JPH1099614A - Bathing water circulating and cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathing water circulating and cleaning apparatus capable of preventing the lowering of the filtering efficiency of a filter tank caused by air bubbles generated from an electrolytic cell. SOLUTION: In a circulating and cleaning apparatus wherein a filter tank 3 is provided to a circulating passage 2 sucking bathing water 1 in a bathtub to return the same to the bathtub and an electrolytic cell 4 having an aluminum electrode housed therein is provided to the ciriculating passage 2 on the upstream side of the filter tank 3 and a turbidity component in bathing water 1 is flocculated by a flocculant generated in the electrolytic cell 4 to be filtered by the filter tank 3, the air bubble venting bypass passage 5 branched from the circulating passage 2 on the downstream side of the electrolytic cell 4 at the upstream position of the filter tank 3 and meeting with the circulating passage 2 at the downstream position of the filter tank 3 is provided. Air bubbles generated in the electrolytic cell 4 bypass the filter tank 4 through the air bubble venting bypass passage 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bath water circulating purification apparatus which purifies bath water in a bath tub, thereby enabling long-term use of the bath water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been provided a bath which can be used for 24 hours even in a home bath. in this case,
In order to make bath water in the bathtub usable for a long period of time, it is necessary to purify the bath water in the bathtub constantly or periodically. For this reason, a circulating purification device S as shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the bathtub to purify the bath water 1 in the bathtub. That is, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 2 denotes a circulation path in which the suction port 20 at one end and the discharge port 21 at the other end are immersed in the bath water 1, and 22 denotes the bath water 1 in the bathtub from the suction port 20 and from the discharge port 21. A pump for circulating the circulation path 2 so as to discharge the water, a heater 23 for heating the bath water 1 circulating in the circulation path 2, and a filtration tank 3. When the bath water 1 in the bath tub is passed through the circulation path 2, the bath water 1 is purified by being filtered in the filter tank 3.

[0003] The circulating purification apparatus has a basic configuration as shown in FIG. 2. However, in order to remove sweat (ammonia), proteins, and the like dissolved in the bath water, actual circulation 4-3.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3933, a biological purification type filtration tank utilizing decomposition by microorganisms is used. In this biological purification method, a certain period of time is required from the time when the circulating purification device is operated to the time when microorganisms sufficiently propagate and the purification ability reaches an effective level. Accordingly, there has been a problem that the water for bathing becomes turbid because a sufficient purifying ability cannot be obtained by the filtration tank until then. Further, when the user is taking a drug such as an antibiotic, there is a drawback that this component dissolves in the bath water, and the microorganisms in the septic tank are damaged, thereby reducing the purification ability.

[0004] In order to solve these problems,
A circulation purification device provided with an aluminum ion generating electrode is provided in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-21682. In this method, the flocculation is caused by the cohesive force of the aluminum ions generated from the aluminum ion generating electrode, so that floc is formed in the turbid component that is not filtered in the filter tank in the bath water, so that the floc is formed. In order to be able to be filtered.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-132215 discloses a circulating purification apparatus provided with a washing device for a filtration tank. This is configured such that the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid supply means to the filtration tank to backwash the filtration tank, and the backwashed cleaning liquid is discharged.

[0006]

However, the coagulation filtration method using an aluminum ion generating electrode as disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-21682 has the following problems. That is, an aluminum ion generating electrode is provided in the electrolytic cell, and when turbid components are agglomerated by aluminum ions generated from the electrolytic cell and filtered in the filter tank, bubbles such as hydrogen are generated from the electrolytic cell by electrolysis of bath water, These bubbles accumulate near the inlet of the filtration tank, so that the area where the bath water comes into contact with the filter medium is reduced, and there is a problem that the filtration efficiency may be reduced.

