Water softening apparatus

Abstract

To provide a water softening apparatus capable of detecting a decrease in ion exchange capability of a cation exchange resin.SOLUTION: A water softening apparatus 1 comprises a water softening chamber 3 having a cation exchange resin 4 and generating soft water from raw water containing hardness components by ion exchange, a measurement section 5 measuring electrical conductivity of the soft water that has passed through the water softening chamber 3, and a calculation section 10 calculating hardness of the soft water based on the electrical conductivity measured by the measurement section 5, wherein the measurement section 5 includes an upstream measurement section 6 measuring the soft water that has flowed into the measurement section 5, an ion exchange section 7 having a strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 and generating replacement soft water by adsorbing hardness components contained in the soft water that has passed through the upstream measurement section 6 and releasing cations, and a downstream measurement section 9 measuring electrical conductivity of the replacement soft water generated by the ion exchange section 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water softening device. [Background technology]

[0002] In conventional water softening devices, raw water is softened by exchanging hardness components (e.g., calcium ions, magnesium ions) in the raw water for sodium ions using a cation exchange resin that has a sodium ion at the end of its functional group. The ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin decreases or disappears with continued use. For this reason, the cation exchange resin needs to be regenerated to make it possible to perform ion exchange again. The regeneration process involves passing regenerated water, such as saturated salt water, through the cation exchange resin. (See, for example, Patent Document 1.) [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-1155 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such conventional water softening devices, even though the ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin is declining, it is not possible to detect this decline, and therefore it is not possible to carry out regeneration treatment at the appropriate time, resulting in the problem that hardness components are contained in the water obtained from the water softening device.

[0005] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional art, and has an object to provide a water softening device capable of detecting a decrease in the ion exchange capacity of a cation exchange resin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve this object, the water softening device according to the present invention comprises a water softening chamber having a cation exchange resin and producing soft water from raw water containing hardness components by ion exchange, a measuring unit that measures the conductivity of the soft water that has passed through the water softening chamber, and a calculating unit that calculates the hardness of the soft water based on the conductivity measured by the measuring unit, the measuring unit comprising an upstream measuring unit that measures the conductivity of the soft water that has flowed into the measuring unit, an ion exchange unit having a strongly acidic cation exchange resin and producing replaced soft water by adsorbing hardness components contained in the soft water that has passed through the upstream measuring unit and releasing cations, and a downstream measuring unit that measures the conductivity of the replaced soft water produced by the ion exchange unit. This achieves the intended object. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a water softening device capable of detecting a decrease in the ion exchange capacity of a cation exchange resin. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a water softening device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a water-softening flow path of the water-softening device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a water softening device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a water-softening flow path of a water-softening device according to the second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a water softening device according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a water-softening flow path of a water-softening device according to a modified example of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example of the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Also, each figure described in the embodiment is a schematic diagram, and the ratio of the size and thickness of each component in each figure does not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratio.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) A water softening device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the water softening device 1 according to the present embodiment. Note that Fig. 1 conceptually shows each element of the water softening device 1.

[0011] (Overall composition) The water softening device 1 is a device that produces neutral soft water from raw water that contains hardness components and is supplied from the outside. The raw water is water (water to be treated) that is introduced into the water softening device 1 from the inlet 2, and is, for example, tap water or well water. The hardness components are, for example, calcium ions or magnesium ions. By performing a water softening process using the water softening device 1, neutral soft water with reduced hardness is obtained, and soft water can be used even in areas where the raw water has high hardness.

[0012] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the water softening device 1 includes an inlet 2, a water softening chamber 3, a measuring section 5, a calculating section 10, and a water intake port 11.

[0013] In the water softening device 1, in the water softening step in which the water is softened, raw water supplied from the outside flows through the inlet 2, the water softening chamber 3, the measurement section 5, and the water intake 11 in that order, and is discharged as neutral soft water.

[0014] ((Inlet, intake, and flow pipe)) The inlet 2 is connected to a source of raw water and is an opening through which raw water is introduced into the water softening device 1.

[0015] The water intake 11 is an opening that flows through the water softening apparatus 1 and supplies the softened water to the outside of the water softening apparatus 1. The water softening apparatus 1 can take out the softened water from the water intake 11 by the pressure of the raw water flowing in from the inlet 2.

