Hypochlorous acid water generator

Abstract

To provide a hypochlorous acid water generator capable of stabilizing the pH value of generated hypochlorous acid water.SOLUTION: The control unit 81 calculates a deviation between the pH value of the aqueous solution in the water storage tank 6 detected by the pH meter 7 and the target pH value, determines the amounts of the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution to be supplied to the raw water flowing through the first conduit 12 and chlorine to be supplied to the raw water flowing through the second conduit 13 so as to bring the calculated deviation close to 0, and supplies the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution and chlorine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hypochlorous acid water generating device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART As a conventional hypochlorous acid water generating device, for example, a sterilizing water producing device shown in Patent Document 1 has been known.

[0003] This sterilizing water production device produces hypochlorous acid sterilizing water by adding and mixing a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution and an acidic aqueous solution such as hydrochloric acid to raw water such as tap water or well water, and includes a hypochlorous acid pump that adds the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution to the raw water, a hydrochloric acid pump that adds hydrochloric acid to the raw water, a mixing and stirring unit that mixes and stirs a diluted solution of the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution and the hydrochloric acid aqueous solution, and a pH meter connected downstream of the mixing and stirring unit. The sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution and the hydrochloric acid aqueous solution supplied through the hypochlorous acid pump and the hydrochloric acid pump are controlled by a control unit in accordance with detection by the pH meter, thereby producing sterilizing water with a predetermined pH value or residual chlorine concentration. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-316169 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the hypochlorous acid water generator described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the detected value of the pH meter is unstable, and there is a risk that the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water may not be stable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a hypochlorous acid water generator according to one aspect of the present invention includes an upstream pipe line to which raw water is supplied from an upstream side, a first pipe line and a second pipe line whose upstream ends branch off from a downstream end of the upstream pipe line and whose downstream ends join together, a first tank for storing a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution, a first supply unit that supplies the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution stored in the first tank to the raw water flowing through the first pipe line, a second tank for storing hydrochloric acid, a second supply unit that supplies the hydrochloric acid stored in the second tank to the raw water flowing through the second pipe line, and an upstream end connected to the downstream ends of the first pipe line and the second pipe line. the control unit calculates the deviation between the pH value of the aqueous solution in the water tank detected by the pH meter and the target pH value, and determines and supplies the amount of sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution to be supplied to the raw water flowing through the first pipeline and the amount of chlorine to be supplied to the raw water flowing through the second pipeline so as to bring the calculated deviation closer to zero.

[0007] According to this configuration, it is possible to stabilize the measurement of the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water by the pH meter, and it is possible to stabilize the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water to be discharged. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present invention has the effect of stabilizing the pH value of the generated hypochlorous acid water. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a hypochlorous acid water generation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the hypochlorous acid water generator of FIG. 1. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a communication network connecting the hypochlorous acid water generation apparatuses of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the same or corresponding elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a hypochlorous acid water generator 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the hypochlorous acid water generator 100 is an apparatus that generates hypochlorous acid water by adding a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution and hydrochloric acid to raw water.

[0012] The flow path 1, which forms the flow path of raw water in the hypochlorous acid water generator 100, is a conduit and includes an upstream conduit 11, a first conduit 12, a second conduit 13, a downstream conduit 14, and a discharge conduit 15. Of the flow path 1, the upstream end of the upstream conduit 11 and the downstream end of the discharge conduit 15 are located outside the housing 10 of the hypochlorous acid water generator 100, and the remaining portion is housed in the housing 10. Raw water such as tap water is supplied to the upstream end of the upstream conduit 11. A flow meter 9 is provided in the middle of the upstream conduit 11. The flow meter 9 detects the flow rate of the raw water flowing through the upstream conduit 11. The portion of the upstream conduit 11 extending downstream from its downstream end branches into two conduits, one of which forms the first conduit 12 and the other forms the second conduit 13. That is, the upstream ends of the first conduit 12 and the second conduit 13 are each connected to the downstream end of the upstream conduit 11. The downstream ends of the first conduit 12 and the second conduit 13 are connected to each other and merge. The upstream end of the downstream conduit 14 is connected to the downstream ends of the first conduit 12 and the second conduit 13. The downstream conduit 14 is connected to the discharge conduit 15 via the water tank 6 described below. In this way, the raw water supplied to the upstream end of the upstream conduit 11 passes through the first conduit 12 or the second conduit 13, and then further passes through the downstream conduit 14 and the discharge conduit 15 in this order, and is discharged to the outside of the hypochlorous acid water generator 100 from the downstream end of the discharge conduit 15 located outside the housing 10.

