U.S. patent application number 13/159109 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-29 for producing apparatus and producing method of hypochlorous acid water.
This patent application is currently assigned to DAIRY TECHNO INC.. Invention is credited to MAMORU TOMITA, YUKIHIRO TOMITA.
Application Number | 20120073983 13/159109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45044295 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120073983 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TOMITA; MAMORU ; et
al. |
March 29, 2012 |
PRODUCING APPARATUS AND PRODUCING METHOD OF HYPOCHLOROUS ACID
WATER
Abstract
In a producing apparatus and a producing method of effectively
and safely producing hypochlorous acid water suitable for
sterilization in a desired amount of production and in a desired
concentration, the producing apparatus is compact and includes an
electrolytic vessel to which dilute hydrochloric acid is supplied
and in which no diaphragm exists between an anode and a cathode for
generating a chlorine gas, a storage tank in which water is stored,
a circulation pipe into which water flows from the storage tank, in
which the water circulates, and from which the water returns into
the storage tank, and a mixing pipe which couples between the
electrolytic vessel and the circulation pipe, mixes the chlorine
gas from the electrolytic vessel with the water in the circulation
pipe, and produces hypochlorous acid water.
Inventors: |
TOMITA; MAMORU; (TOKYO,
JP) ; TOMITA; YUKIHIRO; (TOKYO, JP) |
Assignee: |
DAIRY TECHNO INC.
TOKYO
JP
|
Family ID: |
45044295 |
Appl. No.: |
13/159109 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
205/556 ;
204/273 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F 1/66 20130101; B01F
3/04099 20130101; C02F 1/763 20130101; C02F 2209/29 20130101; C02F
2301/046 20130101; C02F 2303/04 20130101; C02F 2301/043 20130101;
C02F 2201/4611 20130101; C02F 1/4674 20130101; C02F 2201/4612
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
205/556 ;
204/273 |
International
Class: |
C25B 1/26 20060101
C25B001/26; C25B 9/00 20060101 C25B009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 24, 2010 |
JP |
2010-213180 |
Claims
1. A producing apparatus of hypochlorous acid water, comprising an
electrolytic vessel to which dilute hydrochloric acid is supplied
and in which no diaphragm exists between an anode and a cathode for
generating a chlorine gas; a storage tank in which water is stored;
a circulation pipe into which water flows from the storage tank, in
which the water circulates, and from which the water returns into
the storage tank; and a mixing pipe which couples between the
electrolytic vessel and the circulation pipe, mixes the chlorine
gas from the electrolytic vessel with the water in the circulation
pipe, and produce hypochlorous acid water.
2. The producing apparatus of hypochlorous acid water according to
claim 1, wherein: a plurality of the storage tanks are provided; a
flow-in pipe portion of the circulation pipe is branched to a
plurality of flow-in branch pipe portions, and, a flow-out pipe
portion of the circulation pipe is branched to a plurality of
flow-out branch pipe portions; the respective flow-in branch pipe
portions and the respective flow-out branch pipe portions are
connected in the respective storage tanks; and switch valves are
interposed to branch portions of the flow-in pipe portion and the
flow-out pipe portion.
3. A producing method of hypochlorous acid water comprising: a step
of generating a chlorine gas by subjecting dilute hydrochloric acid
being supplied to an electrolytic treatment in an electrolytic
vessel in which no diaphragm exists between an anode and a cathode;
and a step of producing hypochlorous acid water having a desired
amount of production and a desired concentration by injecting the
chlorine gas into the water circulating in the circulation
pipe.
