JPH06320162A - Water preparing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a water conditioner capable of reliably cleaning scale substances adhering to and depositing on the electrode surface of the water conditioner in a short time and reliably. A current detection circuit 79 detects a current flowing between the pair of electrodes in relation to the adhesion of the scale substance to the surface of the pair of electrodes in the electrode tank 51 and a value of an initial condition before the scale substance adheres. When the difference becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value, the output switching circuit 77 applies a voltage opposite to that normally used between the pair of electrodes, and the acidic water generated at that time is returned to the return hose 69 and the circulation pump 71. Switching valve 7
It is injected again into the electrolytic cell 51 by the return means consisting of 3. As a result, the scale substance is efficiently removed in a short time with the acidic water.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to alkaline water and acidic water by electrolyzing while supplying water containing minerals such as tap water to an electrolytic cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber in which electrodes are arranged. The present invention relates to a water conditioner for obtaining water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of water conditioner, raw water (mainly tap water) is continuously fed into an electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode, and an appropriate DC voltage is applied between the electrodes. There is one in which acidic water is obtained from the anode chamber and alkaline water is obtained from the cathode chamber.

In such a water conditioner, hydroxides of cations such as Ca and Mg, so-called scale substances, adhere or deposit on the electrode surface after long-term use, or other scales are generated due to electrical action. Substance adheres,
To deposit.

When such a scale substance adheres to and deposits on the surface of the electrode, the current flowing between both electrodes is reduced, and the function as a water conditioner is lost or lowered.

Therefore, a detection means is provided for detecting that the electrodes need to be cleaned, when a predetermined amount of water flow or a predetermined energization time is reached, or the amount of change in the voltage between the electrodes and the current flowing between the electrodes. By doing so, by operating a notification means such as an indicator lamp and a buzzer, a DC voltage of the opposite polarity to that in normal use is applied to the electrode manually or automatically to perform cleaning to remove scale substances from the electrode surface. It was

[0006]

However, in the cleaning in which a DC voltage having such a reverse polarity is applied to the electrode, in order to surely remove the scale substance adhered and deposited on the electrode surface, the cleaning is performed. Had to be carried out for a long time.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a water conditioner capable of efficiently cleaning electrodes in a short time.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, a water conditioner of the present invention comprises an electrolytic cell comprising an anode chamber and a cathode chamber in which electrodes are arranged, respectively, and alkaline water and acid In a water purifier that generates water, an output switching means for applying a voltage opposite to that in normal use to a pair of electrodes, and for reinjecting the acidic water generated when the reverse voltage is applied into the electrolytic cell. And the means of returning. Further, the detection means for detecting the degree of adhesion of the scale substance to the pair of electrode surfaces, and the output switching means and the feedback means are operated when the degree of adhesion of the scale substance detected by the detection means exceeds an allowable value. And a control means.

[0009]

In the water regulating apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the output switching means applies a voltage opposite to that in normal use to the pair of electrodes, and the acidic water generated when the reverse voltage is applied is fed back by the feedback means. It is injected again into the electrolytic cell to wash the electrodes. Further, the detection means detects the degree of adhesion of the scale substance to the surface of the pair of electrodes, and when the degree of adhesion of the scale substance exceeds the allowable value, the control means activates the output switching means and the feedback means to perform cleaning. It is done automatically.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic construction of an electrolytic cell in the water conditioning apparatus of this embodiment. The electrolytic cell 51 is provided with a cathode chamber 55 and an anode chamber 57 which are partitioned by a diaphragm 53 for ion exchange which is vertically arranged in the substantially central portion thereof. A cathode 59 to which a negative voltage is normally applied is arranged in the cathode chamber 55, and an anode 61 to which a positive voltage is usually applied is arranged in the anode chamber 57. Further, in the electrolytic cell 51, a supply hose 63 for supplying purified water into the electrolytic cell 51, a discharge hose 65 for discharging alkaline water generated in the cathode chamber 55 to the user, and an anode chamber 57. Discharge hose 6 for discharging the generated acidic water to the user
7 and 7 are connected respectively.

The supply hose 63 and the discharge hose 6 are also provided.
5, the water in the discharge hose 65 is supplied to the supply hose 63.
A return hose 69 is connected to the return hose 69, and a circulation pump 71 that obtains a pressure for sending the water in the discharge hose 65 to the supply hose 63 is provided in the middle of the return hose 69. Further, the return hose 69 is provided with a switching valve 73 for switching whether or not the water in the discharge hose 65 is sent to the supply hose 63. The return hose 69 and the switching valve 73 constitute the return means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an electric circuit and a water flow path structure of the water purifier of this embodiment. First, as an electric circuit configuration, various voltages, that is, a control circuit (control means) 75 including a CPU, a ROM and other peripheral elements, a cathode 59 and an anode 61 in the electrolytic cell 51, that is, The value of the current flowing between the cathode 59 and the anode 61 and the output switching circuit (output switching means) 77 configured by a switching element for applying a variable voltage or a plus or minus reverse voltage, a relay, or the like is displayed. A current detection circuit (detection means) 79 for detecting and detecting the amount of deposition and deposition of the scale substance, a power supply circuit 81 for supplying a necessary current and voltage to the control circuit 75, the output switching circuit 77, etc. An operation display panel 83 including a switch and an indicator lamp for transmitting and receiving the input and output to the control circuit 75 is provided.

