CZ2017213A3 - A device for water treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

A water treatment device comprising an inlet tube (2) for treating the water to be treated; an outlet pipe (10) for discharging the treated water, wherein the inlet pipe (2) and the outlet pipe (10) are interconnected by a connecting pipe; a mixing device (7) which is arranged in the connecting pipe between the inlet pipe (2) and the outlet pipe (10); and a generator (6), which is output to the mixing device (7); a filter (3) comprising a catalyst (16) for forming OH radicals and arranged in a connecting pipe; a bypass line (13) for bypassing the filter (3); and a valve (4) for selectively guiding the treated water through the filter (3) and / or bypass line (13).

Description

Technical field

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus comprising an inlet pipe for inlet of treated water and an outlet pipe for outlet of treated water, wherein the inlet pipe and outlet pipe are interconnected by an interconnecting line, a mixing device which is arranged in the interconnecting line between an outlet tube, and a generator O3, which at its outlet is connected to a mixing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices for producing ozonized water are known which comprise a water vessel into which a conduit from an active oxygen generator (O3) is connected, into which a conduit from an air dryer is connected. The disadvantage of this solution is, in particular, that it does not allow effective removal of other impurities from the water, such as pesticides, hormones, etc.

Further, US 6391191 discloses a water treatment device comprising a water vessel into which an activated oxygen generator is connected. This vessel is connected via a pump and carbon filter to a treated water glass. The disadvantage of this device is the necessity of using two vessels, the impossibility of automatic recirculation of the treated water through the device, a limited degree of water purification and generally low variability of functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disadvantages of the prior art are largely eliminated by a water treatment device comprising an inlet pipe for the treated water inlet and an outlet pipe for the treated water outlet, wherein the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are interconnected by an interconnecting pipe, a mixing device arranged in the interconnecting pipe between the inlet tube and the outlet tube, and a generator O3 which, at its outlet, is connected to a mixing device. According to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a filter comprising an OH radical generating catalyst and arranged in the interconnecting line, a bypass line for filter bypass and a valve for selectively guiding the treated water through the filter and / or bypass line.

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Advantageously, the apparatus further comprises a container into which an inlet tube extends and an outlet tube is connected to the inner space thereof. It is also advantageous if the device according to the invention comprises a lid for closing the vessel and a destructor O3 and an exhaust duct which is connected with its inlet to the upper region of the inner space of the vessel and its outlet with the inlet of the destructor O3.

The device according to the invention preferably further comprises an oxygen-containing dry gas source whose output is connected to the inlet of the generator O3. The dry air source is preferably selected from the group consisting of a flow capsule containing a desiccant, a flow capsule containing a molecular sieve, a flow capsule containing a desiccant and a molecular sieve in the outlet region, a dry air pressure vessel, an oxygen pressure vessel.

The apparatus further comprises a circulation pump arranged in a connecting pipe between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe.

The apparatus may further comprise a static mixer arranged in the interconnecting line between the mixing device (7) and the outlet tube.

The device also preferably includes a fuse for checking the presence of water to be treated.

In view of the variability of the water treatment process, it is preferred that the device according to the invention additionally comprises a CO2 source for injecting CO2 into the interconnecting pipe between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe or into the outlet pipe or into the vessel.

Clarification of drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example embodiments, which are schematically illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1a is a first exemplary embodiment of a water treatment device, Figure 1b is a second exemplary embodiment, Figures 2a and 2b are parts of other exemplary embodiments; Figures 3a, 3b, 3c show schematically the possible embodiments of the filter.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention

The exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1a comprises a container 1 for pouring water for treatment / purification. The container 1 is closed by a lid 12. The inlet tube 2 for intake of water for cleaning purposes extends into the interior of the container.

The inlet tube 2 communicates with a filter 3 comprising an OH radical generating catalyst 16 and a bypass line 13 for bypassing the filter 3. The bypass line 13 and the filter 3 are fluidly connectable to the mixing device 7 via a valve 4 (preferably in the form of an electrovalve). into which the output of generator 6 O3 (active oxygen - ozone) is connected.

The inlet to the generator 60 is coupled to the outlet from the dry gas source 5 containing oxygen.

The outlet of the mixing device 7 is connected via a circulation pump 8 to a static mixer 9 to increase the gas solubility in water.

