JPH11244860A - Electrolyzed water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the through-put of electrolytic water freely corresponding to the quantity necessary at this time by one producing device by connecting an anode side feed means of water to be electrolyzed to an anode chamber and on the other hand, connecting a cathode side feed means of water to be electrolyzed to the cathode chamber. SOLUTION: A NaCl water tank 4 is connected to a raw water supply source 2 for city water or the like through a feed pipe 3 and a sodium chloride aq. solution produced to have a fixed concentration in the tank 4 is fed to the anode chamber 1A of an electrolytic cell 1 by a feed pump 5P. Then a hydrochloric acid dissolving vessel 7 is connected to the raw water supply source 2 through a feed pipe 6, hydrochloric acid from a hydrochloric acid tank 8 is supplied thereto to produce a hydrochloric acid aq. solution having a fixed concentration, which is sent to the cathode chamber 1B of the electrolytic cell 1 by a feed pump 9P. Thereafter, the electrolytically generated water having desirable pH and effective chlorine concentration is freely produced with mixing by controlling the quantity of each electrolyte fed to each electrode chamber 1A and 1B with the feed pumps 5P and 9P by a control device 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of an electrolyzed water generating apparatus for generating acidic water and alkaline water by electrolyzing tap water or the like, and more particularly, to an electrolysis apparatus suitable for the purpose. The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generation device capable of generating electrolyzed water having a pH and an effective chlorine concentration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrolytically generated water obtained by electrolyzing an aqueous solution of salt or the like as water to be electrolyzed is effective as sterilizing water for bacteria and the like. Available chlorine is said to be the main factor in its disinfection. In addition, the electrolyzed water has a different sterilizing effect depending on the pH, and the sterilizing power can be increased by lowering the pH. However, on the other hand, the effective chlorine is easily vaporized and the sterilizing effective time is relatively short, so that the water is not used. In some cases it was inconvenient.
On the other hand, neutral water is inferior to acidic water in bactericidal activity, but is superior in preservability. On the other hand, neutral water may be desired depending on the purpose of use and usage conditions.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-42077 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-237478 (Patent No. 26)
19756) and the like, and a sterilizing water producing apparatus and a sterilizing water producing method have been considered.

[0004] The former publication discloses that electrolyzed water produced by mixing sodium chloride with raw water is placed in an electrolytic cell partitioned into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber by a diaphragm, and electrolyzed.
The acidic water is generated in the anode chamber and the alkaline water is generated in the cathode chamber, and the acidic water generated in the anode chamber is diluted and mixed with the raw water or the alkaline water generated in the cathode chamber to generate an appropriate mixture. There has been disclosed an electrolyzed water generation device which is devised so as to be capable of forming electrolyzed water (sterilized water) having a pH and an appropriate effective chlorine concentration and at the same time increasing the supply amount.

On the other hand, the latter publication discloses that water containing sodium chloride and water containing hydrochloric acid are mixed, and the mixed aqueous solution is electrolyzed as electrolyzed water in a non-diaphragm electrolytic cell to obtain a pH of 3 or less. No. 7 to No. 7 are disclosed.

[0006]

However, in the conventional electrolyzed water generator described in the former publication,
When the amount of generated water is largely changed, the relationship between the set pH and the chlorine concentration cannot be maintained, and it has been difficult to obtain a desired water quality.

The production capacity of the electrolyzed water generating apparatus described in the former publication is determined in advance by a power supply or the like, and the electrolyzed water having a predetermined pH and a predetermined effective chlorine concentration is supplied within a predetermined time. Since the amount that can be produced is naturally limited, a device with a capacity suitable for the user's usage was used in normal cases. If the supply of water is insufficient, it is necessary to generate extra electrolysis water in advance and store it in a tank, etc., or to add another device to compensate for the shortage. There is a problem that the operation is very complicated and the economic burden increases.

[0008] In addition, for users who require only acidic water, the alkaline water generated in the above-mentioned cathode chamber is unnecessary water. (Water quality), the electrolytic reaction is affected, and as a result, there is also a problem that the pH and the effective chlorine concentration are likely to vary.

