DE10154471A1 - Domestic water softener has heated plates trapping limestone scale subsequently liberated by mechanical expansion action - Google Patents

Abstract

In a domestic water softener assembly the incoming cold water is passed over a series of heated surfaces (10, 30, 40, 50, 60) causing precipitation of limestone scale that is subsequently removed especially by mechanically induced expansion and contraction. The incoming water may be passed several times over the same array of heated surfaces. Limestone scale is removed from the surfaces at intervals. Mechanical movement of the surfaces may be induced by direct heating and cooling, liberating the limestone by expansion and fracture. The heated surfaces are arranged as an array within a heat exchanger chamber surrounded by a helical heating element. A pulse of compressed air, gas, another fluid, vibration or mechanical action e.g. cleaning jets aids liberation of limestone scale. Alternatively, the heated surfaces may be elastic and flex to loosen limestone scale. An electro-magnetic field may also treat incoming water.

Description

The invention relates to a water softener for softening custom and Drinking water, especially in building services.

A water softener mentioned at the beginning is, for example, with the object WO 98/17587 A1 become known. The one shown there The softening mechanism is based on an electrochemical decomposition of the Water, which is treated in a corresponding anode-cathode section with the aim of causing the lime molecules to precipitate.

It is also known from EP 0 713 842 A2 a water softener, which the Conversion of the lime molecules into an easier to precipitate phase Magnetization devices realized.  

With the subject of DE 296 11 839 U1 a water softener is presented, in which the water to be softened by an alternating electromagnetic field flowing therethrough.

With water heaters used in home technology, this takes place Water heating by a heating coil immersed in the water. It is known that limescale deposits on the outer surface of the heating coil form. The same applies to so-called tub washing machines which has a heating coil surrounded by water, which is known Calcified after a long period of operation.

The invention has for its object a water softener for softening of service and drinking water, especially in building services, so further that a reduction in water hardness and a removal of the lime formed is achieved with simple means.

To solve the problem, the invention is through the technical teaching of claim 1.

An essential feature of the invention is that the water to be softened heated surfaces of a water softener is directed, the adherence Form surfaces for the precipitated lime crystals and that the adhesion Surfaces are at least partially mechanically movable.

The invention makes use of the knowledge as a softening mechanism, that there is inevitably limescale on heated adhering surfaces form. This is used to reduce water hardness, with the addition of if necessary, softening water flow several times over the heated Adhesion surfaces is performed.

A further development provides for the lime crystals to be coated To decalcify adhesion surfaces cyclically.  

This is achieved by the fact that for the deposition of the lime crystals trained adhesion surfaces are no longer rigid and therefore do not Layer by layer with the lime crystals, but that the Adhesion surfaces are designed to be mechanically movable so as to to cause attached crystals to flake off.

There are various chipping mechanisms, all of them as essential to the invention in a single position or in combination with one another as be claimed essential to the invention.

In a first reaction mechanism, the water to be treated is a kind of a heated plate heat exchanger passed, the plates this Heat exchanger can be specifically heated. This heating can either happen that the housing of the heat exchanger on his Outside circumference is surrounded by a corresponding heating coil, which over Heat conduction the heater also to those arranged in the heat exchanger Rib structure initiates. This rib structure consists of individual ones Deflection profiles that are arranged so that they interlock baffle-like diversion of the water passed through the water softener results. The water to be treated must therefore be the heated deflection profiles and rinse the adhesion surfaces thus formed over a large area.

In another embodiment of the invention it is provided that not that Housing of the water softener is heated, but the targeted individual or all of the rib profiles arranged in the water softener are heated. Such heating is done, for example, by individual heating cartridges.

Incidentally, the heating used here is common to everyone Embodiments noted that the type of heating the respective Is adapted to requirements. So there are both electrical Heating systems with heating coils, but also singular heating systems  with heating cartridges and other heating systems, such as steam and other media specified and these are essential to the invention in Connection with water softener described below claimed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is accordingly provided that that the water to be treated in one with heated deflection profiles equipped plate heat exchanger is initiated and there the flows around the corresponding adhesion surfaces on the plate profiles. It is known that at relatively high temperatures a particularly favorable Limescale deposits on the adhesion surfaces result. The lime will shape up of crystals on the adhesion surfaces and adhere there.

According to the invention, various chipping mechanisms are described below Removal of the lime crystals from the adhesion surfaces are described, all should enjoy protection alone or in combination with each other. On first chipping mechanism is that in a certain Process state on the inlet and outlet side of the water softener Arranged valves are closed and the water softener by one certain temperature is further heated. This leads to a thermal conditional expansion of the individual heating plates and the adhesion surfaces are thereby moved mechanically and bring the adherent there Lime crystals to flake off.

