JPH0768255A - Water softener for steam generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Supplying soft water continuously without chemical supply. [Structure] A water passage for supplying water to a steam generator 17 is provided with flow path switching valves 8, 9, 14 and an electrolyzer 2 and a water softener 13 filled with a cation exchange resin 12 for collecting water. The valves 8 and 9 are switched so that water does not flow to the electrolyzer 2, and at the time of regeneration of the ion exchange resin, a DC voltage is applied between both electrodes of the electrolyzer 2 so that the acidic water obtained in the anode chamber 5 is converted into cations. It is supplied to the water softening device 13 as regenerated water for regenerating the exchange resin 12. As a result, the supply of chemicals for resin regeneration becomes unnecessary, and soft water is continuously supplied.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a household steam generator,
The present invention relates to a water softener used in a humidifier, a dishwasher, a washing machine, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, tap water and well water are calcium,
It contains hardness components such as magnesium ions, and if such water is used in a steam generator, the scale adheres to the inside of the can, resulting in poor heat transfer. A water softener conventionally proposed for the purpose of improving these problems will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, water passes through the raw water supply pipe 1 and is supplied by a porous partition wall, for example, a unglazed partition wall 7.
The anode chamber 5 and the cathode chamber 6 are separately formed, and the electrodes 3 and 4 enter the electrolyzer 2 in which the electrodes 3 and 4 are suspended. At the time of ion exchange, the drain valve 21 connected to the cathode water outlet pipe 11 is closed, and the water passes through the anode chamber 5 and the anode water outlet pipe 10 to soften the water filled with the cation exchange resin 12. Enter device 13. With the cation exchange resin 12, cations such as calcium and magnesium in water are
The water that has been replaced with hydrogen ions and softened is the steam generator 1
7 is supplied. At the time of regenerating the ion exchange resin, a direct current voltage is applied to the electrodes 3 and 4 of the electrolyzer 2, and the obtained acidic water is supplied to the water softening device 13 from above the water softening device to regenerate the resin into a hydrogen type.

[0004]

However, in the conventional water softener, when stainless steel is used for the cathode of the electrolyzer, corrosion of the stainless electrode occurs in the voltage when the electrodes are not energized, and when a noble metal electrode is used for the cathode, the cost is reduced. There was a problem of becoming higher.

Further, there is a problem that the softening of water by the ion exchange resin is greatly affected by the water temperature, and a large volume of resin is required at a place where the water temperature is low. Therefore, acid water obtained by electrolysis of water during regeneration is used. Therefore, there is a problem that the device becomes complicated.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems.
The purpose of this is to efficiently remove hardness components in water and prevent scale adhesion to the steam generator can body.
The second purpose is to reduce the cost of the water softening device, and the third purpose is to simplify the device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a first means, a cathode chamber is partitioned by a diaphragm in a water passage for supplying water to a steam generator, and the anode chamber and the cathode chamber are separated into multiple tanks. Electrodes are provided in these electrode chambers, and a DC voltage is applied between both electrodes during resin regeneration, and the acidic water obtained in the anode chamber is supplied to the water softener as regeneration water for regenerating the cation exchange resin. An electrolysis device and a water softening device filled with cation exchange resin, and a valve that switches the water channel between water collection and regeneration so that water does not flow to the electrolysis device when the electrodes are not energized Is.

As a second means, a cation exchange resin is filled, the water softening device is heated and kept warm by a heater when water is collected, the heating of the water softening device is stopped at the time of regeneration, and cation exchange is performed due to a temperature difference. The water softening device for regenerating the resin is arranged in the supply water passage of the steam generator.

[0009]

In the water softener for the steam generator according to the first means of the present invention, since water is not passed through the electrolyzer during water sampling, there is no fear of corrosion of the stainless electrode even when the power is not supplied, and the stainless electrode is used as the cathode. Therefore, the electrode cost can be reduced.

In the water softener for a steam generator according to the second means of the present invention, the water softener is heated and kept warm by a heater at the time of water sampling, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced with hydrogen ions, and the softened water is steamed. It can be supplied to the generator. Further, when the resin is regenerated, the heating of the water softening device is stopped and the resin is regenerated due to the temperature difference. Therefore, a water electrolysis device or the like is not required and the device can be simplified.

