Patent Application
20050247557
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrolytic water purifier, which electrolyzes water by applying voltages to a porous water-purifying member having a plurality of pores. Especially, the present invention can be adapted to an electrolytic water purifier, which has advantages in efficiently adsorbing the gas produced by electrolyzation to the pores of the porous water-purifying member. It especially adsorbs the gas immediately after electrolyzation, which is generally said to have activation. The present invention can be adapted to an electrolytic water purifier for domestic use, medical use, industrial use and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been provided a water purifier includes: a container having a water supplying room divided by an inner wall surface; a porous water-purifying member having ability of water purification, disposed in the water supplying room of the container; a water supplying portion supplying water to the water supplying room of the container; and a water discharging portion discharging water outside the device, purified with the porous water-purifying member in the water supplying room of the container. According to this water purifier, water is purified by the porous water-purifying member.
Moreover, according to the valid data of a recent document, the gaseous hydrogen immediately after electrolyzation is activated and it is reported to be effective to organism and the like, as compared to the ordinal gas (generally gaseous hydrogen) after a considerable time has passed from electrolyzation. Namely, super fine sized (generally 3-100 nm) gaseous particles (generally gaseous hydrogen particles) identified immediately after electrolyzation is activated and it is reported to be effective to organism and the like, as compared to the ordinal gas (hydrogen: generally 10-30 μm) after a considerable time has passed from electrolyzation.
The present invention has developed as a part of the above mentioned water purifier having a porous water-purifying member. It is directed to providing an electrolytic water purifier, which has advantages in adsorbing the gas produced by electrolyzation to the pores of the porous water-purifying member. Especially, it is directed to providing an electrolytic water purifier, which has advantages in adsorbing the activated gas immediately after electrolyzation, which is said to be effective to organism, to the pores of the porous water-purifying member.
Further, when the alternating current voltage is applied, it is directed to providing an electrolytic water purifier which has advantages in suppressing the phenomena of anode corrosion occurring when applying the direct current voltage, and suppressing the deposition of products such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, etc. on the part of cathode (negative pole).
The electrolytic water purifier of the present invention comprises: a container having an inner wall surface and a water supplying room formed of the inner wall surface; a porous water-purifying member having a plurality of pores with water purifying ability, disposed in the water supplying room of the container; a water supplying portion placed in the container and supplying water to the water supplying room of the container; and a discharging portion placed in the container and discharging water purified with the porous water-purifying member of the water supplying room of the container to outside the container; wherein the porous water-purifying member is divided in a radial direction into at least a first porous water-purifying member and a second porous water-purifying member to form an annular clearance, and the first porous water-purifying member is connected to a first feeder terminal to be a first electrode and the second porous water-purifying member is connected to a second feeder terminal to be a second electrode, and by applying voltage to the first and second electrodes, water in the annular clearance is electrolyzed to produce gas to be adsorbed to the pores of the porous water-purifying member.
In accordance with the electrolytic water purifier of the present invention, the porous water-purifying member is divided into at least two tubular parts in a radial direction to form an annular clearance. Accordingly, it can be divided into two parts in a radial direction. Or it can be divided into three or four parts in a radial direction depending on the condition. The first porous water-purifying member is connected to a first feeder terminal to be the first electrode: the second porous water-purifying member, which is placed opposite the first porous water-purifying member, is connected to a second feeder terminal to be the second electrode. By applying voltage to the first and the second electrodes, water in the annular clearance is electrolyzed. That is, the annular clearance is used as an electrolytic room. In this case, since the first and the second porous water-purifying members are placed near the annular clearance, the gas immediately after produced by electrolyzation is readily adsorbed to the pores of the first and the second porous water-purifying members in the early stage. In this case, it has an advantage in diffusing and adsorbing the gas immediately after produced by electrolyzation to the pores of the first and the second porous water-purifying members.
According to the above mentioned document, the gas immediately after produced by electrolyzation has activity and it is said to have good influences on organism. That is, it is said the gas immediately after produced by electrolyzation is super fine sized and it has good influences on organism, as compared to one after long time has passed.
In accordance with the electrolytic water purifier of the present invention, it is possible to effectively raise a pressure in the annular clearance used as an electrolytic room when gas is generated by electrolyzation, since a porous water-purifying member with a plurality of pores has resistance in gas permeation. When the pressure rises in the annular clearance used as an electrolytic room, the gas in the annular clearance used as an electrolytic room can be easily diffused inside the porous water-purifying members by the increased pressure and the gas can be easily adsorbed to the porous water-purifying members.