Another chipping mechanism is that in the intake and a compressed air blast from a gaseous and / or a liquid medium is introduced. Such one A blast of compressed air mechanically moves the individual adhesion surfaces onto the Plates and therefore also brings the lime crystals adhering there to flake off.

A third chipping mechanism is the targeted cold water in the heated heat exchanger is introduced and through this  The deterrent effect also mechanically attaches the surfaces move (because they contract due to thermal conditions) and also here Chip effect on the accumulating lime crystals arises. As already Above mentioned, the chipping mechanisms mentioned can be in a single position or can be used together in any combination.

After the adhesion surfaces have been cleaned, the flaked off layers are deposited Lime particles on the bottom of the water softener and must pass through a corresponding outlet and a valve flap arranged there are removed.

In another embodiment of the invention it is provided that the Water softener still a device for magnetic treatment of the Water is connected upstream. Such magnetic treatment can either by a permanent magnet or by a magnetic one Alternating field. The water to be softened for later, further Softening, so to speak, unlocked and the efficiency of the softener improved.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the plate heat exchanger is replaced by a Pipe heat exchanger replaced. The water to be softened is by coiled tubing passed through and the lime particles accumulate on the inside of each Pipe coils.

This coiled tubing is in one embodiment from the outside on the previously described heating mechanisms heated. An electrical one is preferred Helix heating, which surround the coils for the water flow. The lime particles that are deposited on the inside of the coiled tubing are now also caused by the fact that the external heating coil is brought to a higher temperature so that the water mechanically expand the flow through the helix and change its length this also mechanically displaces the adhesion surface, so that there is an internal chipping effect. Likewise, as another option for  a chipping effect possible, that one leads cold water through, so as to thermal contraction of the adhesion surfaces and to blow off the lime particles.

The pressure surge as described above can also be used has been. The pressure surge can also be applied pulsatingly.

In a kinematic reversal of that previously described heating coil through which water flows, it is also possible to use a of a tub through which water flows) to arrange a heating coil which is separated from the Water is flowing around.

The lime particles are also on the outer wall of this heating coil deposit which is removed by the previously described chipping mechanisms can be.

In this embodiment and also in the later ones Exemplary embodiments also describe a device with which it manages to rinse the water softener accordingly to avoid the chipped Remove lime particles permanently.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that water not only to be carried out once by the water softener for the purpose of softening, but to do a ring operation to circulate this water many Times through the water softener until finally the required Water hardness is given to the water then for further use supply.

In addition to the mechanical movement of the previously described Adhesion surfaces due to thermal stress are in one Further development of the invention also provided these adhesion surfaces  mechanically cleaned. For this purpose, either an axially moving one Piston or a rotary moving ring piston can be used.

The cleaning effect is further improved by the fact that (axial or rotated) pistons still individual outflow nozzles for a high pressure medium are present, so that a targeted pressure surge through the piston surface after outside into the water softener. On the one hand, the adhering surfaces formed on the piston itself cleaned and on the other hand the pressure surge emitted by the nozzles is used to reduce the Water softener to existing, fixed adhesion surfaces to treat.

The cleaning effect can be reinforced by the fact that the mentioned piston with its nozzles not with a laminar water flow, but if necessary with a pulsating water flow or with a Air-water flow is supplied.

Improve the air bubbles in the water softener in the latter case also the ability to separate the lime particles.

The efficiency of the water softener is further improved in that one in the flow path of the water to be softened Cavitation creates. This means that you can push the water through at high pressure passes through a nozzle in which the flow velocity becomes so great that there are cavitation phenomena at the outlet and air bubbles arise, which lead to an improvement in the separation of the lime particles.

According to a further embodiment, the lime particles can thereby be deposited that the cavitation space in an elastic tube is formed, for example, from a closed-cell foam consists. The tube can be deformed by an external mechanical force  whereby the adhesion surfaces formed in the tube become mechanical move and blast off the lime particles deposited there.

The cavitation space can not only be in an elastomeric tube or in one elastomeric chamber are formed, but in addition the Cavitation space can also be formed in a sponge-like structure. The cavitation chamber is designed as a sponge, for example consists of an open cell foam. The water flows through the individual Tubules of the sponge and due to the cavitation effect in the The lime crystals are deposited on the in the foam structure Foam structure trained adhesion surfaces and therefore to one Softening effect.

