Quantity measuring device, electrode regeneration program, and electrode regeneration method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a quantity measuring device, an electrode regeneration program, and an electrode regeneration method that can suppress deterioration of a silver / silver chloride electrode. [Solution] The device comprises a sensor including an electrode unit capable of measuring the quantity value of the liquid to be measured, and an irradiation unit capable of irradiating ultraviolet light, the electrode unit having a silver / silver chloride electrode, and the irradiation unit configured to irradiate ultraviolet light onto the silver / silver chloride electrode.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a quantity measuring device, an electrode regeneration program, and an electrode regeneration method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a liquid residual chlorine concentration meter has been known which includes a platinum electrode that functions as a working electrode and a silver / silver chloride electrode that functions as a reference electrode, and measures the residual chlorine concentration in sample water using the voltage generated between the platinum electrode and the silver / silver chloride electrode when the two electrodes are immersed in sample water (Patent Document 1, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-090986 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the residual chlorine concentration meter in liquid described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the silver / silver chloride electrode deteriorates when chlorine in the sample water adheres to the electrode, which can cause measurement errors.

[0005] The present invention relates to a quantity measuring device, an electrode regeneration program, and an electrode regeneration method that can suppress deterioration of a silver / silver chloride electrode. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The quantity measuring device according to the present invention comprises a sensor including an electrode unit capable of measuring the quantity value of a liquid to be measured, and an irradiation unit capable of irradiating ultraviolet light, wherein the electrode unit has a silver / silver chloride electrode, and the irradiation unit is configured to irradiate ultraviolet light onto the silver / silver chloride electrode.

[0007] The quantity measuring device according to the present invention may include a flow cell capable of accommodating the electrode unit, and the irradiation unit may be provided in the flow cell.

[0008] The quantity measuring device according to the present invention may include a plurality of the irradiation units.

[0009] The electrode regeneration program of the present invention is an electrode regeneration program that causes a quantity measuring device that includes an electrode unit having a silver / silver chloride electrode, a sensor that can measure the quantity value of a liquid to be measured, and an irradiation unit that can irradiate ultraviolet light to execute a regeneration process that regenerates the electrode unit, and causes the quantity measuring device to execute a process of irradiating ultraviolet light onto the silver / silver chloride electrode using the irradiation unit.

[0010] The electrode regeneration method according to the present invention is a method for regenerating an electrode portion using a quantity measuring device that includes an electrode portion having a silver / silver chloride electrode, a sensor capable of measuring the quantity value of a liquid to be measured, and an irradiation portion capable of irradiating ultraviolet light, and regenerates the electrode portion by irradiating ultraviolet light onto the silver / silver chloride electrode using the irradiation portion.

[0011] In the electrode regeneration method according to the present invention, the electrode unit may be regenerated in a state where the electrode unit is disposed on a path through which a liquid to be measured flows. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the quantity measuring device, electrode regeneration program, and electrode regeneration method of the present invention, deterioration of silver / silver chloride electrodes can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a quantity measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a sensor, a flow cell, and an irradiation unit according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the inventions according to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. Furthermore, in the present embodiments, the scale and dimensions of each component may be exaggerated, and some components may be omitted.

[0015] [Overall configuration of quantity measuring device] The quantity measuring device 1 according to this embodiment is, in outline, a quantity measuring device having a silver / silver chloride electrode, capable of suppressing deterioration of the silver / silver chloride electrode by irradiating the silver / silver chloride electrode with ultraviolet light. Therefore, the quantity measuring device 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is a quantity measuring device having a silver / silver chloride electrode. However, in the following description, as an example, the quantity measuring device 1 will be described as a residual chlorine concentration measuring device. As shown in FIG. 1 , the quantity measuring device 1 includes a sensor 100 including an electrode unit 120 and capable of measuring the quantity value of a liquid to be measured, a flow cell 200 capable of accommodating the sensor 100, an irradiation unit 300 capable of irradiating ultraviolet light, and a device main body 400 connected to the sensor 100 and the irradiation unit 300. The sensor 100 and the device main body 400 are electrically connected via a first wiring W1. The irradiation unit 300 and the device main body 400 are electrically connected via a second wiring W2. It should be noted that the first wiring W1 and the second wiring W2 may not be used, but may be connected wirelessly.

[0016] [Sensor configuration] 2, the sensor 100 has a rod member 110 attached to the tip of the first wiring W1, and an electrode unit 120 attached to the tip of the rod member 110. Note that the rod member 110 is not an essential component of the sensor 100, and other components may be employed as long as the electrode unit 120 can be positioned on a path R, which will be described later.

