Water production apparatus

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a water production apparatus which is capable of efficiently and accurately producing target water that contains an additive such as a mineral component.　A water production apparatus 1 comprises: an additive starting material storage tank 51 for storing an additive starting material for preparing an additive on the basis of specification information on specific target water; an additive stock solution storage tank 53 for storing an additive stock solution that is obtained by dissolving the additive starting material into raw water; an additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 for generating additive stock solution preparation information for preparing the additive stock solution by dissolving (mixing) the additive starting material in the raw water on the basis of the specification information; and an additive stock solution preparation unit 33 for dissolving the additive starting material stored in the additive starting material storage tank 51 into the raw water on the basis of the additive stock solution preparation information so as to prepare the additive stock solution and storing the additive stock solution in the additive stock solution storage tank 53.

Description

Water production device

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

[0002] Conventionally, a method of adding additives such as mineral components to water to produce water for a predetermined purpose is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes this type of technology. Patent Document 1 describes the preparation of a high-concentration mineral solution having a specific composition by dissolving chlorides of Ca, Mg, Na, and K, which are food additives, in purified water or the like at a specific ratio, aging or performing a preparation process, and then separating the solid content.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-060506

[0004] By the way, when attempting to provide a novel mineral additive excellent in functionality, safety, and stability, it is necessary to be able to add it instantaneously and enable a large amount of water treatment, and the additive should be in liquid form and the degree of dilution should be adjustable. When the water to be produced is for beverages, it is necessary that the produced water tastes good, contains an appropriate amount of essential minerals, has a low content rate of harmful elements and high safety, and is storable for a long time and particularly stable against temperature changes.

[0005] It is possible to directly mix mineral powder with the target water, but the water for the purpose produced by such a method has a high concentration of mineral components, so it is difficult to control the concentration adjustment. Also, in the method of dissolving granular mineral components in water, since the mineral components are in a state of being immersed in water, it is necessary to consider hygiene when not used immediately. There is also a problem that pH adjustment cannot be performed unless the mineral components are in a solution state.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a water production device that can efficiently and accurately produce water for a purpose containing additives such as mineral components.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the present invention is a water production apparatus comprising: an additive raw material storage tank for storing additive raw materials for adjusting additives based on specification information of water for a predetermined purpose; an additive stock storage tank for storing an additive stock obtained by dissolving the additive raw materials in raw water; an additive stock preparation information generation means for generating additive stock preparation information for preparing the additive stock by dissolving the additive raw materials in the raw water based on the specification information; and an additive stock preparation means for preparing the additive stock by dissolving the additive raw materials stored in the additive raw material storage tank in the raw water based on the additive stock preparation information, and storing the prepared additive stock in the additive stock storage tank.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a water production apparatus that can efficiently and accurately produce target water containing additives such as mineral components.

[0009] This figure shows an example of the overall configuration of a water production system according to one embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows an example of the configuration of the mechanism of the water production apparatus of this embodiment. This is a table showing an example of additive raw materials used in the water production apparatus of this embodiment. This is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus. This is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus. This is a table showing an example of specification information for the target water. This is a table showing an example of information regarding mineral requirements and additive concentrate volume among the additive concentrate preparation information. This is a table showing an example of control information for the mechanism to satisfy mineral requirements among the additive concentrate preparation information. This is a table showing an example of control information for the mechanism to satisfy additive concentrate volume among the additive concentrate preparation information. This is a table showing a first example of estimated TDS. This is a table showing a second example of estimated TDS. This is a flowchart showing the overall flow from the acquisition of specification information to water discharge by the water production apparatus of this embodiment. This is a flowchart showing the flow of water production processing using TDS as additive property information by the water production apparatus of this embodiment. This is a schematic diagram showing a water production apparatus that adds additives. This is a schematic diagram showing a water production apparatus that supplies raw water to an additive concentrate storage tank. This diagram schematically shows a water production apparatus that produces target water by mixing raw water with additive concentrate from an additive concentrate storage tank and then discharging the water. This diagram schematically shows a water production apparatus that drains the additive concentrate remaining after the additive concentrate from the additive concentrate storage tank is dropped into the water. This diagram schematically shows a water production apparatus that performs a washing treatment on the remaining additive concentrate after draining. This diagram schematically shows a water production apparatus that supplies raw water to an additive concentrate storage tank for TDS adjustment and also drains the additive concentrate. This flowchart shows the flow of the water production process using pH as additive property information by the water production apparatus of this embodiment. This diagram shows an example of the configuration of the mechanism of the first modified water production apparatus. This diagram shows an example of the configuration of the mechanism of the second modified water production apparatus. This diagram shows an example of the configuration of the mechanism of the third modified water production apparatus.

[0010] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <System Configuration> Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a water production system S according to one embodiment of the present invention. The water production system S is a system that makes it possible to produce water for a predetermined purpose (hereinafter referred to as "target water") from raw water. "Raw water" is H ２ The liquid is not particularly limited as long as it contains oxygen. For example, the raw water may be tap water, well water, water generated from water vapor in the air, river water, seawater, or wastewater (recirculated water) discharged when producing drinking water. It may also be water that has been treated using a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane.

[0012] "Target water" can be any water produced for a specific purpose. For example, it could be drinking water intended for human consumption, cooking water intended for use in food preparation (e.g., cooking, brewing tea or coffee, etc.), or water intended for showering. It could also be water intended for laundry, circulating water (e.g., for baths, showers, etc.), water intended for medical use, or physiological saline solution. With the water production system S of this embodiment, physiological saline solution can be produced on-site as target water, so it can be used in disaster areas or developing countries without such facilities.

[0013] The water production system S is configured to include a connection between a water production device 1, which produces target water from raw water, and a user terminal 2, which is the user of a user who wishes to produce the desired target water, via a network N. The network N is, for example, the Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), VPN (Virtual Private Network), etc. Communication between the water production device 1 and the user terminal 2 may be realized by wireless communication such as Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi®.

