JPH11300357A - Water treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately preannounce the exchange of filters by changing the threshold to be used to judge the preannouncement of the filter exchange based on the changes in the flow amt. signal from a water amt. sensor with time. SOLUTION: A specified amt. of tap water to an electrolytic cell 2 is supplied to a mixing part 5 through a valve unit 3 housing an electromagnetic valve, quantitative valve and safe valve, and a water flow sensor 4. A salt water reserved in a salt water tank 6 is supplied by a pump 7 to the mixing part 5 so that a salt water of a specified concn. can be supplied through a filter 8 comprising a hollow fiber to the electrolytic cell 2. In this process, whether the total water amt. passed from the water supply source exceeds a prescribed value previously registered or not is judged by a controller 9. Then the detection threshold used to judge the preannouncement of exchanges of the filter 8 is changed according to the controller.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus for supplying water from a water supply source to a filter and then supplying the water from a water discharge port. After mixing and passing water through the filter,
The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus that generates hypochlorous acid by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional water treatment apparatus, when the total amount of water passed through a filter composed of hollow fibers or the like exceeds a specified amount of water, a notice of replacement is displayed, and a filter is provided to a user or a maintenance person. Had to be replaced because it was nearing the end of its service life.

[0003]

However, in the conventional water treatment apparatus, since there is only one specified amount of water for which a filter replacement notice is issued regardless of the state of the water to be passed, the turbidity of the water to be passed is not limited. If the degree value is high (water is dirty)
Although the flow rate detected by the water flow sensor is lower than the minimum flow rate required for the operation of the water treatment equipment and the system stops, even though the total water flow rate has not been detected, the system is stopped. There was a risk that the system would stop without any problem.

[0004] On the other hand, if the specified amount of water for which a filter replacement notice is given is reduced to prevent the above-mentioned problem, the filter replacement notice is given and the filter is replaced even though the life of the filter is sufficiently long. As a result, there has been a problem that it is uneconomical.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects In order to solve the above problems, the water treatment apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention discharges water supplied from a water supply source to a filter after passing the water through a filter. In a water treatment device supplied from a water outlet, a water flow sensor for detecting a flow rate and a control means for changing a threshold value used for determination of a filter replacement notice based on a temporal change of a flow rate signal from the water flow sensor are provided. It is characterized by the following.

As described above, a change in the clogged state of the filter is detected by a change with time in the flow rate signal of the water flow sensor, and the threshold value used for determining the advance notice of filter replacement can be changed based on the detected value. A filter replacement notice can be given at an appropriate time according to the conditions.

[0007] If the control means changes the threshold value used for the judgment of the filter replacement notice based on the total water flow rate and the flow rate of the water flow, the change with time is an actual device called the total water flow rate. Since the judgment can be made on the basis of the use form, the filter replacement notice can be accurately given.

The control means may change the threshold value used for the judgment of the filter replacement notice on the basis of the total water flow rate at two or more points and the corresponding change in the flow rate of the water flow. Since the threshold value of the filter replacement notice can be calculated based on the aging of the points, the filter replacement notice can be made more accurately.

A water treatment apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a water treatment apparatus for supplying water from a water supply source to a filter and then supplying the water from a water discharge port to detect turbidity of water. Turbidity sensor, and a control means for changing a threshold value used for judgment of filter replacement notice based on a signal from the turbidity sensor.

As described above, the threshold value used for determining the advance notice of the filter replacement is changed based on the turbidity information of the water which is closely related to the degree of the filter contamination. A filter replacement notice can be given.

Further, the control means calculates a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined amount from the total water flow amount predicted to be equal to or less than a predetermined value, as a threshold value used for determining a filter replacement notice. If so, the filter replacement notice can be determined on the basis of the actual amount of water flow, which is a criterion according to the actual usage, so that the filter replacement notice can be made at an accurate time.

Further, if the water treatment apparatus has a mixing section for mixing a saline solution on the upstream side of the filter and an electrolytic cell on the downstream side of the filter, the lowest flow rate of the electrolytic cell that can be used is provided. The filter replacement notice can be given at an appropriate time before reaching.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an electrolyzed water generator 1 as a water treatment apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention. A certain amount of clean water is supplied to the mixing unit 5 via the valve unit 3 containing the solenoid valve, the constant flow valve and the safety valve, and the water amount sensor 4 with respect to the electrolytic cell 2 housed in the electrolyzed water generator 1. . In addition, by supplying the saline solution stored in the saline solution tank 6 to the mixing unit 5 by the pump 7,
A saline solution having a predetermined concentration is supplied to the electrolytic cell 2 through a filter 8 composed of hollow fibers.

In this embodiment, the purpose is to produce weakly acidic water having a hypochlorous acid concentration of about 10 ppm in a pH range of about 5 to 7 in the electrolytic cell 2, so that 4 L / min. By supplying a 20% saline solution from a saline solution tank to the 18 cc / min mixing section with respect to the tap water, a saline solution having a concentration of 1000 ppm is produced, and the saline solution is set to be supplied to the electrolytic cell 2. Have been.

