KR102054288B1 - Electro deionization type water sterilizing purifier and Sterilizing method for electro deionization type water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sterilizing water purifier and a sterilizing method capable of removing not only ions but also microorganisms from raw water flowing into a deionized sterilizing water, and an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention: Filterable electric deionized filter module; And a sterilizing liquid dispenser for injecting a sterilizing liquid into the electric deionization filter module for sterilization, wherein the sterilizing liquid dispenser includes a storage chamber containing a sterilizing liquid and a sterilizing liquid contained in the storage chamber in advance. A discharge mechanism for discharging toward the filter module only by an amount, wherein the discharge mechanism includes a pressure plate for pressing the storage chamber and the pressure plate in a direction in which the storage chamber is contracted to reduce the volume of the internal space of the storage chamber. And a plurality of stoppers provided at regular intervals to provide an elastic force to the elastic member, and the pressure plate to maintain a constant position against the elastic force of the elastic member, and the pressure plate is configured to contact some of the plurality of stoppers. The plurality of stoppers may be released from contact with the pressure plate. It may have a rotational structure.

Description

Electrodeionization type water sterilizing purifier and Sterilizing method for electro deionization type water purifier

The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier and an electric deionized water purifier, and more particularly, a sterilizing water purifier and sterilizing method capable of removing not only ions but also microorganisms from raw water introduced into a deionized sterilizing water purifier. It is about.

Various water treatment apparatuses for generating purified water by treating raw water, such as water purifiers, are currently disclosed. Among the various methods applied to the water treatment apparatus, the most recent method is an electric deionization method such as Electro Deionization (EDI), Continuous Electro Deionization (CEDI), and Capacitive Deionization (CDI). Among these, the most popular is the CDI method.

The CDI method is a method of removing ions (pollutants) using the principle that ions are adsorbed and detached from the surface of an electrode by an electric force. Korean Laid-Open Patent No. 2012-0133303 (hereinafter referred to as “priority document”) discloses a CDI cell that can be applied to a CDI type water treatment apparatus. In the prior document, an example of a method of manufacturing a CDI cell and a material of each component constituting the CDI cell are described in detail.

Hereinafter, the operation principle of the CDI type water treatment apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

When brine containing ions is passed between the electrodes (anode and cathode) while voltage is applied to the electrode, the anion moves to the anode and the cation moves to the cathode as shown in FIG. (I.e. adsorption takes place.) Such adsorption can remove ions in the brine.

However, if the electrode continues to adsorb ions, the electrode will reach a saturation state where it can no longer adsorb ions. In this state, as shown in FIG. 2, the ions adsorbed on the electrode are detached to regenerate the electrode. (Regeneration water is generated and discharged at this time.) Such regeneration can be accomplished by applying no voltage to the electrode or applying voltage as opposed to when absorbed.

Since the electrode filters or regenerates raw water, if only one filter provided with such an electrode is installed in the water purifier, the purified water cannot be taken out when the electrode is in the regeneration state. In order to solve this problem, two filters are installed in the water treatment apparatus, and when one filter is in a regeneration state, the other filter filters the raw water so that the user can extract the purified water at any time.

On the other hand, the water treatment apparatus needs to remove not only pollutants in ionic or radical states, but also microorganisms. However, the above-described CDI type water treatment apparatus is effective in removing contaminants in charged ions or radicals, but is inefficient in removing microorganisms.

When the flow path of the CDI type water treatment apparatus is contaminated by microorganisms, the internal pressure of the water treatment apparatus is increased, which not only adversely affects the stability of the water treatment apparatus but also reduces the flow rate. In addition, the ion adsorption power of the electrode is also lowered, the water quality of the purified water may also be deteriorated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier that can prevent the electric deionized water purifier is contaminated with microorganisms.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier capable of stably securing the flow rate of raw water flowing into the electric deionized water purifier.

Electric deionized sterilizing water purifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises: an electric deionized filter module capable of filtering raw water; And a sterilizing solution dispenser for injecting a sterilizing solution into the electric deionization filter module for sterilization.
The sterilizing liquid dispenser includes a storage chamber containing a sterilizing liquid, and a discharge mechanism for discharging the sterilizing liquid contained in the storage chamber toward the filter module by a predetermined amount.
The discharge mechanism may include a pressure plate for pressing the storage chamber, an elastic member for providing an elastic force to the pressure plate in a direction in which the storage chamber is contracted to reduce the volume of the internal space of the storage chamber, It is provided with a plurality of stoppers installed at regular intervals to resist the elastic force to maintain a constant position,
The pressure plate is configured to contact some of the plurality of stoppers,
The plurality of stoppers may have a rotatable structure so that the contact with the pressure plate can be released.

