DE102021103911A1 - Method and control device for controlling a water treatment plant and water treatment plant with a control device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device for controlling a water treatment system with a water treatment device (4), an inlet (1), an outlet (2) and a drain (3), the water treatment device (4) containing regenerable water treatment means (5) and the control device for Control of the water treatment plant in at least a first operating mode, in which water is conducted from the inlet (1) through the water treatment plant (1) to the outlet (2) and the water is treated in the water treatment plant (1), and a second operating mode in which the Water treatment means (5) are regenerated, is set up, wherein at the end of the second operating mode there is a flush, in which water is passed through the water treatment device (4) to the drain (3). Operation of the water treatment plant with fewer germs and odors is made possible by setting up the control device for controlling the water treatment plant in a third operating mode, in which, without prior regeneration of the water treatment means (5), water flows from the inlet (1) through the water treatment device (4) to drain (3).

Description

The invention relates to a control device for controlling a water treatment plant according to the preamble of claim 1, a water treatment plant with such a control device and a method for controlling a water treatment plant.

Water treatment systems are used for water treatment, for example to remove substances from the water, in particular for cleaning, disinfection or sterilization, and for softening or desalination of water. For this purpose, the water treatment plants can contain, for example, water treatment agents such as filters or ion exchangers.

An example of a water treatment system is a water softening system in which the alkaline earth metal cations of calcium and magnesium that are dissolved in the water and cause hardness are at least partially removed from the water. For example, ion exchangers can be used for this. Water softening systems contain a tank that is filled with an ion exchanger and through which the raw water to be softened is passed, with the hardness-forming calcium and magnesium ions being exchanged for an equivalent amount of sodium ions. In the softened water, the calcium and magnesium ions are largely replaced by sodium ions. In this way, completely softened water can be produced for technical purposes. For household applications, on the other hand, partially softened water is preferred because of the better taste and for health reasons. In domestic water softening systems, therefore, raw water and fully softened water are usually mixed. For this purpose, the water softening system can contain a blending device arranged downstream of the ion exchanger, in which a specific quantity of raw water is mixed with the water that has been (fully) softened by means of the ion exchanger.

The ion exchanger is consumed during the softening process in a water softening system. After a certain period of operation, the ion exchanger of a water softening system is therefore exhausted. The ion exchanger can be regenerated with a salt solution, in particular an 8 to 12 percent sodium chloride solution. During regeneration, the calcium and magnesium ions taken up by the ion exchanger during the softening process are exchanged for other ions, in particular sodium ions from the sodium chloride solution. For this purpose, a regeneration tank with a regeneration solution, in particular an aqueous sodium chloride solution, is produced in the water softening system and the regeneration solution is conducted into the tank with the ion exchanger in a regeneration mode in order to regenerate the ion exchanger. After completion of the regeneration mode, which usually lasts between 15 minutes and 120 minutes, the regeneration solution is displaced from the ion exchange tank by introducing raw water and the resulting rinsing solution is fed into a sewer for disposal.

Since no softened water can be produced and made available during a regeneration in a single system that only contains one ion exchanger tank, double or multiple systems are known for the continuous supply of softened water, which contain two or more tanks filled with an ion exchanger are. The multiple ion exchanger tanks are operated in such a way that at least one tank is operated in a softening mode in which it supplies softened water, while another tank is operated in the regeneration mode in which the ion exchanger is regenerated.

Such a double system is from the DE 28 26 702-A known. It describes a device for softening drinking water with two softening columns, in which ion exchange resin is contained, which is regenerated by means of an aqueous common salt solution after exhaustion, the two softening columns being able to be switched alternately in a softening mode and in a regeneration mode by valves. While one of the two softener columns is operated in softening mode, the other softener column is regenerated in regeneration mode. The device also includes a blending device downstream of the softening columns for admixing raw water in order to be able to provide partially softened water with an adjustable degree of hardness. Since the ion exchange resins used in water softening systems have a large surface area, germs can become established and multiply, especially during longer downtimes. Therefore, in the known device to prevent contamination, another operating mode is provided in which the regeneration solution (saline solution) used for the regeneration of the ion exchange resins remains in the ion exchange tank after the end of a softening mode and is flushed out in a softening mode only immediately before the next start-up of the softening column. However, this mode of operation of the known water softening system generates a high salt consumption for the production of the regeneration solution.

To prevent contamination of the ion exchanger, germicidal chemicals are also used in water softening systems, in particular substances containing chlorine, such as chlorine dioxide tablets. The raw water fed into a water softening system for disinfection often already contains a certain chlorine content. In order to be able to reliably avoid contamination of the ion exchanger even when unchlorinated raw water is supplied, water softening systems with an integrated disinfection device are known from the prior art, in which the ion exchangers are automatically supplied with chlorine, for example generated electrolytically in an electrolysis cell, during a regeneration mode.

In the case of prolonged stagnation of water over a longer period of several hours, for example more than four hours, or even days, contamination or undesirable odors can occur. Furthermore, prolonged stagnation of drinking water can also lead to a deterioration in the taste of the water.

A corresponding odor formation and a deterioration in the taste of the treated water can also occur in water treatment systems, for example in filter systems, if the water to be treated therein stands in tanks of the water treatment system for a long period of time without any water flowing through.

Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the object of providing a water treatment system and a control device for it, as well as a method for controlling a water treatment system, which allows the water treatment system to be operated with as few germs and as little odor as possible without impairing the taste of the treated water, even if the enable installation.

This object is achieved with a control device having the features of claim 1, a water treatment plant with such a control device, and with a method for controlling a water treatment plant with the features of claim 16. Preferred embodiments of the control device, the water treatment plant and the control method can be found in the dependent claims.

The control device according to the invention is used to control a water treatment system with at least one water treatment device, an inlet, an outlet and a drain, with the water treatment device containing regenerable water treatment agents and the control device being set up to control the water treatment system in at least three operating modes, namely in a first operating mode in which Water is conducted from the inlet through the water treatment plant to the outlet and the water is thereby treated in the water treatment facility, a second operating mode in which the water treatment means are regenerated, with a flush taking place at the end of the second operating mode in which water from the inlet through the water treatment facility to the outlet is conducted, and a third mode of operation in which gel without a previous regeneration of the water treatment means water from the input through the water treatment device to the drain will be served.