In accordance with the electrolytic water purifier of the present invention, the porous water-purifying member is divided into at least two tubular parts in a radial direction to form an annular clearance. The first porous water-purifying member is connected to a first feeder terminal to be the first electrode and the second porous water-purifying member is connected to a second feeder terminal to be the second electrode. According to this construction, it is possible to enlarge the surface area of the wall forming the annular clearance used as an electrolytic room, so it is also possible to enlarge an electrolytic area in the porous water-purifying member. This has advantages in heightening the ability of electrolyzation in the annular clearance used as an electrolytic room. Moreover, since it is possible to enlarge a gas permeation area of the porous water-purifying member which adsorbs the gas to the porous water-purifying member, it has advantages in adsorbing, to the pores of the porous water-purifying member, materials such as gas generated by water electrolyzation in the annular clearance used as an electrolytic room. Generally, it is said that the gas such as hydrogen, etc. immediately after produced by electrolyzation is activated and has good influences on organism. In accordance with the electrolytic water purifier of the present invention, it has advantages in effectively adsorbing the gas immediately after produced by electrolyzation, activated and said to be good for organism, to the first and the second porous water-purifying members, since the annular clearance used as an electrolytic room is formed between the first and the second porous water-purifying members.
Further, in accordance with the electrolytic water purifier of the present invention, when the alternating current voltage is applied to the first and the second electrodes, it has advantages in suppressing the phenomena of anode corrosion occurring when applying the direct current voltage, as well as in suppressing the deposition of products such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, etc. on the cathode (negative pole), so it has advantages in maintenance and the like. The alternating current voltage can include, for example, sine curve shaped alternating current waveforms or waveforms of sine curve shaped alternating current waveform component added to direct current component.
As to the preferred embodiments, at least one of below mentioned embodiments can be adopted.
An electrolytic room can be constructed with an annular clearance formed by the first and the second porous water-purifying members. In this case, the annular clearance being an electrolytic room can pass through or substantially pass through one shaft end to the other shaft end. Further, it is possible to place a closing portion such as a seal cap that closes the end of the annular clearance being an electrolytic room, at the through end of the annular clearance being an electrolytic room in order to close the end of the electrolytic room and increase a pressure in the electrolytic room. In this case, closeness of the annular clearance being an electrolytic room is increased because of the closing portion and accordingly, it is advantageous to increase the pressure of the annular clearance due to the gas generated by electrolyzation in the annular clearance being an electrolytic room. As a result, it can be expected to achieve the effect of enabling to adsorb the gas generated by electrolyzation in the annular clearance being an electrolytic room, especially the gas immediately after electrolyzation, to the pores of the porous water-purifying member at an early stage. It is possible to form a gap keeping element such as a spacer to keep the width of the annular clearance in the electrolytic room as one unit with the closing portion such as a sealing cap. In addition, when width of the annular clearance being an electrolytic room is excessively large, it is difficult for the electrolytic current to flow. Thus, the width of the annular clearance being the electrolytic room can be, for instance, 30 mm or less, 20 mm or less, 10 mm or less, 5 mm or less, 4 mm or less, 2 mm or less depending on the voltage applied.
The first and the second porous water-purifying members can both be tubular shaped. The first porous water-purifying member is connected to a first feeder terminal to be the first electrode and the second porous water-purifying member is connected to a second feeder terminal to be the second electrode. By applying voltage (alternating current or direct current) to the first and the second electrodes, water in the annular clearance is electrolyzed and the produced gas is adsorbed to the pores of the porous water-purifying member. The voltage applied between the first and the second electrodes can be selected suitably, for example, from 1.5 to 25 volt, from 2 to 20 volt, especially from 5 to 7 volt can be selected, however, it should not be limited by these. In this specification, volt and ampere mean effective value in the alternating current.
As a container, it is preferable to be made of corrosion resisting materials such as titanium alloy, stainless steel, high alloy steel, etc. As the below mentioned embodiments, when the first and the second electrodes are conducted, a continuity member which composes a container, etc. tends to be polarized in general. In the part polarized anode (+pole), anode corrosion may occur to metal parts. Also, when the direct current voltage is applied to the first and the second electrodes, anode corrosion may occur to metal parts in the anode (+pole) part depending on the condition. However, when the alternating current voltage, which repeats positive potential and negative potential several times per unit hour, is applied to the first and the second electrodes, potential is changed repeatedly several times per unit hour according to the cycles of oxidation and reduction. Thus, anode corrosion and anode elution can be suppressed as compared to applying the direct current voltage.
Moreover, when applying the direct current voltage to the first and the second electrodes, depending on the condition, products such as calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate may be deposited on cathode (−pole) as the electrolytic water purifier has been used for long period of time. In order to suppress these depositions, it is preferable to apply the alternating current voltage to the first and the second electrodes, which alternately repeats positive potential and negative potential several times per unit hour.