4. A producing method of hypochlorous acid water comprising: a step
of generating chlorine gas by continuously subjecting dilute
hydrochloric acid being supplied to an electrolytic treatment in an
electrolytic vessel in which no diaphragm exists between an anode
and a cathode; a step of producing hypochlorous acid water by
mixing the chlorine gas with the water in a circulation pipe into
which water flows from inside of a storage tank, in which a desired
amount of water is stored, in which the water circulates, and from
which the water returns into the storage tank; and a step of
producing hypochlorous acid water having a desired amount of
production and a desired concentration by gradually increasing the
concentration of the hypochlorous acid water in the storage tank.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a producing apparatus and a
producing method of hypochlorous acid water that is effective as
sterilizing water.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As shown in FIG. 3, there is known, as a conventional
producing apparatus of hypochlorous acid water, a producing
apparatus constructed such that a raw water feed pipe c is
connected from a raw water tank a to an electrolytic vessel b in
which no diaphragm exists between an anode and a cathode, and a
hydrochloric acid feed pipe e from a hydrochloric acid tank d is
connected in communication with the raw water feed pipe c, and
hypochlorous acid water having a desired concentration is obtained
in the electrolytic vessel b (refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI
Publication No. 10-128336).
[0005] Note that, in FIG. 3, symbol f shows a raw water pump
interposed in the raw water feed pipe c, symbol g shows a
hydrochloric acid metering pump interposed in the hydrochloric acid
feed pipe e, and symbol h shows a discharge pipe of an
electrolytically treated liquid from the electrolytic vessel b.
[0006] The conventional hypochlorous acid water producing apparatus
has the following problems.
[0007] (1) Since the amount of hypochlorous acid water that can be
produced in the electrolytic vessel b is small, the size of the
electrolytic vessel b must be enlarged to produce hypochlorous acid
water in a necessary amount and further a large amount of electric
power is also used, in result, there is a problem of an increase of
cost.
[0008] (2) To produce hypochlorous acid water having a high
concentration in the electrolytic vessel b, since a considerable
amount of voltage and current are necessary in conformity with a
desired concentration, there is a problem of economy and
safety.
[0009] (3) Since the amount of hypochlorous acid water that can be
produced in the electrolytic vessel b is small, it is difficult to
adjust the hypochlorous acid water to a predetermined
concentration, and, it is also difficult to adjust hypochlorous
acid water so that it has a high concentration and a system is
necessary to control the concentration, from which a problem arises
in that cost is increased.
[0010] (4) There is a problem in that it is difficult to adjust the
pH of hypochlorous acid water to be produced depending on the
quality of raw water being used, in particular depending on the
hardness of raw water.
[0011] (5) There is a problem in that when raw water being used
contains a large amount of organic matters, it is difficult to keep
hypochlorous acid in hypochlorous acid water to a predetermined
concentration.
[0012] (6) There is also a problem in that since the amount of
hypochlorous acid water produced in the electrolytic vessel b is
small, it is difficult to produce hypochlorous acid water having a
high concentration of 100 ppm or more.
[0013] An object of the invention is to provide a producing
apparatus and a producing method of hypochlorous acid water that
can overcome the problems and obtain hypochlorous acid water having
a desired amount of production and a desired concentration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] To achieve the object, a first invention relates to a
producing apparatus which includes an electrolytic vessel to which
dilute hydrochloric acid is supplied and in which no diaphragm
exists between an anode and a cathode for generating a chlorine
gas, a storage tank in which water is stored, a circulation pipe
into which water flows from the storage tank, in which the water
circulates, and from which the water returns into the storage tank,
and a mixing pipe which couples between the electrolytic vessel and
the circulation pipe, mixes the chlorine gas from the electrolytic
vessel with the water in the circulation pipe, and produces
hyprochlorous acid water, and, a second invention relates to a
producing method which includes a step of generating a chlorine gas
by subjecting dilute hydrochloric acid being supplied to an
electrolytic treatment in an electrolytic vessel in which no
diaphragm exists between an anode and a cathode, and a step of
producing hypochlorous acid water having a desired amount of
production and a desired concentration by injecting the chlorine
gas into the water that circulates in the circulation pipe.
