JP6167391B1 - Hydrogen water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

A hydrogen water generator is provided which is easy to remove scale generated during electrolysis.
A hydrogen water generator for electrolyzing drinking water stored in a container to generate hydrogen water, wherein the container is used as a cathode, and a direct current power source is provided between the anode immersed in the drinking water and the container. A DC voltage is applied to generate hydrogen water. Thus, the scale adheres to the inner surface of the container, and the work for removing the scale may be performed on the inner surface of the container.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen water generator.

Examples of the generation of hydrogen water include a method of electrolyzing drinking water, a method using a chemical reaction, and a method of injecting hydrogen gas directly into drinking water.
The method by electrolysis is generated by placing a pair or multiple pairs of electrode plates in a container, applying direct current or alternating current between the pair of electrodes, and electrolyzing drinking water stored in the container. Hydrogen water is produced by dissolving dissolved hydrogen.

Drinking water such as tap water contains various metal ions such as Ca and Mg. As the electrolysis continues, these metal ions are oxidized or hydroxide on the electrode surface on the cathode side. To form a hard film called scale.
When the scale is formed on the electrode surface, the electrical resistance increases, and as a result, the electrolysis current is reduced, preventing electrolysis and reducing the generation of hydrogen.

In order to prevent the adhesion of the scale, the voltage applied to the electrodes is reversed every time a predetermined time elapses or every time it is used, or the direction of current is reversed, or alternating current is applied between the electrodes. Etc.
Adopting these methods has some effects, but it is inevitable that scales adhere to the electrodes as time passes.

  In a hydrogen water generator by electrolysis, electrodes are usually arranged and attached at positions close to each other in an electrolytic cell (Patent Document 1). In addition, in order to perform the electrolysis stably and efficiently, the electrode is widely used that is formed by forming a titanium plate in a mesh shape and depositing or plating platinum, and further forming it in a cylindrical or bowl shape. Has been.

In order to remove the scale attached to the surface of such an electrode, the electrode part of the apparatus is disassembled or rubbed with a special means such as a brush so that it can be inserted into a narrow space in accordance with the electrode part. It is necessary. Also, great care is required to remove the scale without damaging the electrodes. In an electrode in which platinum is vapor-deposited or plated on an expensive titanium material, the expensive platinum plating may be peeled off or worn out by brush cleaning.
Regardless of physical means, it may be possible to wash away the scale with an acid such as citric acid, but the scale of silica-based or oxidized oxide is not easily dissolved by the acid.

JP 2009-22927 A

As described above, in the conventional hydrogen water generator, it is not easy to remove the scale of the electrode part, and it takes time for maintenance, and the electrode part may be damaged.
The present invention provides an electrolyzed hydrogen water generator that solves the above problems.

In order to solve the above problems, the following means are adopted.
[1] A hydrogen water generator (excluding one that performs electroosmosis and one that performs diaphragm electrolysis ) that electrolyzes drinking water stored in a container to produce hydrogen water, the container and the container A hydrogen water generator, comprising: an anode that is a mesh-like cylindrical body disposed in a battery; and a DC power source that applies a DC voltage between the anode and the container using the container as a cathode.
[2] The hydrogen water generator according to [1], wherein the inner surface of the container is satin.
[3] The outer peripheral surface of the container is covered with an insulating film except for a portion where a current-carrying terminal connected to the negative electrode of the DC power source is in contact with the container [1] or The hydrogen water generator according to [2].
[4] The hydrogen water generator has a main body body, an anode support member provided at the upper end of the main body body so as to be rotatable in a vertical direction around a horizontal axis, and a lower end of the main body body. [1] to [3], wherein the container has a bottom with an open top, and the container is placed on the pedestal. ] The hydrogenous water generator in any one of.

  The hydrogen water generator of the present invention that electrolyzes drinking water to generate hydrogen water has a configuration in which a container for storing drinking water is used as a cathode, and a DC voltage is applied between an anode disposed in the container and the container. Therefore, the scale adheres to the inner surface of the container as the cathode. For this reason, the work for removing the scale adhering after the electrolysis can be carried out easily on the inner surface of the container in the manner of washing daily dishes, and can be carried out easily. In order to remove the scale of the part, the electrode part is not disassembled and no special means is required. Further, the electrode part is not damaged by the work of removing the scale.

