KR200353265Y1 - Drinking water purifier with disinfection system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention produces a microorganism that electrolyzes water by a chlorine generator to produce chlorine (chlorine water) with a concentration of 0.5 mg / L or more, and this chlorine water multiplies in water contacting water such as a water tank, fittings, and hose of a water purifier. Provide a water purifier with a disinfection device that can be completely disinfected. The water purifier further includes a disinfection apparatus for automatically discharging water in the tank during disinfection and converting the incoming water into chlorine water to supply and disinfect it into the tank. The disinfection apparatus includes chlorine installed in the inlet line before the UV sterilization filter. It includes a generator, a drain valve installed in a cold water discharge line connected to a cold water tank, an ultraviolet sterilization filter, a controller connected to the chlorine generator and controlling their operation.

Description

Drinking water purifier with disinfection device {Drinking water purifier with disinfection system}

The present invention relates to a water purifier with a disinfection device, and more specifically, to prevent the growth of microorganisms inevitably occurring in the water tank of household water purifiers having a cold temperature function periodically (once every 2-3 days) The chlorine generator is operated to produce chlorine water, and the chlorine water is immersed in the water tank for more than 15 minutes and the water purifier is provided with a disinfection device for disinfecting microorganisms attached to water contacting materials such as tanks, fittings, and hoses. It is about.

In recent years, various types of water purifiers have been widely used in homes as living standards have improved and the importance of drinking water has increased. In general, a water purifier uses a pretreatment filter, an activated carbon filter, an ultrafiltration membrane filter, a reverse osmosis membrane filter, or the like. According to such a general water purifier, raw water such as tap water is purified and used as drinking water in such a manner that the water passing through the activated carbon filter completely removes residual chlorine in the tap water.

However, these conventional water purifiers have been shown to cause various problems. First, there is a problem in that the purified water may be disinfected and the microorganisms proliferated in the activated carbon filter may flow out, and the microorganisms introduced from the outside air may proliferate in the tank.

In addition, the water purifier is equipped with a water tank to maintain the flow rate or to store the purified water for the cold-temperature function, and because the microorganisms proliferate while the purified water is stored in the water tank, the user should be at least one week to suppress the growth of the microorganisms. There is an uncomfortable problem of having to wash and sterilize at least once.

On the other hand, to solve this problem, existing water purifier manufacturers use the tank as an antibacterial material, attach a UV sterilizer to the tank, automatically drain the stored water after a certain period of time, automatically circulate, or In order to minimize contact with outside air, a method of sealing or dissolving a small amount of chlorine in an electrode sterilizer is used.

However, even with these methods, the inflow of microorganisms grown on activated carbon and the residual microorganisms in the air are not completely suppressed. That is, the tank using the antimicrobial agent is effective in suppressing the growth of the microorganisms generated on the wall of the tank, but there is a problem in that the growth of the microorganisms propagating in the water by proliferating in the activated carbon filter does not suppress. In addition, when the UV sterilizer is attached, there is a problem in that the microorganism is not completely sterilized in the water because there is no residual disinfection of ultraviolet rays and the entire tank is not sterilized. In addition, disinfection by dissolving silver from silver activated carbon can be harmful to health due to the presence of silver in drinking water.It is not a fundamental countermeasure.It is possible to continuously dissolve trace amounts of chlorine in water by generating chlorine by electrolysis There is a disadvantage in that the removal of chlorine in the water purifier, in which the removal is an important function, may not serve as a water purifier.

In addition, the conventional water purifier must disinfect the UV sterilization filter because microorganisms grow at the rear part of the UV sterilization filter, where the UV wavelength is not affected, and the UV lamp decomposes chlorine. shall. Free residual chlorine is widely used as a disinfectant disinfectant in tap water. The water supply standards stipulate that more than 0.4 mg / L of residual chlorine remains in the tap water. It prevents the development of microorganisms. However, in the water purifier, there is no disinfection residue as 100% of free chlorine is removed in the activated carbon filter process. Phosphorus exceeds 100 CFU / mL.

In reservoirs, microorganisms multiply mainly on the wall and form thousands of colonies per millimeter (mL) with microorganisms from outside. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly disinfect the wall of the tank with a disinfectant disinfectant and to minimize the influx of microorganisms from the outside. Due to the structure of the water purifier tank, it is difficult for actual users to clean the tank regularly. In addition, since the microorganism is continuously proliferated in the activated carbon filter, there is a problem in that the microorganism cannot be suppressed only by cleaning the tank.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier with a disinfection device for preventing the growth of microorganisms occurring in the water tank of the water purifier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier with a disinfection device for automatically disinfecting purified water and purified water.