The outlet of the static mixer 9 is connected to the outlet tube 10 for guiding the treated water back to the vessel 1.

The upper region of the inner space of the vessel 1 reaches the inlet of the exhaust duct, the outlet of which is connected to the destructor 11 of the residual O3 in the exhaust gas. The destructor 11 of the residual O3 contains, for example, activated carbon or another substance suitable for the destruction of O3 in gases.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1a operates as follows:

Pour the water to be cleaned into the container 1. Subsequently, the vessel 1 is closed by the lid 12. The valve 4 is brought to a position in which the connection between the filter 3 and the mixing device 7 is closed and the bypass line 13 is connected to the mixing device 7. The circulation pump 8 is switched on At the same time, the generator 6 O3 is started, which is therefore also fed to the mixing device 7. Subsequently, the water with O3 is passed through the circulation pump 8, where further intensive mixing takes place and to the static mixer 9, where further intensive mixing also takes place. From the static mixer 9, the pressurized water with dissolved O3 is led through the outlet tube 10 to the vessel 1, where the water present in the vessel 1 is mixed with the treated water supplied.

The lid 12 is preferably airtight with the container 1. As a result, the part O3 that is not dissolved in the water and gets above the water level can be discharged via the exhaust line to the destructor 11 O3, from which only the O3-free gas / air is leaving.

The cover 12 and / or the destructor 103 are not necessary for the basic function of the device according to the invention. The container 1 is preferably removable.

Ozone water is prepared as described above, which can be used, for example, to disinfect surfaces or rinse fruit and vegetables, etc.

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In order to increase the effect of water purification or to remove impurities of another type, the above procedure is followed by switching the valve 4 so that the inlet tube 2 is connected via a filter 3 to the mixing device 7 so that no water passes through the bypass 13. Active oxygen-enriched water from the inlet tube 2 is led through the inlet tube 2 to the filter 3, where OH radicals are formed, so the water is purified by an advanced oxidation process (AOP). Since the water already contains a high amount of O 3, the filter has a particularly high efficiency in the formation of OH radicals. From the filter 3, the water enters the mixing device 7, where it is further enriched with O3, from there it flows through the circulation pump 8 and the static mixer 9 through the outlet tube 10 into the vessel 1.

Alternatively, at the start of the cleaning process, the valve 4 can be adjusted so that all water is passed through the filter 3 (i.e. without an initial bypass 13). In this case, the initial OH 3 radical efficiency of the filter 3 is low or zero, but after a short time the oxygen-enriched water enters the vessel 1, so that in the following process the OH 3 radical efficiency of the filter 3 increases rapidly.

If the water in the plant is cleaned for the purpose of preparing drinking water, it is advisable to switch off the generator 6 O3, resp. stop the supply of O3 to the mixing device 7. The water sucked from the vessel thus passes through the filter 3, where O3 is used to form OH radicals and after a short time the water in the vessel 1 is completely free of O3 and simultaneously pesticides, hormones and other impurities.

The filter 3 preferably contains activated carbon 17. It may also preferably contain a heterogeneous catalyst 16, for example in the form of a layer of different types of metal oxides. The catalytic activity of metal oxides is determined by their physical and chemical properties. Physical properties include area, pore size, and surface charge. Major chemical properties include chemical stability and active surface area. For example, heterogeneous catalysts include Al 2 O 3, MnCl 2, TiO 2, ZnO, and FeOOH.

In a preferred embodiment, the filter 3 comprises an alkaliser 18 for increasing the pH of the treated water. Alternatively, the alkaliser 18 may be introduced into the water circuit separately outside the filter 3, e.g. in the form of a separate alkalization unit. The alkaliser 18 may preferably contain calcium, magnesium, sodium and / or potassium ions, and may be, for example, in the form of spheres / granules.

It is particularly advantageous when the pH of the treated water is raised to 8-10 when the drinking water treatment is effected, at which the rate and efficiency of the conversion of ozone to OH · · · radicals is highest and at the same time water with such pH value is particularly suitable for drinking.

