JPH08155456A - Electrolyzed water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] In an electrolyzed water generator that obtains ionized water (alkali ionized water, acidic water) by electrolyzing water in an electrolyzer, the electrolyzer contains foreign matter such as water or metal with high conductivity. Even if
Make sure that ionized water with a stable pH is obtained. A current detection circuit 10 detects a current flowing in an electrolytic cell 8, and a PWM control circuit 12 controls a voltage applied to the electrolytic cell 8 so that the current value becomes constant.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water generator used for producing alkaline ionized water and acidic water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, an electrolyzed water generator is used to obtain alkaline ionized water for drinking or the like, and acidic water for beauty or disinfection or the like. This electrolyzed water generator has one end connected to a faucet to which water such as tap water is supplied, and the other end connected to an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing the water to generate alkaline ionized water and acidic water. And an electrolyzed water generator including a power supply circuit for applying a DC voltage to the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell. Then, the alkaline ionized water and the acidic water generated in the electrolytic cell are supplied to the outside of the electrolytic water generator from the alkaline ionized water channel and the acidic water channel, respectively.

[0003]

In the above electrolyzed water generator, since the voltage supplied to the electrolyzer is always constant,
If the conductivity of the water supplied to the electrolyzer changes, the pH of the alkaline ionized water and acidic water will fluctuate, so keep the pH of the alkaline ionized water and acidic water constant at the pH desired by the user. There is a problem that it does not exist.

Therefore, in the conventional electrolyzed water generator, a changeover switch for changing over the voltage applied to the electrolyzer is provided, and the user switches the changeover switch to adjust the pH of the alkaline ionized water and the acidic water. Was going on.

Therefore, depending on the flow rate and conductivity of water, a higher or lower voltage is applied to the electrolytic cell, so that not only alkaline ionized water or acidic water having a desired pH cannot be obtained for the user, but also a higher voltage. If a voltage is applied to the electrolyser,
There is a problem that useless power is consumed in the electrolytic cell.

Further, when a substance such as metal having a higher conductivity than water is mixed in the water supplied to the electrolytic cell, alkaline ionized water or acidic water having a very high or low pH is produced. However, there is a problem in that a short circuit occurs in the electrolytic cell and water cannot be electrolyzed.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the first aspect of the present invention provides an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water to obtain alkaline ionized water and acidic water, and the electrolytic cell. In the electrolyzed water generator consisting of a power supply circuit for applying a DC voltage to the anode and the cathode of, the detection means for detecting the current flowing between the anode and cathode of the electrolytic cell, the current value detected by the detection means Voltage control means for controlling the voltage applied from the power supply circuit to the electrolytic cell so that the voltage becomes a predetermined value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell from the voltage control means reaches a predetermined voltage value, an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality is provided. It is characterized by being provided.

[0009]

In the electrolyzed water generator according to claim 1 of the present invention, the current value flowing between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell is detected by the detection means, and the current value detected by the detection means is previously detected by the voltage control means. The voltage control means controls the voltage applied from the power supply circuit to the electrolytic cell so that the current value becomes a predetermined current value.

Further, in the electrolyzed water generator according to the present invention, the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality when the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell by the voltage control means reaches a predetermined voltage value. .

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrolyzed water generator A of this embodiment. In addition, in the block diagram of FIG.
A supply path for supplying water such as a water pipe to the electrolyzer 8,
Alkaline ion water channels and acidic water channels for supplying the alkaline ionized water and the acidic water generated in the electrolytic cell 8 to the outside of the electrolytic water generator A are not described, but these configurations are different from those of the conventional electrolytic water generator. Since they are the same, the description is omitted.

In FIG. 1, an electrolyzed water generator A includes a rectifier 2, a capacitor 3, a transistor 4, a transformer 5, a rectifier 6, a capacitor 7, an electrolytic cell 8, a resistor 9, a current detection circuit 10, a voltage detection circuit 11 and a PMW. It comprises a control circuit 12. A resistor 13 is connected in parallel to the electrolytic cell 8. The electrolyzed water generator A is supplied with electric power from the AC power supply 1. The AC power source 1 is, for example, a household AC outlet.

The AC power supplied from the outside is the rectifier 2
Connected to. The output of the rectifier 2 is connected to the capacitor 3, and the voltage across the capacitor 3 is DC. This capacitor 3 is a transformer 5 and a transistor 6
Connected in parallel. The secondary side of the transformer 5 is connected to the rectifier 6. The output of the rectifier 6 is connected to the capacitor 7 and smoothed so as to be a DC voltage. Capacitor 7
Is connected to the electrolytic cell 8 and electrolyzes water such as tap water. The electrolytic cell 8 and the resistor 13 are connected in parallel, and one of the electrolytic cells 8 is connected in series to the resistor 9. Both ends of the resistor 9 are connected to the current detection circuit 10. Further, one of the electrolytic cells 8 is connected to the voltage detection circuit. Further, the outputs of the current detection circuit 10 and the voltage detection circuit 11 are connected to the PWM control circuit 12 to control the turn-on time of the transistor 4.