Preferably, the sterilizing liquid dispenser supplies a sterilizing liquid upstream of the electric deionization filter module.

Preferably, the sterilizing solution is an acid solution.

Preferably, the acid solution is an aqueous solution containing at least any one of citric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, chlorous acid, or hypochlorous acid.

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Preferably the storage chamber is of a replaceable cartridge type.

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According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for sterilizing an electric deionized water purifier includes: supplying raw water to an electric deionized filter module capable of filtering raw water; And injecting a sterilizing solution into the electric deionization filter module.
The injecting of the sterilizing liquid is performed by a sterilizing liquid dispenser including a storage chamber containing the sterilizing liquid and a discharge mechanism for discharging the sterilizing liquid contained in the storage chamber toward the filter module in a predetermined amount. ,
The discharge mechanism may include a pressure plate for pressing the storage chamber, an elastic member for providing an elastic force to the pressure plate in a direction in which the storage chamber is contracted to reduce the volume of the internal space of the storage chamber, It is provided with a plurality of stoppers installed at regular intervals to resist the elastic force to maintain a constant position,
The pressure plate is configured to contact some of the plurality of stoppers,
The plurality of stoppers may have a rotatable structure so that the contact with the pressure plate can be released.

Preferably, the electric deionized filter module includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the sterilizing solution passes between the positive electrode and the negative electrode in a state mixed with raw water.

Preferably, the sterilizing solution is injected into the electric deionized filter module periodically by a predetermined amount.

Preferably, the sterilizing solution is an acid solution.

Preferably, a basic substance for lowering the acidity of the purified water discharged after the sterilizing liquid passes through the electric deionization filter module is supplied to a downstream side of the electric deionization filter module.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier that can prevent the electric deionized water purifier from being contaminated with microorganisms.

In addition, it is possible to provide an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier capable of stably securing the flow rate of raw water flowing into the electric deionized water purifier.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a principle of integers in CDI.
2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a principle in which reproduction is performed in the CDI method.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric deionization type sterilizing water purifier according to the present invention.
4 is a block diagram of a sterilizing solution dispenser provided in the electric deionized sterilizing water purifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which a certain amount of sterilizing liquid is discharged from the storage chamber shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which the sterilizing liquid is completely discharged from the storage chamber shown in FIG. 4.
7 is a block diagram of a sterilizing liquid dispenser provided in the electric deionization type sterilizing water purifier according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Electric deionized water purifier includes EDI (Electro Deionization), CDI (Capacitive Deionization). Therefore, an EDI filter, a CDI filter, or the like may be employed as the electric deionization filter module used in the electric deionization type sterilizing water purifier described below.

In the following embodiments, for convenience of description, the CDI method will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited or limited to the following embodiments.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric deionized sterilizing water purifier according to the present invention.

The electric deionization type sterilizing water purifier according to the present invention is an electric deionization type filter module 10 capable of filtering raw water, and a sterilizing liquid dispenser for injecting sterilizing solution into the electric deionization type filter module 10 for sterilization. 20 is provided.

The electric deionization filter module 10 includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, and the separator is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

The sterilizing liquid dispenser 20 supplies a sterilizing liquid to an upstream side of the electric deionizing filter module 10, and the sterilizing liquid is mixed with raw water and introduced into the electric deionizing filter module 10.

The sterilizing solution is passed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode in a mixed state with raw water, and the sterilizing liquid is present in the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator while contacting not only the surface of the positive electrode and the negative electrode but also the separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Sterilize microorganisms and the like.

As the sterilizing solution, an acidic solution may be used, for example, at least one of citric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, chlorous acid, or hypochlorous acid. An aqueous solution containing may be used as a sterilizing solution.

As an acid solution used as a sterilizing solution, it is preferable to use citric acid, which has little unpleasant odor and high drinking stability. However, in the case of using an aqueous solution containing an acid having a lower pH than citric acid as a sterilizing solution, it can be safely used by diluting with a larger amount of water or reducing the amount injected into raw water than when citric acid is used. It is possible.

Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the sterilizing liquid dispenser 20 will be described.

<First Embodiment>

4 is a block diagram of a sterilizing liquid dispenser provided in the electric deionization type sterilizing water purifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the sterilizing liquid is completely discharged from the storage chamber shown in FIG. 4.

4 to 6, the sterilizing liquid dispenser 20 included in the electric deionization type sterilizing water purifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a storage chamber 22 and a storage chamber 22 containing sterilizing liquid. ) And a discharging mechanism for discharging the sterilizing liquid contained in the filter toward the filter module 10. The storage chamber 22 can be mounted to the case 21, for example, a replaceable cartridge type can be employed as the storage chamber 22.