This foam body can also be tumbled or by mechanical force are deformed in order to cause the lime crystals stored there to flake off bring.

The subject matter of the present invention does not only result from the subject of the individual claims, but also from the Combination of the individual claims.

All disclosed in the documentation, including the summary Information and features, especially those shown in the drawings spatial training, are claimed as essential to the invention, insofar as they individually or in combination are new compared to the prior art.

In the following, the invention is explained on the basis of a number of design options illustrative drawings explained in more detail. Here go from the drawings and its description further features and advantages of the invention Invention.

Show it:  

Fig. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a water softener in the manner of a plate heat exchanger;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a water softener in the manner of a tube heat exchanger.

. Figure 3 shows the enlarged view of the operating principle of Fig. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a representation of the principle of action modified compared to FIG. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of a water softener;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment modified compared to FIG. 5;

Fig. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a water softener;

Fig. 8 schematically illustrated enlargement of the principle of action.

In FIG. 1, the water flowing into the water softener 10 in the direction of the arrow 29 is introduced into an inlet device 1 via an inlet 2 . The inlet device 1 has a plurality of round-shaped deflection profiles 3 , 4 , 5 in order to partially soften the water, for example by means of a magnetic treatment device ( not shown in more detail), and on the other hand a pump (not shown in more detail) can be arranged in the interior 6 of the inlet device 1 the water leads in the direction of the arrow. The lime formed in the inlet device 1 is then removed from case to case via an outlet 7 and a valve flap 8 arranged there.

The inlet device 1 is connected to the inlet 9 of the water softener 10 , which is designed in principle as a plate heat exchanger. The water is therefore baffled in the arrow directions 17 around the individual deflection profiles 13 , with the aim that the deflection profiles form the largest possible adhesion surface for the water flowing around it.

Two different heating mechanisms for the water softener are shown. These can be used together or individually. In one embodiment it is shown that the outer jacket 16 of the water softener 10 is surrounded by a heating coil 14 , which is only partially shown here. In this way, the entire outer jacket 16 is heated and this heat is passed on to the deflection profiles 13 arranged in the interior via heat conduction. These form heated adhesion surfaces for the water flowing over them, so that the lime contained in the water is deposited on the adhesion surfaces in the form of lime crystals.

As a second heating mechanism, it is shown that each deflection profile 13 is heated with a heating cartridge 15 . For the sake of better drawing, only two heating cartridges 15 are shown.

Either a pure run or a circulation operation takes place, that is to say the valve 11 arranged on the inlet side 9 and the valve 23 arranged on the outlet side 22 are open.

However, the water can also be circulated, as will be explained with reference to the line 37 and the pump 38 with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

After a certain time, which depends on the desired degree of softening, the hardness of the water and other parameters, the chipping process is initiated. For this purpose, the valves 11 , 23 are closed and the heaters 14 and 15 are heated to an even higher temperature. This results in a thermal expansion of the outer jacket 16 and in particular also of the deflection profiles 13 , the adhesion surfaces of which now shift mechanically and cause the lime adhering there to flake off. The lime sinks to the bottom of the jacket and slides along the passages 20 arranged on the bottom side under the deflection profiles in the direction of the housing jacket. The entire floor is in this case inclined towards an outlet 25 . The chipping lime is therefore moved towards the outlet 25 , the outlet 25 being separated from the outlet 22 by a rib or a sieve 19 . In this way it is prevented that the lime material deposited at the outlet 25 is entrained again.

The valve flap 26 is then opened and the lime material deposited in front of the outlet 15 is removed. The valves 11 , 23 are then opened again and the water can be removed from the water softener 10 in the direction of the arrow 21 .

An additional chipping effect can also be achieved in that, when the valves 11 , 23 are closed, a pressure surge from a gaseous or a liquid medium is introduced via the additional valve 24 . The impact can also be repeated or oscillating. This pressure surge leads to an increase in pressure in the interior of the water softener 10 and thus to a mechanical action on the adhesion surfaces on the deflection profiles 13 and therefore also to chipping of the lime crystals deposited there.

The other chipping effect is initiated in that cold water is directed in the arrow direction 29 through the inlet device 1 into the water softener 10 , this being flushed with cold water when the valves 11 , 23 are open. Here, too, there is a thermally induced contraction of the adhesion surfaces of the individual deflection profiles 13 and therefore a chipping effect.

Another significant chipping effect, which also works on its own and independently of the other chipping effects, is that the entire water softener 10 is mechanically vibrated. Such vibration can take place, for example, by attaching ultrasonic sensors to the outer jacket 16 , which accordingly apply ultrasound to the outer jacket 16 , so as to cause the entire water softener 10 to vibrate with ultrasound and thereby also to enable the desired chipping effect.

