Patent Application
20050093184
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing carbonic a water which is useful, for example, in hydrotherapy for the purpose of improving physiological functions.
Carbonic water is assumed to be effective for treatment of regressive diseases and peripheral circulatory disorders. For example, there is a method in which a carbonic acid gas is fed in the form of bubble into a bath (bubbling method), as a method of artificially producing carbonic water. However, the dissolving ratio is low, and the dissolution time is long in this method. Further, there is a chemical method in which a carbonate salt is reacted with an acid (chemical method). However, it is necessary to add chemical materials at a large amount, and it is impossible to keep a clearness in this method. Furthermore, there is a method in which hot water and a carbonic acid gas are sealed in a tank for a period while it is pressured (pressured method). However, the size of the apparatus increases impractically in this method.
Currently, commercially marketed apparatuses of producing carbonic water is usually for producing a carbonic water having a low concentration of carbonic acid gas which is about 100 to 140 mg/L. The apparatuses have no means of controlling the concentration of carbonic acid gas.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2-279158 discloses a method in which a carbonic acid gas is fed through a hollow fiber semi-permeable membrane and absorbed by hot water. Further, JP-A No. 8-215270 discloses a method in which a pH sensor is put in a bath, and there is controlled the feeding rate of carbonic acid gas into a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus for maintaining the concentration of carbonic acid gas of water in the bath at constant level. Furthermore, International Publication No. 98/34579 pamphlet discloses a method in which a concentration data of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water produced is calculated from the pH value of carbonic water and the alkalinity of raw water, and the feeing rate of carbonic acid gas is controlled so that the concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water becomes to be an intended value. These are methods in which a carbonic water is produced by passing once raw water through in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus equipped with a hollow membrane, and the apparatus is called as one-pass type apparatus.
In the one-pass type apparatus, it is necessary to increase the membrane area of the hollow fiber membrane or increase the pressure of carbonic acid gas in order to produce a carbonic water having a high concentration which is excellent in physiological effects (e.g., blood flow increase). However, if the membrane area is increased, the size of apparatus is increased, and it causes to increase the cost. If the pressure of gas is increased, the dissolving ratio becomes low. Furthermore, in the one-pass type apparatus, it is indispensable to operate a piping and a hose connecting between the apparatus and hot water such as a tap water. As a result, the setting is necessary in every case that the apparatus is moved for using at any places.
On the other hand, a carbonic water having a high concentration can be produced efficiently at low cost by a so-called circulation type apparatus wherein hot water in a bath is circulated by a circulation pump through a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus. Additionally, the setting of the circulation type apparatus is very simple because it needs no connecting work as in the one path type apparatus, and because it is completed only by filling a bath with hot water and putting a carbonic water circulation hose of the apparatus in the bath. The examples of such circulation type carbonic water apparatus include apparatuses disclosed by JP-A Nos. 8-215270 and 8-215271.
Under a condition in which carbonic water having a desired concentration of carbonic acid gas is filled in the bath, the carbonic acid gas in the carbonic water is evaporated, and it results to gradually decrease the concentration of carbonic acid gas. This tendency depends on the size of bath. Particularly, when a large bath for a plenty of people is filled with a carbonic water, its evaporation amount is large, and the concentration of carbonic acid gas is quickly decreased. In the large bath for a plenty of people, the hot water is often circulated through a filtration apparatus for cleaning the hot water even when the bath is used. However, the carbonic acid gas is evaporated in a large amount at the filtration apparatus if the carbonic water is filled in such circulation type bath in which the water is circulated through the filtration apparatus.
The method in which the feeding amount of carbonic acid gas is controlled based on the pH value, makes a relatively large calculating error in the concentration of carbonic acid gas in the resulting carbonic water. Therefore, it is necessary to add an automatically correcting function to the pH sensor for suppressing the calculating error thereof within ±0.05. This needs complicated control, and increases the size of the apparatus and the cost. Additionally, the alkalinity of raw water (e.g., tap water) should be measured to control precisely the concentration of carbonic acid gas.
The examples of carbonic acid gas production apparatuses include so-called one-pass type apparatuses as disclosed in JP-A No. 2-279158 and International Publication No. 98/34579 pamphlet in which carbonic water is produced by passing once raw water through in a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus equipped with a hollow fiber membrane, and so-called circulation type apparatuses as disclosed in JP-A Nos. 8-215270 and 8-215271 in which hot water in a bath is circulated through a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus by a circulation pump. In any type apparatus, water as drain is collected at outside parts of the hollow fiber membrane. The water as drain is one permeated through the membrane from the hollow part of hollow fiber membrane, or one generated by condensation of vapor permeated through the membrane from the hollow part. When the drain comes in contact with the surface of membrane, the surface is clogged, and the gas permeation cannot be effectively performed. In conventional apparatuses, an operator appropriately opens a drain valve to discharge the drain collected at the outside parts of hollow fiber membrane.
There is conventionally known a foot bath of carbonic water intending an improvement in physiological functions of foot. In the conventional foot bath, it is necessary that the foot bath is filled with a carbonic water previously produced, or that a carbonic water is produced from hot water filled in the bath by using another apparatus. These operations are complicated for use. Particularly, a portable type foot bath has a merit that the foot bath treatment can be simply conducted without selecting places, but the merit is restricted by the operations for producing the carbonic water.
The first object of the present invention is to realize a more practical circulation type carbonic water production apparatus, and to provide an apparatus and a method that can produce a carbonic water having a desired concentration of carbonic acid gas (particularly, so high concentration that physiological effects are obtained) through a simple operation at low cost.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing carbonic water which can solve the problem of evaporation of carbonic acid gas, and can produce and maintain a certain concentration of carbonic acid gas for a long period through a simple operation at low cost.
The third object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method that can produce a carbonic water always having a certain concentration of carbonic acid gas (particularly, so high concentration that physiological effects are obtained) through a simple operation at low cost, and is irrespective of the flow rate of raw water.
The fourth object of the present invention is to realize a more practical carbonic water production apparatus, and to provide an apparatus and a method that can produce a carbonic water through a simple operation.
The fifth object of the present invention is to provide a carbonic water production apparatus that can be used by a simple operation, and keep the merit of portable foot bathes.
