JPH01292A - Water electrolyzer with closed circulation circuit cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a water electrolyzer equipped with a closed circulation circuit type cleaning device, and in particular, a water electrolyzer that passes through an electrolytic cell between the electrolyzer body and an external cleaning liquid tank. This invention relates to a water electrolysis device that forms a closed circulation circuit and allows one-touch operation of the cleaning device.

[Conventional technology]

A water electrolyzer is used that divides the cathode and anode into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber with an electrolytic diaphragm, and electrolyzes the water in the electrode chamber to produce alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water. Over time, calcium carbonate accumulates on the cathode of the electrolytic cell,
Decreases electrolytic efficiency. In particular, in an electrolytic cell having a cathode chamber with a minute gap, such as a flowing water electrolyzer, the cathode chamber is clogged with adhesion of calcium carbonate, and the flow of water is obstructed.

Therefore, the electrolytic cell must be appropriately cleaned with a cleaning liquid such as a hydrochloric acid solution. Conventionally, a cleaning circuit was connected via a valve between the electrolytic cell and an external cleaning liquid tank each time cleaning was performed.
Cleaning is performed by flowing a cleaning liquid prepared by adding a predetermined amount of chemical liquid into the circuit.

This type of manual cleaning requires knowledge of mathematics for switching valves, mixing chemical solutions, etc., so an experienced person had to travel to the site each time cleaning was performed.

By the way, in the conventional cleaning of this water electrolyzer, when the cleaning circuit is connected, the water in the electrolytic cell drains and the amount of liquid required for circulation is not filled, so the cleaning circuit does not fill the cleaning liquid tank with water. It has an open circuit for replenishment. In addition, if air accumulates in the hose of the cleaning circuit, it will prevent the liquid from returning to the cleaning liquid tank, so it is convenient to use an open type cleaning circuit for this type of device in order to remove this air and ensure smooth circulation of the cleaning liquid. Met.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, when attempting to automate a cleaning device using an open cleaning liquid circuit, the following difficult problems arise.

In other words, in an open circuit, the fluid pressure balance in each part of the cleaning circuit is not constant, so there is a risk that alkaline water and acidic water will mix through the cleaning circuit during electrolyzed water generation.To prevent this, the cleaning circuit and An electric valve is required in between, which increases the cost including the control system. Furthermore, when trying to automate the circulation of liquid from an open-circuit cleaning tank, the cleaning liquid must be injected into the electrolytic cell under high pressure, so the water in the electrolytic cell must be drained by the amount of liquid injected. Furthermore,
A control circuit is required to mix in a fixed amount of cleaning chemical solution.

All of these problems are difficult to solve with an open circuit, and the cost increases significantly.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a water electrolyzer equipped with a cleaning device that is a simple system, can be operated with one touch, and can be used for a long period of time without maintenance.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier having a cleaning device in which the pump of the cleaning liquid closed circulation circuit and the weir means of the cleaning liquid recovery side circuit are interlocked, and the pump is always stopped with the weir means closing the circuit. Our goal is to provide electrolytic bags (T).

[Failure to solve the problem]

The above purpose is to provide a water electrolyzer having an electrolytic cell with an electrolytic diaphragm dividing the anode and negative electrode into an anode and a cathode. , a closed circulation circuit is provided in which the cleaning liquid flows through an impinging means, and the cleaning liquid supply side circuit and the recovery side circuit of this closed circulation circuit are supplied with the water in the electrolytic cell during non-cleaning, the cleaning liquid supply in the recovery side circuit, and the cleaning liquid in the recovery side circuit. This can be achieved by providing weir means to prevent mixing of the

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the basic cleaning circuit of the present invention, in which a closed circulation circuit 4 passing through the electrolytic cell 3 is provided between the electrolyzer main body 1 and the cleaning liquid tank 2, and the cleaning liquid supply side of the circulation circuit 4 is provided. In each of the circuit 4a and the cleaning liquid recovery circuit 4b, '
- A switching valve installed in the water production circuit. This switching valve is preferably operated in conjunction with pump means 6. The weir means 5a, 5b may be a valve mechanism that closes the passage by its own weight or a spring, a rotary pump having both pump and valve functions, or a switching valve such as a solenoid valve or a motor valve.