[0011]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the first means of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a raw water supply pipe, 2 is an electrolyzer to which water is supplied from below through the raw water supply pipe 1, and is a porous partition wall, for example, unglazed partition wall 7.
The cathode chamber 6 and the anode chamber 5 are separately formed by using the anode chamber wall surface as the anode 3, and the cathode 4 is suspended in the cathode chamber 6. A drain pipe 11 is connected to the upper part of the cathode chamber 6 of the electrolyzer 2 and the water softener 1 is connected to the upper part of the anode chamber 5.
A pipe 10 communicating with the upper part of 3 is connected. A cation exchange resin 12 is housed in the water softening device 13, and a steam generator 17 communicates with a lower portion of the water softening device 13 via a pipe 16. It should be noted that valves 8 and 9 for switching water channels are provided in a water channel for supplying water from the raw water supply pipe 1 to the electrolyzer 2 or the water softener 13, and the water softener 13 to the steam generator 17 or the drain pipe 1 is provided.
The waterway to 5 is provided with a valve 14 for switching the waterway.

In the above structure, the water passes through the raw water supply pipe 1, and the valves 8 and 9 are switched so that the water does not flow to the electrolyzer 2 at the time of water sampling.
2 is entered from above into the water softening device 13 filled with cations, and cations such as calcium and magnesium in the water are replaced with hydrogen ions by the cation exchange resin 12, and the softened water passes through the pipe 16. , To the steam generator 17.

During regeneration of the ion-exchange resin, the valves 8 and 9 are switched so that water flows through the electrolyzer 2 to the water softener 13, and a DC voltage is applied between both electrodes of the electrolyzer 2 so that the anode chamber The acidic water obtained in 5 is supplied to the water softening device 13 from the upper part of the water softening device to regenerate the resin into a hydrogen form.
During regeneration, the valve 14 is switched so as not to supply water to the steam generator 17, and the water from the water softening device 13 is drained through the drain pipe 15. The alkaline water in the cathode chamber 6 of the water electrolyzer 2 is drained through the drain pipe 11.

The electrolyzer 2 uses a titanium-precious metal insoluble electrode such as a titanium-platinum-plated electrode for the anode 3, and a stainless steel electrode for the cathode 4. When electricity is applied, water is passed from the lower side to the upper side along the electrode surface. Since water is supplied, bubbles generated by electrolysis of water are easily separated from the electrode surface, and gas is not accumulated in the electrolyzer 2. This makes it possible to prevent increase in cell voltage. In addition, since water is not passed through the electrolyzer 2 when the electrodes are not energized, such as when collecting water or when stopping, corrosion of the stainless steel electrode of the cathode 4 can be prevented.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the cation exchange resin 12 can remove hardness components such as calcium and magnesium ions in the water to prevent the scale from adhering to the can of the steam generator 17, and The soft water can be continuously supplied to the steam generator 17 by regenerating the ion exchange resin with the acidic water obtained by the electrolysis.

Further, by using the wall surface of the electrolyzer 2 as an electrode, the device can be made thin and the rise of the cell voltage can be prevented,
Since water does not pass through the electrolyzer 2 when the electrodes are not energized, such as when collecting water or when stopping, the corrosion of the stainless electrodes can be prevented, and stainless steel can be used as the cathode material, reducing the electrode cost. it can.

(Embodiment 2) A second embodiment of the first means of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the water passes through the raw water supply pipe 1 so that the water does not flow to the electrolyzer 2 at the time of water sampling.
The valve 8 is switched, and water enters the water softening device 13 filled with the cation exchange resin 12 from above, and the cation exchange resin 12 replaces cations such as calcium and magnesium in the water with hydrogen ions. The softened water is supplied to the steam generator 17 through the pipe 16.

During regeneration of the ion exchange resin, the valve 8 is switched so that water flows to the electrolyzer 2, so that water is supplied from below to the electrolyzer 2 through the pipe 18 and between the electrodes of the electrolyzer 2. DC voltage is applied to the anode chamber 5
The acidic water obtained in 1 is supplied to the water softening device 13 from the lower part of the water softening device through the reclaimed water pipe 10, the resin is regenerated into the hydrogen type, and the drain valve 19 is switched to be drained from the pipe 20. The alkaline water obtained in the cathode chamber 6 is drained by opening the drain valve 21. At the time of regeneration, the drain valve 14 switches the water to the direction in which the water is passed to the water softening device 13 so that the water is not supplied to the steam generator 17.

When stopped, the drain valve 14 is switched to drain all the water from the electrolyzer 2 and the water softener 13, and drain the water.

The electrolyzer 2 uses a titanium-precious metal insoluble electrode such as a titanium-platinum-plated electrode for the anode 3, and a stainless steel electrode for the cathode 4. When electricity is applied, water is passed from the lower side to the upper side along the electrode surface. Since water is supplied, bubbles generated by electrolysis of water are easily separated from the electrode surface, and gas is not accumulated in the electrolyzer 2. This makes it possible to prevent increase in cell voltage. In addition, since water is not passed through the electrolyzer 2 when the electrodes are not energized, such as when collecting water or when stopping, corrosion of the stainless steel electrode of the cathode 4 can be prevented.

