JPH1066973A - Electrolyzed water forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrolyzed water forming device capable of forming the stable electrolyzed water and also constituted in small size and inexpensively and evading a fracture of an electrode. SOLUTION: A water to which a salt water is incorporated is continuously supplied to an electrolytic cell 10, and the water is subjected to electrolysis to form an electrolyzed water. A prescribed voltage is impressed on the electrodes 14 and 15 in the electrolytic cell 16 by a constant voltage source 40, and a current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 is measured with a direct current ammeter 50 and a concn. of the salt incorporated in the water to be electrolized is kept constant by controlling a mixing amount of the salt water by controlling a sending amount of a motor-driven pump 38 according to the measured current value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generator for electrolyzing dilute salt water to generate electrolyzed water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of electrolyzed water generating apparatus has
Water from the outside is continuously supplied to the electrolytic cell and electrolyzed,
Generates electrolyzed water. Further, salt water stored in the tank is continuously mixed into the water supplied to the electrolytic cell to promote electrolysis. At this time, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-155564, a constant current power supply is adopted as a power supply for electrolysis so that a constant current is always supplied between the electrodes in the electrolytic cell. By measuring the voltage of the salt water and adjusting the amount of the salt water mixed according to the measured value, the salt contained in the water to be electrolyzed regardless of the concentration of the salt water in the tank or the flow rate of the water supplied to the electrolytic cell. Some attempts have been made to maintain a constant concentration of, and to generate stable electrolyzed water.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional apparatus for adjusting the amount of salt water to be mixed in accordance with the voltage between the electrodes, a constant current power supply is required, so that the entire apparatus is increased in size and cost is reduced. There was a problem of getting high. In addition, when the concentration of salt contained in water to be electrolyzed is extremely reduced due to a shortage of salt in the tank or the like, the electrode is damaged because the constant current power supply applies an extremely high voltage between the electrodes. There was also a problem.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned problems, and has been made to be able to generate stable electrolyzed water. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyzed water generating apparatus that does not damage electrodes even when the concentration of a salt contained therein is extremely reduced.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
The features of the configuration are: an electrolytic cell containing a pair of electrodes, a water supply means for continuously supplying external water to the electrolytic tank, a tank storing salt water, and a water supply means for supplying the electrolytic cell. Current flowing between a pair of electrodes in an electrolyzed water generating apparatus provided with mixing means for continuously mixing a predetermined amount of salt water in a tank into water to be discharged, and a constant voltage power supply for applying a predetermined voltage between the pair of electrodes. And a current measured by the ammeter, the mixing means reduces the amount of saltwater mixed when the current measured by the ammeter is larger than a predetermined current value, and the mixing means when the current is smaller than the predetermined current value. And a first control means for increasing the amount of salt water mixed into the water.

According to this, since the amount of the salt water mixed is adjusted according to the measured value of the current between the electrodes, the electrolysis is performed regardless of the concentration of the salt water in the tank or the flow rate of the water supplied to the electrolytic cell. The concentration of the salt contained in the produced water is always kept constant, and stable electrolyzed water is generated. In addition, since a constant current power supply is not used, the entire device can be configured to be small and inexpensive. Furthermore, even when the concentration of salt contained in the water to be electrolyzed is extremely low due to a shortage of salt in the tank or the like, an extremely high voltage is not applied between the electrodes. Breakage is avoided.

According to a second structural feature of the present invention, in the first structural feature, the tank is configured so that water is intermittently supplied from the outside, and water is supplied to the tank. After the adjustment of the amount of mixed salt water by the first control means, the current measured by the ammeter is:
A second control means for reducing the voltage applied by the constant voltage power supply when the current value is larger than the predetermined current value, and increasing the voltage applied by the identification voltage power supply when the voltage value is smaller than the predetermined current value; When the water replenishment detecting means detects the replenishment of water to the tank during the adjustment, the control switching to stop the adjustment of the applied voltage by the second control means and execute the adjustment of the amount of salted water mixed by the first control means. The means have been provided.

In the second structural feature, after the amount of salt water mixed is adjusted by the first control means, the tank may be replenished with water next time, and the concentration of salt water in the tank may drop extremely. Until the electrolysis occurs, the second control means adjusts the voltage applied by the constant voltage power supply according to the measured value of the current between the electrodes, so that the electrolytic strength is kept constant and stable electrolytic water is generated. . Therefore, according to this, scale is accumulated at the electrode to which a negative DC voltage is applied due to long-term use of the electrolyzed water generation device, and even when the efficiency of electrolysis is reduced, Since the concentration of the contained salt is kept constant, stable electrolyzed water is generated.

