JP2009148664A - Water softener - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To reduce the size of a salt required for regenerating a cation exchange resin of a water softening device as a molded body and to secure a contact area between the salt molded body and water, and to achieve a predetermined amount. An object of the present invention is to provide a water softening device capable of obtaining salt water having a predetermined concentration in a short time.
The present invention includes a molded body of salt and a basket for storing the molded body, the basket having an opening provided with a net at the bottom thereof, and water entering from the opening is formed into the molded body. A water softening device that comes into contact with a body from its bottom, wherein the salt molded body is stored horizontally in the basket, and a guide portion protruding upward is provided at the bottom of the basket, and the salt molding The body is a water softening device provided with a vertical guide hole corresponding to the guide portion.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a water softening device using a salt molded body used for regenerating a cation exchange resin provided in a water softening device for softening hard water.

Conventionally, water softeners have been developed to soften tap water and well water used in water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines and bathtubs, and when regenerating the cation exchange resin built into this water softener. A large amount of salt water is supplied to the cation exchange resin. Moreover, in the cation exchange resin reproduction | regeneration method of the hard water softening apparatus disclosed by Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-4141 (patent document 1), the container which accommodated the solid salt integrally formed in the rod shape in the net container which has water permeability Solid salt is used.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-4141

  The water softening device comprises a water softening tank containing a cation exchange resin for softening hard water and a salt tank part containing a salt for regeneration, and regenerates the cation exchange resin. In this case, since a large amount of salt water is required, the salt tank portion becomes large, and there is a problem in reducing the overall configuration.

  Further, the solid salt contained in the container of the water softening device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is obtained by solidifying the salt into a rod shape by pressing, and can be made more compact than the conventional one that does not use the solid salt. However, the solid salt formed by the press is originally difficult to dissolve in water. In addition, the contact area between the solid salt and the water is small so that only the lower part of the bar-shaped solid salt is always in contact with water so that the salt bridge does not prevent the salt from falling freely. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to obtain salt water having a prescribed concentration. Although it may be possible to shorten the required time by increasing the number of rod-shaped solid salts, in that case, there has been a problem that compactness cannot be achieved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and shortens a predetermined amount and a predetermined concentration of salt water while reducing the size by using a molded salt for the regeneration of the cation exchange resin of the water softening device. It aims at providing the water softening apparatus which can be obtained in time.

The present invention relates to the following.
(1) A salt molded body and a basket for storing the molded body, the basket having an opening with a net at the bottom thereof, and water entering from the opening is formed by the salt molded body. A water softening device that contacts from the bottom, wherein the salt compact is stored horizontally in the basket, and a guide portion that protrudes upward is provided at the bottom of the basket. A water softening device provided with a vertical guide hole corresponding to the guide portion.
(2) The water softening device according to (1), wherein the molded body of the salt is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and a convex portion and a concave portion are provided at the bottom, and a guide hole is provided in the concave portion.
(3) The water softening device according to (1) or (2), wherein the projection on the top surface of the salt molded body is equal to or smaller than the projection on the bottom surface.
(4) The water softening device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein a side surface of the salt formed body is vertical or tapered.
(5) In any one of (1) to (4), a pipe-shaped outlet member is provided at the bottom of the salt tank that stores the basket so as to be higher than the bottom of the basket. A water softening device in which a cylindrical lid portion that is spaced apart and covers the top and the periphery of the outlet member is erected on the bottom portion of the basket, and the lid portion also serves as a guide member.

  According to the present invention, water softening that can obtain a predetermined amount and a predetermined concentration of salt water in a short time while achieving compactness by using a molded salt for regeneration of a cation exchange resin in a water softening device. An apparatus can be provided.

  The water softening device in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as water can be softened, but preferably has a cation exchange resin inside thereof. The shape of the cation exchange resin is preferably fibrous, porous, or granular in order to increase the contact area with the water to be passed, and in particular, those having a diameter of 1 mm or more are preferred. preferable.