[0017] The electrode unit 120 has a working electrode 121 and a reference electrode 122. The electrode unit 120 is provided on a path R through which the liquid to be measured flows, and is configured to measure a voltage value corresponding to the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured as a quantity value of the liquid to be measured. The working electrode 121 and the reference electrode 122 are electrically connected to the device body 400 via a first wiring W1 attached to the rod member 110. The working electrode 121 is a silver / silver chloride electrode. The reference electrode 122 may be, for example, a platinum electrode. The electrode unit 120 may have a counter electrode in addition to the working electrode 121 and the reference electrode 122. Alternatively, the working electrode 121 may be a platinum electrode, and the reference electrode 122 may be a silver / silver chloride electrode.

[0018] [Flow cell configuration] As shown in Figure 2, the flow cell 200 has a storage section 210 that can store the rod member 110 and the electrode section 120, an upstream connection section 220 that can be connected to a first flow path F1 provided upstream of the flow cell 200, and a downstream connection section 230 that can be connected to a second flow path F2 provided downstream of the flow cell 200.

[0019] The accommodation section 210 is formed in a long cylindrical shape having an accommodation space 211 capable of accommodating the rod member 110 and the electrode section 120. A first insertion opening 212 for passing the first wiring W1 is formed at the upper end of the accommodation section 210. Note that the accommodation section 210 only needs to be configured to be able to accommodate at least the electrode section 120, and when a configuration alternative to the rod member 110 is adopted, the accommodation section 210 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the adopted configuration.

[0020] The upstream connecting part 220 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an upstream flow space 221 that can allow the liquid to be measured to flow, and is formed to extend from the vicinity of the closed end (lower end) of the storage part 210 toward the outside in the short direction of the storage part 210. An inlet 222 is formed at the tip end of the upstream connecting part 220 to allow the liquid to be measured to flow into the upstream flow space 221. At the base end of the upstream connecting part 220, the upstream flow space 221 communicates with the storage space 211.

[0021] The downstream connecting part 230 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a downstream flow space 231 that allows the liquid to be measured to flow, and is formed to extend from the center of the longitudinal direction of the storage part 210 toward the outside in the lateral direction of the storage part 210. An outlet 232 is formed at the tip end of the downstream connecting part 230 to allow the liquid to be measured to flow out from the downstream flow space 231. At the base end of the downstream connecting part 230, the downstream flow space 231 communicates with the storage space 211.

[0022] It is preferable that the downstream connection part 230 is located at a higher position than the upstream connection part 220 in order to allow air bubbles on the path R to escape and improve the measurement accuracy of the electrode part 120, but this is not limited to this.

[0023] In the flow cell 200 having the above configuration, the liquid to be measured flows in through the inlet 222, flows through the upstream flow space 221, the storage space 211, and the downstream flow space 231, and then flows out through the outlet 232 (see the arrows in FIG. 2). That is, in the flow cell 200 according to this embodiment, the upstream flow space 221, the storage space 211, and the downstream flow space 231 form a path R along which the liquid to be measured flows. The flow cell 200 is configured so that the electrode unit 120 is located on the path R by storing the electrode unit 120 in the storage space 211.

[0024] [Configuration of the irradiation unit] As shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of irradiation units 300 (two in this embodiment) are provided in the flow cell 200. Each irradiation unit 300 is preferably provided in a position where it can irradiate the silver / silver chloride electrode (the working electrode 121 in this embodiment) with ultraviolet light from different directions so as to prevent a shadow from being cast when the silver / silver chloride electrode is irradiated with ultraviolet light. In this embodiment, each irradiation unit 300 is inserted into a second insertion opening 213 formed in the closed end (lower end) of the storage unit 210. The second insertion opening 213 is sealed by the irradiation unit 300.

[0025] It is also possible to provide only one irradiation unit 300 in the flow cell 200. The installation position of the irradiation unit 300 is not limited to the closed end of the storage unit 210, and may be any position that can irradiate the silver / silver chloride electrode with ultraviolet light.

[0026] The irradiation unit 300 has a light source such as an LED, and is configured to irradiate the silver / silver chloride electrode (the working electrode 121 in this embodiment) with ultraviolet light. From the viewpoint of regenerating the silver / silver chloride electrode, the wavelength of the ultraviolet light is preferably 100 nm or more and 410 nm or less, and more preferably 200 nm or more and 410 nm or less.

[0027] [Device configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, the device main body 400 includes a control unit 410 having at least a CPU, a storage unit 420 having at least a RAM and a ROM, and a display unit 430 that displays various information.

[0028] The control unit 410 has a calculation unit 411 that calculates a predetermined concentration in the liquid to be measured using the measurement value of the sensor 100, and an irradiation control unit 412 that can control the timing to start and end irradiation of ultraviolet light by the irradiation unit 300. The control unit 410 is configured to load a measurement program and an electrode regeneration program stored in ROM into RAM and have the CPU interpret and execute these programs, thereby realizing the functions of the calculation unit 411 and the irradiation control unit 412 described below.