A further possibility for the mechanical movement of the water softener 10 is that it can be mechanically connected directly to the tub of the washing machine suspended in rubber bearings, particularly when used in washing machines. It is known that when spinning the drum makes revolutions between 700 and 1500 revolutions and leads to strong vibrations of the tub. These vibratory movements are introduced onto the outer jacket 16 , which likewise leads to a chipping effect on the adhesion surfaces of the deflection profiles.

In another embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that a motor-driven vibrator is connected to the water softener 10 . Such motor-driven vibrators can be simple electric motors provided with a balancing mass, which are mechanically connected directly to the water softener and cause it to vibrate accordingly.

Such motors are already in use as control motors, for example Dishwashers are available and can therefore also be inexpensive can be used together with vibration motors.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a tubular heat exchanger is provided instead of a plate heat exchanger according to FIG. 1. All chipping mechanisms and all heating mechanisms, as described above, apply to this and also to all the following exemplary embodiments.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the water to be softened is first introduced into the water softener 30 in the direction of arrow 29 via a magnetic device 27 , the magnetic device 27 being able to consist of a permanent magnet and / or an alternating magnetic field.

The water is already preconditioned here and the efficiency of the water softener 30 is thereby increased. According to FIG. 3, the water is now passed through a helix 28 which is surrounded by an external heating winding 31 . The limescale deposits 33 will therefore deposit on the inner surface of the helix 28 and can be removed by the previously described chipping mechanisms.

As an alternative, it is shown in FIG. 4 that the water flows through a tub and in this tub the heating coil 31 is arranged, on the outer surface of which the limescale deposits 33 are formed. The limescale 33 is therefore blown off in the direction of the arrow 32 by the previously described chipping mechanisms and removed using the rinsing mechanisms described above and later.

For the reusable circulation mode 2 is illustrated in FIG., That first the downstream arranged valve 41 is closed and the water is circulated in the direction of arrow 21 over a reservoir where it flows through the conduit 37 and a pump 38 is fed. It is then returned to the water softener 30 when the valve 39 is open. Such a circulation operation can take place many times before the desired water softening is achieved. The valve 39 is then closed and the valve 41 is opened so that the water can be removed in the direction of the arrow 21 .

The chipped lime above the outlet 35 can be removed from case to case with the valve 34 open.

The water softener 40 shown in Fig. 5 can operate on the same principles as explained above. It is only shown as an alternative example that the adhesion surfaces that form in the interior of a chamber 42 are cleaned mechanically. The limescale deposits 33 deposited there are removed by a piston 44 which is connected to a piston rod 43 which is acted upon in the direction of arrow 45 by a force (for example an electromagnet) which is not shown. This results in a scraping or cleaning effect by the piston 44 on the adhesion surfaces, so that the limescale deposits 33 are removed mechanically.

It is shown here that the chamber 42 of the water softener 40 is heated by an external heater, for example the heating windings 31 .

Otherwise, the same explanations apply to the circulating operation as were given with reference to FIG. 2. All of the spalling mechanisms as described above also apply, as does the rinsing process with which the chipped limescale deposits are removed from the chamber 42 .

FIG. 6 shows, as a kinematic modification of the cleaning according to FIG. 5, that instead of an axially movable piston 44, a rotating piston 48 is used, which may consist of several piston parts, all of which are designed to be rotatable in the direction of rotation 49 . The entire piston rod 43 can therefore be rotated in the direction of the arrow 49 shown, and the rotating effect also causes the annular piston 48 to be scraped off on the fixed adhesion surfaces of the individual ribs 47 in the water softener 50 .

The limescale deposits 43 will deposit on the bottom of the chamber 46 and be removed by one or more of the rinsing mechanisms previously described.

It is important that the cleaning effect can be improved further by the fact that individual nozzles 52 are embedded in the annular piston 48 , a corresponding pressure medium being able to be introduced via the inlet 51 on the hollow piston rod. This pressure medium leads to an abrupt and pulse-like blowing out of the individual nozzles 52 , so that the limescale deposits 33 adhered to the adhesion surfaces of the annular pistons 48 are also blown off by the action of the nozzle.

So there is not only mechanical cleaning, but also an additional pulse-like cleaning by introducing a pressure medium into the interior of the annular piston 48 .

In addition, the annular pistons 48 can also be moved in the axial direction (arrow direction 35 and in the opposite direction to this).

