DE102023100657A1 - Method for operating a system of water-bearing devices and a water treatment device and system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a system (1) consisting of at least two water-conducting appliances (3) in the form of household appliances or commercially used appliances such as a washing machine (35), dishwasher (36), beverage maker (34), steamer (32) or the like and at least one water treatment device (5), the water treatment device (5) comprising a plurality of treatment devices (50), each of the devices (3) being equipped with a treatment device in which water is used in the form of at least one treatment stage, and each of the devices (3) a control device (31) is assigned, which controls at least one program of the treatment device. In order to ensure that the devices always have the optimum fuel available, at the beginning or during the execution of a treatment program in at least one of the devices (3), its control device (31) emits at least one signal which correlates with the water treatment stage required in the program, and a control device (56) of the water treatment device (5) receives the signal and controls the water treatment device (5) in such a way that it produces and/or provides water in a treatment stage corresponding to the signal by at least one treatment device (50). The invention also relates to a system with the aforementioned components, in which both the devices (3) and the water treatment device (5) are equipped with control devices (31, 56) that are suitable and prepared for this, a method according to at least one of the preceding ones carry out claims.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a system consisting of at least two water-conducting devices in the form of household appliances or commercially used devices such as washing machines, dishwashers, beverage makers, steamers or the like and of at least one water treatment device, each of the devices being equipped with a treatment device, in the water is used in the form of at least one treatment stage and each of the devices is assigned a control device which controls at least one program of the treatment device.

The invention also relates to a system of the type described at the outset.

Devices of the type mentioned are used in many households and commercial establishments. It may be the case that the household or commercial facility in question also has a softening system that softens the water provided by a water supply company before it is forwarded and distributed to various water taps. The water is always at the same level of treatment at these taps, i. H. usually softened to a degree of hardness between 6 and 8° dH. It is not taken into account that different devices often require water with different levels of treatment, sometimes even a single device needs water with different levels of treatment in different programs or program sections.

From the DE 43 04 382 A1 it is known to equip a water-bearing household appliance with at least two water connections, so that the appliance can be supplied with water with different treatment stages or water qualities. The control device of the device can then be used to set which treatment stages or qualities are used and the programmed water supply to the treatment device of the device can be adjusted accordingly. In the DE 43 04 382 A1 it is assumed that the water to be used is already available.

The invention therefore addresses the problem of improving a method for operating a system made up of water-conducting devices and a water treatment device in such a way that the devices are each provided with the optimum operating fluid. In addition, a system which is suitable and designed for carrying out such a method is to be disclosed.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a method having the features of patent claim 1 or by a system having the features of patent claim 7 . Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the subclaims which follow in each case.

In the method according to the invention, a system is operated which consists of at least two water-conducting appliances in the form of household appliances or commercially used appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, beverage makers, steamers or the like and at least one water treatment device. According to the invention, water-carrying devices are devices in which either the items to be treated are treated with the aid of water or in which foodstuffs are produced with the addition of water, or mixed forms thereof. Household appliances are devices that are used in households, commercial devices are devices that are used for commercial purposes. Household appliances and commercial appliances can have the same design and differ only in their intended use, but they can also be adapted to the respective intended use and thus differ in terms of their design. Each of the aforementioned devices is equipped with a treatment device in which water is used in the form of at least one treatment stage. Water treatment stages can be filtered water, other than water that has been sterilized by increasing the temperature, demineralized water or mineralized water. By demineralized water is meant water that has at least a portion of its mineral content reduced after treatment compared to the state before treatment. By mineralized water is meant water that has at least a portion of its mineral content increased after treatment compared to the state before treatment. Treatment within the meaning of the invention does not just mean a change in the temperature of water; in this respect, parts of water that differ solely in terms of temperature are not parts of water in the form of different stages of treatment. However, a change in temperature can of course also take place during processing in the sense of the invention.

Each of the devices is assigned a control device that controls at least one program of the treatment device. Preferentially electronic components, in particular microprocessor controls, which are present in the device and which are able to run programs as a function of user inputs and/or state variables measured during the program, can be used as control devices affect the function of individual actuators of the devices. However, control devices can also be arranged at least partially outside of a device. A central control device can also be present, with which all or at least several devices can be controlled together. Then those parts that control the respective devices are the associated control devices. In this respect, the term "associated" is to be interpreted broadly here. Programs can be working processes controlled by a control device of the devices, in which material to be treated is treated or foodstuffs are produced, or hybrid forms thereof.