The saline solution supplied to the electrolytic cell 2 is
A constant current of 7 amperes is supplied from the controller 9 to electrolyze a saline solution having a concentration of 1000 ppm in the electrolytic cell 2, thereby producing acidic water (containing about 10 ppm of hypochlorous acid).
And alkaline water are generated, and are respectively discharged from the acidic water discharge port and the alkaline water discharge port through the passage switching valve.

A method of calculating a notice of replacement of the filter 8 will be described with reference to FIG. Two points of data when water with turbidity A is passed (for example, total water flow T0 = 5)
Water flow rate Q0 = 3.8 L / min and total water flow T
An approximate expression is calculated from the flow rate Q1 at 1 = 10 tons (Q1 = 3.6 L / min), and the total flow rate at which the flow rate Q which is the life of the filter 8 becomes 3 L / min is calculated. Here, it is required to be 45 tons. Therefore, if the display or notification of the notice is performed from the time when the flow rate is smaller than 45 tons by a predetermined flow rate (for example, the time when the total water flow is 40 tons), an appropriate notice can be given.

The specific contents of the threshold value calculation method used for the advance notice of replacement of the filter 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The contents of the flowchart are stored in the controller 9 as control means.

When the electrolyzed water generator 1 is installed and energized, a default value of 50 tons is set as a default value for the notice detection threshold value TB of the filter 8 (S101). Here, 50 tons of TB is a value obtained by subtracting 5 tons from the total water flow of 55 tons at which the flow rate when used in general water quality becomes 3 L / min.

When it is determined by the water amount sensor 4 that water has passed through the electrolyzed water generator 1 at a predetermined flow rate (5 tons in this embodiment) (S102Y), the water flow rate Q0
It is determined whether or not the total water flow amount T0 corresponding thereto is registered. If it is determined that the total water flow amount T0 is not registered (S1).
03N), the flow rate Q at that time is registered as Q0, and the corresponding total flow rate TQ is registered as T0 (S104).

Then, T0 + in which the total flow rate TQ is registered
It is determined whether it has reached 5 tons or more (S105).
If it is determined that the weight is 0 + 5 tons or more (S105
Y), again registering the flow rate Q at that time as Q1, and registering the total flow rate TQ corresponding thereto as T1 (S106), and registering these registered flow rates Q0,
An approximate expression is obtained from Q1 and two points of data of the total water flow amount T0 and T1, and the total water flow amount TQ at which the water flow amount Q which is the life of the filter 8 becomes 3 L / min is calculated as TA from the approximate expression. .

Here, specifically, at the time of passing water with turbidity A in FIG. 2, Q0 = 3.8 L / min, T0 = 5 tons, Q1 = 3.6 L / min, T1 = 10 tons. Therefore, the flow rate Q, which is the life of the filter 8, is 3 L / m.
It is calculated that the total water flow amount TA to be in is 45 tons.

For this reason, the notice detection threshold value TB of the filter 8 is updated to a value obtained by subtracting 5 tons from TA instead of the value set as the default value (see FIG. At times, 40 tons are updated as TB).

Then, it is determined whether or not the total water flow amount TQ is larger than the updated notice detection threshold value TB of the filter 8 (S109), and if it is determined to be larger (S109).
Y), the notification of the replacement notice of the filter 8 is started (S11).
0), that the notice has been started (11
1Y), the update of the notice detection threshold value of the filter 8 ends (S112).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S109 that the total water flow amount TQ is not larger than the updated notice detection threshold value TB of the filter 8 (S109N), and if it is determined that the notice notification has not been started (S111N), Q as Q0
The value of 1 is updated, the value of T1 is updated as T0, then the values of Q1 and T1 are cleared, the process returns to S102, and the process proceeds to the process of updating the notice detection threshold value TB of the next filter 8.

Specifically, Q0 is 3.6 L / min.
Is updated, 10 tons are updated as T0, and
Q when the total water flow TQ reaches 15 tons in S105
3.4 L / min is registered as 1 and 15 as T1.
Tons are to be registered.

In the description based on the above-described flowchart, an example has been described in which the advance detection threshold value of the filter 8 is calculated from the total water flow rate at two points and the corresponding change in the water flow rate. The replacement notice detection threshold value of the filter 8 may be calculated from the total water flow rate and the flow rate, and the replacement notice detection threshold value of the filter 8 may be replaced by the total water flow time. It can also be.

Next, an embodiment of a water treatment apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of an electrolyzed water generation device 1 as a water treatment device according to a second aspect of the present invention. The difference from FIG. 1 is that a turbidity sensor 10 is provided between the mixing unit 5 and the filter 8. As shown in FIG. 5, the turbidity sensor 10 is provided with a light projecting element 11 and a light receiving element 12, and the light receiving element 12 changes its current value depending on the amount of received light. The turbidity is detected from the relationship shown in FIG.

