EP0176694B1 - Method and device for the subsequent preparation of drinking water and water for other usage - Google Patents

Abstract

CO2 and H2CO3 can be added to the drinking water and water for other usage in the household and for small establishments on the one hand and to any irrigation water for house plants floods or hobby gardens on the other hand, in a simple and purposeful manner and in different concentrations. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to use relatively large, commercially available normal compressed CO2 gas cylinders even in the household and small establishments and to supply the various CO2 users in the household from this compressed gas cylinder. These users can also include domestic appliances for the direct preparation of CO2-containing beverages, the carboniser thereof being connected to the compressed gas cylinder. For the addition of different quantities of CO2, a plurality of mutually independent devices for impregnation of the water with CO2 can also be provided directly before the removal point or the user. The impregnation devices can supply the various lines or appliances in the household in different concentrations via separately controllable devices. As a result, depositions of mineral substances in domestic appliances and machines can be greatly reduced, with economical usage of CO2, and large proportions of the mineral substances present in the drinking water can be utilised for direct absorption by the organism, for example with the drinking water.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for improving the quality of water available at various extraction or consumer points in households, factories or the like, which is taken from a conventional public supply network.

It is an object of the invention to provide such an arrangement, which makes it possible in a simple manner to use two or more water streams loaded with different CO₂ for different purposes within a certain range, e.g. of a company or a household.

This object is achieved according to the teaching of claim 1 and the teaching of claim 2. It is already known from US-A-26 63 556 to take normal tap water or carbonated tap water from a tap connected to the supply network. For this purpose, a mixing chamber is provided between the connection and the tap, in which a mixing impeller is freely rotatable, which is acted upon and set in rotation both by the water flowing in through the connection and by the gas flowing in under pressure when the valve is opened. Only one tap is provided here, where tap water can be drawn with or without CO₂.

There are also various ways and arrangements for impregnating tap water with CO₂ known. In a post-mix device for dispensing carbon dioxide-containing beverages according to US-A-40 51 034, the tap water is carbonized in a closed system with a pressure vessel. Before the water is introduced into the tank under pressure, it is disinfected with chemicals. In this case, pressure carbonization is also used when the pH of the water is lowered. The spraying of water into the headspace of a container containing a CO₂ gas atmosphere is also known (cf. US-A-19 29 948 and US-A-23 91 003). To adjust the CO₂ content of the water, a part of the unimpregnated water can be branched off beforehand and mixed with the impregnated water in a predetermined ratio. All of these known carbonization processes are relatively expensive and complicate the exact setting of the CO₂ content in the impregnated water. The water is also impregnated with the gas in such a way that the gas can easily escape and thus lead to losses. This also applies to the continuous impregnation of irrigation water according to DE-A-33 04 403, in which the impregnation also takes place under high pressure but at room temperature in an elongated impregnation zone, the feed pressure of the gas being far above the feed pressure of the water and the gas is supplied in a pulsed manner at a predetermined pulse frequency.

In contrast, gas impregnation devices according to the unpublished documents: EP-A-85 103 243: DE-A-33 30 375 and DE-A-34 32 440 have proven themselves in practice, which work simply and at low pressure and only too much low gas losses. In these gas impregnation devices, an elongated cylindrical impregnation chamber is provided, which is connected at one end to a water pipe, so that the water flows through the impregnation chamber in a straight and calm flow under the line pressure and at normal temperature. At least two axially spaced locations of this impregnation chamber, the flow cross section is each slightly, but abruptly expanded by a small annular shoulder in the flow direction. Immediately behind each shoulder is a ring of small radial bores, which create a free flow connection between the impregnation chamber and a chamber containing CO₂ gas. The gas is kept at a pressure slightly lower than the static pressure of the water flow. On the narrow shoulders, the flow paths are only extended for the outer water flow layers. This leads to a higher flow rate and, as a result, to a narrowly limited pressure drop, which ensures that the gas passes into the water flow. The result is a precisely controllable fine impregnation without excess pressure, which does not lead to any significant gas loss even in the event of turbulence in the water. The impregnation takes place in a continuous pass.

The teaching according to the present invention makes use of both these impregnation devices according to claim 1 and claim 2.

In the teaching according to claim 1, the water extraction line connected to the supply network is branched into at least two parallel connecting lines, which each lead to the consumer offices. The impregnation device described above is assigned to a separate branch line. The water impregnated with CO₂ in this way of the branch line is collected in a collecting chamber and mixed with this by means of CO₂ pressure via controllable metering devices to the water in the parallel connecting lines. In this way, the water flows in any number of parallel connecting lines can be enriched with CO₂ simply and precisely to different values, so that water of different CO₂ content can be taken from the various consumer or tapping points.