The structure of the hydrogenous water generator of this invention is shown typically. A mesh metal plate is shown. The perspective view of the anode of the cylindrical body currently charged by the container is shown. The perspective view of one embodiment of the hydrogen water generator of the present invention is shown. The cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base part in which the terminal for electricity supply was provided is shown.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a cross-sectional structure of a hydrogen water generator of the present invention. Here, 1 is a hydrogen water generator, and 2 is a container in which drinking water to be electrolyzed is stored. The container 2 also serves as a cathode for electrolysis as will be described later. Reference numeral 3 denotes an anode disposed in the container 2 during electrolysis, and reference numeral 4 denotes a DC power source that applies a DC voltage between the anode 3 and the container 2. Reference numeral 5 denotes an anode support member, and the anode 3 is fixed together with the energization member 6. A DC voltage is applied to the anode 3 from the DC power supply 4 via the energization member 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes an insulating film.
Hereinafter, the hydrogen water generator may be simply referred to as a “generator”.

The container 2 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening at the top, stores potable water such as tap water to be electrolyzed, and functions as a cathode when electrolyzing. A DC voltage is applied between them.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, the container 2 as a cathode and the negative electrode (−electrode) of the DC power supply 4 are electrically connected, and the positive electrode (+ electrode) of the DC power supply 4 is connected via the anode 3 and the energizing member 6. Is connected electrically, a DC voltage can be applied between the anode 3 and the container 2 as a cathode.
The electrical connection between the container 2 and the negative electrode of the DC power source 4 is performed by bringing the energization terminal (not shown in FIG. 1 without a drawing number) connected to the negative electrode of the DC power source 4 into contact with the container 2. A handle may be attached to the container 2.

The anode 3 is attached and fixed to the anode support member 5 together with the current-carrying member 6, and is immersed in drinking water stored in the container 2 during electrolysis. Although the upper part of the anode 3 is exposed from the surface of the drinking water in FIG. 1, the entire anode 3 may be immersed in the drinking water. Further, although the anode support member 5 is separated from the upper surface of the container 2, both may be in contact with each other.
When the electrolysis is finished, the anode 3 is pulled up from the drinking water and can be moved to the upper part of the container 2 (see FIG. 4).

  The anode support member 5 has at least the anode 3 and the energization so that the electrolysis current flowing through the anode 3 and the energization member 6 does not leak through the anode support member 5 to the container 2 and an external article in contact with the support member 5. The part that supports the member 6 needs to be made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin material. Further, when the anode support member 5 and the upper surface of the container 2 are in contact with each other, insulation must be maintained between them.

The container 2 also serves as a cathode for electrolysis, but the outer peripheral surface of the container 2 is connected to at least the negative electrode of the DC power source 4 by wiring so that the electrolysis current does not leak from the outer peripheral surface of the container 2 to the outside. It is desirable to coat with an insulating coating 7 such as an insulating resin or an insulating paint, except for a portion where the current-carrying terminal is in contact.
Usually, the container 2 is placed on a pedestal or a thing corresponding to the pedestal and subjected to electrolysis. However, a current-carrying terminal connected to the negative electrode of the DC power source 4 by wiring is attached to the container 2. The negative electrode of the DC power source 4 and the container 2 can be energized in contact with the bottom surface (see FIG. 5 described later). In this case, the outer peripheral surface of the container 2 is covered with the insulating coating 7 except at least a portion where the energization terminal contacts the bottom surface of the container 2. In FIG. 1, the insulating film 7 is exaggerated and relatively thick.