The third operating mode enables the water treatment device and in particular the regenerable water treatment agent to be flushed with raw water, which in the third operating mode is routed from the inlet through the water treatment device to the drain. The third operating mode thus represents an additional rinsing mode that can be initiated by the control device, preferably independently of the first and second operating modes and in particular after the water treatment system has not been used for a longer period of time, in order to remove water that has stagnated in the water treatment system for a long time and is therefore contaminated or may be contaminated, rinse out. A non-use period is understood as a period of time during which the water treatment plant is not in operation or has not provided treated water at the outlet.

To avoid contamination and odor formation during a longer stagnation phase, the water treatment device can be flushed with raw water by initiating the third operating mode (flushing mode) using the control device according to the invention in order to eliminate microorganisms such as germs, viruses and bacteria that accumulate during the stagnation phase of the water in the Water treatment system and in particular in the water treatment facility or its water supply, in particular already in the building supply, have formed or increased to flush out of the water treatment system. On the one hand, this prevents further contamination by increasing the number of germs and also prevents the formation of odors, which can occur if the water has been stagnant in the water treatment system for a long time. In this way, the control device according to the invention enables low-germ operation of the water treatment system.

The third operating mode also makes it possible for stagnant water to be drained from the inlet and outlet pipes, which are connected to the inlet and outlet of the water treatment plant, before the water stagnating in the inlet and outlet pipes becomes contaminated with germs.

The control device according to the invention enables in particular the germ-reduced operation of the water treatment system without structural changes to the water treatment device. The control device according to the invention uses the devices for regenerating the water treatment agents that are already present in known water treatment devices. Known water treatment systems with regenerable water treatment agents regularly include a regeneration device with which the water water treatment agents can be regenerated in a regeneration mode, with a final rinsing phase being provided at the end of the regeneration mode, in which the regenerated water treatment agents are rinsed with raw water, for example cleaning agents or regenerating solutions that have been used in the regeneration of the water treatment agents to be rinsed out of the water treatment agents. The regeneration mode provided in known water treatment devices therefore regularly contains a rinsing phase at the end of the regeneration mode, in which raw water is routed from the inlet through the water treatment device to the drain. The third operating mode, which can be set using the control device according to the invention, corresponds to the rinsing phase at the end of the regeneration mode (second operating mode).

In a preferred embodiment, the control device according to the invention contains at least one control valve for controlling volume flows in the water treatment device, with the control valve expediently having two control elements which can be moved relative to one another and which operate in the first operating mode (e.g. a softening mode in a water softening system) and in the second operating mode (e.g. a regeneration mode, in which the ion exchangers of a water softening system are regenerated by means of a regeneration solution) and in the third operating mode, in which the water treatment system is flushed with raw water, can be moved relative to one another in predetermined operating positions. This configuration of the control device enables the operating modes of the water treatment system to be switched quickly, with the third operating mode in particular being able to be set independently of whether the first or the second operating mode or possibly other operating modes were active beforehand.

The second operating mode (regeneration mode) expediently comprises several phases that take place one after the other, namely a first phase in which a regenerating agent (for example a saline solution and in particular a saline solution in a water softening system) is fed into a container of the water treatment device in countercurrent, a second phase in which the regenerating agent regenerates the water treatment agent in the tank by the regenerating solution also flowing countercurrently through the water treatment agent, a third phase in which the regenerating agent is discharged from the tank in countercurrent, and a fourth phase in which the tank is filled with raw water in Direct current is rinsed in order to remove residues of the regenerant from the container, with the case conducted through the container raw water to the drain and from there is directed into a sewer. The second operating mode (regeneration mode) can also include a phase preceding the first phase, in which an aqueous regeneration solution is produced from a regeneration agent, for example by dissolving sodium chloride tablets in water in a brine tank, for example to create an 8 to 12 percent saline solution to produce, with which the ion exchanger of a water softening system can be regenerated. This phase of the second operating mode can either be carried out as an introductory phase of a regeneration mode at the beginning of the second operating mode, or at another point in time, for example when the amount of regeneration solution in the brine tank falls below a predetermined minimum level.

Countercurrent is understood to mean a direction of flow which is opposite to the direction of flow of the water in the first operating mode. Correspondingly, cocurrent is a flow direction in the flow direction of the water in the first operating mode.

The successive phases of the second operating mode (regeneration mode) can be adjusted by means of the mutually movable control elements, with the control elements being adjusted to one another at the end of the second operating mode in such a way that raw water is routed from the inlet through the water treatment device to the outlet.

In order to set the third operating mode, the control elements can preferably be moved into the last operating position of the second operating mode (that is to say into the fourth phase (flushing phase) of the regeneration mode) independently of a previous position. For this purpose, the Steuerven includes til prefers a drive, for example an electric motor, which moves one of the two control elements relative to the other control element and can thereby set the various operating positions of the control elements in relation to one another. The control device is expediently set up in such a way that the drive moves one, movable control element in relation to the other, stationary control element in a predetermined first direction of movement in order to switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode, and that the third operating mode is set by moving the movable control element can take place relative to the fixed control element in a second direction of movement, which is opposite to the first direction of movement. This allows the third mode of operation to be set independently of the previous mode of operation (first or second mode of operation). As a result, the third operating mode can be set at any time in order to suppress contamination and odor formation, especially after the water treatment system has not been used for a longer period of time, in which water in the water treatment device has stagnated for a longer period of more than 24 hours, for example rinsed with raw water.

In order to bring the two control elements of the control valve into predefined operating positions in this exemplary embodiment, it is advantageous for rapid and precise switching of the individual operating modes if the control valve contains a device for detecting a reference position between the two control elements. The device for detecting a reference position can include, for example, a mechanical stop of one movable control element in relation to the other, fixed control element. Instead of a mechanical stop, a position sensor can also be provided, in particular an optical, a capacitive or an inductive sensor, which detects the position of the movable control element relative to the stationary control element. A device for detecting a reference position can be used to compensate for hysteresis effects and mechanical play when the two control elements are moved relative to one another, and it is ensured that the position of the two control elements relative to one another corresponds exactly to a specific operating mode or a specific operating phase of an operating mode. Compared to a position sensor, a mechanical stop has the advantage of being more cost-effective to manufacture and of low-maintenance and less error-prone operation.

