KR101579044B1 - Apparatus for Generating Electrolyzed Water - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating electrolyzed water, which generates acidic hypochlorous acid water used as bactericidal disinfectant and alkaline electrolyzed water used as cleaning water for food materials such as fruits, vegetables, fish and shellfish, meats, and processed foods or various facilities needing bactericidal disinfection. In the present invention, provided is the apparatus for generating the electrolyzed water using an ion exchange membrane, provided with an electronic control device controlling an electrolyzed generation process and supplying a mixture of raw water and an electrolyte additive such as sodium chloride or the like to each of a cathode chamber and an anode chamber of an electrolytic bath with the ion exchange membrane installed between the cathode chamber, where a cathode is installed, and the anode chamber, where an anode is installed, to generate the acidic hypochlorous acid water and the alkaline electrolyzed water. The apparatus comprises: the cathode and the anode processed by coating the surface, made of iron based alloy containing iron or nickel based alloy containing nickel, to have an amorphous state; a vibration member installed on the ion exchange membrane positioned between the cathode and the anode; a dissolved oxygen removing module removing dissolved oxygen contained in the generated electrolyzed water; and a circulation and switching unit circulating and supplying the electrolyzed water generated from the anode chamber.

Description

[0001] Apparatus for Generating Electrolyzed Water [0002]

The present invention relates to an electrolytic water producing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an acidic hypochlorous acid water which can be used as a sterilizing disinfectant in a variety of food raw materials and processed products such as fruit, vegetables, seafood, and meat, or in various facilities requiring sanitization and disinfection, and alkaline electrolytic water And an electrolytic water producing device for producing electrolytic water.

As is known, hypochlorous acid water (water) refers to an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid (molecular formula: HOCl). Hypochlorous acid water is classified into strongly acidic hypochlorous acid, weak acid hypochlorous acid and hypochlorous acid hypochlorous acid, The use of chloric acid water is mainly sterilized as disinfected water, and strong acidic hypochlorous acid and hypochlorous acid water were approved as food sterilization disinfection water on Nov. 9, 2007 by Korea Food & Drug Administration Notice 2007-74.

Strongly acidic hypochlorous acid water is produced on the anode (+) side by electrolyzing salt solution of less than 0.2% in a membrane membrane electrolytic cell, and the effective chlorine component showing the sterilizing power is less than pH 2.7, Cl2) 15 to 20%, and hypochlorous acid 80 to 85%. At the same time, strongly alkaline electrolytic water having pH 11.3 to 11.7 containing caustic soda (NaOH) is produced on the negative (-) side. Strongly alkaline electrolytic water has excellent cleaning power because of the hydroxyl ion (H3O2-) which acts as a natural surfactant generated by the reaction of H2O with OH- during electrolysis.

Strongly acidic hypochlorous acid water and two kinds of strong alkaline electrolytic water are collectively referred to as strong seawater. Sterilization of food raw materials such as fruits and fish meat, washing sterilization of tanks and pipes of milk processing plants, washing and sterilization of instruments and tools such as endoscopes and dialysis machines of hospitals, washing with strong alkaline electrolytic water , And after the disinfection with strong acidic hypochlorous acid water, organic substances and biofilm on the surface of the disinfected object are washed and removed by the strong alkaline electrolytic water. Therefore, 10 to 30 times sterilization The effect rises. Even in the cultivation of crops, strongly acidic hypochlorous acid water can be sprayed on the foliage to prevent crop diseases such as powdery mildew and gray fungus disease. Using strong alkaline electrolytic water as soil water can prevent acidification of the soil and promote crop cultivation. Varies. The effective chlorine concentration of strongly acidic hypochlorous acid water is in the range of 20 to 80 ppm.

The acidic hypochlorous acid water and the electrolytic water producing apparatus for producing the alkaline electrolytic water have been scientifically proven for a long time and the acidic hypochlorous acid water and the alkaline electrolytic water obtained through the electrolytic water producing apparatus have been widely used as disinfecting fungicide and detergent to be.

Particularly, in a publicly known prior art, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-258258, there is provided an electronic control device for controlling an electrolytic water producing process, comprising: an electrolytic bath in which an ion exchange membrane is provided between a cathode chamber and an anode chamber; Raw water (tap water, etc.) is supplied to each of the cathode chamber and the anode chamber to generate acidic hypochlorous acid water and alkaline electrolytic water.