The container 2 can be made of a metal material, and an inferior metal material such as an aluminum alloy material or a stainless steel material, particularly an austenitic stainless steel material containing 6 to 13% Ni and 16 to 20% Cr is preferable. .
For the anode 3, a metal material such as an aluminum alloy material, stainless steel, titanium, or platinum can be used, but a titanium material plated with platinum is preferably non-eluting.
Although a plate-shaped metal material can be used as a form, it is preferable to make it mesh shape (mesh shape), such as an expanded metal. If the electrode is made into a mesh, drinking water can pass through the mesh and the surface area of the electrode increases, so that the electrolysis can be performed efficiently. FIG. 2 shows an example of a mesh-like metal plate.

  Furthermore, as will be described later, the electrode 3 is more preferably formed into a cylindrical body by molding it from a mesh-like metal plate. In FIG. 1, the anode 3 is schematically shown as a cylindrical body, and the upper end and the lower end are open (see FIGS. 3 and 4). FIG. 3 schematically shows the anode 3, which is a mesh-like cylindrical body charged in the container 2, together with the current-carrying member 6. It should be noted that it is desirable to border the edges of the upper end and the lower end of the mesh-like cylindrical body with a metal material (no drawing number) so that the needle-like end portion of the edge portion is not exposed.

A DC power source such as a battery can be used as the DC power source 4 that applies a DC voltage between the anode 3 and the container 2. Alternatively, an AC adapter can be used to convert the alternating current from the alternating current power supplied from the outlet into direct current to obtain the direct current power source 4.
To electrolyze tap water as drinking water, a DC voltage of 9 to 48V is applied.

When the electrolysis of drinking water begins, oxygen bubbles are generated from the surface of the anode, and hydrogen bubbles are generated from the bottom surface and the inner surface of the side surface of the container 2 that also serves as the cathode. In FIG. 1, oxygen bubbles generated from the anode surface of the cylindrical body are schematically indicated by white circles (◯), and hydrogen bubbles generated from the inner surface of the container 2 are indicated by black circles (●).
When the electrolysis continues, generation and separation of oxygen bubbles proceed from the surface of the anode 3, and generation and separation of hydrogen bubbles proceed on the inner surface of the container 2.
The bubbles of hydrogen released from the entire inner surface of the container 2 immersed in the drinking water dissolve in the drinking water while rising, and hydrogen water is generated in the container. Hydrogen that cannot be dissolved in drinking water diffuses into the atmosphere. Oxygen bubbles also leave the surface of the anode 3 immersed in the drinking water, rise around the periphery, partially dissolve in the drinking water, and the rest diffuse into the atmosphere.

The inner surface of the container 2 is preferably subjected to a satin finish in order to form fine irregularities. In order to make the inner surface satin, it can be easily formed by polishing with # 200 to # 400 abrasive or etching.
When the inner surface of the container 2 is a mirror surface, hydrogen generated by electrolysis grows into large bubbles on the inner surface of the container 2, but when the inner surface of the container 2 is satin, the hydrogen is stored in the container before growing into large bubbles. 2 dissociates from the inner surface and becomes microbubbles with a small bubble diameter and diffuses into the drinking water.
As the bubble diameter is smaller, the rising speed of the bubbles tends to be smaller, and the bubbles remain in the drinking water for a longer time. Therefore, hydrogen water in which hydrogen is dissolved can be efficiently generated.

When the anode 3 is formed of a cylindrical metal material, oxygen bubbles are generated from the inner and outer surfaces of the cylindrical body of the anode 3 below the surface of the drinking water, and then detached from both surfaces. Thus, as the smoke rises from the chimney, an upward flow of oxygen bubbles is generated, and it is promoted that unnecessary oxygen diffuses into the atmosphere in a short time. The reduction of the time during which the oxygen gas stays in the drinking water is advantageous for increasing the amount of hydrogen that is generated and diffused in the drinking water from the hydrogen generated on the inner surface of the container. This is because if oxygen bubbles remain in water, diffusion of hydrogen into water is hindered.
In FIG. 1, since the anode support member 5 is separated from the upper surface of the container 2, oxygen bubbles quickly escape into the atmosphere. When the anode support member 5 closes the upper surface of the container, a gas passage hole is formed in the anode support member 5 so that oxygen bubbles escape into the atmosphere.