In the above configuration, if the sensor signal voltage of the turbidity sensor 10 is 2 volts, the turbidity of water is 4 from FIG. Here, from the relationship between the turbidity shown in FIG. 7 and the total water flow rate of 3 L / min, it can be seen that the total water flow rate corresponding to turbidity 4 is 40 tons. Therefore, if the turbidity is 4, the hollow fiber can be used up to 40 tons, so that the notice can be given at an appropriate time by giving the notice from about 35 tons, which is smaller by a predetermined flow rate than 40 tons.

The specific contents of the threshold value calculation method used for the advance notice of replacement of the filter 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The contents of the flowchart are stored in the controller 9 as control means.

When the electrolyzed water generator 1 is installed and energized, 50 tons is set as a default value of the notice detection threshold value TB of the filter 8 (S201). Where T
As the 50 tons of B, the water flow rate when used in general water quality is 3 L / min.
It is the value obtained by subtracting the ton.

When it is determined by the water amount sensor 4 that water has passed through the predetermined flow rate (5 tons in this embodiment) of the electrolyzed water generator 1 (S202Y), the flow rate of water flow Q0
It is determined whether or not the total water flow amount T0 corresponding thereto is registered. If it is determined that the total water flow amount T0 is not registered (S2).
03N), the total water flow amount TQ at that time is registered as T0 (S204).

Then, T0 + in which the total water flow amount TQ is registered
It is determined whether it has reached 5 tons or more (S205).
If it is determined that the weight has exceeded 0 + 5 tons (S205)
Y), the total water flow TQ at that time is again registered as T1 (S206), and the turbidity is obtained from the signal voltage of the turbidity sensor 10 at the time of the registered total water flow T1, and the figure is obtained from the turbidity. 7, the total water flow rate TQ at which the flow rate Q becomes 3 L / min is calculated as TA (S207).

Here, specifically, since the turbidity is 4 when the detection voltage of the turbidity sensor 10 is 2 volts, the total flow rate at which the flow rate Q which is the life of the filter 8 becomes 3 L / min. It is calculated that TA is 40 tons.

For this reason, the notice detection threshold value TB of the filter 8 is updated to a value obtained by subtracting 5 tons from TA instead of the value set as the default value (specifically, 35 tons as TB). Is updated) (S20
8).

Then, it is determined whether or not the total water flow amount TQ is larger than the updated notice detection threshold value TB of the filter 8 (S209), and if it is determined that the total water amount TQ is larger (S209).
Y), notification of replacement notice of the filter 8 is started (S21).
0), and that notice has been started (21)
1Y), the update of the notice detection threshold value of the filter 8 ends (S212).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S209 that the total water flow amount TQ is not larger than the updated notice detection threshold value TB of the filter 8 (S209N), and it is determined that the notice notification has not been started (S211N), The values of T0 and T1 are cleared, and the process returns to S202 to shift to the updating process of the notice detection threshold value TB of the next filter 8.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the total water flow is calculated, it is also possible to calculate the total water flow time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a water treatment apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between a total flow rate and a flow rate.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a threshold value calculation method used for advance notice of filter replacement of the water treatment apparatus according to the first aspect.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a water treatment apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a turbidity sensor.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a turbidity sensor signal and a turbidity sensor.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between turbidity and filter life.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a threshold value calculation method used for advance notice of replacement of a filter of a water treatment apparatus according to the second aspect.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrolysis water generator 2 ... Electrolysis tank 3 ... Valve unit 4 ... Water quantity sensor 5 ... Mixing part 6 ... Salt solution tank 7 ... Pump 8 ... Filter 9 ... Controller 10 ... Turbidity sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takamatsu 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Totoki Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] In a water treatment apparatus for supplying water from a water supply source to a filter after supplying water from a water supply source, a water amount sensor for detecting a flow rate, and a time-dependent change in a flow rate signal from the water amount sensor. A water treatment apparatus comprising control means for changing a threshold value used for determining a filter replacement notice. 2. The water according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes a threshold value used for determining a filter replacement notice based on a total water flow amount obtained by integrating the water flow amount and a flow rate of the water flow. Processing equipment. 3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the control means changes a threshold value used for determining a filter replacement notice based on a change in the flow rate of the water flow at two or more points and a corresponding flow rate of the water flow. Item 3. A water treatment apparatus according to item 2. 4. A water treatment apparatus for supplying water from a water supply source through a filter and then supplying water from a water discharge port, comprising a turbidity sensor for detecting turbidity of water. A water treatment apparatus comprising control means for changing a threshold value used for determining a filter replacement notice based on a signal. 5. The control means calculates a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined amount from a total water flow amount predicted to be equal to or less than a predetermined value as a flow rate detected by a water amount sensor, as a threshold value used for determining a filter replacement notice. The water treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. The water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a mixing section for mixing the saline solution upstream of the filter, and an electrolytic cell downstream of the filter.
A water treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.