In addition, the cleaning liquid circulation circuit is opened in conjunction with the pump means 6,
In order to ensure that the pump is stopped with the circuit 4 closed, a reverse valve is used for the weir means 5a of the cleaning liquid supply side circuit 4a, and the weir means 5b of the recovery side circuit 4b is
A check valve member consisting of a valve body biased to close the circuit 4 and an actuator that opens and closes the valve body, a valve opening/closing mechanism that operates the circulation circuit check valve member, and a valve opening/closing mechanism that operates in synchronization with the closing of the check valve member. It is sufficient if the flow control mechanism is configured to have a switch mechanism that sends a stop signal to the pump motor.

Figure 1 shows one electrode chamber 3 of an electrolytic cell 3 in which the electrodes 3a and 3b are separated by a diaphragm 3C.
An embodiment of the circulation circuit has been shown in which the cleaning liquid is caused to flow down to the discharge path of the electrode chamber 3a' and collected into the tank 2, but as shown in FIG.

3b' or the cathode chamber 3b' may be collected into the tank 2. In this case, if the valve 7 is closed and the valve 8 is opened, the cleaning solution will flow between the cathode chamber 3 b' and the anode chamber 3.
When the valve 7.8 is closed, the cleaning liquid circulates only through the cathode chamber 3b'. In addition, in the example shown in the figure, the supply side circuit and recovery side circuit of the circulation circuit are connected near the alkaline water outlet and acidic water outlet of the electrolytic cell, but the cleaning circuit is connected near the end of the supply channel or drainage channel. The idea of the present invention also includes a configuration in which the supply side circuit and the recovery side circuit of the circuit are connected so that the entire interior of the electrolyzer can be cleaned.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

・Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part of an electrolytic device showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view of the same electrolytic device.The relationship between FIG. 3 and FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the vertical line ``--'' in FIG. 4. Further, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the assembly of constituent members showing an example of the weir means of the cleaning liquid recovery side circuit.

In FIG. 3, the electrolyzer 1 has an anode 3a and a cylindrical cathode 3b arranged concentrically, and the gap between the picture electrodes 3a and 3b is separated by an electrolytic diaphragm 3c into an anode chamber 3a' and a cathode chamber. It is equipped with an electrolytic cell 3 (electrolytic unit) partitioned into 3 b'. By the way, the electrolyzer in the figure has four electrolytic cells 3
are integrally attached to the upper and lower assembly blocks with bolts.

In these electrolytic cells 3, water introduced from the common water supply hole 9 enters the water supply section lO of each electrolytic cell 3 via the reverse valve 9', and is distributed to the anode chamber 3a/ and the cathode chamber 3b'. While water is flowing through the picture electrode chamber, it is electrolyzed by the DC voltage applied between both electrodes.

The alkaline ionized water thus generated in the cathode chamber 3b' flows from the alkaline water outlet 11 to the alkaline water collection chamber 12 common to each electrolytic cell, and then via the passage 13 to the outlet 1.
4. Although the diagram is omitted, the piping connected to the outlet has an on-off valve (
(corresponding to the reference numeral 7 in FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided.

On the other hand, the acidic water generated in the anode chamber 3a is discharged from the acidic water outlet 1.
5 into a doughnut-shaped acidic water collection chamber 16 common to each electrode tank, and is led out from an acidic water outlet 17 (see FIG. 4) provided on the side wall of the chamber. Although not shown, the piping connected to the acidic water outlet 17 is also provided with an on-off valve for closing the passage during cleaning.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a closed type cleaning liquid tank filled with a cleaning liquid such as a hydrochloric acid solution and having a cleaning liquid supply port 18 and a recovery port 19, and the tank 2 is a mounting member 20 integrally formed on the upper part of the electrolytic device 1. is fluid-tightly and removably connected to the The tank mounting member 20 has a supply path 20a communicating with the supply port 18 of the tank 2, and a recovery path 2 communicating with the recovery port 19 of the tank.
0b, and these cleaning liquid supply path 20a and recovery path 20b communicate with the electrolytic cell 3 via a path extending below.

That is, the cleaning liquid supply path 20a of the mounting member 20, which communicates with the supply port 18 of the cleaning liquid tank 2, communicates with the water supply section 10 of the electrolytic cell via the flow path 21, forming a cleaning liquid supply side circuit 4a.

Also, a cleaning liquid recovery path 2 communicating with the recovery port 19 of the tank 2 is provided.
0b communicates with the alkaline water collection chamber 12 of the electrolyzer 1 via a flow path 22 to form a cleaning liquid recovery side circuit 4b.

When cleaning the electrolyzer, use the supply port 18 of the tank 2.
→ Flow path 21 (supply side circuit 4a) → Electrolytic cell 3 → Alkaline water collection chamber 12 → Flow path 22 (recovery side circuit 4b) → A closed cleaning liquid circulation circuit is formed, which leads to the recovery port 19 of tank 2. It looks like this.