[0014] The water production apparatus 1 prepares an additive stock solution by dissolving additive raw materials in raw water based on information regarding the specifications of the target water (hereinafter referred to as "specification information"), and then produces the target water by mixing the additive stock solution with the raw water.

[0015] The water production device 1 of this embodiment can be detachably attached to a raw water supply facility such as a water supply system. The water production device 1 comprises a mechanism 5 that performs various processes and adjustments to the raw water, such as adding and adjusting additives, and an information processing device 10 that communicates with a user terminal 2 to perform information processing for determining the content of the processing and adjustments of the mechanism 5 and for controlling the components thereof. The amount of target water to be produced by the water production device 1 is not limited. For this reason, the water production device 1 can be installed, for example, in a home or a privately owned restaurant, or in a large-scale plant such as a factory.

[0016] The user terminal 2 may exchange various information with the water production device 1 using a pre-installed program (application), or it may exchange various information through a web browser. The user sends specification information to the water production device 1 using the user terminal 2. The water production device 1 may also be configured to include an input unit that can accept user specification information.

[0017] [Mechanism of the Water Production Apparatus] The mechanism 5 of the water production apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the mechanism 5 of the water production apparatus 1 in this embodiment. The mechanism 5 of this embodiment includes a water flow branching mechanism 50, an additive raw material storage tank 51, an additive mechanism 52, an additive grinding mechanism 521, an additive raw material storage tank 53, a stirring mechanism 531, an additive raw material property information sensor 54, a dripping mechanism 55, and a drainage mechanism 56.

[0018] The water flow branching mechanism 50 is a water flow branching means that switches the route of raw water supplied from a water supply or the like. The water flow branching mechanism 50 includes a first pipe 501 for pouring raw water into an additive concentrate storage tank 53, a second pipe 502 for preparing target water by adding the additive concentrate, and a solenoid valve 503 for switching the route. In this embodiment, the water flow branching mechanism 50 is configured to allow selection between the first pipe 501 connected to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 and the second pipe 502 connected to the dripping mechanism 55, and the route of the raw water can be switched by the operation of the solenoid valve 503. When the first pipe 501 is selected as the route of the water flow branching mechanism 50, the raw water is supplied to the additive concentrate storage tank 53. When the second pipe 502 is selected as the route of the water flow branching mechanism 50, the raw water receives the additive concentrate from the dripping mechanism 55 without passing through the additive concentrate storage tank 53. In this embodiment, the water flow branching mechanism 50 operates the solenoid valve 503 based on control information from the information processing device 10 to switch the raw water path.

[0019] The additive raw material storage tank 51 stores additive raw materials for preparing additives. Additive raw materials are substances (hereinafter referred to as "additives") that change the composition of raw water when added to it. Examples of additives added to raw water include mineral components such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese, as well as vitamin components and pest control agents. In this embodiment, the additive raw material storage tank 51 is a tank for storing mineral powder containing mineral components. The additive raw material storage tank 51 may also be a tank for storing powder containing calcium hypochlorite. Note that the additives are not limited to the examples described above. Chlorine and the like can also be included as additives.

[0020] The additive raw material storage tank 51 may be configured as a removable cartridge type. When the additive raw material stored in the additive raw material storage tank 51 runs out, the entire container may be replaced with a new additive raw material storage tank 51.

[0021] Figure 3 is a table showing an example of additive raw materials used in the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment. The upper part of the table in Figure 3 shows the chemical formula, molecular weight, molar mass [g / mol], and solubility [g / L] of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, and calcium chloride, which are additive raw materials containing mineral components. The lower part of the table shows the chemical formula, atomic weight, molar mass [g / mol], and the percentage of mineral components in the additive for sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca), which are mineral components. Na is contained in sodium chloride, K is contained in potassium chloride, Mg is contained in magnesium chloride, and Ca is contained in calcium chloride. This information regarding additive raw materials may be included in the specifications.

[0022] The additive mechanism 52 is an additive concentrate preparation means for preparing an additive concentrate by dissolving the additive raw materials stored in the additive raw material storage tank 51 in raw water and storing it in the additive concentrate storage tank 53. The additive mechanism 52 has the function of adjusting the amount of additive raw materials supplied to the additive concentrate storage tank 53. In this embodiment, the additive mechanism 52 can adjust the supply amount based on control information from the information processing device 10.

[0023] The additive grinding mechanism 521 is an additive grinding means for grinding additive raw materials. The additive grinding mechanism 521 is composed of a mill capable of grinding granular additive raw materials into fine particles by rotating a bladed component with a motor. The additive grinding mechanism 521 may be located inside or outside the additive mechanism 52. In the case of powdered additive raw materials that do not require grinding, the additive grinding mechanism 521 may be omitted from the configuration of the mechanism 5.

[0024] The additive concentrate storage tank 53 stores the additive concentrate, which is obtained by mixing the additive raw materials with raw water. In this embodiment, the additive concentrate is a mineral concentrate, and the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is a mineral concentrate tank.

[0025] The stirring mechanism 531 is located inside the additive concentrate storage tank 53 and is a means for stirring the additive concentrate. The stirring mechanism 531 is composed of, for example, a propeller and stirs the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53. If there is little need to stir the additive concentrate, the stirring mechanism 531 may be omitted from the configuration of the mechanism unit 5.

[0026] The pH adjustment device 532 is a means for adjusting the pH of the additive stock solution. The pH adjustment device 532 adjusts the pH of the additive stock solution stored in the additive stock solution storage tank 53 by a predetermined method. The predetermined method may include, for example, electrolysis of the additive stock solution in an electrolytic cell, diffusion of ions attached to electrodes immersed in the additive stock solution, or adding acidic water with a low pH to the additive stock solution. pH adjustment is a process performed depending on the state of the additive stock solution, and there are cases where pH adjustment is not performed. In addition, if the need for pH adjustment is low, the pH adjustment device 532 may be omitted from the configuration of the mechanism 5. Furthermore, the pH adjustment device 532 may be provided inside the additive stock solution storage tank 53, or it may be provided outside the additive stock solution storage tank 53, or it may be composed of parts provided both inside and outside.

