KR20060020967A - Water ionizer for minimizing residual water therein and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention prevents deterioration of the life and performance of the electrolyzer by completely draining the remaining water in the electrolyzer in reverse direction, and prevents external leakage of the residual water after displacement of the ionizer or discharge of alkaline water, thereby preventing internal and external contamination of the device. Residual Minimization Ionizers and Residual Minimization Methods That Are Effectively Prevented

      The present invention, in the ionizer to produce acidic water and alkaline water using electrolysis, the feed pump is brushless capable of forward and reverse rotation, the rotation direction of the built-in impeller is changed according to the polarity of the power applied from the controller The present invention provides a residual water minimization ionizer and a residual water minimization method for removing residual water in the electrolytic cell by operating the feed pump in a reverse direction for a predetermined time.

According to the present invention, by completely draining the residual water in the electrolytic cell, the life and performance of the electrolytic cell can be prevented from being deteriorated, and after the operation of discharging alkaline water or acidic water, it is possible to effectively prevent internal and external contamination of the device by preventing external leakage of residual water. Effect is obtained.

Electrolysis, Acidic Water, Alkaline Water, Ionizer, Residual Minimization, Residual Minimization Method, Electrolyzer

Description

Minimizing Residual Water Ionizers and Reducing Minimization {WATER IONIZER FOR MINIMIZING RESIDUAL WATER THEREIN AND METHOD THEREFOR}

1 is a block diagram showing a residual water minimized ionizer according to the present invention as a block;

2 is a flow chart for implementing a residual water minimization method according to the present invention;

3 is a flow chart of another control method for implementing the residual water minimization method according to the present invention;

4 is a flow chart of another control method for implementing the residual water minimization method according to the present invention;

5 is a block diagram showing a water ionizer according to the prior art as a block;

6 is a block diagram showing a block of ionizers of another structure according to the prior art.

       <Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1 .... Ionizer of the present invention 12 .... Water supply storage tank

14 ... Feed pump 16 .... Valve means

18 .... Electrolyzer 20 .... Controls

30 ... timer 100 control method of the present invention

200 .... conventional ionizer

201 .... Water purification unit 202 ..... Cooling unit

203 ... control unit 204 heating unit

210 ... cold water purifier 220 ... motor pump

222 ... Solenoid valve 224 ... Electrolyzer

302 .... pressure sensor 320 .... temperature sensor

The present invention relates to a method for minimizing the residual water remaining in the ionized water group to produce acidic water and alkaline water using electrolysis, and more specifically, to reverse the total drainage of the remaining water in the electrolytic cell, The present invention relates to a residual water minimization ionizer and a method for minimizing residual water to effectively prevent internal and external contamination of the device by preventing a fall, and preventing external leakage of unnecessary residual water after moving the ionizer or discharging alkali water.

In general, the ionizer is a separate production of electrolyzed drinking water into acidic water and alkaline water. When drinking the alkaline water produced in this way, the human body gradually improves from an acidic constitution to an alkaline constitution. It can prevent the causes of various adult diseases of modern people due to acid constitution, heart disease, etc.

A related art ionizer 200 structure is shown in FIG. 5.

The ionizer is connected to the cold / hot water purifier 210 including the water purifying unit 201, the cooling unit 202, the control unit 203, and the heating unit 204, and the cold / hot water purifier is a raw water purification unit through a water pipe. Supplied to the 201, the water is purified in four stages through the pre-filter, the hollow fiber membrane filter, the pre-carbon filter and the post carbon filter of the water purification unit 201, and the purified water is cooled by the cooling unit 202 and the heating unit ( 204).

The cooling unit 202 supplies the cooled purified water to the motor pump 220, and the motor pump 220 supplies the purified water to the electrolytic cell 224 together with the opening of the solenoid valve 222.

At the same time, the DC power is applied to the electrode plate of the electrolytic cell 224, and thus the purified water is electrolyzed inside the electrolytic cell 224, acidic water is discharged on one side, and alkaline water is discharged on the other side. The operation is performed according to the control mode preset by the controller 230.

