JP3234025B2 - Electrolyzed water generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing acidic water useful as washing water, sterilizing water and the like and alkaline water serving as drinking water by electrolysis of water. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generation apparatus capable of arbitrarily changing an amount of generated acidic water or the like without changing an ORP value or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of food and medical care, the use of electrolyzed water as washing water or water for disinfection and sterilization is difficult.
Although generally known, it is not easy to stably obtain a large amount of acidic water having a low pH value. The electrolyzed water generator equipped with a supply means for supplying and adding a chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution to raw water supplied to a conventional electrolyzer is divided into a cathode chamber and an anode chamber by a diaphragm, and electrodes are inserted into each chamber. Then, by electrolyzing raw water containing an electrolyte supplied into the room by energization between the electrodes, alkaline water is generated in the cathode chamber and acidic water is generated in the anode chamber. In such an electrolyzed water generation apparatus, the present inventors use an electrolysis power supply for applying a predetermined set voltage between electrodes in an electrolysis tank, and supply and add an electrolyte such as saline to raw water supplied to the electrolysis tank. Controlling the amount of electricity per flow rate by controlling the flow rate of the supplied raw water,
Thus, there has been proposed an apparatus for generating electrolyzed water in which the electric conductivity, pH, and the like of the electrolyzed water are controlled to predetermined values.

[0003]

According to this, the electrolysis in the electrolytic cell can increase the electric conductivity by mixing the electrolyte, reduce the power consumption, and continuously produce predetermined electrolytic water at low cost. The addition and mixing of the electrolyte by the quantitative supply means and the control of the amount of electrolysis by the electrolysis power source for applying a predetermined set voltage can be easily controlled by controlling the flow rate of the raw water, and the electric conductivity (EC value), pH value, etc. of the electrolysis water can be controlled. It can be easily controlled in a predetermined manner, and desired electrolyzed water can be generated stably. However, according to such a device, the electrolysis power supply and the electrolyte supply device are set to predetermined values, and there is a disadvantage that the generation of acidic water or the like cannot be arbitrarily changed according to the usage amount.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides an electrolyzed water generating apparatus which can constantly and stably generate acidic water having a required EC, pH value, etc., even if the amount used is changed, and at the same time can generate alkaline water. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The electrolytic cell is divided into a cathode chamber and an anode chamber by a diaphragm, and a cathode and an anode are provided respectively,
A supply device for quantitatively supplying and adding a chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution to raw water supplied into the electrolytic cell, an electrolytic power supply for supplying a predetermined set voltage during the electrolysis, and a raw water flow rate supplied to the electrolytic cell to a predetermined value. Providing a flow control device to control the raw water to which the chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution is added to the electrolytic cell while controlling the flow rate, and electrolyze by applying electricity between the negative and positive electrodes to produce alkaline water in the cathode chamber and acidic water in the anode chamber A flow setting device for setting a flow rate according to the usage amount of the alkaline water or the acidic water, a flow control reference value of the flow control device and the chlorine-based electrolyte corresponding to the set flow rate. Flow rate switching means for switching the supply amount of the aqueous solution supply device. Further, the flow rate switching means switches the flow rate control reference value of the flow rate control device, the supply amount of the chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution supply device, and the set voltage of the electrolytic power supply in accordance with the set flow rate.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution is supplied to and mixed with raw water such as tap water supplied into an electrolytic cell to increase the electric conductivity of the raw water, and is electrolyzed by supplying electricity between the negative and positive electrodes.
Alkaline water is continuously generated in the cathode chamber in the electrolytic cell, and acidic water is generated and discharged in the anode chamber. The flow rate of raw water supplied to the electrolytic cell is controlled to a predetermined value, the mixing ratio with the supplied chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution is kept constant, and the amount of electrolytic electricity in the electrolytic cell is controlled to a predetermined value by controlling the flow rate of the supplied raw water. To produce electrolyzed water. The switching control of the raw water flow rate and the supply amount of the chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution and the switching control of the electrolysis set voltage are performed in accordance with the usage amount of the discharged electrolytic water.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. In FIG. 1, an electrolytic cell 1 has a hermetically sealed structure, the inside of which is divided by a diaphragm 2, one of which is a cathode chamber 31 in which a cathode electrode 3 is inserted, and the other is an anode chamber 41 in which an anode electrode 4 is inserted.
Electrolytic current is applied to the cathode electrode 3 and the anode electrode 4 from an electrolytic power source 5 for applying a predetermined set voltage. In the electrolytic cell 1, a supply port 1a communicating with the cathode chamber 31 and an anode chamber 41 are provided.
Is provided, and the raw water supplied from the supply path 12 is divided and supplied from each supply port. In order to discharge the electrolytic water, a discharge port 1c communicating with the cathode chamber 31 and a discharge port 1d communicating with the anode chamber 41 are provided in the upper part of the electrolytic cell 1.