As the upper limit of the frequency of the alternating current voltage, it is possible to adopt 500 Hz or less, 300 Hz or less, 200 Hz or less, 100 Hz or less, 80 Hz or less. As the lower limit of frequency of the alternating current voltage, 10 Hz or more, 20 Hz or more, 30 Hz or more, 40 Hz or more, 50 Hz or more can be adopted. Considering alternating current voltage generally fed, in the range of 10 to 500 Hz, 20 to 200 Hz, 40 to 70 Hz, especially 50 to 60 Hz can be adopted. To be concrete, 50 Hz or 60 Hz can be adopted like ordinal household ac electrical products.
Consequently, in accordance with the electrolytic water purifier of the present invention, there are no limitations in construction and function of a voltage applying member, as long as it can apply the alternating current or direct current to the first and the second electrodes.
As a representative form to apply voltage to the first and the second electrodes, example forms are shown in
A porous water-purifying member has a plurality of pores to exhibit high captivation to extraneous materials such as fungi and the like. The pores are through to each other and they form a permeable layer that permeates water. The pores have water purifying ability as well as the ability to adsorb materials, for instance, the gas such as hydrogen and oxygen produced by electrolyzation. As a porous water-purifying member, it is preferable to utilize carbonaceneous materials (generally carbonaceneous forming) such as an activated carbon being an electric conductor. In this case, a porous water-purifying member can be formed with an activated carbon and a binding agent as prime components. A binding agent can be a resin material or an inorganic material. An activated carbon can be, for instance, powdered, granulated or fibrous.
Hereinafter, the electrolytic water purifier in the embodiment 1 of the present invention will be explained concretely in accordance with
The container 1 has a water supplying room 14, whose cross section is circular shape, formed with inner wall surfaces of 10 m of the cylinder 10. The cross section of the water supplying room 14 is circular shape, however, this is not an only option, so rectangular shape such as a square shape can be applied. The electric equipment container 13 comprises an electric equipment room 16 for accommodating electric equipment and a lid 16a closing the upper surface clearance of the electric equipment room 16. The electric equipment container 13 is irremovably attached to the upper end of the cylinder 10 by a seal member 19, which is ring shape. The electric equipment container 13 compresses a lid member 18T made of a resin and a seal member 19 made of a resin or a rubber from the upper side, to ensure water tightness between the upper end 10u of the cylinder 10 and the electric equipment container 13.
The electric equipment container 13 includes a control section 100 to feed the first feeder terminal 34 and the second feeder terminal 35. In the rear face side 13a of the electric equipment container 13, as shown in
In the water supplying room 14 of the cylinder 10 of the container 1, the porous water-purifying member 3 having a cylindrical shape is placed coaxially. The porous water-purifying member 3 is divided in its radial direction, and it is composed of the thick inside porous water-purifying member 4 (the first porous water-purifying member) and the thick outside porous water-purifying member 5 (the second porous water-purifying member), which is placed substantially coaxially. The inside porous water-purifying member 4 is thick and cylindrical shape, and it has a cylindrical shape, an inner wall surface 4i having a center hole 4a, which is cylindrical hollow and the outer wall surface 4k, which is cylindrical shape and placed opposite of the inner wall surface 4i. The outside porous water-purifying member 5 is thick cylindrical shape, coaxially enveloping the outer side of the inside porous water-purifying member 4. The outside porous water-purifying member 5 has a cylindrical shape, an inner wall surface 5i, which faces through the annular clearance 6 to the outer wall surface 4k of the inside the porous water-purifying member 4, and the outer wall surface 5k, which is cylindrical shape and faces to the inner wall surface 10m of the cylinder 10. The annular clearance 6 has a ring shape so that the clearance width has uniformity or approximately uniformity broadening in the circumferential direction. The annular clearance 6 enables to avoid direct contact and direct conductivity of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5, and it can function as an insulating space that electrically insulates them. The width of the annular clearance 6 spreads in the radial direction of the porous water-purifying member 3 and it has uniformity or approximately uniformity broadening.
The inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5 are both porous, activated carbon block filers, which are permeable sintered blocks. The sintered block is produced by the step of: forming the mixture of a powdered activated carbon, binding agent and water mixed by the predetermined weight percentage; pressurizing the mixture to become a formed body; sintering the formed body at high temperature (800-1200° C.); and setting the sintered body to the predetermined size. As to the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5, the porosity can be selected suitably, for example, in the range of 15 to 65% by volume. The porosity is not limited to this. A fine water permeable layer with such porosity has the advantages in readily suppressing propagation of microorganism in the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5. Moreover, it is confirmed by examinations conducted by the inventor of the present invention that generally the activated carbon containing water adsorbs a lot of oxygen in air and in water, it adsorbs a great amount of hydrogen dispersing in water after electrolyzation. As the above mentioned binding agent, a powder of thermoplastic resin (such as polyethylene), whose melting temperature is low and it does not need to be sintered or an inorganic binder such as alumina and silica can be used. The inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5 have the ability of water purification to remove hypochlorous acid (hereinafter called chlorine), etc. contained in water by chemical reaction. Also, with the pores, they have ability of water purification to adsorb disinfectant components such as trihalomethanes, etc. dissolved in water. In accordance with the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5, the pore diameter forming a water permeable layer of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5 can be an average of from 0.1 to 20 micron, especially from 0.3 to 20 micron, especially from 0.3 to 15 micron. However, the pore diameter is not limited to the above ranges. As mentioned above, the inside porous water-purifying member 4 is thick walled and cylindrical shaped, having the center hole 4a. The outside porous water-purifying member 5 is thick walled and cylindrical shaped, having the center hole 5a which forms the annular clearance 6 placing the inside porous water-purifying member 4 as an axis center.
In this embodiment, as shown in
The seal caps 70 and 71 have electric insulation and sealing performance. As shown in
As shown in
A center pipe 22 functions as an inner cylinder for water discharging and it comprises a passage 22w, formed with a pipe hole, and a plurality of passing holes 22k around the wall. The center pipe 22 is placed as a vertical type in the center hole 4a of the inside porous water-purifying member 4. In the bottom cover 11 of the container 10, an elbow 23 is fixed by welding as a coupling member. The lower end side of the center pipe 22 is screwed and fixed by a bush 24, which is connected, as a coupling member, to the male screw hole of the elbow 23. The upper side of the center pipe 22 is united by screwing the upper side of the bush 25 held by the holder 21.
The electric equipment container 13 includes openings 13c that a lead wire from an electric power supply passes-through, LED 27a and 27b (refer to
In accordance with the present embodiment, a display 26 (refer to
As shown in
In accordance with the present embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As it can be understood from
As indicated in
In accordance with this embodiment, as voltage applied to the first electrode A1 and the second electrode A2 through the feeder terminal 34 and 35, it is possible to use, for example, the voltage having the wave shapes indicated in
When the direct current voltage is applied to the first electrode A1 and the second electrode A2, in the anode side (+pole) of direct current voltage, depending on the applied current value, there have occasionally been problems such as oxidation, elution, decrease in continuity due to forming oxide coat or damage to the surfaces, according to the condition of use even when the anode side is made of stainless steel, titanium, carbon, etc. Considering this point, it is possible to employ alternating current voltage applying system, which applies the alternating current voltage alternately repeating positive and negative voltages per unit hour to the first electrode A1 and the second electrode A2. In this case, oxidation and reduction alternately repeat many times per unit hour in the first electrode A1 and the second electrode A2. As a result, phenomena of anode oxidation and anode elution, previously occurred, can be prevented. In order to further ensure that, it is possible to form parts directly carrying current by a corrosion resisting material as well as having conductivity (for instance, titanium, titanium alloy, high corrosion stainless steel, alloy steel and the like.)
Water to be purified is supplied to the annular water supplying gap 4x between the outer wall surface 5k of the outside porous water-purifying member 5 and the inner wall surface 10m of the cylinder 10. As shown in
When the direct current voltage is applied, in order to prevent occurrence of anode corrosion, the direct current voltage is directly applied to the cylinder 10 as a cathode (−pole) or when the direct current voltage is not directly applied, it is polarized as a cathode (−pole).
In this case, however, depending on the condition of use, calcium and magnesium contained in water unite ion carbonate and deposit as a product on the inner wall surface 10m of the cylinder 10 being a cathode (−pole). As time has passed, the settled product considerably deteriorates electrolyzation efficiency; further, thick deposited product is often hard to remove. When the whole cylinder 10 is made of titanium alloy, which seldom incurs anode corrosion, it is possible to readily solve the anode corrosion problem in the cylinder 10. However, it leads to cost pushing and it cannot be down to practice manufacturing when considering the cost aspect. Here, the cylinder 10 is not made of titanium alloy but it is usually made of a steel group such as stainless steel considering the cost reduces. When the polarity of cylinder 10 is set anode to dissolve the deposit, iron in the steel material composing cylinder 10 being anode is dissolved and rust or iron odor is produced, which is a problem from a practical viewpoint.