However, in the conventional ionizer 200, a certain amount of residual water (or residual water) remains inside the electrolyzer 224 of a predetermined size in the process of producing and discharging acidic water and alkaline water, which is an electrolyzer 224. Sludge or foreign matter is left inside of the clinnel, resulting in poor hygiene, as well as shortening the electrode life of the electrolytic cell 224, leading to a decrease in electrolytic capacity.

In addition, FIG. 6 discloses another conventional ionizer 300.

The conventional ionizer 300 is a structure for solving the problem caused by the ionizer is directly connected to the feed water, which is a pressure sensing unit 302 for checking the pressure of the raw water, the refrigerant system 304 and the evaporator ( A normal water purification system 310 for purifying the water supplied through the 306, and a temperature sensing unit 320 for detecting the temperature of the purified water to detect the temperature of the purified water to the front side of the ionizer 300. It is equipped structure.

The ionizer 300 purifies the water at a low temperature using the refrigerant system 304 and the water purification system 310 while maintaining the pressure of the raw water constant, and electrolyzes the water through the electrolytic cell 330 to give alkali water and acidity. As to allow the user to selectively use the water of the ionized water, this can be used separately from the drinking water and hurdle water (washing dishes, etc.) has the effect of preventing the water is wasted.

In addition, the acidic water or alkaline water is separated and supplied through purified water, so that the user can distinguish between drinking water and Hurdé water.

However, even in the case of the conventional ionizer 300, even after alkaline treatment, alkaline water and acidic water are discharged, the residual water (residual water) always remains inside the electrolytic cell 330, and the residual water is electrolyzed sludge or foreign matter. It is formed in the 330 to cause a sanitary problem, and the performance of the ionizer 300 is reduced.

In addition, since the ionizers 300 of the above-described manner do not have separate on / off valves in the flow path connecting the electrolytic cell 330 and the alkaline water discharge port 332 or the acidic water discharge port 334, the ionizer 300 is in motion. Alternatively, the residual water in the electrolytic cell 330 is unnecessarily discharged to the alkali water discharge port 332 or the acid water discharge port 334 due to an external impact or the like, resulting in problems such as soaking or polluting the surrounding environment.

The present invention is to solve the conventional problems as described above, the object is to provide a residual water minimization ionizer and a residual water minimization method to prevent the degradation of the life and performance of the electrolytic cell by completely draining the remaining water in the electrolytic cell.

In addition, the present invention provides a residual water minimization ionizer and residual water minimization method to effectively prevent the internal and external contamination of the device by preventing the external leakage of the residual water after the position movement of the ionizer, or the operation of discharging alkaline or acidic water. There is a purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, in the ionizer group for producing acidic water and alkaline water using electrolysis,

A water supply storage tank for supplying drinking water (or purified water);

A water supply pump for supplying water from the water supply storage tank;

Valve means installed at a rear end of the feed pump;

An electrolytic cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a diaphragm at the rear end of the valve means, to produce alkaline water and acidic water by electrolyzing water; and

And a controller configured to automatically control the feed pump, the valve means, and the electrolyzer according to a preset control mode.

The feed water pump is composed of a brushless DC pump capable of forward and reverse rotation in which the rotational direction of the built-in impeller is changed according to the polarity of the power applied from the controller. By providing a residual water minimizing ionizer characterized in that the residual water is removed.

In addition, the present invention provides a residual water minimized ionizer, characterized in that the control unit is provided with a timer for reverse operation of the feed pump for a predetermined time in addition to the above configuration.

In addition, the present invention is a method for minimizing the residual water remaining in the ionizer group for producing acidic water and alkaline water using electrolysis,

Driving the ionizer with the operation button On;

Feed water and electrolyzer operation to drain alkaline and acidic water;

Determining whether the operation button is off; And

If the operation button is off (off) by operating the feed pump in a reverse direction for a predetermined time to remove the residual water in the electrolytic cell; by providing a method for minimizing the residual water comprising a.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for minimizing residual water, wherein the step of removing the residual water detects the load of the feed water pump and stops the operation of the feed water pump when the load is lowered below a predetermined value.