[0016] The flow pipe 12 is a member that communicates and connects the inlet 2 to the water intake 11, and the water softening chamber 3 and the measurement unit 5 are provided between the inlet 2 and the water intake 11. In other words, the flow pipe 12 serves as a flow path that guides raw water containing hardness components from the inlet 2 through the water softening chamber 3 and the measurement unit 5 to the water intake 11. The flow pipe 12 may be, for example, a tube such as a pipe.

[0017] ((water softening room)) The water softening chamber 3 includes a cation exchange resin 4, and the raw water containing hardness components is softened by the action of the cation exchange resin 4. Specifically, in the water softening chamber 3, cations (calcium ions, magnesium ions) which are hardness components contained in the flowing water (raw water) are exchanged with sodium ions. This reduces the hardness of the raw water, and the raw water is softened. The water softening chamber 3 is configured, for example, by filling the cation exchange resin 4 in a cylindrical container.

[0018] The cation exchange resin 4 is an ion exchange resin having a sodium ion at the end of the functional group. The cation exchange resin 4 adsorbs cations (calcium ions, magnesium ions) that are hardness components contained in the raw water passed through it, and releases sodium ions. The soft water treated with the exchange resin 4 contains a large amount of sodium ions that have been exchanged with hardness components.

[0019] As the cation exchange resin 4, a general-purpose one can be used, for example, a strong acid cation exchange resin having a sulfonic acid group (-SO3H) as an exchange group or a weak acid cation exchange resin having a carboxyl group (-COOH) as an exchange group. In addition, as the cation exchange resin 4, a sodium ion (Na + ) is mixed with other metal ions or ammonium ions (NH4 +It is preferable to use, as the cation exchange resin 4, a resin having an ion selectivity coefficient lower than that of the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 described later.

[0020] ((Measurement part)) The measuring unit 5 is a device that measures the conductivity of the softened water generated by the water softening chamber 3. Specifically, the measuring unit 5 includes an upstream measuring unit 6, an ion exchange unit 7, and a downstream measuring unit 9.

[0021] The upstream measuring unit 6 is a device that measures the conductivity of the softened water that has passed through the water-softening chamber 3, and as the upstream measuring unit 6, for example, a general-purpose two-electrode conductivity meter can be used.

[0022] The ion exchange unit 7 has a strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8, and generates substituted soft water by adsorbing hardness components contained in the soft water that has passed through the upstream measurement unit 6 and releasing cations. The ion exchange unit 7 is configured, for example, by filling a cylindrical container with the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8. The substituted soft water is soft water in which the hardness components of the soft water generated in the softening chamber 3 have been substituted with cations.

[0023] The strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 is an ion exchange resin having a potassium ion at the end of the functional group. The strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 adsorbs cations (calcium ions, magnesium ions) that are hardness components contained in the soft water that has passed through the water softening chamber 3 and the upstream measurement unit 6, and releases potassium ions. The exchanged soft water that has been treated with the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 contains a large amount of potassium ions that have been exchanged for hardness components.

[0024] As the strong acid cation exchange resin 8, a general-purpose cation exchange resin can be used, for example, a strong acid cation exchange resin having a sulfonic acid group (-SO3H) as an exchange group. In addition, as the strong acid cation exchange resin 8, a potassium ion (K + ) is converted to other metal ions or hydrogen ions (H +It is preferable to use, as the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8, a resin having a higher ion selectivity coefficient than the cation exchange resin 4.

[0025] The downstream measuring unit 9 is a device that measures the conductivity of the replaced soft water generated by the ion exchange unit 7, and as the downstream measuring unit 9, for example, a general-purpose two-electrode conductivity meter can be used.

[0026] The measurement unit 5 is connected to the calculation unit 10 described later wirelessly or via wired communication, and transmits information on the conductivity of the soft water measured by the upstream measurement unit 6 and information on the conductivity of the replaced soft water measured by the downstream measurement unit 9 to the calculation unit 10.

[0027] ((Calculation section)) The calculation unit 10 is an instrument that calculates the hardness of the soft water produced in the softening chamber 3 based on the conductivity information of the soft water measured by the upstream measurement unit 6 transmitted from the measurement unit 5 and the conductivity information of the replaced soft water measured by the downstream measurement unit 9.