An ordinary switching regulator comprises a rectifier 2, a capacitor 3, a transistor 4, a transformer 5, a rectifier 6, a capacitor 7, a resistor 9, a current detection circuit 10, a voltage detection circuit 11 and a PWM control circuit 12. The current detection circuit 10 operates for overcurrent protection of the switching regulator. Therefore, the operation of the switching regulator operates as a constant current source based on the set voltage of the voltage detection circuit 11 and the set current value of the overcurrent protection circuit of the current detection circuit 10.

The PWM control circuit 12 turns on / off the transistor 4 connected to the primary side of the transformer 5 to control the electric power transmitted to the secondary side of the transformer 5. When the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell 8 drops, the output from the voltage detection circuit 11 drops. Therefore, the PWM control circuit 12 lengthens the ON time of the transistor 4 to cancel the drop in the output voltage. work. This is the normal operation of switching regulators. Therefore, the operation of the switching regulator is such that the power required at the output is supplied when needed. This shows that the efficiency of the switching regulator does not change much with respect to the fluctuation of the output current.

Here, the current detection circuit 10 has a function of detecting the current flowing in the electrolytic cell 8 by the voltage drop generated across the resistor 9 and transmitting it to the PWM control circuit 12. When the current flowing in the electrolytic cell 8 is larger than the designated current value, the current detection circuit 10 detects that it is an overcurrent and gives a command to the PWM control circuit 12 to reduce the voltage.

When water is supplied to the electrolytic cell, the switching regulator operates in response to this and starts electrolysis. The supply of water can be detected by using a water flow detecting means such as a water flow switch, a flow rate sensor, and a flow meter in the middle of a supply path for supplying water to the electrolytic cell 8. After detecting the supply of water to the electrolytic cell 8 by this water flow detecting means,
The method of operating the switching regulator to supply electricity to the electrolytic cell 8 can be easily realized by, for example, turning on the AC power supply 1 or giving a start signal to the PWM control circuit 12. Therefore, in FIG. Omitted. Of course, electrolyzer 8
Since the stoppage of the water supply to the electrolyzer can be detected by the water flow detecting means, the supply of electricity to the electrolytic cell 8 is stopped by stopping the switching regulator, and the electrolysis of water is stopped.

Hereinafter, the case where the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell 8 is changed according to the conductivity of water will be described.

Since a current flowing in the electrolytic cell 8 when a constant voltage is applied to an electrode (not shown) composed of the cathode and the anode of the electrolytic cell 8 is proportional to the conductivity of the water supplied to the electrolytic cell 8. By dividing the voltage value of the electrolytic cell 8 by the current value flowing in the electrolytic cell 8, the conductivity of water can be obtained. Electrolysis of water is electrolysis tank 8
Since it is performed in almost proportion to the current flowing through, the ions generated inside the electrolytic cell 8 are in proportion to the current value. Therefore, from the efficiency of electrolysis, the current value should be constant.

The water quality of the water changes because the amount of the substance that changes the conductivity of the water that dissolves in the water changes depending on the water source of the water, that is, the region and the timing of taking in the water. For example, since the temperature is low in winter, the amount of the above substance that dissolves in water is small, and the electrical conductivity tends to increase equivalently. Even for the same drinking water, when the water temperature is changed, the ionization ratio inside the water changes, so that the conductivity tends to decrease when the temperature is low.

Now, all the current flowing in the electrolytic cell 8 is the resistance 9
Therefore, if the voltage difference across the resistor 9 is obtained by a differential amplifier or the like, the current value flowing in the electrolytic cell 8 can be detected. Here, if the set voltage of the set voltage 11 of the voltage detection circuit 11 is increased so that the limit due to overcurrent works more than the voltage of the switching regulator, the operation of the switching regulator by the current detection circuit 10
It is possible to realize a power supply that operates as a voltage source with low internal resistance and has a constant current value.

Therefore, considering that the efficiency of the switching regulator is constant regardless of the output current, the power to be supplied to the electrolytic cell 8 can be efficiently supplied, and an electrolyzed water generator with low power consumption can be realized. .

Next, a second embodiment of the electrolyzed water generator B to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 2 is different from FIG. 1 only in the comparison circuit 13 and the alarm output circuit 14. Therefore, the same configurations as those in FIG. Only the circuit 14 will be described.

The two inputs of the comparison circuit 13 are the voltage of the electrolytic cell 8 and the voltage preset by a variable resistor (not shown). When the voltage of the electrolytic cell 8 is lower than the voltage set by the variable resistor, the comparison circuit 13 outputs L level.