The first present invention relates to a carbonic water production apparatus which is equipped with a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus and a circulation pump wherein water in a water tank is circulated through the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus by the circulation pump, and a carbonic acid gas is fed into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus to dissolve the carbonic acid gas in the water, and which is characterized in that the circulation pump is a positive-displacement metering pump having a self-priming ability; and, a carbonic water production method which comprises circulating water in a water tank through a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus by a circulation pump, and feeding a carbonic acid gas into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus to dissolve the carbonic acid gas in the water, and which is characterized in that a positive-displacement metering pump having a self-priming ability is used as the circulation pump.
Regarding conventional circulation type carbonic water apparatuses, JP-A No. 8-215270 discloses no investigation about which kind of circulation pump is suitable for production of carbonic water. JP-A No. 8-215270 discloses an underwater pump used as the circulation pump. However, bubbling of the circulated carbonic water is significantly caused by swirling pumps such as the underwater pump when the carbonic water has a high concentration, and the bubbling may reduce the pump discharge amount and pump head. In the worst case, blades of the pump often idles so that it becomes impossible to circulate the carbonic water.
On the other hand, according to the first present invention, a carbonic water can be successfully circulated even if the carbonic water has a high concentration because a positive-displacement metering pump having a self-priming ability is used. It results that a water tank can be filled with carbonic water having a high concentration.
The second present invention relates to a carbonic water production method which comprises circulating water in a water tank through a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus by a circulation pump, and feeding a carbonic acid gas into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus to dissolve the carbonic acid gas in the water, and which is characterized by comprising an early step of applying a necessary pressure of the carbonic acid gas in order to produce a carbonic water having a desired concentration of carbonic acid gas, in the early circulation of the water for producing the carbonic water, and a concentration maintaining step of applying a necessary pressure of the carbonic acid gas and circulating the carbonic water in order to maintain the desired concentration of carbonic acid gas of the carbonic water produced at the early step.
The second present invention is a method in which a carbonic water having a high concentration is efficiently produced at the early step, and furthermore, the concentration of carbonic acid gas is maintained by also applying the carbonic acid gas process to water which is circulated for cleaning in use, particularly in use of a large bath for a plenty of people. This method can produce and maintain a certain concentration of carbonic acid gas for a long period through a simple operation at low cost.
The third present invention relates to a carbonic water production apparatus which feeds a carbonic acid gas into a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus thereof while flowing a raw water therein to dissolve the carbonic acid gas in the raw water, and which is characterized by being previously recorded a correlation data of the flow rate of raw water with the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas and the concentration of carbonic acid gas in resulted carbonic water, and is equipped with a means for detecting the flow rate of raw water and controlling the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas according to the correlation data so that the resulted carbonic water has an intended concentration of carbonic acid gas at the time of producing the carbonic water; and a carbonic water production method which comprises feeding a carbonic acid gas into a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus while flowing a raw water to dissolve the carbonic acid gas in the raw water, and which is characterized by comprising a step of previously recording a correlation data of the flow rate of raw water with the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas and the concentration of carbonic acid gas in resulted carbonic water, and a step of detecting the flow rate of raw water and controlling the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas according to the correlation data so that the resulted carbonic water has an intended concentration of carbonic acid gas at the time of producing the carbonic water.
According to the third present invention, the carbonic water always having a certain high concentration can be produced by a simple operation at low cost without depending on the flow rate of raw water, as compared with a conventional method in which the feeding amount of carbonic acid gas is controlled based on the pH measured value.
The fourth present invention relates to a carbonic water production apparatus which is equipped with a membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus, and which is characterized by being equipped with an automatic water extraction means for automatically discharging out the drain accumulated in the membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus; and a carbonic water production method which applies a membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus, and which is characterized by comprising a step of automatically discharging out the drain accumulated in the membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus.
According to the fourth present invention, an effective membrane area can be always ensured and a carbonic water having a high concentration can be successfully produced by a simple operation without manual drain extraction by hand-operated.
The fifth present invention relates to a carbonic water production apparatus which is characterized by being combined with a portable foot bath.
In the fifth present invention, the term “portable” means that the foot bath is not fixed at a certain place, and if necessary, can be carried and moved. The carrying method is not particularly restricted. According to the fifth present invention, a bath can be provided, which can be used by a simple operation, and keep the merit of portable foot bathes.
[Embodiments of the First Present Invention]
In this example, water in the bath 11 is circulated. Such applying an apparatus of the present invention to a bath is a very useful example. However, the first present invention is not limited to this. The first present invention can be applied to a water tank except bath, which should be filled with a carbonic water having a desired concentration, such as a water storage tank and a feed water tank.
Water which is a subject to be circulated is not particularly restricted. When water containing no carbonic acid gas at all before circulation is circulated, carbonic water having gradually increasing the concentration of carbonic acid gas will be circulated. Furthermore, higher concentration of carbonic acid gas can be also recovered by circulating a carbonic water having lowered concentration of carbonic acid gas.
In the example shown in
The carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 is a membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus constituted of a membrane module having a hollow fiber membrane installed. In this example, a carbonic acid gas fed into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 is introduced onto the outer surface of the hollow fiber membrane. On the other hand, hot water fed in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 5 flows in a hollow part of the hollow fiber membrane. Here, a carbonic acid gas on the outer surface of the hollow fiber membrane comes into contact with hot water flowing in a hollow part of the hollow fiber membrane via a membrane surface, a carbonic acid gas is dissolved in hot water to produce carbonic water, and this carbonic water is fed into the bath 11. By thus circulating hot water in the bath 11 by the circulation pump 1 for an optional time, carbonic water having high concentration of carbonic acid gas will be filled in the bath 11. When contact and dissolution of a carbonic acid gas are conducted via a membrane surface of a membrane module as in this example, gas-liquid contact area can be increased, and a carbonic acid gas can be dissolved with high efficiency. As such a membrane module, for example, a hollow fiber membrane module, plate membrane module and spiral type module can be used. Particularly, a hollow fiber membrane module can dissolve a carbonic acid gas with highest efficiency.