  The amount of cation exchange resin is determined according to the amount of soft water required and the raw water hardness. For example, when soft water of about 50 L is required in a shower, if the raw water hardness is about 150 mg / L, about 200 mL of cation exchange resin is required, but the required amount of soft water targeted by the water softener and the target Each needs to be determined according to the raw water hardness. However, the hardness of water that has passed through the cation exchange resin is preferably 30 mg / L or less. When the hardness is 30 mg / L or less, the foaming of the soap is good, the detergency is increased, and the scale becomes difficult to adhere. The hardness of water described here is indicated by the contents of calcium salt and magnesium salt in water.

  As a method for regenerating the cation exchange resin using the water softening device configured as described above, it is necessary to supply salt water (a saline solution or a sodium chloride solution) to the cation exchange resin. For example, in order to regenerate about 200 mL of cation exchange resin after using about 50 L of shower, it is necessary to supply salt water containing about 35 g of salt. The method for producing the salt water is not particularly limited, but in order to supply the salt water having a predetermined concentration in a predetermined amount, first, the amount of water for generating a saturated salt water containing about 35 g of salt is supplied to reach a saturated concentration. Thus, salt water can be generated in a relatively short time by supplying a predetermined amount of water.

  The salt water supply method includes conveyance by a fluid machine such as a pump and natural flow from an upper tank. Natural flow is preferable in consideration of use of machine internal parts in the salt water passage. In addition, metal parts may be used for the valve that opens and closes the passage between the tank and the water softening tank. However, the use of metal parts in the salt water passage must be avoided. It is preferable to use a natural phenomenon such as siphon.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the water softening tank 3 used in the present invention includes a cation exchange resin 2 and includes a water inlet 20 and a water outlet 21 for passing water. When the salt tank 6 naturally flows down the salt water, it is easier to let the salt tank naturally flow down if it is provided above the water softening tank 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the salt tank 6 used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has a size and shape that can accommodate the basket 15 for storing the salt compact 18. The basket 15 has an opening 22 in the bottom 16 in which a salt compact 18 can be stored and a net 16 into which water 26 infiltrates, and the water 26 penetrating from the opening 22 enters the salt compact 18 in its bottom. It is set as the structure which contacts from 25. The bottom 25 of the salt molded body 18 refers to a portion facing the opening 22 (net) of the bottom 16 of the basket 15 and its vicinity. Needless to say, the size of the mesh (opening) of the net 16 into which the water 26 enters is smaller than the particle size of the salt.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the salt compact 18 is stored horizontally in the basket 15. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, even when only the bottom portion 25 of the salt molding 18 is always in contact with the water 26, the contact area between the salt molding 18 and the water 26 can be increased. A normal concentration of salt water can be obtained in a short time. Here, the term “horizontal placement” refers to placing the subject standing in a polygonal column or cylindrical shape so that it is in a sleeping state. For example, in the case of a rectangular parallelepiped, it means the state where the longest direction is the horizontal direction (horizontal direction), and at this time, it is not limited to the case where the side surface having the largest area of the rectangular parallelepiped is the bottom surface, and has the largest area. This includes the case where the side surface that is not the side surface is the bottom surface.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom portion 16 of the basket 15 is provided with a guide portion 17 protruding upward. The lower end of the guide part 17 is set so as to float slightly from the bottom part 27 of the salt tank 6 in order to supply the salt water 26 as close to the total amount as possible when supplying the salt water 26 to the water softening tank 3 by a siphon described later. . Also, a vertical guide hole 19 corresponding to the guide portion 17 is provided in the bottom portion 25 of the salt molded body 18. When the salt molded body 18 is placed horizontally, the contact area with water can be increased, but the salt molded body 18 is unbalanced and the salt molded body 18 cannot be lowered smoothly due to its own weight. Is also possible. However, by providing the guide portion 17 and the corresponding guide hole 19 as described above, the position when the salt molded body 18 is accommodated in the basket 15 can be fixed even if the dissolution proceeds, and the salt is gradually increased. It becomes a guide at the time of melt | dissolving falling by the dead weight of the molded object 18 of this, and generation | occurrence | production of a salt bridge can be suppressed. For this reason, even if the salt compact 18 is placed sideways and the contact area with the water 26 is increased, it is not hindered to drop freely due to the occurrence of salt bridges. It is possible to suppress a decrease in the contact area, and salt water having a prescribed concentration can be obtained in a short time.