The control device is expediently set up in such a way that the third operating mode can be initiated either at predefinable times or after a predefinable period of operation or non-use of the water treatment system. For example, it is possible to program the control device in such a way that the third operating mode (rinsing mode) is initiated at fixed times, e.g. shortly before the water treatment system is started up in the first operating mode, in which it provides treated water at the outlet. It is advantageous, for example, to program the control device in such a way that the third operating mode is switched to the third operating mode at fixed times, for example in the morning, for example at 6 a.m., even before the water treatment system is to provide treated water for the first time, and that after termination of the third mode of operation the first mode of operation for providing treated water is immediately initiated.

However, it is also possible to program the control device in such a way that the third operating mode is initiated after a specified period of operation or, in particular, after a specified period of non-use of the water treatment system, in order to remove contaminated or polluted water that has formed in the water treatment device or in the supply line during the period of non-use has to be flushed out of the water treatment system and to remove any odor-forming substances from the stagnant water in the system. It is advantageous here if the predefinable operating time after which the third operating mode is set or a predefinable non-usage time of the system can be entered into the control device via programming and stored there in a data memory.

It can also be expediently provided that the quantity of raw water used in the third operating mode for flushing the water treatment device and/or the duration of the third operating mode is variably selected and adjusted, e.g. depending on the previous operating mode or the previous operating time or non-use time of the system. The duration of the third operating mode is preferably in the range from 3 to 10 minutes. The third operating mode can also be programmed according to the amount of water that is passed through the water treatment means during the third operating mode (rinsing mode), with suitably an amount of water being passed through which corresponds to one to three times the volume of the container (ion exchange container).

In the second operating mode, the water can preferably be disinfected by introducing chlorine, the chlorine preferably being generated electrolytically in the water treatment system and being introduced into the water treatment agent during the second operating mode, in particular in the first and/or second phase. For this purpose, the water treatment system advantageously includes a disinfection device for disinfecting the water by introducing chlorine, the disinfection device preferably containing an electrolytic cell for electrolytically generating the chlorine. The control device is expediently set up to introduce the chlorine into the water treatment agent in the second operating mode, in particular in the first and/or the second phase of the second operating mode.

The subject matter of the invention is also a water treatment plant with a water treatment device, an inlet through which the raw water to be treated is fed in, an outlet through which the treated water can be fed to an intended use, and an outlet through which the flushing water or waste water is conducted to a sewer can be, wherein the water treatment device contains regenerable water treatment agent and the water treatment system is equipped with a control device according to the invention.

The water treatment system can in particular be a water softening system, in which case the regenerable water treatment agents are ion exchangers, in particular a strongly acidic cation exchanger, which are regenerated by means of a regenerating solution, in particular a common salt solution, in the second operating mode (regenerating mode). can be regenerated.

The water softening system expediently contains at least one container filled with an ion exchanger and a regenerating device for regenerating the water treatment agent (ion exchanger), the regenerating device comprising a regenerant container that can be filled with the salt solution, in particular a common salt solution.

For disinfection, water softening systems provide for the ion exchanger to be disinfected with each regeneration and for regeneration with disinfection to be carried out at least every four days, even if no product water is required. At the end of the regeneration there is a rinsing phase in which a regenerant solution used for regeneration is rinsed out of the ion exchanger or displaced by raw water. The control device according to the invention now ensures that even with longer periods of non-use between two consecutive regenerations (especially after 0.5 to less than four days), in which the water in the water softener stagnates (stagnation phases), germination through growth or multiplication of microorganisms and the formation of odorous substances is prevented by initiating the third operating mode. The advantage here is that the third operating mode corresponds to the last phase (rinsing phase) of the second operating mode and therefore, to initiate the third operating mode, the regeneration device used to carry out the second operating mode only has to be brought into the operating position that corresponds to the last phase (rinsing phase) of the corresponds to the second operating mode. Therefore, the implementation of the invention in a water softening system does not require any expenditure on equipment and can also be easily retrofitted to water softening systems already installed by installing a control device according to the invention or by carrying out a software update.

In addition to the at least one ion exchanger tank, the water softening system can contain one or more additional filter devices. In particular, filter devices can be provided with an electroactive filter material, which adsorb microorganisms that are in the water by electro-adsorption on the electroactive filter material and thereby disinfect the water.

The water treatment system can also be a filter system, in which case the regenerable water treatment means is a filter material that can be regenerated using a rinsing or cleaning solution in the second operating mode (regeneration mode). In order to regenerate the regenerable filter material, a regenerating device is expediently provided which directs a regenerating agent, for example a cleaning solution, through the regenerable filter material in the second operating mode. The regeneration device can also be designed in such a way that a cleaning solution is passed through the filter material in order to clean it and regenerate it in this way. For example, during the second operating mode (regeneration mode), the regeneration device can conduct raw water or another flushing solution through the filter material in the opposite direction to the direction of filtration, in order to eliminate a filter cake, for example.

In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, too, rinsing is preferred at the end of the second operating mode (regeneration mode). phase provided in which raw water is passed through or over the regenerable water treatment agent (filter material) and the flushing water is discharged via the drain into a sewer.

In particular, the regenerable water treatment agents can be a filter material with a non-zero ZETA potential (electroactive filter material) in an aqueous environment, in particular in the range of pH 3 to pH 8. Such a filter material is capable of adsorbing microorganisms that are in the water by electro-adsorption on the electro-active filter material and thereby disinfecting the water. Such an electroactive filter material can be regenerated with a saline solution, in particular a saline solution, and/or disinfected with electrolytically generated chlorine.

The subject matter of the invention is also a method for controlling a water treatment system with a water treatment device, an inlet, an outlet and a drain, the water treatment device containing regenerable water treatment agents and the water treatment system being controlled by a control device in at least three operating modes, namely a first operating mode in which water is passed from the inlet through the water treatment facility to the outlet and the water is thereby treated in the water treatment facility, a second mode of operation in which the water treatment means are regenerated, at the end of the second mode of operation a flushing takes place by water from the inlet being conducted through the water treatment facility to the outlet and a third mode of operation in which, without prior regeneration of the water treatment device, water is directed from the inlet through the water treatment device to the drain.