Hot water in the bath 11 gets increased the concentration of carbonic acid gas with the lapse of time of circulation. When such correlation data between the circulation time and the concentration of carbonic acid gas are previously measured, if the intended concentration of carbonic acid gas and feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas are determined, necessary circulation time can be determined. However, the correlation data cannot be utilized if the circulation water amount is not always constant, therefore, it is necessary to use a metering pump as the circulation pump 1. However, according to knowledge of the present inventors, even in the case of metering pumps, a volute pump and the like cannot provide utilization of correlation data since the pump flow rate also varies by change of head such as clogging of a pre-filter. Additionally, when carbonic water gets high concentration, a pump is stopped by bubble.
Then, according to the first present invention, stable circulation and always constant circulation water amount are realized by using a positive-displacement metering pump having a self-priming ability as the circulation pump 1. This positive-displacement metering pump has a self-priming ability by which activation can be made in the initial operation without priming. Additionally, though carbonic water tends to generate bubble when its concentration increases, this positive-displacement metering pump can convey water stably even under bubble rich condition.
This positive-displacement metering pump is very effective particularly when correlation data between the circulation flow rate of the positive-displacement metering pump, the gas feeding pressure at water amount in water tank, the concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water in a water tank, and the circulation time are previously recorded, and, in producing carbonic water, the circulation time is controlled based on the above-mentioned correlation data, to give a concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water in a water tank in the range from 600 mg/L to 1400 mg/L.
As the positive-displacement metering pump having a self-priming ability, for example, a diaphragm pump, screw pump, tube pump and piston pump are listed. Among recent commercially available products, a diaphragm pump is optimal from the standpoints of price, ability, size and the like. Specifically, there can be used, for example, a 3-head diaphragm pump manufactured by SHURflo (US), 5-head diaphragm pump manufactured by Aquatec Water System (US), 4-head diaphragm pump manufactured by FLOJET (US), and the like. These commercially available products are marketed usually as a booster pump in a beverage filtration apparatus. Namely, these commercially available products have no relation with a carbonic water production apparatus.
The pressure of carbonic acid gas fed to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 is set by the pressure-reducing valve 5. When this pressure is lower, generation of a non-dissolved gas at the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 is suppressed, and the dissolution efficiency is higher. The carbonic acid gas permeation amount through a hollow fiber membrane in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 is in proportion to the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas, and when the pressure is higher, the permeation amount is higher. Judging from these points and since when the carbonic acid gas pressure is lower, the production time is longer, the pressure is appropriately from about 0.01 to 0.3 MPa. The carbonic acid gas absorption amount of circulating hot water depends also on the concentration of carbonic acid gas and circulation water amount of the hot water, and when a carbonic acid gas of over the absorption amount is fed, a non-dissolved gas is formed.
When a hollow fiber membrane is used in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 5, any material may be used, as this hollow fiber membrane, providing it is excellent in gas permeability, and a porous membrane or non-porous gas permeability membrane (hereinafter, abbreviated as “non-porous membrane”) may be used. As the porous hollow fiber membrane, those having an opening pore diameter on its surface of 0.01 to 10 μm are preferable. A hollow fiber membrane containing a non-porous membrane is also suitably used. The most preferable hollow fiber membrane is a complex hollow fiber membrane of a three-layer structure comprising a non-porous layer in the form of thin membrane both sides of which are sandwiched by porous layers. As its specific example, for example, a three layer complex hollow fiber membrane (MHF, trade name) manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. is mentioned.
Here, the non-porous layer (membrane) is a membrane through which a gas permeates by a mechanism of dissolution and diffusion into a membrane substrate, and any membrane can be used providing it contains substantially no pore through which a gas can permeate in the form of gas like Knudsen flow of molecules. When this non-porous membrane is used, a gas can be supplied and dissolved without discharging a carbonic acid gas in the form of bubble into hot water, therefore, efficient dissolution is possible, additionally, a gas can be dissolved simply under excellent control at any concentration. Further, there is no counterflow which occurs uncommonly in the case of a porous membrane, namely, hot water does not counter-flow to the gas feeding side through fine pores.
The thickness of a hollow fiber membrane is preferably 10 to 150 μm. When the membrane thickness is 10 μm or more, sufficient membrane strength tends to be shown. When 150 μm or less, sufficient carbonic acid gas permeation speed and dissolving efficiency are liable to be shown. In the case of a three-layer complex hollow fiber membrane, the thickness of a non-porous membrane is preferably 0.3 to 2 μm. When the membrane thickness is 0.3 μm or more, the membrane does not easily deteriorate, and leak due to membrane deterioration does not occur easily. When 2 μm or less, sufficient carbonic acid gas permeation speed and dissolving efficiency are liable to be shown.
When the water passing amount per hollow fiber membrane module is 0.2 to 30 L/min and the gas pressure is 0.01 MPa to 0.3 MPa, it is preferable that the membrane area is about 0.1 m2 to 15 m2.
As the membrane material of a hollow fiber membrane, for example, silicone-based, polyolefin-based, polyester-based, polyamide-based, polysulfone-based, cellulose-based and polyurethane-based materials and the like are preferable. As the material of a non-porous membrane of a three-layer complex hollow fiber membrane, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly4-methylpentene-1, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylcellulose and polyphenylene oxide are preferable. Among them, polyurethane manifests excellent membrane forming property and provides little eluted substance, therefore, it is particularly preferable.
The internal diameter of a hollow fiber membrane is preferably 50 to 1000 μm. When the internal diameter is 50 μm or more, the flow route resistance of fluid flowing in a hollow fiber membrane decreases appropriately, and feeding of fluid becomes easy. When 1000 μm or less, the size of a dissolving apparatus can be decreased, providing a merit in compactness of the apparatus.
When a hollow fiber membrane is used in a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus, there are a method in which a carbonic acid gas is fed to the hollow side of a hollow fiber membrane, and hot water is fed to the outer surface side to dissolve the carbonic acid gas, and a method in which a carbonic acid gas is fed to the outer surface side of a hollow fiber membrane and hot water is fed to the hollow side to dissolve the carbonic acid gas. Among them, particularly the latter method is preferable since a carbonic acid gas can be dissolved in high concentration in hot water irrespective of the form of a membrane module.