In the system described above, there are advantages according to the invention in that at the beginning or during the execution of a program in at least one of the devices, its assigned control device emits at least one signal which correlates with the treatment level of the water required in the program and that a control device of the water treatment device Receives the signal and controls the water treatment device in such a way that it produces and/or provides water in a treatment stage corresponding to the signal. A signal can be a sequence of characters that are passed on either via signal lines provided for this purpose or wirelessly from a signal transmitter (here the associated control device of a device) to a signal receiver (here the control device of the water treatment device), possibly also via a further control device in the form of a cloud. The same definitions apply to the control device of the water treatment device as to the control devices of the devices.

By carrying out the method according to the invention, the device can work with optimal water quality in the respective program or program section in which water is required and thereby improve the results that result from this program. Results can either be processing results such as cleaned laundry, cleaned dishes or cooked food, but also products made with the device using the water, such as drinks or food. A further advantage is that the water treatment device does not necessarily have to be set up in the same room as the devices, which means that the overall system can be constructed in a space-saving manner.

In an advantageous embodiment, the water treatment device supplies the water to the device. Delivery is a fluid connection between the water treatment device and the device, in which suction or pumping devices or a gradient are provided for generating a volume flow of the water from the water treatment device to the device. The advantage results from the fact that a user does not have to carry out any interactions here that serve to transport water to the device. The program sequence of the device can thus take place automatically.

However, it can also be advantageous if the water treatment device provides the water in a storage container provided for this purpose. A reservoir can be a container structurally assigned to the water treatment device, which can either be removed from the water treatment device or emptied by an emptying device to be actuated by a user. A buffer tank, recycling bin or auxiliary tank described later is not a storage tank. In such a case, interaction on the part of the user is necessary in order to bring the water to the device, but there is no need for fluid-carrying lines between the device and the water treatment device. The device can thus be positioned independently of the water treatment device with a large degree of freedom. In such a case it is advantageous if the signals between the control devices of the device and the water treatment device are exchanged wirelessly.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the water treatment device can treat the water before or after partial treatment, i.e. before delivery or before or when it is made available, as required, d. i.e., if requested by the control device of the device in question, add an additive. The addition of such an additive represents a treatment within the meaning of the invention, water with an additive is therefore water in a specific treatment stage. Additives are those substances that are not water. They can be hydrous. Additives can be, for example, CO2, NaCl, CaCO3 (for mineralization), water-soluble vitamins, aromas, fluoride, descaling agents such as citric acid and/or trace elements. The water treatment device can be equipped with one or more additional containers for storing or adding additives. Alternatively or additionally, the additives can be produced and/or added by devices for producing and/or adding the additives. The additional containers and/or devices for producing and/or adding the additives can preferably be arranged fluidically behind the demineralization device, but also at any other point of the water treatment device.

It is particularly advantageous if the water treatment device supplies water to a device or makes it available for the device in at least two different treatment stages. Some devices require water in different treatment stages for different programs or program sections. For example, in the case of appliances that clean clothes or dishes, it is advantageous to use soft (usually demineralized) water in the program sections in which a cleaning agent containing surfactants is used, because the effect of surfactants is better in soft water, and use hard (possibly mineralized, but never demineralized) water in the program sections in which the tenside is to be rinsed out (ie diluted), because this can absorb more tenside. User profiles can also be stored in beverage makers or drinking water dispensers, in which the water to be used is prepared according to the user. As previously described, the at least two levels of rendering provided or provided may be used in a single program, but also in different programs.

In the system according to the invention, as in the method according to the invention, at least two water-carrying devices in the form of household appliances or commercially used devices such as washing machines, dishwashers, beverage makers, steamers or the like and at least one water treatment device are used. Both the devices and the water treatment device are equipped with control devices that are suitable and prepared to carry out a method according to at least one of the preceding claims. The same definitions apply as for the method according to the invention.