Further, as a flow path structure of water for purifying the raw water and supplying it to the electrolysis tank 51, a water supply hose 85 for taking in the raw water from a water source such as a water supply and a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the raw water. Temperature sensor 87 such as a pressure sensor and a flow sensor 89 such as a pressure element for detecting the flow rate of raw water.
And a filter 91 for removing dust, chlorine, etc. in the raw water that has passed through the sensors 87 and 89, and the purified water that has passed through the filter 91 is fed into the electrolytic cell 51 from the supply hose 63. .

The control circuit 75 compares the value of the current detected by the current detection circuit 79 with the value of the current between the pair of electrodes 59 and 61 under the initial condition before the scale substance adheres, When the difference between the detected current value and the value of the initial condition becomes equal to or more than the allowable value, that is, when the detected current value decreases below the allowable value, the pair of electrodes 59, 61. A signal for reversing the polarity of the voltage applied to is output to the output switching circuit 77 to perform the cleaning action of removing the scale substance from the electrode surface.

The control circuit 75 sends and receives a signal to and from the operation display panel 83 in order to notify the user that the cleaning time has come, the cleaning is in progress, and the like.
By taking in each signal output from the temperature sensor 87 and the flow rate sensor 89, a change in raw water is detected and the current value obtained from the current detection circuit 79 is appropriately corrected, and the correction value is controlled. The data is stored in a predetermined storage element in the circuit 75.

This embodiment is constructed as described above, and the operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

First, step 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as S1).
The same applies to the following steps)
The control circuit 75 detects whether or not the raw water supplied from the water supply hose 85 has passed through the flow rate sensor 89 (S2), and if the flow of water is detected, a signal input from the operation display panel 83 or another signal is detected. It receives an input signal and outputs a designated signal to the output switching circuit 77.

For example, the output switching circuit 77 receiving the signal in the normal electrolysis mode applies a DC voltage with a predetermined polarity to the cathode 59 and the anode 61 in the electrolytic cell 51 (S).
3). In this case, the purified water supplied from the supply hose 63 to the electrolytic cell 51 is electrolyzed into alkaline water in the cathode chamber 55 in which the cathode 59 is arranged, and becomes acidic water in the anode chamber 57 in which the anode 61 is arranged. Electrolyzed. The generated alkaline water is supplied to the user through the discharge hose 65, and the acidic water is supplied to the user through the discharge hose 67 or drained.

While performing this electrolysis, the current detection circuit 79 detects the value of the current flowing between the pair of electrodes 59 and 61, the temperature sensor 87 detects the temperature of the raw water, and the flow sensor 89 detects the flow rate of the raw water. Detect each (S
4). At that time, the control circuit 75 corrects the value of the current input from the current detection circuit 79 based on the values of the temperature and the flow rate detected by the temperature sensor 87 and the flow rate sensor 89 and in accordance with the initial condition. A calculation operation is performed, and the value of the current thus corrected is stored in the storage element in the control circuit 75 as needed (S5).

The calculated and corrected current value is compared with the initial condition current value at any time. When the total amount of electrolytic water flow increases in this state, scale material adheres and deposits on the electrode surface (mainly on the cathode side), and the current correction value obtained based on the current value of the current detection circuit 79 decreases. Begin to. The control circuit 75 accurately captures such a rate of decrease of the current correction value, calculates the amount of scale material that has adhered to and is deposited on the electrode surface, and promptly detects the deterioration of the electrolytic function due to the adhesion and deposition of scale material. , It is determined whether or not a predetermined threshold value has been reached (S6).

When it is determined that the predetermined threshold value has been reached, an instruction that the electrodes need to be washed is output to the operation display panel 83, and the indicator lamp, buzzer, etc. are appropriately activated to notify the user. At the same time, the control circuit 75 outputs a signal for cleaning to the output switching circuit 77.
The output switching circuit 77 applies a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to that of normal use to the pair of electrodes 59 and 61. Thus, by applying a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to that of normal use to the pair of electrodes 59 and 61, acidic water is used in the normally used cathode chamber 55 and alkaline water is used in the normally used anode chamber 57. Each is generated in the electrode chamber opposite to the normal electrolysis mode (S
7).