The third mode of operation can preferably be initiated independently of the first and second modes of operation, i. H. the third operating mode can be carried out both after the first and after the second operating mode.

The initiation of the third operating mode can either be initiated by a user of the water treatment system, for example by pressing a button or via a control device coupled to the control device, such as a smartphone, or also be initiated automatically by the control device. For automatic initiation of the third operating mode by the control device, it is expediently programmable in order, for example, to be able to set predetermined times in which the third operating mode is initiated, or predetermined operating or non-use periods of the system, after which the third operating mode is initiated.

For this purpose, the control device preferably contains an electronic control device with a data memory, in which case operating and control data that can be specified, such as fixed times for initiating the third operating mode or periods of operation or non-use of the system, can be stored in the data memory and the control device can initiate the third operating mode in Initiates dependency of the operating and control data stored in the data memory.

It is particularly advantageous if the electronic control unit of the control device automatically records operating times in which treated water is removed from the outlet in the water treatment device and/or non-use periods (i.e. downtimes) in which no treated water is removed from the outlet. The control device can thus automatically initiate the third operating mode as a function of the recorded operating times and/or the recorded periods of non-use without a user having to access the control.

For example, the third operating mode can be initiated automatically by the control device as soon as the control device generates a removal request for the removal of treated water at the outlet of the water treatment device after a recorded period of non-use (downtime) that is greater than a limit value stored in the data memory, wherein the Switching to the first operating mode, in which treated water is made available at the outlet, takes place only after the end of the third operating mode and preferably immediately after its end. The limit value of the period of non-use (downtime) is expediently in the range from 4 to 36 hours, preferably between 6 and 24 hours. This ensures with sufficient certainty that contamination of the water treatment device and odor formation during longer stagnation phases is prevented by flushing out water contaminated or contaminated with microorganisms and odorous substances in the third operating mode. No regenerant (e.g. a saline solution) is used, which means that the consumption of regenerant can be kept low.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer als Wasserenthärtungsanlage ausgeführten Wasserbehandlungsanlage gemäß der Erfindung in einem ersten Betriebsmodus (Enthärtermodus);
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung der Wasserenthärtungsanlage von 1 in einem dritten Betriebsmodus (Spülmodus);
• 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Steuereinrichtung zur Steuerung der Wasserenthärtungsanlage von 1;
• 4 perspektivische Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 im ersten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, aus die Steuerelemente im Uhrzeigersinn in den zweiten Betriebsmodus bewegt werden;
• 5 perspektivische Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 in einer einleitenden Phase eines zweiten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, in der eine wässrige Regenerierlösung erzeugt wird, wobei die Steuerelemente danach im Uhrzeigersinn in eine erste Phase des zweiten Betriebsmodus bewegt werden;
• 6 perspektivische Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 in einer ersten Phase des zweiten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, in der die wässrige Regenerierlösung in einen Ionenaustauscherbehälter der Wasserenthärtungsanlage eingeleitet wird, um den Ionenaustauscher zu regenerieren, wobei die Steuerelemente danach im Uhrzeigersinn in eine zweite Phase des zweiten Betriebsmodus bewegt werden, in der die Ionenaustauscher mittels der Regenerierlösung regeneriert werden;
• 7 perspektivische Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 in einer dritten Phase des zweiten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, in der die wässrige Regenerierlösung aus dem Ionenaustauscherbehälter der Wasserenthärtungsanlage durch Einleitung von Rohwasser ausgeleitet wird, wobei die Steuerelemente danach im Uhrzeigersinn in eine vierte Phase des zweiten Betriebsmodus bewegt werden;
• 8 perspektivische Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 in einer vierten Phase des zweiten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, in der der Ionenaustauscherbehälter der Wasserenthärtungsanlage durch Einleitung einer Spülflüssigkeit entgegen der Durchlaufrichtung des Wasers im ersten Betriebsmodus rückgespült wird, um Reste der Regenerierlösung aus dem Ionenaustauscherbehälter zu entfernen, wobei die Spülflüssigkeit zur Entsorgung in einen Abwasserkanal geleitet wird und die Steuerelemente danach im Uhrzeigersinn in eine Umkehrposition bewegt werden;
• 9 Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 nach der vierten Phase des zweiten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, wobei das bewegliche Steuerelement entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn zunächst in eine Umkehrposition gebracht und dann in entgegengesetzter Richtung zurück in eine definierte Referenzposition gedreht wird, wobei in den 9a und 9b die Steuerelemente jeweils in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, in 9c das feststehende Steuerelement in einer perspektivischen Seitenansicht und in 9d eine Detaildarstellung des feststehende Steuerelements im Bereich eines Anschlags gezeigt sind;
• 10 Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 nach Erreichen der Referenzposition, wobei die Steuerelemente in den 9a und 9b jeweils in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, in 9c das feststehende Steuerelement in einer perspektivischen Seitenansicht und in 9d eine Detaildarstellung des feststehenden Steuerelements im Bereich eines die Referenzposition definierenden Anschlags gezeigt sind;
• 11 perspektivische Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 in der letzten Phase des zweiten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, in welcher der Ionenaustauscherbehälter mit Rohwasser gespült wird, wobei das bewegliche Steuerelement danach im Uhrzeigersinn in den ersten Betriebsmodus von 4 bewegt wird;
• 12 perspektivische Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 im ersten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, von dem aus das bewegliche Steuerelement entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn in einen dritten Betriebsmodus bewegt wird;
• 13 perspektivische Ansichten der Steuerelemente der Steuereinrichtung von 3 im dritten Betriebsmodus der Wasserenthärtungsanlage, von dem aus das bewegliche Steuerelement im Uhrzeigersinn zurück in den ersten Betriebsmodus bewegt wird.