[0028] The method for calculating the soft water hardness in the calculation unit 10 will be described below.

[0029] The calculation unit 10 compares the conductivity of the soft water measured by the upstream measurement unit 6 with the conductivity of the replaced soft water measured by the downstream measurement unit 9, and calculates the hardness of the soft water generated in the water softening chamber 3 based on the magnitude of the difference in conductivity. In other words, the hardness of the soft water is calculated by multiplying the difference between the conductivity of the soft water and the conductivity of the replaced soft water by a specific coefficient. This is the method for calculating the soft water hardness.

[0030] The difference between the conductivity of the softened water measured by the upstream measuring unit 6 and the conductivity of the replaced softened water measured by the downstream measuring unit 9 occurs when hardness components contained in the softened water generated in the softening chamber 3 are exchanged for potassium ions in the ion exchange unit 7. That is, cations (calcium ions and magnesium ions) that are hardness components that could not be completely removed in the softening chamber 3 are adsorbed by the ion exchange unit 7, and potassium ions are released from the ion exchange unit 7 in place of the adsorbed cations. Since the molar ion conductivity of the hardness components and the molar ion conductivity of potassium ions differ, a change occurs between the conductivity of the softened water measured by the upstream measuring unit 6 and the conductivity of the replaced softened water measured by the downstream measuring unit 9.

[0031] In order to calculate the soft water hardness more accurately in the calculation unit 10, it is preferable that the difference between the conductivity of the soft water and the conductivity of the replaced soft water is large. The molar ionic conductivity of calcium ions is 59.50[10 -4 S m 2 mol -1 ], and the molar ionic conductivity of magnesium ions is 53.06[10 -4 S m 2 mol -1 ], and the molar ionic conductivity of potassium ions is 73.52[10 -4 S m 2 mol -1 ], and the molar ionic conductivity of sodium ions is 50.11[10 -4 S m 2 mol -1 As the molar ion conductivity value indicates, the difference in molar ion conductivity with cations (calcium ion, magnesium ion) that are hardness components is larger for potassium ions than for sodium ions. Therefore, when the ion at the functional group terminal of the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 of the ion exchange unit 7 is a potassium ion, a larger change in conductivity is shown with respect to the hardness components contained in soft water than when the ion at the functional group terminal of the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 is a sodium ion. Therefore, it is preferable to use a resin in which the ion at the functional group terminal of the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 is a potassium ion, since this makes it easier to measure the conductivity in the measurement unit 5.

[0032] The difference between the conductivity of the soft water and the conductivity of the replacement soft water increases as the hardness of the soft water generated in the softening chamber 3 increases. For example, when the hardness of the soft water generated in the softening chamber 3 is 0 ppm, the difference in conductivity is 0 μS / cm, when the hardness of the soft water is 50 ppm, the difference in conductivity is 5 μS / cm, and when the hardness of the soft water is 100 ppm, the difference in conductivity is 10 μS / cm. Therefore, as the water softening process progresses and the ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin 4 decreases, the difference in conductivity increases, making it easier to measure the conductivity in the measurement unit 5.

[0033] The calculation unit 10 includes a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the calculation unit 10. The program executed by the processor is pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system here, but may be provided by being recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, or may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet.

[0034] The water softening device 1 has the above configuration.

[0035] Next, the operation of the water softening device 1 will be described.

[0036] ((water softening process)) The operation of the water softening device 1 in the water softening process will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the water softening flow path 13 of the water softening device 1.

[0037] During the water softening process, the water pipe 12 functions as a water softening flow path 13 (indicated by a diagonal line arrow in FIG. 2).

[0038] The water softening flow path 13 is a flow path for softening the raw water, and the raw water that flows through the water softening flow path 13 becomes neutral soft water and is discharged from the water intake 11 to the outside of the water softening device 1. The water softening flow path 13 is formed to include the inlet 2, the water softening chamber 3, the measurement unit 5, and the water intake 11.

[0039] In the water softening process, raw water flows into the water softening device 1 from the inlet 2 due to the pressure of the raw water flowing in from the outside. The inflowing raw water flows into the water softening chamber 3 via the water flow pipe 12 and passes through the cation exchange resin 4 provided in the water softening chamber 3. At this time, hardness components (calcium ions, magnesium ions) in the raw water are exchanged with cations adsorbed to the cation exchange resin 4, resulting in soft water containing cations. In this embodiment, since sodium ions are adsorbed to the cation exchange resin 4, the soft water after ion exchange contains a large amount of sodium ions.