Tap water or the like is used as raw water supplied to the electrolytic cell 1, and raw water supplied under pressure from a tap of the water supply is adjusted to a predetermined water pressure by a pressure reducing valve or the like. The raw water whose pressure has been adjusted is controlled to a required flow rate by a flow control valve 6 and a flow meter 7 as a flow control device. Raw water whose water pressure and flow rate have been adjusted to a predetermined value in this way is supplied to the electrolytic cell 1, and during that time, the EC
Adjust the value.

The EC value is adjusted by adding and mixing a chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution. For example, a saline solution is stored in the tank 8
And the sensor 11 monitors the amount of water stored.
This is supplied to the saline solution injection device 10 by the metering pump 9. The supplied saline solution is injected into the raw water passing by the saline injection device 10 at a constant rate. The injected saline solution is further stirred and mixed by a mixing device (not shown), and supplied to the electrolytic cell 1 from the supply path 12 in a sufficiently mixed state.

The raw feed water is diverted at the inlet of the electrolytic cell 1, and the supply water is supplied from the supply port 1a to the cathode chamber 31, and the others are supplied from the supply port 1b to the anode chamber 4.
1 is supplied. The alkaline water electrolytically generated in the electrolytic cell 1 is discharged from the cathode chamber discharge port 1c, and the acidic water is discharged from the anode chamber discharge port 1d. The alkaline water flows out of the flow path 13 communicating with the discharge port 1c, and the acidic water flows out of the flow path 14 through the flow path 14 communicating with the discharge port 1d. Three-way valves 15 and 16 are provided in the middle of the flow paths 13 and 14, respectively. A flow meter 18 provided in the acidic water flow path 14 for measuring a split flow state, and an ORP sensor 19 provided in the acidic flow path 14 for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of the acidic water
Any of the signals detected in step (1) are input to the CPU 20 to control each unit. The flow rate of the alkaline water or acidic water is input to the CPU 20 by the flow rate setting device 21.

The operation of the above device will be described as follows. Raw water is supplied by opening the faucet or driving a water supply pump. The supplied raw water is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by a pressure reducing valve or the like, and the flow of the adjusted raw water is controlled by a flow control valve 6. In this flow rate control, measurement signals of the flow meter 7 on the raw water side and the flow meter 18 of the electrolytic discharge water are input to the CPU 20, a comparison operation is performed with a set reference, and a control signal is added to the flow control valve 6 for control. By this flow rate control, the mixture concentration of the saline solution by the next saline solution injection device 10 is controlled to be constant.

The saline solution stored in the tank 8 is, for example, 1
A solution of about 0% is supplied in a fixed amount by a fixed amount pump 9. The saline solution injection device 10 makes the salt content constant by injecting saline solution in a pulsed manner into raw water flowing under quantitative control or by forming a venturi section in the raw water flow path and injecting a predetermined amount of saline with negative pressure. , EC water can be adjusted to a constant value. The injected saline solution flows into the electrolytic cell 1 in a state of being sufficiently stirred and mixed by a mixing device or the like,
Electrolysis is performed by energization between the electrodes 3 and 4. The electrodes 3 and 4 are energized by an electrolysis power supply 5 for applying a predetermined voltage. However, since the EC value of the electrolysis is increased by the addition of saline, a large current can be applied at a low voltage. The electrolysis can be easily performed, the power consumption can be reduced, and a strong electrolytic action can be easily exerted. In addition, the constant amount of electricity per flow rate can be performed by supplying a constant flow rate of the raw water by controlling the flow rate of the raw water.

The electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 1 is an electrolysis through the diaphragm 2, and the cations by the electrolysis are subjected to the electroosmotic action of collecting in the cathode chamber 31 through the diaphragm 2 and the anions in the anode chamber 41, and the anode chamber 41 is subjected to the electroosmotic action. In this case, acidic water having a low pH value and containing a large amount of anions such as Cl- can be obtained. This acidic water is subjected to an electrolytic action of a large amount of electricity per flow rate, so that E
The C value increases, resulting in a strongly acidic water having a low pH value. On the other hand, in the cathode chamber 31, alkaline water is generated and drained to the outside through the flow path 13 from the discharge port 1c. The acidic water in the anode chamber 41 flows out through the flow path 14. In each case, the flow paths 13, 1
By the three-way valves 15 and 16 inserted in 4, they are merged into the merge pipe 17 and drained.

The electrolysis in the electrolysis tank 1 is conducted by an electrolysis power source 5 for applying a predetermined voltage between the electrodes 3 and 4. The electrolysis is performed by an arbitrary quantity of electricity by controlling the flow rate of raw water flowing therethrough. For example, if the raw water flow rate is increased, the amount of electricity with respect to the flow rate is reduced and the electrolysis is lowered.On the other hand, if the raw water flow rate is reduced, the amount of electricity is increased and the electrolysis is strongly performed and the degree of electrolysis can be increased. Acidic water can lower the pH value and increase the EC value.

The electrolyzed water subjected to such an electrolytic action is discharged and flows out of the flow paths 13 and 14, respectively.
The ORP sensor 4 is provided with an ORP sensor 19, which measures the ORP value of the electrolytic acidic water, and supplies a detection measurement signal to the CPU 20. The CPU 20 stores a reference value of the required ORP in advance,
A flow control signal is output by a comparison operation with a measurement signal of the ORP sensor 19 to control the flow control valve 6. If the detection signal from the ORP sensor 19 does not reach a predetermined value, the flow rate is controlled in a direction in which the flow rate is reduced, so that the amount of electricity per flow rate of the water flowing through the electrolytic cell 1 increases and the ORP
Increase the value. This will also lower the pH and increase the EC value. On the other hand, if the detection signal of the ORP sensor 19 is larger than the reference value, the flow control valve 6 is controlled to expand so as to increase the flow rate, decrease the amount of electricity per flow rate of water, reduce the degree of electrolysis and reduce ORP. Control.

The three-way valve 16 is opened in such a manner that the degree of electrolysis of the electrolytic discharge water, that is, the ORP is adjusted and controlled to a predetermined value, and the three-way valve 16 is made to flow out of the flow path 14 so that the electrolytic acid having a stable and stable characteristic can be obtained. Water can be discharged and used. When the three-way valve 15 is opened, the predetermined adjusted alkaline water flows out of the flow path 13 and can be used as drinking water or the like. Of course, an ORP sensor can be provided in the flow path 13 for detecting the degree of electrolysis of the alkaline water.

As described above, the control by the CPU 20 controls the flow control valve 6 based on the measurement signals of the flow meter 7 on the raw water side and the flow meter 18 on the discharge side of the acidic water alone or in combination, and furthermore, the ORP. The flow rate control valve 6 is adjusted and controlled by the ORP detection signal of the electrolytic discharge water of the sensor 19 to perform precise flow rate control, thereby performing electrolysis with constant optimal control per flow rate of raw water flowing through the electrolytic cell 1. This makes it possible to stably control the ORP of the electrolytic discharge water, and thereby the degree of electrolysis such as the EC value and the pH value within a predetermined set range.