Further, in the case of the method for producing sterilized water described in the latter publication, the water to be electrolyzed uses salt and hydrochloric acid as electrolytes, and the generation of hypochlorous acid and the pH due to hydrochloric acid occur.
The adjustment is performed, and it is possible to eliminate waste of discarding the generated alkaline water as in the generation device described in the former publication, but on the other hand, the electrolyzed water generation device described in the former publication described above is As in the case of having the same, various problems such as that when the amount of generated water is changed, complicated adjustment work is required to adjust the set pH and effective chlorine concentration.

[0010] In addition, in the method for producing sterilized water described in the latter publication, hydrochloric acid mainly acts as a pH adjuster, but at the same time supplies chlorine ions that it has naturally. As a result, hypochlorous acid is also generated at the same time, and there is a problem that the pH and the concentration of hypochlorous acid cannot be separately controlled.

Therefore, a technical problem of the present invention is that the control of the pH and the effective chlorine concentration of the electrolyzed water can be separately controlled, and the electrolysis sterilizing water having the required pH and the effective chlorine concentration can be freely generated. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyzed water generation device devised so that it can be used.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyzed water generating apparatus which is designed so that a single generating apparatus can freely adjust the generated amount according to the required amount at that time. .

[0013]

Means taken by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems are as follows.

The electrolytic cell is divided into two chambers, an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, by a diaphragm, and water to be electrolyzed is supplied to each of these chambers, thereby generating anode water in the anode chamber and generating cathode water in the cathode chamber. Then, an electrolytic water generating apparatus configured to discharge these electrolytically generated water from discharge ports provided in each chamber,

(1) An anode-side electrolyzed water supply means capable of supplying an aqueous solution of sodium chloride or potassium chloride as the water to be electrolyzed to the above-mentioned anode chamber and capable of adjusting the amount of the water supply is connected. A cathode-side electrolyzed water supply means capable of supplying an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid as the water to be electrolyzed and capable of adjusting the amount of the supplied water is connected to the cathode chamber. (Claim 1)

(2) Electrolytic water generated by mixing and discharging anode water generated and discharged in the anode chamber and cathode water generated and discharged in the cathode chamber at an arbitrary ratio. Providing mixing means. (Claim 2)

(3) Anode water generated in the anode chamber, or cathodic water generated in the cathode chamber, or a mixture thereof is mixed with raw water such as tap water at an arbitrary ratio. To provide a diluting and mixing means which can be used as mixed water.
(Claim 3)

(4) While a pump is used as the means for supplying the electrolyzed water on each of the anode side and the cathode side, a flow meter for detecting a flow rate is provided in a raw water supply flow path such as a water pipe, and the flow meter measures the flow rate. The respective anode-side or cathode-side pumps are controlled and operated in accordance with the flow rate of the raw water so that the required amount of the generated anode water or cathode water or the mixed water can be mixed with the above-mentioned raw water in a required amount. To configure. (Claim 4)

(5) Based on the integrated flow rate of the raw water measured by the flow meter, it is possible to calculate and output the used amount of the electrolytic solution and the remaining amount of the electrolytic solution calculated based on the used amount. Provide a means for calculating the use and remaining amount of the electrolyte to be used.
(Claim 5)

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a fixed concentration aqueous solution of sodium chloride or potassium chloride is supplied to the anode compartment, and a fixed concentration of hydrochloric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid is supplied to the cathode compartment. By doing so, the anode water can be generated in the anode chamber, the cathode water can be generated in the cathode chamber, and the supply amount of each electrolyzed water to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber can be adjusted to generate the anode water. The amount of anodic water and cathodic water generated can be freely adjusted, and the pH and available chlorine concentration can be controlled separately. Can be freely generated in a required amount.

According to the means of the second aspect described in the above (2), the pH and effective chlorine concentration of the anolyte water and the catholyte water generated in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, and the amount of the generated water can be freely controlled. It is possible to freely generate electrolyzed water having an arbitrary pH and effective chlorine concentration by mixing these electrolyzed waters, that is, sterilizing water, and it is possible to generate the sterilized water with one generator. The generated amount can be adjusted freely according to the required amount at that time, and the relationship between the set pH and effective chlorine concentration is maintained even if the generated amount is greatly changed,
It is possible to obtain the desired water quality.

When the pH of the electrolyzed water generated on the cathode chamber side is changed from neutral to an acidic range, the alkaline water which has been conventionally discarded can be used as it is, so that the generated alkaline water is discarded. In addition, when the cathode chamber side is adjusted to an acidic region, the scale can be prevented from adhering to the cathode, thereby making it unnecessary to backwash the electrodes.