According to the present invention, the chlorine generator which generates high concentration of chlorine (0.5mg CL ₂ / L or more) by electrolysis periodically dissolves chlorine in the water and remains in the water tank for a certain time (more than 15 minutes) It will disinfect the microorganisms attached to it.

In addition, water is electrolyzed to dissolve chlorine (CL ₂ ) in purified water at a concentration of 0.5 mg / L or more, which is suitable for microbial sterilization in water, so that it stays in the water tank for a predetermined time and disinfects.

In addition, the chlorine generation time, treatment flow rate, disinfection cycle, and residence time can be automatically adjusted.

A chlorine generator can be installed in front of the ultraviolet filter to sterilize microorganisms attached to the ends of the ultraviolet filter.

A chlorine generator is installed in front of the UV filter to allow free residual chlorine to be more than 0.5mg / L in the water that has passed through the UV filter. Can be sterilized.

In addition, UV sterilization device is installed at the stage before the purified water flows into the tank, and chlorine is left in the tank regularly to sterilize for a certain period of time. You can drink it.

The electrolysis cell used for chlorine generation is coated with titanium on noble metals such as iridium, ruthenium and platinum with titanium at the cathode and DSA (Dimensionally Stable Anodes) at the anode. It does not corrode, and no harmful substances are eluted, which does not adversely affect the water quality.

On the other hand, the chlorine generator used in the present invention is configured to operate in a time zone (for example 0 to 4 o'clock) without using a water purifier so that the operation time can be set so as not to interfere with water use, 0.5mg Cl ₂ / More than L free chlorine (0.5mg Cl ₂ / L ~ 1.2mg Cl ₂ / L) is automatically set to drain after remaining in the water tank for about 15 minutes, the sterilization cycle is considered in consideration of the time that the microorganisms can grow, for example, It automatically operates 2-3 times a week to sterilize microorganisms that proliferate on the walls of all materials that come into contact with water, such as UV sterilization filters, connecting fittings that contact chlorine, hoses, and tank walls.

After all, according to the use of the water purifier according to the present invention, the user does not need to open the tank in a cumbersome way and use a cleaning agent or a disinfectant to clean it. Is simple.

1 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of a water purifier with a disinfection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing in detail the chlorine generator of the disinfection device of Figure 1;

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: raw water inlet 12: inlet line

14: pretreatment filter 16: activated carbon filter

18: ultrafiltration membrane filter 20: UV sterilization filter

22: water tank 24: hot water tank

26: cold water tank 28: hot water discharge line

30: cold water discharge line 32: drain valve

40: disinfection device 42: chlorine generator

52: controller 54: timer

The above objects are provided with a raw water inlet through which raw water is introduced, and a filter including an inlet line for transporting the inflowed raw water, an activated carbon filter and an ultraviolet sterilization filter installed in a line on the inlet line, and In the water purifier, which is installed at the end of the inlet line and has a hot water tank and a cold water tank filled with purified water, and a discharge line for supplying the hot water tank and the cold water tank, the water in the water tank during disinfection of the water purifier is It can be achieved by a water purifier with a disinfection device characterized in that it further comprises a disinfection device for automatically discharging and converting the incoming water into chlorine water to supply and disinfect into the tank.

According to one feature of the present invention, the disinfection device is a chlorine generator installed in the inlet line between the ultrafiltration membrane filter and the UV sterilization filter, a drain valve installed in the cold water discharge line connected to the cold water tank, the ultraviolet sterilization filter, It is connected to the chlorine generator and includes a controller for controlling their operation.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, as shown in Figure 1, the water purifier according to the present invention is basically, the raw water inlet 10 at the end to be connected to the pipeline supplied with such raw water to receive raw water such as groundwater or tap water It is provided with the inlet line 12 is transferred to the tank to be described later. On the inlet line 12, a pretreatment filter 14 for removing foreign substances contained in tap water flowing from the water pipe, an activated carbon filter 16 for removing residual chlorine, odors and gas components, and fine particles, microorganisms, etc. are removed. The ultrafiltration membrane filter 18 for discharging and the ultraviolet sterilization filter 20 for finally sterilizing the raw water filtered from the filter mentioned above are arranged in a line. And the end of the inlet line 12 is connected to the water tank 22 is filled with purified water through the water tank inlet (22a). The water tank 22 has, of course, a hot water tank 24 and a cold water tank 26, and a hot water discharge line 28 is connected to the hot water tank 24, and a cold water discharge line 30 is connected to the cold water tank 26. They can be supplied with hot or cold water, respectively. Of course, each discharge line (28:30) is provided with a valve (28a: 30a). Optionally, the tank may be equipped with sensors (S1; S2) for detecting the high and low levels of purified or chlorine water stored in the tank.

In addition, the cold water discharge line 30 is connected to the drain valve 32 for discharging the purified water in the water tank when disinfecting or cleaning the water purifier as described below. This drain valve 32 is preferably configured to control the opening and closing automatically.