[0029] Here, the measurement program is a program that causes the quantity measuring device 1 to execute a process of causing the sensor 100 to measure the quantity value of the liquid to be measured, and a process of calculating a predetermined concentration in the liquid to be measured using the measurement value of the sensor 100. The electrode regeneration program is a program that causes the quantity measuring device 1 to execute a regeneration process of regenerating the electrode unit 120, specifically, a process of causing the irradiation unit 300 to irradiate ultraviolet light onto the silver / silver chloride electrode (the working electrode 121 in this embodiment). Note that "regenerating the electrode unit 120" means irradiating the silver / silver chloride electrode with ultraviolet light to remove chlorine adhering to the silver / silver chloride electrode.

[0030] The calculation unit 411 is configured to calculate the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured using the voltage value measured by the sensor 100. Specifically, the calculation unit 411 is configured to calculate the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured based on the voltage value measured by the sensor 100 and a calibration curve showing the relationship between the residual chlorine concentration and the voltage. The calibration curve is stored in advance in the storage unit 420.

[0031] The irradiation control unit 412 is configured to control the start timing and end timing of irradiation by the irradiating unit 300 so that the calculation timing by the calculation unit 411 (i.e., the measurement timing by the sensor 100) and the irradiation timing by the irradiating unit 300 are alternately executed. Specifically, the irradiation control unit 412 is configured to start ultraviolet irradiation by the irradiating unit 300 after the calculation unit 411 calculates a predetermined concentration (residual chlorine concentration in this embodiment) in the liquid to be measured. Furthermore, the irradiation control unit 412 is configured to end ultraviolet irradiation by the irradiating unit 300 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of ultraviolet irradiation by the irradiating unit 300.

[0032] The control of the irradiation unit 300 by the irradiation control unit 412 is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the irradiation control unit 412 may be configured to start irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the irradiation unit 300 at a predetermined timing, and to end irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the irradiation unit 300 when the measurement value of the sensor 100 measured during irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the irradiation unit 300 reaches a predetermined reference value. Furthermore, the quantity measuring device 1 may have, in addition to the sensor 100, another sensor placed in a measurement environment less susceptible to deterioration than the sensor 100, and the measurement value of the other sensor may be used as a reference value, and the irradiation unit 300 may continue irradiating ultraviolet rays until the measurement value of the sensor 100 reaches the same value as the measurement value of the other sensor. In these cases, measurements by the sensor 100, or by the sensor 100 and the other sensor, are performed continuously. Various other control configurations may also be employed.

[0033] The display unit 430 is a display, and is configured to display various information such as the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured calculated by the calculation unit 411.

[0034] [Measurement method and electrode regeneration method] Next, a measurement method and an electrode regeneration method using the quantity measuring device 1 shown as an example above will be described.

[0035] <Advance preparation> The user places the sensor 100 in the flow cell 200 and connects the flow cell 200 to a flow path through which the liquid to be measured flows. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the upstream connector 220 of the flow cell 200 is connected to a first flow path F1, and the downstream connector 230 of the flow cell 200 is connected to a second flow path F2. As a result, the liquid to be measured flows through the first flow path F1, path R, and second flow path F2.

[0036] <Measurement method> First, sensor 100 measures a voltage value corresponding to the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured. Specifically, when working electrode 121 and reference electrode 122 of electrode unit 120 come into contact with the liquid to be measured, an oxidation-reduction reaction generates a voltage between working electrode 121 and reference electrode 122 corresponding to the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured, and the voltage value is measured. Next, calculation unit 411 of device main body 400 calculates the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured based on the voltage value measured by sensor 100 and a calibration curve showing the relationship between the residual chlorine concentration and voltage. The residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured calculated by calculation unit 411 is displayed on display unit 430 of device main body 400.

[0037] <Electrode regeneration method> With the electrode unit 120 positioned on the path R through which the liquid to be measured flows, the irradiation unit 300 irradiates the silver / silver chloride electrode (the working electrode 121 in this embodiment) with ultraviolet light to regenerate the electrode unit 120. Specifically, after the calculation unit 411 calculates the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured, the irradiation control unit 412 causes the irradiation unit 300 to start irradiating with ultraviolet light, thereby regenerating the electrode unit 120. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the irradiation unit 300 started irradiating with ultraviolet light, the irradiation control unit 412 causes the irradiation unit 300 to stop irradiating with ultraviolet light.

