte solution supply means for supplying an electrolytic solution to the electrolysis means. A concentration adjusting means for controlling the concentration of electrolyzed water by controlling the electrolyte solution supplying means or the water supplying means,
If the difference between the detection values of the inter-electrode voltage detection means for detecting the voltage applied between the electrodes of the electrolysis means and before and after the concentration adjustment of the concentration adjustment means is less than a predetermined value, An electrolyzed water generator, characterized in that it is provided with a means for informing that the voltage difference is small.