[0027] The additive concentrate property information sensor 54 is an additive concentrate property information acquisition means that acquires additive concentrate property information indicating the properties of the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53. The additive concentrate property information sensor 54 is composed of various sensors. The additive concentrate property information sensor 54 outputs the acquired additive concentrate property information to the information processing device 10.

[0028] The additive stock solution property information sensor 54 of this embodiment is composed of a TDS sensor, an electrical conductivity sensor, a weighing scale, a water level meter, a pH meter, etc., and acquires TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), electrical conductivity, water volume, water level, pH, etc. as additive stock solution property information. TDS is information that shows the total concentration of inorganic salts (e.g., calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate) and organic substances dissolved in water. A lower TDS value means that there are fewer impurities. The additive stock solution property information sensor 54 may be composed of multiple sensors in separate housings, or it may be configured to have multiple sensors in a single housing.

[0029] The dripping mechanism 55 is an additive concentrate preparation means that drips the additive concentrate from the additive concentrate storage tank 53 to adjust the amount of additive concentrate mixed with the raw water. The dripping mechanism 55 is composed of, for example, a pump that pressurizes the fluid. The additive concentrate is mixed with the raw water by the dripping mechanism 55 to become the target water, which is then made available through the outlet pipe 551. If dripping by the dripping mechanism 55 does not occur, only raw water will flow through the outlet pipe 551. In this embodiment, the dripping mechanism 55 can adjust the amount of additive concentrate mixed with the raw water based on control information from the information processing device 10.

[0030] In this embodiment, the dripping mechanism 55 is connected to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 and also to the second pipe 502. The dripping mechanism 55 adjusts the target water by adjusting the appropriate amount of additive concentrate storage tank 53 relative to the raw water flowing through the second pipe 502 of the water flow branching mechanism 50.

[0031] The drainage mechanism 56 is an additive concentrate drainage means for draining the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53. The drainage mechanism 56 in this embodiment includes a drain pipe 561 connected to the bottom surface of the additive concentrate storage tank 53 and a solenoid valve 562 that opens and closes the path of the drain pipe 561. The drainage mechanism 56 in this embodiment controls the solenoid valve 562 to an open state in specific cases based on control information from the information processing device 10 to drain the additive concentrate.

[0032] In specific cases where drainage is performed by the drainage mechanism 56, for example, the properties of the additive concentrate stored in the existing additive concentrate storage tank 53 are insufficient to produce the desired water for a given purpose, or the use of the additive concentrate that has been prepared for a predetermined period of time or longer should be avoided from a hygienic standpoint.

[0033] <Information Processing Device for Water Production Equipment> Next, the configuration of the information processing device 10 will be described. First, an example of the hardware that makes up the information processing device 10 will be described.

[0034] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment. The information processing device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 as a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an output unit 16, an input unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.

[0035] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program recorded in the ROM 12 or the program loaded from the storage unit 18 into the RAM 13. The RAM 13 also stores data necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes. The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14.

[0036] The input / output interface 15 is connected to an output unit 16, an input unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20. The output unit 16 consists of a display, speaker, etc., and outputs various information as images and sounds. The input unit 17 consists of a keyboard, mouse, touch panel display, etc., and inputs various information. The storage unit 18 consists of a hard disk, DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), etc., and stores various data. The communication unit 19 communicates with other devices via a network N, including the Internet.

[0037] A removable media 21, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory, is appropriately mounted on the drive 20. Programs read from the removable media 21 by the drive 20 are installed in the storage unit 18 as needed. The removable media 21 can also store various data stored in the storage unit 18, just like the storage unit 18.

[0038] The hardware configuration described here is merely an example. The computer described in this embodiment, including the information processing device 10, may have the same configuration as that in Figure 4, or it may have a different configuration. Furthermore, the user terminal 2 in Figure 1 is, for example, a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer having a configuration similar to the hardware configuration shown in Figure 4. Note that the computer may be composed of two or more computers.

[0039] <Functional Configuration of the Information Processing Device> Figure 5 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 10. As shown in Figure 5, the information processing device 10 includes a specification receiving unit 31, an additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32, an additive concentrate preparation unit 33, and a communication processing unit 34 as functional units realized on the processor (CPU 11).

[0040] The specification reception unit 31 acquires specification information for the target water specified by the user. In this embodiment, the specification reception unit 31 acquires specification information from the user terminal 2 via network N or wireless communication, and stores the acquired specification information in the specification information database 41. Note that information on additive raw materials, as shown in the table in Figure 3, may be pre-registered in the specification information database 41 as specification information.

[0041] Figure 6 is a table showing an example of specification information for target water. In the example in Figure 6, the input values ​​for mineral components such as Na, K, Mg, and Ca are shown along with their volumes as adjustment items. In this example, for a volume of 5.0 L, the input values ​​for Na are 40 [mg / L], K is 30 [mg / L], Mg is 30 [mg / L], and Ca is 60 [mg / L]. This specification information may be entered directly from the user terminal 2 as numerical values ​​for each adjustment item, or the user may select from several pre-set specification information patterns. If the user makes a selection, the user terminal 2 may have numerical values ​​for the adjustment items corresponding to the pattern set, or the numerical values ​​may be read from information pre-stored in the specification information database 41 according to the user's selection.

[0042] The additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 is an additive concentrate preparation information generation means that generates additive concentrate preparation information for preparing an additive concentrate by dissolving additive raw materials in raw water based on specification information. In this embodiment, the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 stores the generated additive concentrate preparation information in the additive concentrate preparation information database 42.

