CH702249B1 - Rotary plug valve and water treatment installation comprising such a valve. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve (24) comprising: - a body (40) delimiting a cavity and provided with a first orifice (60) allowing the introduction of water into the cavity, a second orifice allowing the evacuation water out of the cavity, and a third port for communicating the cavity and a chamber; - A shutter (49) movable in rotation inside the cavity, the shutter having a depression (77) on its outer face (90) which helps to define a passage allowing the flow of water between the first and third orifices in first angular positions of the shutter, and allowing the circulation of water between the second and third orifices in the second angular positions of the shutter; - A first sealing device for sealing the first orifice (60) by the shutter in said second angular positions of the shutter; and - a second sealing device for sealing the second orifice by the shutter in said first angular positions of the shutter.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a rotary shutter valve and a water treatment plant comprising such a valve.

The invention relates in particular to three-way valves (i.e. three connection interfaces) motorized and seawater treatment facilities or brackish water by reverse osmosis which incorporate such valves.

In the present application, unless expressly or implicitly indicated otherwise, the terms "cylinder" and "cylindrical" refer to a body delimited by - or a shape or a surface generated by - parallel lines based on an outline closed which can be circular.

State of the art

In seawater desalination plants by reverse osmosis, it delivers the water to be treated at the inlet of a filtration device, at an inlet pressure which is greater than the osmotic pressure of the water. 'water; generally, since the osmotic pressure of the salt water is 25 bar, the water supply pressure at the inlet of the filter is at least 25 bar, for example of the order of 30 to 100 bar , in particular of the order of 60 to 80 bar; at the outlet of the filter is recovered a water concentrate called "supersalt" on the one hand, and a permeate of desalinated water (which is at a pressure close to atmospheric pressure) on the other hand; the pressure of the concentrate at the outlet of the filter is generally little less than the water supply pressure to be desalinated, for example less than 1 to 5 bar, since the fall pressure in the filter is low.

Patents FR 2,342,252 and US 4,124,488 disclose a reverse osmosis water purification plant comprising a piston pump delivering water under pressure to the inlet of a reverse osmosis module ( MOI), and receiving the pressurized brine out of the MOI module, via a controlled valve, to use the energy of the pressurized super-brine water to compress / pressurize the water to be desalinated.

The piston of the pump is driven in an alternating translational motion by an electric motor.

According to one embodiment, a rear portion of the piston has two peripheral longitudinal grooves so that, the piston being further driven in an angular oscillation movement, the piston forms a shutter putting in communication a chamber of the pump extending behind the piston, either with a supersalted water transport conduit from the MOI, or with a discharge conduit.

A disadvantage of this installation is that setting the angular oscillation of the piston requires angular oscillation of the body of the pump, which causes unnecessary energy consumption. This angular oscillation of the pump body requires the pump to be connected to the circuits of the installation by means of flexible connectors, which presents difficulties of implementation, particularly because of the pressure of the water circulating in the pump. installation.

Patents EP 1 194 691 and US Pat. No. 6,652,741 describe a seawater treatment plant in which a plurality of piston pumps are driven via a hydraulic power unit and are piloted to ensure a time of operation. stopping each piston, at each end of the piston stroke considered, and to ensure a constant cumulative flow.

The intake of brine water in a chamber of each pump for the recovery of the energy of the "concentrate" and the subsequent evacuation of this concentrate, are performed by a distributor - or valve - three-way.

This device, valve or distributor, must meet several constraints: it must allow the passage of a high flow of water without causing significant pressure losses; it must be designed to withstand the high pressure (of the order of 60 to 80 bar for example) of the water that is out of osmotic filters; in addition, when it is not planned to stop the pistons of the pumps at the end of the race for a sufficient duration, this device must then go from a water intake configuration in the pump to a configuration of discharging water out of the pump, substantially instantaneously, at the precise moment of stopping at the end of the stroke of the pump piston in question.

Known valves and distributors do not meet these constraints in a simple and reliable manner.