In particular, the water purifier according to the present invention, the water purifier itself, in particular, the disinfection device 40 is further installed to prevent or sterilize the growth of parasitic microorganisms or bacteria on the wall surface of the tank (22). The disinfection device 40 includes a chlorine generator 42 installed in the inlet line 12 between the ultrafiltration membrane filter 18 and the ultraviolet sterilization filter 20. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the chlorine generator 42 includes an inlet 44 through which raw water filtered by the ultrafiltration membrane 18 flows in and a discharge port 46 through which raw water or raw water after chlorine generation is discharged. In particular, a positive electrode 48 and a negative electrode 50 which are connected to a power source to generate chlorine during disinfection are provided.

In addition, the disinfection device 40 is preferably provided with a controller 52 for controlling the operation of the drain valve 32, the ultraviolet sterilization filter 20, as well as the chlorine generator 42. That is, the controller 52 controls the operation of the chlorine generator 42, the opening and closing of the drain valve 32, the operation of the ultraviolet sterilization filter 20, and the like. As described below, the controller 52 preferably includes a timer 54 to automatically perform disinfection by automatically setting or inputting a disinfection period, a disinfection period, a disinfection period, and the like. Optionally, the controller 52 may be connected with sensors S1 and S2 for detecting the high water level HH and the low water level LH of the water tank 22. In addition, the controller 52 is preferably configured to be able to control the high water level and the low water level in the water reservoir by the drainage time and the water storage time.

As described above, the chlorine generator 42 constituting the disinfection apparatus of the water purifier according to the present invention sterilizes the microorganisms proliferating in the tank and prevents the microorganisms from parasitic in the purified water, UV sterilization filter (20) ) installed at the front, for example when two to three times a week periodically operated, a chlorine ion (Cl by the electrolysis of water ^- is reduced to) a chlorine (Cl ₂₎ is to act as a disinfectant to sterilize the interior of the water tank It can be.

When the action of the chlorine generator 42 is described in more detail, in general, chlorine ions in the tap water contain 15 mg / L, and all chlorine ions remain in the raw water passing through the ultrafiltration membrane filter 18. In this case, when the water electrolysis negative in the positive-charged electricity of the ion () (OH ^-, Cl ^-, etc.) The electron (e ^-), the wake up is deprived of reaction to the electrode chlorine gas and hypochlorous acid (HClO) is normally only occur Bar, which results in the following reaction. In other words,

H2O → H + + OH-

4OH--4e- → 2H2O + O2

O2 + H2O-e- → O3 ↑ + 2H +

2Cl--2e- → 2Cl- → Cl2

Cl2 + 2H2O-2e- → 2HClO + H +

Hereinafter, the method of disinfecting and purifying the water purifier according to the present invention configured as described above in detail as follows.

The raw water flowing through the raw water inlet 10 in the normal state is stored in the water tank 22 through the pretreatment filter 14, the activated carbon filter 16, the ultrafiltration membrane filter 18, and the ultraviolet sterilization filter 20. Alternatively, the user may receive hot water or cold water through the hot water discharge line 28 and the valve 28a or the cold water discharge line 30 and the valve 30a to drink or use the hot water. At this time, the chlorine generator 42 constituting the disinfection device does not operate and the raw water filtered through the ultrafiltration membrane is introduced through the inlet 44 and then discharged through the outlet 46 to be supplied to the ultraviolet sterilization filter 20. Filtered.

On the other hand, when disinfection of the reservoir or water purifier is required, or when disinfection is automatically performed by the controller 52, the controller 52 opens the drain valve 32 to open the water tank 22 from the cold water discharge line 30. After draining the purified water to the low water level (LH), the drain valve 32 is closed. At the same time, power is supplied to the anode 48 and the cathode 50 of the chlorine generator 42 to operate it, and the power of the ultraviolet sterilization filter 20 is cut off to turn off the ultraviolet light.

Thereafter, the raw water (tap water) flowing from the raw water inlet 10 passes through the pretreatment filter 14, the activated carbon filter 16, the ultrafiltration membrane filter 18 installed on the inlet line 12, and then the chlorine generator 42. Flows into. As described above, the chlorine generator 42 electrolyzes the raw water introduced through the inlet 44 to convert free residual chlorine (Cl ₂ ) into chlorine water having a concentration of 0.5 mg / L or more and through the outlet 46. Discharge it. Thereafter, the chlorine water is supplied to the water tank 22 through the inflow line 12. When the chlorine water supplied to the water tank 22 is stored up to the high water level HH in the water tank 22 except the hot water discharge line 28, the water supply is stopped. Thereafter, the water tank 22 is kept in a state filled with chlorine water for a predetermined time, for example, 15 minutes so that disinfection is performed.

