DE19951461A1 - Water purification assembly has a filter and ultrasonic stage to prepare the water for oxidation in an electrical field in a recirculating water flow to disinfect drinking water - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly to purify water, especially drinking water, has a unit (11) to generate an electrical field for electrolytic oxidation, preceded by an ultrasonic unit (3) and a filter (5). The units have a water flow connection between them. An assembly to purify water, especially drinking water, has a unit (11) to generate an electrical field for electrolytic oxidation, preceded by an ultrasonic unit (3) and a filter (5). The units have a water flow connection between them. The water purification assembly has a flow meter (10), in a circuit link with the oxidation unit. The oxidation unit has a tubular housing (12), containing coaxial tubular electrodes, in an equal distribution through the inner cross section of the housing. Ring gaps of an equal width are between the electrodes of a minimum width of 1 mm and a maximum width of 2 mm. The ends of the electrodes towards the water pipe are drawn radially inwards and/or have sharp edges. The filter has a chamber (6), with a larger cross section than the water pipe (7), and filter inserts (8) with a larger throughput than the maximum permissible water flow per time unit through the water pipe. The filter inserts are in front of the chamber in the water flow direction. The filter inserts have a maximum passage width of 0.025 mm. An overpressure valve (16) and/or an air bleed (9) are at the filter unit or the oxidation unit. The ultrasonic unit has an offset and/or diametrical ultrasonic oscillator (4). The water purifying assembly has a recirculating water flow, and is integrated for a recirculating water flow to pass through it. An Independent claim is included for a water purifying process where it is filtered and treated with ultrasonic oscillations before it passes through an electrical field for oxidation.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for Sterilization of water-carrying systems, especially systems that carry drinking water.

The problem of the risk of infection from Le occurring in water gionella and other microorganisms are known. By one breathe the aerosols (for example in the shower), which Le gionella may contain it in immunocompromised persons come to so-called legionella. Increase legionella is particularly strong in the hot water temperature range of 25 ° C up to 55 ° C, so that pipe systems and boilers are heavily contaminated become. The biofilm building up in the pipes forms there with an optimal food and reproductive base for the Legionella.

DE 195 34 736 A1 describes a device for killing Legionella and other microorganisms in cold and warm water systems described, wherein a treatment of water in one electrical direct or alternating current field takes place. Alternatively a device is proposed which has at least one transmission element for emitting ultrasonic waves and a housing with walls that the Ul emitted by the transmitting element reflect ultrasonic waves. Treatment with ultrasound wel len can also be used in addition to treatment with a DC or alternating current field.  

In the known systems, however, the problem is permanent Electrode calcification in the downstream current treatment unity not solved. The effect of the electrodes is within short time significantly reduced by the limescale and even canceled. The ultrasound known from DE 195 34 736 A1 essentially only serves to disrupt amoeba. It also generates waves with flow dividers ten slats a pressure loss in the supply lines where due to the ultrasound sound effect is restricted.

A side effect of treating water in an electric Field is that various oxidants, such as atomic oxygen, Per oxides etc. as well as active chlorine in the form of hypochlorite from the Chlorides occurring in the water are formed, which the after following line systems with constant flow of disinfectant ren.

The reduced effect of the electrodes due to limescale requires mechanical or chemical cleaning. At che Mix cleaning there is a risk that detergents improper operation with the water flow for a withdrawal place can reach. Mechanical cleaning is complex, because the electrodes have to be removed.

The invention has for its object a device for Provide disinfection of water-carrying systems at which the maintenance work is reduced and thus the effectiveness the plant is increased.

This object is achieved by a device for Sterilizing water in leading systems, especially systems, which lead to drinking water, which is an electrolytic oxi dationseinheit for generating an electric field, which the water flow can be suspended, as well as a filter unit and egg ne ultrasonic unit, wherein the filter unit of the Oxi dation unit in the flow direction of the water tet and the ultrasonic unit of the filter unit in the  Flow direction of the water is upstream and further the oxidation unit and the filter unit as well as the filters unit and the ultrasound unit in terms of cables are bound.