Presentation of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a valve or dispenser simple to manufacture and install, having a long life and high reliability, resulting in low pressure losses, to close substantially sealed a conduit of transporting brine water connecting a filtration module to a piston pump, and being able to pass - "switch" - substantially instantaneously, a power configuration in which the valve is traversed by a stream of pressurized water supersized supplying water the pump, to an evacuation / emptying configuration in which the valve is traversed by a stream of super-saturated water discharged from the pump.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve or distributor which is improved (e) and / or which remedies, at least in part, the shortcomings or disadvantages of known valves and distributors.

An object of the invention is to provide a seawater treatment plant or brackish water comprising a pump and a three-way valve for feeding the pump in supersaled water and for evacuation overwater water, which is improved and / or which remedies, in part at least, the shortcomings or disadvantages of known water treatment facilities.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a valve comprising: A valve body delimiting a cavity, the body being provided with a first orifice allowing the introduction of water into the cavity, a second orifice allowing the evacuation of water out of the cavity, and a third port for communicating the cavity and a chamber of a pump; - A shutter rotatably mounted within the cavity, the shutter having a depression on its outer face, this depression contributing with the body to form / delimit a passage - which rotates with the shutter - allowing the circulation of water between the first and third ports in first angular positions of the shutter - corresponding to a configuration of the valve for feeding the pump -, said passage further allowing the circulation of water between the second and third ports in second angular positions of the shutter - corresponding to a configuration of the valve allowing the emptying of the pump; - A first sealing device for sealing substantially sealing the first orifice by the shutter in said second angular positions of the shutter; and - A second sealing device for sealing substantially sealing the second orifice by the shutter in said first angular positions of the shutter.

In particular when the outer face of the shutter is cylindrical, the depression may take the form of a groove or flat extending along an axis orthogonal to the axis of revolution / rotation of the shutter, and have a width substantially / less than the diameter of the first and second orifices.

Preferably, in addition to said depression - first depression -, said passage comprises a second depression at the periphery / surface of the shutter, in particular a second substantially annular depression which extends - at least in part - in view of the third port, and a channel dug in the shutter and connecting said first and second depressions.

The section of this channel may be little less than, equal to, or greater than that of the first and second orifices, in order to limit the pressure drops caused by the passage of water in this channel and consequently in the valve .

In other words and according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a valve having a body defining a cavity and pierced with three orifices, and a shutter - or plug - mounted rotatably to the inside the body; the body comprises two housings opening into the cavity and respectively surrounding two of the three orifices; the valve further comprises two sealing members respectively slidably disposed in the two housings, as well as two support devices respectively enabling the two sealing members to bear against the shutter, in order to ensure a sealing substantially sealed of a first of the three orifices, by the shutter, in second angular positions of the shutter and in order to ensure a substantially sealed closure of a second of the three orifices, by the shutter, in first angular positions of the shutter - distinct from the second angular positions.

According to a preferred embodiment, the housings are in the form of annular slots and the sealing members have an annular - or tubular - shape adapted to the shape of the part of the shutter against which they apply, in particular a cut-out shape according to a radius corresponding to the radius of a cylindrical portion of the shutter.

Preferably, each of the support devices comprises a channel, in particular several channels, which connects (nt) an end of the housing considered which is opposite to the end (of the housing considered) which opens into the cavity: the support device associated with the sealing member surrounding a first of the orifices, comprises at least one channel connecting the non-emergent end of the housing concerned to a connecting sleeve of the valve to a conduit carrying the water from a filtration module, while the support device associated with the sealing member surrounding a second orifice, comprises at least one channel connecting the non-emergent end of the housing considered, to the cavity.

These channels make it possible to equipress the non-emergent end of the housing in question and the duct carrying the water coming from the filtration module, respectively the cavity, and therefore allows to press against the shutter the "profiled" end. Of each of the sliding sealing members, due to the difference between the (water) pressures that apply to their two opposite ends.