In the above electrolytic water producing apparatus, the electrolytic cathode and the anode use a conductor selected from platinum, ruthenium, chromium, iron, titanium, manganese, tungsten, aluminum or an alloy thereof and an oxide thereof, The ion exchange membrane is made of a thin microporous metal plate, a porous polymer thin plate made of a hydrocarbon-based material, or a porous polymer thin plate made of a fluorocarbon-based material.

However, the electrolytic electrode of the electrolytic water generating device is electrolyzed by using platinum, iron or an alloy thereof. In particular, in the case of an iron-based oxide, the metal component dissolves during electrolysis, The electrolytic treatment is interfered with due to the corrosion of the electrode, which hinders the original activity of the ion exchange, and the electrolytic performance is greatly deteriorated due to the durability and abrasion resistance of the electrode.

In addition, the ion exchange membrane is provided between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber and functions to generate acidic hypochlorous acid and alkali water through an ion reaction, and the dissolved metal constituting the electrode is dissolved in the exchange membrane There may be a case in which a number of fine holes are closed or a minute hole in the exchange membrane is temporarily closed by microbubbles generated in the electrolysis, so that the function of the ion exchange is greatly deteriorated.

In addition, the electrolytic water producing apparatus described above is designed to selectively discharge the generated acidic hypochlorous acid water and alkaline electrolytic water according to the disinfection sterilization and cleaning object. Therefore, the raw water supplied as long as the electrolysis continues and the electrolyte additives such as sodium chloride Is continuously supplied to the cathode chamber and the anode chamber, respectively, to generate the acidic hypochlorous acid water and the alkaline electrolytic water, respectively, or to electrolyze the electrolytic water if necessary in a state where an appropriate electrolyte is supplied into the electrolytic bath. In order to obtain only alkaline electrolytic water for cleaning a specific object of cleaning, that is, a machine, metal, or electronic parts, by using the apparatus, the acidic water generated in the anode chamber is disposed of. Therefore, the waste water of the raw water or the electrolyte additive supplied by the disposal treatment of the acidic water is very serious, so that the economic loss is greatly increased. In particular, the electric current is poor in the electric current due to the scale generated in the electrolysis .

In addition, when acidic hypochlorous acid water, which is a disinfectant sterilizing liquid, is used as a sterilizing disinfectant for food raw materials such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, and foodstuffs and processed products such as specific objects, dissolved oxygen is generated in the produced acidic hypochlorous acid water So that a high concentration of acidic hypochlorous acid can not be obtained. Accordingly, there is a problem that the disinfection function is significantly lowered.

(Patent Literature)

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-258258

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [8] The present invention provides a method for improving the durability and abrasion resistance of an electrode for electrolysis,

In addition, the present invention has a technical problem of generating a high concentration of acidic hypochlorous acid water, thereby greatly increasing the function as a disinfecting fungicide.

The present invention also aims to provide an economical advantage by saving the raw water supplied by generating the acidic hypochlorous acid water and the alkaline electrolytic water according to the disinfecting sterilization and the object to be cleaned.

The present invention provides an electrolytic cell comprising an electrolytic water producing process, wherein an electrolytic solution such as raw water and an electrolyte such as sodium chloride is supplied to each of the anode chamber and the anode chamber of an electrolytic cell provided with an ion exchange membrane between a cathode chamber in which a cathode electrode is disposed, An electrolytic water producing apparatus using an ion exchange membrane for producing an acidic hypochlorous acid water and an alkaline electrolytic water by mixing and supplying an additive, the electrolytic water producing apparatus comprising: a negative electrode and a positive electrode each of which is coated with an iron-based alloy or a nickel- An oscillating member provided in an ion exchange membrane disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode; A dissolved oxygen removing module for removing dissolved oxygen contained in generated electrolytic water; And circulation and switching means for circulating and supplying the electrolytic water generated from the anode chamber.

The present invention can prevent the corrosion and breakage and damage of the electrolytic negative electrode and the positive electrode to improve the durability and abrasion resistance of the electrode as well as to promote the original action of the ionic action. Further, the microbubbles sticking to the ion exchange membrane are removed during electrolysis It is possible to greatly enhance the ionic action source activity, and it is possible to obtain a high concentration of electrolytic water due to the dissolved oxygen depletion contained in the acidic mixed water as well as to reuse the acidic hypochlorous acid water without disposal, It has an effect that can be achieved. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a simple water supply facility, a sanitary ware cleaning of a hospital, a cleaning of a swimming pool, a tableware of a large restaurant, and a facility requiring a large amount of cleaning or disinfection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electrode and an ion exchange membrane separation perspective view
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ion exchange membrane of FIG. 2,
4 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention
5 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention
6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention
7 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.