The limescale is stimulated by the ultrasound unit. It is useful that the ultrasound frequency and the ul Traschal performance adapted to the hardness range of the water who that can. This enables the formation of a maximum number of Lime crystal seeds. The emerging lime crystal nuclei are by the water flow into the downstream filter unit conducts relaxation due to the volume increase of the inflowing water is caused, whereby the lime precipitate lung progresses and the crystals that form the existing crystal nuclei. The now enlarged ßert crystals are retained by the filter unit. The oxidation unit, which the water from the filter unit too is passed, this is at least before a quick Ver liming preserved. Particles from the supply network and residues of Detached biofilms are also broken up by the filter unit hold so that they are not fed to the oxidation unit and also no longer circulate in the water-carrying system. On Clogging of the oxidation unit is thus effectively prevented different. In addition, the ultrasonic unit ensures that the Amoeba as they pass through the ultrasound unit the so that Legionella, which are embedded in the amoeba and which should also pass the filter unit in the Oxidation unit can be killed.

The oxidation unit is preferably clocked with a DC voltage supplied to excessive oxygen / water to avoid substance formation.

In one embodiment of the invention, a flow monitor is for monitoring Chen provided the water flow, which is circuitry is connected to the oxidation unit. The oxidation unit is only switched on when water is removed from the system is circulated or in the system.  

An embodiment in which the oxides are particularly favorable tion unit a tubular housing and also tubular Has electrodes which are arranged coaxially around one another in the housing are arranged. As a result, the entire cross section of Be act serving space of the oxidation unit covered. There at the tubular electrodes are even over the In NEN cross section of the housing arranged distributed. The between two tubular electrodes each formed annular Columns have the same width. The width is preferably the gap between a minimum of 1 mm and a maximum of 2 mm. This is it is possible to create a flat water film effectively and with laminar Treat leadership. The effect is particularly favorable if the electrodes of the oxidation unit at least on their what End facing towards the feed line drawn in radially inwards are formed and have sharp edges. This will make the Field lines condensed over the angled edge, resulting in a leads to greater influence on the direction of flow of the bacteria. So even at relatively high flow velocities intensive electrode contact ensured.

The electrodes are with a periodically changing pots tial reversal provided. The current strength can be monitored electronically be and to the changing conductivity of the water automa be adjusted table. The river keeper ensures provides that the electrodes of the Power supply to be separated and thus a hydrogen pro production is excluded.

The filter unit preferably has a chamber which has a has a larger cross section than the water pipe and the further formed by the housing of the filter unit, and Filter cartridges whose throughput capacity is greater than the maxi times permissible water flow per unit of time in the water supply tung. The chamber is in the flow direction of the water upstream of the filter inserts. One is particularly cheap Cross-sectional ratio, which is on the order of 3, which means that the flow rate of the water in the Chamber 1/3 of the flow rate of water in the water  line is. This allows the water to relax wherever is achieved by further lime precipitation. Forming Lime crystals accumulate in the chamber on the existing ones the crystal nuclei and are retained by the fine filter ten.

With a passage width of the filter unit or its filter Sets of maximum 0.025 mm are particularly effective in limestone crystals le and biofilm parts retained.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pressure relief valve and / or a ventilation unit is assigned to the filter unit or the oxidation unit. The ventilation unit allows released CO _{2 to} escape from the filter unit, which occurs when the water is released. The pressure relief valve opens when the pressure in the device is too high and thus prevents destruction.

A preferred development of the invention is thereby characterized records that the Ultra assigned to the ultrasound unit sound transducer in or on the ultrasonic unit and / or are arranged diametrically. This results in a ho efficiency in the treatment of water.

A particularly favorable mode of action results when in one Plant circulating water also each of the invention Device is supplied, d. H. this is so in the system tegrates that in addition to the fresh water supplied, the zir treating water is treated. This ensures that the water in the system repeats one Undergoes treatment. The treatment is expedient averaging device so that the time that the water be necessary to circulate once in the water cycle, shorter is the time Legionella need to count to double. This ensures that the in water legionella already in leading systems be killed. Furthermore, one of the filter unit or Oxidation unit assigned pressure relief valve and / or  Ventilation unit provided. This is done automatically Degassing, for example to remove carbonic acid formed.

The invention further provides a method for disinfection of water-bearing plants, especially plants that drink water, ready, in which the water flow is an electric Flows through the field of water before treatment with the electric field is filtered and treated with ultrasound, the water flow in the direction of flow initially with Ultra is treated sound, then finely filtered and then with the electric field is applied.