Considering the above, when the alternating current voltage, which positive and negative voltage are alternately applied many times per unit hour, is applied to the feeder terminal 34 and 35 to apply the first electrode A1 and the second electrode A2, it prevents the cylinder 10 from continuously being a cathode for a long period of time. Because of this, it is possible to suppress the excess amount of deposition of the products, like calcium carbonate and etc., in the cathode parts such as the cylinder 10. Moreover, a material of the cathode parts such as the cylinder 10 becomes irrelevant, so it is possible to form the cathode parts such as the cylinder 10 and etc. by a more reasonable metal material such as steel group like stainless steel, not by titanium alloy that leads to cost pushing.
According to the examinations by the inventor of the present invention, with the alternating current voltage applying system, electrolyzation efficiency was slightly lower than that with direct current voltage applying system. However, the predetermined current flew at about twice as much applied voltage as compared to that with the direct current voltage applying system. It enabled to produce electrolyzation gas objected at, further enabled to suppress electrolyzation corrosion and to prevent the excessive deposition of the product such as calcium carbonate. That is, with the direct current voltage applying system, it is inevitable to employ the means to avoid the polarization of the metal parts composing a water purifier. With the alternating current voltage applying system of the present invention, however, it is possible to solve the above mentioned problems.
When using a water purifier, the forcet of water line connected to the water supplying member 29 is turned on. Then, in
Moreover, when using, the alternating current voltage (frequency: 50-60 Hz) is applied to the pentagon shaped first feeder terminal 34 and the second feeder terminal 35 by the vis 17 and the vis 18. Consequently, due to electrolyzation in the annular clearance 6 between the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5 (this gap can be set for instance, 1-10 mm or 2-4 mm, however, there are no limitations.), gas is produced in the annular clearance 6. It is considered that gaseous hydrogen gas and gaseous oxygen are produced. In this case, the inner wall surface 10m of the cylinder 10 and the outer wall surface 22i of the center pipe 22 are polarized although the voltage is not directly applied to them. Accordingly, it is possible to incur electrolyzation in between the inner wall surface 10m of the cylinder 10 and the outer wall surface 5k, facing this, of the outside porous water-purifying member 5, namely, in the water supplying gap 4x. Likewise, it is possible to incur electrolyzation in the gap 4y between the outer wall surface 22i of the center pipe 22 and the inner wall surface 4i, facing this, of the inside porous water-purifying member 4, so it is easy to ensure the amount of gas produced. This is confirmed with the examinations by the inventor.
The gas produced in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room dissolves water in the annular clearance 6, etc. or stays in the upper part of the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room as micro bubbles and increase the pressure of the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room. As the pressure of the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room increases like this, the action of sending gas particles from the inner wall surface 5i of the outside porous water-purifying member 5 to the inside of the outside porous water-purifying member 5 and the action of sending gas particles from the outer wall surface 4k of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 to the inside of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 are increased. Here, it is considered that most of the gas produced immediately after electrolyzation is adsorbed to or stays in the pores or water passages of the porous water-purifying member 3 composing the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room.
As described above, gaseous hydrogen and the like are produced by electrolyzation in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room. They are deposited from the upper part of the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room and finally, the gas pressure of the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room increases. That results in pushing out the most of the dwell water remained in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room toward the permeable layer 4c of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the permeable layer 5c of the outside porous water-purifying member 5.
At the stage that the dwell water in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room is pushed out to the permeable layer 4c that is the inside of the inside porous water-purifying member 4, the electrolyzation of water stops since the most of the water in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room disappears. In this occasion, it is considered that the dwell water of the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room, does not tend to be pushed out toward the outside porous water-purifying member 5, as compared to toward the inside porous water-purifying member 4. It is considered because the outside porous water-purifying member 5 is placed close to the water supplying gap 4x having high water pressure.
Generally, the larger the width of the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room is, the smaller the electrode current is. Thus, as to the electrolysis in the water supplying gap 4x (gap width X1) between the inner wall surface 10m of the cylinder 10 and the outer wall surface 5k of the outside porous water-purifying member 5, and the electrolysis in the gap 4y (gap width X2) between the outer wall surface 22i of the center pipe 22 and the inner wall surface 4i of the inside porous water-purifying member 4, it is considered that electrolytic process continuously takes place when an amount of the dwell water is large in these gaps 4x and 4y. In this embodiment, however, the gaps X1 and X2 are set larger than the gap width X0 of the annular clearance 6, so electrolytic current of the electrolysis in the gaps 4x and 4y becomes small. It is only subsidiary one to the electrolysis in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room.
