DE102020106450A1 - Biofilter system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a prefilter unit (100) for a cleaning system, a biofilter unit for a cleaning system and a cleaning system. A prefilter unit (100) for a cleaning system, comprising a prefilter housing (102) with a fluid inlet (104) and a fluid outlet, a first prefilter which is arranged inside the prefilter housing and acts between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the prefilter having a first filter inlet and a having first filter output side, and a cleaning unit acting on the first filter input side for cleaning the first prefilter.

Description

The invention relates to a prefilter unit for a cleaning system, a biofilter unit for a cleaning system and a cleaning system.

Pre-filter units and biofilter units for cleaning systems are known in principle. Pre-filter units and biofilter units are used, for example, for cleaning a fluid, the pre-filter unit removing coarse particles, such as leaves, from the fluid, for example water, and the biofilter unit biologically cleaning the fluid, for example removing ammonium.

The known prefilter units and biofilter units, however, have the disadvantage that they regularly clog, in particular the prefilter unit. The prefilter units therefore have to be cleaned manually on a regular basis so that their functionality is guaranteed. A large amount of fluid such as water is regularly wasted in cleaning. In addition, the existing prefilter units and biofilter units are usually not expandable at will, so that better filtering is regularly associated with the arrangement of a further unit, so that the structural size increases disproportionately.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a prefilter unit, a biofilter unit and a cleaning system which reduce or eliminate one or more of the disadvantages mentioned. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a solution that enables improved filtering of a fluid and / or better maintainability of a filter.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the aforementioned object is achieved by a prefilter unit for a cleaning system, comprising a prefilter housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a first prefilter arranged within the prefilter housing, which acts between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the prefilter having a having a first filter inlet side and a first filter outlet side, and a cleaning unit acting on the first filter inlet side for cleaning the first prefilter.

The pre-filter unit can be used for all types of cleaning systems. For example, for air filtering in the automobile or aircraft sector. In addition, the prefilter unit can also be used for liquid fluids, for example for cleaning water. The prefilter unit mentioned above is used for cleaning water, especially in pond cleaning systems. It is particularly preferred that the cleaning system is a pond cleaning system. The prefilter unit can thus also be a prefilter unit for a pond cleaning system. The pond cleaning system is particularly suitable for keeping and / or breeding fish, in particular koi carp.

The invention is based on the knowledge that prefilter units are regularly clogged by filter particles. In the case of air filters for road vehicles and aircraft, such filter particles can be sand and / or leaves, for example. Even when used in pond cleaning systems, the clogging filter particles can be leaves. While the heavy filter particles usually get down into a disposal sink due to gravity, lighter filter particles regularly settle on the filter inlet side of the prefilter and thus clog the prefilter after some time.

The inventor has now found that adding a cleaning unit to a prefilter surprisingly improves the filter quality and maintenance intensity. Because the first pre-filter is cleaned by the cleaning unit, the filter quality is improved because it does not clog. In addition, the maintainability of the first prefilter or the prefilter unit is improved, since the manual cleaning effort of the first prefilter can be reduced or even eliminated.

The prefilter housing is preferably designed to be essentially closed, with openings for the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the particle sink explained in more detail below with the associated slide element being able to be provided. In addition, the container can also have further openings, for example those that can be closed with a lid. This enables the first prefilter to be replaced, for example.

The first prefilter is arranged inside the prefilter housing. The first pre-filter acts, in particular in a fluid-filtering manner, between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. This action is related in particular to a filter effect. This means in particular that a fluid flows from the fluid inlet through the first prefilter to the fluid outlet during normal operation. Since the fluid has to pass the first prefilter on the way between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the first prefilter has a filtering effect. The pre-filter has the filter input and the filter output side. When the prefilter unit is operating as intended, a fluid first reaches the filter inlet side, passes through the filter and exits again on the filter outlet side.