According to the means of the third aspect described in the above (3), the anode water and the cathode water electrolytically generated in the anode chamber or the cathode chamber can be diluted and mixed with raw water such as tap water. Therefore, it is possible to greatly increase the dilution factor, and it is possible to generate only the required amount of electrolyzed water of the required water quality, and since the raw water is not directly passed through the electrolytic cell, the amount of electrolysis is reduced. Since the temperature rise is small and easy, the electrolysis efficiency can be increased.

According to the means of claim 4 described in the above (4), by controlling the pumps of the anode chamber side and the cathode chamber side, respectively, it is possible to control the production amounts of the anode water and the cathode water, In addition, since the mixing amount of the anode water and the cathode water with respect to the raw water can be controlled, it is not necessary to store a necessary amount of electrogenerated water in advance, and when the electrolyzed water (sterilized water) having a required quality is required. Enables you to generate only the required amount.

According to the means of claim 5 described in the above (5), since the anode water and the cathode water are mixed at a fixed ratio in accordance with the flow rate of the raw water, the integrated flow rate of the raw water is Since the used amount of the electrolyte (electrolyte solution) is calculated and the remaining amount can be calculated, it is possible to facilitate the maintenance such as the replenishment timing of the electrolyte and generate the same as the conventional one. Measured electrolyzed water with various sensors such as a pH meter, and there is no need to adjust additives such as electrolytes or manipulate the current. , It is possible to easily generate electrolyzed water having a required water quality.

As described above, the above (1) to (1)
By solving the above technical problem by means of (5),
The problem of the conventional technique can be solved.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the whole of the present invention. Apparatus, 1 is an electrolytic cell, 1T is an anode chamber 1A inside the electrolytic cell 1.
(Anode compartment) and a cathode compartment 1B (cathode compartment) partitioning into two compartments (ion conversion membrane, neutral partition etc.), 1X and 1Y are electrodes provided in the anode compartment 1A and the cathode compartment 1B, respectively. 1X and 1Y are wirings 18A and 18B and power switch 18
It is connected to the DC power supply 18 via S.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a raw water supply source such as tap water, and 4 denotes a salt dissolving apparatus or a salt solution tank connected to the raw water supply source 2 via a water supply pipe 3. The aqueous solution of sodium chloride or potassium chloride produced at a certain concentration in 4 is fed into the above-mentioned anode chamber 1A through the supply pipe 5 by a water supply pump 5P configured to be able to adjust the supply amount, and is electrolyzed. It is structured.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a water supply pipe 6 for the raw water supply source 2.
A hydrochloric acid dissolving tank 8 connected through the tank 8 is a hydrochloric acid tank for supplying hydrochloric acid to the dissolving tank 7, and the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid formed to a certain concentration in the hydrochloric acid dissolving tank 7 has a supply amount of The water is supplied to the above-mentioned cathode chamber 1B through the supply pipe 9 by a water supply pump 9P which can be freely adjusted, and is electrolyzed.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a raw water supply pipe connected to the raw water supply source 2 described above, 10 V, 10X and 10Z denote a main cock, a pressure reducing valve, and a solenoid valve (safety device) provided in the middle of the raw water supply pipe 10; A raw water supply main pipe 10 'and a branch pipe 12 are respectively connected to one and the other of the switching valve 11, and the tip of the branch pipe 12 is further divided into two branch pipes 12A at a branch portion 12X. 12B, and the ends of the branch pipes 12A, 12B are connected to the injection sections 12Y, 12Z provided in the supply pipes 5 and 9, respectively. 1B so that it can be washed.

Reference numerals 13 and 14 denote the above-mentioned raw water supply main pipe 10 '.
A flow sensor and a pressure sensor provided in the middle of the above, 15 is a safety valve, 16 is based on the setting data input from the input setting device 17 to control the above-mentioned water supply pumps 5P, 9P through communication lines 16A, 16B, Anode chamber 1A
And the supply amount of each electrolyzed water (aqueous solution) to the cathode chamber 1B is adjusted, and the power switch 18S of the DC power supply 18 is turned on / off in accordance with a signal sent from the pressure sensor 14; Based on the integrated flow rate of the raw water measured by the flow rate sensor 13, the amount of each electrolyzed liquid (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, hydrochloric acid)
And a control device having an arithmetic function for calculating the remaining amount. The control device 16 includes a microcomputer.