When the inventor carried out electrolytic examination using a model type electrolytic water purifier, it took approximately four hours that the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room, filled with water by water supplying, became empty. When the annular clearance 6 has become empty, it is considered electrolysis ceases in the annular clearance 6. Even though the current value decreased afterwards, however, it is assumed that electrolysis was continuously performed in the above section (namely, the gaps 4x and 4y.) Additionally, in accordance with the present embodiment, when the applied voltage in the direct current is 1.5 volt, a certain electrolytic current is indicated and a certain electrolytic gases are generated.
According to the examination by the present inventor, with alternating current voltage applied, ideally 6.0 volt, which is four times larger, is necessary to achieve a certain electrolytic current of from 20 to 100 milliampere. Still this applied voltage is low voltage, so it is judged there are no problems from a power consumption aspect as well. Accordingly, when each condition is set ideally, the applied voltage of direct current can be in the range of from 1.5 to 25 volt or from 3 to 20 volt. Also, the applied voltage of alternating current can be, for instance, in the range of from 1.5 to 20 volt, especially, from 2.0 to 9.0 volt.
The electric potential differences can be, for instance, from 1.5 to 9.0 volt, especially from 3.0 to 6.0 volt between the outer wall surface 4k of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the inner wall surface 5i of the outside porous water-purifying member 5, the surfaces 4k and 5i are facing with each other. The electric current can be, for instance, from 20 to 80 milliampere in the potential differences between the outer wall surface 4k of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the inner wall surface 5i of the outside porous water-purifying member 5.
Further, a test piece cut from a part of a porous water-purifying member which is formed of the similar material to the embodiment of the present invention was examined using a pore size distribution measuring device which examines adsorption characteristics of activated carbon by using gases such as nitrogen, helium and etc. This specimen was received to a measuring room of the pore size distribution measuring device and in this state, the amount of adsorption of the activated carbon piece was measured. According to the measuring result, the higher the pressure is in the measuring room of the above measuring device, the larger the amount of occluded hydrogen of the activated carbon. Namely, it was confirmed that the characteristic of hydrogen occlusion of the activated carbon was improved. Based on this fact, in accordance with the present embodiment, a check valve 80 functioning as a valve element was placed in the tip of a hose omitted from the drawings and connected to the discharging member 36 as described above. Because of nonreturn function of the check valve 80, the pressure is maintained relatively high in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room. As shown in
In accordance with the above mentioned present embodiment, when the electrolytic water purifier is not used, the container 1 is maintained as closed because of the check valve 80. Thus, adsorption of the gases that are generated by electrolysis of the dwell water in the annular clearance 6 of both porous water-purifying members 4 and 5 into the porous water-purifying member 3 is promoted. This is because when the electrolytic water purifier is not used, the container 1 tends to be kept closed by the check valve 80, and the gas pressure in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room tends to increase.
Moreover, the present inventor equipped the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room with a digital micro pressure indicator. Then, without discharging the water, pressure variation in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room was examined as time passed. According to the measuring result, when 150 minutes had passed from the beginning of the measurement, the peak pressure was indicated in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room. After that point, pressure decrease was observed in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room. The pressure data approximately coincided with the above mentioned open setting pressure of the check valve 80 when 150 minutes had passed from the beginning of the measurement. The pressure decrease in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room after 150 minutes means progression of the gas adsorption to the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5.
The inventor carried out the examination using an electrolytic water purifier of the present embodiment to measure variation of the amount of hydrogen in the container 1. In accordance with this examination, the outside porous water-purifying member 5 has an outside diameter of 124 mm, an inside diameter of 66 mm, a height of 200 mm: the inside porous water-purifying member 4 has an outside diameter of 62 mm, an inside diameter of 20.5 mm, a height of 200 mm. In the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room, the clearance of about 2 mm was formed. Then, the alternating current voltage of about 6 volt (frequency: in the range of 50-60 Hz) was applied to the first electrode A1 and the second electrode A2. The current of 83 milliampere flowed between the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5.
In accordance with this examination, a digital oxidation reduction potentiometer was used, which can measure the amount of hydrogen by exchanging it for reduction potential. At the beginning of electrolysis, the potentiometer indicated 650 millivolt. When 30 minutes had passed, it indicated −120 millivolt since generation of hydrogen had steadily been progressing. After 12 hours had passed, it indicated −458 millivolt. As to the pH, at the beginning of discharging, it indicated pH 8.3, however, when the amount of the discharged water became over 1 litter, it returned to 7.5 pH.
When the direct current is applied, even with soft water, calcium bicarbonate contained in unpurified water has become calcium carbonate after long period of use. This deposits on the cathode side (−pole) of the purifier as a product to form an insulating coat. It may cause the problem that electrolysis ceases in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room. According to this examination, since the alternating current voltage that the positive voltage and the negative voltage are alternately inverted with 50 to 60 cycles is applied, oxidation and reduction are repeated, so it is possible to suppress the deposition of products such as calcium carbonate. In fact, when the electrolytic water purifier was disassembled and examined after 4 months had passed, there was no trace of products at all. It was proved that applying the alternating current voltage was remarkably effective.