These and other advantages and features of the invention result from the exemplary embodiment described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the drawings show:

• 1 a schematic representation of a water treatment system designed as a water softening system according to the invention in a first operating mode (softener mode);
• 2 a schematic representation of the water softening system from 1 in a third operating mode (rinse mode);
• 3 a perspective view of an embodiment of a control device according to the invention for controlling the water softening system of 1 ;
• 4 perspective views of the controls of the controller of FIG 3 in the first mode of operation of the water softener, from which the controls are moved clockwise to the second mode of operation;
• 5 perspective views of the controls of the controller of FIG 3 in an introductory phase of a second mode of operation of the water softener in which an aqueous regeneration solution is produced, the controls thereafter being moved clockwise into a first phase of the second mode of operation;
• 6 perspective views of the controls of the controller of FIG 3 in a first phase of the second mode of operation of the water softener, in which the aqueous regeneration solution is introduced into an ion exchanger tank of the water softener to regenerate the ion exchanger, the control elements then being moved clockwise to a second phase of the second mode of operation, in which the ion exchangers are the regenerating solution to be regenerated;
• 7 perspective views of the controls of the controller of FIG 3 in a third phase of the second mode of operation of the water softener, in which the aqueous regeneration solution is discharged from the ion exchange tank of the water softener by introducing raw water, the control elements then being moved clockwise in a fourth phase of the second mode of operation;
• 8th perspective views of the controls of the controller of FIG 3 in a fourth phase of the second operating mode of the water softening system, in which the ion exchanger tank of the water softening system is backwashed by introducing a rinsing liquid against the flow direction of the water in the first operating mode in order to remove residues of the regeneration solution from the ion exchanger tank, the rinsing liquid being routed into a sewer for disposal and the controls are then moved clockwise to a reverse position;
• 9 Views of the controls of the controller from 3 after the fourth phase of the second operating mode of the water softening system, the movable control element being brought counterclockwise into a reverse position and then rotated in the opposite direction back into a defined reference position, wherein in the 9a and 9b the controls each in a perspective view, in 9c the fixed control in a perspective side view and in 9d a detailed view of the fixed control element in the area of a stop are shown;
• 10 Views of the controls of the controller from 3 after reaching the reference position, with the controls in the 9a and 9b each in a perspective view, in 9c the fixed control in a perspective side view and in 9d a detailed view of the stationary control element in the area of a stop that defines the reference position is shown;
• 11 perspective views of the controls of the controller of FIG 3 in the last phase of the second operating mode of the water softening system, in which the ion exchanger tank is rinsed with raw water, the movable control element then being moved clockwise to the first operating mode of 4 is moved;
• 12 perspective views of the controls of the controller of FIG 3 in the first mode of operation of the water softener, from which the movable control element is moved counterclockwise into a third mode of operation;
• 13 perspective views of the controls of the controller of FIG 3 in the third operating mode of the water softener, from which the movable control element is moved clockwise back to the first operating mode.

In the 1 and 2 a water treatment system designed as a water softening system 20 according to the invention is shown schematically, wherein 1 shows the water softener in a first operating mode (softener mode), in which the water softener produces softened water, and 2 shows the water softener in a third operating mode (flushing mode) according to the invention.

The as an embodiment of a water treatment system according to the invention in the 1 and 2 The water softening system 20 shown comprises an inlet 1 that can be connected to a water supply, an outlet 2 at which the softened water is made available, an outlet 3 that can be connected to a sewer, and a water treatment device 4 with regenerable water treatment agents 5, as well as a control device S according to the invention for controlling the water softening system. Output 2 can be connected to a water supply network, via which the softened water provided at output 2 can be routed to consumers or taps. The control device S contains an electronic control unit, via which various operating modes of the water softening system can be controlled.

The water softening system also includes a regenerating device, not shown here, with a regenerant container in which an aqueous regenerating solution, in particular an 8 to 12 percent sodium chloride solution, is produced. The regeneration solution is used to regenerate the regenerable water treatment agent 5. In a water softening system, ion exchangers, in particular in the form of ion exchange resins, are used as the regenerable water treatment agent 5 and are located in a container 22. When the regenerable water treatment agent 5, in particular the ion exchanger 21, is exhausted, the water treatment agent 5 is regenerated in a regenerating mode by introducing the regenerating solution into the container 22. To generate the aqueous regenerating solution, the regenerating device includes a regenerating container in which, for example, Sodium chloride is dissolved in water to prepare the regeneration solution. In order to feed the regeneration solution into the container 22 of the water treatment device 4, the regeneration device comprises valves, flow regulators and pumping means, via which the regeneration solution can be metered into the container 22 in the regeneration mode.

In the cylindrical container 22 a centrally arranged riser pipe 23 is provided. The regenerable water treatment agent 5, ie in particular the ion exchange resin 21, is filled into the container 22 around the riser pipe 23.

in the in 1 First operating mode shown (softener mode) raw water is passed from the input 1 into the container 22 and the raw water flows from top to bottom through the water treatment agent 5 (ion exchanger 21). The hardness-forming calcium and magnesium ions contained in the water are exchanged for sodium ions from the ion exchanger 21, as a result of which the raw water introduced is softened. The softened raw water flows on the bottom side in the container 22 into the lower end of the riser pipe 23 and from there upwards to the outlet 2, where the softened water is made available for removal.

During the first operating mode (softener mode), the control device monitors the degree of exhaustion of the regenerable water treatment means 5. When the water treatment means, ie in particular the ion exchanger 21, is exhausted, the water treatment means 5 (not shown here in the drawing) are regenerated in a second operating mode (regenerating mode). Ion exchanger 21) by the regeneration solution generated in the regeneration device is introduced into the container 22 and flows through the water treatment means 5. The regenerating solution flows in countercurrent, ie downwards from above into the riser pipe 23 and then upwards into the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21). The water treatment means 5 are regenerated in that the calcium and magnesium ions stored during the softening process (first operating mode) are exchanged for sodium ions in the regenerating solution. The container 22 is filled with the regenerating solution until the water treatment means 5 are completely saturated with the regenerating solution. The regenerating solution expediently remains in the container 22 or is passed through the water treatment agent 5 at a corresponding flow rate until the water treatment agent 5 (ion exchanger 21) is regenerated. This typically takes between 15 and 60 minutes.

