Water alkalizing device

Abstract

To provide a quick equalization of a hydrogen ion concentration index of a generated basic liquid while controlling an increase in production cost.SOLUTION: A water quality alkalizer 1 for alkalizing the water quality of an electrolytic solution 11 by generating a basic liquid by applying a voltage between electrodes 14 immersed in the electrolytic solution 11 stored inside an electrolytic tank 10. The first electrode 14a and the second electrode 14b of the electrodes 14 are arranged near the bottom 10a of the electrolytic tank 10. The first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b preferably comprise a metal included in the Group 2 elements, preferably magnesium. The electrolytic solution 11 is preferably tap water.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a water quality alkalization device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a water quality alkalization device has been proposed in Patent Document 1. This water quality alkalization device is configured by storing electrolyzed water in an electrolytic cell and arranging electrodes in a state of being immersed in this electrolyzed water. The electrodes have an anode arranged in an anodic chamber partitioned through a diaphragm and a cathode arranged in a cathodic chamber, and each is electrically connected to a power supply unit through a conducting wire.

[0003] In such a water quality alkalization device, hydroxide ions (OH - ) are generated in the electrolyzed water to generate a basic liquid in the cathodic chamber, thereby alkalizing the water quality.

[0004] In such a water quality alkalization device, by driving the stirring means arranged inside the cathodic chamber, forced convection is caused in the cathodic chamber, and the pH of the basic liquid generated in the cathodic chamber is quickly equalized.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the above water quality alkalization device, since the stirring means is driven to cause forced convection in the cathodic chamber to quickly equalize the pH of the basic liquid generated in the cathodic chamber, the stirring means is essential, and an increase in the number of parts has led to an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a water alkalizing device that can quickly equalize the hydrogen ion concentration index of the generated basic liquid while suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the water alkalizing apparatus according to the present invention is a water alkalizing apparatus that alkalizes the water quality of an electrolyte by applying a voltage between electrodes immersed in an electrolyte stored inside an electrolytic cell to generate a basic liquid, wherein at least the cathode of the electrodes is located near the bottom surface of the electrolytic cell.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned water alkalizing device, the electrode is made up of a metal containing a second element, at least in the anode.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned water alkalizing device, the electrode comprises at least the anode containing magnesium.

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

[0012] According to the present invention, since at least the cathode is positioned near the bottom of the electrolytic cell, the time required to homogenize the hydrogen ion concentration index can be shortened by the stirring effect of hydrogen bubbles generated at the cathode without requiring stirring means such as in the conventional method. This has the effect of quickly homogenizing the hydrogen ion concentration index of the produced basic liquid while suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a water alkalizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the electrode arrangement shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a chart showing the change in the pH of the basic liquid when electrolysis is performed by installing the electrode near the bottom surface of the electrolytic cell. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a chart showing the change in the pH of the basic liquid when electrolysis is performed by installing the electrode near the liquid surface of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the electrode arrangement example shown in Figure 2.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the water quality alkalization device according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0015] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a water quality alkalization device which is an embodiment of the present invention. The water quality alkalization device 1 illustrated here includes an electrolytic cell 10.

[0016] The electrolytic cell 10 is a reaction vessel for storing an electrolyte 11 inside. The electrolyte 11 is an aqueous solution such as, for example, tap water or an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. In this embodiment, it is tap water supplied through a water supply path 12.

[0017] A discharge path 13 is connected to this electrolytic cell 10. This discharge path 13 is a path for discharging the alkaline water when the electrolyte 11 in the electrolytic cell 10 becomes alkaline water (basic liquid) having a desired hydrogen ion index, by the discharge valve (not shown) provided in the discharge path 13 being in an open state. The discharge valve is normally in a closed state.

[0018] In such an electrolytic cell 10, the electrodes 14 are arranged in a state of being immersed in the electrolytic solution 11. The electrodes 14 have a first electrode portion 14a and a second electrode portion 14b arranged in a spaced-apart manner from each other, and each is electrically connected to the power supply unit 16 through a conducting wire 15. The power supply unit 16 is electrically connected such that the first electrode portion 14a is the anode and the second electrode portion 14b is the cathode, and includes a DC power supply that applies a DC voltage to the electrodes 14.

[0019] Both the first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b constituting the above-mentioned electrode 14 are configured to contain Group 2 elements, and specifically, are made of an alloy containing magnesium.

[0020] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b are arranged near the bottom surface 10a of the electrolytic cell 10. Here, the vicinity of the bottom surface 10a means a state of being as close as possible without contacting the bottom surface 10a, and it is desirable that the first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b are close to each other and partially face each other.

[0021] In the water quality alkalization device 1 having the above-described configuration, electrolysis of the electrolytic solution 11 is performed by applying a DC voltage to the electrodes 14 to energize them.