Under the usual circumstances, hydrogen rarely exists in the air, so there is little chance that hydrogen is dissolved in water. Conventionally, an oxidation-reduction potentiometer with a glass reference electrode is used for alkali ion generated water and etc., similar to this. Since it measures by infusing inside liquid from the tip of a glass electrode, it is necessary to refill the inside liquid constantly for yearlong measurement. Under these circumstances, the inventor found out that there was an obvious correlation between oxidation-reduction potential and pH, and developed a sensor that could function as a solid state type pH measuring apparatus without inside liquid. The sensor 27 is plugged from the electric equipment container 13 into the center hole 4a that is divided by the inner wall surface 4i of the inside porous water-purifying member 4. Using a microcomputer, oxidation-reduction potential is calculated from the pH value and the result is indicated on the display 26 placed on the outside of the electric equipment container 13. The detecting section 27f of the sensor 27 is inserted into the bush 25, which is screwed in the upper side of the center pipe 22. A microcomputer is equipped in the electric equipment room 16 of the electric equipment container 13 and connected to the display 26.
As described above, in accordance with the present embodiment, the porous water-purifying member 3 is divided into two, the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5 in a radial direction to form the annular clearance 6. Further, the inside porous water-purifying member 4 is connected to the first feeder terminal 34 to become the first electrode A1, as well as the outside porous water-purifying member 5 is connected to the second feeder terminal 35 to become the second electrode A2. According to this construction, it is possible to enlarge the surface area of the inner wall surface 5i of the outside porous water-purifying member 5 that forms the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room, as well as to enlarge the surface area of the outer wall surface 4k of the inside porous water-purifying member 4. Thus, it is possible to enlarge electrolytic area in the porous water-purifying member 3 and it has advantages in heightening the ability of electrolyzation in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room. Moreover, it is possible to enlarge the gas penetration area of the porous water-purifying member 3 that adsorbs gases, so it has advantages in adsorbing the gas produced by electrolyzation of water in the annular clearance 6 being an electrolytic room to the pores of the porous water-purifying member 3. Generally, it is said that the gas such as hydrogen, etc. immediately after produced by electrolyzation is activated and has good influences on organism. Especially, according to the present embodiment, since the annular clearance 6 used as an electrolytic room is formed between the porous water-purifying members 4 and 5, it has advantages in effectively adsorbing the gas immediately after produced by electrolyzation, which is activated and said to be good for organism, to the porous water-purifying member 3.
The second embodiment basically has the same constructions as the above described embodiment. The alternating current voltage or the direct current voltage is applied to the first feeder terminal 34 and the second feeder terminal 35. It basically has the same action and effect as the above described embodiment. In this embodiment, an emphasis is placed on the captivation of fungi and the like. As to the outside porous water-purifying member 5, it is set to have high porosity with density. The average pore diameter is set to be smaller than the average pore diameter of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 (for instance, from 0.1 to 1 micron, especially 0.3 micron.) In accordance with such outside porous water-purifying member 5, the captivation of fungi and the like is fine, however, the pressure loss in water supplying increases and the amount of discharging water per unit hour decreases.
As to the inside porous water-purifying member 4, the porosity is set to be slightly lower. The average pore diameter is set to be larger than the average pore diameter of the outside porous water-purifying member 5M (for instance, from 8 to 100 micron, from 8 to 20 micron, or from 8 to 10 micron) to reduce the pressure loss in water supplying and to increase the amount of discharging water per unit hour. By combining the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5 having such characteristics, it is possible to ensure the captivation as well as the amount of discharging water per unit hour. Especially, in the water supplying room 14, the water pressure affects along the centripetal direction of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5 (direction of the arrow W.) Since the outside porous water-purifying member 5 is set to be dense and strong, it has advantages in dealing with such water pressure. Additionally, the average pore diameter is not limited to the above mentioned value.
The third embodiment basically has the same constructions as the above described embodiments. The alternating current voltage or the direct current voltage is applied to the first feeder terminal 34 and the second feeder terminal 35. It basically has the same action and effect as the above described embodiments. In this embodiment, the inside porous water-purifying member 4 is set to have high porosity with density. The average pore diameter is set to be smaller than the average pore diameter of the outside porous water-purifying member 5. In accordance with such inside porous water-purifying member 4, the captivation of fungi and the like is good, however, the pressure loss in water supplying increases and the amount of discharging water per unit hour decreases due to its precision despite the high porosity.