On the other hand, if the filter medium is used for a long period of time, the filter medium gradually becomes clogged with sunlight, so that the flow rate passing through the filter tank decreases, the filtration efficiency deteriorates, and the bath water starts to become cloudy. Therefore, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-122215, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the filtration tank to wash the filtration tank.
In the case of such a filtration tank cleaning method, it is necessary to use a cleaning liquid different from bath water as the water used for cleaning, so that a cleaning liquid tank is required and maintenance such as replenishment of the cleaning liquid is required. Was.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for circulating and purifying bath water which can prevent the filtration efficiency of a filtration tank from being reduced by bubbles generated from an electrolytic cell. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bath water circulation / purification apparatus capable of washing a filtration tank without requiring complicated maintenance.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a filter tank 3 is provided in a circulation path 2 for sucking bath water 1 in a bathtub and returning it to the bathtub.
And an electrolytic tank 4 containing an aluminum electrode upstream of the filtration tank 3 is provided in the circulation path 2, and the turbid component in the bath water 1 is aggregated by the coagulant generated in the electrolytic tank 4, and In the circulating purification device for bathing water to be filtered, the branching water is branched from the circulation path 2 at a position downstream of the electrolytic tank 4 and upstream of the upper part of the filtration tank 3, and merges with the circulation path 2 at a position downstream of the filtration tank 3. Bubble elimination bypass 5
It is characterized by comprising.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, a turbidity sensor 6 for measuring the turbidity of the bath water 1 coming out of the filtration tank 3, and the electrolytic current value of the electrolytic cell 4 is controlled in accordance with the measurement result by the turbidity sensor 6. And a controller 7 that performs the operation. In addition, the invention of claim 3 includes a backwash bypass path 9 that branches off from the circulation path 2 upstream of the filtration tank 3 and joins the circulation path 2 via the three-way valve 8 downstream of the filtration tank 3, A drain 11 connected to the circulation path 2 via the three-way valve 10 on the upstream side of the circulation path 2 and the circulation path 2 in the backwash bypass path 9 or upstream of the branch point of the backwash bypass path 9 or the backwash path And a sterilizing electrolytic tank 12 provided in any one of the circulation paths 2 upstream of the junction of the use bypass path 9 and downstream of the filtration tank 3.

Further, the invention of claim 4 is characterized in that water quality having an effective chlorine concentration of 1 ppm or more is generated from the electrolytic cell 12 for sterilization.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a circulation path having one end formed as a suction port 20 and the other end formed as a discharge port 21. A pump 22 and a heater 23 are provided at a position of the circulation path 2 near the suction port 20 side. The heater 23 is for preventing the temperature of the bath water 1 from lowering, and may be of a small calorific value. Further, a filtration tank 3 is provided at a position near the discharge port 21 side of the circulation path 2. The filtering tank 3 is filled with a filtering material formed of a porous material or a fiber material in a granular form.

The circulation path 2 is located upstream of the filtration tank 3.
Is provided with an electrolytic cell 4. In the electrolytic cell 4, a pair of aluminum electrode plates are arranged to face each other without interposing a diaphragm. When an electric voltage is applied to the aluminum electrode, aluminum ions (Al ³⁺ ) are eluted from the aluminum electrode on the anode side, and the aluminum ions are converted into aluminum hydroxide (Al (OH) ₃ ), thereby causing aggregation. It works as an agent.

A turbidity sensor 6 is provided in the circulation path 2 on the downstream side of the filtration tank 3 at a position immediately near the exit of the filtration tank 3. As the turbidity sensor 6, any commercially available one such as a transmitted light measurement type and a scattered light measurement type can be used. The transmitted light measurement method uses the fact that the amount of light transmission decreases in proportion to the density of turbid particles (turbidity), and measures turbidity by detecting the absorbance near a wavelength of 660 nm. It is.
The scattered light measurement method uses the fact that the amount of light scattered by turbid particles is proportional to the concentration of turbid particles, and measures turbidity by detecting scattered light with a detector. It is.