[0040] The water softened in the water-softening chamber 3 flows into the measuring section 5. In detail, the softened water produced in the water-softening chamber 3 first flows into the upstream measuring section 6, where the conductivity of the softened water is measured.

[0041] Next, the soft water flows into the ion exchange unit 7 and passes through the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 provided in the ion exchange unit 7. At this time, the hardness components in the soft water are adsorbed by the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8, and the potassium ions adsorbed to the resin by ion exchange are released. As a result, the hardness components are removed from the soft water, and the soft water becomes substituted soft water in which the hardness components have been replaced with potassium ions.

[0042] Finally, the replaced soft water flows into the downstream measuring section 9, where the conductivity of the replaced soft water is measured.

[0043] Information on the conductivity of the soft water and the conductivity of the replaced soft water obtained by the measuring unit 5 is transmitted to the calculation unit 10, making it possible for the calculation unit 10 to calculate the hardness of the soft water.

[0044] The soft water that has flowed through the measurement section 5 can be taken out from the water intake port 11.

[0045] In the water softening process, the hardness of the soft water is calculated by the calculation unit 10 based on the information on the conductivity of the soft water and the replaced soft water measured by the measurement unit 5, making it possible to detect a decrease in the performance of the cation exchange resin 4 in the water softening chamber 3.

[0046] As described above, according to the water softening device 1 according to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0047] (1) The water softening device 1 comprises a water softening chamber 3 having a cation exchange resin 4 and producing soft water from raw water containing hardness components by ion exchange, a measuring unit 5 which measures the conductivity of the soft water that has passed through the water softening chamber 3, and a calculating unit 10 which calculates the hardness of the soft water based on the conductivity measured by the measuring unit 5. The measuring unit 5 comprises an upstream measuring unit 6 which measures the soft water that has flowed into the measuring unit 5, an ion exchange unit 7 which has a strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 and produces replaced soft water by adsorbing hardness components contained in the soft water that has passed through the upstream measuring unit 6 and releasing cations, and a downstream measuring unit 9 which measures the conductivity of the replaced soft water produced by the ion exchange unit 7.

[0048] With this configuration, it is possible to calculate the hardness of the soft water generated by the water softening chamber 3. As a result, it becomes possible to detect the deterioration of the water softening performance in the water softening chamber 3 with high accuracy.

[0049] (2) The strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 in the ion exchange unit 7 provided in the water softening device 1 releases potassium ions as cations.

[0050] According to this configuration, when the hardness components contained in the soft water are adsorbed in the ion exchange unit 7, the cations replaced are potassium ions. Since there is a large difference between the molar ion conductivity of potassium ions and the molar ion conductivity of the hardness components (calcium ions, magnesium ions), there is a large difference in the conductivity of the soft water measured by the upstream measurement unit 6 and the replaced soft water measured by the downstream measurement unit 9. This makes it easy to measure the conductivity in the measurement unit 5 and to calculate the hardness based on a comparison of the conductivity of the soft water and the replaced soft water in the calculation unit 10.

[0051] (3) The cation exchange resin 4 in the water softening chamber 3 of the water softening device 1 releases sodium ions during ion exchange.

[0052] According to this configuration, when regenerating the cation exchange resin 4, it is possible to perform an inexpensive regeneration process in which regenerated water such as saturated saline water is passed through the cation exchange resin 4. Since saturated saline water can be made from sodium chloride and water, by using a resin that releases sodium ions during ion exchange as the cation exchange resin 4, regenerated water can be easily obtained and can be regenerated at low cost.

[0053] (Embodiment 2) The water softening device 1a according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that it is capable of calculating raw water hardness using a raw water measuring unit 14. Other configurations are the same as the water softening device 1 according to the first embodiment. Below, the contents already explained in the first embodiment will not be explained again as appropriate, and the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly explained.

[0054] A water softening device 1a according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the water softening device 1a according to the present embodiment. Note that Fig. 3 conceptually shows each element of the water softening device 1a.