As the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus used in the present invention, there can also be used that having a gas diffusion means in which a gas diffusing part composed of a porous body is set at the bottom in a carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus. The material and form of a porous body set at a gas diffusing part may be optionally selected, and preferable is that having a void ratio, namely, a volume ratio of voids present in the porous body itself based on the whole porous body, of 5 to 70 vol %. For further enhancing the dissolving efficiency of a carbonic acid gas, that having lower void ratio is suitable, and that having a void ratio of 5 to 40 vol % is more preferable. When the void ratio is 70 vol % or less, flow control of a carbonic acid gas becomes easy, the gas flow rate can be suitably decreased, bubble of a carbonic acid gas diffused from a gas diffusing body does not become big, and dissolution efficiency does not easily lower. When the void ratio is 5 vol % or more, sufficient feeding amount of carbonic acid gas can be maintained, and dissolution of a carbonic acid gas tends to be performed in a relatively short time.
The opening pore diameter on the surface of a porous body is preferably 0.01 to 10 μm, for control of the flow rate of carbonic acid gas diffused, and for formation of fine bubble. When the pore diameter is 10 μm or less, the size of bubble rising in water becomes moderately small, and the dissolution efficiency of a carbonic acid gas increases. When 0.01 μm or more, the gas diffusion amount into water increases moderately, and even in the case of obtaining carbonic water of high concentration, the procedure is completed in a relatively short time.
When a porous body placed in a gas diffusion part of a gas diffusing means has large surface area, bubble can be generated in larger number, contact between a carbonic acid gas and raw water progresses efficiently, and dissolution before formation of bubble also occurs, leading to enhanced dissolution efficiency. Therefore, though the form of a porous body is not valued, that having larger surface area is preferable. As the means of increasing the surface area, there are envisaged various methods such as formation of a porous body in the form of cylinder, formation of a porous body in the form of flat plate and providing irregularity on its surface, and the like, however, it is preferable to use a porous hollow fiber membrane, particularly, utilization of a lot of porous hollow fiber membranes bundled is effective.
The material of a porous body is not particularly restricted though various materials such as metals, ceramics and plastics are exemplified. However, hydrophilic materials are not preferable since hot water invades into a gas diffusing means through pores on its surface in stopping of feeding of a carbonic acid gas.
In the case of feeding a carbonic acid gas to the outer surface side of a hollow fiber membrane and feeding hot water to the hollow side to dissolve the carbonic acid gas, piping for counterflow washing may be provided. When scale accumulates at a potting opening end which is a feeding port to a hollow part of a hollow fiber membrane, this scale can be removed relatively simply by counterflow washing.
Regarding carbonic water produced, its concentration of carbonic acid gas is not particularly restricted. In the above-described example, if a value of a desired concentration of carbonic acid gas is input in the apparatus and hot water in the bath 11 is circulated by the circulation pump 1, then, the apparatus controls the circulation time automatically depending on the desired concentration of carbonic acid gas, consequently, carbonic water having desired concentration of carbonic acid gas is filled in the bath 11.
However, for obtaining medical physiological effects, the concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water is required to be 600 mg/L or more, in general. From this standpoint, the concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water produced in the present invention is also preferably 600 mg/L or more. On the other hand, when the concentration of carbonic acid gas is higher, the dissolution efficiency of a carbonic acid gas lowers, and additionally, at a certain concentration or more, physiological effects do not increase or decrease. From this standpoint, the upper limit of the concentration of carbonic acid gas is adequately about 1400 mg/L.
In the carbonic water production apparatus, a bubble generation apparatus or an injection apparatus can be further provided. The bubble generation apparatus generates bubble in bath water, and the injection apparatus generates water flow in bath water, to impart physical stimulation to a diseased part of body, and owing to its massage effect, to promote blood circulation and to attenuate low back pain, shoulder leaning, muscular fatigue and the like. Such an apparatus is marketed currently by companies, and spread widely in hospitals, senile healthy facilities and homes.
On the other hand, carbonic water produced in the present invention performs an action in which a carbonic acid gas in water is absorbed percutaneously to dilate blood vessels and promote blood circulation. Namely, if an action by bubble and injection is called a dynamic action, an action by carbonic water can be called a static action. Treatment by carbonic water has a merit that no stiff load is applied on a body and a diseased part and little side effect is exerted since it causes no physical stimulation as compared with the bubble generation apparatus and injection apparatus.
In the example shown in
However, in such as multi-functional apparatus, when a bath is filled with carbonic water, it is recommendable that bubble is not generated. The reason for this is that the content of a bath is stirred by bubble, a carbonic acid gas dissolved in carbonic water easily evaporates into air, and the concentration of carbonic water tends to decrease sharply in less than no time. Therefore, it is preferable that a carbonic water production function and a bubble generation function are not used simultaneously, and a change switch is provided and these functions are carried out separately.
In the apparatus shown in
In the example shown in
Thus, by setting gas pressure and time corresponding to the apparatus and conducting drain extraction automatically, there is no necessity to effect manual drain extraction purposely as in conventional technologies, and usually, effective membrane surface area is confirmed, and carbonic water of high concentration can be produced.
[Embodiments of the Second Present Invention]
First, an early step in the second present invention will be explained. In the early step, in this example, hot water in a bath (water tank) 21 circulated. The temperature and application of water in the bath 21 in the second present invention are the same as in the first invention described above. In the example shown in
The circulation pump 22, in the second embodiment of the present invention, is not particularly restricted, and for example, a swirling pump, diaphragm pump, screw pump, tube pump and piston pump commonly used, are listed. The pressure of carbonic acid gas fed to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 24 is set by the pressure-reducing valve 25. When this pressure is lower, generation of a non-dissolved gas is suppressed, leading to enhanced dissolution efficiency. The carbonic acid gas permeation amount through a hollow fiber membrane in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 24 is in proportion to the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas, and when the pressure is higher, the permeation amount is also higher. The carbonic acid gas absorption amount of circulating hot water depends also on the concentration of carbonic acid gas and circulation water amount of the hot water, and when a carbonic acid gas of over the absorption amount is fed, a non-dissolved gas is formed.
Regarding carbonic water produced in the early step, its concentration of carbonic acid gas is not particularly restricted. Hot water in the bath part 21 gets increased concentration of carbonic acid gas with the lapse of time of circulation. When such correlation data between the circulation time and the concentration of carbonic acid gas are previously measured, if the intended concentration of carbonic acid gas and feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas are determined, necessary circulation time can be determined.