In addition, the present invention further comprises the step of determining whether the predetermined time has passed by a timer of the control unit after the step of determining whether the operation button is off (off) by providing a method for minimizing the remaining water, characterized in that All.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Ionizer 1 according to the present invention has a structure as shown in FIG.

The ionizer 1 to which the present invention is applied has a water supply storage tank 12, and drinking water (or purified water) from the water supply storage tank 12 to the electrolytic cell 18 through a feed pump 14. Supplying, the solenoid valve actuated valve means 16 is provided between the water supply pump 14 and the electrolytic cell 18 is opened and closed by the electric force.

The feed water pump 14 to which the present invention is applied is a brushless DC pump (called "BLDC" pump in the art) having a function capable of forward and reverse rotation, which is a polarity of a power applied from the controller 20. Accordingly, the rotational direction of the built-in impeller is changed so that the flow of water from the inflow side to the discharge side flows in the reverse direction from the discharge side to the inflow side.

In addition, the electrolyzer 18 includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a diaphragm, and the like therein, and these electrodes are supplied with a current controlled by the controller 20 from a power source to have respective polarities.

In addition, the ionizer 1 having such a configuration collects alkaline water at the negative electrode side and acidic water at the positive electrode side when the electrolysis proceeds in the electrolytic cell 18, so that the alkaline water and the acidic water are respectively discharged pipes 22 ( It is withdrawn through 24).

In the ionizer 1 as described above, the present invention is controlled by the controller 20 as follows.

In the residual water minimization method 100 according to the present invention, first, as shown in FIG. 2, a step 110 of driving the ionizer 1 with the operation button On is performed. This allows the user to operate the feed pump 14 through the control unit 20 by pressing the operation button provided in the ionizer 1, open the valve means 16, and the +,-of each of the electrodes of the electrolytic cell 18, respectively. Make it polar.

Then, the alkaline water and acidic water discharge step 120 is made by the operation of the water feed pump 14 and the electrolytic cell 18, the user can receive and use the alkaline or acidic water.

Next, the controller 20 determines 130 whether the operation button is off. That is, when the user no longer needs the production of alkaline water or acidic water, the operation button will not be pressed any more, and the control unit 20 detects this to determine whether the operation button is off (Off), and if it is not turned off, If not, return to step 120 through line 132 to continuously operate feed pump 14, open valve means 16, and apply power to the electrode of electrolyzer 18 to supply alkaline water or Acidic water can be produced and used.

However, if the operation button is off, then step 140 is performed to reverse the operation of the feed pump 14 for a predetermined time to remove residual water in the electrolytic cell 18.

That is, if the operation button is off (off), the user no longer needs alkaline water or acidic water, so that the control unit 20 cuts off the power supply to the electrolytic cell 18 and no longer the electrolytic cell 18. Electrolysis does not occur in the interior of the power supply pump 14, the polarity of the power supplied to the water supply pump 14 is rotated in the reverse direction. In this case, the valve means 16 continues to be open, so that the water in the electrolytic cell 18 moves back through the valve means 16 and the feed pump 14 to the water supply storage tank 12. do. In this way, the residual water in the electrolytic cell 18 is removed.

Step 140 of removing the residual water as described above is operated by the water supply pump 14 in the reverse direction for a predetermined time by the timer 30 provided in the control unit 20, the reverse set time of the water supply pump 14 A step 150 is made to determine if it has passed.

In the above, the reverse operation time of the feed water pump 14 by the timer 30 is determined in consideration of the capacity of the electrolytic cell 18 and the amount of reverse rotation feed of the feed water pump 14. For example, it is possible to set the reverse rotation operation time of the feed pump 14 by dividing a predetermined volume of the electrolytic cell 18 by the amount of feed at the time of reverse rotation of the feed pump 14. The electrolyzer 18 is typically electrolyzed in the state of being filled with full water, or in a state where the water level is determined at a predetermined level, and this state occurs continuously so that continuous generation and discharge of alkaline water and acidic water is made. The volume of water in the electrolytic cell 18 can be easily calculated. And since the discharge amount at the time of reverse rotation of the feed pump 14 is determined, considering these and considering the safety factors, it is possible to easily set the reverse operating time.

