JP2691664B2 - Water purification equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifying apparatus, and more particularly to a water purifying apparatus capable of sterilizing and sterilizing various bacteria and molds which easily propagate inside the water purifying apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional water purifying apparatus, when this water purifying apparatus is not used, various bacteria are easily propagated from the gaps of the activated carbon in the cartridge and the dust clogging the hollow fiber membrane filter, and the accumulated water after purification is Since there is no residual chlorine, bacteria are generated, making it unsuitable as drinking water. Also,
Due to the mechanism, these water purification devices, when used for a certain period of time, cause solid impurities in the raw water to block the small pores of the filter medium, resulting in a so-called clogging state, and the filtration capability of the filter medium decreases. Therefore, in the conventional water purifying apparatus, the cartridge has to be replaced after a certain period of use, which is inconvenient.

With respect to the generation of bacteria as described above, there have been proposed methods such as using a sterilizing material such as silver chloride or discharging residual water in a cartridge by using the supplied raw water pressure. As for the above clogging, there has been proposed a method of extending the life of the filter medium by backwashing by backflowing water from the discharge port to the water supply port. As described above, in the conventional water purification apparatus, each method is used to cope with the generation of bacteria and the clogging, so that the configuration of the water purification apparatus becomes complicated. On the other hand, the applicant of the present invention is a water purification apparatus that enables backwashing and sterilization of a filter medium at the same time by supplying warm air to the filter medium or by supplying air containing ozone. (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-206437, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-133780).

[0004]

However, according to the recent investigation, the propagation and outflow of various bacteria due to the suspension of use of the water purification device for a long time is not limited to the outflow from the cartridge.
When water is purified, the purified water continuously flows to the outlet.In the water conduit, when the water is stopped or when the water is stopped, there is a space wetted by the water, which contains general bacteria and mold spores that float in the air. It was found that they come into contact with each other and propagate within the water conduit. In particular, the flexible water conduit that has been set in consideration of usability has a large number of irregularities inside and is easily contaminated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a water purification treatment device which can eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and prevent the propagation of bacteria and the like in the water conduit.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the water purification apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention purifies tap water continuously supplied by activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane filter. In a water purification device that supplies high-quality drinking water, a hot air generating means, a timer, and a blower switching means, when the tap water supplied is cut off, with respect to the filtration direction of the activated carbon and hollow fiber membrane filter And reverse direction,
The feature is that hot air is sequentially supplied to the purified water outlet direction. In this water purification device,
When the clean water stop time is shorter than the predetermined time, warm air is supplied only in the direction of the purified water outlet, and when the clean water stop time is longer than the predetermined time, warm air is fed in the filtration direction of the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane filter. May be supplied in the opposite direction.

The water purification apparatus according to the second aspect is a water purification apparatus for purifying tap water continuously supplied by activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane filter to supply high-quality drinking water, and an ozonizer and a timer. A blower switching means and an activated carbon honeycomb catalyst provided at the outlet of the purified water, and when the supplied tap water is interrupted, a direction opposite to the filtration direction of the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane filter, and the purified water. It is characterized in that air containing ozone is sequentially supplied to the direction of the water outlet. In this water purification device, when the water purification stop time is shorter than the predetermined time, air containing ozone is supplied only in the direction of the water purification outlet,
When the clean water stop time is longer than the predetermined time, the air containing ozone may be supplied to both the purified water outlet direction and the direction opposite to the filtration direction of the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane filter. Good.

[0007]

[Operation] Of the water purification apparatus configured as described above,
In the former one, warm air is sent to the water conduit from the rear end of the filtration unit to the water outlet in tens of minutes after the use of the water purification device is stopped.
The remaining water remaining in the water conduit is removed, and the inside of the conduit is dried and sterilized. Further, when the use is stopped for a predetermined time or longer, warm air is sent backward from the discharge port into the container of the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane filter. Therefore, the residual purified water in the container is forcibly discharged while backwashing the dirt on the surface of the micropores of the hollow fiber filter. As a result, the filtering ability of the hollow fiber membrane filter is restored. After the residual purified water is forcibly drained, the inside of the container is dried by hot air, and even if this purified water treatment device is not used for a long period of time, germs will not occur in the container. Since warm air is supplied into the container, it is possible to dry in a short time.