The preferable concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water, constitution of the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 24, constitution of a membrane module, constitution of a hollow fiber membrane, preferable range of the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas, piping for counterflow washing, and automatic water extraction means (piping for drain discharge, magnetic valve (open valve) 32) are the same as in the case of the first invention (
By the circulation type carbonic water production process described above, namely, by the early step in the second present invention, carbonic water having any high concentration (for example, 600 mg/L to 1400 mg/L) can be produced efficiently. The time of this early step is not particularly restricted, and the early step may be effected until carbonic water having desired concentration of carbonic acid gas is filled in a bath. Usually, it is necessary to effect heating until water in a bath gets suitable temperature, before use of the bath, however, it is preferable that the time of the early step in the second present invention is also about the same as its heating time. This heating time is about 1 hour in the case of a large bath for a plenty of people.
The feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas in the early step is preferably about 0.15 MPa to 0.3 MPa. Values around the lower limit of this pressure are values particularly suitable in the case of a small bath, and values around the upper limit are values particularly suitable in the case of a large bath. In the early step, its pressure is also increased for producing carbonic water of high concentration in a short period of time, however, in the concentration maintaining step, lower pressure than this can be adopted.
Following to this early step, hot water in a bath is further circulated continuously and its high concentration is maintained efficiently, namely, the concentration maintaining step in the second present invention is conducted. This concentration maintaining step is very significant particularly in the case of large bath having large surface area on water surface. The time of this concentration maintaining step is not particularly restricted, however, it is preferable that the concentration maintaining step is conducted during use of a bath. Further, the concentration maintaining step may be effected continuously during use of a bath, or may be effected intermittently at an interval providing the concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water in a bath (for example, 600 mg/L to 1400 mg/L) can be maintained at a desired value. Since, usually, a carbonic acid gas in carbonic water evaporates at a rate of about 1 to 4 mg/L/cm2/Hr per bath area, it may be recommendable that a carbonic acid gas of amount approximately compensating its evaporation is fed and dissolved in carbonic water.
The feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas in the concentration maintaining step is preferably about 0.001 to 0.1 MPa. Values around the lower limit of this pressure are values particularly suitable in the case of a small bath, and values around the upper limit are values particularly suitable in the case of a large bath.
In the second present invention, the size of a bath (water tank) is not particularly restricted, however, a bath having an internal volume of about 0.5 m3 to 3 m3 can be used.
The circulation flow rate per unit area in the concentration maintaining step in the early step is preferably about 5 L/min/m2 to 15 L/min/m2. The carbonic acid gas permeation flow rate per unit membrane area in a hollow fiber membrane is preferably about 0.2 to 2 L/min/atm/m2.
[Embodiments of the Third Present Invention]
In this example, hot water is flown continuously into a hollow part of a hollow fiber membrane in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45. By passing through in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45, raw water becomes carbonic water, and this carbonic water is fed continuously from the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45 to a bath 56 through piping. The flow rate of raw water fed into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45 (namely, flow rate of raw water passing in the dissolving apparatus 45) can be detected by a flow sensor 43 provided before a raw water feeding part in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45.
In the third present invention, the correlation as shown in Table 7 is stored previously as a datum and, for example, programmed in a control computer of the apparatus. This datum is used in the following control. First, a user inputs the intended concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water to be obtained, for example, 1000 mg/L, in the apparatus. Then, hot water is fed into the apparatus from a hot water faucet of general water line. The flow rate of hot water is an indefinite factor changing depending on the extent of opening of a faucet. Therefore, this apparatus detects the flow rate which is an indefinite factor in real time by a flow sensor 43. Based on the graph of the correlation (relative data) shown in
Regarding a hollow fiber membrane, in general, if the maximum value of the flow rate of raw water is hypothesized about 30 L/min, the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas is controlled in the range from 0.01 to 0.5 MPa, and the membrane area of a hollow fiber membrane is adequately from about 0.1 m2 to 15 m2.
In the third present invention, for example, even in the case of feeding raw water from a faucet of water line (namely, when the flow rate of raw water is indefinite), the intended concentration of carbonic acid gas can be obtained with little error. Additionally, since a concentration of carbonic acid gas measuring means and a pH measuring means as used in conventional technologies are not necessary, the apparatus becomes compact and operation thereof is simple. Therefore, for example, provision of a carbonic water production apparatus is not necessarily required in a step of designing a bath, and a compact apparatus simply corresponding to known baths including a domestic bath can be obtained, very practically.
The correlation shown in
When a hollow fiber membrane is used in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45, the thickness of the hollow fiber membrane is preferably from 10 to 150 μm. When the membrane thickness if 10 μm or more, sufficient membrane strength tends to be shown. When 150 μm or less, sufficient carbonic acid gas permeation speed and dissolution efficiency are liable to be shown. In the case of the three-layer complex hollow fiber membrane, the thickness of a non-porous membrane is preferably from 0.3 to 2 μm. When 0.3 μm or more, the membrane does not easily deteriorate, and leak due to membrane deterioration does not occur easily. When 2 μm or less, sufficient carbonic acid gas permeation speed and dissolving efficiency are liable to be shown.
Constitutions other than the thickness of a hollow fiber membrane, preferable concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water, constitution of the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45, constitution of a membrane module, piping for counterflow washing, automatic water extraction means (piping for drain discharge, magnetic valve (open valve) 53), bubble generating apparatus and injection apparatus are the same as in the case of the first invention (
In the apparatus shown in
[Embodiments of the Fourth Present Invention]
As the embodiment of fourth present invention, namely, a carbonic water production apparatus having an automatic water extraction means which automatically discharges drain collected in a membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus out of the apparatus, mentioned is, for example, a constitution of the one-pass type carbonic water production apparatus shown in
Namely, in the apparatus shown in
The carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus may have a constitution in which a carbonic acid gas is fed in a hollow fiber membrane and raw water is flown to the outside of a hollow fiber membrane, contrary to the above-mentioned constitution. In the case of such a constitution, drain extracting piping is communicated to the inside of a hollow fiber membrane in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus.