FIG. 1 is a structural cross-sectional view of the present invention, showing an integrated supply pipe 10 for supplying raw water such as tap water and sodium chloride as an electrolyte from a mixing tank (not shown) The pipe 11 supplied to the cathode chamber 21 of the electrolytic cell 20 and the pipe 12 supplied to the anode chamber 22 of the electrolytic bath 20 are connected to the integrated supply pipe 10, Alkaline electrolytic water and acidic hypochlorous acid water are generated and discharged to the discharge ports (23) and (24) of the electrolytic bath (20).

A negative electrode 21A and a positive electrode 22A are provided in each of the negative electrode chamber 21 and the positive electrode chamber 22 inside the electrolytic cell 20 and an ion exchange membrane 30 is interposed between the negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A. Respectively.

The negative electrode 21A, the positive electrode 22A and the ion exchange membrane 30 can be coupled to the inside of the frame F as shown in FIG. 3 (electrode and ion exchange membrane combined perspective view) And the lower part of the electrolytic bath 20 can be fixedly mounted on the upper and lower fixing brackets 25 and 26 formed in the electrolytic bath 20.

The negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A are conductors made of an iron-based alloy including iron or a nickel-based alloy containing nickel and having a plurality of holes 21A '(see FIG. 22A 'may be provided in the form of a perforated plate, or may be provided as a wave-like conductor in which a plurality of holes 21A', 22A 'are perforated. When the direct current power is supplied to the negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A, the resistance value of each of the negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A is reduced Thereby shortening the energization time of the current.

In particular, the surface of the negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A made of an iron-based alloy containing iron or a nickel-containing nickel-based alloy is coated and provided in an amorphous state to form the electrolytic negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A. Durability and abrasion of the ion exchange membrane 30 can be greatly improved and the ion exchange membrane 30 function can be improved to greatly increase the original activity of the electrolysis action.

That is, since the surfaces of the negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A are coated in the amorphous state, the iron-based alloy or the nickel-containing nickel-based alloy is prevented from being dissolved during the electrolysis operation, It is possible to prevent the corrosive property of the electrolytic water 22A and thus to prevent the concentration of the generated alkaline electrolytic water and the acidic hypochlorous acid water from being lowered.

The surface of the electrode may be coated with an amorphous coating layer. The amorphous coating layer may be a coating layer including a metal layer including an amorphous phase formed on the surface of the nickel alloy by thermal fusing. The amorphous layer may be bonded to the nickel alloy layer, Coating treatment.

The ion exchange membrane 30 may be formed of a thin porous metal thin plate, a porous polymer thin plate made of a hydrocarbon-based material, or a porous polymer thin plate made of a fluorocarbon-based material. In the present invention, The ion exchange membrane 30 may be presented in wave form to prevent damage or breakage of the ion exchange membrane 30 due to a pressure difference between the cathode 21 and the anode chamber 22. A waveform It is possible to prevent the ion exchange membrane 30 from being damaged or damaged.

The electronic control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 supplies AC power of the AC power supply unit 40 to the DC power supply unit 50 to apply the stabilized DC power to the micro control unit 60, And is designed to supply DC power to each of the negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A in the electrolytic bath 20. [ The control method of the microcontroller 60 can be controlled by a control box including a power supply switch (not shown).

2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a cathode electrode 21A, a cathode electrode 22A and an ion exchange membrane 30 applied to the present invention. The cathode electrode 21A has a plurality of holes 21A 'and 22A' A positive electrode 22A and a wave-form ion exchange membrane 30 are shown.

3 is a perspective view of an example in which the cathode 21A, the anode 22A, and the ion exchange membrane 30 applied to the present invention are coupled to the inside of the frame F. FIG.

4 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention in which acidic hypochlorous acid water generated and discharged from the discharge port 24 of the anode chamber 22 is supplied to the nozzle 71 in the microbubble generator 70, 71 is supplied with air inside the air tank 80 through a pump 90 so that microbubbles containing acidic hypochlorous acid water are generated at the outlet side of the nozzle 71.