[0013] The hypochlorous acid water generator 100 includes a first tank 2 and a first supply unit 3 as mechanisms for adding a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution to raw water. The first tank 2 is a tank for storing a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution of a predetermined concentration. The first supply unit 3 is a mechanism for supplying the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution stored in the first tank 2 to the raw water flowing through the first pipeline 12, and includes a first supply pipeline 3a and a first pump 3b. The upstream end of the first supply pipeline 3a is connected to the first tank 2. The downstream end of the first supply pipeline 3a is connected to an intermediate portion of the first pipeline 12 and merges with the first pipeline 12. The first pump 3b is provided in an intermediate portion of the first supply pipeline 3a. The first pump 3b is a metering pump that transfers a fixed amount of liquid from the first supply pipe 3a upstream of the first pump 3b to the first supply pipe 3a downstream of the first pump 3b based on a control signal. Therefore, when the first pump 3b is driven, the aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution stored in the first tank 2 flows out of the first tank 2, passes through the first supply pipe 3a, and is added to and diluted with the raw water flowing through the first pipe 12. A first mixing tank 21 that stirs and mixes the diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite is provided downstream of the junction of the first supply pipe 3a and the first pipe 12 in the first pipe 12.

[0014] Furthermore, the hypochlorous acid water generator 100 includes a second tank 4 and a second supply unit 5 as mechanisms for adding hydrochloric acid to raw water. The second tank 4 is a tank for storing hydrochloric acid at a predetermined concentration. The second supply unit 5 is a mechanism for supplying hydrochloric acid stored in the second tank 4 to raw water flowing through the second pipeline 13, and includes a second supply pipeline 5a and a second pump 5b. The upstream end of the second supply pipeline 5a is connected to the second tank 4. The downstream end of the second supply pipeline 5a is connected to an intermediate portion of the second pipeline 13 and merges with the second pipeline 13. The second pump 5b is provided in an intermediate portion of the second supply pipeline 5a. The second pump 5b is a metering pump that transfers a fixed amount of liquid from the second supply pipeline 5a upstream of the second pump 5b to the second supply pipeline 5a downstream of the second pump 5b based on a control signal. Therefore, by driving the second pump 5b, the hydrochloric acid stored in the second tank 4 flows out of the second tank 4, passes through the second supply pipe 5a, and is added to and diluted with the raw water flowing in the second pipe 13. A second mixing tank 22 for stirring and mixing the diluted solution of hydrochloric acid is provided downstream of the junction of the second supply pipe 5a and the second pipe 13 in the second pipe 13.

[0015] Then, at the confluence of the first pipeline 12 and the second pipeline 13, i.e., at the upstream end of the downstream pipeline 14, the alkaline aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution diluted with raw water and the acidic hydrochloric acid diluted with raw water join together and flow into the downstream pipeline 14. A third mixing tank 23 is provided in the middle of the downstream pipeline 14 to stir and mix the aqueous solution flowing through the downstream pipeline 14. This causes the aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution flowing from the first pipeline 12 into the downstream pipeline 14 to react with the hydrochloric acid flowing from the second pipeline 13 into the downstream pipeline 14, producing hypochlorous acid water. The hypochlorous acid water flowing out of the third mixing tank 23 flows further through the downstream pipeline 14 and into the water tank 6.

[0016] The water tank 6 is a container for temporarily storing hypochlorous acid water, and is interposed between the downstream end 42 of the downstream pipe 14 and the upstream end 51 of the discharge pipe 15. The water tank 6 has an inner diameter larger than the inner diameters of the downstream pipe 14 and the discharge pipe 15, and the flow rate of the hypochlorous acid water inside the water tank 6 is slower than that of the downstream pipe 14 and the discharge pipe 15.