If the time set in advance by the timer 30 in step 150 has not exceeded, the water pump 14 is continuously operated in the reverse direction by returning through the line 152, and the next step is exceeded. Proceed to 160.

After the reverse operation of the feed pump 14 is performed for a predetermined time through the steps 140 and 50, the remaining water in the electrolytic cell 18 is returned to the water supply storage tank 12 to be removed. At 160, the control unit 20 stops the reverse operation of the feed pump 14, operates the valve means 16 to block the flow path, and the ionizer 1 returns its control mode to the initial state. Wait for the next operation.

Through such a process, the present invention prevents sludge or foreign matter from being deposited due to the remaining water in the electrolyzer 18 by completely draining the remaining water in the electrolyzer 18 after completion of the use of the ionizer 1, thereby preventing deterioration of the life and performance of the electrolyzer 18. can do.

The present invention effectively prevents internal and external contamination of the device by preventing the external leakage of unnecessary residual water after the positional movement of the ionizer 1 or the operation of discharging alkaline or acidic water.

On the other hand, the present invention, as shown in Figure 3, the step of removing the residual water 140 is a step of determining whether the reverse setting time of the feed water pump 14 has passed by the timer 30 provided in the control unit 20 Instead of 150, it may be replaced by step 154 of detecting the operating load during reverse operation of the feed pump 14 and determining whether the operating load is lowered below the set reference value.

In this step 154, if the feed water pump 14 is returning the residual water in the electrolytic cell 18 in the reverse direction, the load of the feed water pump 14 is maintained at a constant level, but if the remaining water in the electrolytic cell 18 If it is in the returned state, the water supply pump 14 has no discharge of residual water during its reverse rotation operation so that the rotational load is lowered, and the control unit 20 detects this and there is no residual water in the electrolytic cell 18. It is judged that the reverse operation of the feed pump 14 can be stopped.

That is, when the load value of the water feed pump 14 measured in the step 154 is higher than the set load value, it is returned to the step 140 through the line 156 so that the water feed pump 14 is continuously operated reversely. If it is lowered below the set load value, the process proceeds to the next end step 160.

Using this control step 154, as soon as the residual water in the electrolytic cell 18 is released, the operation of the feed pump 14 can be stopped quickly.

Then, when the reverse operation of the feed water pump 14 is stopped in this way, the control unit 20 operates the valve means 16 to block the flow path, the ionizer 1 is returned to its original state, the control mode is returned, Wait for the next operation.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, the method for minimizing the residual water 100 according to the present invention, after the step (130) of determining whether the operation button is off (off) in the control unit 20, the control unit 20 A step 135 of determining whether the set time has elapsed by the timer 30 provided in the step 135 is performed, and then the water supply pump 14 is operated backward for a predetermined time to remove the residual water in the electrolytic cell 18 ( 140).

In step 135, if the user no longer needs the production of alkaline or acidic water in the previous step 130, i.e., in determining whether the operation button is off 130, the operation button Will not press anymore. The control unit 20 detects this state to determine whether the operation button is off, and if the operation button is off, then step 135 is executed to execute, for example, for a set time. After setting 5 seconds to 20 seconds, if it is within the set time, proceed to the operation button start step 110 again through the line 37, and when the user presses the operation button again, the feed pump 14 and the electrolytic cell ( 18) can be restarted to produce alkaline and acidic water.

However, if the set time is exceeded, the control unit 20 determines that the user no longer needs alkaline water or acidic water, and in the next step 140, supplies power to the electrolyzer 18. It is blocked so that electrolysis does not occur inside the electrolyzer 18 any more, and the polarity of the power provided to the feed pump 14 is changed to rotate the feed pump 14 in the reverse direction. In the above, the valve means 16 continues to be opened, and accordingly, the water in the electrolytic cell 18 moves back to the water supply storage tank 12 through the valve means 16 and the feed pump 14. . In this way, the residual water in the electrolytic cell 18 is removed.

In such a control method, when the user needs to produce alkaline water or acidic water, and then produces other alkaline or acidic water by performing another operation, and then again needs alkaline or acidic water, the step (135) When the operation button is pressed again within the set time at), alkaline water and acidic water can be produced and used immediately.

