DE10013964A1 - Clean water supply unit for blood dialysis station incorporates hot water tank for periodic cleaning via hot water inserted between reverse osmosis module and circulation pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The clean water supply unit uses a reverse osmosis module (1) coupled to a ring line (3) containing a circulation pump (4) and water tap-off points (5), with a hot water tank (9) containing a heating device (10) inserted between the reverse osmosis module and the circulation pump, for periodic cleaning via hot water. The hot water tank is filled during the normal dialysis via an overflow valve (12), which is opened when a limit pressure in the ring line is reached, for allowing the clean water to flow into the tank, with the limit pressure for the overflow valve raised when the tank is full, for ensuring that the valve remains closed.

Description

The invention relates to a system for supplying a dialysis station Ultrapure water.

Such systems are required in hospitals for hemodialysis. Ready Position of the dialysis fluid are large amounts of ultrapure water, too Called permeate. The ultrapure water is generated in one Reverse osmosis module. The distribution of the ultrapure water serves one to the um Reverse osmosis module connected ring line with a number of withdrawals to connect one dialysis station each. A circulation pump pumps that Ultrapure water from the reverse osmosis module into the ring line and there in a circle.

For cleaning and disinfection purposes it is necessary to use dialysis interrupt at certain intervals and a hot cleaning of the rin slide using heated ultrapure water.

From DE 195 38 818 A1 it is known for cleaning and disinfection are used in the ring line for heating the ultrapure water  to provide. Alternatively or additionally, a chemical cleaning agent can also be used be added via a dosing pump. During hot cleaning The reverse osmosis module is decoupled from the ring line.

Since hot cleaning requires a relatively large amount of ultrapure water, which must first be generated in the reverse osmosis module is the hot cleaning Conventional type associated with relatively high energy expenditure and be loads the reverse osmosis module additionally.

The object of the present invention is therefore that for hot cleaning to provide the ring line with the ultrapure water required to save energy len.

In a system for supplying a dialysis station with ultrapure water in accordance with the preamble of the first claim is the technical pro blem solved by the specified in the characterizing part of claim 1 Characteristics.

According to the invention is between the reverse osmosis module and the circulation pump the ring line a hot water tank arranged. Filling this Hot water tank with ultrapure water occurs intermittently during the tep dialysis operation. For this there is an overflow in the hot water tank flow valve arranged, which when a certain limit is exceeded pressure in the ring line opens, so that part of the ultrapure water from the um reverse osmosis module flows into the hot water tank.

If all dialysis places are occupied, the maximum amount of ultrapure water is available that the reverse osmosis module can generate. With this Be operating condition, the pressure in the ring line is relatively low. Meanwhile, only one Take part of the ultrapure water available from the ring line men, the pressure increases accordingly. Falls below that from the ring line withdrawn amount of ultrapure water reaches a certain value Pressure in the ring line the limit pressure at which the overflow valve in Inlet of the hot water tank opens and the ultrapure water not required in lets the hot water tank flow. The filling of the hot water tank with Ultrapure water thus happens automatically in phases in which the reverse osmosis module  provides more ultrapure water than needed at the dialysis places is done. The ultrapure water required for hot cleaning is thus under ge energy consumption accumulated in the hot water tank.

According to the invention there is a hot water valve in the outlet of the hot water tank provided over which at the appropriate time in the hot water tank collected hot water from this can flow into the ring line to a Perform hot cleaning.

To avoid overfilling the hot water tank, it is advisable to: ger development of the invention, a device is provided which the Zu flow of ultrapure water into the hot water tank regardless of that in the Ring line prevents pressure as soon as the hot water tank is completely filled. This device can consist of, for example upper level sensor, which indicates the maximum fill level of the hot water tank summarizes, as well as one in operative connection with the upper level sensor Pressure control valve, which the limit pressure of the overflow valve in the inlet of the Hot water tank when the maximum permissible level is reached as far as it increases that the overflow valve closes. The fewer dialysis places are occupied, that is, the smaller the amount that is continuously withdrawn from the ring line of ultrapure water, the faster the maximum permitted level of the hot water water tank reached and the further inflow of ultrapure water must pass through Increasing the limit pressure of the overflow valve can be prevented.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressure control valve designed as an electromagnetically operated three-way valve, the Actuation in response to an electrical signal from the upper level transmitter of the hot water tank. The three-way valve brings the in this case Pressure chamber of the overflow valve, which is in the inlet of the hot water tank is arranged with the return of the reverse osmosis module in pressure connection. As a result, the limit pressure at which the overflow valve opens is sufficient increases that regardless of the prevailing pressure in the loop more ultrapure water can get into the hot water tank. As long as the upper level sensor has not yet detected the maximum level, the Pressure chamber of the overflow valve, if necessary via a pressure reducer the return from the ring line to the reverse osmosis module in connection,  whereby the intermittent opening and closing of the relief valve now more controlled by the increase or decrease in pressure in the ring line is to stop the influx of ultrapure water into the hot water container is controlled depending on the consumption at the dialysis places.