According to other preferred features: the first and second orifices are mutually opposite, aligned along an axis (substantially) orthogonal to the axis of revolution of the cavity - which corresponds to the axis of rotation of the shutter -, these two axes being (substantially) coplanar ; the valve body is pierced with two other orifices - fourth and fifth orifices - which are mutually opposite, aligned along an axis (substantially) coincident with the axis of revolution of the cavity, and the shutter is integral in rotation with a drive shaft extending through these two orifices.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a water treatment plant comprising a water filtration module, a piston pump, a motor, a mechanism for driving the pump by the engine. , as well as a three-way valve with a rotary plug as described in the present application, the valve equipping a conduit connecting the pump to the filtration module, the shutter of the valve being driven in substantially continuous rotation by the engine, synchronism with the pump.

[0026] Preferably, the shutter is driven so as to turn by one revolution when the piston of the pump performs a complete cycle, i.e. a forward stroke and a return stroke.

The continuous rotation of the shutter, generally with a substantially constant rotational speed, and the characteristics of the shutter allow the valve to pass substantially instantaneously from a feed configuration - the pump - in super-saturated water under pressure to a supersized water discharge configuration, particularly when the respective diameters of the first and second ports are equal and the depth of the first depression is equal to the difference between the shutter radius - at the right of this depression - and the radius of the orifices.

Preferably, the shutter ensures a "total" closure of the valve for only two determined angular positions of the shutter: in each of these positions, the shutter closes the passage between the first and third ports and the passage between the second and third orifices - and also the passage between the first and second orifices.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention appear in the following description which refers to the accompanying figures and illustrates, without any limiting character, preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the figures

[0030] <tb> Fig. 1 <SEP> is a diagram of a water treatment plant according to one embodiment of the invention. <tb> Fig. 2 <SEP> is a schematic perspective view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention, the shutter is in the closed position of the valve, with tearing: in this figure, as in FIGS. 4 to 6, only the portion of the valve body extending under a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the body - and the rotor - as well as the axis passing through the centers of the first and second orifices, the other part of the body extending above this plane being "torn off" (not shown) to allow visualization of the valve rotor. <tb> Fig. 3 <SEP> is a schematic perspective view of the rotor - including the shutter - of the valve illustrated in FIG. 2 and 4 to 11. <tb> Figs. 4 to 6 <SEP> are schematic perspective views similar to FIG. 2, which show the rotor of the valve in other angular positions. <tb> Fig. 7 <SEP> is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve in a first section plane containing the axis of two connecting sleeves of the valve to a filtration module - for one of the sleeves - and to a drain circuit - for the second sleeve. <tb> Fig. 8 <SEP> is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve according to a second sectional plane perpendicular to the first and containing the axis of a third connection sleeve of the valve to a piston pump. <tb> Fig. 9 <SEP> is a cross-sectional view of the valve according to a third section plane perpendicular to the first two and containing the axis of the third connection sleeve: this figure is a view along IX-IX of FIG. 7. <tb> Fig. <SEP> is a longitudinal sectional view along the first sectional plane illustrating, on an enlarged scale, the connecting sleeve of the valve of FIGS. 2 and 4 to 11 at the drain circuit. <tb> Fig. 11 <SEP> is a longitudinal sectional view along the first sectional plane illustrating, on an enlarged scale, the connection sleeve of the valve of FIGS. 2 and 4 to 11 in the filtration module.

Detailed description of the invention

Unless otherwise explicitly or implicitly indicated, elements or members - structurally or functionally - identical or similar are designated by identical references in the different figures.

With reference to FIG. 1, the water treatment plant comprises a water filtration module 15, a piston pump 27, an electric motor 10, a mechanism 11 for driving the pump by the motor output shaft 30, as well as a three-way valve 24 with rotating plug.

The pump 27 comprises a body 13 delimiting a cylindrical cavity 16, 17 inside which the piston 14 of the pump is driven in alternative translation 28, the piston separating the cavity into two chambers: a first chamber 16 receiving the supersized water discharged from the module 15, and a second chamber 17 receiving the water to be pumped and delivered under pressure to the module 15.

The piston 14 is connected by a rod 12 to the mechanism 11.

The pump 27 receives the water to be pumped delivered by a conduit 18 for water transport equipped with an inlet valve 19 (non-return valve).

The water pressurized by the pump 27 is transported to the module 15 by a conduit 20 equipped with a valve 21 discharge (non-return valve).