It is advantageous if the water treatment device comprises at least one filter device and at least one demineralization device. A filtration device can perform chemical and/or physical filtration. For this purpose, filtration stages with activated charcoal, zeolites, micro- and ultrafiltration can be used individually or in combination with one another, with the individual filtration stages being arranged in parallel, one after the other or in other possible and sensible combinations. In addition, a sterilization device, for example a UV irradiation device, can be connected upstream or downstream of the filter device. A demineralization device can be designed as a reverse osmosis system, as an ion exchanger and/or as an electrodeionizer. As already described above, many water-bearing devices require demineralized (colloquially soft) water in some programs or program sections. It has also already been described that this is not the case with all devices or in all programs or program sections. As a result, it is disadvantageous to operate the water-carrying devices that are present in a household or in a commercial facility with demineralized water. Even when using demineralized water, it can be advantageous to vary the degree of demineralization in different programs. In dishwashers, for example, it is known that the proportion of sodium resulting from an exchange of hardness-causing minerals in the water used must not be too high in programs in which glasses are washed. It can therefore be advantageous if the water treatment device is able to provide water in at least two treatment stages, in which it is demineralized in each case, but with a different degree of demineralization. Excessive demineralization can also cause taste disadvantages in beverage makers such as coffee machines. Since the degree of demineralization can be adjusted in very few systems, the degree of demineralization can be varied in the simplest way by mixing it with non-demineralized water or by subsequent mineralization. On the other hand, with some devices, in particular with beverage makers, it is desirable not to produce the beverages from tap water, but rather to at least subject them to filtration. In particular when using reverse osmosis systems as a demineralization device, it can be advantageous to place a filter device and possibly also a sterilization device in front of them in order to prevent the membrane of the reverse osmosis system from blocking too quickly.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one buffer tank is arranged downstream of the filtering device and/or the demineralizing device in terms of fluid. In this context, the inventive generation and provision of water in a specific treatment stage by the water treatment device is also implemented in that it fills one or more of these tanks with water in the respective treatment stage and/or empties it. A buffer tank is a container that can be both filled and emptied by the water treatment device. A storage tank, recycling tank or additional tank described elsewhere is not a buffer tank. First of all, the provision of buffer tanks after the individual stages of water treatment offers advantages in that a sufficient volume flow of water for the desired or required treatment stage is then available. Slow preparation aisles can thus be bridged. Another advantage is that filtered and possibly sterilized, but not demineralized water can be used to blend demineralized water.

The water treatment device can also include a mineralization device in which the demineralized water is hardened again. Such a device is advantageous because in many demineralization devices the degree of demineralization cannot be adjusted.

It is also advantageous if a controllable branch of a return line is arranged in front of at least one device in terms of fluid. The water that is in a line from the water treatment device to one of the devices does not always have the treatment level requested by the control device of a device and must therefore be forced out of the line at least in some cases. Alternatively, and more water-efficient than discarding to a drain, is recycling to a buffer tank from which it can be recycled. The buffer tank behind the filtration device is particularly useful here, since the returned water is usually already filtered. Switched valves or water switches can be used to control the branches. The control can be carried out both by the control device of the water treatment device and by the control devices of the devices, possibly even in combination.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically with reference to drawings and is described in more detail below.

The figure shows a system in which, for example, a steamer 32, an ironing device 33, a beverage maker 34 for coffee and/or tea, a washing machine 35 and a dishwasher 36 and a drinking water dispenser 37 are present as water-carrying, program-controlled devices 3. Of course, other devices that are not shown, such as ovens, kettles, refrigerators, etc., can be present. All devices 3 have treatment devices (not shown) in which an object (laundry, crockery, food to be cooked; all not shown) is acted upon with the aid of water, or in which a water-containing composition (usually a drink or Ice cream; not shown) is prepared. With at least two devices, 3 water is used in different treatment stages. In addition, a single device 3 can use water in at least two treatment stages in different programs or in different program sections of a single program. For example, a washing machine 35 uses softened water for washing and hard water for rinsing, for example concentrate from a demineralization device 53 . The figure also shows another device, namely a toilet 41, as a water-consuming device 4, which is generally not program-controlled and therefore does not require any control devices.

The system also includes a water treatment device 5. Various treatment devices are integrated in this device, with which water can be produced in different treatment stages. As shown symbolically in the figure, processing devices 50 can be filter devices 51, sterilization devices 52, demineralization devices 53, mineralization devices 54 or additional containers 55 and/or devices (not shown) for producing and/or adding additives. Filtering devices 51 can use filter materials such as activated carbon, zeolites or filter membranes, sterilization devices 52 can use UV radiation or activated carbon, demineralization devices 53 can be reverse osmosis systems or ion exchangers, mineralization devices 54 are devices for adding hardening agents such as calcium carbonate, additives can be carbon dioxide, fluorine or aromatic substances, for example , Which are stored in additional containers 55 provided for this purpose and are added from these or are produced and added by means of facilities. The transitions between the individual processing devices 50 can be fluid, i. In other words, demineralization devices 53 such as reverse osmosis systems can also perform a filter function, filter materials such as activated carbon can also bring about sterilization and the mineralization can also take place through additives. In order to supply the various treatment devices 50 with fresh water from a fresh water supply line 60 or with already treated water from upstream treatment devices 50, the necessary lines and fluid switching devices such as valves or water switches are integrated into the water treatment device 5. Lines are symbolized here as arrows 62 with solid lines, switching devices as circles 64.