The cleaning unit acts on the filter inlet side to clean the first pre-filter. Due to the interrelationships described above, the filter inlet side is usually loaded with filter particles and possibly clogged. A cleaning unit acting on the filter inlet side can reduce or avoid this load or clogging. The cleaning unit can act in different ways on the filter inlet side, for example fluidically by means of a suction mechanism explained in more detail below, or also mechanically.

According to a preferred embodiment of the prefilter unit, it is provided that the cleaning unit comprises a first cleaning arm, wherein the first cleaning arm is rotatable along the first filter inlet side of the first prefilter, in particular along a first outer circumferential surface of the first prefilter, and is arranged and formed, filter particles from the first prefilter suck off. The first cleaning arm preferably has an internal channel for guiding the fluid, in which the suctioned filter particles can, if necessary, be guided or flow together with a fluid.

It is particularly preferred that the cleaning unit is arranged and designed to bring about a fluid flow from inlet openings of the first cleaning arm to a disposal area. The cleaning arm can, for example, be tubular with a round and / or angular cross section. In particular, it is preferred that the cleaning arm has openings through which filter particles can be sucked in and disposed of.

According to a further preferred development of the prefilter unit, it is provided that the cleaning unit has a suction system coupled to the first cleaning arm for effecting suction and / or the fluid flow. The suction system can be designed as a pump or a pump, for example. Such a suction system can make it possible to suck off or bring about the fluid flow independently of other mechanisms of action.

Another preferred development of the prefilter unit is characterized in that the cleaning unit has a second cleaning arm, the second cleaning arm being arranged in such a way that the first cleaning arm and the second cleaning arm act on opposite sides of the first prefilter. For example, the first pre-filter can be designed as a drum filter. If the filter inlet side is the outer circumferential surface of the drum filter, the cleaning unit with the first and second cleaning arm can rotate circumferentially around the drum filter and thus clean the first prefilter. The two cleaning arms can be arranged offset from one another between 150 ° and 180 °, for example.

In addition, it can be preferred that the suction system is set up to bring about a fluid flow from the inlet opening of the second cleaning arm or the two or more inlet openings to the disposal area. The first cleaning arm and the second cleaning arm can be connected to one another by means of a cross line, the cross line preferably being coupled to a disposal line leading to the disposal area.

In a further preferred development of the prefilter unit, it is provided that the inlet openings of the first cleaning arm and / or of the second cleaning arm essentially have a larger cross section than the filter pores of the first prefilter. Such a design of the inlet openings advantageously ensures that the filter particles located on the filter inlet side can enter the cleaning arm or arms through the inlet openings and can be disposed of from there.

In a further preferred embodiment of the prefilter unit it is provided that it comprises a second prefilter with a second filter inlet and a second filter outlet, which is downstream of the first prefilter in a fluid flow direction and which preferably has a smaller pore size than the first prefilter, the cleaning unit acts on the second filter inlet side of the second prefilter to clean the second prefilter.

The use of the second prefilter, in conjunction with the cleaning unit, advantageously optimizes the cleaning performance of the prefilter unit. A coarse first pre-filter filters out larger filter particles and removes them from the cleaning unit. However, due to the larger pore size of the first prefilter, further filter particles can pass through the first prefilter. These filter particles then reach the second pre-filter, where they are filtered out. These usually adhere to the second filter inlet side of the second pre-filter and are removed there by the cleaning unit. Because of these interactions between the first pre-filter, the second pre-filter and the cleaning unit acting on the first pre-filter and the second pre-filter, a pre-filter unit that filters particularly well and is particularly low-maintenance is guaranteed.

In a further preferred embodiment it is provided that the first pre-filter and the second pre-filter are cylindrical and the second pre-filter in one of the first Pre-filter formed cavity is arranged. It is particularly preferred that the first filter outlet side faces the second filter inlet side. In addition, it is preferred that the first filter output side and the second filter input side are spaced apart from one another in such a way that the cleaning unit, in particular with a third cleaning arm and / or fourth cleaning arm explained in more detail below, can be moved between the first pre-filter and the second pre-filter, in particular rotatable, is.