After disinfection is completed, the controller 52 opens the drain valve 32 to completely drain the chlorine water or the disinfection water. Thereafter, when the chlorine water is discharged to reach the low water level (LH), the controller 52 closes the drain valve 32 and operates the ultraviolet sterilization filter 20. At this time, if the raw water (tap water) is introduced into the inlet line 12 through the raw water inlet 10, as described above, the pretreatment filter 14, activated carbon filter 16, ultrafiltration membrane filter 18 and ultraviolet sterilization filter 20 Is stored in the water tank 22 and the user or user receives hot water or cold water through the hot water discharge line 28 and its valve 28a or the cold water discharge line 30 and the valve 30a, or Can be used. Of course, in such a purified state, the operation of the chlorine generator 42 is stopped so that no chlorine water is generated.

Table 1 shows the results of 55 days of the actual microbial sterilization experiment by practically applying the above operation.

Elapsed time (days) General bacterial concentration (CFU / mL) Example 1 Example 2 General water purifier Water purifier according to the present invention General water purifier Water purifier according to the present invention One 0 0 0 0 3 20 0 30 0 5 3000 0 5000 0 10 5000 2 7000 5 15 4500 0 7500 0 20 4800 0 7300 0 25 4800 0 7200 0 30 5000 0 7400 0 35 5200 0 7700 5 40 4900 0 8000 0 45 5100 0 7500 0 50 5000 5 8100 0 55 5200 0 8000 5

As can be seen from the above table, the water purifier according to the present invention was automatically sterilized at three-day intervals. In each embodiment, when the disinfection was performed in the water purification system according to the present invention, the general bacterial concentration was zero (0). It can be seen that complete sterilization was achieved, and general bacterium concentration was slightly increased before disinfection, but it was found that general bacterium was suitable to 100CFU / mL, which is legally accepted standard by repeated disinfection. On the other hand, the water purifier without the disinfection system shows a high concentration of general bacteria of 3,000 to 8,000 CFU / mL, and it can be seen that the disinfecting effect of the water purifier having the disinfection device according to the present invention is excellent.

According to the water purifier provided with the disinfection device according to the present invention, water is electrolyzed by a chlorine generator to generate chlorine (chlorine water) having a concentration of 0.5 mg / L or more, and this chlorine water is used in a water tank, fittings, hoses, etc. of the water purifier. It is possible to completely disinfect the microorganisms proliferating on the material in contact with water, thereby improving the productability.

In addition, the user does not disinfect the tank using disinfectant and detergent by hand, the disinfection process is automatically carried out has the advantage of easy maintenance and management.

In addition, the microorganisms can be completely removed, so that drinking water that satisfies the drinking water quality standard and is hygienically safe can be drinkable, thereby improving reliability.

Claims (8)

A raw water inlet through which raw water flows, and an inlet line for transferring the inflowed raw water, filters including an activated carbon filter and an ultraviolet sterilization filter installed on the inlet line, and installed at an end of the inlet line. And a water tank including a hot water tank and a cold water tank filled with purified water, and a discharge line for supplying the hot water tank and the cold water tank, And a disinfecting device for automatically discharging water in the water tank and converting the incoming water into chlorine water to disinfect and supply the water into the water tank. The method of claim 1, wherein the disinfection device Chlorine generator and installed in the inlet line before the ultraviolet sterilization filter, A water purifier having a disinfection device, comprising: a drain valve installed in a cold water discharge line connected to the cold water tank, the ultraviolet sterilization filter, and a controller connected to the chlorine generator to control their operation. 3. The chlorine generator according to claim 2, wherein the chlorine generator has an inlet through which raw water filtered by the ultrafiltration membrane is introduced, an outlet through which incoming raw water or raw water after chlorine generating treatment is discharged, and an anode supplied with power to generate chlorine during operation. And a water purifier having a disinfection device, characterized in that it comprises a cathode. According to claim 2, wherein the controller is characterized in that it comprises a timer for controlling the operation of the chlorine generator, the opening and closing of the drain valve, the operation of the ultraviolet sterilization filter, and set the disinfection period, disinfection period, disinfection period and the like. Water purifier with a disinfection device. The water purifier with a disinfection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the free residual chlorine in chlorine water generated by electrolysis in the chlorine generator of the disinfection device is 0.5 mg / L or more. The water purifier having a disinfection device according to claim 2, wherein the drain valve is an electromagnetic valve controlled automatically by a controller. The water purifier having a disinfection device according to claim 2, wherein a sensor for detecting a high level and a low level of the reservoir is installed in the reservoir, and the sensors are connected to a controller. 3. The water purifier having a disinfection device according to claim 2, wherein the controller controls the high water level and the low water level in the water reservoir by the drainage time and the water storage time.