  As shown in FIG. 2, it is desirable that a concave portion 24 and a convex portion 23 are provided in the bottom portion 25 of the salt molded body 18, and the guide hole 19 is provided upward from the concave portion 24. By providing the unevenness in this way, the contact area between the salt compact 18 and the water 26 can be increased, and salt water with a prescribed concentration can be obtained in a short time. Further, since the guide hole 19 is provided in the concave portion 24, when the salt molded body 18 is stored in the basket 15, first, the concave portion 24 and the guide portion 17 are roughly aligned, and then the guide hole 19. By aligning the guide portion 17 with the guide portion 17, it becomes easy to align the salt molded body.

  The height of the guide portion 17 is set to be higher than the uppermost end of the bottom portion 16 of the basket 15 where the salt compact 18 and the water 26 are in contact with each other. Thereby, since the part higher than the uppermost end of the bottom part 16 of the basket 15 of the guide part 17 is suppressed from contacting with the water 26, the inner wall of the guide hole 19 is melted and the inner diameter of the guide hole is enlarged. Absent. For this reason, since the contact between the guide portion 17 and the inner wall of the guide hole 19 is ensured, the position when the salt molded body 18 is stored in the basket 15 can be fixed even if the salt molded body 18 is dissolved. Moreover, it becomes a guide at the time of melt | dissolving falling gradually with the dead weight of the molded object 18 of salt, and can suppress generation | occurrence | production of a salt bridge.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in order to supply the entire amount of salt water 26 in the salt tank 6 to the water softening tank 3, it is necessary to form a siphon. For this purpose, a bottom portion 27 of the salt tank 6 in which the basket 15 is accommodated. A pipe-shaped outlet member 13 is provided upright so as to be higher than the bottom 16 of the basket 15, and a cylindrical lid portion 17 that is appropriately separated from the outlet member 13 and covers the top and the periphery of the outlet member 13 is provided. By standing on the bottom 16 of the basket 15, when the water level in the salt tank 6 exceeds the outlet member 13, a siphon is generated between the outside of the outlet member 13 and the lid portion 17, and the salt tank 6 All the brine 26 is discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the salt molded body 18 is non-penetrating vertically so as not to interfere with the cylindrical lid portion 17 covering the upper portion and the periphery of the outlet member 13 erected from the bottom portion 16 of the basket 15. By providing the guide hole 19, the position when the salt molded body 18 is stored in the basket 15 can be fixed. Further, when the guide hole 19 provided in the vertical direction of the salt molded body 18 is a through hole, the salt molded body 18 gradually becomes a guide when melted while falling by its own weight, and the occurrence of salt bridges can be prevented. . As described above, when the cylindrical lid portion 17 also serves as the guide portion, it is not necessary to bother to provide the guide portion 17 and the cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  When the size and shape of the salt molded body 18 and the inner side of the basket 15 are substantially the same, when the salt molded body 18 gradually melts while falling due to its own weight, the side surface or structure inside the basket 15 The contact area with water becomes small. As shown in FIG. 3, the salt molded body 18 has a vertical or tapered shape in which the upper surface projection when viewed in plan is equal to or smaller than the lower surface projection, so that the salt is formed on the inner side surface or structure of the basket 15. The influence of catching is reduced, and a predetermined amount and a predetermined concentration of salt water can be obtained stably.