2 and 3, when the operation button is released, the electrolyzer 18 is emptied because the residual water is immediately transferred from the electrolyzer 18 to the water supply storage tank 12 in the reverse direction.

In this state, if alkaline water and acidic water are to be used again, the electrolytic cell 18 should be newly filled with water to produce alkaline water and acidic water. However, in the manner of FIG. 4, this new filling process is unnecessary because water is maintained inside the electrolyzer 18 for a set period.

According to the present invention as described above, after the production and use of alkaline water and acidic water, it is convenient to reuse after a certain period of time, the power consumption can be reduced by that, preventing unnecessary operation of the device to shorten its lifespan You can prevent it. In addition, since the remaining water does not remain inside the electrolytic cell 18 can be said to be hygienic.

On the other hand, while the above has been shown and described with respect to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not limited to these structures or control steps in any case. In addition, those skilled in the art will be able to modify and modify the details of the control steps of the present invention from the present disclosure.

In particular, the feed pump may be a different type of forward and reverse rotation type, and in each control step, it is possible to arbitrarily set and change the reverse condition or the operating time of the feed pump, and the feed pump standby setting time. It is intended to include all such modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below.

According to the present invention as described above, after the production and use of alkaline water and acidic water, the remaining water remaining in the electrolytic bath 18 is completely drained to prevent sludge or foreign matter from being deposited, thereby preventing deterioration of the life and performance of the electrolytic cell 18. can do.

In addition, the electrolytic cell 18 is to remove the residual water can always maintain a clean state.

In the present invention, since the residual water is removed from the electrolytic cell 18 and the outflow of water is blocked by the valve means 16, when the discharge operation of alkaline water or acidic water is unnecessary, the position shift of the ionizer 1 is performed. In addition, even if an impact is applied to the ionizer 1 from the outside, water can be prevented from leaking to the outside of the device, thereby effectively preventing internal and external contamination of the device.

Claims (6)

In an ionizer group that produces acidic and alkaline water using electrolysis, A water supply storage tank 12 for supplying drinking water (or purified water); A water feed pump 14 for supplying water from the water supply storage tank 12; Valve means (16) installed at a rear end of the feed pump (14); An electrolytic cell 18 having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a diaphragm therein at the rear end of the valve means 16 to produce alkaline water and acidic water by electrolyzing water; and And a controller 20 for automatically controlling the feed pump 14, the valve means 16, and the electrolyzer 18 according to a preset control mode. The water feed pump 14 is composed of a brushless DC pump capable of forward and reverse rotation in which the rotation direction of the built-in impeller is changed according to the polarity of the power applied from the control unit 20. Residual minimized ionizer, characterized in that for removing the residual water in the electrolytic cell 18 by operating in reverse direction for a predetermined time. The residual water minimized ionizer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (20) is provided with a timer (30) for reversely operating the feed pump (14) for a preset time. In the method for minimizing the residual water remaining in the ionizer to produce acidic and alkaline water using electrolysis, Driving (110) the ionizer with the operation button On; Alkaline water and acidic water discharge step 120 by feed pump and electrolyzer operation; Determining whether the operation button is off (130); And And (140) removing the residual water in the electrolytic cell by reversely operating the feed water pump for a predetermined time, if the operation button is turned off. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of removing the residual water 140 operates the water supply pump 14 in a reverse direction for a predetermined time by the timer 30 provided in the control unit 20. And determining (150) whether the reverse set time has passed. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of removing the residual water 140 includes a step 154 of detecting an operating load of the water supply pump 14 in a reverse operation to determine whether the operating load is lowered below a set reference value. Residual minimization method characterized in that. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein after the step (130) of determining whether the operation button is turned off, whether the set time has passed by the timer (30) provided in the control unit (20). Including determining step 135 If it is within the set time, the operation button start step 110 again, if the user presses the operation button again, the water feed pump 14 and the electrolytic cell 18 is restarted, When the set time is exceeded, a step (140) of removing the residual water in the electrolytic cell is performed by operating the feed pump (14) in a reverse direction for a predetermined time.

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