The used flow rate of the alkaline water or the acidic water is set by a flow rate setting device 21, and the setting signal is
To enter. The CPU 20 is programmed with data for switching the set reference value of the flow control, the set voltage of the electrolytic power supply 5 and the supply amount of the saline solution injector 10 in accordance with the used flow rate. The switching signal is selected from the database according to the signal from the control unit, and the switching control of each control unit is performed. The flow rate setting device 21 also serving as a flow rate switching means has, for example, 1
l, 3l, 5l, 7l, 10l (per minute) Provided so that the flow rate can be set, and the flow rate used for cleaning is now 3l / mi.
When it is desired to increase the pressure from n to 5 l / min, the flow rate is set by the flow rate setting device 21. The CPU 20 selects a switching signal corresponding to the signal from the stored database and sets the switching of the control reference value of the flow rate control valve 6. At the same time, the flow rate switching control of the metering pump 9 is performed. At the same time, switching control of the switch 51 of the electrolytic power supply 5 is performed.

The reference flow rate of the flow control valve 6 is set to 5 l / min by switching control of the flow rate setting device 21, and based on the reference value, the CPU 20 controls the flow meters 7, 18 and the ORP.
The flow rate control valve 6 is controlled by a measurement signal input from the sensor 19. In addition, the supply amount of saline by the metering pump 9 is also proportionally increased with respect to the raw water whose flow rate has been increased. For example, in the case of pulsed supply, the number of supply pulses is increased so that the salt water mixing ratio to the raw water flow rate is increased. Raw water whose concentration is controlled to be constant and the concentration of the saline solution is constantly controlled is always supplied to the electrolytic cell 1. The raw water supplied to the electrolytic cell 1 in this manner is one in which the concentration of the mixed salt solution is constant and only the flow rate is increased, and this is electrolyzed by energization between the electrodes 3 and 4. This electrolysis is performed stably without any change before the flow rate is increased. In this case, the set voltage of the electrolysis power supply 5 that is energized between the electrodes 3 and 4 is increased by the switch 51 in accordance with the increase of the flow rate, whereby the electrolysis current is increased and the electric power per raw water flow rate is increased. The amount is controlled to be constant. Therefore, despite the switching to increase the raw water flow rate, the required electrolysis is performed without lowering the amount of electricity per raw water flow rate, and the electrical conductivity and pH
Acid water having a constant electrolytic degree such as a value can be obtained by increasing the discharge amount.

Of course, also in this case, the CPU 20 controls the flow meter 7,
The control is performed while comparing the flow rate control valve 6 with the set reference value by switching the flow control valve 6 according to the measurement signal by the control signal 18, and the electrolysis degree such as the EC value and the pH value is controlled by the detection signal of the ORP sensor 19. The acidic water is obtained from the flow path 14 by opening and closing the three-way valve 16, but the alkaline water whose flow rate has been increased by opening and closing the other three-way valve 15 can flow out and be used from the flow path 13.

For detecting the degree of electrolysis of the acidic water or alkaline discharge water, an EC sensor for measuring the electrolytic discharge water can be provided in addition to the ORP sensor. Raw water flow rate control can be performed while detecting. To detect the degree of electrolysis of electrolyzed water,
Cl generated by the quality of raw water or added electrolyte
_{^{-, ClO 2 -, 01 lO}} 3 -, ClO 4 -, O 2 -, 02 H -, Na +,
An ion concentration detector for detecting ions such as K ⁺ , ⁰³ g ⁺ , Ca ²⁺ , ^{04 +} , a gas concentration detector such as O ₂ , H ₂ , a gas pressure detector, or a single or a plurality of these detectors Combinations and the like can be used. In addition to measuring the degree of electrolysis of the electrolytic ionic water discharged from the electrolytic cell 1 as described above, the electrolysis state includes changes in electrolytic voltage, electrolytic current, impedance, and other change components during electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 1. Can also be measured by detecting.

The control by the CPU 20 may select either the signal from each sensor as described above or the signal from another sensor, or may separately perform arithmetic processing and output a control signal. The control signal is output by performing arithmetic processing based on the sum, difference, product, and the like of the sensor signals, and the raw water flow rate can be controlled. This flow rate control may be analog control, but digital control is easier, and it can be stabilized by controlling the motor valve like a pulse by converting the signal into a digital signal, or by controlling the vibration frequency with a vibration valve. Precise control is possible. The CPU 20 stores a control reference value of the flow control valve 6, a set voltage of the electrolytic power supply 5, a supply flow rate of the metering pump 9, and the like corresponding to a flow control signal from the flow setting device 21 based on experimental data in advance. The memory is stored in the apparatus, and the CPU 20 uses this database to select a control signal in accordance with the signal from the flow rate setting device 21 and to perform switching setting of each section. Can be changed.
This switching control can be performed by providing a control device different from the CPU for controlling the flow rate of the flow control valve 6.