[0043] Figure 7 is a table showing an example of information regarding mineral requirements and additive concentrate volume among the additive concentrate preparation information. The additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 generates information such as mineral requirements [mg], adjustable time [s], dripping pump flow rate of the dripping mechanism 55 [mL / sec], drippable flow rate [mL], required additive concentrate volume [mL], and additive concentrate volume [mL] as additive concentrate preparation information based on the specification information shown in Figure 6.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of control information of the mechanism unit 5 for satisfying the required amount of minerals among the additive stock solution preparation information. In the example of FIG. 8, as information on the raw material of the additive with respect to the required amount of minerals, the chemical formula of the additive raw material, the mineral content mass ratio in the additive, and the required addition amount [mg] are shown, and as information for controlling the additive grinding mechanism 521, the motor rotation speed [rotation / sec], the addition speed [mg / sec], and the addition time [sec] are shown. The rotation speed of the motor is 2 [rotation / sec], and it is shown that the addition speed of Na is 200 [mg / sec] and the addition time is 2.542 [mg / sec]. Similarly, the addition speed of K is 220 [mg / sec] and the addition time is 1.302 [mg / sec], the addition speed of Mg is 240 [mg / sec] and the addition time is 5.294 [mg / sec], and the addition speed of Ca is 250 [mg / sec] and the addition time is 4.399 [mg / sec].

[0045] FIG. 9 is a table showing an example of control information of the mechanism unit 5 for satisfying the additive stock solution volume among the additive stock solution preparation information. In the example of FIG. 9, the flow rate for satisfying the additive stock solution volume and the water inlet time to the additive stock solution storage tank 53 are shown. In the present embodiment, since the additive stock solution volume is 440 [mL] and the flow rate is 1000 [mL / min], the water inlet time is 0.44 [min].

[0046] Further, the additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 generates additive stock solution preparation information by reflecting the additive stock solution property information indicating the properties of the additive stock solution stored in the additive stock solution storage tank 53. The additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 of the present embodiment compares the estimated TDS generated based on the specification information with the measured TDS measured by the additive stock solution property information sensor 54, and generates the additive stock solution preparation information so that the difference becomes small.

[0047] Figure 10 is a table showing a first example of the estimated TDS. At the top of the table in Figure 10, the theoretical EC (Electrical Conductivity) and theoretical TDS per 1 mg / L for each mineral component (additive raw material) are shown. The theoretical EC and theoretical TDS are generated based on the specification information and are sufficient if they can be compared with the measured values. Specifically, for example, based on the values included in the specification information, the theoretical EC and theoretical TDS can be generated by calculating using the mathematical formulas described in papers etc. Also, for example, the values included in the specification information are stored in association with the statistical EC and TDS expected from those values in advance, and based on the values included in the specification information, the EC and TDS associated with that value can be generated as the theoretical EC and theoretical TDS. Also, for example, the values included in the specification information are stored in association with the experimental EC and TDS expected from those values in advance, and based on the values included in the specification information, the EC and TDS associated with that value can be generated as the theoretical EC and theoretical TDS.

[0048] The theoretical EC of Na in the mineral component is 5.5008 [μS / cm], and the theoretical TDS is 2.75040 [mg / L], which is half of the theoretical EC. Similarly, the theoretical EC of K is 3.8332 [μS / cm], and the theoretical TDS is 1.91660 [mg / L], which is half of the theoretical EC. The theoretical EC of Mg is 8.4534 [μS / cm], and the theoretical TDS is 4.22670 [mg / L], which is half of the theoretical EC. The theoretical EC of Ca is 5.3044 [μS / cm], and the theoretical TDS is 2.65220 [mg / L], which is half of the theoretical EC. At the bottom of the table in Figure 10, the theoretical EC and theoretical TDS for each case when the addition amount of Na is 40.0 [mg / L], the addition amount of K is 30.0 [mg / L], the addition amount of Mg is 30.0 [mg / L], and the addition amount of Ca is 60.0 [mg / L] are shown. The theoretical EC and theoretical TDS at the bottom of the table are the products of the theoretical EC and theoretical TDS per 1 mg / L multiplied by each addition amount. In this example, the sum of the theoretical TDS of Na, K, Mg, and Ca is the theoretical TDS of the final effluent, and the numerical value is 453.4 [mg / L].

[0049] Figure 11 is a table showing a second example of estimated TDS. The table in Figure 11 shows, for each mineral component, the required mineral amount, the volume of the additive concentrate, the concentration of the additive concentrate, the raw material of the additive, the theoretical TDS, and the TDS of the additive concentrate (estimated TDS). The required mineral amount and the volume of the additive concentrate are the same values ​​as those explained in Figures 6 to 9. The concentration of the additive concentrate is the value obtained by dividing the required mineral amount by the concentration of the additive concentrate. The theoretical TDS is also the same value as in Figure 10, and the estimated TDS, the TDS of the additive concentrate, is the value obtained by multiplying the concentration of the additive concentrate by the theoretical TDS per 1 mg / L. In this example, the TDS of the undiluted sodium additive is 1250 [mg / L], the TDS of the undiluted potassium additive is 653 [mg / L], the TDS of the undiluted magnesium additive is 1441 [mg / L], and the TDS of the undiluted ca additive is 1808 [mg / L]. The sum of the TDS of the undiluted additives of each mineral component, 5152 [mg / L], is the estimated TDS of the undiluted additives stored in the undiluted additive storage tank 53.

[0050] The communication processing unit 34 controls the transmission and reception of various types of information via the communication unit 19. In this embodiment, the communication processing unit 34 controls communication to send and receive various types of information with the user terminal 2 and the mechanical unit 5.

[0051] <Processing Flow> Next, we will explain the processing flow for producing the target water using the water production device 1. Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the overall flow from acquiring specification information to dispensing water using the water production device 1 of this embodiment.

[0052] When specification information is transmitted from the user terminal 2 to the water production device 1 (YES in step S1), the specification reception unit 31 acquires the specification information (step S2), stores it in the database (specification information DB 41 in Figure 5), and manages it (step S3). On the other hand, if no specification information has been transmitted (NO in step S1), the water production device 1 does not acquire new specification information (skips the process in step S2), and manages the specification information that has already been stored in the database (specification information DB 41 in Figure 5) (step S3). In other words, in this case, the water production device 1 performs subsequent processing based on the usage information that has already been acquired.