1A 'and 1B' are discharge ports for discharging the electrolyzed water generated in the anode chamber 1A and the cathode chamber 1B, ie, anode water and cathode water, and 19A and 19B are discharge ports for these. Discharge pipes connected to 1A ', 1B' and 20 and 21 are three-way switching valves connected to the ends of the discharge pipes 19A, 19B. One of these switching valves 20, 21 is connected to connecting pipes 20A, 21A.
Is connected to the stirring tank 22 via a water supply pipe 20 on the other side.
B, 21B are connected and the water supply pipe 2 on the anode chamber 1A side
OB is bifurcated at a branching portion 20X, one of which is provided with a faucet 20V, and the other is provided with a diluting / mixing portion 24Z provided in the middle of the above-mentioned raw water supply main pipe 10 'via a branch pipe 24.
By opening the faucet 20V, the anodic water generated in the anode chamber 1A can be taken out alone. When the faucet 20V is not opened, the anodic water is supplied to the raw water supply main pipe 10 '. It can be diluted and mixed with the raw water flowing through.

Further, a faucet 21V for independently taking out the cathode water generated in the cathode chamber 1B is connected to the water supply pipe 21B on the side of the cathode chamber 1B in the middle thereof, and the distal end thereof is connected to the above-described raw water. The cathode water generated in the cathode chamber 1B can be diluted and mixed with the raw water by being connected to a dilution mixing section 21Z provided in the middle of the water supply main pipe 10 '.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a water supply pipe connecting between the above-described stirring tank 22 and a dilution mixing section 23Z provided in the middle of the raw water supply main pipe 10 ', and the anode water and the cathode water mixed and stirred inside the stirring tank 22. The mixed water of water can be diluted and mixed with the raw water, and the mixed product water can be taken out alone by opening the faucet 23V of the branch pipe 23A branched in the middle of the water supply pipe 23. Is also possible.

Further, in the figure, 26 are faucets for taking out generated water attached to the tip of the above-mentioned raw water supply main pipe 10 ', 2
5 is a drain valve, and from this faucet 26 ...
Either electrolyzed water obtained by diluting and mixing the mixed water of anode water and cathode water with raw water, or electrolyzed water obtained by diluting and mixing anode water alone, or electrolyzed water obtained by diluting and mixing cathode water alone This is a mechanism obtained by the switching operation of each of the three-way switching valves 20 and 21.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of strokes (addition amount per unit time) of the pump 5P at a constant current and the amount of chlorine generated in the anode chamber 1A. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of available chlorine generated per unit time and the number of strokes of the pump 5P, and FIG. 4 shows the amount of produced water taken out from the faucet 26 and the stroke of the pump 5P when the pH is kept constant. It is a graph showing the relationship between the effective chlorine concentration and the effective chlorine concentration and the total available chlorine per unit time when the number of strokes of the pump 5P is increased from these graphs to increase the amount of electrolyte added. It has been found that the amount of generated water that can be taken out from the tap 26 decreases, and conversely, when the number of strokes is reduced and the supply amount of the electrolyte is reduced, both increase.

Further, based on the relationship of the graph shown in FIG. 4, the supply amount of sodium chloride or potassium chloride at each chlorine concentration, that is, the stroke number of the pump 5P is determined with respect to the flow rate of the raw water. Can be.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the concentration of hydrogen ions generated in the cathode chamber 1B and the number of strokes (addition amount per unit time) of the pump 9P. FIG. Is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of water produced at each pH taken out of the faucet 26 and the stroke of the pump 9P (the amount added per unit time) when the flow rate is kept constant. It is possible to control the supply amount of hydrochloric acid corresponding to the fluctuation.

Since the apparatus for generating electrolyzed water according to the present invention is configured as described above, the pumps 5P and 9P are operated to supply a fixed concentration aqueous solution of sodium chloride or potassium chloride to the anode chamber 1A, and the cathode chamber is operated. While supplying an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid of a certain concentration to the 1B side to perform electrolysis, the amount of each of the above-mentioned electrolytes supplied to the bipolar chambers 1A and 1B is controlled using the control device 16 so that the anode chamber 1A The pH is, for example, in the range of 0.5 to 7, and the effective chlorine concentration is, for example, 5000.
Anode water having a low pH in the range of 0 to 0 ppm and a high effective chlorine concentration can be produced.
On the B side, the pH is in the range of, for example, 13.5 to 0.5,
Cathode water having an effective chlorine concentration in the range of, for example, 0 to 300 ppm can be produced.