After regeneration of the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21), the regeneration solution is discharged from the container 22. For this purpose, raw water continues to be introduced from input 1 into the riser pipe 23 at the top, as a result of which the raw water displaces the regenerating solution in countercurrent. The displaced regenerating solution flows through the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21) upwards to the drain 3, through which the spent regenerating solution is disposed of into a sewer. The container 22 is then flushed with raw water in cocurrent in order to remove residues of the regeneration solution from the top to the bottom of the water treatment agent 5 (ion exchanger 21). When rinsing, raw water is passed through the water treatment agent 5 (ion exchanger 21) in the same flow direction as in the first operating mode (softener mode), ie from top to bottom. The raw water conducted during rinsing through the water treatment agent 5 is then conducted to the drain 3 and over the disposed of with the drain 3 connected sewer.

In order to remove contaminated or contaminated water, which has stagnated in the container 22 for a longer period of time during the period of non-use, and odor-forming substances, especially after a longer period of non-use or a standstill of the water softening system in which no softened water has been removed at outlet 2 to remove the water softening system, the control device according to the invention is set up to initiate a third operating mode, in which raw water is routed from the inlet 1 through the water treatment device 4 and in particular through the container 22 to the drain 3 without prior regeneration of the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21). The water and/or odorous substances that may have been contaminated or polluted by the stagnation and that have formed in the container 22 during the stagnation of the water are thereby removed from the water treatment means 5 and from the container 22 and the lines of the water softening system and into the with the outflow 3 associated sewer passed and thereby disposed of.

In 3 is shown a control device S according to the invention, with the in the 1 and 2 shown water softening system can be controlled automatically. The control device S includes a control valve 6 for controlling the volume flows of the water and the regeneration solution through the water treatment device 4 and in particular through the container 22. The control valve 6 contains two mutually movable controls 7.8 in the 4 until 13 are shown in different operating positions. The in the 4 until 13 Controls shown 7.8 are designed as control discs that are sealed to each other and can be rotated about a common central axis against each other. Instead of control discs, differently shaped control elements can also be used, which can then, for example, be moved linearly in two opposite directions relative to one another. A drive 9, in particular an electric motor, is provided for moving one movable control element 7 relative to the other, fixed control element 8. The drive 9 can move the movable control element 7 relative to the stationary control element 8 in two opposite directions. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the drive 9 can rotate the two control elements 7, 8 designed as discs in relation to one another, with the drive 9 being able to move the movable control element 7 clockwise on the one hand and counterclockwise on the other hand relative to the fixed control element 8.

The control device also includes an electronic control unit, not shown here, with a data memory in which the operating and control parameters of the water softening system are stored. The electronic control unit controls the drive 9 and the valves, which for this purpose are expediently designed as electrically actuatable shut-off valves, as well as flow controllers and pump elements of the waste water treatment plant. An operator of the system can enter operating and control parameters via the electronic control unit, on the basis of which the components of the system are controlled in various operating modes.

In the 3 The control device S shown also contains an inlet socket 1', which is coupled to the inlet 1 of the water softening system, and an outlet socket 2', which is coupled to the outlet 2 of the plant. The inlet connection 1' and the outlet connection 2' can be closed by diaphragm valves 11,12. Furthermore, the control device S contains a drain connector 3 ′, which is coupled to the drain 3 of the water softening system 20 .

In the 4 until 13 the two control elements 7, 8 of the control valve 6 are each shown in perspective views from different perspectives (e.g 4a and 4b) . In 4 the two controls 7.8 are shown in an operating position of the first operating mode (softener mode) of the water softening system. This in 4 The upper control element 7 shown is coupled to the drive 9 and can be rotated by it relative to the lower control element 8, which is fixed in the housing of the control valve 6. By means of the drive 9, the movable control element 7 can be placed in different operating positions in relation to the fixed control element 8. The two control elements 7 , 8 designed as discs each contain a plurality of through holes 17 , 18 , certain through holes 17 of the movable control element 7 being aligned with corresponding through holes 18 of the fixed control element 8 in the individual operating positions of the control elements 7 .8 . This allows water or a regeneration solution or a rinsing liquid to flow through, as a result of which the volume flows in the water treatment device 4 can be controlled by means of the control valve 6 .

In the 4 until 13 various operating positions of the two control elements 7, 8 are shown relative to each other, with the aligned through bores of the movable control element 7 and the stationary control element 8 being given the reference numerals 17 and 18 are marked. The through-holes 17, 18 which are aligned with one another are additionally characterized by hatched areas which enclose the through-holes 17, 18 in question. Furthermore, in the 4 until 13 the directions of movement in which the movable control element 7 is moved in a step following the respective operating position shown are indicated at the top right with arrows.

In order to ensure precise positioning of the two control elements 7.8 in their respective operating positions and to compensate for mechanical play in the movement of the control elements 7.8 relative to one another, the control valve 6 includes a device 10 for detecting a reference position RR (this is shown in 10d shown). The device 10 for detecting the reference position RR between the two control elements 7 , 8 is formed in the illustrated embodiment by a bolt 13 which is preloaded by a spring 15 and arranged in a hollow-cylindrical housing part 16 of the movable control element 7 . The two controls 7.8, which for better representation in the 4-13 shown in an extended position, lie sealingly on top of each other in the housing of the control valve 6, the bolt 13 being pressed by the spring 15 onto the fixed control element 8 arranged underneath. On the outer circumference of the stationary control element 8, ramped or triangular notches 14, 14' are provided at certain circumferential positions. When the movable control element 7 is moved with respect to the fixed control element 8 to a relative position in which the bolt 13 is over a notch 14,14', the spring 15 presses the bolt 13 into the notch 14,14' respectively . This is detected by the control device and recognized as reaching a reversing position, whereupon the control device reverses the direction of movement of the movable control element 7 and brings it into the reference position RR, which will be explained below. Instead of a mechanical device 10 for detecting the reference position RR, a sensor, in particular an optical, capacitive or inductive sensor, can also be used for detecting the reference position.