The piping of the above-mentioned circulation circuit is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. It is of course possible to do so.

This closed circulation circuit is provided with a pump means 6 driven by a motor in order to flow the cleaning liquid through the above-mentioned route in the circuit, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 22.

Further, the circulating fluid supply side circuit 4a and the recovery side circuit 4b are provided with a valve mechanism or weir means 5a+5b for preventing the electrolyzed water and the cleaning liquid from mixing during non-cleaning. Basically, it is sufficient for these weir means to have the function of closing each circuit during non-cleaning.

Therefore, a rotary pump having a valve function as described later may be used to serve as both the pump means and the weir means.
Further, a known valve mechanism such as an automatic switching valve may be used, but it is desirable that the structure be as simple as possible, that the operation can be automated, and that mixing can be reliably prevented.

The weir means of the embodiment in FIG. 3 was developed in response to this request, and includes a check valve 23 as the weir means 5a of the cleaning liquid supply side circuit 4a, and a weir means 5 of the recovery side circuit 4b.
As b, a distribution control mechanism having the following configuration is provided.

That is, this circulation control mechanism
2) The check valve member 24 is connected to the check valve member 24 through a check valve member consisting of a valve body 24m biased to close and an actuator 24b that opens and closes the valve body, and a motion transmission member synchronized with the drive shaft of the pump. It is equipped with a valve opening/closing mechanism 25 that opens and closes the valve, and a switch mechanism 27 that sends a stop signal to the motor 26 of the Inf6 in synchronization with the closing of the check valve member 24. It is incorporated as the prevention side dam means 5b.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the check valve member includes a valve body 2 which is urged by a spring 28 to close the recovery circuit 4b.
4a is configured to open the circuit by pressing the actuator 24'b against the spring 28. Further, the valve opening/closing mechanism 25 includes an eccentric cam member 25m synchronized with the drive shaft of the pump 6, as shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.
At the same time, the free end of the lever 25c, which is pivotably mounted at one end fulcrum P and has an engaging piece 25b fixed in the middle that engages with the actuator 24b of the check valve member 24, is connected to the cam of the cam member 25&. It has a configuration in which it is engaged with the periphery. Preferably, the groove wheel 25d is pivotally attached to the free end of the lever 25c, and the groove wheel 25d and the cam peripheral edge of the eccentric cam member 25a are engaged with each other.

The eccentric cam member 25 & has a concave portion or a small radius portion 25 &' formed in a part of the perfectly circular edge, which allows the lever 2
When the free end groove wheel 25d of the free end groove 5c is engaged with the perfect circular edge portion of the cam member 25a, the engagement piece 25b of the lever 25c engages the valve body 24m via the actuator 24b of the check valve member 24.
on the other hand, when the cam member 25a is engaged with the recess 25a', the lever 25 is pressed as shown in FIG.
c is displaced upward in the figure to return the valve body 24a to the flow path closing position.

Note that the shape of the cam member 25a is not limited to the case where a concave portion is formed on a part of a perfect circular edge as shown in the figure, but when the cam member 25a is provided below the lever 25c, a convex portion is formed on a part of a perfect circular edge. In other words, the structure may be such that the valve body 24a can be opened and closed in the inner part and in the non-inner part depending on the relative positional relationship with the lever.

A switch mechanism 27 is provided near the valve opening/closing mechanism 25 to detect the closed state of the check valve member 24 and send a stop signal to the motor 26 of the pump 6. In the illustrated embodiment, a limit switch is provided as a switch mechanism 27 near the lever 25c, and the limit switch is activated when the lever 25C reaches the valve body closing position. However, the switch mechanism 27 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and may be of any other type as long as it detects the closed state of the check valve member 24 and issues a detection signal.

The switch mechanism 27 is a device for sending a stop signal to the motor 26 of point 7°6, but in reality it is not necessary to stop the motor each time. The motor power may be turned off. Further, the cam member 25a is not necessarily fixed to the motor 26 or the rotating shaft of the pump 6;
A predetermined amount of cleaning may be completed in one rotation via a reduction gear or the like.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a rotary pump is used as the cleaning liquid pumping means, but a reciprocating pump such as a plunger pump or a Delasco pump may also be used.

In either case, the liquid feeding member 6 of the tank such as a rotary vane
It is preferable that the check valve member is made of a flexible material such as rubber, so that the negative pressure phenomenon between the valve and the pump that occurs when the check valve member is closed is absorbed by the flexible liquid delivery member.