In addition, it is preferred that the cleaning unit comprises a third cleaning arm, wherein the third cleaning arm is rotatable along the second filter inlet side of the second prefilter, in particular along a second outer circumferential surface of the second prefilter, and is arranged and designed to suck up filter particles from the second prefilter, wherein preferably the cleaning unit is arranged and designed to bring about a fluid flow from inlet openings of the third cleaning arm to a disposal area.

Furthermore, it can be preferred that the cleaning unit has a fourth cleaning arm, the fourth cleaning arm being arranged in such a way that the third cleaning arm and the fourth cleaning arm act on opposite sides of the second prefilter. The third and fourth cleaning arms can be arranged offset from one another between 150 ° and 180 °, for example.

In addition, it can be preferred that the suction system is set up to bring about a flow of fluid from the inlet opening of the third cleaning arm and / or the fourth cleaning arm to the disposal area.

Another preferred development of the prefilter unit provides that the prefilter housing has a particle sink in the fluid flow direction from the first prefilter and / or after the first prefilter and before the second prefilter, which is designed to collect filter particles, the particle sink being coupled to a sliding element which is arranged and configured to remove filter particles from the particle sink.

In particular, filter particles with a greater weight can move vertically downwards in the prefilter unit due to gravity. While the less heavy filter particles are pressed by the fluid flow to the filter inlet side of the first pre-filter, the heavy particles get down in the direction of the particle sink due to the gravity. Since the heavy filter particles collect there, it is particularly preferred that they can be disposed of by means of the slide element known to the person skilled in the art.

According to a further aspect, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a biofilter unit for a cleaning system, comprising a biofilter housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a filter container with a biofilter that is arranged within the biofilter housing and that acts between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the biofilter being arranged and is designed to biologically filter a fluid, in particular water, between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

The fluid inlet can, for example, be arranged in the vertical direction under an inlet region of the filter container. A fluid then flows through the fluid inlet into the filter container and the fluid level in the biofilter housing rises. From a certain height of the level of the fluid in the biofilter housing, the fluid reaches a height so that it flows into the filter container. This fluid then reaches the biofilter, in which the fluid is biologically cleaned. The biofilter usually has a material with a corresponding surface on which bacteria for biological cleaning settle in the course of time.

According to a further aspect, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a cleaning system, in particular a pond cleaning system for fish farming, comprising a prefilter unit according to one of the embodiment variants described above and a biofilter unit according to the previous aspect, the prefilter unit being arranged upstream of the biofilter unit in the fluid flow direction.

It is particularly preferred that the cleaning system comprises a fluid-carrying inlet element which can be arranged in a pond and which is coupled to the fluid inlet of the prefilter housing and / or comprises a fluid-carrying drainage element which can be arranged in a pond and which can be coupled to the fluid outlet of the biofilter housing.

In addition, it is preferred that the cleaning system comprises a fluid-carrying connection element which is arranged and designed to fluidically couple the fluid outlet of the prefilter housing and the fluid inlet of the biofilter housing to one another.

For further advantages, design variants and design details of the further aspects and their possible further developments, reference is also made to the previously made description of the corresponding features and further developments of the prefilter unit.

• 1: eine schematische, zweidimensionale Ansicht einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform einer Vorfiltereinheit;
• 2: eine schematische, zweidimensionale Draufsicht auf die in 1 gezeigte Vorfiltereinheit;
• 3: eine schematische, zweidimensionale Schnittansicht einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform einer Biofiltereinheit;
• 4: eine schematische, zweidimensionale Draufsicht auf eine Partikelsenke der in 3 gezeigten Biofiltereinheit; und
• 5: eine schematische Ansicht einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform eines Reinigungssystems.

