Water Alkaline Device

Abstract

To extend the service life of a water alkalinization device and reduce its manufacturing cost.SOLUTION: There is provided a water alkalinization device 1 including: an electrode 14 arranged so that at least a part of it is immersed in an electrolytic solution 11 stored inside an electrolytic bath 10; and a power supply unit 20 electrically connected to the electrode 14 and for applying voltage to the electrode 14, in which the water quality of the electrolytic solution 11 is made alkaline by generating a basic liquid by energizing the electrode 14. The electrode 14 is configured in such a manner that a second electrode portion 14b serving as a cathode has a higher ionization tendency than a first electrode portion 14a serving as an anode, and an application of voltage to the electrode 14 by the power supply unit 20 is periodically regulated to keep the electrode 14 in a non-energized state for a predetermined period of time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A water alkalizing device has been proposed in Patent Document 1. This water alkalizing device is configured by storing electrolyzed water in an electrolytic cell and arranging electrodes immersed in the electrolyzed water. The electrodes have an anode and a cathode arranged spaced apart from each other, and each is electrically connected to a power supply unit via a conductor. The anode and cathode constituting the electrodes are flat plates containing magnesium, and the power supply unit applies a DC voltage to the anode and cathode.

[0003] In such a water alkalizing device, hydroxide ions (OH - ) to produce a basic liquid, thereby alkalizing the water.

[0004] In such water alkalizing devices, basic liquid can be continuously produced, but hardness components contained in electrolyzed water adhere to the surface of the electrodes. Because the adhesion of such hardness components makes electrolysis of electrolyzed water difficult, the water alkalizing device periodically performs a cleaning operation in which the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes is reversed to dissolve and discharge the hardness components (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-50809 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the water alkalinization device, the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes is reversed to periodically perform cleaning operation, which can extend the service life of the device. However, this requires control to reverse the polarity of the electrodes, and this control is complicated, which leads to increased manufacturing costs.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a water alkalinization apparatus that can extend the service life and reduce manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the water alkalinization device of the present invention comprises electrodes arranged so that at least a portion thereof is immersed in an electrolyte solution stored inside an electrolytic cell, and a power supply unit electrically connected to the electrodes and for applying a voltage to the electrodes, and alkalinizes the water quality of the electrolyte solution by generating a basic liquid by energizing the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are configured such that the cathode has a higher ionization tendency than the anode, and the application of voltage to the electrodes by the power supply unit is periodically regulated to cause the electrodes to be in a non-energized state for a predetermined period of time.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that in the water alkalinization device, the electrodes contain a metal included in the second element.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that in the water alkalinization apparatus, the electrodes contain magnesium.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that in the water alkalinization device, the electrolyte is tap water. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the electrodes are configured in such a manner that the cathode has a higher ionization tendency than the anode, and the application of voltage to the electrodes by the power supply unit is periodically regulated to keep the electrodes in a non-energized state for a predetermined period of time. This makes it possible to clean the surface of the cathode without reversing the polarity of the electrodes as in the conventional case, thereby achieving the effects of extending the service life and reducing manufacturing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a water alkalinization device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a water alkalizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the water alkalizing device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams each showing a schematic configuration of a water alkalizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water alkalizing device 1 shown here includes an electrolytic cell 10.

[0016] The electrolytic cell 10 is a reaction vessel that stores therein an electrolytic solution 11. The electrolytic solution 11 is, for example, tap water or an aqueous solution such as a sodium hydroxide solution, and in this embodiment, it is tap water supplied through a water supply path 12.

[0017] A discharge line 13 is connected to the electrolytic cell 10. When the electrolytic solution 11 in the electrolytic cell 10 becomes alkaline water (basic liquid) having a desired hydrogen ion exponent, a discharge valve (not shown) provided on the discharge line 13 opens, thereby discharging the alkaline water. The discharge valve is normally closed.

[0018] An electrode 14 is disposed in such an electrolytic cell 10 with a portion thereof immersed in the electrolytic solution 11. The electrode 14 has a first electrode portion 14a and a second electrode portion 14b disposed in a spaced apart manner, and each is electrically connected to a power supply unit 20 via a conductor 15.

[0019] The power supply unit 20 is configured to include a DC power supply 21 and a switch 22. The DC power supply 21 is electrically connected so that the first electrode portion 14a serves as an anode and the second electrode portion 14b serves as a cathode, and applies a DC voltage to the electrode 14.

[0020] When switch 22 is closed as shown in Fig. 1, it allows DC voltage from DC power supply 21 to be applied to electrode 14, placing electrode 14 in a conducting state, whereas when switch 22 is open as shown in Fig. 2, it restricts the application of DC voltage from DC power supply 21 to electrode 14, placing electrode 14 in a non-conducting state. Such power supply unit 20 is adjusted so that switch 22 periodically repeats closing and opening.