By mixing the anodic water and the cathodic water, electrolyzed water having a pH of, for example, 13.5 to 0.5 and an effective chlorine concentration of 0 to 50,000 ppm can be freely mixed and produced. It is possible to use p
H and available chlorine concentration can be controlled freely and independently of each other.
Since the effective chlorine concentration of m can be diluted to, for example, 30 to 80 ppm, it can be used freely regardless of the usage amount.

[0041]

As described above, according to the electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to generate electrolyzed water having a required water quality by a required amount in a required amount by one unit. As described above, there is no need to prepare a tank or the like to store necessary electrolysis water in advance or to add another device, which is extremely convenient and economical in use.

Further, since an aqueous solution of sodium chloride or potassium chloride having a predetermined concentration and an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid are used as the electrolytes, the components are stable. For example, the synthetic components of tap water (raw water) vary depending on the region. There is no problem such as variation in electrolytic reaction caused by the difference, and there is an advantage that stable electrolysis and constant electrolysis water can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating the entire electrolyzed water generation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the number of strokes of a pump at a constant current and the amount of chlorine generated in an electrolytic cell.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an effective chlorine generation amount per unit time in an anode chamber and a stroke number of a pump.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the amount of produced water taken out from a faucet and the number of strokes of a pump when the pH is kept constant.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the concentration of hydrogen ions generated in a cathode chamber and the number of strokes (addition amount per unit time) of a pump.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the amount of water produced at each pH taken out of the faucet and the number of pump strokes (the amount added per unit time) when the effective chlorine concentration is kept constant.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolyzer 1T Diaphragm 1A Anode chamber 1A 'Discharge port 1B Cathode chamber 1B' Discharge port 4 Salt dissolving apparatus or salt tank 5P pump 7 Hydrochloric acid dissolving tank 9P pump 10 Raw water supply pipe 13 Flow meter 16 Controller 21Z, 23Z, 24Z Dilution mixing section 22 Stirring tank

Claims (5)

[Claims] An electrolytic cell is divided into two chambers, an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, by a diaphragm, and water to be electrolyzed is supplied to each of these chambers, thereby generating anodic water in the anode chamber and forming cathode water in the cathode chamber. And an electrolytic water generating apparatus configured to discharge these electrolytically generated water from discharge ports provided in each of the chambers. In the above-mentioned anode chamber, an aqueous sodium chloride solution or potassium chloride is used as water to be electrolyzed. Aqueous solution can be supplied, and while the anode side electrolyzed water supply means capable of adjusting the supply amount is connected, the above-mentioned cathode chamber can be supplied with an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid as electrolyzed water, and And a cathode-side electrolyzed water supply means capable of adjusting the supply amount thereof. 2. A mixture of electrolyzed water produced by mixing and discharging anode water generated and discharged in the anode chamber and cathode water generated and discharged in the cathode chamber at an arbitrary ratio. The electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1, further comprising means. 3. An anode water generated in an anode chamber, a cathode water generated in a cathode chamber, or a mixed water thereof is mixed with raw water such as tap water at an arbitrary ratio. 3. An electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a diluting / mixing means capable of forming a mixed water by mixing. 4. A pump is used as a means for supplying the electrolyzed water on the anode side and the cathode side, and a flow meter for detecting a flow rate is provided in a raw water supply flow path such as a water pipe, and the raw water measured by the flow meter is provided. The pumps on the anode side or the cathode side are controlled and operated in accordance with the flow rate of the anode water or the cathode water, so that the required amount of the generated anode water or cathode water or the mixed water can be mixed with the above-mentioned raw water. The electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: 5. Based on the integrated flow rate of the raw water measured by the flow meter, the used amount of the electrolyte and the remaining amount of the electrolyte calculated based on the used amount can be calculated and output. The electrolyzed water generating apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising means for calculating the use / remaining amount of a liquid to be electrolyzed.