[0055] ((Raw water branch pipe)) The raw water branch pipe 19 is a bypass flow path that branches off from the flowing water pipe 12 at a branch point X located between the inlet 2 and the water softening chamber 3 and merges with the flowing water pipe 12 at a junction point Y also located between the inlet 2 and the water softening chamber 3. The raw water branch pipe 19 is a pipe that introduces raw water to the raw water measuring section 14.

[0056] The branch point X is located downstream of the inlet 2 and upstream of the water softening chamber 3, upstream of the junction Y. The branch point X is also located upstream of the raw water measuring section .

[0057] The junction Y is located downstream of the branch point X on the downstream side of the inlet 2 and upstream of the water softening chamber 3. The junction Y is also located downstream of the raw water measuring section .

[0058] The raw water branch pipe 19 has a smaller volume than the flow water pipe 12, and a smaller amount of raw water flows through it than flows through the flow water pipe 12.

[0059] In other words, the raw water branch pipe 19 is a flow path that guides a portion of the raw water containing hardness components that has been taken into the flow pipe 12 from the inlet 2 to the water softening chamber 3 via the raw water measuring section 14 .

[0060] ((Raw Water Measurement Division)) The raw water measuring unit 14 is a device that measures the electrical conductivity of the raw water flowing into the water softening chamber 3. The raw water measuring section 14 is configured to include a raw water upstream measuring section 15, a raw water ion exchange section 16, and a raw water downstream measuring section 18.

[0061] The raw water upstream measuring unit 15 is a device that measures the electrical conductivity of raw water supplied from the inlet 2 via the raw water branch pipe 19. There are no particular limitations on the raw water upstream measuring unit 15, and a general-purpose one can be used, for example, a two-electrode electrical conductivity meter.

[0062] The raw water ion exchange unit 16 has a strongly acidic cation exchange resin 17, and is a device that produces replaced raw water by adsorbing hardness components contained in the raw water that has passed through the raw water upstream measurement unit 15 and releasing cations. The raw water ion exchange unit 16 is configured, for example, by filling a cylindrical container with the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 17.

[0063] The strongly acidic cation exchange resin 17 is an ion exchange resin having a potassium ion at the end of the functional group. The strongly acidic cation exchange resin 17 adsorbs hardness components (calcium ions, magnesium ions) contained in the raw water and releases potassium ions. The raw water treated with the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 17 contains a large amount of potassium ions that have been exchanged with the hardness components.

[0064] The strong acid cation exchange resin 17 is not particularly limited and can be a general-purpose one. For example, a strong acid cation exchange resin having a sulfonic acid group (-SO3H) as an exchange group can be used. In addition, the strong acid cation exchange resin 17 can be a potassium ion (K + ) are other metal ions and hydrogen ions (H +) may be used.

[0065] The raw water downstream measuring unit 18 is a device that measures the electrical conductivity of the raw water exchanged by the raw water ion exchange unit 16. There are no particular limitations on the raw water downstream measuring unit 18, and any general-purpose device can be used, such as a two-electrode electrical conductivity meter.

[0066] In addition, the raw water measuring unit 14 is connected to the calculation unit 10 wirelessly or via wired communication, and transmits conductivity information of the raw water and replaced raw water measured by the raw water upstream measuring unit 15 and the raw water downstream measuring unit 18 to the calculation unit 10.

[0067] ((Calculation section)) The calculation unit 10a is an instrument that calculates the hardness of the raw water supplied from the inlet 2 based on the conductivity information of the raw water measured by the raw water upstream measuring unit 15 transmitted from the raw water measuring unit 14 and the conductivity information of the replaced raw water measured by the raw water downstream measuring unit 18.

[0068] The method for calculating the hardness of the raw water in the calculation unit 10a will be described below.

[0069] The calculation unit 10a compares the conductivity of the raw water measured by the raw water upstream measuring unit 15 with the conductivity of the replaced raw water measured by the raw water downstream measuring unit 18, and calculates the hardness of the raw water based on the magnitude of the difference in conductivity. Specifically, the hardness of the raw water is calculated by multiplying the difference between the conductivity of the raw water and the conductivity of the replaced raw water by a specific coefficient.