[0053] The additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 of the water production device 1 generates additive adjustment information based on the specification information (step S4). The additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls each component of the mechanism 5 based on the additive adjustment information in order to perform the water production process to produce the target water (step S5). Then, the water production device 1 discharges the target water produced by the water production process (step S6). With this, the water production device 1 completes the process (END). Details of the water production process by the water production device 1 will be described later with reference to Figure 13.

[0054] Next, with reference to Figures 13 and 14A to 14F, the water production process, which is the subroutine of step S5 in Figure 12, will be described. Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the water production process using the TDS as additive property information by the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

[0055] As shown in Figure 13, the additive concentrate preparation unit 33 of the water production apparatus 1 controls the additive mechanism 52 and the additive grinding mechanism 521 based on the control information (see Figure 8) for satisfying the mineral requirements among the additive adjustment information generated in step S4 of Figure 12 above, to store the additive raw materials in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 (step S11). Figure 14A is a schematic diagram of the water production apparatus 1 that performs additive addition. The state shown in Figure 14A corresponds to the process in step S11. In this state, raw water is not supplied to the additive concentrate storage tank 53, and there is no water discharge through the water outlet pipe 551 or drainage through the drain pipe 561.

[0056] Then, the additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the solenoid valve 503 of the water flow branching mechanism 50 to select the first pipe 501 as the raw water route, based on the control information (see Figure 9) from the additive adjustment information generated in step S4 of Figure 12 above to satisfy the required amount of additive concentrate, and puts a predetermined amount of raw water for preparing the additive concentrate into the additive concentrate storage tank 53 (step S12). Figure 14B is a schematic diagram of the water production device 1 that supplies raw water to the additive concentrate storage tank 53. The state shown in Figure 14B corresponds to the process in step S12. In this state, raw water is supplied to the additive concentrate storage tank 53, while water is not discharged through the outlet pipe 551 or drained through the drain pipe 561. Once the supply of a predetermined amount of raw water to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is complete, the supply of raw water is stopped by methods such as closing the route of the first pipe 501 with the solenoid valve 503 or stopping the supply of raw water.

[0057] Furthermore, the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 acquires additive concentrate property information (TDS) from the additive concentrate property information sensor 54 (step S13). The additive concentrate property information includes the estimated TDS generated by the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32, as explained with reference to Figures 10 and 11, as well as the measured TDS, which is the actual value measured by the additive concentrate property information sensor 54. The additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 of the water production device 1 then proceeds to the decision process in step S14.

[0058] The additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the estimated TDS and the measured TDS is less than a preset value α (step S14). The preset value α is a numerical value that is appropriately set theoretically or experimentally based on the specifications of a predetermined target water. If the absolute value of the difference between the estimated TDS and the measured TDS is less than the preset value α (Yes in step S14), the additive concentrate will meet the standard, and the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 proceeds to the process in step S15.

[0059] The additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the dripping mechanism 55 to drip the additive concentrate onto the raw water (step S15). Figure 14C is a schematic diagram of the water production apparatus 1 that produces target water by mixing the additive concentrate from the additive concentrate storage tank 53 with the raw water and then discharging it. The state shown in Figure 14C corresponds to the process in step S15. In this state, the additive concentrate dripped by the dripping mechanism 55 is mixed with the raw water supplied through the second pipe 502, and the target water is discharged through the discharge pipe 551. Note that no drainage is performed through the drain pipe 561.

[0060] After the dropping in step S15 is completed, the additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the solenoid valve 562 of the drainage mechanism 56 to drain the additive concentrate remaining in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 and to wash it with washing water (step S16). The washing water is, for example, RO water after pretreatment, electrolyzed alkaline water, or water to which a solvent suitable for washing has been added. Figure 14D is a schematic diagram of the water production device 1 that drains the additive concentrate remaining in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 after the dropping of the additive concentrate. The state shown in Figure 14D corresponds to the state in step S16. In this state, the supply of raw water and the dropping of the additive concentrate are stopped, and drainage is performed through the drain pipe 561.

[0061] Figure 14E schematically shows a water production apparatus 1 that performs a washing treatment on residual additive concentrate after drainage. The state shown in Figure 14E also corresponds to the state in step S16. In the washing treatment performed after drainage, purified water is supplied to the water production apparatus 1. The additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the solenoid valve 503 of the water flow branching mechanism 50 to supply washing water to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 through the first pipe 501, and also controls the solenoid valve 562 of the drainage mechanism 56 to drain the washing water through the drain pipe 561. This washing treatment makes it possible to produce target water that accurately reflects the user's specifications without being affected by the parameters of the additive concentrate produced in the previous batch. Furthermore, since the target water is drained, new target water is produced for the next use, which is advantageous from a hygienic standpoint.

[0062] After the process in step S16, the water production apparatus 1 terminates the water production process (END). As a result, the water production apparatus 1 proceeds to the process in step S6 of Figure 12 described above.

[0063] Next, we will explain the case where, in step S14, it is determined that the absolute value of the difference between the estimated TDS and the measured TDS is greater than or equal to a preset value α. If the absolute value of the difference between the estimated TDS and the measured TDS is greater than or equal to a preset value α (No in step S14), the additive stock solution will not meet the standard, so the additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 proceeds to the process in step S17. The additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 then determines whether the estimated TDS is greater than the measured TDS (step S17). If the estimated TDS is greater than the measured TDS (Yes in step S17), the value of the additive stock solution needs to be increased, so the additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 proceeds to the process in step S18. The additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 generates additive concentrate preparation information to increase the TDS value of the additive concentrate, and based on this additive concentrate preparation information, the additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the addition mechanism 52 and the additive grinding mechanism 521 (step S18). As a result, the additive raw material is added to the additive concentrate storage tank 53. The control amount (additional addition amount) at this time may be set uniformly, or it may be set based on a predetermined calculation formula or table according to the difference.