  1 liter of tap water from Tokyo as drinking water is a 304 series stainless steel inner surface (inner diameter of about 90 mm) with a cylindrical body formed from a mesh titanium plate with platinum plated on the anode. When electrolysis was performed using the anode, the time taken for the dissolved hydrogen concentration to reach 1.6 ppm (limit concentration of dissolved hydrogen) at an energizing current of 1 A was measured. In contrast, it took about 7 minutes to reach the inner surface of a satin container.

The bubbles of hydrogen generated when the drinking water is electrolyzed in a container with a satin inner surface include nanobubbles having a smaller bubble diameter in addition to the bubbles of microbubbles having a bubble diameter of several μm to several tens of μm. . Although this mechanism has not been fully elucidated, it is believed that fine microbubbles have a lower ascending speed and contract into nanobubbles while rising and floating in drinking water.
Therefore, the hydrogen water produced by electrolysis in the inner surface of the container is mixed with hydrogen gas dissolved in drinking water, and if it is drunk within a few minutes after electrolysis, the hydrogen water It is possible to take in fine hydrogen bubbles contained in hydrogen water together with dissolved hydrogen in water.

As already described, scales adhere to the inner surface of the container 2 used as the cathode because it is inevitable that scales adhere to the electrode on the cathode side in the hydrogen water generator by electrolysis.
However, unlike the scale attached to the electrode of the conventional hydrogen water generator, the scale attached to the inner surface of the container 2 does not require any special means, and it is a sponge with a cleanser or abrasive in the manner of washing everyday dishes. It can be easily removed by washing with. Since the mouth of the container 2 is relatively wide, the operation of removing this scale can be easily performed.
In addition, since the scale does not adhere to the anode, it is not necessary to perform such cleaning.

FIG. 4 shows a hydrogen water generator 1 having a structure in which the container 2 can be easily separated from the main body.
In the hydrogen water generator 1, the anode support member 5 is rotatably attached to the upper end portion of the main body barrel portion 8 via a rotation shaft, and can be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position. A pedestal portion 9 on which the container 2 storing drinking water is placed is provided at the lower end portion of the main body barrel portion 8 so as to extend in the lateral direction. The anode 3 is fixed to the anode support member 5 together with the energization member 6, and the anode 3 is exposed on the lower surface side of the anode support member 5. A handle may be provided on the side surface of the container 2.

When the anode support member 5 is rotated to a horizontal position, it is accommodated in the container 2 so as to cover the upper surface of the container 2 and to immerse most of the anode 3 except for the root part in the drinking water. At this position, a gap is formed between the anode support member 5 and the upper surface of the container 2.
When the anode support member 5 is rotated to a vertical position, the anode supported on the lower surface of the anode support member 5 is also rotated, and its lower end is positioned above the upper surface of the container. In this state, since the anode 3 is moved to a position higher than the upper surface of the container 2, the container 2 placed on the pedestal 9 can be easily separated from the main body of the generator 1 and moved to another place. it can.

  The power supply for the electrolysis is not shown in FIG. 4, but a battery or the like is built in the main body 8 of the hydrogen water generator 1 as the DC power supply 4, and the anode 3 and the container are supplied from this DC power supply. A DC voltage can be applied between the two. Alternatively, by using an AC adapter, an AC adapter insertion port is provided in the main body 8 or the anode support member 5, and the AC power supplied from the AC power outlet is converted to DC, so that the DC power supply 4 can be changed. And a DC voltage can be applied between the anode 3 of the generator 1 and the container 2.

  In the generator 1 shown in FIG. 4, the energization of the DC power supply 4 and the container 2 as the cathode can be performed by bringing the energization terminal 10 provided on the pedestal portion 9 into contact with the bottom surface of the container 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a leaf spring 11 electrically connected to the negative electrode of the DC power supply 4 is housed in a pedestal portion 9, and an energizing terminal 10 is fixed to the leaf spring 11, By energizing, the energizing terminal 10 can be slightly projected from the hole formed in the upper surface wall of the pedestal portion 9 and can be brought into contact with the bottom surface of the container 2. Here, the leaf spring 11 is made of a bent metal piece, the energizing terminal 10 is fixed to the upper side portion thereof, and the lower side portion thereof is fixed to the mounting seat of the base portion 9. In addition, the mechanism in which the terminal 10 for electricity contact | abuts the bottom face of the container 2 is not restricted to what is shown in FIG.