The discharge mechanism is stored by, for example, the pressure plate 27 pressing the storage chamber 22, the elastic member 24 and the pressure plate 27 which elastically bias the pressure plate 27 toward the direction in which the storage chamber 22 is contracted. A structure having a plurality of stoppers 26 capable of selectively resisting the contracting force applied to the chamber 22 can be employed. Since the elastic member 24 pulls on the pressure plate 27, the storage chamber 22 is applied with a contracting force in a direction in which the volume of the internal space containing the sterilizing liquid decreases.

A through hole may be formed at a lower end of the case 21 to allow a nipple extending from the lower end of the storage chamber 22 to pass therethrough, and the nipple may be connected to an upstream side of the electric deionization filter module 10 through a conduit. Can be.

The discharge mechanism may have a structure capable of discharging the sterilizing liquid only by a predetermined amount. For this purpose, the plurality of stoppers 26 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are spaced apart by the same interval and installed in the case 21.

4 to 6 show seven stoppers 26 disposed in order from the top of the case 21 toward the bottom, but more or less depending on the number of times of discharging the sterilizing liquid in the storage chamber 22. It can be arranged in fewer numbers.

Hereinafter, a method of discharging only a predetermined amount of sterilizing liquid from the storage chamber 22 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cartridge type storage chamber 22 filled with the sterilizing solution therein is installed to be in communication with the electric deionization filter module 10.

Thereafter, when the top stopper 26A is rotated downward, the pressure plate 27 is caught by the stopper 26 located directly below the stopper 26A located at the top (see FIG. 5). While performing this process in turn, as shown in FIG. 6, when the lowermost stopper 26B is rotated, all of the sterilizing liquid in the storage chamber 22 can be discharged.

The storage chamber 22 having discharged all of the sterilizing liquid is removed from the case 21, and the new storage chamber 22 is inserted into the case 21. Then, the storage chamber 22 is removed from the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator of the electric deionized water purifier. It is possible to sterilize microorganisms.

In Figures 4 to 6, the stopper 26 is shown hanging on the lower surface of the pressure plate 27, but each stopper 26 is hung on a plurality of corrugations formed in the storage chamber 22 of the corrugated container shape A structure may be adopted. In addition, the elastic member 24 may be a compression spring that can resist the compression force in addition to the extension spring (see FIGS. 4 to 6) that can be stored in the extension force. However, in this case, the elastic member 24 is disposed on the upper side of the pressure plate 27 on the basis of Figure 4, it is preferable to use the case closed the upper end as the case 21.

Second Embodiment

7 is a block diagram of a sterilizing liquid dispenser provided in the electric deionization type sterilizing water purifier according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the second embodiment differs in configuration of the discharge mechanism as compared with the first embodiment. That is, the second embodiment has a transfer pump 28 in place of the stopper 26, the pressure plate 27, the elastic member 24 and the like.

Whenever the transfer pump 28 needs to sterilize the positive electrode, the negative electrode, or the separator, the transfer pump 28 transfers an appropriate amount of sterilizing liquid to the electric deionization filter module 10. If the transfer amount of the transfer pump 28 is the same each time, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be expected from the viewpoint of the discharge of the sterilizing liquid. In addition, the transfer pump 28 can be controlled to operate periodically.

On the other hand, it is also possible to implement a modification of the second embodiment provided with an on-off valve instead of the transfer pump 28 provided in the second embodiment. However, when the open / close valve is opened, the end portion of the nipple below the storage chamber 22 is preferably disposed below the bottom surface of the storage chamber 22 so that the sterilizing liquid as intended can be discharged.

In the sterilization method of the electric deionized water purifier according to the present invention, the raw water is supplied to the electric deionized filter module 10 capable of filtering the raw water, and the sterilizing solution is injected into the electric deionized filter module 10. It comprises a step.

Injection of the sterilizing liquid may be performed periodically, and the injection amount of the sterilizing liquid may be injected in the same predetermined amount. Of course, the sterilization solution may be injected at irregular intervals, when the user needs sterilization, it may be manually sterilized, and the user may set the amount of sterilization solution to be injected.

On the other hand, when an acid solution is used as the sterilizing solution, when the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator are sterilized, the mixed solution of the sterilizing solution and water becomes a purified water and is transferred to the extraction unit. At this time, since the water taken out by the user is different from the general taste of water, it may be considered to raise the pH closer to neutral water in order to lower the acidity of the water or to improve the taste of the water.

That is, after the sterilizing liquid passes through the electric deionization filter module 10, a step of supplying a basic substance for lowering the acidity of the purified water discharged to the downstream side of the electric deionization filter module 10 is further performed. Can be.