The filtered water (fresh water) by the module 15 comes out of the latter through a conduit 22, while the brine is carried by a conduit 23 equipped with the valve 24, from the module 15 to the chamber 16 "energy recovery" of the pump 27.

The valve 24 is also connected to a conduit 25 through which the brine water is drained from the chamber 16 at the end of each compression stroke of the piston 14 of the pump 27, during the race - in the opposite direction - piston 14 for filling the chamber 17 with the water to be pumped.

The passage of a configuration of the valve 24 allowing the passage of the brine water from the module 15 to the chamber 16, a configuration of the valve for the evacuation of the brine water out of the chamber 16, results from the rotation 29 of the plug - ie the shutter - of the valve.

The substantially continuous rotation of the shutter of the valve results from the drive of the shutter by the motor, in synchronism with the pump, via a shaft 26 for driving the shutter, this shaft 26 being connected for this purpose to the mechanism 11.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 to 9, the valve 24 comprises a body 40 delimiting a cavity 41.

The body 40 comprises a tubular central piece 42 extending along an axis 43, two circular flanges 44 and 45 arranged and fixed - by welding for example - to the two longitudinal ends of the central piece 42, and two pieces 46 and 47 respectively fixed to the flanges 44, 45 by screws (not shown) for example.

Each piece 46, 47 is in the form of a thick disc and has a central circular orifice; a shaft 48 of axis 43 extends through these two bored orifices, this shaft being integral in rotation with the shutter or plug 49 of the valve.

The body 40 also comprises two parts 50 and 51 respectively fixed to the parts 46, 47 by screws (not shown), each part 50, 51 being in the form of a thick disc, an outside diameter less than that of the parts. 46, 47, and having a central circular orifice aligned with those of the parts 46, 47 and through which the shaft 48 extends.

The tubular ferrule 42 of the body is pierced by three circular orifices: a first orifice 60 allowing the introduction of water into the cavity 41, a second orifice 61 allowing the evacuation of water out of the cavity, and a third port 62 for communicating the cavity 41 and the chamber (reference 16 Fig. 1) of the pump.

For the connection of the valve to the duct (reference 23, Fig. 1) conveying the brine water from the filter 15, the body comprises a first tubular sleeve 63 extending in the extension of the orifice 60.

For the connection of the valve to the drain duct (reference 25 Fig. 1) of the brine water, the body comprises a second tubular sleeve 64 extending in the extension of the orifice 61.

For the connection of the valve to the duct (reference 23, Fig. 1) for transporting the water which is spilled between the valve and the pump, the body comprises a third tubular sleeve 65 extending in the extension of the orifice 62.

We can observe fig. 7 to 9 that each of these three sleeves is fixed to the tubular piece 42 by a first of its ends, for example by welding, and is provided with a connecting flange 66 near its second end.

The sleeves 63 and 64 are coaxial: they extend along an axis 67 perpendicular to the axis 43 and cutting the latter; the sleeve 65 extends along an axis 68 also perpendicular to the axis 43 and cutting the latter, the axes 67 and 68 being orthogonal without being intersecting.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 in particular, the rotor 70 of the valve comprises a central portion forming the plug 49 and two end portions extending on either side of the plug and forming two shaft ends 48; these three coaxial parts, axis 43, may form a single piece obtained by machining a metal blank, for example, or may consist of several parts secured together.

We can observe fig. 2 and 4 to 8 that the shutter 49 is rotatably mounted within the cavity 41 of the valve body; for this purpose, the rotor 70 is mounted in the bearings formed in the parts 46, 47, 50, 51 by means of two bearings 71, 72 (for example ball bearings) fitted on bearings formed on the shaft 48.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 in particular, the shutter essentially consists of a first portion 73 defined by a cylindrical casing of axis 43 and radius 75 (see Fig. 9), and a second cylindrical portion 74 of axis 43 and radius 76 (see Fig. 8) extending from the first portion 73.

The radius 75 of the portion 73 is chosen little less than the radius 80 (see FIG 8) of the cavity 41, for example less than the latter of the order of 0.1 millimeter (mm) when the radius 80 is of the order of 100 mm, so as to define a very small clearance between the peripheral surface of the portion 73 of the shutter and the wall 42 defining the cavity 41.