[0017] The downstream end 42 of the downstream conduit 14 is connected to the bottom of the water tank 6 or near the bottom. The upstream end 51 of the discharge conduit 15 is connected to the top of the water tank 6 or near the top. In this way, the connection between the downstream end 42 of the downstream conduit 14 and the water tank 6 is located lower than the connection between the upstream end 51 of the discharge conduit 15 and the water tank 6. As a result, the hypochlorous acid water that flows into the water tank 6 from the downstream end 42 of the downstream conduit 14 flows gently from the bottom to the top of the water tank 6. At this time, the hypochlorous acid water is further agitated by flowing inside the water tank 6, and variations in the concentration and pH value of the hypochlorous acid water are evened out.

[0018] The hypochlorous acid water generator 100 also has a pH meter 7 that measures the pH value of the aqueous solution in the water storage tank 6. The detection unit of the pH meter 7 is attached so as to be located at the top of the internal space of the water storage tank 6. As a result, the pH meter 7 detects the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water located at the top of the internal space of the water storage tank 6. The detected pH value is output as a detection signal. Because the flow rate of the hypochlorous acid water flowing through the water storage tank 6 is slower than that of the downstream pipe 14 and the discharge pipe 15, the pH meter 7 can accurately detect the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water, stabilizing the measurement of the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water by the pH meter 7 and stabilizing the pH value of the discharged hypochlorous acid water.

[0019] Furthermore, as described above, the connection between the downstream end 42 of the downstream pipe 14 and the water tank 6 is located lower than the connection between the upstream end 51 of the discharge pipe 15 and the water tank 6, so that the generated hypochlorous acid water can be appropriately stirred in the water tank 6, further stabilizing the measurement by the pH meter 7.

[0020] A setting unit 80 is provided on the outside of the housing 10. The setting unit 80 is an operation unit that accepts input of a target pH value of the hypochlorous acid water to be generated, and is, for example, an operation button. The user can set the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water to be generated by operating the operation button. Note that the setting unit 80 is not limited to an operation button. For example, the setting unit 80 may be a functional unit that accepts input of a target pH value of the hypochlorous acid water to be generated wirelessly from an external information terminal.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the hypochlorous acid water generator 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the hypochlorous acid water generator 100 includes a controller 8. The controller 8 includes a control unit 81 and a storage unit 82 connected to the control unit 81 as a functional configuration mainly composed of hardware. The controller 8 is also communicatively connected to the flow meter 9, the first pump 3b of the first supply unit 3, the second pump 5b of the second supply unit 5, and the pH meter 7. The controller 8 is further connected to a setting unit 80, a wireless communication unit 83 and a display unit 84 that form an interface with the outside, and an external storage device 85.

[0022] The control unit 81 is, for example, a computer, and includes a processor such as an MPU, or an integrated circuit such as an ASIC. The storage unit 82 is a memory accessible from the control unit 81, and includes, for example, RAM and ROM. The RAM temporarily stores various data used during calculations by the control unit 81. The ROM stores computer programs and data for various data processing operations. Therefore, the control unit 81 executes the computer program while referencing the data stored in the storage unit 82.

[0023] The controller 8 then automatically adjusts the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water through feedback control so that the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water matches the target pH value received by the setting unit 80. Specifically, the control unit 81 calculates the deviation between the pH value of the aqueous solution in the water tank 6 detected by the pH meter 7 and the target pH value. The control unit 81 then determines the amount of sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution to be supplied to the raw water flowing through the first pipe 12 and the amount of chlorine to be supplied to the raw water flowing through the second pipe 13, based on the flow rate of the raw water flowing through the upstream pipe 11 detected by the flow meter 9, so as to bring the calculated deviation closer to zero. The control unit 81 then outputs control signals to the first supply unit 3 and the second supply unit 5 to control them. This allows hypochlorous acid water to be generated at the target pH value. The residual chlorine concentration of the generated hypochlorous acid water corresponds to the pH value of the hypochlorous acid water.