  Below, the case where the granular cation exchange resin 2 is used is demonstrated to an example, The effect | action and operation | movement at the time of this water softening apparatus 1 reproduce | regenerating the cation exchange resin 2 are demonstrated.

  In the cation exchange resin 2, sodium ions are arranged on the exchange groups, and the sodium ions and hardness components such as calcium ions and magnesium ions in tap water are ion-exchanged, and the sodium ions are separated into the tap water and soft water. Become. However, since the exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin 2 is limited, regeneration is required, and salt water 26 is used for this regeneration. When the salt water 26 is passed through the cation exchange resin 2, calcium ions, magnesium ions, etc. are replaced with sodium ions, sodium ions are restored to the cation exchange resin 2, and calcium ions, magnesium ions, etc. are in the regenerated waste water. Leave.

  When the salt is immersed in a predetermined amount of water for a predetermined time, the salt becomes a predetermined concentration of salt water, and the salt water is supplied to the cation exchange resin, so that the regeneration can be reliably performed. As a supply method thereof, first, a predetermined amount of high-concentration salt water can be produced (dissolving step) and then supplied while being diluted (casting step).

  A method of supplying the entire amount of salt water obtained in the dissolving step and the pouring step by one regeneration is desirable because the salt tank can be made most compact. In a water softening device that naturally flows salt water into a water softening tank, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a siphon is formed in the salt tank 6 to supply almost the entire amount of the salt water 26. In order to realize this, a pipe-shaped outlet member 13 is provided at the bottom 27 of the salt tank 6, and a cylindrical lid portion 17 is provided so as to be separated from the outlet member 13 and cover the top and the periphery of the outlet member 13. is doing. When the water 26 is supplied to the salt tank 6, the space between the outer peripheral side of the outlet member 13 and the lid portion 17 is also filled with the water 26 together with the salt tank 6, and when the water level exceeds the upper end of the outlet member 13, the outlet member 13. The water 26 flows out of the water, but a siphon is generated between the outer peripheral side of the outlet member 13 and the lid portion 17, and the supplied water 26 can be entirely flowed into the water softening tank 3.

  The salt molding 18 is a method of molding a powdered normal salt released by the Salt Business Center by pressing or the like, a powdery salt is put in a mold having a desired shape inverted, and water is added to the salt. Can be produced by a method of spraying and then leaving it to dry with a drier. In the latter method, compared to the former method, the gap between the salt particles constituting the salt molded body 18 is relatively large and the salt molded body does not become hard. It is desirable because salt water having a specified concentration can be obtained in a short time.

  Embodiments of the water softening device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the water passage of the water softening device 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing configurations of the salt tank 6 and the basket 15. The water softening device 1 includes a water softening tank 3 containing a cation exchange resin 2, a supply pipe 4 for supplying water 26 to the water softening tank 3, and soft water for discharging soft water 28 from the water softening tank 3. A pipe 5, a salt tank 6 at the top of the water softening tank 3, a regeneration pipe 7 for supplying water 26 to the salt tank 6, a discharge pipe 8 for discharging the salt water 26 regenerated from the cation exchange resin 2, and a regeneration pipe And a regenerative valve 9 that opens and closes 7. Further, the salt water pipe 10 connecting the salt tank 6 and the water softening tank 3 is provided with a check valve 11 for preventing a back flow from the water softening tank 3 to the salt tank 6. The discharge pipe 8 is provided with a drain valve 12 that closes the water softening tank 3 in a water-permeable state and opens it in a non-water-permeable state. Further, the regenerative valve 9 of this embodiment is an electromagnetic valve and is opened and closed by a control means and an operation switch, although not particularly shown.