Further, in the latter water purification apparatus, air containing ozone is sent to the water conduit from the rear end of the filtering section to the water outlet in a few tens of minutes after the water purification apparatus is stopped, and remains in the water conduit. It eliminates accumulated water and is sterilized by the strong oxidizing action of ozone. The ozone remaining at this time is decomposed and released by the activated carbon honeycomb catalyst arranged in the vicinity of the water outlet. This activated carbon honeycomb catalyst also has a purifying function as an adsorbent at the final stage during water purification. When the water treatment device is stopped for a predetermined period of time or longer, air containing ozone is supplied to the filter medium side, so even if this water treatment device is not used for a long time, bacteria will be present in the filter medium portion. It never breeds.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the invention described in claim 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a simplified configuration of the water purification device. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a water purification unit container, in which an activated carbon 2 and a hollow fiber membrane filter 3 are housed, as is well known. The water purifying unit container 1 is provided with a water conduit 4, and tap water is supplied through the water conduit 4. A discharge port 7 is provided in the water conduit 4 via a sensor 5 and a 3-port solenoid valve 6. Further, the water purification unit container 1 is connected to the water outlet 10 via a 3-port solenoid valve 8 and a water conduit 9. On the other side of the solenoid valve 8 via the air guide pipe 11,
A warm air generating means 13 having an outside air inlet 12 is connected.

In the water purifying apparatus constructed as described above, when tap water is supplied from the water conduit 4, the tap water flows as shown by the white arrow and passes through the activated carbon 2 and the hollow fiber membrane filter 3. The purified water thus purified is discharged from the water outlet 10 through the water conduit 9. When the tap water continuously supplied to the water conduit 4 is cut off, the sensor 5 for detecting the water pressure or the water flow detects that the tap water is cut off. Based on this detection, a timer switch (not shown) of the control unit operates the solenoid valves 6 and 8 to switch the water channel, and at the same time, to operate the warm air generating means 13 for a predetermined time. The warm air generating means 13 is composed of an air pump, a heater and the like, and the warm air is pressure-fed by these operations.

During a time period (10 to 30 minutes) shorter than the stoppage of water purification of the above water purification apparatus, the solenoid valve 8 is operated by the timer switch of the control unit so as to connect the air guide pipe 11 and the water guide pipe 9. At the same time, this timer switch
The warm air generating means 13 is operated. As a result, hot air is pressure-fed to the water outlet 10 as indicated by the broken line arrow, and the water conduit 9
The accumulated purified water staying inside is discharged and the inside of the water conduit 9 is dried and sterilized.

By drying and sterilizing the inside of the water conduit 9, it is possible to prevent bacteria and mold spores floating in the air from propagating due to accumulated purified water in the water conduit 9 or moisture from the purified water. At this time, the outlet 14 of the hollow fiber membrane filter 3 is closed by the solenoid valve 8 and isolated from the outside air.
If the stop time continues for a long time (3 to 6 hours), the timer switch of the control unit causes the solenoid valves 6 and 8 to operate.
Are simultaneously operated, and the warm air generating means 13 is also operated. By this operation, warm air is blown into the hollow fiber membrane filter 3
The residual purified water in the outlet 14 and the hollow fiber membrane filter 3 is pressure-fed to carry out backwash cleaning. The solid arrows in the figure show the flow of air during the backwashing and the dry sterilization.

FIG. 2 shows a time chart of the operation of the above water purification apparatus. 2A shows the operation of the solenoid valve 8,
(B) shows the operation of the solenoid valve 6, (c) shows the hot air generating means 13
X indicates the time when the operation of the water purifying apparatus stops, and y indicates the period of use of the water purifying apparatus.

Next, an embodiment of the invention described in claim 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a simplified configuration of the water purification device. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Reference numeral 16 is an ozone generating means, which has an outside air introduction port 15 and is connected to the air guide pipe 11. 17 is a low pressure loss activated carbon honeycomb catalyst,
It is arranged near the water outlet 10 of the water conduit 9.