Preferred exemplary embodiments are explained by way of example with the aid of the accompanying figures. Show it:

• 1 : a schematic, two-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a prefilter unit;
• 2 : a schematic, two-dimensional top view of the in 1 shown prefilter unit;
• 3 : a schematic, two-dimensional sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a biofilter unit;
• 4th : a schematic, two-dimensional top view of a particle sink of the in 3 shown biofilter unit; and
• 5 : a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system.

Identical or essentially functionally identical or similar elements are denoted by the same reference symbols in the figures.

The pre-filter unit 100 includes a pre-filter housing 102 . The pre-filter housing 102 includes the fluid inlet 104 and the fluid outlet 106 . In normal operation of the pre-filter unit 100 a fluid, for example water, passes through the fluid inlet 104 in the interior 101 of the pre-filter housing 102 . The fluid then flows through the first prefilter in a substantially radial direction 108 and then through the second pre-filter 109 through.

After the fluid passes the second pre-filter 109 has happened, it will pass through the fluid outlet 106 from the pre-filter unit 100 out. The outer peripheral surfaces of the first pre-filter 108 and the second pre-filter 109 act in the present case as the first or second filter input side. For a better understanding, the first filter inlet side is shown schematically and as an example 150 and the first filter output side 152 shown.

The inner peripheral surfaces of the pre-filters 108 , 109 , act as filter output sides. On the filter inlet sides, i.e. on the outer circumferential surfaces of the pre-filters 108 , 109 , filter particles can collect and thus the pre-filters 108 , 109 clog. To avoid this, the cleaning unit is 110 intended. The cleaning unit 110 has a first cleaning arm 112 and a second cleaning arm 114 on. The first cleaning arm 112 and the second cleaning arm 114 rotate around the outer peripheral surface of the first pre-filter 108 .

The cleaning arms 112 , 114 have inlet openings through which the filter particles can get into the interior of the cleaning arms. The filter particles pass through the cross line from inside the cleaning arms 146 to a coupling point 120 , from which they go through a line 122 , a pump 124 , another line 126 towards a settling chamber 128 reach. As a result, the outer peripheral surface of the first pre-filter becomes 108 through the cleaning unit 110 cleaned.

The cleaning unit has the same cleaning effect 110 on the second pre-filter 109 by adding a third cleaning arm 116 and a fourth cleaning arm 118 around the outer peripheral surface or outer peripheral side of the second pre-filter 109 rotate. The cleaning arms 112-118 as well as the cross lines 146 , 148 , can be driven with a drive, in particular with an electric drive, so that they rotate by a motor. The fluid flow through the cleaning arms 112-118 is by the arrow 132 indicated.

The ones in the sedimentation chamber 128 arriving particles are through the disposal line 130 disposed of. The pre-filter housing 102 is with a lid 144 locked. The pre-filter unit 100 also has a particle sink 136 for heavy filter particles that are essentially not on the outer circumference of the first pre-filter 108 remain. These particles fall vertically down into the particle well 136 . By a sliding element 138 can remove the heavy filter particles from the particle sink 136 removed.

The prefilter unit also has several mounting elements 140 with which the pre-filter unit 100 can be set up. In addition, the mounting elements include 140 Height adjustment units 142 so that the orientation of the pre-filter unit 100 can be adjusted. The direction of fluid flow through the prefilter unit 100 flowing fluid is with the arrow 134 shown.

2 shows a top view of the prefilter unit 100 , the lid not being shown here. In particular, the arrangement of the cleaning unit 110 relative to the first pre-filter 108 and the second pre-filter 109 shown. In particular, it can be seen that the cleaning arms 112 and 114 along an outer peripheral side of the prefilter 108 can rotate.

It can also be seen that the cleaning arms 112 , 114 with a first cross line 146 are connected. The cleaning arms 116 , 118 around an outer peripheral side of the second pre-filter 109 rotate and are connected to a second cross line 148 coupled with each other. The cross lines cross at the midpoint 146 , 148 so that the extracted particles pass through the in 1 shown line 122 can be disposed of.

