Chlorine generating device and cooling water system having the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a chlorine generating device comprising an aqueous solution tank storing saturated brine, an electrolytic cell for producing sodium hypochlorite by electrolyzing the saturated brine, and a dilution tank for diluting the sodium hypochlorite produced in the electrolytic cell. According to the present invention, by generating sodium hypochlorite through the chlorine generating device, it is possible to remove algae, bacteria, and germs that occur depending on the temperature of the cooling water in a cooling water system, and to remove scale that forms in connecting pipes due to long-term use of the cooling water.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a chlorine generating device and a cooling water system equipped with the same. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, general freshwater or seawater is used as the cooling water in commonly used cooling towers. When cooling systems are operated for extended periods using this water, scale buildup occurs in the connected piping. Technologies for removing such scale have been commercialized and are being used by various companies; broadly speaking, there are two main methods for scale removal: physical and electrochemical.

[0003] In commonly used electrochemical methods, the use of seawater does not pose a significant problem due to the presence of salt, but most facilities use fresh water. However, when fresh water is used as a cooling water, the temperature of the cooling water is maintained at 32–36°C, which provides an environment favorable for the proliferation of microorganisms. Consequently, there is a problem in that cooling water containing these microorganisms is discharged during the circulation process in the cooling tower, potentially causing damage to the surrounding natural environment and, furthermore, to nearby civilian areas. Prior art literature

[0004] Republic of Korea Registered Patent 10-1467943 The problem to be solved

[0005] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a chlorine generating device capable of removing algae, bacteria, and germs generated depending on the temperature of the cooling water, and removing scale generated in the connecting pipes due to long-term use of the cooling water, and a cooling water system equipped with the same.

[0006] The objectives of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned objectives will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0008] The present invention, for achieving such an objective, relates to a chlorine generating device comprising an aqueous solution tank storing saturated brine, an electrolytic cell for producing sodium hypochlorite by electrolyzing the saturated brine, and a dilution tank for diluting the sodium hypochlorite produced in the electrolytic cell.

[0009] The above electrolytic cell is equipped with a bottom water level sensor located at the bottom and a top water level sensor located at the top, and the electrolytic cell receives saturated brine from the aqueous solution tank up to the bottom water level sensor, then receives softened water from a water softener up to the top water level sensor, and can produce sodium hypochlorite by electrolyzing a solution mixed with the supplied saturated brine and softened water.

[0010] In the present invention, the cooling water system comprises an aqueous solution tank storing saturated brine, an electrolytic cell for producing sodium hypochlorite by electrolyzing the saturated brine, a dilution tank for diluting the sodium hypochlorite produced in the electrolytic cell, and a cooling water tank storing cooling water and receiving the diluted sodium hypochlorite from the dilution tank.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cooling water system further includes a control device that controls the cooling water system overall, and the control device can control the concentration of sodium hypochlorite supplied from the dilution tank to the cooling water tank so as not to exceed 0.05 ppm. Effects of the invention

[0013] According to the present invention, by generating sodium hypochlorite through a chlorine generating device, it is possible to remove algae, bacteria, and germs that occur depending on the temperature of the cooling water in a cooling water system, and to remove scale that occurs in the connecting pipes due to long-term use of the cooling water. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0015] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cooling water system equipped with a chlorine generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates the structure of an electrolytic cell according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0016] The present invention is capable of various modifications and may have various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that it includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0017] The terms used in this application are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to indicate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0018] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0019] Furthermore, in the description referring to the attached drawings, identical components are assigned the same reference numeral regardless of drawing symbols, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0020] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cooling water system equipped with a chlorine generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the chlorine generation device includes an aqueous solution tank (100), an electrolytic cell (200), and a dilution tank (300). The cooling water system includes the chlorine generation device and comprises an aqueous solution tank (100), an electrolytic cell (200), a dilution tank (300), a cooling water tank (400), and a control device (500). In the present invention, the valves (v1 to v6) can be implemented as solenoid valves.

[0022] The water softener (10) serves to supply softened water.

[0023] The solution tank (100) stores saturated brine.

[0024] The electrolytic cell (200) serves to produce sodium hypochlorite by electrolyzing saturated brine supplied from the aqueous solution tank (100).

[0025] The dilution tank (300) serves to dilute the sodium hypochlorite produced in the electrolytic tank (200).

[0026] The solution tank (100) is equipped with a bottom water level sensor (101) located at the bottom to detect the water level and a top water level sensor (103) located at the top to detect the water level.

[0027] The electrolytic cell (200) is equipped with a bottom water level sensor (201) located at the bottom to detect the water level and a top water level sensor (203) located at the top to detect the water level.

[0028] The dilution tank (300) is equipped with a bottom water level sensor (301) located at the bottom to detect the water level and a top water level sensor (303) located at the top to detect the water level.