[0015] According to the invention, the electrolytic vessel can be
made compact and further hypochlorous acid water having a desired
concentration can be gradually produced easily by circulating the
water in the storage tank until the desired concentration is
reached in the same electrolytic vessel and under the same
electrolytic condition. Further, hypochlorous acid water having a
high concentration can be also produced. According to the method of
the invention, anyone can produce hypochlorous acid water having a
desired amount of production and a desired concentration simply,
easily, safely, and economically.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a piping diagram of an embodiment of a
hypochlorous acid water producing apparatus of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a piping diagram of another embodiment of the
hypochlorous acid water producing apparatus of the invention;
and
[0018] FIG. 3 is a piping diagram of a conventional hypochlorous
acid water producing apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Embodiments of a mode for carrying out the invention will be
shown below.
Embodiment 1
[0020] An embodiment 1 of a hypochlorous acid water producing
apparatus of the invention will be explained referring to FIG.
1.
[0021] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 shows an electrolytic vessel,
and the electrolytic vessel 1 has an anode 10a and a cathode 10b
which are disposed in the electrolytic vessel 1 and between which
no diaphragm exists.
[0022] Reference numeral 2 shows a dilute hydrochloric acid tank, a
water feed pipe 3 is coupled between the dilute hydrochloric acid
tank 2 and the electrolytic vessel 1, and, a dilute hydrochloric
acid pump 4 is interposed in the water feed pipe 3 and the dilute
hydrochloric acid in the dilute hydrochloric acid tank 2 is
supplied to the electrolytic vessel 1 by driving the dilute
hydrochloric acid pump 4.
[0023] Reference numeral 5 shows a storage tank, 6 shows a
circulation pipe, a flow-in pipe portion 6a and a flow-out pipe
portion 6b of the circulation pipe 6 are connected to the storage
tank 5, and, a circulation pump 7 is interposed to an intermediate
portion of the circulation pipe 6, and the water in the storage
tank 5 flows from the flow-in pipe portion 6a into the circulation
pipe 6, flows in the circulation pipe 6 and flows out from the
flow-out pipe portion 6b into the storage tank 5 so that water or
hypochlorous acid water circulates in the circulation pipe 6.
[0024] Reference numeral 8 shows a mixing pipe, an end of the
mixing pipe 8 is connected to the electrolytic vessel 1, and, the
other end thereof is connected to a mixing portion A of the
intermediate portion of the circulation pipe 6, and the chlorine
gas generated in the electrolytic vessel 1 is mixed with the water
which flows in the circulation pipe 6 via the mixing pipe 8,
thereby hypochlorous acid water is produced.
[0025] Reference numeral 9 shows a discharge pipe of hypochlorous
acid water, and 10 shows a power supply of the anode 10a and the
cathode 10b.
[0026] Further, the storage tank 5 has a discharge port (not shown)
for discharging the hydrogen gas generated in the electrolytic
vessel 1 to the outside.
[0027] Next, a producing method of the hypochlorous acid water
produced by the apparatus of the embodiment and an effect of the
producing method will be explained.
[0028] The dilute hydrochloric acid in the dilute hydrochloric acid
tank 2 is supplied into the electrolytic vessel 1 by driving the
dilute hydrochloric acid pump 4.
[0029] Then, in the electrolytic vessel 1, the dilute hydrochloric
acid is continuously subjected to an electrolytic treatment by
energizing both the anode 10a and the cathode 10b dipped into the
dilute hydrochloric acid, thereby generating a chlorine gas.
[0030] In contrast, the water in the storage tank 5 is circulated
and flown in the circulation pipe 6 by driving the circulation pump
7.
[0031] Then, the chlorine gas flows in the mixing pipe 8, is mixed
with the water, which flows in the circulation pipe 6, at the
mixing portion A, and produces hypochlorous acid water which is
stored in the storage tank 5 while being produced.
[0032] At an initial time, although the hypochlorous acid water has
a low concentration, the hypochlorous acid water gradually becomes
hypochlorous acid water having a high concentration by being mixed
with the chlorine gas while repeatedly circulating in the
circulation pipe 6. The producing apparatus is continuously
operated until the hypochlorous acid water in the storage tank 5
has a desired concentration.