The turbidity sensor 6 is electrically connected to a controller 7 including a CPU and the like, and data of the turbidity measured by the turbidity sensor 6 is input to the controller 7. I have. The controller 7 is electrically connected to the electrolytic cell 4, and controls the amount of electrolytic current supplied to the aluminum electrode of the electrolytic cell 4 according to the turbidity data input from the turbidity sensor 6. .

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a bubble removal bypass passage. The bubble removal bypass passage 5 is arranged at a position upstream of the filtration tank 3 and downstream of the electrolytic tank 4 (preferably near the filtration tank 3). 2, and is provided in the circulation path 2 so as to join the circulation path 2 downstream of the filtration tank 3 (preferably further downstream of the turbidity sensor 6). Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes a backwash bypass provided separately from the bubble removing bypass 5, and the backwash bypass 9 circulates upstream of the filtration tank 3 (preferably upstream of the electrolytic tank 4). Branches from the path 2 and is downstream from the filtration tank 3 (preferably further downstream from the junction of the air vent bypass path 5).
Is provided in the circulation path 2 so as to join the circulation path 2 via the three-way valve 8 provided in the circulation path 2. This three-way valve 8
Is formed by an electromagnetic valve or the like, and has a direction in which the filtration tank 3 communicates with the discharge port 21 and the backwash bypass 9 during normal operation. 9 and can be switched to a direction that does not communicate with the discharge port 21.

At a position on the upstream side of the filtration tank 3 (preferably downstream of the electrolytic tank 4), a drain 11 is connected to the circulation path 2 via a three-way valve 10. The three-way valve 10 is formed by an electromagnetic valve or the like, and is oriented so as to connect the electrolytic cell 4 and the filtration tank 3 during normal operation. It can be switched to a direction that does not communicate with the tank 4 side.

An electrolytic cell 12 for sterilization is provided in the backwash bypass 9. The sterilizing electrolytic cell 12 is formed as a non-diaphragm type in which a pair of insoluble electrode plates are arranged to face each other without interposing a diaphragm. Have been included, the chlorine ions in the disinfecting electrolytic cell 12 - in bath water 1 (ie tap water) chlorine ions ^(Cl) (Cl ^-) When electrolysis of a portion of the chloride ion (Cl ^-) Is chlorine (C
l ₂ ) and hypochlorite ion (ClO ⁻ ), and can provide the bath water 1 with sterilizing power.

The circulating cleaning device S formed as described above
Is used to connect the suction port 20 and the discharge port 21 of the circulation path 2 to the bath water 1.
It is installed in a bathtub in a state of being immersed in the bath water. During a normal purification operation, the bath water 1 is sucked into the circulation path 2 from the suction port 20 by driving the pump 22,
When the heater 23 is operated, after the temperature is prevented from dropping here, a part of the bath water 1 branches off from the circulation path 2 and flows to the back washing bypass path 9 and passes through the sterilizing electrolytic cell 12. After being sterilized, it joins the circulation path 2 through the three-way valve 8,
The discharge port 21 returns to the inside of the bathtub. The other bath water 1 passes through the electrolytic cell 4, after the coagulant of aluminum hydroxide is added in the electrolytic cell 4, flows to the filtration tank 3, is filtered in the filtration tank 3, and is discharged from the discharge port 12. To return to the bathtub.

As described above, when the bath water 1 passes through the electrolytic cell 4 and the coagulant made of aluminum hydroxide is added, microscopic turbid components such as bacteria in the bath water 1 are coagulated to form a relatively large lump. Become a flock. When the turbid component aggregates into such a large lump, the turbid component is easily filtered in the filtration tank 3, and the turbid component can be removed from the bath water 1. Here, the filtration tank 3 is configured to be filled with a sand-like filter medium having a particle size of about 0.4 mm, and is configured to filter a turbid component that has become large due to aggregation. If the bath water 1 to which the coagulant has been added is filtered in step 4, a filtration membrane or the like can be used as a filter medium.