In this embodiment, the microbubbles that are sprayed from the nozzle 71, that is, the microbubbles, can effectively penetrate the disinfection object to increase disinfection effectiveness, 5, the alkaline electrolytic water generated from the cathodes 21 and the outlets 23 and 24 of the anode compartment 22 may be provided in the discharge port 23 of the anode compartment 21, And the acidic hypochlorous acid water is mixed with water to produce mixed water having a slightly acidic pH (having a pH of 5 to 6), the microbubble generator 70 can be installed at the outlet of the mixing tank 100.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the alkaline electrolytic water generated from the cathode chamber 21 and the outlets 23 and 24 of the anode chamber 22 is mixed with the acidic hypochlorous acid water, The mixing tank 100 is provided with an exhaust pipe 110 inserted into the mixing tank 100 to remove dissolved oxygen contained in the acidic mixed water in the mixing tank 100, A dissolved oxygen removing module 130 composed of a denitrifying membrane or the like may be installed between the vacuum pump 120 for reducing pressure.

Oxygen contained in the miscible mixed water in the mixed tank 100 is degassed by the depressurization of the dissolved oxygen removing module 130 and the vacuum pump 120, so that highly acidic mixed water can be obtained. In Fig. 5, reference numeral 140 denotes a level sensor.

6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention in which the negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A are disposed apart from each other in the electrolytic bath 20 and the ion exchange membrane 30 The ion exchange membrane 30 is provided with a vibrating member including a small vibration motor 150. The vibrating member may be provided in the ion exchange membrane 30, The ion exchange membrane 30 is operated by a control program of the microcontroller 60 based on an operating water position (not shown) to cause the ion exchange membrane 150 to vibrate so as to cause the bound microbubbles to be released to the bottom of the electrolytic bath 20 will be.

The vibration motor 150 can simultaneously vibrate the negative electrode 21A, the positive electrode 22A, and the ion exchange membrane 30, which are shown in FIG. 1, by the vibration motor 150.

7 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, which includes a dissolved oxygen removing module 130 'and a vacuum pump 180 for reducing pressure, which are installed in a raw water supply pipe 170 supplied from a raw water supply tank 160; The raw water supply pipe 190 connected to the dissolved oxygen removing module 130 and the electrolyte supply pipe 220 connected to the pump 210 for supplying sodium chloride in the sodium chloride tank 200 are connected to the integrated supply pipe 10 And the control of the microcontroller 60 is applied to each of the outlets 23 and 24 of the cathode chamber 21 and the anode chamber 22 respectively to the cathode chamber 21 and the anode chamber 22, Way valve 240 is connected to the acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250 and the first outlet 240 'of the three-way valve 240 is connected to the acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250, The acidic hypochlorous acid water supplied to the water tank 250 is connected to the pipe 12 supplied to the anode chamber 22 through the discharge pipe 260 and is supplied to the anode chamber 22 by reducing and switching And means for transmitting the information.

The acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250 is connected to a discharge pipe 260 of the acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250 to remove dissolved oxygen contained in the acidic hypochlorous acid water within the acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250 The dissolved oxygen removing module 130 "and the vacuum pump 270 may be installed between the anode chamber 22 and the pipe 12 supplied to the anode chamber 22. [

The second outlet 240 '' of the three-way valve 240 is connected to the middle inlet side of the three-way valve 230 and the first outlet 230 ' And the alkaline electrolytic water may be discharged while being connected to the intermediate inlet side of the valve (240).

In the figure, reference numeral 280 denotes a level detection sensor, and reference numeral 290 denotes a raw water supply valve.

In this configuration, in order to obtain only the alkaline electrolytic water for cleaning a specific machine, metal, electronic component, etc. to be cleaned, the acidic hypochlorous acid water generated in the anode chamber 22 is applied to the above machine, metal, In the present invention, the acidic hypochlorous acid generated and discharged to the three-way valve 240 is supplied to the acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250 through the first outlet 240 ' And the acidic hypochlorous acid water supplied to the acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250 is supplied to the anode chamber 22 again so that the acidic hypochlorous acid water can be reused without being discarded and thus the raw water or the electrolyte additive It is possible to reduce waste.

On the other hand, the acidic hypochlorous acid water generated in the anode chamber 22 is connected to the second inlet 240 '' of the three-way valve 240 through the middle inlet of the three-way valve 230, Is mixed with the acidic hypochlorous acid generated in the anode chamber 22 and the alkaline electrolytic water discharged into the first outlet 230 'of the three-way valve 230 by the control operation of the three-way valve 230 to generate and discharge the acidic mixed water do.