A third structural feature of the present invention resides in that, in addition to the first or second structural feature, a stirring means for stirring the salt water in the tank is provided.

According to this, since the concentration of the salt water in the tank is rapidly stabilized, the concentration of the salt water mixed into the water to be electrolyzed is also quickly stabilized, and the concentration of the salt contained in the water is also rapidly reduced. Stable and more stable electrolyzed water is generated.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows an entire electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to the embodiment.

The electrolyzed water generating apparatus includes an electrolyzer 10, a water supply pipe 20 for supplying water from the outside to the electrolyzer 10, and a tank 30 for storing salt water to be mixed with water supplied to the electrolyzer 10. And

The interior of the electrolytic cell 10 is partitioned by a diaphragm 11 into a pair of electrode chambers 12 and 13.
13 is supplied with water via a water supply pipe 20.
Each of the electrode chambers 12 and 13 contains an electrode 14 and 15, respectively. When the constant voltage power supply 40 applies a positive or negative DC voltage to both the electrodes 14 and 15, the supplied water is electrolyzed. Electrolytic water is generated. At this time, a DC ammeter 50 is connected to the supply path of the DC voltage from the constant voltage power supply 40 to the electrodes 14 and 15 via the shunt 41, and the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 is measured. It has become. Further, the constant voltage power supply 40 is connected to the electrode 1
The magnitude of the DC voltage applied to the power supply 4, 15 can be adjusted by electrical control. In addition, each electrode chamber 12, 1
Outlet pipes 16 and 17 are connected to 3 so that the generated electrolyzed water is led out through the outlet pipes 16 and 17.

The water supply pipe 20 is supplied with water from an external water supply source (not shown) (for example, water supply), and has a pressure reducing valve 21 and an electromagnetic valve 22 interposed therebetween.
The pressure reducing valve 21 keeps the pressure of the water pumped from the outside below a predetermined value. The electromagnetic valve 22 supplies water from the outside to the electrolytic cell 10 through the water supply pipe 20 in an open state.

Above the tank 30, one end of a water supply pipe 31 connected to the external water supply source is opened.
When the electromagnetic valve 32 interposed in 1 is in an open state, water is supplied to the tank 30 through the water supply pipe 31. The tank 30 is also replenished with a large amount of salt S (for example, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, etc.).
Numeral 0 always stores salt water obtained by dissolving the salt S in a substantially saturated state in the supplied water, and always precipitates the salt S that could not be dissolved at the bottom. The tank 30 houses a water level sensor 33. The water level sensor 33 detects that the water level in the tank 30 has become equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit water level, and the water level in the tank 30 is lower than the upper limit water level. It detects that it has fallen below a predetermined lower limit water level.
On the side wall of the tank 30, a conduit 34 having one end opened above the tank 30 at a position lower than the lower limit water level.
Is connected, and when the electric pump 35 interposed in the conduit 34 is in an operating state, the salt water in the tank 30 is stirred. Further, the tank 3 is provided on the side wall of the tank 30 at a position slightly higher than the upper limit water level.
Overflow pipe 36 for discharging the salt water inside 0 to the outside
Is connected, and the water level in the tank 30 is
Is not higher than the connection position.

A supply pipe 37 enters the tank 30. The supply pipe 37 has one end opened into the salt water in the tank 30 and the other end joined to the water supply pipe 20.
When the electric pump 38 interposed in the supply pipe 37 is in the operating state, the salt water in the salt water tank 30 is mixed with the water supplied to the electrolytic cell 10 flowing through the water supply pipe 20 via the supply pipe 37. It has become. The electric pump 38 is configured to be able to adjust the flow rate of the salt water to be sent out by electric control. Further, a check valve 39 is interposed in the supply pipe 37 at a position downstream of the electric pump 38 so that water does not flow from the water supply pipe 20 to the tank 30 side.

The electrolyzed water generating apparatus is provided with the electromagnetic valve 2
2, an electric control circuit 60 connected to a water level sensor 33, electric pumps 35 and 38, a constant voltage power supply 40, and a DC ammeter 50. The electric control circuit 60 is constituted by a microcomputer, and executes a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG.
2, 32 and the operation of the electric pumps 35, 38 and the constant voltage power supply 40 are controlled.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, a large amount of salt S is put into the tank 30. Salt S is replenished at any time, and the remaining salt S is always stored in tank 3
Settle to the bottom of zero. Thereafter, when the power switch (not shown) is turned on, the electric control circuit 60 starts executing the program in step 100 of FIG.