Alternatively, the electric deionized sterilizing water purifier may be controlled so that no attempt to improve the taste of the water itself is required.

The electric deionization filter module 10 provided in the electric deionization sterilizing water purifier may operate in a filtering mode for filtering raw water and a regeneration mode for releasing ions attached to the surface of the electrode. It is not filtered and discharged outside of the electric deionized sterilizing water purifier.

Therefore, if the sterilizing liquid is injected into the electric deionization filter module 10 when the electric deionization filter module 10 is operated in the regeneration mode, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to supply the basic substance to the purified water. In addition, injecting the sterilizing solution in the regeneration mode has the advantage of reducing the consumer's objection to drinking the sterilizing solution directly (even if the sterilizing solution is available for drinking) since the sterilizing solution is not directly supplied to the user. .

According to the sterilization method of the electric deionized sterilizing water purifier and the electric deionized water purifier according to the present invention described above, since the sterilizing solution sterilizes the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator while passing through the electric deionized filter module 10, the electric deionization is performed. It is possible to prevent the ionic water purifier from being contaminated with microorganisms.

In addition, when the electric deionization filter module 10 is contaminated with microorganisms, the internal pressure of the water purifier is increased, the flow rate is decreased, and the ion adsorption power of the electrode is also reduced, but according to the present invention, the microorganism is electrically deionized. By removing from the filter module 10, the internal pressure of the water purifier can be lowered, the proper flow rate can be maintained, and the ion adsorption force of the electrode is maintained as it is, so that the water quality of the purified water can be maintained continuously to a high degree. have.

10: electric deionized filter module 20: sterilizer dispenser
21 case 22: storage chamber
24: elastic member 26, 26A, 26B: stopper
27 pressure plate 28 transfer pump

Claims (13)

An electric deionized filter module capable of filtering raw water; And
And a sterilizing solution dispenser for injecting a sterilizing solution into the electric deionization filter module for sterilization.
The sterilizing liquid dispenser includes a storage chamber containing a sterilizing liquid, and a discharge mechanism for discharging the sterilizing liquid contained in the storage chamber toward the filter module by a predetermined amount.
The discharge mechanism may include a pressure plate for pressing the storage chamber, an elastic member for providing an elastic force to the pressure plate in a direction in which the storage chamber is contracted to reduce the volume of the internal space of the storage chamber, and the pressure plate may be formed of the elastic member. It is provided with a plurality of stoppers installed at regular intervals to resist the elastic force to maintain a constant position,
The pressure plate is configured to contact some of the plurality of stoppers,
A plurality of said stopper is an electric deionization type sterilizing water purifier having a rotational structure so that the contact with the pressure plate can be released. The method of claim 1,
The sterilizing liquid dispenser is an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier, characterized in that to supply a sterilizing liquid upstream of the electric deionized filter module. The method of claim 1,
The sterilizing solution is an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier, characterized in that the acidic solution. The method of claim 3,
The acidic solution is an electric deionized sterilizing water purifier, characterized in that the aqueous solution containing at least any one of citric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, chlorous acid, or hypochlorous acid. delete delete The method of claim 1,
And the storage chamber is a replaceable cartridge type. delete Supplying raw water to an electric deionization filter module capable of filtering raw water; And
Injecting a sterilizing solution to the electric deionized filter module; Includes,
The injecting of the sterilizing liquid is performed by a sterilizing liquid dispenser including a storage chamber containing the sterilizing liquid and a discharge mechanism for discharging the sterilizing liquid contained in the storage chamber toward the filter module by a predetermined amount. ,
The discharge mechanism may include a pressure plate for pressing the storage chamber, an elastic member for providing an elastic force to the pressure plate in a direction in which the storage chamber is contracted to reduce the volume of the internal space of the storage chamber, and the pressure plate may be formed of the elastic member. It is provided with a plurality of stoppers installed at regular intervals to resist the elastic force to maintain a constant position,
The pressure plate is configured to contact some of the plurality of stoppers,
A plurality of the stopper sterilization method of the electric deionized water purifier having a rotational structure so that the contact with the pressure plate can be released. The method of claim 9,
The electric deionization filter module has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode,
The sterilization method of the electric deionized water purifier, characterized in that passing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode in a mixed state in the raw water. The method of claim 9,
The sterilization method of the electric deionized water purifier, characterized in that is injected into the electric deionized filter module periodically by a predetermined amount. The method of claim 9,
The sterilization method of the electric deionized water purifier, characterized in that the acid solution. The method of claim 12,
After the sterilizing solution passes through the electric deionized filter module, a basic substance for lowering the acidity of the purified water discharged is supplied to the downstream side of the electric deionized filter module. Sterilization method.

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