To design this method it is provided that at Filter particles 0.025 mm to be filtered out.

Another embodiment is characterized in that the electrical field of the oxidation unit from a flow monitor is controlled, which monitors the water flow, and that the electric field is switched off when the water flow per Unit of time reached a minimum value. This minimum value can Be "zero". This training ensures that when the water flow is at rest, this is in the oxidation unit che water is not supplied with electricity, which the formation of explosive gases.

A preferred embodiment, which is the essence and the radio tion of the invention describes in more detail follows from the standing described drawing.

It shows

Fig. 1 leading a schematic representation of the device for disinfecting water systems;

Fig. 2 shows a cross section through the oxidation unit according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the oxidation unit according to FIG. 1 and

Fig. 4 shows the detail Z of FIG. 3 with a retracted, sharp edge on an enlarged scale.

From FIG. 1, the device 1 leading for disinfecting water systems is apparent. The water to be treated flows through a water supply line 2 into the device 1 . It first passes through an ultrasound unit 3 in the direction of flow. The ultra sound unit 3 has ultrasonic transducers 4 , which acts on the water flow with ultrasound. The ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic vibrators 4 cause precipitation of the lime in the water as a formation of lime crystal nuclei is stimulated. Furthermore, the ultrasonic waves cause the amoebas to break open, so that the legionellae present in the amoebas are released. The excitation frequency of the ultrasonic oscillator 4 is tuned to the respective hardening range of the water flowing through, so that a maximum number of lime crystal nuclei is produced. The ultrasonic vibrators 4 are offset in the ultrasonic unit 3 and / or arranged diametrically. They are supplied by a power supply unit 15 with electrical current.

A filter unit 5 is arranged downstream of the ultrasonic unit 3 in the flow direction of the water. After the water flowing through the device 1 has been treated in the ultrasonic unit 3 , it flows into it.

The filter unit 5 has a chamber 6 , which is formed by the Ge housing of the filter unit and which has a larger cross section than the cross section of the water line 7th The water first flows into it. Since the chamber has a larger cross-section than the water pipe 7 , the flow rate is reduced and the water initially relaxes. As a result, further lime accumulates on the lime crystal nuclei formed in the ultrasound unit 3 and the lime crystal nuclei grow into microcrystals. From the chamber 6, the water passes through the filter unit 5 belonging to the filter elements. 8 These hold back the microcrystals formed, but also other particles from the water-carrying system, as well as residues of killed biofilms and amoebas. The passage width of the filter inserts 8 is a maximum of 0.025 mm, so that the largest possible proportion of particles can be filtered out of the water. The Legionella in the water are too small to be filtered out. The filter unit 5 also has a ventilation unit 9 , through which gases arising during the expansion of the water can escape. This prevents pressure build-up and at the same time increases the pH value of the water. The water is less acidic, so that the parts of the plant are less attacked. The filter unit 5 is arranged vertically and also has two pressure gauges 17 , one of which is arranged at the upper end (in front of the filter inserts 8 ) and the other at the lower end (behind the filter inserts 8 ). Vonei nander different pressure indicates that the filter cartridges 8 are clogged and must be replaced.

In the flow direction of the water, the filter unit 5 is connected to a flow monitor 10 and an oxidation unit 11 , in which the Legionellae in the water are killed.

The flow monitor 10 is connected via the control unit 15 in terms of circuitry to the oxidation unit 11 and monitors the flow of water. When the circulation or the flow of the water stops, a signal is passed on to the oxidation unit 11 and the oxidation unit 11 is turned off. An arrangement of the flow monitor 10 in the flow direction of the water in front of the ultrasonic unit 3 is also conceivable.

As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the oxidation unit 11 has a tubular housing 12 and tubular elec trodes 13, coaxially around each other, distributed over the cross section of the housing 12, are arranged in this. The electrodes 13 are made of titanium and are coated with platinum oxide. The annular gaps 14 formed between two tubular electrodes 13 each have the same widths. The maximum width between two electrodes 13 is 2 mm.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the electrodes 13 are drawn in radially inwards at their ends facing the water supply line 2 and furthermore have sharp edges. By this measure, as well as by the selected arrangement of the electrodes 13 , a laminar flow of water along the electrodes 13 is made. As a result, intensive contact of the water with the electrodes 13 is effected even at high flow speeds. The sharp edges of the electrodes cause a gün term formation of the electric field lines, so that Legionella in the water are better used on the electrodes.