[0070] The difference between the conductivity of the raw water measured by the raw water upstream measuring unit 15 and the conductivity of the replaced raw water measured by the raw water downstream measuring unit 18 occurs when hardness components contained in the raw water are exchanged for potassium ions in the raw water ion exchange unit 16. That is, cations (calcium ions, magnesium ions), which are hardness components contained in the raw water, are adsorbed by the raw water ion exchange unit 16 and potassium ions are released instead, causing a change in the conductivity of the raw water measured by the raw water upstream measuring unit 15 and the conductivity of the replaced raw water measured by the raw water downstream measuring unit 18.

[0071] The difference in electrical conductivity between the raw water and the replaced raw water is based on the difference in molar ionic conductivity between the cations (calcium ions, magnesium ions) that are hardness components adsorbed in the raw water ion exchange section 16 and the potassium ions that are released. The molar ionic conductivity of calcium ions is 59.50 [10 -4 S m 2 mol -1 ], and the molar ionic conductivity of magnesium ions is 53.06[10 -4 S m 2 mol -1 ], and the molar ionic conductivity of potassium ions is 73.52[10 -4 S m 2 mol -1 ], and the molar ionic conductivity of sodium ions is 50.11[10 -4 S m 2 mol -1 As the molar ion conductivity value indicates, the difference in molar ion conductivity between potassium ions and cations (calcium ions, magnesium ions) that are hardness components is larger than that between sodium ions and potassium ions. Therefore, when the ion at the functional group terminal of the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 17 in the raw water ion exchange unit 16 is a potassium ion, a larger change in conductivity is observed with respect to the hardness components contained in the raw water than when the ion is a sodium ion. This makes it easier to measure the conductivity in the raw water measurement unit 14, which is preferable.

[0072] In addition, the difference in conductivity between the raw water and the replaced raw water increases as the hardness of the raw water increases. For example, when the hardness of the raw water is 100 ppm, the difference in conductivity is 10 μS / cm, when it is 200 ppm, the difference in conductivity is 20 μS / cm, and when it is 500 ppm, the difference in conductivity is 50 μS / cm.

[0073] The calculation unit 10a includes a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as a control unit. The program executed by the processor is pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system here, but may be provided by being recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, or may be provided via a telecommunication line such as the Internet.

[0074] ((water softening channel)) The water softening flow path 13a formed during the water softening process of the water softening device 1a will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a configuration diagram showing the water softening flow path 13a of the water softening device 1a.

[0075] The water softening flow path 13a (diagonal line arrow in FIG. 4) is a flow path for softening the raw water. The raw water that flows through the water softening flow path 13a becomes neutral soft water and is discharged from the water intake 11 to the outside of the water softening device 1.

[0076] The water softening flow path 13 a is formed to include the inlet 2 , the raw water measuring section 14 , the water softening chamber 3 , the measuring section 5 , and the water intake port 11 .

[0077] As described above, according to the water softening device 1a of this embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) to (3) obtained in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0078] (4) The water softening device 1a is equipped with a raw water measuring unit 14 that measures the conductivity of the raw water flowing into the softening chamber 3. The raw water measuring unit 14 is equipped with a raw water upstream measuring unit 15 that measures the conductivity of the raw water that has flowed into the raw water measuring unit 14, a raw water ion exchange unit 16 that has a strongly acidic cation exchange resin 17 and generates replaced raw water by adsorbing hardness components contained in the raw water that has passed through the raw water upstream measuring unit 15 and releasing cations, and a raw water downstream measuring unit 18 that measures the conductivity of the replaced raw water generated by the raw water ion exchange unit 16. The calculation unit 10 calculates the hardness of the soft water based on the conductivity of the raw water measured by the raw water measuring unit 14 and the conductivity of the soft water measured by the measurement unit 5.

[0079] According to this configuration, the raw water conductivity information measured by the raw water upstream measuring unit 15 and the raw water downstream The hardness of the raw water supplied from the inlet 2 can be calculated based on the electrical conductivity information of the replaced raw water measured by the measuring unit 18. This makes it possible to compare the calculated hardness of the raw water with the hardness of the softened water calculated based on the electrical conductivity of the softened water measured by the measuring unit 5, and to calculate the hardness of the softened water generated by the water softening chamber 3. This makes it possible to provide information on the amount of change in hardness before and after softening, i.e., the extent to which hardness components have been removed from the softened water generated by the water softening chamber 3 compared to the raw water.