Some types of activated carbon are capable of forming OH radicals and can therefore be considered as catalyst 16. Therefore, the filter 3 may contain, for example, only one type of activated carbon or one type of catalyst 16 of another kind (Fig. 3a). In a more preferred embodiment, the filter 3 comprises several homogeneous layers, for example an activated carbon layer 17 (with little or no catalytic effect but a strong sorption effect) and an OH radical formation catalyst layer 16, optionally with an alkaliser layer 18. it first comes into contact with the catalyst 16, followed by a layer of activated carbon 17 and the last layer consisting of an alkaliser 18 (FIG. 3b). In the most preferred embodiment (shown in Fig. 3c), the filter 3 is again composed of several layers, the first layer consisting of a mixture of several catalysts 16, followed by the activated carbon layer 17 and the last layer containing the alkaliser 18. This achieves optimal utilization of dissolved ozone for advanced oxidation processes.

As shown in FIG. 1b, the inlet tube 2 and the outlet tube 10 can also be introduced into the container 1 from below or from the side.

The valve 4 is preferably a three-way solenoid valve, but can also be replaced by a pair of valves. Obviously, its location may change as long as its function is maintained, i.e. the possibility of preventing the flow of the intake water through the filter 3. Thus, the valve 4 may be located, for example, at the point where the inlet tube is divided into the filter Optionally, the valve 4 may be arranged in a conduit to or from the filter 3.

In another embodiment, the valve 4 may be arranged in the bypass line 13. In such an embodiment, even with the valve 4 open, some of the water is passed through the filter 3. However, since the filter 3 imparts a significantly greater resistance than the bypass line 13, line 13 significantly larger.

In general, it may be advantageous to ensure that even if only ozonation of the water is required, not filtration, respectively. Formation of OH radicals, a small part of the water passed through the filter 3. Thus, the functionality of the filter 3 is ensured even if the device according to the invention has been used for a long time only to ozonize the water.

As is known, the efficiency of generator 603 increases with decreasing humidity of the supplied gas / air. For example, a pressure vessel with pressurized dry air may be used as the oxygen-containing dry gas source 5.

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- 6 or oxygen, or an air dryer may be used. As the air dryer, a flow capsule containing a desiccant such as silica gel or containing a molecular sieve may be used, or a flow capsule may be used which contains silica gel in the inlet region and a molecular sieve in the outlet region.

Such dryers may advantageously be provided in the form of exchangeable capsules. However, it is also possible to make the dryers permanent, with automatic regeneration.

The air dryer preferably has a closable inlet.

Dryer efficiency, resp. the need for regeneration or replacement of the capsule can be monitored by means of an electrical sensor, or the capsule can be visually inspected (eg by changing the color of silica gel), or the operating time of the dryer or generator 6O3 since the last capsule change or regeneration.

The presence of a dry gas source 5 is not necessary for the operation of the device according to the invention, but is advantageous.

Obviously, the circulation pump 8 can alternatively be arranged almost anywhere in the circuit, for example in front of the mixing device 7, or just at the outlet end of the inlet tube 2, or at the inlet end of the outlet tube 10 and the like.

It is also possible to arrange the mixing device 7 with the generator 63 connected downstream of the inlet tube 2.

The static mixer 9 can be, for example, a tube with a set of baffles, perforated plates, etc. However, the presence of the static mixer 9 is not necessary for the operation of the device according to the invention.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises a fuse (not shown) which controls the presence of water in the vessel 1 before or during the cleaning process and if the water in the vessel is not detected, the cleaning process does not start or stops. The fuse may comprise a pair of electrodes to detect the electrical conductivity of the environment therebetween, which in the case of water is significantly higher than in the case of air. Such electrodes may be arranged to extend into the vessel 1 during operation, for example one electrode may be part of the inlet tube 2 and the other part of the outlet tube 10. Alternatively, the fuse may control the presence of water in the circuit. The fuse may be, for example, a pair of electrodes arranged in a given circuit (e.g. upstream of the valve 4).

In yet another preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises a CO2 source 14, for example in the form of a pressure vessel, which source is connected to the circuit 9 to allow the introduction of CO2 into the water in the vessel. In such a case, the plant first cleans the water during operation as described above so that there is potable water in the vessel and then introduces CO2 from the source 14. Of course, it is also possible to use such a device to produce carbonated water directly from the drinking water, i.e. without prior purification.

The CO2 source 14 may preferably be connected to a line connecting the dry gas source 5 to the generator 63, preferably via an electrovalve (FIG. 2a). Optionally, a separate valve may be associated with each of said sources 5.14.