[0033] As described above, since the producing apparatus employs
the system for mixing the hypochlorous acid water with the chlorine
gas while circulating the hypochlorous acid water, even if the
electrolytic vessel 1 is compact and the anode 10a and the cathode
10b are energized with a low current, hypochlorous acid water
having a desired high concentration can be obtained.
[0034] Note that the hypochlorous acid water produced in the
storage tank 5 has pH of 2.0 or more to 7.0 or less and preferably
has pH of 5.0 or more to 6.5 or less than.
[0035] Further, the hypochlorous acid water has a concentration of
2 ppm or more and preferably has a concentration of 10-600 ppm.
[0036] According to the method of the embodiment, since the
generated chlorine gas is circulated while being repeatedly mixed
with the circulating water or hypochlorous acid water, hypochlorous
acid water having a low concentration of 2 ppm to hypochlorous acid
water having a high concentration of 600 ppm to about 1000 ppm can
be produced.
[0037] Further, hypochlorous acid water having an optional
concentration can be produced from a small amount to a large amount
by variously adjusting the capacity of the storage tank 5, the
circulation amount or the circulation time of the liquid in the
circulation pipe 6, or the amount of the chlorine gas generated in
the electrolytic vessel 1.
[0038] Further, when the water in the storage tank is soft water or
contains organic matters, hypochlorous acid water in a preferable
range of pH can be easily obtained by neutralizing the water by
mixing an alkaline pH adjuster containing Ca, Mg, Na, K, and the
like with the water in the storage tank, and, hypochlorous acid
water in the preferable range of pH can be easily obtained by
replenishing hypochlorous acid in the amount consumed by the
organic matters.
Embodiment 2
[0039] An embodiment 2 of the hypochlorous acid water producing
apparatus of the invention will be explained referring to FIG.
2.
[0040] In the embodiment 2, a first storage tank 5a and a second
storage tank 5b are installed, the flow-in pipe portion 6a of the
circulation pipe 6 is branched to a first flow-in branch pipe
portion 6aa and a second flow-in branch pipe portion 6ab, and, the
flow-out pipe portion 6b of the circulation pipe 6 is branched to a
first flow-out branch pipe portion 6ba and a second flow-out branch
pipe portion 6bb, the first flow-in branch pipe portion 6aa and the
first flow-out branch pipe portion 6ba are connected to the first
storage tank 5a, and, the second flow-in branch pipe portion 6ab
and the second flow-out branch pipe portion 6bb are connected to
the second storage tank 5b, further, switch valves 11a, 11b are
interposed to a branch portion of the flow-in pipe portion 6a and a
branch portion of the flow-out pipe portion 6b, respectively, the
switch valves 11a, 11b are switched to the first flow-in branch
pipe portion 6aa and the first flow-out branch pipe portion 6ba,
and the water in the first storage tank 5a is circulated as in the
embodiment 1. When hypochlorous acid water having a desired
concentration is produced in the first storage tank 5a, the switch
valve 11a, 11b are switched to the second flow-in branch pipe
portion 6ab and the second flow-out branch pipe portion 6bb, the
water in the second storage tank 5b is circulated as in the
embodiment 1 so as to be made to hypochlorous acid water having the
desired concentration in the second storage tank 5b. Thus, while
hypochlorous acid water having a desired concentration is produced
in the one of the storage tanks, the hypochlorous acid water which
is already produced in the other storage tank and has the desired
concentration can be used. Accordingly, hypochlorous acid water can
be continuously produced and used by alternately using both the
tanks.
[0041] Note that, in the embodiment 2, although the example, in
which the two storage tanks are used, is shown, three or more
storage tanks may be installed as necessary and the flow-in branch
pipe portions and the flow-out branch pipe portions may be
connected to the respective storage tanks.
[0042] The producing apparatus and the producing method of
hypochlorous acid water of the invention are used in food factory,
chicken farm, milking farm, agricultural farm, medical and nursing
care facility, restaurant, and the like.
* * * * *