The water treatment device 5 can also include mixing devices 57 in which water from different treatment stages, in particular water from different additional containers 55, are mixed with one another. This is also done via lines 62 and controlled switching devices 64. The additional containers 55 or Einrich The water treatment device 5 only has to be assigned connections for generating and/or adding additives. The assignment can be designed in such a way that the containers or devices are structurally integrated into the water treatment device, but they can also be arranged outside of the water treatment device and only be controlled by it. Additives can be added before delivery or before or after provision. The necessary lines 62 and switching devices 64 are also present here.

Other components of the water treatment device 5 are containers that have different functions. In addition to the additional containers 55 already mentioned above, there are storage containers 58 and buffer tanks 59. Storage containers 58 are filled with water from the respective treatment stage by individual treatment devices 50. You have no line 62, which is led to one of the devices 3 or 4, so the user must remove the water from them and transport it to the device. They can be equipped with a dispensing device (not shown). This means that the water is not supplied by the water treatment device 5 to the respective device 3 or 4 but only made available for this device 3 . Such a device 3 can be, for example, the ironing device 33 described above, but also the beverage maker 34. Buffer tanks 59 are containers that are assigned to individual treatment devices and in which water is temporarily stored for a subsequent delivery or treatment. They are connected to the treatment devices 50 and/or the devices 3 or 4 via lines 62, switching devices 64 and, if appropriate, pumps (symbolised as circuit 66).

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a filter device 51 is connected to a fresh water supply line. The filtered water is fed into a first buffer tank and from there into a demineralization device 3. This has a permeate outlet 531 and a concentrate outlet 532. Both outlets 531 and 532 are connected via lines 62 to a second buffer tank 592 (behind the permeate outlet 531) and a third buffer tank 593 (behind the concentrate outlet 532). Individual devices 3 such as the steam cooker 32, the washing machine 35 or the dishwasher 36 can then be supplied with filtered and demineralized water from the second buffer tank 592. Furthermore, this water can be made available in a reservoir 58 for the ironing device 33, or the second buffer tank 592 is equipped with a tapping device (not shown) in order to be able to draw water for the ironing device 33 from it.

The concentrate from the third buffer tank 593 is routed via lines 62 to the washing machine 35 and to the dishwasher 36, where it can be used in certain program sections at the end of the program for rinsing out detergent and dishwashing liquid. In addition, it can be used to flush a toilet 41 .

The line from the second buffer tank 592 is routed to a mineralization facility 54 . There, the water is hardened to a predetermined degree of hardness and then either fed directly to the beverage maker and the drinking water dispenser, provided they are equipped with connection lines 62, or it is made available in storage containers (not shown). Additives can also be added to the filtered, demineralized and then specifically mineralized water for the drinking water dispenser via an additional tank.

The figure also shows that those devices that are fed with water of different treatment stages (beverage maker 34, drinking water dispenser 37, washing machine 35 and dishwasher 36) are connected to a return line (symbolized by a double arrow). Water that is displaced from a line to a device because it does not have the required treatment stage is conducted via this to the first buffer tank 591 behind the filter device 51 .

Lines 62, fluidic switching devices 64 and pumps 66 are only partially indicated in the figure; of course, further lines and switching devices for connecting the processing devices, the mixing devices, the devices for producing and/or adding additives and the containers to one another and to the devices in be present as desired. Of course, the switching devices can also be at least partially integrated into the devices 3 or into the processing devices 50 .

The water treatment device is also equipped with a control device 56 . This is designed to select the processing devices 50 and, if necessary, to control their processing processes. In addition, it controls the aforementioned switching devices 64 and pumps 66 in order to generate the desired flow of water between the individual components and to the devices 3 and 4 . Of course, part of the switching devices 64, in particular those associated with the return line 68 described later, can be controlled by one or more of the control devices 31 of the devices 3.