  The salt tank 6 is provided with a pipe-shaped outlet member 13 that is erected upward and downward from the bottom 27 at the center of the bottom 27. The upward outlet member 13 is erected so as to be higher than the upper end of the bottom portion 16 of the basket 15 described later. Further, the downward outlet member 13 is connected to the salt water pipe 10. Further, an inlet 14 of water supplied to the salt tank 6 is provided at the upper part of the salt tank 6 and connected to the regeneration pipe 7.

  The basket 15 has a box shape, and the bottom 16 has two convex portions 23 over the entire length. Further, the entire bottom surface of the convex portion 23 and the bottom surface side of the long side surface are formed in a lattice shape, and an opening 22 is formed between the lattices, and the mesh 16 is integrally formed in the opening 22. A concave portion 24 is formed between the convex portions 23, and a dome-shaped lid portion 17 is formed inside the basket 15 at the central portion of the concave portion 24. From the back side (lower side), it stands up to the bottom 27 vicinity of the salt tank. When the basket 15 is installed in the salt tank 6, the upper portion and the periphery of the outlet member 13 are covered with the lid portion 17.

  Next, a method for regenerating the cation exchange resin 2 by the water softening device 1 of this embodiment in which the salt tank 6 and the basket 15 having such a configuration are combined will be described.

  In the water softening device 1 of this example, in order to obtain about 50 L of soft water by one regeneration, the amount of the cation exchange resin 2 is about 200 mL, the amount of salt consumed by one regeneration is 35 g, and about 50 L This is a system that regenerates every time soft water is used. In addition to such a method, there is a method for presetting the timing for regeneration, but in this method, because it is regenerated regardless of the use of soft water, there is a disadvantage that salt is consumed wastefully, The method of regenerating every time it is used has an advantage that wasteful consumption of salt can be suppressed because it is regenerated every time soft water is used.

  Regeneration is performed in the order of a casting process and a melting process. At this time, from the operation of the operation switch to the end of the pouring process, the reproduction display means informs the user that reproduction is in progress.

  The user operates the operating means, the regeneration valve 9 is opened, and the water 26 flows from the inlet 14 into the salt tank 6 through the regeneration pipe 7. At this time, the salt water 26 having a saturated concentration generated in the melting step performed in the previous regeneration is stored in the salt tank 6 at the water level below the outlet member 13. From this state, a pouring step is performed. When water 26 flows into the salt tank 6, the saturated salt water 26 is diluted. When the water level of the outlet member 13 is exceeded, the water softening tank is passed through the salt water pipe 10. The salt water 26 flows into 3. In addition, the amount of inflow water is about 350 mL in a present Example. At this time, the total amount of saturated salt water 26 stored in advance and water 26 used for dilution is supplied by the siphon. The salt water 26 that has flowed into the water softening tank 3 passes through the cation exchange resin 2, regenerates the cation exchange resin 2, and then is discharged from the discharge pipe 8 through the drain valve 12. Further, as the water level in the salt tank 6 rises, the salt molded body 18 in the basket 15 contacts the water 26 and dissolves while falling by its own weight.

  After this operation is finished, the melting process is started. First, the regeneration valve 9 is opened, and water flows through the regeneration pipe 7 to the water level below the outlet member 13. At this time, since the salt molded body 18 in the basket 15 is immersed in the water 26 around the net 16, the salt water 26 having a saturated concentration is generated after about several minutes, and after reaching the equilibrium, The wet state of the salt-molded body 18 is maintained until the regeneration. In the present embodiment, the amount of inflow water is about 100 mL (the minimum amount of water necessary to bring about 35 g of salt to a saturation concentration of about 26%). The amount of water up to the outlet member 13 is about 200 mL in a state where the salt molded body 18 is stored in the basket 15.

  The shape of the salt molding 18 accommodated in the basket 15 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the basket 15 has a box shape, and the bottom portion 16 has two convex portions 23 and a concave portion 24 therebetween in the entire longitudinal direction. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, the salt molded body 18 also has a shape in which the bottom portion 25 is formed in a shape having two convex portions 29 and a concave portion 30 between them in the entire longitudinal direction (a) to (d). is there. Further, (e) to (h) are obtained by making the bottom surface of the salt molded body 18 flat over the entire length without matching the shape of the bottom portion 16 of the basket 15.