3 shows a biofilter unit 200 with a biofilter housing 202 that with a lid 212 is locked. Through a fluid inlet 204 a fluid, for example air or water, can enter the interior of the biofilter housing 202 reach. Inside the biofilter housing 202 is a filter canister 208 arranged, which has substantially fluid-impermeable side walls. Inside the filter canister 208 is a biofilter 210 arranged. A fluid thus gets into the interior of the biofilter housing 202 , rises inside to the upper edge of the filter container 208 and then enters the biofilter 210 , seeps through the biofilter 210 through down to the fluid outlet 206 . In normal operation there is preferably always that much fluid in the filter container 208 that there is always fluid in the biofilter 210 got. The biofilter unit 200 is preferably designed such that the biofilter 208 is always wetted with fluid, so that in the biofilter 210 acting bacteria remains alive. The direction of fluid flow 222 is marked with an arrow. Analogous to the pre-filter unit 100 instructs the biofilter unit 200 a particle sink 214 with a sliding element 216 on. In addition, the biofilter unit 200 Mounting elements 218 and height adjustment units 220 on.

In 4th is a detailed view of the particle sink 214 the biofilter unit 200 shown. It is particularly clear that the biofilter unit 200 a total of five particle sinks 214 , 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d. By means of the slide element 216 can filter particles from the particle sinks 214 , 214a, 214b, 214c, 214d are disposed of.

In 5 is a cleaning system 10 shown, which is a pre-filter unit 100 and a biofilter unit 200 includes. The pre-filter unit 100 is with the biofilter unit 200 coupled, for example with a line, through which in the fluid flow direction 2 a fluid can flow. This line can, for example, be the fluid outlet 106 the pre-filter unit 100 with the fluid inlet 204 the biofilter unit 200 couple.

The cleaning system is exemplary here 10 shown as a pond cleaning system. One in the pond 300 located fluid is with the cleaning system 10 cleaned. For this there is a pipe that is in the pond 300 is arranged with the fluid inlet 104 the pre-filter unit 100 coupled so that a fluid flow direction 1 arises or is effected. The fluid is first in the pre-filter unit 100 filtered and then enters the biofilter unit 200 and is biologically cleaned there.

The fluid outlet 206 the biofilter unit 200 is fluidic with the pond 300 coupled, for example, to a further line in which a fluid flow direction 3 is effected. As a result, a closed circuit is formed for the fluid to be cleaned, which has a particularly good filtering, a low maintenance requirement and, moreover, a low water consumption.

List of reference symbols

1, 2, 3

Fluid flow directions

10

Cleaning system

100

Prefilter unit

101

cavity

102

Pre-filter housing

104

Fluid inlet

106

Fluid outlet

108

first pre-filter

109

second pre-filter

110

Cleaning unit

112

first cleaning arm

114

second cleaning arm

116

third cleaning arm

118

fourth cleaning arm

120

Coupling point

122

management

124

pump

126

management

128

Settling chamber

130

Disposal management

132

Fluid flow

134

Fluid flow direction

136

Particle sink

138

Sliding element

140

Mounting element

142

Height regulation unit

144

lid

146

first cross line

148

second cross line

150

Filter inlet side

152

Filter exit side

200

Biofilter unit

202

Biofilter housing

204

Fluid inlet

206

Fluid outlet

208

Filter container

210

Biofilter

212

lid

214

Particle sink

216

Sliding element

218

Mounting element

220

Height regulation unit

222

Fluid flow direction

300

pond

Claims (10)