The cathode chamber 21 of the electrolytic cell 20 in which the ion exchange membrane 30 is provided between the cathode chamber 21 in which the cathode electrode 21A is disposed and the anode chamber 22 in which the cathode 22A is disposed, ) And an anode chamber (22), respectively, to produce an acidic hypochlorous acid aqueous solution and an alkaline electrolytic water, wherein the electrolytic water producing apparatus includes an iron-based alloy or nickel- A negative electrode (21A) and a positive electrode (22A) coated on the surface of the nickel-based alloy with an amorphous state; An oscillating member composed of a vibration motor 150 installed in the ion exchange membrane 30 disposed between the negative electrode 21A and the positive electrode 22A; A dissolved oxygen removing module 130 for removing dissolved oxygen contained in generated electrolytic water; And the circulating and switching means for circulating and supplying the acidic hypochlorous acid water generated from the anode chamber 22 to the electrolytic cathode 21A and the anode 22A by eliminating the corrosiveness of the electrolytic cathode 21A and the cathode 22A, It is possible to improve the abrasion resistance as well as the original activity of the ion action. Moreover, the minute bubbles sticking to the ion exchange membrane 30 can be removed during the electrolysis to greatly enhance the original activity of the ion action. It is possible not only to obtain electrolytic water at a high concentration due to the removal of the dissolved oxygen, but also to reuse the acidic hypochlorous acid water without disposing it, thereby saving the raw material.

      While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It can be seen that various modifications and applications are possible. It is to be understood that all changes and modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

10: integrated supply pipe 20: electrolytic cell
21: cathode chamber 22: anode chamber
21A: negative polarity 22A: positive polarity
21A ', 22A': holes 23, 24:
F: frame 30: ion exchange membrane
60: microcontroller 70: microbubbler
80: air tank 90: pump
100: mixing tank 120, 180, 270: vacuum pump
130, 130 ', 130 ": dissolved oxygen removing module 150: vibration motor
200: Sodium chloride tank 230, 240: Three-way valve
250: Acid hypochlorite tank

Claims (7)

The cathode chamber 21 and the anode chamber 22 of the electrolytic cell 20 in which the ion exchange membrane 30 is provided between the cathode chamber 21 in which the cathode electrode 21A is disposed and the anode chamber 22 in which the cathode 22A is disposed, ), An electrolytic water additive such as raw water and sodium chloride is mixed and supplied from the raw water supply tank 160 and the sodium chloride tank 200 to generate an acidic hypochlorous acid water and an alkaline electrolytic water, A dissolved oxygen removing module 130 'and a pressure reducing vacuum pump 180 installed in the raw water supply pipe 170 supplied from the raw water supply tank 160; The raw water supply pipe 190 connected to the dissolved oxygen removing module 130 and the electrolyte supply pipe 220 connected to the pump 210 for supplying sodium chloride in the sodium chloride tank 200 are connected to the integrated supply pipe 10 And the control of the microcontroller 60 is applied to each of the outlets 23 and 24 of the cathode chamber 21 and the anode chamber 22 respectively to the cathode chamber 21 and the anode chamber 22, Way valve 240 is connected to the acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250 and the first outlet 240 'of the three-way valve 240 is connected to the acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 250, The acidic hypochlorous acid water supplied to the water tank 250 is connected to the pipe 12 supplied to the anode chamber 22 through the discharge pipe 260 and is supplied to the anode chamber 22 by reducing and switching And an electrolytic water generating unit for electrolyzing the electrolytic water. The electrolytic water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the negative electrode (21A) and the positive electrode (22A) are formed of a wave conductor having a plurality of holes (21A ') and (22A') formed therein. The electrolytic cell as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ion exchange membrane (30) is formed in a wavy shape, and is formed inside the electrolytic bath (20) by connecting the corrugated negative electrode (21A) and the positive electrode Device. The ion exchange membrane according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the ion exchange membrane (30), the cathode electrode (21A) and the anode electrode (22A) are combined by a frame (F) Wherein the electrolytic water generating device comprises: The method according to claim 1, wherein acidic hypochlorous acid water generated and discharged from the discharge port (24) of the anode chamber (22) is supplied to a nozzle (71) inside the microbubble generator (70) Wherein microbubbles containing acidic hypochlorous acid water are generated at the outlet side of the nozzle (71) by supplying air inside the air tank (80) through the pump (90). The mixing tank according to claim 1, wherein alkaline electrolytic water generated from the outlets (23) and (24) of the cathode chamber (21) and the anode chamber (22) is mixed with acidic hypochlorous acid water to produce acidic mixed water Wherein the dissolved oxygen removing module (130) is installed between the exhaust pipe (110) inserted into the vacuum pump (100) and the vacuum pump (120) for reducing pressure. delete

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