As to the outside porous water-purifying member 5, the porosity is set to be slightly lower and the average pore diameter is set to be larger than the average pore diameter of the inside porous water-purifying member 4 to reduce the pressure loss in water supplying and to increase the amount of discharging water per unit hour. By combining the inside porous water-purifying member 4 and the outside porous water-purifying member 5 having such characteristics, it is possible to ensure the captivation as well as the amount of discharging water per unit hour.
In accordance with this embodiment, by applying the direct current voltage to the first feeder terminal 34 and the second feeder terminal 35, voltage is applied to the first electrode A1 and the second electrode A2. Generally, the first feeder terminal 34 is set to be as anode (+pole), the second feeder terminal 35 as cathode (−pole) and the inside porous water-purifying member 4 to be as anode (+pole), the outside porous water-purifying member 5 as cathode (−pole).
Depending on the case, it is possible to set the first feeder terminal 34 as cathode (−pole), the second feeder terminal 35 as anode (+pole), and the inside porous water-purifying member 4 as cathode (−pole), the outside porous water-purifying member 5 as anode (+pole).
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments that are described above and shown in the figures. Appropriate changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the split of scope of the present invention. For example, the above described each shape, construction, size, material and the like of parts are not restricted to those described above. The applied voltage value, current value and etc. are not limited to those indicated above. As unpurified raw water, it is not limited to tab water, water from well can be used. The first feeder terminal 34 and the second feeder terminal 35 do not have to be a pentagon shape, other shapes and constructions can be applied as long as being able to feed to the porous water-purifier members. Water runs in the centripetal direction of the porous water-purifier member 3, however, it can run reversely. In the embodiment shown in
Additional remarks
The following technical idea can be conceived from the above description.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier comprises an electrolytic room placed between the both porous water-purifying members, wherein the electrolytic room is placed in the approach route of water of the porous water-purifying member.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the porous water-purifying members are made of a material mainly composed of activated carbon and binding agent, pressure formed and calcined.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the porous water-purifying members have a plurality of pores whose average diameter is 0.1-20 micron, especially 0.3-15 micron, more specifically 0.3-10 micron.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the porous water-purifying members are block shape forming with the porosity of from 15% to 65%, having gas penetration resistance, wherein gas pressure of the annular clearance being an electrolytic room can be easily increased due to the gas produced in the annular clearance being an electrolytic room. Since the porous water-purifying members have many pores and gas penetration resistance, the pressure in the electrolytic room is easily increased, the gas in the annular clearance being an electrolytic room can easily enter the porous water-purifying members.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the porous water-purifying members are cylindrical shape with a center hole, wherein a metal center pipe is arranged in the center hole of the porous water-purifying members substantially coaxially with ring shape clearance, when voltage is applied to the porous water-purifying members, the center pipe can be polarized and the clearance between the outer wall surface of the center pipe and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion of the porous water-purifying members can function as an electrolytic room.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that as voltage is applied to the porous water-purifying members, the inner wall surface of the cylinder can be polarized and the clearance between the outer wall surface of the porous water-purifying members and the inner wall surface of the center pipe can function as an electrolytic room.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the feeder terminals are arranged in the same side of the porous water-purifying members. It has advantages in feeding to the porous water-purifying members.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the voltage applied to the porous water-purifying members (the alternating current or the direct current voltage) is in the range of 1.5-25 volts, especially 2-20 volts.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the electric current is 10-100 milliampere in the potential differences between the porous water-purifying members that the voltage is applied.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in having a display, which indicates the amount of hydrogen produced in the container. The users can grasp the amount of hydrogen produced in the container.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in having a display, which indicates oxidation-reduction potential by calculating the amount of hydrogen produced in the container from the pH value.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in having a check valve to keep the pressure in the electrolytic room high, when pressure in the container has become higher than the open setting pressure of the check valve due to the gases generated by electrolysis, the check valve opens, so purified water can be discharged from the discharging member, whereas when pressure in the container has become lower than the open setting pressure of the check valve, the check valve is closed. It enables to maintain the pressure in the container high.
An electrolytic water purifier comprises a container having a water supplying room which is divided with inner walls; a porous water-purifying member having many pores with water purifying ability, disposed in the water supplying room of the container; a water supplying portion that supplies water to the water supplying room of the container; a discharging portion that discharges the purified water with the porous water-purifying member in the water supplying room of the container to outside the container,
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the amount of discharging water per unit hour of the porous water-purifying member arranged outside is larger than that of the porous water-purifying member arranged inside.
In each claim, an electrolytic water purifier characterizes in that the porous water-purifying member arranged outside is more precise and the amount of discharging water per unit hour is smaller than that of arranged inside.