As described above, it is desirable to apply an insulating film to the outer peripheral surface of the container 2 so that electrolysis current does not leak outside from the outer peripheral surface of the container 2 as the cathode. In order to avoid any inconvenience in energizing the container 2, the insulating film 7 is not applied to the portion of the outer peripheral portion of the container 2 that contacts the current-carrying terminal 10 on the outer peripheral surface of the bottom portion and the vicinity thereof.
Therefore, if the container 2 is made of stainless steel, the stainless steel material of the container 2 is exposed at and near the portion where the current-carrying terminal 10 contacts. The energizing terminal 10 is in direct contact with the stainless steel material on the bottom surface of the container 2, and the insulating film 7 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the container 2 other than the portion where the energizing terminal 10 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the bottom and the vicinity thereof. The electrolysis current does not leak from the outer peripheral surface of the container 2 as the cathode. In addition, when providing a handle in the container 2, an insulating film is also formed on the outer peripheral surface of the handle.
The energizing terminal 10 is preferably made of brass or the like plated with nickel or gold, and the leaf spring 11 is preferably made of phosphor bronze plated with nickel.

At the time of electrolysis, the anode support member 5 is rotated to a horizontal position, the anode 3 is immersed in the drinking water in the container, and a DC voltage is applied between the anode 3 and the container 2. After the electrolysis is completed, the anode support member 5 is rotated to a substantially vertical position, and the anode 3 is pulled up from the drinking water stored in the container 2.
Therefore, since the electrolysis is completed and the lower end of the anode 3 is positioned above the upper surface of the container 2, the container 2 can be easily moved from the pedestal 9 of the hydrogen water generator 1 to another place. .

  As described above, in the hydrogen water generator shown in FIG. 4, the container is only placed on the pedestal portion 9, and therefore, when removing the scale attached to the inner surface of the container used as the cathode, the container is removed from the hydrogen water generator. It can be easily removed by removing it from the base 9 of the water generator without using any special means and washing it with a detergent such as a cleanser or a sponge containing abrasives in the manner of washing everyday dishes. it can. Since the mouth of the container is relatively wide, the operation of removing this scale can be easily performed.

  The hydrogen water generator of the present invention can easily remove the scale adhering to the inner surface of the container by using the container for storing drinking water as the cathode, and the maintenance work is greatly reduced. For this reason, it becomes possible to wash more frequently than before, such as washing each time electrolysis is performed, and hygienic use is possible. Moreover, since there is no deterioration of the electrode which tends to occur in the work of removing the scale with a conventional hydrogen water generator, it can withstand long-term use.

1: Hydrogen water generator 2: Container 3: Anode 4: DC power supply 5: Anode support member 6: Energizing member 7: Insulating film 8: Body trunk portion 9: Base portion 10: Energizing terminal 11: Leaf spring

Claims (4)

A hydrogen water generator (except for those that perform electroosmosis and those that perform diaphragm membrane electrolysis ) that electrolyzes drinking water stored in a container to produce hydrogen water, and is disposed in the container and the container A hydrogen water generator comprising: an anode that is a net-like cylindrical body; and a DC power source that applies a DC voltage between the anode and the container using the container as a cathode.   The hydrogen water generator according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the container is a satin finish.   3. The outer peripheral surface of the container is covered with an insulating film except for a portion where a current-carrying terminal connected to the negative electrode of the DC power source contacts the container. 4. Hydrogen water generator.   The hydrogen water generator extends in a lateral direction to a main body body, an anode support member provided at the upper end of the main body body so as to be vertically rotatable around a horizontal axis, and a lower end of the main body body. A pedestal portion provided out, and the container has a bottom with an opening at the top, and the container is placed on the pedestal portion. The hydrogen water generator according to item.

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