Here, water having a very high conductivity is used in the electrolytic cell 8
The voltage of the electrolytic cell 8 drops when the current flows to the. For example, 50
If water of about 0 μs / cm enters, normal water (200 to 3
The voltage drops to about half that of (00 μs / cm). Further, when foreign matter such as rust in the pipe flows into the electrolytic cell 8, it is provided between the anode and the cathode (not shown) of the electrolytic cell 8 or between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell 8. Diaphragm (not shown)
Since the distance between the electrolytic cell 8 and the anode or the cathode is as small as several millimeters, this foreign matter may be clogged in the electrolytic cell 8 or may remain inside the electrolytic cell 8. Then, if the foreign matter has conductivity, the electrolytic cell 8 is short-circuited. Since the resistance of the electrolytic cell 8 in a short circuit state is very small, the electrolytic cell 8
Voltage is close to 0 volts. Therefore, in both cases, the comparison circuit 13 outputs the H level. This means that the output of the comparison circuit 13 at the H level indicates that water or foreign matter having extremely high conductivity has entered the electrolytic cell 8. As a result, an alarm signal is supplied from the comparison circuit 13 to the alarm output circuit 14, and the alarm output circuit 14 issues an alarm by sound or light to notify the user of the abnormality.

In this embodiment, when the electrolytic cell 8 contains water or foreign matter having a very high conductivity, the alarm output circuit 14
Although it is supposed to notify more, as another method,
In place of the alarm output circuit 14, an electric supply circuit for stopping the supply of electricity to the electrolytic cell 8 is provided, and when water or foreign matter having a very high conductivity enters the electrolytic cell 8, the electrolytic cell 8 is supplied to the electrolytic cell 8. The electricity supply may be stopped to prevent generation of alkaline ionized water or acidic water having a very high or low pH.

Next, a third embodiment of the electrolyzed water generator C to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the configuration different from FIG. 1 is only the arithmetic circuit 15 and the electrolytic strength switching circuit 16. Therefore, the same components as those in FIG. Only the intensity switching circuit 16 will be described.

The arithmetic circuit 15 is a circuit for dividing or boosting the signal of the current detection circuit 10 according to the signal of the electrolytic strength switching circuit 16 from the outside. It is assumed that the voltage is divided into ½ and ¼. When the arithmetic circuit 15 divides the signal of the current detection circuit 10 to ½ of the normal voltage, only 1/2 voltage is supplied to the PWM control circuit 12, so only 1/2 current flows. The PWM control circuit 12 determines that it is not. Therefore, the PWM control circuit 12 operates so as to increase the current. actually,
Since the current increases until the input of the PWM control circuit 12 becomes a constant voltage, the current value is stable at twice the normal value. Similarly, if the voltage is divided into 1/4, the current becomes 4 times. Therefore, in order to set the current value, the voltage division ratio may be changed.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the voltage division ratio of the arithmetic circuit 15 is described as a discrete value. However, one resistor is used because the voltage division can be easily realized by two resistors. The voltage division ratio can be continuously changed by replacing the element with an element such as a FET whose resistance value can be changed in an analog manner.
This means that the set current can be changed continuously.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, the circuit for detecting the current value and changing the current value is constituted by an analog circuit, but once the current or voltage value is changed to digital, it is judged by the microcomputer. The same configuration can be realized by performing the PWM.

[0031]

As described above, the electrolyzed water generator according to any one of claims 1 and 2 has a detecting means for detecting a current flowing between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell, and the detecting means. Since the voltage control means for controlling the voltage applied from the power supply circuit to the electrolysis cell is provided so that the electric current value becomes a predetermined value, even if the conductivity of water changes, it flows into the electrolysis cell. Since the current value is constant, even if the conductivity of water changes, the power consumption does not increase or the pH does not change. Further, even if the temperature of water changes and the conductivity of water changes, the pH can be stabilized.

Further, in the electrolyzed water generator according to the present invention, when the voltage applied to the electrolyzer by the voltage control means reaches a predetermined voltage value, an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality. Since it is provided, when a substance having a higher conductivity than water such as metal is mixed in the water supplied to the electrolytic cell,
It is possible to detect that the alkaline ionized water or acidic water having a very high or low pH is generated by the abnormality detecting means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrolyzed water generator A according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrolyzed water generator B according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrolyzed water generator C according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A, B, C Electrolyzed water generator 8 Electrolyzer 9 Upper part of body 10 Current detection circuit (detection means) 11 Voltage detection circuit 12 PWM control circuit (voltage control means) 13 Comparison circuit (abnormality detection means) 14 Alarm output circuit 15 Calculation Circuit 16 Electrolytic strength switching circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electrolyzed water generator comprising an electrolyzer for electrolyzing water to obtain alkaline ionized water and acidic water, and a power supply circuit for applying a DC voltage to the anode and cathode of the electrolyzer. Detection means for detecting a current flowing between the anode and the cathode of the electrolytic cell, the voltage applied from the power supply circuit to the electrolytic cell so that the current value detected by the detection means becomes a predetermined value. An electrolyzed water generator, characterized by comprising: a voltage control means for controlling. 2. An abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality when the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell by the voltage control means reaches a predetermined voltage value, and an abnormality detecting means is provided. Item 1. The electrolyzed water generator according to Item 1.