As described above, when a voltage is applied to the aluminum electrode in the electrolytic cell 4 to generate a coagulant by aluminum hydroxide, at the same time, hydrogen or oxygen bubbles are generated by electrolysis of the bath water 1. However, these bubbles are filled with the filter medium and have a high pressure loss.
, Bypassing the filtration tank 3 from the circulation path 2 through the bubble removal bypass path 5 having a low pressure loss, and further return to the circulation path 2 to be guided from the discharge port 21 to the bathtub. As described above, the bubbles generated in the electrolytic cell 4 are discharged by bypassing the filtration tank 3 through the bubble removal bypass path 13, so that the bubbles can be prevented from entering the filtration tank 3, It is possible to prevent the area that the pool water contacts with the filter medium from being reduced near the inlet of the filtration tank 3 and to prevent the filtration efficiency from decreasing. Here, in order to make it easy for air bubbles generated in the electrolytic cell 4 to be led to the air bubble removing bypass path 5, it is better that the branch point of the air bubble removing bypass path 5 from the circulation path 2 is as close to the filtration tank 3 as possible. In addition, if it is above the surface where the filter medium and the bath water 1 in the filtration tank 3 are in contact, the bypass path 5 for removing air bubbles may be branched from the upper part of the filtration tank 3.

The turbidity of the bath water 1 filtered by the filtration tank 3 is measured by a turbidity sensor 6 when the tubing water 1 exits the circulation path 2 from the filtration tank 3, and according to the measured turbidity. The amount of electrolytic current supplied to the aluminum electrode of the electrolytic cell 4 is controlled by the controller 7. That is, if the turbidity measured by the turbidity sensor 6 is high, it means that the supply of the coagulant in the electrolytic cell 4 is insufficient.
To increase the amount of current supplied to the aluminum electrode of the electrolytic cell 4
When the turbidity measured by the turbidity sensor 6 is low, the supply of the flocculant in the electrolytic cell 4 is sufficient. In order to prevent the bath water from becoming cloudy with the excess of the agent and to prolong the life of the aluminum electrode, the amount of electrolysis current supplied to the aluminum electrode of the electrolysis tank 4 is reduced to elute in the electrolysis tank 4. The amount of aluminum ions to be formed is suppressed, and the amount of electrolytic current is controlled. For example, when the turbidity measured by the turbidity sensor 6 exceeds 1.0 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), the concentration of aluminum eluted in the electrolytic cell 4 becomes 0.5 ppm. The turbidity measured by the turbidity sensor 6 is 0.3 NT
When it is less than U, the turbidity component is small and there is no need to supply the coagulant in the electrolytic cell 4. Therefore, the supply of power to the aluminum electrode of the electrolytic cell 4 is stopped so that electrolysis is not performed. The electrolytic current value can be controlled by the controller 7 based on the measurement value of the sensor 6. Incidentally, when a pair of aluminum electrodes are arranged at an interval of 10 mm and the flow rate of the bath water 1 passing through the electrolytic cell 4 is 10 liter / min, a current of 1 A flows through the aluminum electrode and the outlet of the electrolytic cell 4 Aluminum concentration of 0.5
2 ppm, and the turbidity sensor 6
The relationship between the measured turbidity value and the electrolytic current value of the aluminum electrode of the electrolytic cell 4 controlled according to the measured value is as follows:
It can be set experimentally based on such numerical values.

Next, when cleaning the inside of the filtration tank 3, the three-way valve 8 is switched so that the filtration tank 3 communicates with the backwashing bypass passage 9 and does not communicate with the discharge port 21.
In addition, the three-way valve 10 is switched so that the filtration tank 3 communicates with the drain 11 and does not communicate with the electrolysis tank 4. Then, the bath water 1 sucked into the circulation path 2 from the suction port 20 by operating the pump 22 passes through the heater 23, does not flow to the electrolytic cell 4, but flows only to the backwash bypass path 9. The bath water 1 flowing to the backwash bypass path 9 enters the circulation path 2 via the three-way valve 8, flows into the filtration tank 3 from the outlet side, flows back through the filtration tank 3, and then enters the circulation path 2 from the entrance side. Then, it is discharged from the drain 11 through the three-way valve 10. As described above, the filter medium in the filtration tank 3 can be back-washed (back-washed) by the bath water 1 flowing back through the filtration tank 3.