In stopping of feeding of a carbonic acid gas, there is a possibility that a high pressure of 0.3 MPa at its maximum remains as remaining pressure in the outside of a hollow fiber membrane in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45. Therefore, if the magnetic valve 53 is opened directly after stopping of feeding of a carbonic acid gas, a hammer phenomenon may occur. For preventing this, time lag (about 10 seconds) is provided in the above-mentioned example. When a time of about 10 seconds lapses, a gas outside of a hollow fiber membrane permeates appropriately into the hollow side via the membrane, and the remaining pressure outside of a hollow fiber membrane becomes about 0.05 MPa. At remaining pressure of such extent, a hammer phenomenon does not occur, and drain can be discharged sufficiently only by opening the magnetic valve 53 for about 5 seconds.
Namely, in a carbonic water production apparatus of feeding raw water and a carbonic acid gas into the membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45 to dissolve a carbonic acid gas in raw water as shown in
Further, as the another embodiment of the fourth present invention, mentioned is, for example, a constitution of the circulation type carbonic water production apparatus shown in
Namely, in the apparatus shown in
In a carbonic water production apparatus shown in
Thus, by setting time and remaining pressure corresponding to the apparatus and conducting drain extraction automatically, there is no necessity to effect manual drain extraction purposely as in conventional technologies, and usually, effective membrane surface area is confirmed, and carbonic water of high concentration can be produced simply.
[Embodiments of Feeding to a Plurality of Use Points in the First to the Fourth Present Inventions]
In the first to fourth present inventions described above, also useful embodiment is application as an apparatus in which a carbonic water production apparatus and a water storage tank are provided, carbonic water produced in the carbonic water production apparatus is stored in the water stored tank, and carbonic water stored in the water storage tank is fed to a plurality of use points by a water conveying pump.
Namely, in conventional carbonic water production, it is usual that one carbonic water production apparatus is used for one use point (e.g., bath). Therefore, in facilities in hospitals and sanatoriums having a lot of use points set, a carbonic water production apparatus should be provided for each use point, leading necessarily to increased equipment cost. Further, use of one carbonic water production apparatus for one use point means that when a large amount of carbonic water is necessary at a time for the use point, a dissolving apparatus and the like in the carbonic water production apparatus have to be enlarged. On the other hand, in the case of application to a carbonic water production feeding system having separately a function of producing carbonic water and a function of storing water, together (carbonic water production apparatus) as described above, even if carbonic water is fed to a plurality of use points, one carbonic water production apparatus can act satisfactorily, leading to reduction in equipment cost.
Next, the water storage tank 200 and use points 300 are described.
Carbonic water of high concentration (about 1000 mg/L) produced in the above-mentioned carbonic water production apparatus 100 is fed to the water storage tank 200 through piping. A feeding tube 86 for feeding the produced carbonic water to the water storage tank 200 is placed as an insertion tube in the water storage tank 200. By this, stirring of carbonic water can be prevented as completely as possible and evaporation of a carbonic acid gas in carbonic water can be prevented. When water in the water storage tank 200 reached a given water level, carbonic water production in the carbonic water production apparatus 100 is stopped by a level switch 81.
Next, carbonic water is fed centrally to use points 300 by a water conveying pump 82. A gas extracting valve 91 is mounted on the uppermost part of a water conveying tube 90, to remove the evaporated carbonic acid gas.
As the water conveying pump 82, for example, a swirling pump, diaphragm pump, screw pump, tube pump and piston pump, commonly used, are used. In driving the water conveying pump 82, return piping 83 is provided to cause constant circulation, for preventing shutoff of the water conveying pump 82 and controlling the water conveying flow rate. A part of this return piping 83 contributing to re-conveying to the water storage tank 200 is placed as an insertion tube like the feeding tube 86 for feeding carbonic water to the water storage tank 200, to prevent stirring of carbonic water as completely as possible.
Here, if the water storage tank 200 is in open system, there is a tendency that a carbonic acid gas in carbonic water vaporized to lower the concentration. Therefore, for maintaining high concentration of carbonic water in the water storage tank 200, it is preferable that a gas phase part in the tank is filled always with a carbonic acid gas. In the example shown in
The water storage tank 200 has an electric heater 85 which maintains the temperature of carbonic water at given temperature. The electric heater 85 is turned on or off by a controller.
In the water storage tank 200, if the gas pressure in a gas phase part and the temperature of carbonic water are determined, the dissolution degree of carbonic acid gas in water is constant, therefore, carbonic water always maintained at a constant concentration can be stored in the water storage tank 200. For example, when a gas phase part is composed of 100% carbonic acid gas under atmospheric pressure, the dissolution degree of carbonic acid gas in water (40° C.) is chemically 1109 mg/L (40° C.). Therefore, the concentration of carbonic acid gas in carbonic water can kept at high concentration of 1000 mg/L or more only by maintaining a gas phase part (carbonic acid gas) at atmospheric pressure, additionally, if the atmosphere in the water storage tank 200 is maintained at or around the atmospheric pressure, extreme positive pressure or negative pressure is not applied on the wall part of the water storage tank 200, therefore, the structural material of the water storage tank 200 may be made of a relatively light material, leading to reduction in equipment cost.
In this embodiment, water fed to the water storage tank 200 should be carbonic water of desired concentration. If water containing utterly no carbonic acid gas is fed to the water storage tank 200, for example, it is necessary to carry out a conventional method (pressured method) in which pressure sealing is effected in the water storage tank 200 under high pressure, to produce a carbonic acid gas, however, in this case, the water storage tank 200 is enlarged and becomes fast, and a longer period of time is necessary for production of carbonic water, therefore, stable feeding to use points can not be performed. Additionally, it is also difficult to obtain carbonic water having desired high concentration.
[Embodiments of the Fifth Present Invention]
In the example shown in
The carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 106 is a membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus having a membrane module containing a hollow fiber membrane placed in it. In this example, when hot water in the bath part 101 is circulated for any time by the circulation pump 104, the bath part 101 will be filled with carbonic water having high concentration of carbonic acid gas. The volume of this bath part 101 is usually in the range from 10 to 40 L.
In the case of a foot bath utilizing the circulation type carbonic water production apparatus 400 as shown in
Further, in this example, for example, when the water passing amount per hollow fiber membrane module is 0.1 to 10 L/min and the gas pressure is 0.01 MPa to 0.3 MPa, it is preferable that the membrane area is about 0.1 m2 to 5 m2.