[0024] Furthermore, the control unit 81 monitors the operating status of the hypochlorous acid water generator 100 based on the pH value of the aqueous solution in the water tank 6 detected by the pH meter 7. For example, if the difference between the pH value predicted from the amount of sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution supplied to the raw water flowing through the first pipe 12 and the amount of chlorine supplied to the raw water flowing through the second pipe 13 and the pH value of the aqueous solution in the water tank 6 detected by the pH meter 7 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit 81 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the hypochlorous acid water generator 100.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a communication network connecting the hypochlorous acid water generator 100. The wireless communication unit 83 is a communication unit that can be wirelessly connected to the access point 105 shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the controller 8 is communicably connected to the mobile information terminal 101 and information terminal 102 on the premises where the hypochlorous acid water generator 100 is installed via the access point 105. The wireless communication unit 83 is also communicably connected to the mail server 106 via the access point 105. As a result, it is possible to send emails to the external mobile information terminal 103 and information terminal 104. Therefore, the controller 8 can transmit various information to terminals on the premises and external terminals and display the information on each terminal. The information displayed on the terminal includes the operating status of the hypochlorous acid water generator 100 and any abnormalities that have occurred in the hypochlorous acid water generator 100.

[0026] The display unit 84 is, for example, a color liquid crystal display device. The controller 8 controls the display unit 84 to display the operating status of the hypochlorous acid water generator 100. Furthermore, when the controller 8 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the hypochlorous acid water generator 100, the controller 8 controls the display unit 84 to display information for notifying the occurrence of the abnormality on the display unit 84.

[0027] The external storage device 85 is, for example, a recording medium using a semiconductor memory. The controller 8 outputs a file recording the operating conditions of the vehicle 100 to the external storage device 85, and the file is stored in the external storage device 85.

[0028] When the control unit 81 determines that an error has occurred, that is, the pH value of the aqueous solution measured by the pH meter 7 deviates from a predetermined normal range, the control unit 81 notifies the error by email via the communication network. This allows the administrator of the hypochlorous acid water generation apparatus 100 to be promptly notified of the error.

[0029] From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure and / or function thereof may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Flow path 2. First Tank 3 1st supply section 4. Second Tank 5 Second supply section 6. Water Tank 7 pH meter 8 Controller 9 Flowmeter 11 Upstream pipeline 12 1st pipeline 13 2nd pipeline 14 Downstream pipeline 15 Discharge pipe line 80 Setting section 100 Hypochlorous Acid Water Generator

Claims

1. an upstream pipeline to which raw water is supplied from the upstream side; a first conduit and a second conduit, the upstream ends of which branch off from a downstream end of the upstream conduit and extend, and the downstream ends of which join together; a first tank for storing an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution; a first supply unit that supplies the sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution stored in the first tank to the raw water flowing through the first pipeline; a second tank for storing hydrochloric acid; a second supply unit that supplies hydrochloric acid stored in the second tank to the raw water flowing through the second pipeline; a downstream pipe having an upstream end connected to downstream ends of the first pipe and the second pipe; a water tank connected to a downstream end of the downstream pipe; a pH meter for measuring the pH value of the aqueous solution in the water storage tank; a discharge pipe whose upstream end is connected to the water tank; A setting unit that receives an input of a target pH value of the hypochlorous acid water to be generated; a control unit that controls the first supply unit and the second supply unit, The control unit calculates the deviation between the pH value of the aqueous solution in the water tank detected by the pH meter and the target pH value, and determines and supplies the amount of sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution to be supplied to the raw water flowing through the first pipeline and the amount of chlorine to be supplied to the raw water flowing through the second pipeline so as to bring the calculated deviation closer to zero.

2. The hypochlorous acid water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a connection portion between the downstream pipe and the water tank is located below a connection portion between the discharge pipe and the water tank.

3. Equipped with a wireless communication unit that can connect to a mail server, 2. The hypochlorous acid water generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that an error has occurred in which the pH value of the aqueous solution measured by the pH meter deviates from a predetermined normal range, the control unit notifies the error by email via the mail server.

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