In FIG. 7 it is also shown that in the case of a water softener through which a spiral flows, as described, for example, with FIGS . 1 to 4, an additional improvement in the softening effect can be achieved by subjecting the water to cavitation. For this purpose, a coil 28 is arranged in the water softener 60 . In the exemplary embodiment, it consists of a cutout between two heated plates located opposite one another, which are placed in a space such that the helix 28 through which liquid flows is formed between them. The plate bodies are heated, for example, by the heating winding 31 .

It is now important that a nozzle 54 is arranged on the outlet side of the helix 28 , which is shown enlarged in FIG. 8. The water which flows through the coil 28 will pass through the nozzle 54 at a high flow rate and the flow rate is selected such that cavitation occurs in the receiving space of a downstream elastomeric tube 56 .

The air bubbles that form lead to an improved deposition of the lime on the surfaces of the elastomer tube 56 .

As shown in the general description, this is either a smooth-walled elastomer tube that can be deformed by a force 57 from the outside or - in the second embodiment - a sponge-like structure which has individual tube channels through which the water flows and in which the water flows Form cavitation bubbles 58 .

Limescale deposits 33 occur in the area of these tube channels. If the sponge body is now subjected to a force 57 , for example tumbled, then the limescale deposits 33 burst off and can be easily rinsed out.

It should also be pointed out that there is a cleaning effect due to the high flow velocities, as it also occurred in the direction of arrow 53 with the pressure medium introduced intermittently into the annular piston 48 according to FIG. 6.

It is thus achieved in the Fig. 7 and 8, an improved Enthärtungswirkungsgrad because the softeners described above nor the cavitation nozzle 54 may be connected downstream to further increase the efficiency of the water softening 10-50.

drawing Legend

1

inlet device

2

inlet

3

deflecting profile

4

deflecting profile

5

deflecting profile

6

inner space

7

outlet

8th

valve cap

9

inlet

10

water softener

11

Valve

12

inner space

13

deflecting profile

14

heating coil

15

Cartridge Heater

16

outer sheath

17

arrow

18

19

Rib or strainer

20

passage

21

arrow

22

outlet

23

closure valve

24

additional valve

25

outlet

26

valve cap

27

magnetic device

28

spiral

29

arrow

30

water softener

31

Filament Winding

32

arrow

33

calcification

34

Valve

35

Kalkauslass

36

reservoir

37

management

38

pump

39

Valve

40

water softener

41

Valve

42

chamber

43

piston rod

44

piston

45

arrow

46

chamber

47

rib

48

annular piston

49

direction of rotation

50

water softener

51

inlet

52

jet

53

arrow

54

jet

55

accommodation space

56

elastomer tube

57

force

58

cavitation bubble

59

60

water softener

Claims (15)

1. Water softener for the softening of industrial and drinking water, especially in domestic technology, characterized in that the water to be softened is passed over heated surfaces of a water softener ( 10 , 30 , 40 , 50 , 60 ), which adhesion surfaces for the precipitated Form lime crystals and that in order to achieve a detachment effect for the deposited lime crystals, the adhering surfaces can be moved at least partially mechanically. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the to if necessary, softening water flow several times over the heated Adhesion surfaces is performed. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the adhesion surfaces coated with lime crystals are decalcified cyclically become. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the water to be treated is passed through a heated heat exchanger and that the adhesion surfaces of the heat exchanger to achieve of a detonation effect can be specifically heated or cooled to a thermal expansion or contraction of the adhesion surfaces to reach. 5. The device according to 4, characterized in that the housing of the Heat exchanger is surrounded on its outer circumference with a heating coil. 6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the Adhesion surfaces themselves are heated directly.   7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the chipping effect with a blast of compressed air from a gaseous and / or running a liquid medium. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that that the chipping effect is caused by the initiation of a mechanical vibration on the Adhesion surfaces is achieved. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the chipping effect is initiated by the introduction of a vibration on the water softener ( 10 , 30 , 40 , 50 , 60 ) which is derived from a mechanically vibrating operating part of the household appliance. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the chipping effect by mechanical cleaning of the Adhesion surfaces is achieved. 11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that that with a mechanical cleaning of the adhesion surfaces still a additional high-pressure medium from nozzles against the adhesion surfaces is directed. 12. The device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that that there is a cavitation path in the flow path of the water to be softened is arranged. 13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that that the adhesive surface on the inner wall of an elastomeric deformable Chamber is arranged.   14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that that the adhesive surface is deformable in an elastomer Sponge body is arranged. 15. The device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the water to be softened by a magnetic equal and / or Alternating field is treated.