In the foot bath shown in
In the example shown in
Further, instead of use of tap water, water stored in a water storage tank 135 provided on the carbonic water production apparatus 500 can also be flown into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 106 via the switching valve 132. The volume of the water storage tank 135 is the same as that of the bath part 101 of the foot bath, and hot water is collected in the water storage tank 135 in every operation, the whole amount is fed to the bath part 101 via the carbonic water production apparatus 500. By such a function, a foot bath can be used even at a place of no water line, and a merit of a portable foot bath can be further utilized. Raw water in the water storage tank 135 has been previously fed in suitable time whole opening a lid 136.
The carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 106 is a membrane type carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus having a membrane module containing a hollow fiber membrane placed in it. In this example, a carbonic acid gas fed into the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 106 is introduced onto the outer surface of the hollow fiber membrane. On the other hand, raw water (hot water) fed in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 106 flows in a hollow part of the hollow fiber membrane. Here, a carbonic acid gas on the outer surface of the hollow fiber membrane comes into contact with raw water flowing in a hollow part of the hollow fiber membrane via a membrane surface, a carbonic acid gas is dissolved in raw water to produce carbonic water having desired concentration in one pass. This carbonic water is fed into the bath part 101 via a non-return valve.
The carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus may have a constitution in which a carbonic acid gas is fed in a hollow fiber membrane and raw water is flown to the outside of a hollow fiber membrane, contrary to the above-mentioned constitution.
In the case of a foot bath utilizing the one-pass type carbonic water production apparatus 500 as shown in
In automatic water extraction (drain extraction) in
In the examples shown in
The carbonic water production apparatuses equipped with foot baths as shown in
The present invention will be illustrated further specifically by examples below.
First, Example A regarding the first present invention will be described.
Using the apparatus shown in the flow sheet of
Hot water having an amount of 10 L and a temperature of 35° C. filled in the bath 11 was circulated at a flow rate of 5 L/min by the circulation pump 1, and simultaneously, a carbonic acid gas was fed under a pressure of 0.05 MPa to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 5. By this circulation, the concentration of carbonic acid gas in hot water in the bath 11 increased gradually. The concentration of carbonic acid gas was measured by an ion meter IM40S manufactured by Toa Denpa Kogyo K.K., carbonic acid gas electrode CE-235. The measurement results of the concentration of carbonic acid gas at every circulation time are shown in Table 1. In production of carbonic water, drain extraction was conducted automatically by an automatic water extraction function, and gas extraction was appropriately conducted.
Further, carbonic water was produced in the same manner excepting that the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas was changed to 0.10 MPa and 0.15 MPa. The circulation time and the concentration of carbonic acid gas in this case are also shown in Table 2. These are shown in the form of graph in
Based on the data shown in Table 1, for example, if the concentration the intended carbonic acid gas to be produced is 1000 mg/L, the desired times for circulation are determined as shown in Table 2 for feeding pressures of carbonic acid gas of 0.05 MPa, 0.10 MPa and 0.15 MPa, respectively.
In the first present invention, since a positive displacement metering pump having a self-priming ability is used, carbonic water having a high concentration of about 1000 mg/L can also be circulated stably. Therefore, when water was again circulated for desired times under three gas feeding pressures shown in Table 2, carbonic water having a high concentration of about 1000 mg/L could be produced.
Carbonic water was tried to be produced in the same manner as in Example A1 excepting that a swirling pump was used instead of a diaphragm type metering pump, as the circulation pump 1, and an under-water pump (swirling mode) was attached also at the tip of an absorption horse in a bath for making the pressure at a pump absorption port positive (pushing). However, before reaching carbonic water (1000 mg/L) of high concentration, the pump stopped due to generation of bubble.
A time from initiation of operation until stopping of a swirling pump by bubble entrainment, and the concentration of carbonic acid gas at its stopping are shown in Table 3.
From the results shown in Table 3, it is known that, when a swirling pump is used, the concentration of carbonic water increases and the pump is stopped by bubble, consequently, that having a high concentration of about 1000 mg/L cannot be produced.
As described above, in the first present invention, since a positive-displacement metering pump is used, even if bubble is generated in carbonic water of high concentration, stable circulation is possible. Further, complicated control is not necessary, the constitution of the apparatus can be simplified significantly, the apparatus has small size and requires low cost, and carbonic water of high concentration can be produced by a simple operation at low cost. Further, as compared with a one-pass type apparatus, setting is simple, and carbonic water can be produced more efficiently at low cost with low gas feeding pressure. From such a standpoint, the first present invention is very useful as the domestic carbonic water production apparatus since, for example, it can be used only by filling a bath with hot water and putting a carbonic water circulation hose of the apparatus.
Next, Example B regarding the second present invention will be described.
The carbonic water production process according to the second present invention shown in
As the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 24, a dissolving apparatus was used containing the three-layer complex hollow fiber membrane described above [manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., trade name: MHF] at an effective total membrane area of 2.4 m2, and a carbonic acid gas was fed on the outer surface side of the hollow fiber membrane and raw water was fed to the hollow side, to dissolve the carbonic acid gas. As the filtration apparatus 26, RAF-40N (trade name, manufactured by Noritz Corp., ability: 4 t/H (67 L/min), 400 W) was used, as the circulation pump 22, a commonly used swirling pump (270 W) was used, and as the bath 21, a large bath having a volume of 1000 L (1 m3) was used. An early step was carried out at a water temperature of 40° C., a circulation flow rate of 10 L/min/m2 and a carbonic acid gas pressure of 0.2 MPa for 1 hour, consequently, the bath can be filled with carbonic water having a concentration of carbonic acid gas of 810 mg/L. Subsequently, a concentration maintaining step was carried out at a carbonic acid gas pressure of 0.1 MPa, and the concentration of carbonic acid gas in carbonic water in the bath could be maintained at 840 to 880 mg/L for 5 hours. The specific data in this example are shown in Table 4 below.
As described above, according to the second present invention, a problem of evaporation of a carbonic water after once produced can be solved, and a certain concentration of carbonic acid gas can be produced and maintained by a simple operation at low cost for a long period of time.
Next, Example C regarding the third present invention will be described.