Furthermore, the motion transmission member synchronized with the drive shaft of the pump 6 is not limited to the eccentric cam 25a. In short, any structure is sufficient as long as it opens and closes the check valve member 24 in conjunction with the Ponzoro, and it goes without saying that the shape and structure will vary depending on the structure of the pump used.

The supply port 18 of the cleaning liquid tank 2 is composed of a flanged hollow plug member 30 having a valve body 29 supported on a protruding rod 29m and a barb 29b for opening and closing, and is connected to the opening edge locking member of the recovery port 19. It is supported by a return spring 31 suspended from. Therefore, before being set in the mounting member 20, the passage of the supply port 18 is closed by the valve body 29, and the flange 32 is urged by the return spring 31 to close the recovery port 19 of the tank 2. There is. When the rod 28 is set in the mounting member 20 of the electrolyzer as shown in the figure, the tip of the rod 28 hits the inner wall protrusion of the mounting member 20 and the valve body 29
is pushed back against the spring 29b to open the supply port passage, and the spring receiver 31' is locked to the opening edge of the introduction part of the mounting member 20, the plug member 30 is moved back, and the collection port 19, which had been closed by the flange 32, is opened. It is designed to open. With this configuration, it is possible to ensure that the tank is sealed before installation, and to prevent liquid leakage during installation and removal.

FIG. 6 shows another specific example of the present invention, in which a vane-shaped rotating tank is used as the weir means in at least one of the cleaning liquid supply side circuit or the recovery side circuit of the closed circulation circuit, and this is used as the weir means and the cleaning liquid supply side circuit or the recovery side circuit of the closed circulation circuit. A single member serves as the circuit on the side where the pump means is provided. In this specific example, a vane-type rotary pump 100 is integrally assembled to the cleaning liquid supply port 18 of the tank 2. As is clear from FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotary pump 100 has a suction hole 1 communicating with a supply port 18.
A pump chamber 104 having an eccentric circular inner circumferential wall is provided between the discharge hole 103 communicating with the supply side L & 102, and within this pump chamber 104, a plurality of flexible pumps are provided which are in sliding contact with the circumferential wall of the long axis of the eccentric circle. A rotating blade member 106 having radial blades 105 is fitted, and a rotating shaft 107 of the rotating blade member 106 is fitted.
is connected to an external motor 108. Suction port 101
The discharge port 103 is opened at a position apart from the pump chamber 104.

When the rotary vane member 106 is rotated by the motor 108, the cleaning liquid introduced into the pump chamber 104 from the suction port 101 passes through the vane 105 which comes into sliding contact with the peripheral wall of the pump chamber 104.
It is guided to the discharge port 103 by 0 rotation and the supply side L? 102
is pushed out.

Furthermore, when the rotation of the blade member 106 is stopped, the suction port 101,
The discharge port 103 is partitioned by a blade 105, and the flow of liquid is stopped.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a rotary pump is provided in the cleaning liquid supply circuit, but it is also possible to provide the rotary pump in the recovery circuit, and the pump is not necessarily formed integrally with the tank. It is also possible to arrange the pump position shown in the figure.

Further, although not shown in the drawings, the weir means constituting the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings, and a switching valve such as a solenoid valve or a motor valve, which is interlocked with a switch of the pump means, may also be used.

[Effect]

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail.

When the valves 7 of the water supply channel and the produced water discharge channel of the electrolyzer 1 are closed, the closed circulation circuit for cleaning is formed between the electrolyzer 1 and the tank 2, and when the pump means is operated, the fluid in the circuit is Flows along a closed circuit. As a result, the cleaning solution in the tank circulates in the electrolytic cell and flows, and the calcium carbonate CaCO3 adhering to the negative electrode is removed by the acid in the cleaning solution (for example, hydrochloric acid H).
Ct) and CaC0+ HCL = CaCt+ HCOs
It is dissolved and washed according to the following reaction formula.

When the predetermined cleaning is completed, the weir means 5a and 5b of the cleaning liquid supply side circuit and recovery side circuit close the circuits.

Therefore, the electrolyzed water and cleaning liquid circuits are cut off.

In particular, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, when the cylinder f6 of the cleaning circulation circuit is operated, the check valve member 24 of the recovery side circuit 4b is opened in conjunction with the valve opening/closing mechanism 25, and cleaning is performed. A stop signal is sent to the pump 6 in synchronization with the closing of the check valve member 24. After the cleaning is completed, the reverse valve 23 and the valve body 24a of the check valve member 24 forcibly close the cleaning circuit.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention provides a cleaning device that can be operated with one touch by forming a closed circulation circuit between the electrolytic device and the cleaning liquid tank. No special techniques required. Therefore, maintenance costs can be significantly reduced.