[0029] The electrolytic cell (200) receives saturated brine from the aqueous solution tank (100) up to the lower water level sensor (201), then receives softened water from the water softener (10) up to the upper water level sensor (203), and can produce sodium hypochlorite by electrolyzing the solution in which the supplied saturated brine and softened water are mixed.

[0030] The control device (500) controls the cooling water system overall.

[0031] The cooling water tank (400) stores cooling water and receives diluted sodium hypochlorite from the dilution tank (300).

[0032] The control device (500) can control the concentration of sodium hypochlorite supplied from the dilution tank (300) to the cooling water tank (400) so that it does not exceed 0.05 ppm.

[0033] In the present invention, the control device (500) ensures that softened water is supplied from the water softener (10) to the water solution tank (100) through the first valve (v1), and the water solution tank (100) maintains saturated brine at all times using a stirrer. The control device (500) ensures that the saturated brine in the water solution tank (100) is supplied to the lower water level sensor (201) of the electrolytic cell (200) by means of the first pump (p1) and the second valve (v2). After that, the control device (500) ensures that softened water is supplied from the water softener (10) to the upper water level sensor (203) by means of the fourth pump (p1) and the fourth valve (v4) of the electrolytic cell (200). Then, when softened water is supplied up to the upper water level sensor (203), the control device (500) controls the fourth valve (v4) to stop the supply of softened water from the water softener (10) to the electrolytic cell (200), and the electrolytic cell (200) electrolyzes the solution in which the supplied saturated brine and softened water are mixed. Then, the electrolytic cell (200) generates sodium hypochlorite through electrolysis. Then, the control device (500) introduces the sodium hypochlorite generated in the electrolytic cell (200) into the dilution tank (300) by means of the second pump (p2) and the third valve (v3), and causes softened water to be supplied to the dilution tank (300) by means of the fourth pump (p4) and the fifth valve (v5). Then, the sodium hypochlorite and softened water are mixed and diluted in the dilution tank (300). Then, the control device (500) supplies sodium hypochlorite diluted in the dilution tank (300) to the cooling water tank (400) using the third pump (p3). Here, the control device (500) can control the concentration of sodium hypochlorite supplied from the dilution tank (300) to the cooling water tank (400) so that it does not exceed 0.05 ppm.

[0034] The control device (500) allows the coolant stored in the coolant tank (400) to be supplied to the outside through the sixth valve (v6).

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, a catalyst (410) for catalytic action with an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution may be provided at the outlet portion where the cooling water is discharged from the cooling water tank (400). Here, the catalyst (410) may be implemented as a ceramic catalyst.

[0036] In the present invention, a strong bactericidal effect can be imparted to an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution by means of a ceramic catalyst.

[0037] HOCL ↔ H + + OCL - (Reaction Equation 1)

[0038] The hypochlorite ions (OCl-) generated as shown in Reaction Equation 1 and present in the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution come into contact with the catalyst (410), and due to the catalytic action of the ceramic catalyst, generate oxygen in a nascent state (hereinafter referred to as nascent oxygen), which is a state that exhibits very high chemical activity at the moment when a certain element is released from a compound. This can be represented by the following reaction equation.

[0039] HOCL → HCl + O * (Reaction Equation 2)

[0040] Here, O * represents nascent oxygen.

[0041] Generative oxygen (O) generated in Reaction Equation 2 * ) reacts with water (H2O) to form various nascent oxygen substituents (O * , H2O * 2, O * H, H3O * It generates 2), and the reaction equation is as follows.

[0042] H2O + O * → H2O * 2→ 2O * H (Reaction Equation 3)

[0043] H2O + O * H → H3O * 2 (Reaction Equation 4)

[0044] Therefore, the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution, which is the cooling water reacted with the catalyst (410), is a nascent oxygen substitute O * , H2O * 2, O * H, H3O * 2) It is transformed into cooling water rich in 2) (hereinafter referred to as catalytic oxidation water). Since this catalytic oxidation water has a bactericidal power up to 300 times higher than that of general disinfectant water containing chlorine ions, it performs a strong bactericidal action against bacteria such as Legionella bacteria that live in the cooling tower.

[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, for water quality management automation, cooling water is flowed under constant flow conditions, and an analyzer for the pH, effective residual halogen concentration, conductivity, corrosion, and adhesion of the cooling water is installed to analyze the results in real time and transmit them to a control device (500). The control device (500) supplies a neutralizing agent and a disinfectant to the cooling water tank (400) so that the pH and effective residual halogen concentration of the cooling water are controlled within a predetermined constant range, thereby stably maintaining the water quality.

[0047] Figure 2 illustrates the structure of an electrolytic cell according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 2, the electrolytic cell (200) is equipped with an anode (210), a cathode (220), and an exchange membrane (223).

[0049] The anode (210) receives saturated brine from the aqueous solution tank (100) and produces chlorine gas through an electrolytic reaction with respect to the received saturated brine.