Alternatively, the CO2 source 14 may advantageously be connected (via an outlet valve) to a line that connects the generator 60 with the mixing device 7 (FIG. 2b).

In yet another embodiment, the CO2 source 14 may be introduced into or in front of the static mixer 9, or the CO2 source 14 may be introduced into the vessel by a separate insertion tube (not shown).

And in a further preferred embodiment, a unit containing an ionic cation exchanger, the so-called cation exchanger, may be inserted into the treated water circuit, preferably into a bypass line 13 for bypassing the filter 3 or another separate bypass line that allows water from the inlet tube 2 to the mixing device 7 through a cation exchanger but outside the filter 3 or at least outside the alkaliser 18. Passing through the cation exchanger reduces the pH of the treated water, which extends the life / disintegration time of O 3 in the water. In this way, ozonized water can be produced which retains a relatively high ozone content for longer. A weakly or strongly acidic cation exchanger is chosen depending on the pH value to be reached.

When the cation exchanger is inserted into the bypass line 13, it is preferable to provide an alkalizing layer in the filter 3 which increases the pH of the passing water. In the treatment of drinking water, the water is passed bypass 13 to the mixing device 7 and via the pump 8 and the static mixer 9 through the outlet tube 10 to the vessel 1, lowering the pH of the treated water and carrying out ozonization. Subsequently, the valve 4 is switched and the treated (ozonated and acidic) water is passed from the vessel 1 through a filter 3 comprising inter alia an alkaliser to increase the pH of the passing water and further through a mixing device 7, pump 8 and static mixer 9 . In this way, the pH and the water treatment process respectively increase in the treated water. The formation of OH radicals takes place at a gradually increasing pH. Because the treatment process takes place at different / varying pHs, optimal water treatment conditions are ensured for a wide range of different contaminants.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises a control unit (not shown) which controls the operation of the valve 4, the generator 60, the pump 8, the monitoring of the dryer efficiency, the operation of the fuse, the valve at the CO2 output 14 and possibly other components. The control unit is then preferably connected to a display and an input interface for entering the desired water treatment.

Although a number of exemplary embodiments have been described, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other possible alternatives to these embodiments will be readily appreciated. Therefore, the scope of protection is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, but rather is given by the definition of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

PATENT CLAIMS A water treatment device for the optional preparation of drinking water or ozonated water which it contains - an inlet tube (2) for the inlet of the treated water, - an outlet pipe (10) for the outlet of the treated water, the inlet pipe (2) and the outlet pipe (10) being interconnected by a connecting pipe, - a mixing device (7), which is arranged in the connecting pipe between the inlet pipe (2) and the outlet pipe (10), and - a generator (6) O3, which at its output is connected to a mixing device (7), characterized in that it further comprises - a filter (3) comprising a catalyst (16) for the formation of OH radicals and arranged in a connecting line, a bypass line (13) for bypassing the filter (3), and - a valve (4) for selectively guiding the treated water through the filter (3) and / or the bypass line (13), the inlet tube (2) and the outlet tube (10) being adapted to enter into the common vessel (1). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a container (1) into which the inlet tube (2) extends and the outlet tube (10) is connected to it. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a lid (12) for closing the container (1), preferably supplemented with a destructor (11) O3 and a discharge conduit which is connected to the upper region of the inner space of the container (1). its output with a destructor (11) O3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (3) further comprises activated carbon (17) and / or an alkaliser (18) for increasing the pH of the treated water. 9 9 9 99 » Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an oxygen-containing dry gas source (5), the output of which is connected to the inlet of the generator (6) O3. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the dry air source (5) is selected from the group consisting of a flow capsule containing a desiccant, a flow capsule containing a molecular sieve, a flow capsule containing a desiccant and a molecular sieve in the outlet region, dry air vessel, oxygen pressure vessel. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a circulation pump (8) arranged in the connecting pipe between the inlet pipe (2) and the outlet pipe (10). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a static mixer (9) arranged in the interconnecting line between the mixing device (7) and the outlet tube (10). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fuse for checking the presence of water to be treated. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a CO ₂ source (14) for injecting CO ₂ into the interconnecting pipe between the inlet pipe (2) and the outlet pipe (10) or into the outlet pipe (10) or into the container. (1).