The hot water tank with a lower level transmitter is also advantageous equipped, which detects the minimum permissible level and in active binding with the hot water valve. This prevents the Hot water tank with the hot water valve open, i.e. during the hot egg cleaning phase, runs dry, which could result in overheating.

For safety reasons, an overflow on the hot water is also expedient water tank provided, over which any excess hot water can run.

Reverse osmosis systems that use a variety of dialysis stations Providing the ring line with ultrapure water usually have an ultrafiltra tion module in the ring line. This ultrafiltration module serves the fine purification of the ultrapure water. The resulting concentrate becomes in itself known way, by means of a concentrate return to the reverse osmosis module returned.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the pressure chamber of the over is now flow valve in the inlet of the hot water tank via the pressure control valve the concentrate return in pressure connection, as long as the maximum permissible The level of the hot water tank has not yet been reached. This will Limit pressure at which the overflow valve opens, reduced so far that the Overflow valve depending on the prevailing pressure in the ring line opens, causing untreated ultrapure water to reach the hot water tank flows.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying th drawing explained in more detail. The only figure shows a functional show picture of a system according to the invention for supplying a dialysis station Ultrapure water.  

A reverse osmosis module 1 generates the ultrapure water or permeate required for hemodialysis. This flows through a flow 2 into a ring line 3 . To circulating pump 4 pumps the ultrapure water in the ring line 3 in a circle, it flows past a number of tapping points 5 for connecting dialysis places. Ultrapure water not taken from the ring line 3 can flow back directly into the reverse osmosis module via a return line 6 .

An ultrafiltration module 7 , through which the circulating ultrapure water flows, is arranged in the ring line 3 . Concentrated ultrapure water is returned via a concentrate return 8 to the reverse osmosis module 1 .

A central component of the device for periodic hot cleaning is a hot water tank 9 , which has an electric heating device 10 . Ultrapure water generated by the reverse osmosis module 1 is branched off into the hot water tank 9 via an inlet 11 . The filling of the hot water tank 9 , however, only follows when an overflow valve 12 arranged in the inlet 11 opens. The collected in the hot water tank 9 and heated by the Heizeinrich device 10 ultrapure water can be pumped through an outlet 13 after opening a hot water valve 14 in the ring line 3 and circulate there for a certain time of hot cleaning. The arranged along the ring line 3 tapping points 5 are also cleaned by hot ultrapure water from the hot water tank 9 through the tapping points 5 from.

The automatic and energy-saving filling of the hot water tank 9 with ultrapure water during normal dialysis operation is controlled by a pressure control valve 15 . This is designed as an electromagnetically operated three-way valve. An upper level sensor 16 provided in the upper part of the hot water tank 9 detects the maximum permissible fill level and is electrically connected to the pressure control valve 15 . A provided in the lower part of the hot water container 9 lower level sensor 17 monitors the minimally permissible level and is in electrical connection with the actuator of the hot water valve 14 . A temperature sensor 18 is used to monitor the temperature in the hot water tank 9 . Excess ultrapure water can escape from the hot water tank 9 via the overflow 19 .

In normal operation, that is, while ultrapure water is removed from the ring line 3 through the tapping points 5 , the pressure control valve 15 automatically controls the filling of the hot water tank 9 with ultrapure water, depending on the pressure currently prevailing in the ring line 3 . The pressure chamber of the overflow valve 12 is in pressure connection with the return 6 via the pressure control valve 15 . At the same time, there is a Druckver connection between the pressure chamber of the relief valve 12 via a pressure reducer 20 with the return line 6 . If the pressure in the ring line 3 now exceeds the preset limit pressure of the overflow valve 12 , then this opens, and ultrapure water passes from the reverse osmosis module 1 via the inlet 11 into the hot water tank 9 . In this way it is ensured that the hot water tank 9 is only filled when relatively small amounts of ultrapure water are drawn off through the tapping points 5 .