[0080] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. These embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0081] In the water softening device 1 according to the first embodiment, the flow path is such that all of the softened water produced in the water softening chamber 3 flows into the measurement unit 5, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the configuration may be such that part of the softened water produced in the water softening chamber 3 flows into the measurement unit 5, and part of the softened water does not flow into the measurement unit 5 but passes through a branch flow path to reach the water intake port.

[0082] A configuration in which part of the soft water generated in the water softening chamber 3 flows into the measuring section 5, and part of the soft water does not flow into the measuring section 5 but reaches the water intake through the branched flow path and the soft water flow path will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a water softening device 1b according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the soft water flow path of the water softening device 1b according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. The water softening device 1b includes a soft water branched flow path 20 that branches from the water flow pipe 12 and connects the space between the softening chamber 3 and the measuring section 5 and the space between the measuring section 5 and the water intake 11. In the water softening device 1b, the soft water branched flow path 20 forms a soft water flow path 13b during the water softening process. As a result, all of the soft water generated in the water softening chamber 3 does not flow into the measuring section 5, and it is possible to reduce the amount of soft water passing through the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8 provided in the ion exchange section 7. This makes it possible to extend the life of the strongly acidic cation exchange resin 8. The ratio of the amount of softened water generated in the water softening chamber 3 that flows into the measurement section 5 via the water flow pipe 12 and the amount that does not flow into the measurement section 5 via the softened water branch flow path 20 is not limited.

[0083] In the water softening process according to the first embodiment, if the hardness of the soft water calculated by the calculation unit 10 exceeds a certain value, the calculation unit 10 may notify the user of the water softening device 1 using sound, light, or the like. For example, if the hardness of the soft water calculated by the calculation unit 10 exceeds 100 ppm, the calculation unit 10 may sound an alarm. [Industrial Applicability]

[0084] The water softening device according to the present invention can be applied to a water purification device installed at the point of use (POU: Point of Use) or a water purification device installed at the building entrance (POE: Point of Entry), etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1, 1a, 1b water softener 2 Inlet 3 Water softening room 4. Cation exchange resin 5 Measuring part 6 Upstream measurement section 7 Ion exchange section 8. Strongly acidic cation exchange resin 9 Downstream measuring section 10, 10a Calculation section 11 Water Intake 12 Water pipe 13, 13a, 13b Water softening channel 14 Raw Water Measurement Section 15 Raw Water Upstream Measurement Section 16 Raw water ion exchange section 17 Strongly acidic cation exchange resin 18 Raw Water Downstream Measurement Section 19 Raw water branch pipe 20 Soft water branch channel

Claims

1. a water softening chamber having a cation exchange resin and producing soft water from raw water containing hardness components by ion exchange; A measurement unit for measuring the conductivity of the softened water that has passed through the softening chamber; a calculation unit that calculates the hardness of the soft water based on the electrical conductivity measured by the measurement unit, The measurement unit includes: an upstream measuring section for measuring the conductivity of the soft water flowing into the measuring section; an ion exchange section which has a strongly acidic cation exchange resin and adsorbs hardness components contained in the soft water that has passed through the upstream measurement section and releases cations to generate exchanged soft water; and a downstream measuring section that measures the electrical conductivity of the replaced soft water produced by the ion exchange section.

2. 2. The water softening device according to claim 1, wherein the strongly acidic cation exchange resin in the ion exchange section releases potassium ions as the cations.

3. 3. The water softening device according to claim 1, wherein the cation exchange resin in the water softening chamber releases sodium ions during the ion exchange.

4. A raw water measuring unit is provided for measuring the electrical conductivity of the raw water flowing into the water softening chamber, The raw water measuring unit includes: a raw water upstream measuring section for measuring the conductivity of the raw water flowing into the raw water measuring section; a raw water ion exchange section which has the strong acid cation exchange resin and adsorbs hardness components contained in the raw water that has passed through the raw water upstream measurement section and releases cations to generate replaced raw water; a raw water downstream measuring unit for measuring the electrical conductivity of the replaced raw water generated by the raw water ion exchange unit; The water softening device according to claim 1 , wherein the calculation unit calculates the hardness of the soft water based on the electrical conductivity of the raw water measured by the raw water measuring unit and the electrical conductivity of the soft water measured by the measuring unit.

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