JPH1177047A - Electrolytic water production device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify operation, to greatly improve maintenance properties to reduce errors of charging an excess amount of an electrolyte, and to eliminate troubles of the crystallization or solidification of the electrolyte in a solution by feeding an excess amount of the electrolyte. SOLUTION: Sensors 15a, 15b, 15c are installed in an electrolyte solution tank 12. When the sensor 15a detects the reduction of an electrolyte solution in the solution tank 12, city water is introduced. When the sensor 15b detects a prescribed amount of the city water, the introduction of the city water is stopped, and an inorganic electrolyte is supplied. Since a water surface is elevated by the supply of the inorganic electrolyte, the supply of prescribed amount of the inorganic electrolyte is completed by supplying the electrolyte until the sensor 15c is turned on.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolytic water generator for generating alkaline ionized water and acidic water by electrolyzing tap water and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrolyzed water generator is provided with an electrolyzer having a cathode and an anode in a flow path of water to be treated such as tap water,
By applying a voltage to the cathode and the anode, water is electrolyzed to generate alkaline ionized water and acidic water. At this time, a predetermined amount of an inorganic electrolyte (such as sodium chloride or potassium chloride) may be added depending on the properties of the target electrolyzed water, particularly acidic water.

[0003]

When a predetermined amount of an inorganic electrolyte is added to the water to be treated, it is necessary to use an inorganic electrolyte solution whose concentration is controlled, but there are the following problems. (1) When the aqueous solution is periodically prepared by entrusting the concentration management to the user, the operation becomes complicated not only for the user, but also when the electrolytic mass is added to the excess, inconvenience is caused by crystallization and solidification of the electrolyte in the solution. Cause (2) Some preparations are automated, but the equipment becomes large and the cost rises, and it is difficult for users with small capital investment to introduce them. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyzed water generator that solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electrolyzed water generator according to a first aspect of the present invention is an electrolyzed water generator that separates and discharges alkaline ionized water and acidic water by electrolyzing water to be treated. It has a tank and a solution tank for storing the electrolyte solution supplied to the electrolytic tank, and is provided with means for detecting the amount of the electrolyte charged in the dissolving tank.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the concentration control can be automated with the addition of a small amount of equipment, and not only can the burden on the user be reduced, but also the electrolyte mass in the solution can be reduced by adding extra electrolytic mass. This has the effect of preventing crystallization and solidification.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an electrolyzed water generator according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an electrolyte solution tank 12 in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 1 denotes a water source (tap water tap) as water to be treated. 1 is provided with a water stop valve 2 via a pipe 1a, and a downstream side of the water stop valve 2 is provided with a flow control valve 3 via a pipe 1b. A flow sensor 4 is disposed downstream of the flow control valve 3 via a pipe 1c, and a flow signal of the flow sensor 4 is transmitted through a signal line 4a.
Is input to the control unit 5 described later. Downstream of the flow rate sensor 4, a water purification means 6 is provided via a pipe 1d. A filtering member such as a membrane is incorporated. An electrolytic cell 7 is connected downstream of the water purification means 6 via a pipe 1e.

The electrolytic cell 7 has two electrodes, an anode 7a and a cathode 7b, and has a diaphragm 7c positioned so as to separate a region where the anode 7a is arranged and a region where the cathode 7b is arranged. Is built-in. Then, by applying a voltage to the anode 7a and the cathode 7b of the electrolytic cell 7, the tap water from the pipe 1e is electrolyzed to discharge the alkaline ionized water from the discharge pipe 8 and the acidic water from the discharge pipe 9. I do.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a power supply. The power supply 10 is connected to the control unit 5 by a signal line 5a. The power supply 10 has cables 10a and 10b for supplying a voltage to two electrodes of the anode 7a and the cathode 7b.
10b is connected. And these cables 10a, 10
A switching box 11 for reversing the polarity of the anode 7a and the cathode 7b is provided in the middle of b, and the control unit 5 and the switching box 11 are connected by a signal line 5b.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an electrolyte solution tank connected by a pipe 12a in the middle of the pipe 1d.
b, and a pipe 12 of tap water on the side wall.
d is attached. A valve 13 is attached to the pipe 12c, and the valve 13 is controlled to be opened and closed by the control unit 5. Also, a valve 14 is mounted in the middle of the pipe 12a, and this valve 14 is also controlled to be opened and closed by the control unit 5. 15a, 15b and 15c are containers 12c
These sensors 15a, 15b, 15
The output of c is output to the control unit 5 via the signal line 15 '.
The sensor 15a detects a decrease in the electrolyte solution in the container 12c and outputs a signal. The sensor 15b detects the amount of tap water from the pipe 12d into the container 12c.
This is to detect the mass of the electrolytic solution charged into the container 12c from the hole 12e formed in the container.