Reaching the maximum permissible fill level of the hot water tank 9 is detected by the upper level sensor 16 , whereupon the pressure control valve 15 switches over and the pressure chamber of the overflow valve 12 is now brought into pressure connection with the concentrate return 8 . As a result, the limit pressure at which the overflow valve 12 opens is increased so far that it remains permanently closed.

As soon as the hot water tank 9 is completely filled with ultrapure water and has been heated by means of the heating device 10 , hot cleaning can take place. For this purpose, the reverse osmosis module 1 is first completely decoupled, so that there is no longer a connection to the ring line 3 . Then the hot water valve 14 is opened and the hot ultrapure water is pumped into the ring line 3 , where it circulates. If the fill level in the hot water tank 9 has dropped to the minimum permissible level, the lower level transmitter 17 causes the hot water valve 14 to close.

After the hot cleaning has ended, the reverse osmosis module 1 is coupled again to the ring line 3 . During the now re-starting Dialysebe drive the hot water tank 9 is again filled with excess, of the Ent tapping points 5 are not removed from the ultrapure water Umkehrosmosemo dul first

Compilation of the reference symbols

1

Reverse osmosis module

2

leader

3rd

Loop

4

Circulation pump

5

Tapping points

6

Rewind

7

Ultrafiltration module

8th

Concentrate return

9

Hot water tank

10th

Heating device

11

Intake

12th

Overflow valve

13

procedure

14

Hot water valve

15

Pressure control valve

16

upper level sensor

17th

lower level sensor

18th

Temperature sensor

19th

Overflow

20th

Pressure reducer

Claims (7)

1. Plant for supplying a dialysis station with ultrapure water, with

• - A reverse osmosis module ( 1 ) for generating the ultrapure water;
• - A connected to the reverse osmosis module ( 1 ) ring line ( 3 ) with egg ner number of tapping points ( 5 ) for connecting one dialysis place;
• - A circulation pump ( 4 ) for the ultrapure water;
• - A device for cleaning the ring line using hot ultrapure water;

characterized by :

• - A hot water tank ( 9 ), which is arranged between the reverse osmosis module ( 1 ) and the circulation pump ( 4 ) and comprises a heating device ( 10 );
• - In the inlet ( 11 ) of the hot water tank ( 9 ) provided overflow valve ( 12 ) which opens when a certain limit pressure in the ring line ( 3 ) opens, so that ultrapure water from the reverse osmosis module ( 1 ) flows into the hot water tank ( 9 ) ;
• - In the outlet ( 13 ) of the hot water tank ( 9 ) provided hot water valve ( 14 ), through which hot water can flow from the hot water tank ( 9 ) into the ring line ( 3 ) to carry out a hot cleaning.

2. Plant according to claim 1, characterized by a device which prevents the inflow of ultrapure water into the hot water tank ( 9 ) regardless of the pressure prevailing in the ring line ( 3 ) as soon as the hot water tank ( 9 ) is completely filled. 3. Plant according to claim 2, characterized by

• - An upper level sensor ( 16 ) which detects the maximum fill level of the hot water tank ( 9 );
• - A with the upper level sensor ( 16 ) in operative connection pressure control valve ( 15 ) which increases the limit pressure of the overflow valve ( 12 ) when the maximum permissible fill level of the hot water tank ( 9 ) is reached so that the overflow valve ( 12 ) remains closed .

4. Plant according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure control valve ( 15 ) is designed as an electromagnetically actuated three-way valve and in response to an electrical signal from the upper level sensor ( 16 ) the pressure chamber of the overflow valve ( 12 ) with the return ( 6 ) of the reverse osmosis module ( 1 ) in pressure connection. 5. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hot water tank ( 9 ) has a lower level sensor ( 17 ) which detects the minimum permissible fill level and is in operative connection with the hot water valve ( 14 ). 6. Plant according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an overflow ( 19 ) is provided for excess hot water on the hot water tank ( 9 ). 7. Plant according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that

• - An ultrafiltration module ( 7 ) is provided in the ring line ( 3 );
• - From the ultrafiltration module ( 7 ) leads a concentrate return ( 8 ) to the reverse osmosis module ( 1 );
• - The pressure chamber of the overflow valve ( 12 ) via the pressure control valve ( 15 ) with the concentrate return ( 8 ) is in pressure connection as long as the maximum permissible fill level of the hot water tank ( 9 ) has not yet been reached.