[0021] The first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b constituting the electrode 14 both contain a Group 2 element, specifically, are made of an alloy containing magnesium. The electrode 14 is configured such that the second electrode portion 14b, which forms the cathode, has a higher ionization tendency than the first electrode portion 14a, which forms the anode.

[0022] Here, a configuration in which the ionization tendency is high generally occurs when the magnesium content in second electrode portion 14b is higher than the magnesium content in first electrode portion 14a. Note that even if the magnesium content in second electrode portion 14b is lower than the magnesium content in first electrode portion 14a, second electrode portion 14b may contain, for example, calcium, which has a higher ionization tendency than magnesium, so that the ionization tendency is higher than that of first electrode portion 14a.

[0023] In this embodiment, the first electrode portion 14a is made of a magnesium-aluminum-zinc alloy (magnesium content of approximately 90%), and the second electrode portion 14b is made of a magnesium-aluminum-zinc-calcium alloy (magnesium content of approximately 97%), and the ionization tendency of the second electrode portion 14b is higher than that of the first electrode portion 14a.

[0024] In the water alkalinization device 1 having the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, when the switch 22 is closed, a DC voltage is applied to the electrodes 14 to energize them, thereby electrolyzing the electrolyte 11.

[0025] As a result, an electrolytic reaction of magnesium occurs at the first electrode portion (anode) 14a as shown in the following formula (1), and a reaction occurs at the second electrode portion (cathode) 14b as shown in the following formula (2).

[0026] Formula (1) Mg→Mg 2+ +2e - Formula (2) 2H2O+2e - →H2+2OH -

[0027] As a result, hydroxide ions are generated at the second electrode portion 14b, and the water quality of the electrolyte solution 11 can be made alkaline.

[0028] By continuing electrolysis by maintaining the current flow to the electrode 14, hydroxide ions are generated at the second electrode portion 14b, but impurities such as iron and aluminum, which have a lower ionization tendency than magnesium, are precipitated on the surface. Such precipitation of impurities is undesirable because it leads to a decrease in electrolysis performance.

[0029] Therefore, in the water alkaline generation device 1, as shown in Figure 2, the switch 22 is periodically opened to periodically restrict the application of DC voltage to the electrode 14. In other words, an electrolysis stop period (a predetermined period) is set, and the electrode 14 is kept in a non-conductive state only during this electrolysis stop period. As a result, an open circuit voltage acts on the electrode 14.

[0030] When the electrode 14 is in a non-conductive state, the potentials of the first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b become substantially the same. As described above, the second electrode portion 14b has a higher ionization tendency than the first electrode portion 14a, so the magnesium dissolution reaction of the above formula (1) proceeds slightly in the second electrode portion 14b. Furthermore, when the calcium content is high, the calcium dissolution reaction of the following formula (3) proceeds in the second electrode portion 14b.

[0031] Formula (3) Ca→Ca 2+ +2e -

[0032] As the dissolution reaction of the above formula (1) or (3) proceeds at the second electrode portion 14b, impurities generated by electrolysis can be removed, and the surface of the second electrode portion 14b can be cleaned.

[0033] Furthermore, the amount of magnesium and other substances dissolved in the second electrode portion 14b when the electrode 14 is in a non-energized state is extremely small compared to the amount of magnesium dissolved in the first electrode portion 14a when the electrode 14 is in a powered state, and there is no risk of it affecting the service life, etc.

[0034] As described above, in the water alkalinization device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the electrode 14 is configured in such a way that the second electrode portion (cathode) 14b has a higher ionization tendency than the first electrode portion (anode) 14a, and by periodically opening the switch 22, the application of voltage to the electrode 14 by the power supply unit 20 is periodically regulated, and the electrode 14 is kept in a non-energized state only during periods when electrolysis is stopped. This makes it possible to clean the surface of the second electrode portion 14b without reversing the polarity of the electrode 14 as in the conventional case, thereby extending the service life and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0035] The configurations illustrated in the above-described embodiments are merely functional schematics and are not necessarily physically configured as shown. In other words, the distribution and integration of each device and component is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various usage situations, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1...water alkalinization device, 10...electrolytic cell, 11...electrolyte, 14...electrode, 14a...first electrode portion, 14b...second electrode portion, 15...conductor, 20...power supply portion, 21...DC power supply, 22...switch.

Claims

1. an electrode disposed so as to be at least partially immersed in an electrolytic solution stored inside the electrolytic cell; a power supply unit electrically connected to the electrode and for applying a voltage to the electrode; Equipped with A water alkalizing device that alkalizes the water quality of the electrolyte by generating a basic liquid by energizing the electrodes, The electrodes are configured such that the cathode has a higher ionization tendency than the anode, A water alkalinization device characterized in that the application of voltage to the electrodes by the power supply unit is periodically regulated to cause the electrodes to be in a non-energized state for a predetermined period of time.

2. 2. The water alkalizing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes contain a metal included in the second element.

3. 3. The water alkalizing device according to claim 2, wherein the electrodes contain magnesium.

4. 4. The water alkalizing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is tap water.

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