  Further, (a), (c), (c) provided with a non-penetrating guide hole 19 in the vertical direction of the salt molded body 18 so as not to interfere with the dome-shaped lid portion 17 formed inside the basket 15. e) and (g). By providing such a non-penetrating guide hole 19, the position when the salt molded body is stored in the basket can be fixed.

  Further, (b), (d), (f) provided with a guide hole 19 penetrating in the vertical direction of the molded body 18 of the salt so as not to interfere with the dome-shaped lid portion 17 formed inside the basket 15. ), (H). By providing such a penetrating guide hole 19, the position when the salt molded body 18 is accommodated in the basket 15 is fixed, and a guide for melting while gradually falling by the weight of the salt molded body 18 is provided. Can prevent the occurrence of salt bridges.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the water path of the water softening apparatus used by this invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the salt tank and basket used by this invention. It is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the salt molded body used in the present invention, (a) when viewed from above, the top projection is equivalent to the bottom projection, the side is vertical, and the bottom is two convex over the entire longitudinal direction. (B) Same shape as (a) but with a penetrating guide hole, (c) Upper surface projection when viewed in plan is lower surface projection Small, side-surface tapered, bottom-surface with two convex parts over the entire length, non-through guide hole opened, same shape as (d) and (c), but through-hole guide hole Opened, (e) When viewed from above, the top projection is equivalent to the bottom projection, the side is vertical, a non-penetrating guide hole is opened, (f) Same shape as (e), but penetrated A guide hole opened (g) Top projection is smaller than the lower surface projection when the facing, side surfaces are tapered, which opened the non-through guide holes, (h) (g) and but the same shape, which opened the through-going guide holes.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water softening device, 2 ... Cation exchange resin, 3 ... Water softening tank, 4 ... Supply pipe, 5 ... Soft water pipe, 6 ... Salt tank, 7 ... Regeneration pipe, 8 ... Discharge pipe, 9 ... Regeneration valve, 10 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Salt water pipe, 11 ... Check valve, 12 ... Drain valve, 13 ... Outlet member, 14 ... Inlet, 15 ... Basket, 16 ... Net or bottom of basket, 17 ... Lid, 18 ... Salt molding, 19 ... guide hole, 20 ... water inlet, 21 ... water outlet, 22 ... opening, 23 ... convex part (basket bottom part), 24 ... concave part (basket bottom part), 25 ... bottom part (salt molded body), 26 ... Water or salt water, 27 ... bottom of (salt tank), 28 ... soft water, 29 ... convex portion of salt molding, 30 ... concave portion of salt molding

Claims (5)

A molded body of salt and a basket for storing the molded body,
The basket has an opening with a net at its bottom;
Water that infiltrates from the opening is a water softening device that contacts from the bottom of the salt molded body,
The salt compact is stored horizontally in the basket,
A guide part protruding upward is provided at the bottom of the basket,
A water softening device in which a vertical guide hole corresponding to the guide portion is provided in the salt compact. In claim 1,
The salt molded body is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, provided with a convex portion and a concave portion at the bottom,
A water softening device in which a guide hole is provided in the recess. In claim 1 or 2,
A water softening device in which a top projection when a salt compact is viewed in plan is equal to or smaller than a bottom projection. In any one of Claims 1-3,
A water softening device in which a side surface of a salt compact is vertical or tapered. In any one of Claims 1-4,
At the bottom of the salt tank that stores the basket, a pipe-shaped outlet member is provided so as to be higher than the bottom of the basket,
A cylindrical lid that is spaced apart from the outlet member and covers the top and periphery of the outlet member is erected on the bottom of the basket,
The water softening device in which the lid portion also serves as a guide member.

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