First, the electric control circuit 60 executes step 102
A process for supplying water to the tank 30 is executed. That is, the electromagnetic valve 32 is opened to supply water to the tank 30 from the outside until the water level sensor 33 detects that the water level in the tank 30 has reached the upper limit water level. As a result, the salt water obtained by dissolving the salt S in a substantially saturated state is stored in the tank 30 up to the upper limit water level. At this time, the electric pump 38
Is operated for a predetermined time to stir the salt water in the tank 30 so that the concentration of the salt water in the tank 30 is quickly stabilized.

After supplying water to the tank 30, the electric control circuit 60 starts producing electrolyzed water in step 104. That is, the electromagnetic valve 22 is opened to start supplying water to the electrolytic cell 10, the electric pump 38 is operated to start mixing salt water in the tank 30 into the water, and the constant voltage power supply 40 is operated. Then, the application of positive and negative DC voltages to both electrodes 14 and 15 is started. At this time, the electric pump 38 sends out the salt water in the tank 30 at a predetermined flow rate set in advance. Further, the constant voltage power supply 40 applies a DC voltage of a predetermined magnitude to the electrodes 14 and 15.

After the start of the generation of the electrolyzed water, the electric control circuit 60 compares the current value measured by the DC ammeter 50 with the optimum current value I0 at step 106.
The optimum current value I0 is set in advance to a current value most appropriate for generating desired electrolytic water. If the measured current value is larger than the optimum current value I0, the electric control circuit 60 slightly reduces the delivery amount of the electric pump 38 in step 108. As a result, the amount of salt water mixed in the water electrolyzed in the electrolytic cell 10 decreases, and the concentration of salt contained in the water decreases, so that the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 decreases. Then, again at step 106, the measured current value is compared with the optimum current value I0, and if the measured current value is still larger than the optimum current value I0, the process at step 108 is executed again. On the other hand, when the measured current value is smaller than the optimum current value I0, the electric control circuit 60 slightly increases the delivery amount of the electric pump 38 in step 110. As a result, the amount of salt water mixed into the water electrolyzed in the electrolytic cell 10 increases and the concentration of salt contained in the water increases, so that the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 increases. Then, again at step 106, the measured current value and the optimum current value I0
And if the measured current value is still smaller than the optimum current value I0, the process of step 110 is executed again. By repeating these steps 106 to 110, the amount of salt water sent out by the electric pump 38 is adjusted so that the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 becomes equal to the optimum current value I0.

When the amount of salt water sent from the electric pump 36 is adjusted as described above and the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 becomes equal to the optimum current value I0, the electric control circuit 60 advances the program to step 112. . Step 112
, The tank 3 based on the detection of the water level sensor 33
It is determined whether the water level within 0 is equal to or higher than the lower limit water level. If the water level in the tank 30 is equal to or higher than the lower limit water level, the electric control circuit 60 determines “YES” and executes the program in step 1.
Proceeding to 14, the same as step 106, the measured current value is compared with the optimum current value I0. Since the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 is equal to the optimum current value I0 by the processing of the above steps 106 to 110, the electric control circuit 60 advances the program to step 112 again.
Thereafter, the processing of steps 112 and 114 is repeatedly executed.

During the repetition of the steps 112 and 114, the concentration of the salt water mixed into the water supplied to the electrolytic cell 10 changes slightly due to the minute non-uniformity of the salt water concentration in the tank 30, or the negative When the current flowing between the two electrodes 14 and 15 is slightly changed due to accumulation of scale on the electrode 15 to which the DC voltage is applied and the efficiency of electrolysis is reduced, the electric control circuit 60 executes the program. 116
Alternatively, the process proceeds to step 118, and the DC voltage applied to the electrodes 14 and 15 by the constant voltage power supply 40 is adjusted so that the current becomes equal to the optimum current value I0. That is, when the measured current value is larger than the optimum current value I0, the electric control circuit 60 slightly reduces the applied voltage of the constant voltage power supply 50 in step 116. Thus, the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 decreases. Then, the measured current value is compared with the optimum current value I0 again in step 106, and if the measured current value is still larger than the optimum current value I0, step 11 is performed again.
6 is executed. On the other hand, the measured current value is the optimum current value I.
If it is smaller than 0, the electric control circuit 60 proceeds to step 1
At 18, the applied voltage of the constant voltage power supply 40 is slightly increased.
Thus, the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 increases. In step 114, the measured current value is compared with the optimum current value I0 again. If the measured current value is still smaller than the optimum current value I0, the process in step 118 is executed again. By repeatedly executing these steps 114 to 118, the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15 becomes the optimum current value I.
The applied voltage of the constant voltage power supply 40 is adjusted so as to be equal to zero.