[0064] If the estimated TDS does not exceed the measured TDS (No in step S17), the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 determines whether the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is full or not, as it is necessary to lower the TDS value of the additive concentrate. Conversely, if the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is full (Yes in step S19), the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 proceeds to step S20. The additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 then generates additive concentrate preparation information for drainage, and the additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the solenoid valve 562 of the drainage mechanism 56 to drain a portion of the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 (step S20), and proceeds to step S21. The control of the process in step S20 is the same as the control described in Figure 14D. If the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is not full (No in step S19), the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 proceeds to step S21 without draining the water in step S20. Whether or not the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is full can be determined based on the weight and water level measured by the additive concentrate property information sensor 54.

[0065] The additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 generates additive concentrate preparation information to lower the TDS value of the additive concentrate, and the additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the solenoid valve 503 of the water flow branching mechanism 50 based on the additive concentrate preparation information to select the first pipe 501 as the raw water path and put a predetermined amount of raw water for additive concentrate preparation into the additive concentrate storage tank 53 (step S21). The predetermined amount (amount of raw water to be added) may be a preset amount or may be set according to the amount of wastewater. In addition, in the process of step S21, the additive concentrate preparation unit 33 may also control the solenoid valve 562 of the wastewater mechanism 56 to drain the additive concentrate with the current high concentration through the wastewater pipe 561 along with the introduction of raw water. Figure 14F is a schematic diagram showing a water production device 1 that supplies raw water to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 for TDS adjustment and drains the additive concentrate. The state shown in Figure 14F corresponds to the process of step S21. In this state, washing water is supplied to the additive concentrate storage tank 53, while the washing water that has been temporarily stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is drained through the drain pipe 561. After the process in step S21, the water production device 1 returns to the process in step S13. From there, the process from step S13 onward is executed.

[0066] In the water production process described with reference to Figure 13, an example was given in which TDS is used as additive concentrate property information, but other parameters can be used. For example, the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 can also generate additive concentrate preparation information so that wastewater is discharged to maintain a constant storage volume after the TDS standard is met. In this way, the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 can also use the storage volume of the additive concentrate storage tank 53 as a parameter along with TDS.

[0067] Furthermore, the water production process can also be performed using parameters other than TDS as additive stock property information. As described above, the water production apparatus 1 can also use other parameters such as pH as additive stock property information. Next, with reference to Figure 15, an example of generating additive stock preparation information using pH as additive stock property information will be described. Figure 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the water production process using pH as additive property information by the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

[0068] The additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the additive mechanism 52 and the additive grinding mechanism 521 to store the additive raw materials in the additive concentrate storage tank 53, based on the control information (see Figure 8) from the additive adjustment information generated in step S4 of Figure 12 above to satisfy the mineral requirements (step S31). Then, the additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the solenoid valve 503 of the water flow branching mechanism 50 to select the first pipe 501 as the raw water path, based on the control information (see Figure 9) from the additive adjustment information generated in step S4 of Figure 12 above to satisfy the additive concentrate requirements (step S32).

[0069] Furthermore, the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 acquires additive concentrate property information (pH) from the additive concentrate property information sensor 54 (step S33). Then, the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 proceeds to the decision process in step S34.

[0070] The additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 determines whether the pH obtained from the additive stock solution property information sensor 54 satisfies the preset pH standard conditions (step S34). The pH standard conditions are obtained, for example, as specification information by the specification reception unit 31 of the information processing device 10. If the pH obtained from the additive stock solution property information sensor 54 satisfies the preset pH standard conditions (Yes in step S34), the additive stock solution satisfies the standard, and the additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 proceeds to the process in step S35.

[0071] The additive concentrate preparation unit 33 controls the dripping mechanism 55 to drip the additive concentrate onto the raw water (step S35). After the dripping in step S15 is completed, the water production device 1 controls the solenoid valve 562 of the drainage mechanism 56 to drain the additive concentrate remaining in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 and also washes it with washing water (step S36). After the process in step S36, the water production device 1 ends the water production process (END).

[0072] In step S34, if the pH obtained from the additive stock solution property information sensor 54 does not meet the preset pH standard conditions (No in step S34), the additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 proceeds to step S37.

[0073] The additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 generates additive stock solution preparation information for adjusting the pH of the additive stock solution using the pH adjustment device 532, and the additive stock solution preparation unit 33 controls the pH adjustment device 532 based on this additive stock solution preparation information (step S37). pH adjustment is performed, for example, so that the pH (hydrogen ion concentration) of the additive stock solution meets the standard conditions. pH adjustment may be performed according to a predetermined calculation formula or table, etc., by determining the pH adjustment parameter (adjustment amount) based on the degree of deviation between the pH obtained from the additive stock solution property information sensor 54 and the standard conditions. The pH adjustment device 532 adjusts the pH of the additive stock solution by using methods such as electrolysis, diffusing ions attached to electrodes immersed in the additive stock solution, or adding acidic water with a low pH to the additive stock solution. The specific processing content changes depending on the method used by the pH adjustment device 532. After the processing in step S37, the water production device 1 returns to the processing in step S33.

[0074] As described above, the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes an additive raw material storage tank 51 for storing additive raw materials for adjusting additives based on specification information of a predetermined target water, an additive stock solution storage tank 53 for storing additive stock solution obtained by dissolving the additive raw materials in raw water, an additive stock solution preparation information generation unit 32 for generating additive stock solution preparation information for preparing the additive stock solution by dissolving (mixing) the additive raw materials in raw water based on specification information, and an additive stock solution preparation unit 33 for preparing the additive stock solution by dissolving the additive raw materials stored in the additive raw material storage tank 51 in raw water based on the additive stock solution preparation information and storing it in the additive stock solution storage tank 53.