At the time of backwashing the resin, the drain valve 21 of the cathode chamber 6 is closed, water is supplied from the lower part of the water softener 13, the cation exchange resin 12 is washed, and the water is drained through the drain pipe 20.

As described above, in the second embodiment, hardness components such as calcium and magnesium ions in the water can be removed by the cation exchange resin to prevent the scale from adhering to the can of the steam generator, and the water electricity can be prevented. By regenerating the ion exchange resin with the acidic water obtained by the decomposition, soft water can be continuously supplied to the steam generator.

Further, by using the electrode on the wall surface of the electrolyzer, the device can be made thin and the rise of the cell voltage can be prevented. Since it does not pass water, it prevents corrosion of the stainless steel electrode,
Stainless steel can be used as the cathode material, and the electrode cost can be reduced.

By performing backwashing, it is possible to prevent accumulation of suspensions and prevent clogging of the resin layer. (Embodiment 3) An embodiment of the second means of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, water passes through the raw water supply pipe 1, is heated and kept warm by the heater 22, and enters the water softener 13 filled with the cation exchange resin 12. At the time of ion exchange, the drain valve 14 connected to the drain pipe 15 is closed, and the water entering the water softening device 13 is converted into cations such as calcium and magnesium in the water by the cation exchange resin 12. The water that has been replaced with water and has been softened is supplied to the steam generator 17 through the pipe 16.

At the time of regenerating the ion exchange resin, the heat retention by the heater 22 is stopped and the cation exchange resin is regenerated by the temperature difference. At the time of regeneration, the drain valve 14 is opened to drain water from the drain pipe 15 so that the steam generator 17 is not supplied with water.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the water temperature is raised by the heater and the hardness components such as calcium and magnesium ions in the water are efficiently removed by the cation exchange resin, so that the can body of the steam generator can be treated. Prevents scale from adhering. Further, when the resin is regenerated, the heating of the water softening device is stopped and the resin is regenerated due to the temperature difference. Therefore, a water electrolysis device or the like is not required and the device can be simplified.

[0030]

As is clear from the above description, when the water softener for a steam generator according to the first means of the present invention is used, hardness components such as calcium and magnesium ions in water are removed by a cation exchange resin. However, it is possible to prevent the scale from sticking to the can body of the steam generator, and to regenerate the ion-exchange resin with acidic water obtained by electrolysis of water to continuously supply soft water to the steam generator. You can

By using the walls of the electrolyzer as electrodes, the device can be made thinner, the rise of the cell voltage can be prevented, and when water is not supplied between the electrodes such as when water is drawn or stopped, water is put into the water electrolyzer. Since it does not pass water, it prevents corrosion of the stainless steel electrode,
Stainless steel can be used as the cathode material, and the electrode cost can be reduced.

When the water softener for steam generation by the second means is used, the water temperature is raised by the heater and the cation exchange resin is used to efficiently remove hardness components such as calcium and magnesium ions in the water. It is possible to prevent the scale from sticking to the can body. Further, when the resin is regenerated, the heating of the water softening device is stopped and the resin is regenerated due to the temperature difference. Therefore, a water electrolysis device or the like is not required and the device can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a water softener for a steam generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a water softener for a steam generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a water softener for a steam generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional water softener.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Raw Water Supply Pipe 2 Electrolyzer 5 Anode Chamber 6 Cathode Chamber 7 Partition 12 Ion Exchange Resin 13 Water Softener 17 Steam Generator

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrolyzer in which a cathode chamber is partitioned by a diaphragm and an anode chamber and a cathode chamber are separated into multiple tanks in a water channel for supplying water to a steam generator, and electrodes are respectively arranged in these polar chambers, A water softening device filled with an ion exchange resin, and a valve for switching a water supply channel so as to pass water through the electrolyzer or directly without passing through the electrolyzer , Switch the valve so that water does not flow to the electrolyzer during water collection, pass water from above the water softener, and switch the valve when regenerating the cation exchange resin, and move water downward to the electrolyzer. Water from the electrolyzer, a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the electrolyzer, and the acidic water obtained in the anode chamber is supplied to the water softener as regenerated water for regenerating the cation exchange resin. vessel. 2. The water softener for a steam generator according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyzer uses a titanium noble metal plating electrode for the anode, a noble metal electrode selected from titanium noble metal sintered electrodes, and a stainless steel electrode for the cathode. 3. A water supply for supplying water to a steam generator is provided with a water softening device filled with a cation exchange resin, the water softening device is heated and kept warm by a heater during ion exchange, and when the cation exchange resin is regenerated. , A water softener for a steam generator that stops heating the water softener and regenerates the cation exchange resin due to the temperature difference.