[0038] [Advantages of the quantity measuring device according to this embodiment] The quantity measuring device 1 according to this embodiment includes a sensor 100 that includes an electrode unit 120 and is capable of measuring the quantity value of the liquid to be measured, and an irradiation unit 300 that is capable of irradiating ultraviolet light, the electrode unit 120 having a silver / silver chloride electrode, and the irradiation unit 300 being configured to irradiate ultraviolet light onto the silver / silver chloride electrode.

[0039] According to the quantity measuring device 1 having such a configuration, chlorine adhering to the silver / silver chloride electrode can be removed, thereby suppressing deterioration of the silver / silver chloride electrode. That is, while chlorine in the liquid to be measured adheres to the silver / silver chloride electrode and causes deterioration during use of the sensor 100, the quantity measuring device 1 having the above configuration can remove chlorine adhering to the silver / silver chloride electrode by irradiating the silver / silver chloride electrode with ultraviolet light, thereby suppressing deterioration of the silver / silver chloride electrode.

[0040] The quantity measuring device 1 according to this embodiment includes a flow cell 200 that can accommodate the electrode unit 120, and the irradiation unit 300 is provided in the flow cell 200. With the quantity measuring device 1 having such a configuration, there is no need to immerse the electrode unit 120 in sample water, and the electrode can be regenerated while the electrode unit 120 is still accommodated in the flow cell 200, significantly reducing the burden on the user. Furthermore, because the liquid to be measured is the same or approximately the same each time, the frequency of calibration of the sensor 100 can be reduced.

[0041] The quantity measuring device 1 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of irradiation units 300. The quantity measuring device 1 having such a configuration can prevent leakage of ultraviolet light from irradiating the silver / silver chloride electrode.

[0042] [Variations] The quantity measuring device, electrode regeneration program, and electrode regeneration method according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the technical concept of the present invention.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the sensor 100 measures a voltage value, and the calculation unit 411 calculates the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured using the voltage value measured by the sensor 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration may also be such that the sensor 100 measures a current value corresponding to the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured, and the calculation unit 411 calculates the residual chlorine concentration of the liquid to be measured using the current value measured by the sensor 100. In other words, measurement may be performed using a so-called polarographic method, rather than a so-called galvanic method.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined concentration calculated by the calculation unit 411 is described as the residual chlorine concentration, but this is not limited to this and may be any other concentration that can be calculated using the measurement value of the sensor 100.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the quantity measuring device 1 has been described as having a flow cell 200 that can accommodate the electrode unit 120, but this is not limited to this. The quantity measuring device 1 may have only the sensor 100, and the user may hold the irradiation unit 300 to directly irradiate ultraviolet light onto the electrode unit 120.

[0046] It is clear from the claims that the above-mentioned modifications are included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1:Quantity measuring device 100: Sensor 110: Bar member 120: Electrode part 121: Working electrode 122:Reference electrode 200: Flow cell 210: Storage unit 211: Containment space 212: First insertion slot 213: Second insertion slot 220: Upstream connection 221: Upstream flow space 222:Inlet 230: Downstream connection 231: Downstream flow space 232: Outlet 300: Irradiation unit 400: Device body 410: Control unit 411: Calculation section 412: Irradiation control unit 420: Storage section 430:Display section F1: First flow path F2: Second flow path W1: First wiring W2: Second wiring

Claims

1. a sensor including an electrode portion and capable of measuring a quantity value of the liquid to be measured; a flow cell capable of accommodating the electrode unit; An irradiation unit capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays Equipped with the electrode portion has a silver / silver chloride electrode, The irradiation unit is provided in the flow cell and is configured to irradiate the silver / silver chloride electrode with ultraviolet light. Quantity measuring device.

2. The irradiation unit includes a plurality of irradiation units. The quantity measuring device according to claim 1 .

3. An electrode regeneration program that causes a quantity measuring device including an electrode unit having a silver / silver chloride electrode, a sensor capable of measuring a quantity value of a liquid to be measured, and an irradiation unit capable of irradiating ultraviolet light, to execute a regeneration process for regenerating the electrode unit, The quantity measuring device is caused to perform a process of irradiating the silver / silver chloride electrode with ultraviolet light by the irradiation unit. Electrode regeneration program.

4. An electrode regeneration method for regenerating an electrode unit using a quantity measuring device including an electrode unit having a silver / silver chloride electrode, the electrode unit being equipped with a sensor capable of measuring a quantity value of a liquid to be measured and an irradiation unit capable of irradiating ultraviolet light, the method comprising: The silver / silver chloride electrode is irradiated with ultraviolet light by the irradiation unit, thereby regenerating the electrode unit. Electrode regeneration method.

5. The electrode unit is regenerated in a state where the electrode unit is disposed on a path through which the liquid to be measured flows. The electrode regeneration method according to claim 4.

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