The electrodes 13 are supplied by a power supply unit 15 with pulsed direct current in order to avoid excessive oxygen or hydrogen formation. The current intensity is automatically adapted to the changing conductivity of the water by means of a control element. By applying electricity to the water, the Legionella in the water but also other bacteria are killed.

The oxidation unit 11 also has a pressure relief valve 16 , which opens when the pressure in the oxidation unit 11 exceeds a certain level due to gases. This prevents possible damage to the device.

The selected arrangement of the units has the advantage that lime and other particles in the ultrasonic unit 3 and in the filter unit 5 are bound or filtered out in the water. As a result, the calcification of the Oxidationsein unit 11 is reduced, which increases the efficiency of the system. Furthermore, the maintenance work for the Oxidationsein unit 11 are extremely low.

Reference list

1

contraption

2nd

Water supply

3rd

Ultrasound unit

4th

Ultrasonic transducer

5

Filter unit

6

chamber

7

Water pipe

8th

Filter cartridges

9

Ventilation unit

10th

River watchman

11

Oxidation unit

12th

casing

13

Electrodes

14

column

15

Power supply unit / control unit

16

Pressure relief valve

17th

manometer

Claims (14)

1. Device for disinfecting water leading systems, in particular special systems that carry drinking water, comprehensive
an electrolytic oxidation unit ( 11 ) for generating an electric field to which the water flow can be exposed, and
a filter unit ( 5 ) and an ultrasonic unit ( 3 ), the filter unit ( 5 ) being connected upstream of the oxidation unit ( 11 ) in the flow direction of the water and the ultrasonic unit ( 3 ) of the filter unit ( 5 ) being connected upstream in the flow direction of the water and
wherein the oxidation unit ( 11 ) and the filter unit ( 5 ) as well as the filter unit ( 5 ) and the ultrasound unit ( 3 ) are connected to one another in terms of lines. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a flow monitor ( 10 ) for monitoring the water flow is provided, which is connected in terms of circuit to the oxidation unit ( 11 ). 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the oxidation unit ( 11 ) has a tubular housing ( 12 ) and further tubular electrodes ( 13 ) which are arranged coaxially around one another in the housing ( 12 ). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tubular electrodes ( 13 ) are evenly distributed over the inner cross section of the housing ( 12 ), the annular gaps ( 14 ) formed between two electrodes ( 13 ) in each case. have the same widths. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the width of the column ( 14 ) is a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 mm. 6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the electrodes ( 13 ) of the oxidation unit ( 11 ) at least at their ends facing the water supply line are formed radially inwardly and / or have sharp edges. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the filter unit ( 5 ) has a chamber ( 6 ) having a larger cross-section than the water pipe ( 7 ), and filter inserts ( 8 ), the throughput of which is greater than the maximum permissible water flow per unit of time in the water pipe ( 7 ), the chamber ( 6 ) inserting the filter ( 8 ) is switched in the flow direction of the water. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the filter inserts ( 8 ) of the filter unit ( 5 ) have a maximum passage width of 0.025 mm. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the filter unit ( 5 ) or the oxidation unit ( 11 ) is assigned a pressure relief valve ( 16 ) and / or a ventilation unit ( 9 ). 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ultrasound unit ( 3 ) ultrasound transducer ( 4 ) summarizes which ver in or on the ultrasound unit ( 3 ) and / or are arranged diametrically. 11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized, that they are so in a water system that one Circulating water flow has, is integrated that you also the Circulating water flow can be fed. 12. Process for the disinfection of water-bearing systems, ins special systems that carry drinking water, where the what  water current flows through an electric field, the water flow filtered before treatment with the electric field and is treated with ultrasound, the water flow in Direction of flow is first treated with ultrasound, then finely filtered and then with the electric Field is applied. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized, that when filtering particles 0.025 mm are filtered out. 14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the electric field is controlled by a flow monitor ( 10 ), which monitors the water flow, and that the electric field is switched off when the water flow per unit time falls below a minimum value.