A prefilter unit (100) for a cleaning system (10), comprising - A prefilter housing (102) with a fluid inlet (104) and a fluid outlet (106), - A first prefilter (108) arranged inside the prefilter housing (102) and acting between the fluid inlet (104) and the fluid outlet (106), the prefilter (108) having a first filter inlet side (150) and a first filter outlet side (150) , and - A cleaning unit (110) acting on the first filter inlet side (150) for cleaning the first pre-filter (108). Prefilter unit (100) Claim 1 , wherein the cleaning unit (110) comprises a first cleaning arm (112), the first cleaning arm (112) being rotatable and arranged and designed along the first filter inlet side (150) of the first prefilter (108), in particular along a first outer peripheral surface of the first prefilter is to suction filter particles from the first pre-filter (108), wherein the cleaning unit (110) is preferably arranged and designed to bring about a fluid flow from inlet openings of the first cleaning arm (112) to a disposal area (128). Pre-filter unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - The cleaning unit (110) has a suction system (124) coupled to the first cleaning arm (112) for effecting suction and / or the fluid flow. Pre-filter unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - The cleaning unit has a second cleaning arm (114), the second cleaning arm being arranged in such a way that the first cleaning arm (112) and the second cleaning arm (114) act on opposite sides of the first pre-filter, and - Preferably the suction system (124) is set up to bring about a fluid flow from the inlet openings of the second cleaning arm (114) to the disposal area. Pre-filter unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the inlet openings of the first cleaning arm (112) and / or of the second cleaning arm (114) essentially have a larger cross section than filter pores of the first prefilter (108). A prefilter unit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising - A second prefilter (109) with a second filter inlet and a second filter outlet, which is located downstream of the first prefilter (108) in a fluid flow direction and which preferably has a smaller pore size than the first prefilter (108), - wherein the cleaning unit (110) acts on the second filter inlet side of the second prefilter to clean the second prefilter, - wherein the first pre-filter and the second pre-filter are preferably cylindrical and the second pre-filter is arranged in a cavity formed by the first pre-filter, and / or - The cleaning unit (110) preferably comprising a third cleaning arm (116), the third cleaning arm being rotatable along the second filter inlet side of the second prefilter, in particular along a second outer peripheral surface of the second prefilter, and arranged and designed to suck up filter particles from the second prefilter , wherein the cleaning unit (110) is preferably arranged and designed to bring about a fluid flow from inlet openings of the third cleaning arm to a disposal area (128), and / or - The cleaning unit (110) preferably having a fourth cleaning arm (118), the fourth cleaning arm being arranged such that the third cleaning arm and the fourth cleaning arm act on opposite sides of the second pre-filter, and / or - wherein the suction system (124) is preferably set up to bring about a fluid flow from inlet openings of the third cleaning arm and / or the fourth cleaning arm to the disposal area. Pre-filter unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - The prefilter housing (102) in the fluid flow direction upstream of the first prefilter (108) and / or downstream of the first prefilter and upstream of the second prefilter (109) has a particle sink (136) which is designed to collect filter particles, the particle sink with a Sliding element (138) is coupled, which is arranged and designed to remove filter particles from the particle sink. Biofilter unit (200) for a cleaning system (10), comprising - a biofilter housing (202) with a fluid inlet (204) and a fluid outlet (206), - a filter container (208) arranged within the biofilter housing (202) with a biofilter (210) which acts between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, - wherein the biofilter (210) is arranged and designed, a fluid, in particular water, between the fluid inlet ( 204) and the fluid outlet (206) to be biologically filtered. Cleaning system (10), in particular pond cleaning system for keeping fish, comprising a prefilter unit (100) according to one of the Claims 1 - 7th and a biofilter unit (200) according to Claim 8 , wherein the prefilter unit (100) is arranged upstream of the biofilter unit (200) in the fluid flow direction. Cleaning system (10) Claim 9 , comprising - a fluid-carrying inflow element which can be arranged in a pond and which is coupled to the fluid inlet (104) of the prefilter housing (102), and / or a fluid-carrying outflow element which can be arranged in a pond and which can be coupled to the fluid outlet of the biofilter housing, and / or - a fluid-carrying connecting element which is arranged and designed to fluidically couple the fluid outlet of the prefilter housing (102) and the fluid inlet of the biofilter housing to one another.

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