The radius 76 of the portion 74 is chosen to be smaller than the radius 80 of the cavity 41, for example close to the radius common to the orifices 60 to 62, so that the portion 74 defines with the wall 42 a space 79 annular - or second depression - allowing the passage of the water entering the valve - or leaving it - through the orifice 62; for this purpose, the portion 74 of the shutter - and the volume 79 - preferably extend over a length at least equal to the diameter of the orifice 62 which opens into the volume 79.

As illustrated in particular FIG. 2 to 4, 7 and 9, the portion 73 of the shutter 49 has a depression 77 on its cylindrical outer face 90.

This depression in the form of a groove or flat extends along an axis 91 orthogonal to the axis 43 of revolution / rotation of the shutter, and has a width 92 little smaller than the diameter of the first and second orifices. 60, 61.

The depth 81 of the first depression 77 is substantially equal to the difference between the radius 75 of the shutter - at the right of this depression - and the common radius (identical) of the orifices 60, 61.

The depression 77 contributes - with the body - to delimit a passage - which rotates with the shutter - allowing the flow of water between the first and third holes in the first angular positions of the shutter, which corresponds to a configuration of the valve shown in fig. 4 and allowing the feeding of the pump.

For this purpose, a channel 78 is formed in the shutter and connects the depressions 77 and 79, as shown in FIG. 2 to 4 and 7 in particular.

The section of this channel 78 is preferably at least close to that of the first and second orifices 60, 61 and / or that of the groove 77, in order to limit the pressure drops caused by the passage of the water in the valve.

The passage consisting of the depressions 77, 79 and the channel 78 further allows the circulation of water between the second and third orifices 61, 62 in the second angular positions of the shutter - corresponding to a configuration of the valve allowing draining the pump - which are shown in fig. 6 and 9 in particular.

The valve further comprises two sealing devices respectively making it possible to provide a substantially sealed closure of the first orifice 60 by the shutter in said second angular positions of the shutter, ie in the emptying position, and to ensure a substantially sealed closure of the second orifice 61 by the shutter in said first angular positions of the shutter, ie in the water supply position of the pump.

For this purpose, as illustrated in FIG. 10 and 11, the body comprises two housings opening into the cavity 41 and respectively surrounding the two orifices 60, 61, and two sealing members respectively arranged sliding in the two housing.

A bushing 93, 94 is fitted respectively in each of the sleeves 63, 64 of axis 67.

Regarding the sleeve 63, FIG. 11, an outer cylindrical face 95 of the bushing 93 concentrically extends to an inner cylindrical face 96 of the sleeve 63, opposite the latter, so as to define a housing 97 receiving a sliding ring 98 sealing and a seal 99.

Regarding the sleeve 64, FIG. 10, an outer cylindrical surface 101 of the bushing 94 concentrically extends to an inner cylindrical face 102 of the sleeve 64, opposite the latter, so as to delimit a housing 103 receiving a sliding ring 104 sealing as well as a seal 105.

The housings 97, 103 are in the form of annular slots and the sealing members 98, 104 have an annular - or tubular - shape adapted to the dimensions of the housings and to the shape of the part of the shutter against which they apply: each sealing ring 98, 104 has, at its end 110, 111 flush in the cavity 41, a cut shape along a radius corresponding to the radius of the cylindrical portion 73 of the shutter.

A support device allows to press the sealing ring 98 against the shutter, to ensure a substantially sealed closure of the first orifice 60, by the shutter, in the angular positions of the shutter in which no portion of the groove 77 is opposite this orifice.

A similar support device allows to press the sealing ring 104 against the shutter, to ensure a substantially sealed closure of the second orifice 61, by the shutter, in angular positions of the shutter in which no portion of the groove 77 is opposite this orifice.

Each of the support devices comprises a plurality of channels which connect (s) an end (of the housing considered) which is opposite to the end of the housing considered that opens into the cavity, upstream - with reference to the direction of flow of water in the valve - of the orifice in question: the support device associated with the sealing member 98 surrounding the first orifice 60, comprises four channels 100 distributed angularly around the axis 67, connecting each the non-emergent end of the housing 97 to the inner face of the sleeve 93 of the sleeve 63.