[0075] As a result, the water production device 1 prepares a mineral stock solution in advance by dissolving mineral powder at a certain concentration based on the specifications (specification information) of the target water, stores it in the additive stock solution storage tank 53, and mixes it with the water to be treated that is brought in. With this configuration, the additive stock solution can be prepared based on the specifications of the predetermined target water. In addition, the effort required to manage the amount of additive used / consumed is reduced. Furthermore, the reproducibility of the predetermined target water that is dispensed can be improved. Moreover, the range of specifications of the predetermined target water that is dispensed can be expanded.

[0076] Furthermore, the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment is further equipped with an additive concentrate property information sensor 54 that acquires additive concentrate property information indicating the properties of the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53, and the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 generates additive concentrate preparation information based on the additive concentrate property information.

[0077] This allows for the generation of additive concentrate preparation information based on the properties of the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53, enabling the accurate production of the desired water according to the user's settings. Furthermore, it is possible to produce new desired water while utilizing the additive concentrate that has been previously prepared and remains in the additive concentrate storage tank 53.

[0078] Furthermore, the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment further includes a drainage mechanism 56 as an additive concentrate drainage means for draining the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 in specific cases.

[0079] This allows for the preparation of a new additive concentrate by draining the original solution as needed. Furthermore, the ability to drain the solution makes it easy to adjust the concentration.

[0080] Furthermore, the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment further includes a pH adjustment device 532 that adjusts the pH of the additive stock solution by a predetermined method based on additive stock solution preparation information.

[0081] This allows for the preparation and storage of an additive stock solution with a desired pH based on the specifications.

[0082] Furthermore, the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment further includes a water flow branching mechanism 50 that branches into a first pipe 501 for injecting raw water into an additive concentrate storage tank 53 and a second pipe 502 for preparing the target water.

[0083] This allows a single raw water (RO water, etc.) pipe to be branched and used for two purposes: a first pipe 501 for preparing the additive concentrate and a second pipe 502 for preparing the target water. This makes effective use of the single raw water pipe connected to the water flow branching mechanism 50.

[0084] Furthermore, the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment further includes an additive grinding mechanism 521 for grinding additive raw materials.

[0085] This allows for reducing the particle size of the additive powder, making it easier to dissolve. Furthermore, it improves the precision of adjusting the additive addition.

[0086] Furthermore, the water production apparatus 1 of this embodiment further includes a stirring mechanism 531 for stirring the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53.

[0087] This allows the additives added to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 to dissolve more effectively, resulting in a more uniform concentration of the additive concentrate. Furthermore, since the precipitation of additives is suppressed, the burden of cleaning the additive concentrate storage tank 53 (rinsing process) can be effectively reduced.

[0088] <Modified Examples> Next, modified examples that differ from the configuration of the above embodiment will be described. In the following description, components common to or similar to those in the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted.

[0089] Referring to Figure 16, the first modified example will be described. Figure 16 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the mechanism 5a of the water production apparatus 1 of the first modified example.

[0090] The first modified mechanism 5a includes a water flow branching mechanism 50, an additive raw material storage tank 51, an additive mechanism 52, an additive grinding mechanism 521, an additive stock storage tank 53, a stirring mechanism 531, an additive stock property information sensor 54, a dripping mechanism 55, a drainage mechanism 56, and a target water storage tank 70.

[0091] The mechanism 5a of the first modified example differs from the embodiment described in Figure 2 in that it further includes a target water storage tank 70. The target water storage tank 70 stores the target water supplied through the outlet pipe 551. A second outlet pipe 701 and a second drain pipe 711 are connected to the target water storage tank 70. The second outlet pipe 701 is used when utilizing the target water stored in the target water storage tank 70, and the target water is discharged through the second outlet pipe 701. The second drain pipe 711 is used to drain the target water stored in the target water storage tank 70, and a second drainage mechanism 71, which opens and closes the path by a solenoid valve 712, is arranged along the path.

[0092] As described above, the first modified water production apparatus 1 further comprises a target water storage tank 70 for storing the prepared water of a predetermined purpose.

[0093] This allows for the storage of the prepared water, enabling batch processing of the target water and reducing the waiting time for preparation.

[0094] Next, a second modified example will be described with reference to Figure 17. Figure 17 shows an example of the configuration of the mechanism 5b of the water production apparatus 1 in the second modified example.

[0095] The second modified mechanism 5b includes a water flow branching mechanism 50, an additive raw material storage tank 51, an additive mechanism 52, an additive grinding mechanism 521, an additive raw material storage tank 53, a stirring mechanism 531, an additive raw material property information sensor 54, a dripping mechanism 55, a drainage mechanism 56, a target water storage tank 70, and a water flow confluence mechanism 80.

[0096] The mechanism 5b of the second modified example differs from the first modified example described in Figure 16 in that it further includes a water flow confluence mechanism 80. The water flow confluence mechanism 80 is located on the outlet pipe 551 and downstream of the dripping mechanism 55. The water flow confluence mechanism 80 is also connected to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 via a drain pipe 561. The water flow confluence mechanism 80 is a water flow confluence means that combines the target water path flowing through the outlet pipe 551 with the drainage path discharged from the additive concentrate storage tank 53.

[0097] Figure 17 shows a water production apparatus 1 that performs a rinsing process. The rinsing process is performed after the entire amount of additive concentrate from the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 55. In the rinsing process, RO water pre-treated by an RO membrane is used as the rinsing water supplied to the mechanism section 5b of the water production apparatus 1. The additive concentrate preparation section 33 of the water production apparatus 1 controls the solenoid valve 503 of the water flow branching mechanism 50 based on the additive concentrate preparation information generated by the additive concentrate preparation information generation section 32 to supply RO water to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 through the first piping 501. Then, the additive concentrate preparation section 33 controls the solenoid valve 562 of the drainage mechanism 56 based on the additive concentrate preparation information to discharge the rinsing water from the drain pipe 561 via the water flow confluence mechanism 80. The rinse water supplied to the additive concentrate storage tank 53 is discharged while pouring out any mineral components remaining in the additive concentrate storage tank 53. Since the rinse water also contains mineral components, it can be used as the target water. In other words, in the second modified example, the target water is prepared in multiple stages, including the rinsing process.