In the water purifying apparatus constructed as described above,
When tap water is supplied from the water conduit 4, it flows as shown by the white arrow, and purified water is discharged from the water outlet 10 through the water conduit 9. When the tap water continuously supplied to the water conduit 4 is cut off, this is detected by the sensor 5, and the timer switch of the control section causes the solenoid valves 6 and 8 to operate.
Is operated to switch the water channel, and the ozone generating means 16 is operated for a certain period of time. This ozone generating means 16
Is composed of an air pump, an ozonizer, etc., and oxygen in the air taken in from the outside air inlet 15 is turned into ozone by silent discharge, and is sent to the air guide pipe 11 under pressure. At this time, the ozone concentration of the air containing ozone is appropriately 0.1 to 0.5 PPM.

During a shorter time (about 30 minutes) than the stoppage of water purification by the water purification apparatus, the solenoid valve 8 connects the air guide pipe 11 and the water guide pipe 9 by the timer switch of the control unit, and the hollow fiber membrane filter 3 Of the ozone generating means 16 is operated by the timer switch at the same time. As a result, air containing ozone is pressure-fed to the water outlet 10 as indicated by the broken line arrow, the accumulated purified water staying in the water conduit 9 is discharged, and the interior of the water conduit 9 is sterilized. The residual ozone at this time is decomposed by the activated carbon honeycomb catalyst 17. During the purification of water, the activated carbon honeycomb catalyst 17 collects various bacteria which are oxidatively decomposed by ozone. The air containing the ozone is pumped every 30 minutes to 1 hour for a few minutes.
Prevents the growth of bacteria and mold floating in the air.

When the above-mentioned purified water stop time continues for a long time (3 to 6 hours), the timer switch simultaneously operates the solenoid valves 6 and 8 and the ozone generating means 16 to operate to generate ozone. The air it contains
Flow as indicated by the solid arrow. As a result, the air containing ozone pressure-feeds the outlet 14 of the hollow fiber membrane filter 3 and the residual purified water in the hollow fiber membrane filter 3 for backwash cleaning, and the water containing dirt is forcibly discharged from the drainage port 7. Then, the hollow fiber membrane filter 3 and its outlet 14 are sterilized by ozone. At this time, since the activated carbon 2 as the filter material acts as a decomposition catalyst of ozone, it is not necessary to install a decomposition catalyst.

FIG. 4 shows a time chart of the operation of the above water purification apparatus. 4A shows the operation of the solenoid valve 8,
(B) shows the operation of the solenoid valve 6, (c) shows the ozone generating means 1
6 shows the operation of 6 respectively, x shows the time when the operation of the water purifying apparatus stops, and y shows the period of use of the water purifying apparatus.

[0019]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the simple construction can prevent the growth of various bacteria when it is not used for a long period of time, and can prolong the life of the filter medium significantly. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water purification apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an operation of the water purification device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water purification device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the water purification device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Activated carbon 3 Hollow fiber membrane filter 5 Sensor 6 Solenoid valve 7 Discharge port 8 Solenoid valve 9 Water guide pipe 10 Outlet port 11 Air guide pipe 13 Warm air generating means 16 Ozone generating means 17 Activated carbon honeycomb catalyst

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water purification treatment device for purifying continuously supplied tap water by activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane filter to supply high-quality drinking water, comprising: a warm air generating means, a timer, and a blower switching means. When the supplied tap water is cut off, hot water is sequentially supplied in a direction opposite to the filtration direction of the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane filter and in a purified water outlet direction. Processing equipment. 2. A water purifying apparatus for purifying continuously supplied tap water with activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane filter to supply high-quality drinking water, including an ozonizer, a timer, a blower switching means, and a purified water outlet. An activated carbon honeycomb catalyst provided at the water outlet is provided, and when the supplied tap water is cut off, ozone is sequentially included in the direction opposite to the filtration direction of the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane filter and in the purified water outlet direction. A water purification device characterized by supplying air. 3. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1,
When the clean water stop time is shorter than the predetermined time, warm air is supplied only in the direction of the purified water outlet, and when the clean water stop time is longer than the predetermined time, warm air is fed in the filtration direction of the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane filter. A water purification device characterized in that it is supplied in the opposite direction. 4. The water purification apparatus according to claim 2,
When the water purification stop time is shorter than the predetermined time, air containing ozone is supplied only in the direction of the purified water outlet, and when the water purification stop time is longer than the predetermined time, the air containing ozone is directed toward the purified water outlet. A water purifying apparatus which supplies the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane filter both in a direction opposite to the filtration direction.