The bath water 1 flowing backward from the washing bypass passage 9 to the filtration tank 3 passes through the sterilizing electrolytic tank 12 before flowing to the filtration tank 3, so that the chlorine concentration in the bath water 1 is high. It contains chlorine and reactive oxygen species and has organic matter decomposition ability and bactericidal ability. Therefore, the filter tank 3 can be backwashed with the bath water 1 having this sterilizing power, and the inside of the filter tank 3 can be sterilized and oxidized to be washed with a high effect. The sterilizing electrolyzer 12 supplies electrolytic current to electrolyze chlorine ions in the bath water 1 to impart sterilizing power to the bath water, so that maintenance such as replenishment of the cleaning solution is unnecessary. .

Here, the bath water 1 is prepared to have various chlorine concentrations (effective chlorine concentrations) by changing the electrolysis current value of the sterilizing electrolytic bath 12, and the filtration bath 3 is backwashed with the bath water 1, respectively. The cleaning effect was measured. The measurement of the washing effect was carried out in such a manner that when the initial flow rate was 20 l / min, the filtration tank 3 was clogged by long-term use and the flow rate was reduced to 15 l / min. Then, the normal purification operation was restarted immediately, and the flow rate was measured after 24 hours had elapsed. Table 1 shows the chlorine concentration value of the bath water 1 used for the backwash and the flow rate value after 24 hours of the backwash.

[0026]

[Table 1]

As can be seen from Table 1, the bath water 1 having a chlorine concentration of 0.8 ppm or less is inferior in the degree of recovery by backwashing as compared with the water concentration of 1.0 ppm or more. From this, in order to wash the filtration tank 3,
It is preferable to set the electrolytic current value to be supplied to the electrodes of the sterilizing electrolytic cell 12 so that the concentration of available chlorine generated in the sterilizing electrolytic cell 12 becomes 1 ppm or more near the outlet of the sterilizing electrolytic cell 12. I understand. The upper limit of the chlorine concentration of the bath water 1 is not particularly set, but the chlorine concentration of the bath water 1 is preferably about 10 ppm or less in consideration of the life of the electrode of the electrolytic cell 12 for sterilization.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the sterilizing electrolytic cell 12 is provided in the backwashing bypass 9; however, the location of the sterilizing electrolytic cell 12 is not limited to this. If the bath water 1 is designed to pass through the sterilizing electrolytic cell 12 before the filtering tank 3 when the filter tank 3 is backwashed,
The backwash bypass path 9 may be provided in the circulation path 2 at a position upstream of the branch point, or the backwash bypass path 9 may be provided upstream of the three-way valve 8 that joins the circulation path 2 and in the filtration tank. It may be provided in the circulation path 2 at a position downstream of the position 3.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, a filtration tank is provided in a circulation path for sucking bath water in a bathtub and returned to the bathtub, and an electrolytic cell containing an aluminum electrode upstream of the filtration tank is provided in the circulation path. Provided in the bath water circulating purification device in which the turbid components in the bath water are agglomerated by the coagulant generated in the electrolytic tank and filtered in the filter tank, the downstream of the electrolytic tank and the upstream of the upper part of the filter tank. It is equipped with a bypass path for removing air bubbles that branches off from the circulation path at the position and joins the circulation path at a position downstream of the filtration tank. The area where the bath water comes in contact with the filter medium in the filter tank due to the bubbles is bypassed to the high filter tank and guided to return to the circulation path by bypassing the filter tank through the bubble removal bypass path. Is small It can prevent, filtration efficiency of bath water in the filtration tank is what can be prevented from being lowered.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 includes a turbidity sensor for measuring the turbidity of bath water flowing out of the filtration tank, and a controller for controlling an electrolytic current value of the electrolytic cell according to the measurement result by the turbidity sensor. Therefore, when the turbidity measured by the turbidity sensor is high, the electrolytic current value of the electrolytic cell is controlled so as to increase, so that the supply amount of the flocculant in the electrolytic cell is increased and the purification efficiency is increased. When the turbidity measured by the turbidity sensor is low, the electrolysis current value of the electrolytic cell is controlled to be low (or stopped) to prevent the bath water from becoming turbid due to excess coagulant. This can prevent the aluminum electrode and extend the life of the aluminum electrode.