[0098] As described above, in the second modified example, the additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 32 of the water production device 1 generates additive concentrate preparation information for preparing water for a predetermined purpose, based on the specifications information of the water for a predetermined purpose. This information is used to dissolve the entire amount of additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 into raw water, then to pour raw water (RO water) into the additive concentrate storage tank 53 to further dissolve any additives remaining in the additive concentrate storage tank 53, and to prepare the water for a predetermined purpose using the resulting rinse water, which is then stored in the target water storage tank 70. The water production device 1 further includes a water flow merging mechanism 80 that merges the rinse water with the water for the predetermined purpose based on the additive preparation information.

[0099] As a result, the additives remaining in the additive concentrate storage tank 53 can also be used to prepare water for the intended purpose, allowing for more efficient use of additive raw materials.

[0100] In the second modified example, the drainage mechanism 56 and the water flow confluence mechanism 80 are shown as separate components, but the drainage mechanism 56 and the water flow confluence mechanism 80 may be integrated into a single unit.

[0101] Furthermore, some components can be omitted or other components added from the configurations of the mechanism 5 of the above embodiment, the mechanism 5a of the first modified example, and the mechanism 5c of the second modified example. Figure 18 shows an example of the configuration of the mechanism 5c of the water production apparatus 1 of the third modified example. The mechanism 5c shown in Figure 18 has a similar configuration to the mechanism 5b of the second modified example, with the target water storage tank 70 omitted.

[0102] In the above embodiments and modifications, the additive raw material storage tank 51 is configured to receive powdered additives, but the system is not limited to this configuration. The additive raw material storage tank 51 may also be configured to store liquid in which the additives have dissolved or liquid additives. In this configuration, liquid additives can be supplied from the additive raw material storage tank 51 to the additive stock storage tank 53, and the additive stock can be prepared by adding raw water and mixing.

[0103] Although one embodiment of the present invention and its modifications have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and any modifications, improvements, etc. that can achieve the objectives of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0104] Furthermore, the series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or by software. In other words, the functional configuration described above is merely illustrative and not particularly limiting. That is, it is sufficient that the water production device 1 is equipped with a function that can execute the series of processes described above as a whole, and the type of functional block used to realize this function is not particularly limited to the example above. Also, the location of the functional block is not particularly limited and can be arbitrary. For example, the functional block of the information processing device 10 may be transferred to another device, etc. Conversely, the functional block of another device may be transferred to the information processing device 10, etc. Also, a single functional block may be composed of hardware alone, software alone, or a combination of both.

[0105] When a series of processes are executed by software, the programs that make up that software are installed on a computer or other device from a network N or storage medium. The computer may be a computer built into dedicated hardware. Alternatively, the computer may be a computer capable of performing various functions by installing various programs, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.

[0106] Such a recording medium containing a program may consist not only of removable media (not shown) distributed separately from the main unit to provide the program, but also of a recording medium provided pre-installed in the main unit. Since the program can be distributed via network N, the recording medium may be installed on or accessible from a computer connected to or capable of connecting to network N.

[0107] In this specification, the step of describing a program to be recorded on a recording medium includes not only processes that are performed chronologically in that order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed chronologically, but are executed in parallel or individually. Furthermore, in this specification, the term "system" refers to an overall system composed of multiple devices, means, etc.

[0108] 1 Water production apparatus 5, 5a-5c Mechanism 10 Information processing device 31 Specification receiving unit 32 Additive concentrate preparation information generation unit 33 Additive concentrate preparation unit 34 Communication processing unit 50 Water flow branching mechanism 501 First piping 502 Second piping 51 Additive raw material storage tank 52 Addition mechanism 521 Additive grinding mechanism 53 Additive concentrate storage tank 531 Stirring mechanism 532 pH adjustment device 54 Additive concentrate property information sensor 55 Dropping mechanism 56 Drainage mechanism S Water production system

Claims

1. A water production apparatus comprising: an additive raw material storage tank for storing additive raw materials for adjusting additives based on specification information of water for a predetermined purpose; an additive raw material preparation information generation means for generating additive raw material preparation information for preparing an additive raw material by dissolving the additive raw materials in raw water based on the specification information; an additive raw material preparation means for preparing the additive raw material by dissolving the additive raw materials stored in the additive raw material storage tank in the raw water based on the additive raw material preparation information; and an additive raw material storage tank for storing the additive raw material obtained by dissolving the additive raw materials in the raw water.

2. The water production apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising additive concentrate property information acquisition means for acquiring additive concentrate property information indicating the properties of the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank, wherein the additive concentrate preparation information generation means generates additive concentrate preparation information based on the additive concentrate property information.

3. The water production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an additive concentrate draining means for draining the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank in specific cases.

4. The water production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising additive concentrate pH adjustment means for adjusting the pH of the additive concentrate by a predetermined method based on the additive concentrate preparation information.

5. The water production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a water flow branching means that branches to a pipe for injecting the raw water into the additive concentrate storage tank and a pipe for preparing the target water.

6. The water production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a target water storage tank for storing the prepared target water.

7. The water production apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the additive concentrate preparation information generating means generates additive concentrate preparation information for preparing the predetermined target water by dissolving the entire amount of the additive concentrate stored in the additive concentrate storage tank in the raw water based on the specification information of the predetermined target water, pouring the raw water into the additive concentrate storage tank to further dissolve the additives remaining in the additive concentrate storage tank into the rinse water, and storing the prepared water in the target water storage tank, and further comprises a water flow confluence means for converging the rinse water with the predetermined target water based on the additive concentrate preparation information.

8. The water production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an additive grinding means for grinding the additive raw materials.

9. The water production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the additive stock storage tank further comprises an additive stock stirring means for stirring the additive stock stored in the additive stock storage tank.

Images