Next, the operation of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. First,
A normal use state will be described. In a normal use state, a switch (not shown) attached to the apparatus main body is operated to make the switching box 11 tangent. This switch is connected to the control unit 5. Then, the water from the water source 1 passes through the flow rate sensor 4 via the water stop valve 2 and the flow rate regulating valve, and when the flow rate of the water is detected by the flow rate sensor 4, a signal is sent to the signal line 4a.
Is output to the control unit 5 via the. The control unit 5 drives the power supply 10 via the signal line 5a. As described above, since the switching box 11 is tangent, the anode 7a and the cathode 7b are energized to the power supply 10 via the cables 10a and 10b. Then, the water flows into the electrolytic cell 7 through the water purification means 6,
Electrolysis is performed in the electrolytic cell 7, and acidic water is discharged from the discharge pipe 8 and alkali ion water is discharged from the discharge pipe 9. The alkaline ion water is mainly used for drinking, and the acidic water is discarded.

Next, a method for obtaining strongly acidic water with the present apparatus will be described. When obtaining strongly acidic water, the switch attached to the apparatus main body is operated to make the switching box 11 reversely connected. With this signal, the control unit 5 reversely connects the switching box 11. When the flow of water is detected by the flow sensor 4 as described above, a signal is output to the control unit 5 via the signal line 4a. The control unit 5 drives the power supply 10 via the signal line 5a. As described above, since the switching box 11 is in reverse contact, the anode 7a and the cathode 7b are energized to the power source 10 in the opposite manner. That is, the anode 7a becomes a cathode, and the cathode 7b becomes an anode. And the water is water purification means 6
Flows into the electrolytic cell 7 through the pipe, but when the water passes through the pipe 1d, the inorganic electrolyte is supplied from the electrolyte solution tank 12 to the water through the valve 14 and the pipe 12a. This supply amount is controlled by the control unit 5
Controls the valve 14 to be constant. Then, the water containing the inorganic electrolyte flows into the electrolytic bath 7 and is electrolyzed in the electrolytic bath 7. However, since the water contains the electrolyte, the discharge pipe 8
, Alkaline ionized water is discharged from the discharge pipe 9, and strong acid water is discharged from the discharge pipe 9, and sterilization is performed by the strong acid water.

Next, a control operation (mainly control of the control unit 5) for supplying an inorganic electrolyte when the inorganic electrolyte in the electrolyte solution tank 12 runs out will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. Inorganic electrolyte solution is consumed during electrolyzed water generation,
When the sensor 15a indicating the lower limit level is turned on, the electrolyte solution tank 12
When "empty" is detected, the generation of electrolyzed water (strongly acidic water) is stopped, the valve 13 is opened, and a fixed amount of water is injected into the solution tank 12 from the pipe 12d. This water is supplied until the sensor 15b indicating the upper limit level is turned on. When the sensor 15b is turned on, a lamp (not shown) provided outside the apparatus is turned on. The operator puts the electrolyte into the solution tank 12 through the hole 12e by turning on the lamp. Since the liquid level rises due to the introduction of the inorganic electrolyte, the electrolyte is supplied until the sensor 15c is turned on (this judgment is made by turning off the lamp or the like). When the sensor 15c is turned on, the charging of the electrolyte is stopped, and a stirrer (not shown) stirs the inside of the solution tank 12 for a predetermined time. After stirring for a predetermined time, an end signal is sent to the control unit 5, and the generation of electrolytic water (strongly acidic water) is started again.

[0014]

As described in detail above, the present invention facilitates the preparation of an inorganic electrolyte solution to be added to water in order to promote electrolysis, thereby simplifying the operation and greatly improving the maintainability. In addition, there is an effect that errors in adding a surplus electrolytic mass are reduced, and inconvenience due to crystallization or solidification of the electrolyte in the solution due to the excessive administration of the electrolytic mass is eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of an electrolyte solution tank 12 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when the electrolyte is charged into the electrolyte solution tank 12.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water source 1a Pipeline 1b Pipeline 1c Pipeline 1d Pipeline 1e Pipeline 2 Water stop valve 3 Flow control valve 4 Flow rate sensor 4a Signal line 5 Control unit 5a Signal line 6 Water purification means 7 Electrolyzer 7a Anode 7b Cathode 7c Diaphragm 10 Power supply 8 Discharge pipe 9 Discharge pipe 10 Power supply 10a Cable 10b Cable 11 Switching box 12 Electrolyte solution tank 12a Pipe 12b Lid 12c Container 12d Pipe 12e Hole 13 Valve 14 Valve 15a Sensor 15b Sensor 15c Sensor 15 'Signal line

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electrolysis apparatus comprising: an electrolysis tank that separates and discharges alkaline ionized water and acidic water by electrolyzing water to be treated; and a solution tank that stores an electrolyte solution supplied to the electrolysis tank. An electrolyzed water generator, comprising: a means for detecting the amount of electrolyte charged in the dissolving tank.