Electrolysis device and heat-pump-type water heater provided with same

Abstract

An electrolysis device includes: a container including a first circulation port functioning as one of an inlet and an outlet for water, and a second circulation port functioning as the other of the inlet and the outlet for water; a plurality of electrode pairs disposed in the container; and a power supply configured to apply a voltage to each of the electrode pairs. Each of the electrode pairs includes a pair of electrode plates. A plurality of the electrode plates are arrayed spaced apart from one another in the thickness direction of the electrode plate. In the electrolysis device, a water channel is formed by the plurality of electrode plates such that water flowing from the inlet into the container reaches the outlet after passing between the pair of electrode plates in each of the electrode pairs.

1 . An electrolysis device used in a water heater including a water heat exchanger for heating water, the electrolysis device comprising:
 a container including a first flow port functioning as one of an inlet and an outlet for water, and a second flow port functioning as the other of the inlet and the outlet for water;   a plurality of electrode pairs disposed in the container; and   a power supply configured to apply a voltage to each of the electrode pairs, wherein   each of the electrode pairs includes a pair of electrode plates,   a plurality of the electrode plates are arrayed spaced apart from one another in a thickness direction of the electrode plate, and   a water channel is formed by the plurality of electrode plates such that water flowing from the inlet into the container reaches the outlet after passing between the pair of electrode plates in each of the electrode pairs.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolysis device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the container includes:
 a first wall located on one side in an array direction of the plurality of electrode plates; 
 a second wall located on the other side in the array direction and opposed to the first wall across the plurality of electrode plates; and 
 a sidewall that extends along the array direction to surround the plurality of electrode plates and connects the first wall and the second wall, and 
   the first flow port is provided in the first wall or in the vicinity of the first wall, and the second flow port is provided in the second wall or in the vicinity of the second wall.   
     
     
         3 . The electrolysis device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the sidewall includes a third wall extending along the array direction, and a fourth wall extending along the array direction and opposed to the third wall across the plurality of electrode plates,   the plurality of electrode plates include first electrode plates connected to one pole of the power supply and second electrode plates connected to the other pole of the power supply,   each of the first electrode plates is extended from a proximal end portion of the first electrode plate located in the third wall toward the fourth wall,   each of the second electrode plates is extended from a proximal end portion of the second electrode plate located in the fourth wall toward the third wall, and   the first electrode plates and the second electrode plates are alternately arranged along the array direction, whereby the water channel includes a serpentine flow path.   
     
     
         4 . The electrolysis device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the sidewall includes a third wall extending along the array direction, and a fourth wall extending along the array direction and opposed to the third wall across the plurality of electrode plates,   a gap through which the water can pass is provided between one end portion of each of the electrode plates and the third wall, and a gap through which the water can pass is provided between the other end portion of each of the electrode plates and the fourth wall, and   the first flow port is provided in the first wall in a position closer to the third wall than the fourth wall, and the second flow port is provided in the second wall in a position closer to the fourth wall than the third wall.   
     
     
         5 . The electrolysis device according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the electrode plates are arranged to incline such that the one end portion is located on the one side in the array direction than the other end portion. 
     
     
         6 . A heat-pump-type water heater comprising:
 a heat pump unit which includes a water heat exchanger for heating water, and in which a refrigerant circulates through a refrigerant pipe;   a hot water storage unit including a tank in which the water is stored, a feed channel for feeding the water in the tank to the water heat exchanger, and a return channel for returning the water heated by the water heat exchanger to the tank;   a water supply pipe for supplying the water from a water supply source to the tank;   a hot water supply pipe for supplying high-temperature water stored in the tank; and   the electrolysis device according to  claim 1  for removing scale components contained in the water.   
     
     
         7 . The heat-pump-type water heater according to  claim 6 , wherein the electrolysis device is provided in the feed channel. 
     
     
         8 . The heat-pump-type water heater according to  claim 6 , further comprising a control unit configured to control the power supply for the electrolysis device, wherein
 the control unit controls the power supply such that a voltage is applied to each of the electrode pairs when temperature of water heated by the water heat exchanger is equal to or higher than a value set in advance.   
     
     
         9 . The heat-pump-type water heater according to  claim 6 , further comprising a control unit configured to control the power supply for the electrolysis device, wherein
 the control unit controls the power supply to adjust a voltage applied to each of the electrode pairs according to water quality in the hot water storage unit.   
     
     
         10 . The heat-pump-type water heater according to  claim 6 , further comprising a re-inflow channel for returning water having passed through the electrolysis device to an upstream side of the electrolysis device and causing the water to flow into the electrolysis device again. 
     
     
         11 . The heat-pump-type water heater according to  claim 6 , further comprising a reversing mechanism for changing the inlet and the outlet in the electrolysis device. 
     
     
         12 . The heat-pump-type water heater according to  claim 6 , wherein the heat-pump-type water heater is of one-through type that does not return, to the tank, hot water supplied from the hot water supply pipe.