Carbonic water was produced as described below using the apparatus according to the flow sheet shown in
First, the intended concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water to be produced was set at 600 mg/L. Next, hot water (raw water) prepared by heating tap water at 40° C. was fed to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45 at any flow rate. The flow rate of the hot water detected by the flow sensor 4 was 15 L/min.
A carbonic acid gas was fed to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45 while automatically controlling the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas so the concentration of carbonic acid gas of the resulting carbonic water was 600 mg/L, based on this flow rate data and the correlation data shown in
Further, carbonic water was produced in the same manner excepting that the intended concentration of carbonic acid gas was set at 1000 mg/L (flow rate of hot water: 15 L/min). The feeding pressure of carbonic water was specifically 0.30 MPa. The concentration of carbonic acid gas of thus produced carbonic water was measured in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 5.
As apparent from the results shown in Table 5, carbonic water having the intended concentration could be produced with little error, in any set concentration case.
Carbonic water was produced in the same manner as in Example C1 excepting that the flow rate of hot water was 5 L/min. The results are shown in Table 6.
As apparent from the results shown in Table 6, carbonic water having the intended concentration could be produced with little error, in any set concentration case. From the results of Examples C1 and C2, it is also known that carbonic water having the intended concentration can be produced with little error, even if the flow rate of hot water (raw water) is indefinite.
As described above, according to the third present invention, complicated control is not necessary, the constitution of the apparatus can be simplified significantly, the apparatus has small size and requires low cost, and carbonic water having the intended concentration of carbonic acid gas can be produced by a simple manner. Particularly, the third present invention can be applied also when raw water is fed from a faucet of water line, additionally, since the apparatus is compact, it is very useful as an apparatus for water treatment which can be applied simply to known baths including a domestic bath.
Next, Example D regarding the fourth present invention will be described.
Carbonic water was produced using the apparatus according to the flow sheet shown in
First, the intended concentration of carbonic acid gas of carbonic water to be produced was set at 1000 ppm. Next, hot water (raw water) prepared by heating tap water at 40° C. was fed to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45 at any flow rate. The flow rate of the hot water detected by the flow sensor 43 was 15 L/min. Here, a carbonic acid gas was fed to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45 while appropriately controlling the feeding pressure of carbonic acid gas so the concentration of carbonic acid gas of the resulting carbonic water was 1000 mg/L. The feeding pressure of carbonic water was specifically 0.30 MPa. The concentration of carbonic acid gas of thus produced carbonic water was about 1000 ppm.
This carbonic water production was continued for 1 hour, then, feeding of raw water and feeding of carbonic acid gas were stopped. As intended, 10 seconds after this stopping timing, the magnetic valve 53 of the apparatus was opened automatically for 5 seconds. In this operation, drain was discharged successfully out of the apparatus, under a remaining pressure of a gas out of a hollow fiber membrane in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 45 at about 0.05 MPa. Further, no hammer phenomenon occurred.
Carbonic water was produced using the apparatus according to the flow sheet shown in
Hot water having an amount of 10 L and a temperature of 35° C. filled in the bath 11 was circulated at a flow rate of 5 L/min by the circulation pump 1, and simultaneously, a carbonic acid gas was fed under a pressure of 0.15 MPa to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3. By this circulation, the concentration of carbonic acid gas in hot water in the bath 11 increased gradually. When this circulation was continued for 5 minutes, the concentration of carbonic water in the bath reached around 1000 ppm. Since operation was repeated for several time (integration time: 4 hours or more); drain was collected in the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 3 after production of carbonic water. In completion of the next operation, the magnetic valve 7 was automatically opened for 1 second, as set. Since, in this time, the carbonic acid gas magnetic valve 6 was opened, a gas pressure of 0.15 MPa was applied, and under this pressure, the drain was discharged successfully out of the apparatus. Further, the same carbonic water production was repeated, consequently, after every operation for an integrated operation time of 4 hours of more, water extraction was successfully conducted automatically in initiation of the next operation, as set.
As described above, according to the fourth present invention, effective membrane area can be always secured, without requiring effecting purposely manual drain extraction, and carbonic water of high concentration can be successfully produced by a simple operation, namely, the fourth present invention is very practical.
Next, Example E in which feeding to a plurality of use points is conducted will be described.
Carbonic water was produced and fed as described below, according to the example shown in
First, hot water (raw water) prepared by heating tap water at 40° C. was fed to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 65 at a flow rate of 15 L/min, and a carbonic acid gas was fed to the carbonic acid gas dissolving apparatus 65 under a feeding pressure of 0.30 MPa. The concentration of carbonic acid gas of the produced carbonic water was about 1000 ppm, and this was fed to the water storage tank 200. Carbonic water in the water storage tank 200 was kept at 40° C. This carbonic water could be successfully fed to each use point 300 by the water conveying pump 82.
As described above, in this example, equipment cost could be reduced by one carbonic water production apparatus even when carbonic water was fed to a plurality of use points (e.g., bath). Namely, by effecting such an application, operation can be carried out by one carbonic water production apparatus, even in a facility having a lot of use points provided, and a large amount of carbonic water can be stored in a water storage tank, therefore, even when a large amount of carbonic water is necessary at one time, a small dissolving apparatus can be used in a carbonic water production apparatus, and by this, equipment cost lowers. Further, carbonic water of high concentration giving physiological effects can be supplied easily in a stable manner.
Next, Example F regarding the fifth present invention will be described.
A foot bath using the circulation type carbonic water production apparatus shown in
The concentration of carbonic acid gas is a value measured by a measuring apparatus (IM-40) manufactured by Toa Denpa K.K.
A foot bath using the one-pass type carbonic water production apparatus shown in
As described above, according to the fifth present invention, a bath can be provided of which operation in use is simple and which keeps sufficiently the merit of portable foot baths.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-116501 | Apr 2000 | JP | national |
| 2000-116502 | Apr 2000 | JP | national |
| 2000-116503 | Apr 2000 | JP | national |
| 2000-242601 | Aug 2000 | JP | national |
| 2000-249738 | Aug 2000 | JP | national |
| 2000-260701 | Aug 2000 | JP | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10258031 | Oct 2002 | US |
| Child | 11001333 | Dec 2004 | US |