[0022] As a result, at the first electrode portion (anode) 14a, an electrolysis reaction of magnesium occurs as shown in the following formula (1), and at the second electrode portion (cathode) 14b, a reaction as shown in the following formula (2) occurs.

[0023] Formula (1) Mg → Mg 2+ +2e - Formula (2) 2H2O + 2e - →H2 + 2OH -

[0024] As a result, hydroxide ions are generated at the second electrode portion 14b, and the water quality of the electrolytic solution 11 can be alkalized.

[0025] Furthermore, since the first electrode section 14a and the second electrode section 14b are positioned near the bottom surface 10a of the electrolytic cell 10, hydrogen bubbles are generated at the second electrode section 14b, and the stirring effect of these bubbles shortens the time required to homogenize the hydrogen ion concentration index of the generated alkaline water.

[0026] Below, Figure 3 shows the change in the hydrogen ion concentration index of the basic liquid when electrolysis is performed using AZ31B, a magnesium alloy, as the electrode 14 (first electrode portion 14a and second electrode portion 14b), and the electrode 14 is placed near the bottom surface 10a of the electrolytic cell 10 as shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 shows the change in the hydrogen ion concentration index of the basic liquid when electrolysis is performed with the electrode 14 placed near the liquid surface of the electrolyte 11 in the electrolytic cell 10. Here, tap water was used as the electrolyte 11.

[0027] In Figure 3, electrolysis was stopped at t1 seconds (approximately 1450 seconds) after it had started. It is clear that the hydrogen ion concentration index became uniform at t1 seconds in all three parts of the electrolytic cell 10: the lower part (near the bottom surface 10a), the upper part (near the liquid surface of the electrolyte 11), and the middle part (intermediate between the lower and upper parts).

[0028] On the other hand, in Figure 4, electrolysis was stopped after t2 seconds (approximately 600 seconds) from the start of electrolysis, but it is clear that there was a large variation in the hydrogen ion concentration index in the lower, upper, and middle parts of the electrolytic cell 10, and that the hydrogen ion concentration index in the lower, upper, and middle parts of the electrolytic cell 10 became uniform after approximately 6000 seconds.

[0029] As described above, according to the water alkalizing device 1, which is an embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes 14 have a first electrode section (anode) 14a and a second electrode section (cathode) 14b arranged near the bottom surface 10a of the electrolytic cell 10. Therefore, the time required to homogenize the hydrogen ion concentration index can be shortened by the stirring effect of hydrogen bubbles generated at the second electrode section 14b without requiring stirring means such as in the conventional method. This makes it possible to homogenize the hydrogen ion concentration index of the produced alkaline water (basic liquid) quickly while suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0030] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made.

[0031] In the above-described embodiment, the first electrode section 14a, which is the anode, and the second electrode section 14b, which is the cathode, were arranged near the bottom surface 10a of the electrolytic cell 10. However, in the present invention, only the cathode may be arranged near the bottom surface of the electrolytic cell. Even in this case, the stirring effect of hydrogen bubbles generated at the cathode, without the need for stirring means, can shorten the time required to homogenize the hydrogen ion concentration index. This makes it possible to homogenize the hydrogen ion concentration index of the generated basic liquid at an early stage while suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0032] In the embodiments described above, the first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b constituting the electrode 14 were both made of the same material. However, in the present invention, only the anode may be made of a metal included in the second element, and in particular may be made of magnesium.

[0033] In the embodiment described above, the first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b faced each other in a left-right pair near the bottom surface 10a of the electrolytic cell 10. However, as shown in Figure 5, the first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b may also face each other in an up-down pair near the bottom surface 10a of the electrolytic cell 10.

[0034] In this case, it is desirable that the second electrode portion 14b, which is the cathode, be closer to the bottom surface 10a than the first electrode portion 14a, which is the anode. However, since the first electrode portion 14a and the second electrode portion 14b are located near the bottom surface 10a, the first electrode portion 14a may be located closer to the bottom surface 10a than the second electrode portion 14b.

[0035] The configurations illustrated in the embodiments described above are functional schematics and do not necessarily have to be physically arranged as shown. In other words, the forms of distribution and integration of each device and component are not limited to those shown, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various usage situations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1...Water alkalinization device, 10...Electrolytic cell, 10a...Bottom surface, 11...Electrolyte, 14...Electrode, 14a...First electrode section, 14b...Second electrode section, 15...Conducting wire, 16...Power supply section.

Claims

1. A water alkalizing device that alkalizes the water quality of an electrolyte by applying a voltage between electrodes immersed in an electrolyte stored inside an electrolytic cell to generate a basic liquid, The water alkalizing device is characterized in that the anode and cathode constituting the electrodes are made of magnesium, are in close proximity to each other with parts facing each other, and are positioned near the bottom surface of the electrolytic cell with their lower surfaces facing the bottom surface of the electrolytic cell.

2. The water alkalizing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrolyte is tap water.

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