So that the water can be used in the required treatment stage at the beginning or during the implementation of a treatment program in a device 3, the control device 31 of the device 3 emits a signal either via a data line or as a radio signal (symbolized by the dotted arrows 7), which correlates with the treatment stage of the water required in the program (as described above, this can also be two or more treatment stages in a single program). The control device 56 of the water treatment device receives the signal and controls the water treatment device in such a way that it generates water in a treatment stage corresponding to the signal and delivers it directly to the device or makes it available in a storage container. Additives as described above can also be added to the water. The water is then supplied from the appropriate treatment device or from the appropriate buffer tank via a line to the device. Switching devices 64 upstream of the device are controlled in such a way that they direct incoming water via the return line 68 into the first buffer tank 591 behind the filter device 51 for a predetermined period of time and switch after this period and feed the incoming water to the device 34 to 37. Instead of the time control, the treatment stage of the incoming water can also be detected by sensors and the switching device 64 can be actuated when water arrives that has the required treatment stage.

Reference List

1

system

3

water-bearing devices

31

control device

32

steamer

33

ironing device

34

beverage maker

35

washing machine

36

dishwasher

37

drinking water dispenser

4

water-using devices

41

Toilet

5

water treatment device

50

processing facility

51

filter device

52

disinfection device

53

demineralization facility

531

permeate outlet

532

concentrate outlet

54

mineralization facility

55

additional container

56

control device

57

mixing device

58

reservoir

59

buffer tank

591

first buffer tank (behind filter device)

592

second buffer tank (behind permeate outlet)

593

third buffer tank (behind concentrate outlet)

60

fresh water supply

62

Lines (arrows with solid lines)

64

Switching devices (circuits)

66

pump

68

return line

7

data line

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 4304382 A1 [0004]

Claims (15)

Method for operating a system (1) consisting of at least two water-conducting devices (3) in the form of household appliances or commercially used devices such as a washing machine (35), dishwasher (36), beverage maker (34), steamer (32) or the like and at least a water treatment device (5), wherein - the water treatment device (5) comprises a plurality of treatment devices (50), - each of the devices (3) is equipped with a treatment device in which water is used in the form of at least one treatment stage, - each of the devices (3 ) a control device (31) is assigned, which controls at least one program of the treatment device, characterized in that - at the beginning or during the implementation of a treatment program in at least one of the devices (3), its control device (31) emits at least one signal which correlates with the water treatment stage required in the program, - and that a control device (56) of the water treatment device (5) receives the signal and controls the water treatment device (5) in such a way that it waters water in a treatment stage corresponding to the signal by at least one treatment device (50 ) generated and/or made available. procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that the water treatment device (5) supplies the water to the device (3). Method according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the water treatment device (5) provides the water in a container (58, 592) provided for this purpose. Method according to at least one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the water treatment device (5) adds an additive to the water before delivery or before or after providing it. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water treatment device (5) supplies water to a device (3) in at least two different treatment stages or makes it available for the device (3). Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the device (3) uses the water in the at least two treatment stages supplied or provided in a single program. System (1), consisting of at least two water-conducting devices (3) in the form of household appliances or commercially used devices such as a washing machine (35), dishwasher (36), beverage maker (34), steamer (32) or the like and at least one water treatment device ( 5), characterized in that both the devices (3) and the water treatment device (5) are equipped with control devices (31, 56) which are suitable and prepared to carry out a method according to at least one of the preceding claims. System (1) according to the preceding claim 7 , characterized in that the water treatment device (5) comprises at least one filter device (51) and at least one demineralization device (53). System (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one buffer tank (59, 591, 592) is arranged fluidly downstream of the filtering device (51) and/or the demineralizing device (53). System (1) according to at least one of Claims 7 until 9 , characterized in that the water treatment device (5) comprises at least one additional container (55) and/or a device for producing and/or adding additives. System (1) according to at least one of Claims 7 until 10 , characterized in that the water treatment device (5) comprises at least one sterilization device (52). System (1) after claim 11 , characterized in that the sterilization device (52) is fluidly arranged downstream of the filter device (51). System (1) according to at least one of Claims 7 until 12 , characterized in that the water treatment device (5) comprises at least one mineralization device (57). System (1) after Claim 13 , characterized in that the mineralization device (57) is fluidly arranged downstream of the demineralization device (53). System (1) according to at least one of the preceding Claims 7 until 14 , characterized in that fluidly before at least a return line (68) with a controllable switching device (64) is arranged in a device.

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