At the same time, the control circuit 75 causes the switching valve 7
3 is switched to the side where the acidic water generated at this time returns from the discharge hose 65, the circulation pump 71 is operated, and the acidic water generated at this time is injected again into the electrolytic cell 51 through the supply hose 63. As a result, the water injected into the electrolytic bath 51 gradually changes from weakly acidic to strongly acidic, and Ca and Mg deposited and deposited on the electrode surface by this strongly acidic water.
Hydroxides such as are quickly removed (S8).

Even during this cleaning operation, the control circuit 75
Outputs an instruction to the operation display panel 83 that the electrodes are being cleaned, and activates an indicator lamp, a buzzer, etc. to notify the user. Further, the control circuit 75 has a current detection circuit 79.
The current value output from the temperature sensor 87, the temperature value output from the temperature sensor 87, and the flow rate value output from the flow rate sensor 89 are respectively taken in (S9), and based on the temperature and the flow rate value, At the same time, the value of the detected current from the current detection circuit 79 is calculated and corrected at any time, and the corrected value is stored in the storage element in the control circuit 75 (S1).
0).

Then, the calculated and corrected current value is compared with the initial condition current value at any time. If the reverse voltage is continuously applied in this state, the scale substance on the electrode surface is removed, and the current correction value obtained based on the current value of the current detection circuit 79 starts to be restored. The control circuit 75
When the restoration of the current correction value is accurately captured, the residual amount of the scale substance on the electrode surface is calculated, and it is determined that the residual amount of the scale substance is almost zero (S1
1) A certain instruction that the cleaning of the electrodes 59 and 61 is completed is output to the operation display panel 83, the buzzer, the indicator lamp, etc. are appropriately activated to notify the user, and the normal electrolytic mode is automatically returned.

In the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, even when the cleaning mode is requested from the operation display panel 83 by the user's instruction, the cleaning is performed in the same manner as the above-described automatic cleaning.

As described above, the current detection circuit 79 for detecting the current, the output switching circuit 77 capable of applying a reverse voltage for cleaning the electrodes, and the acidic water generated during the cleaning are again supplied to the electrolytic cell 51. A return hose 69 for injecting into the interior, a switching valve 73, and a circulation pump 71 are provided, and by appropriately controlling them according to the degree of adhesion, deposition or removal of scale substances, changes in water quality, regions, places, seasons, etc. Solves the problems of long cleaning time, waste of water, and deterioration of electrolysis capacity due to insufficient cleaning, which occur because the degree of adhesion, deposition or removal of scale substances varies depending on various conditions such as weather. Even when used continuously, it is possible to extend the life of the electrode by washing for a short time.

In the present embodiment, the transition from the normal use mode to the electrode cleaning mode or the transition from the electrode cleaning mode to the normal use mode is performed through the control circuit 75 through the output switching circuit 77, the switching valve 73 and the circulation pump. Although the control is automatically performed by operating 71, a manual control that operates with a switch, a key or the like that can be input by the user may be used.

Further, although the current detecting circuit 81 is used as the detecting means in this embodiment, a detecting means for detecting the voltage using a constant current circuit may be used. On this occasion,
The detected voltage value is corrected on the basis of the values detected by the temperature sensor 89 and the flow rate sensor 91, and the voltage correction value increases as the scale material adheres and precipitates, and as the scale material is removed. Restore.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, the water purifier of the present invention effectively utilizes acidic water generated by applying a reverse voltage to a pair of electrodes to clean the electrodes. It has an excellent effect that it can be surely performed in a short time and the waste of water during the cleaning time can be reduced as much as possible. In addition, cleaning using acidic water can be automatically performed, and necessary and sufficient cleaning can be reliably performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an electrolytic cell of a water conditioning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit and a water flow path configuration of the water purifier.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling the water purifier.

[Explanation of symbols]

 51 Electrolyzer 55 Cathode Chamber 57 Anode Chamber 59 Cathode 61 Anode 69 Return Hose (Feedback Means) 71 Circulation Pump (Feedback Means) 73 Switching Valve (Feedback Means) 75 Control Circuit (Control Means) 77 Output Switching Circuit (Output Switching Means) 79 Current detection circuit (detection means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A water conditioner that includes an electrolytic cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, in which electrodes are arranged, and generates alkaline water and acidic water by electrolysis. A water regulating machine comprising: an output switching means for applying a voltage; and a feedback means for reinjecting the acidic water generated when the reverse voltage is applied into the electrolytic cell. 2. The water conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting the degree of adhesion of the scale substance to the pair of electrode surfaces, and the degree of adhesion of the scale substance detected by the detection means is an allowable value. A water regulation machine comprising: a control means for activating the output switching means and the feedback means when the temperature exceeds the limit.