The chlorine-based electrolyte added to the raw water is other than NaCl
KCl, HCl, ⁰⁴ ClO, HClO ₃ , KClO ₃ , NaClO _3, etc. can be used alone or in combination, and used as an aqueous solution of a predetermined concentration so as to be uniformly mixed at a constant concentration with respect to the flow rate of raw water. For example, a 10% aqueous solution is prepared, and
Mix at a ratio of 1 to 00. The aqueous solution can be filled into a cylindrical container or the like and used as a cartridge, and the mixing control can be accurately performed by injecting this injection in a pulsed manner.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the flow rate of the chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution corresponding to the flow rate is controlled simultaneously with the flow rate control of the raw water based on the flow rate control reference value by the switching operation of the flow rate switching means by the flow rate setting device. Switching, addition mixing rate control, and accurate control of the amount of electrolysis by the electrolysis power supply that applies a predetermined set voltage, so that even if the raw water flow rate fluctuates, the desired EC value, pH value, ORP, etc. Electrolyzed water controlled to a predetermined setting range can be stably discharged.
In addition, the reference value of raw water flow rate control is switched according to the amount of alkaline water or acidic water used, and the set voltage of the electrolytic power supply is switched. The switching is performed in a database so that the degree of electrolysis of the electrolytic discharge water is always constant. Therefore, since the switching is performed, it is possible to easily generate and use the electrolyzed water at an arbitrary flow rate according to the usage amount without changing the degree of electrolysis.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolyzer 2 Diaphragm 3, 4 electrode 5 Electrolysis power supply 6 Flow control valve 7, 18 Flow meter 9 Metering pump 10 Saline injection device 15, 16 Three-way valve 19 ORP sensor 20 CPU 21 Flow rate setting device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masaru Arisaka 2779-1, Imafukunakadai, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama Japan Intec Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-330987 (JP, A) JP-A-1 −99686 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model 6-3487 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1/46 C02F 1/28 C02F 1/44

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An electrolytic cell is divided into a cathode chamber and an anode chamber by a diaphragm, each of which is provided with a negative electrode and an anode electrode, and a fixed amount of a chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution is added to raw water supplied into the electrolytic cell. A device, an electrolytic power supply for supplying a predetermined set voltage between the electrodes, and a flow control device for controlling the flow rate of the raw water supplied to the electrolytic cell to a predetermined value are provided, and the raw water to which the chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution is added while controlling the flow rate is provided. The electrolytic water is supplied to the electrolytic cell, and electrolysis is performed by energizing between the negative and positive electrodes to produce alkaline water in the cathode chamber and acidic water in the anode chamber. A flow rate setting device to be set; and a flow rate switching means for switching and setting a flow rate control reference value of the flow rate control device and a supply amount of the chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution supply device in accordance with the set flow rate. Generating device that electrolyzed water. 2. An electrolytic cell is divided into a cathode chamber and an anode chamber by a diaphragm, and a cathode and an anode are provided in each of the chambers. A supply of a chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution is added to the raw water supplied into the electrolytic tank. A device, an electrolytic power supply for supplying a predetermined set voltage between the electrodes, and a flow control device for controlling the flow rate of the raw water supplied to the electrolytic cell to a predetermined value are provided, and the raw water to which the chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution is added while controlling the flow rate is provided. The electrolytic water is supplied to the electrolytic cell, and electrolysis is performed by energizing between the negative and positive electrodes to produce alkaline water in the cathode chamber and acidic water in the anode chamber. A flow rate setting device to be set, and a flow rate switching device for switching and setting a flow rate control reference value of the flow rate control device, a supply amount of the chlorine-based electrolyte aqueous solution supply device, and a set voltage of the electrolytic power source in accordance with the set flow rate. DOO generator of the electrolytic water, characterized in that a.