[0031] The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a backwash bypass path which branches off from the circulation path upstream of the filtration tank and joins the circulation path via the three-way valve downstream of the filtration tank, and an upstream side of the filtration tank. With the drain connected to the circulation path via the three-way valve, in the backwash bypass path, or in the circulation path upstream of the branch point of the backwash bypass path, or in the upstream of the junction of the backwash bypass path And a sterilizing electrolytic tank provided in any of the circulation paths downstream of the filtration tank, so that when washing the inside of the filtration tank with bath water flowing backward from the washing bypass path to the filtration tank, the bath water is The chlorine concentration increases when passing through the sterilizing electrolytic cell before flowing to the filtration tank, which has a sterilizing effect, and the filter tank can be washed with bath water having a sterilizing effect with a high cleaning effect. . Moreover, the electrolytic cell for sterilization can apply electrolysis current to electrolyze chlorine ions in the bath water to impart sterilizing power to the bath water, eliminating the need for maintenance such as replenishing the cleaning solution. .

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, since the water quality having an effective chlorine concentration of 1 ppm or more is generated from the electrolytic cell for sterilization, the sterilizing ability of bath water used for backwashing can be increased. In addition, the filter tank can be effectively washed with bath water.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bath water 2 Circulation path 3 Filtration tank 4 Electrolysis tank 5 Bypass path for removing air bubbles 6 Turbidity sensor 7 Controller 8 Three-way valve 9 Bypass path for backwashing 10 Three-way valve 11 Drain 12 Electrolysis tank for sterilization

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI C02F 1/00 C02F 1/46 Z 1/46 1/50 510A 1/463 520L 1/465 531N 1/50 510 540A 520 550D 531 560B 540 560F 550 560Z 560 1/52 Z 1/76 A B01D 29/36 C 1/52 C02F 1/46 102 1/76

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A circulation path for sucking bath water in a bath tub and returning it to the bath tub is provided with a filtration tank, and an electrolytic cell containing an aluminum electrode is provided in the circulation path on the upstream side of the filtration tank to generate the water in the circulation tank. In a bath water circulating purification device in which the turbid component in the bath water is agglomerated by the flocculant and filtered in the filter tank, the device is branched from the circulation path at a position downstream from the electrolytic tank and upstream from the upper part of the filter tank, An apparatus for circulating and purifying bath water, comprising a bypass for removing air bubbles, which joins the circulation at a position downstream of the filtration tank. 2. A turbidity sensor for measuring the turbidity of bath water flowing out of a filtration tank, and a controller for controlling an electrolytic current value of the electrolytic cell in accordance with a result of the measurement by the turbidity sensor. The circulating purification device for bath water according to claim 1, wherein 3. A backwash bypass path which branches off from a circulation path upstream of the filtration tank and joins the circulation path via a three-way valve downstream of the filtration tank, and circulates through a three-way valve upstream of the filtration tank. A drain connected to the path, in the backwash bypass path, or in a circulation path upstream of the branch point of the backwash bypass path, or upstream of the junction of the backwash bypass path and downstream of the filtration tank. The apparatus for circulating and purifying bath water according to claim 1, further comprising: a sterilizing electrolytic cell provided in any one of the circulation paths. 4. An effective chlorine concentration of 1 pp from an electrolytic cell for sterilization.
4. The bath water circulation purification apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a water quality of m or more is generated.