Similarly, the support device associated with the sealing member 104 surrounding the second orifice 61, comprises four channels 106 angularly distributed about the axis 67 and parallel to the latter, which are formed at the same time. inside the sleeve 64, and each connect the non-emergent end of the housing 103, to the cavity 41.

The channels 100 used to equipressure the non-emergent end of the housing 97 and the conduit carrying the water from the filtration module.

The channels 100 therefore allow to press against the shutter 49 the "profiled" end of each of the sliding sealing member 98, because of the difference between the water pressures that apply to the two opposite ends of the organ 98.

Similarly, the channels 106 used to equipress the non-emergent end of the housing 103 and the cavity 41, and therefore allow to press against the shutter the "profiled" end of each of the organ Sliding seal, due to the difference between the pressures that apply to opposite ends of the member 104.

Claims (10)

Valve (24), characterized in that it comprises: A valve body (40) delimiting a cavity (41), the body being provided with a first orifice (60) allowing the introduction of water into the cavity, a second orifice (61) allowing the evacuation water out of the cavity, and a third port (62) for communicating the cavity (41) and a chamber (16); An obturator, for example a plug (49), rotatably mounted inside the cavity, the shutter having a first depression (77) on its external face (90), this depression contributing, together with the body ( 40), defining a passage for the circulation of water between the first and third ports (60, 62) in first angular positions of the shutter, said passage allowing the circulation of water between the second and third orifices (61). 62) in second angular positions of the shutter; A first sealing device arranged to ensure a substantially sealed closure of the first orifice (60) by the shutter in said second angular positions of the shutter; and - A second sealing device arranged to provide a substantially sealed closure of the second port (61) by the shutter in said first angular positions of the shutter. 2. Valve according to claim 1 wherein the first and second sealing devices comprise a housing (97, 103) opening into the cavity (41) and surrounding respectively the first and second orifices (60, 61), a member (98) , 104) slidably disposed in each housing, and a support device for pressing against the shutter, the corresponding sealing member. 3. Valve according to claim 2 wherein the housing is in the form of annular slots and the sealing members have an annular shape - or tubular - adapted to the shape of the part of the shutter against which they apply, in in particular a bevel-cut shape according to a radius corresponding to the radius of a cylindrical part of the shutter. 4. Valve according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the support device associated with the sealing member surrounding the first orifice (60) comprises at least one channel (100) connecting the non-emergent end of the housing (97). at the inner face of a sleeve (63, 93) connecting the valve to a conduit, while the support device associated with the sealing member surrounding the second orifice (61) comprises at least one channel (106) connecting the non-emergent end of the housing (103) to the cavity (41). 5. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said passage comprises a second depression (79) at the periphery of the shutter, which extends opposite the third orifice, and a channel (78) formed in the shutter and connecting the first and second depressions (77, 79). 6. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the first depression (77) is in the form of a groove or flat extending along an axis (91) orthogonal to the axis (43) of rotation of the shutter, and has a width (92) smaller than the diameter of the first and second orifices. 7. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the respective diameters of the first and second orifices are equal, and the depth (81) of the first depression (77) is substantially equal to the difference between the radius (75) of the shutter - at the right of this depression - and the radius of the orifices (60, 61). 8. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the first and second orifices are mutually opposite, aligned along an axis (67) substantially orthogonal to the axis (43) of revolution of the cavity (41), these two axes being substantially coplanar. 9. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the valve body is pierced with two other orifices facing each other, aligned along an axis (43) substantially coincident with the axis of revolution of the cavity, and the shutter is integral in rotation with a drive shaft (48) extending through these two orifices. Water treatment plant comprising a water filtration module (15), a piston pump (27), a motor (10), a mechanism (11) for driving the pump through the pump. motor, and a valve according to one of claims 1 to 9, the valve equipping a conduit (23) connecting the pump to the filtration module, the shutter (49) of the valve being arranged to be rotated substantially continuous by the motor, in synchronism with the pump.