To set the different operating modes, ie the first, the second and the third operating mode, the drive 9 is controlled by the control device and moves the movable control element 7 into the desired operating position. Starting from the in 4 shown operating position of the two controls 7.8, in which the water softening system is in the first operating mode (softener mode) to provide softened water at the outlet 2, when the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21) is exhausted, the water softening system goes into the second operating mode (regenerating mode) converted by moving the movable control element 7 from the in 4 shown operating position clockwise to the in 5 shown operating position is brought. The second operating mode (regeneration mode) includes a number of phases that are activated in succession by the control device.

In the operating position of 5 an introductory phase of the second operating mode is initiated, in which an aqueous regeneration solution is produced in the regeneration device. Sodium chloride in the form of tablets or granules is dissolved in water in a regenerating tank by filling a certain amount of sodium chloride into the regenerating tank and introducing raw water into the regenerating tank.

Upon completion of this introductory phase of the second mode of operation, the in 6 shown operating position of the controls 7.8 approached by the movable control 7 clockwise in the 6 position shown is rotated. In this position, the two controls 7.8 are aligned in 6 through openings of the movable control element 7 designated with reference number 17 with the through openings of the stationary control element 8 designated with reference symbol 18. In this case, with a corresponding activation of the shut-off valves, flow regulators and pump elements of the regeneration device, the regeneration solution produced in the regeneration container is pumped into the container 22 of the water treatment device 4 initiated. The water located in the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21) is routed to the drain 3 in the process. The introduction of the regenerating solution into the container 22 is carried out until the container 22 is completely filled with the regenerating solution. The water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21) are regenerated.

After the regeneration of the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21) has been completed, the movable control element 7 is turned clockwise into the in 7 position shown rotated. In this operating position of the controls 7.8 are aligned in 7 17 and 18 designated through holes of the two control elements 7.8 with each other and the valves of the regeneration device are adjusted so that raw water from the inlet 2 into the container 22 and through the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21) to the drain 3 is routed. The introduced raw water displaces the regenerating solution located in the container 22 . This will the regeneration solution by displacement from the water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21) and passed to the drain 3.

The water treatment means 5 (ion exchanger 21) is then backwashed by water flowing in the opposite direction, i.e. opposite to the flow direction of the raw water in the first operating mode (according to the 1 and 4 ), is passed through the water treatment agent 5. The controls are 7.8 in the in 8th shown operating position.

After completion of the backwashing process, the movable control element 7 is moved clockwise from the in 8th shown operating position to the operating position of 9 turned. The bolt 13 comes to rest over a notch 14' with a stop 14" and the bolt 13 is pressed into the notch 14' by its prestress. This position of the bolt 13 in the notch 14' is recognized by the control device as a reverse position detected ( 9 ) and the control device then initiates a reversal of movement of the movable control element 7 and rotates it from the in 9 shown position (reverse position) counterclockwise to the in 10 position shown. In this position, the pin 13 comes to rest against the stop 14" of the notch 14'. This position of the movable control element 7 with respect to the fixed control element 8 represents the reference position RR. The stop of the pin 13 against the stop 14" of the notch 14 'is in the detailed view 10d evident.

From the reference position RR of 10 a last phase of the second operating mode is controlled by moving the movable control element 7 clockwise into the in 11 operating position shown is rotated. In this position, the two controls 7.8 are aligned in 11 with the reference numerals 17 and 18 designated passage openings of the control elements 7 and 8 with each other. In this position of the controls 7.8, raw water is passed from the input 1 through the water treatment means 5 into the container 22 to the drain 3. As a result, residues of the regeneration solution can be washed out of the water treatment agents 5 and discharged through the drain 3 into a sewer. This completes the second operating mode (regeneration mode) and the water softener can be brought back into the first operating mode (softener mode). For this purpose, the control device controls the drive 9 so that it moves the movable control element 7 clockwise into the operating position 12 rotates which of the operating position of 4 is equivalent to. The water softener is then back in the first operating mode (softener mode).

If the water softening system is idle for a longer period of time, for example if the people in the household for which the water softening system provides softened water are absent, the third operating mode is activated at certain, predetermined times or after a period of non-use of the system recorded by the control device in order to avoid contamination and odor formation initiated. In the third mode of operation, the controls are 7.8 in the operating position of the last phase of the second mode of operation in 11 is shown.

To move from the operating position of the controls 7.8 of the first operating mode (according to 12 ) to the operating position of the controls 7.8 of 11 to arrive, the movable control element 7 is rotated counterclockwise relative to the fixed control element 8 in the in 13 position shown rotated. The position of the controls 7.8 out 13 corresponds to the operating position 11 . Here, as in the operating position of 11 , Raw water from the input 1 passed through the water treatment means 5 in the container 22 to the drain 3. The water that has stagnated in the container 22 if the system is not used for a longer period of time is discharged from the container 22 to the drain 3 and from there into a sewer. This prevents contamination and odor formation.

After completion of the third mode of operation, the system can be returned to the first mode of operation at any time by moving the movable control element 7 clockwise back to the operating position of 12 is rotated. In this position, the controls 7.8 - as in the operating position of 4 - Untreated water passed from input 1 through water treatment means 5 to output 2 of the system, so that softened water can be provided at output 2. Furthermore, after the end of the third operating mode, the system can also be brought into the second operating mode (regeneration mode) at any time if the degree of exhaustion of the water treatment means 5 requires this. In a corresponding manner, the third operating mode can also be initiated at any time after the end of the second operating mode, without the water softening system having worked in the first operating mode (softener mode).

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawing. For example, the water softening system can also be designed as a double or multiple system with several ion exchange tanks, wherein the control of the plant expediently takes place in such a way that at least one ion exchange tank runs in the softening mode while another ion exchange tank is operated in the regeneration mode.