On the other hand, the salt water in the tank 30 is continuously supplied to the water supply pipe 20 by the operation of the electric pump 38 during the repetitive execution of the processing including the steps 112 to 118.
Then, when the water level in the tank 30 decreases to reach the lower limit water level due to the same supply, the water level sensor 33 detects this, and the electric control circuit 60 determines the above in step 120 based on the determination of “NO” in step 112. A process for supplying water to the tank 30 similar to that in step 102 is executed, and the program proceeds to step 106 again.

As described above, in the above embodiment,
When the tank 30 is refilled with water,
The concentration of the salt water mixed into the water to be electrolyzed is extremely reduced because the concentration of the salt water in the water becomes unstable or the salt S in the tank 30 becomes insufficient. When there is a possibility that the concentration of the salt extremely decreases, the amount of the salt water mixed into the water to be electrolyzed is adjusted according to the current flowing between the electrodes 14 and 15. Therefore, according to this, the concentration of the salt contained in the water to be electrolyzed is always kept almost constant regardless of the concentration of the salt water in the tank 30 or the flow rate of the water supplied to the electrolytic cell 10. When stable electrolyzed water is generated and the concentration of the salt contained in the water to be electrolyzed is extremely reduced, no extremely high voltage is applied between the electrodes 14 and 15. Therefore, electrode 1
4, 15 damage is avoided. In addition, since a constant current power supply is not used as a power supply for electrolysis, the entire apparatus can be configured to be small and inexpensive.

In the above embodiment, the voltage applied to the electrodes 14 and 15 by the constant voltage power supply 40 is adjusted until the tank 30 is refilled with water after the amount of salt water mixed is adjusted. It is adjusted according to the current flowing between them.
Therefore, according to this, even when the scale accumulates on the electrode 15 to which the negative DC voltage is applied due to long-term use of the electrolyzed water generation device and the efficiency of electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 10 is reduced, Since the concentration of the salt contained in the water to be decomposed is kept constant, stable electrolyzed water is generated.

In the above embodiment, the tank 3
When water is replenished to zero, the electric pump 38 operates to stir the salt water in the tank 30. Thereby, since the concentration of the salt water in the tank 30 is quickly stabilized, the concentration of the salt water mixed into the water to be electrolyzed is also quickly stabilized, and the concentration of the salt contained in the water is also quickly stabilized, More stable electrolyzed water is generated.

In the above embodiment, the electrolytic cell 1
Although the one separated into the two electrode chambers 12 and 13 by the diaphragm 11 is adopted as 0, the one without the diaphragm may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an electrolyzed water generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a main program executed by an electric control circuit (microcomputer) of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electrolysis tank, 14, 15 ... Electrode, 20, 31 ... Water supply pipe, 22, 32 ... Electromagnetic valve, 30 ... Tank, 33 ... Water level sensor, 34 ... Conduit, 35, 38 ... Electric pump, 37
... supply pipe, 40 ... constant voltage power supply, 50 ... DC ammeter, 60
... Electrical control circuit (microcomputer).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell containing a pair of electrodes, a water supply means for continuously supplying external water to the electrolytic cell, a tank storing salt water, and the water supply means supplying the electrolytic cell with water. Mixing means for continuously mixing a predetermined amount of salt water in the tank into water to be removed, and a constant voltage power supply for applying a predetermined voltage between the pair of electrodes. And an ammeter for measuring the current flowing through the ammeter, when the current measured by the ammeter is larger than a predetermined current value, the mixing means reduces the amount of saltwater mixed, and An electrolyzed water generating apparatus provided with first control means for increasing the amount of salt water mixed by the mixing means when the mixing water is small. 2. An electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tank is configured so that water is intermittently supplied from the outside, and water supply detecting means for detecting supply of water to said tank. After the adjustment of the amount of salt water mixed by the first control means, when the current measured by the ammeter is larger than the predetermined current value, the voltage applied by the constant voltage power supply is reduced, and the predetermined current value is reduced. A second control means for increasing the voltage applied by the identification voltage power supply when the power supply voltage is smaller than the above, and when the water supply detection means detects the supply of water to the tank during the adjustment of the applied voltage by the second control means, The adjustment of the applied voltage by the second control means is stopped and the first
An electrolyzed water generating apparatus, comprising: a control switching means for adjusting the amount of salted water mixed by the control means. 3. The electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1, further comprising a stirring means for stirring the salt water in the tank.