Further, since the electrolytic device of the present invention is equipped with an open/close type circulation cleaning circuit, the cleaning device can be used for a long period of time without maintenance. That is, since the cleaning circulation circuit is sealed, there is no risk of effective chemical solution being released to the outside. Therefore, even if a highly concentrated chemical solution is used, no waste occurs. The concentration of the cleaning solution gradually decreases due to the mixing of water in the electrolytic cell and the reaction with calcium carbonate, but if the concentration is set high from the beginning so that the effective concentration will be maintained even after 12 times of cleaning, for example, it will be possible to reduce the concentration of the cleaning solution once a month. In the case of cleaning, a dramatic advance can be made in that it can be used for one year without maintenance. Such advantages could only be achieved by making the cleaning circulation circuit a closed type.

In particular, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the pump means and the valve device are interlocked, and it is ensured that the pump stops when the check valve is closed. It is most suitable as a layering means. In addition,
After cleaning is completed, the cleaning circuit is forcibly closed, so even if the pressure in the electrolytic cell increases due to the supply of raw water, the risk of electrolyzed water entering the cleaning circuit is completely eliminated.

In addition, when the check valve is closed, the liquid pressure up to 7° of the bong becomes negative pressure, causing strain on the pump blades, but the pressure can be changed by forming the liquid feeding members such as the blades from flexible materials. It can absorb and prevent damage.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart explaining the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing an example of the device of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the main part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, FIG.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 6. l... Electrolytic device, 2... Cleaning liquid tank, 3... Electrolytic tank, 4a... Cleaning liquid supply side circuit, 4b... Cleaning liquid recovery side circuit, 5a, 5b... Weir means, 6. ... Pump means, 18... Supply port, 19... Recovery port, 24...
- Check valve member, 24m... Valve body, 24b... Operator, 25... Valve opening/closing mechanism, 25a... Eccentric cam member, 25b... Engagement piece, 25c... Lever, 26・
・・Check valve, 27...Switch mechanism drawing No. 1 ht ν (No change in content 1 Ge 2 v! Figure 4 Figure 6 Procedural amendment document Hangen Patent Application No. 62-41071 2, Title of the invention Water electrolyzer 3 having a closed circulation circuit cleaning device Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant address 2-7-18 Nishi, Kamifukuoka-shi, Saitama Name: Tatsuo Okazaki 4; agent

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) In a water electrolyzer having an electrolytic cell in which the anode and cathode are separated by an electrolytic diaphragm into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, at least the cathode chamber of the electrolytic cell is passed between the electrolyzer body and the cleaning liquid tank. A closed circulation circuit for cleaning is provided, and the circulation circuit is provided with pump means for causing fluid in the circuit to flow,
Furthermore, in the cleaning liquid supply circuit and recovery circuit of the closed circulation circuit,
A water electrolysis device equipped with a cleaning device, characterized in that a weir means is provided to prevent the water in the electrolytic cell during non-cleaning from mixing with the cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid supply side circuit and the cleaning fluid recovery side circuit. (2) The weir means of the cleaning liquid supply side circuit of the closed circulation circuit is comprised of a check valve, and the weir means of the recovery side circuit is comprised of a valve element biased to close the circuit and an actuator that opens and closes this valve element. a check valve member, a valve opening/closing mechanism that operates the check valve member via a motion transmission member provided in synchronization with the drive shaft of the pump in the system, and a pump motor in synchronization with the closing of the check valve member. A water electrolysis device having a cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the water electrolysis device comprises a flow control mechanism including a switch mechanism for transmitting a stop signal to a water electrolysis device. (3) A water electrolyzer having a cleaning device according to claim 2, in which the liquid feeding member of the pump is made of a flexible material. (4) The valve opening/closing mechanism includes a motion transmitting member that synchronizes with the drive shaft of the pump, and a lever that is pivotally connected at one end and has an engaging piece in the middle that engages with the actuator of the check valve member. A water electrolyzer having a cleaning device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the free end of the lever is engaged with the motion transmission member. (5) A water electrolyzer having a cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that a rotary pump having a valve mechanism is provided in both or one of the cleaning liquid supply side circuit and the recovery side circuit. (6) A water electrolyzer having a cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the weir means of both or one of the cleaning liquid supply side circuit and the recovery side circuit is comprised of an automatic switching valve.