Furthermore, the use of the control device according to the invention and the implementation of the control method according to the invention are not limited to water softening systems. The control device and the control method of the invention can be used in a corresponding manner, e.g. in filtration systems with regenerable water filters. In particular, filters with an electroactive filter material can be used, which bind microorganisms by electroadsorption and can thereby remove them from the raw water supplied for disinfection. Like ion exchangers, such electroactive filter materials can be regenerated by means of a saline solution, in particular a saline solution.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 2826702 A [0006]

Claims (24)

Control device for controlling a water treatment plant with a water treatment device (4), an inlet (1), an outlet (2) and a drain (3), wherein the water treatment device (4) contains regenerable water treatment means (5) and the control device for controlling the water treatment plant in at least a first operating mode in which water is conducted from the inlet (1) through the water treatment plant (1) to the outlet (2) and the water is treated in the water treatment plant (1), and a second operating mode in which the water treatment means (5) are regenerated, is set up, wherein at the end of the second operating mode a flushing takes place, in which water is conducted through the water treatment device (4) to the drain (3), characterized in that the control device for controlling the water treatment system is set up in a third operating mode, in which without a previous regeneration of the water treatment gmittel (5) water is passed from the inlet (1) through the water treatment device (4) to the outlet (3). control device claim 1 , characterized in that the control device contains a control valve (6) for controlling volume flows in the water treatment device (4), the control valve (6) having two control elements (7, 8) which can be moved in relation to one another and which are active in the first and in the second operating mode and in the third operating mode are movable relative to each other in predetermined operating positions. control device claim 2 , characterized in that the second operating mode comprises several successive phases with predetermined operating positions of the control elements (7, 8) which can be set one after the other by the control device, the last operating position at the end of the second operating mode being a rinse in which water from the inlet (1) is passed through the water treatment device (4) to the drain (3). control device claim 3 , characterized in that in the third operating mode the control device moves the control elements (7, 8) to the last operating position of the second operating mode. Control device according to one of claims 2 until 4 , characterized in that the control valve (6) contains a drive (9), in particular a motor, for moving one of the two control elements (7) relative to the other control element (8), the drive (9) for switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode which moves a control element (7) in a predetermined first direction of movement. control device claim 5 , characterized in that the control device for setting the third operating mode moves the one control element (7) relative to the other control element (8) in a second direction of movement, which is opposite to the first direction of movement. Control device according to one of claims 2 until 6 , characterized in that the control valve (6) contains a device (10) for detecting a reference position (RR) between the two control elements (7, 8). control device claim 7 , characterized in that the device (10) for detecting a reference position (RR) comprises a mechanical stop of a control element (7) in relation to the other control element (8) or a position sensor, in particular an optical, capacitive or inductive sensor. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device is set up to initiate the third operating mode independently of the first and second operating mode. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device is set up to initiate the third operating mode at predefinable times and/or after a predefinable period of operation or non-use of the water treatment plant. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device comprises a data memory in which the predefinable times in which the third operating mode is initiated and/or the predefinable operating period or the non-use period after which the third operating mode is initiated and /or the volume of the flushing water conducted through the water treatment means (5) in the third operating mode, in particular one to three times the volume of the container (22), is stored. Water treatment plant, in particular water softening plant (20), with a water treatment device (4), an inlet (1), an outlet (2) and a drain (3), wherein the water treatment device (4) contains regenerable water treatment means (5), characterized in that that the water treatment plant a Control device according to one of the preceding claims. water treatment plant claim 12 , characterized in that the water treatment device (4) contains at least one container (22) filled with an ion exchanger (21) and that the water treatment system comprises a regeneration device for regenerating the water treatment agent (5), which comprises a regenerant container which is filled with a salt solution and in particular can be filled with a saline solution. water treatment plant claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that the water treatment system comprises a regeneration device for regenerating the water treatment agent (5), the control device for regenerating the ion exchanger in the second operating mode causing the regeneration device to introduce a regeneration agent, in particular a saline solution and preferably a saline solution, into the water treatment device (4). . Water treatment plant according to one of Claims 12 until 14 , characterized in that the control device for regenerating the ion exchanger is set up at the end of the second operating mode for introducing water into the container (22) in order to flush the regenerating agent used for regeneration out of the container (22) and into the drain (3). conduct. Method for controlling a water treatment plant with a water treatment device (4), an inlet (1), an outlet (2) and a drain (3), wherein the water treatment device (4) contains regenerable water treatment means (5) and the water treatment plant is controlled by a control device at least in following operating modes: - a first operating mode, in which water is conducted from the inlet (1) through the water treatment plant (1) to the outlet (2) and the water is treated in the water treatment plant (1), - a second operating mode in which the water treatment means (5) are regenerated, with rinsing taking place at the end of the second operating mode by water being conducted from the inlet (1) through the water treatment device (4) to the drain (3), - A third operating mode, in which without a previous regeneration of the water treatment device (4) water from the inlet (1) is passed through the water treatment device (4) to the drain (3). procedure after Claim 16 , wherein the third mode of operation is performed independently of the first and second modes of operation. procedure after Claim 16 or 17 , wherein the third mode of operation is initiated by a user or automatically by the controller. Procedure according to one of Claims 16 until 18 , wherein the control device comprises an electronic control device with a data memory, which automatically initiates the third operating mode as a function of operating and control data stored in the data memory. procedure after claim 19 , wherein the third operating mode is initiated by the control device at predetermined times that are stored in the data memory. procedure after claim 19 , wherein the electronic control unit records operating times in which treated water is removed from the outlet (2) in the water treatment device (4) and/or downtimes in which no treated water is removed from the outlet (2), and the control device detects the third operating mode depending on the recorded operating times and/or downtimes. procedure after Claim 21 , wherein the third operating mode is initiated by the control device as soon as the control device generates a removal request for removal of water treated in the water treatment device (4) at the outlet (2) after a recorded idle time which is greater than a limit value stored in the data memory, wherein the changeover to the first operating mode, in which treated water is made available at the outlet (2), takes place only after the end of the third operating mode. Procedure according to one of Claims 16 until 22 , the second operating mode comprising: - a first phase in which a regenerating agent, in particular a saline solution and preferably a saline solution, is fed into the container (22) of the water treatment device (4), - a second phase in which the regenerating agent absorbs the water treatment agent (5) regenerated in the tank (22), - a third phase in which the regenerating agent is drained from the tank (22), and - a fourth phase in which the tank (22) is rinsed with water to remove residues of the To remove regenerating agent, the case through the container (22) conducted flushing water to the drain (3) and from there is passed into a sewer. Procedure according to one of Claims 16 until 23 , wherein the second operating mode comprises a disinfection of the water by introducing chlorine, wherein the control device directs chlorine, which has preferably been produced in a disinfection device with an electrolytic cell, into the water treatment means (5).

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