[0050] The cathode (220) receives softened water from the water softener (10) and produces caustic soda through an electrolytic reaction with the received softened water.

[0051] The exchange membrane (230) is a membrane that separates the anode (210) and the cathode (220).

[0052] Sodium hypochlorite is produced by the reaction of chlorine gas produced in the anode (210) and caustic soda produced in the cathode (220) of the electrolytic cell (200).

[0053] Saturated brine flows into the anode section (210) and soft water flows into the cathode section (220) in the electrolytic cell (200). When a DC power source is supplied to the anode of the anode section (210) and the cathode of the cathode section (220), chloride ions are converted into chlorine gas through the electrolytic reaction of the brine in the anode section (210), and sodium ions are moved to the cathode section (220) through the exchange membrane (230). In the cathode section (220), soft water is converted into hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas through the water electrolysis reaction, and hydroxide ions maintain equilibrium with sodium ions that have come from the anode to produce caustic soda.

[0054] In the electrolytic cell (200), chlorine gas supplied from the anode (210) and caustic soda supplied from the cathode (220) react to produce sodium hypochlorite.

[0055] Sodium chloride is stored in the solution tank (100), and when softened water flows in from the water softener (10), it is mixed with the sodium chloride to form saturated brine.

[0056] DC power is supplied to the anode and cathode of the electrolytic cell (200) by a DC power supply means, and an electrolytic reaction is performed, and at the anode, chloride ions (Cl of sodium chloride (NaCl) - ) is converted into chlorine gas (Cl2), and sodium ions (Na + ) is transferred to the cathode (220) through the exchange membrane (230). In addition, at the cathode (220), hydrogen gas (H2) and hydroxide ions (OH) are produced through a water (H2O) electrolysis reaction. - ) is generated, and the generated hydroxide ions (OH - ) is sodium ions (Na) that came over from the anode (210) + It maintains equilibrium with ) to produce caustic soda (NaOH).

[0058] The chlorine generation device for improving cooling water quality according to the present invention can be used for sterilization, disinfection, and scale removal within pipes using brine. Since it improves water quality by electrolyzing brine rather than using other chemicals as electrolytes, it reduces costs and minimizes environmental pollution. The chlorine generation device proposed in this invention is applicable not only to water supply facilities but also to various fields such as swimming pools, sewage treatment plants, and water purification plants. Furthermore, the generated sodium hypochlorite can be solidified and used for food preservation, allowing it to be applied as a food preservation aid.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described above using several preferred embodiments, these embodiments are illustrative and not limiting. Those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of rights set forth in the appended claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0061] 100 Aqueous Solution Tank 200 Electrolyzer 300 Dilution Tank 400 Cooling Water Tank 500 Control Unit 10 Water Softener 410 Catalyst

Claims

Claim 1 delete Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A solution tank (100) that stores saturated brine and is equipped with a bottom water level sensor (101) and a top water level sensor (103); an electrolytic cell (200) that receives saturated brine from the solution tank (100), receives saturated brine up to the bottom water level sensor (201), and then receives softened water from a water softener (10) up to the top water level sensor (203), and electrolyzes a solution mixed with saturated brine and softened water to produce sodium hypochlorite; a dilution tank (300) that mixes and dilutes the sodium hypochlorite produced in the electrolytic cell (200) with the softened water supplied from the water softener (10); a cooling water tank (400) that stores cooling water and receives the diluted sodium hypochlorite from the dilution tank (300); and a first valve (v1) through which softened water is supplied from the water softener (10) to the solution tank (100), and the solution is supplied by a first pump (p1) and a second valve (v2). Saturated brine from the tank (100) is supplied to the lower water level sensor (201) of the electrolytic tank (200), and softened water is supplied from the water softener (10) to the upper water level sensor (203) by the fourth pump (p1) and the fourth valve (v4) of the electrolytic tank (200). When softened water is supplied to the upper water level sensor (203), the fourth valve (v4) is adjusted to stop the supply of softened water from the water softener (10) to the electrolytic tank (200), sodium hypochlorite generated in the electrolytic tank (200) is introduced into the dilution tank (300) by the second pump (p2) and the third valve (v3), and softened water is supplied to the dilution tank (300) by the fourth pump (p4) and the fifth valve (v5) to dilute it, and the sodium hypochlorite diluted in the dilution tank (300) by the third pump (p3) is then used to cool the water Control the operation to supply to the tank (400), wherein the concentration of sodium hypochlorite supplied from the dilution tank (300) to the cooling water tank (400) is at most 0.A cooling water system comprising: a control device (500) for controlling so as not to exceed 0.5 ppm; and a ceramic catalyst (410) provided at the outlet portion where cooling water is discharged from the cooling water tank (400) and catalytically interacting with an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution. Claim 4 delete

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