The teaching of claim 2 differs from that of claim 1 in that each parallel connecting line is assigned a separate device for fine impregnation of the water with CO₂ of the type described above. With this arrangement, it can be ensured in the same way that water with different CO₂ content, which can be controlled very precisely and easily, can be taken from the various tapping or consumer points.

With both arrangements it is achieved that the minerals and trace elements still contained in the water taken from the supply network remain dissolved in the water, so that the risk of deposits of solids in the pipelines and equipment and machines of the household or business is largely reduced and for Minerals beneficial to human health in which water is available in a form that can be absorbed by the organism. On the other hand, it is ensured that the CO₂ content at the different tapping or consumer points can be easily and precisely adapted to the different needs.

The arrangement according to claim 1 provides a central impregnation of the water for all consumer points. This has the advantage that larger and thus much cheaper CO₂ containers can be used. The arrangement according to claim 2 offers the advantage that there is no need to take into account the risk of corrosion for the water pipes installed in the house or company, since in this case the impregnation of the water only immediately before it is removed or before the water enters in a machine or device. It can be assumed that at modern machines in the household and in operation materials are used that are sufficiently resistant to the influence of CO₂ and H₂CO₃. The accuracy of the impregnation can be significantly improved when using the teaching of claim 3.

Further advantageous developments result from claims 4 to 7.

This makes it e.g. possible to significantly improve the processes in a washing machine by setting the CO₂ content for the actual washing process and for the rinsing process differently.

The CO₂ content in water intended for human consumption can also be adjusted according to health and / or medical considerations, and above all the absorption capacity for minerals can be favored accordingly. The temperature-dependent switching of the CO₂ content can be important for water for medical purposes as well as for water for washing machines and dishwashers.

The invention is explained below with reference to a schematic drawing of an embodiment.

The drawing shows a schematic representation, partially in section, of an arrangement according to the teaching of claim 1.

The water to be mixed with CO₂ and H₂CO₃ is taken from the general supply network at 36. For example, act as a household water connection, which is equipped in the usual way with locking devices, water meters, etc.

In the context of the new arrangement, a separate water quantity counter 42 can be provided behind these devices in order to be able to more easily relate the total quantity of water withdrawn to partial quantities. A line 35 is branched off behind the quantity counter 42. This has a shut-off valve 40 and in front of it a partial quantity counter 39 and a controllable throttle device, such as an adjustable pressure reducer 38. After the shut-off valve 40, the branch line, as shown in FIG. 1, leads via a check valve 2 to the inlet 14 of a device 13 with which the partial water quantity flowing in through the branch line 35 is finely impregnated with CO₂ in almost maximum concentration to form H₂CO₃.

The device 13 comprises a system of a plurality of regions connected in series, which are arranged coaxially or coaxially with the connection 14 of the branch line 35. Each area comprises a cross section which is abruptly widened by a narrow annular shoulder, the cross-sectional widenings increasing in the flow direction from nozzle to nozzle. Immediately behind each shoulder is a ring of small openings, which are in free flow communication with an annular gas chamber 19. The flow rate of the outer layers of water is changed abruptly at the shoulders and a negative pressure is currently being generated, which is used as suction pressure for the CO₂ gas. The pressure equalizes up to the next area and until then the gas and water are mixed. The successive areas are divided into two sentences 15 and 16. In the example shown, the set 15 has three areas, the opening rings of which are each in flow connection with the gas space 19. The set 16 has two regions lying one behind the other, the opening rings of which are connected to an annular chamber 23 which, in turn, are in free flow communication with the outflow part 17 of the device 13 downstream of the last cross-sectional expansion.

The gas space 19 is connected via a line 20 to a pressure reducer 21, e.g. a valve or a slide, in connection, which connects the device via a check valve 11 with the pressure reducing valve 9 and the pressure display device 10 of a CO₂ gas cylinder 8. This is a normal bottle of commercial size, e.g. 6 kg capacity, which can be placed in the garage or in the basement near the water connection 36 of the household or small business.

The device 13 is inserted into the head part of a container 3, which has an upper gas head space 5 and a lower water filling space 4, into which the water flows in via the lines 35 and 1 and via the device 13 after the fine impregnation with CO₂ and enrichment with H₂CO₃. The water level is controlled via water level electrodes 6, 7 or equivalent devices. The mouth of the outlet 17 of the device 13 is below the lowest water level, so that the emerging impregnated water flows into the water reservoir 4. Any larger bubbles can still be in the water supply 4 go up into the headspace. The head space itself is connected via a branch line 12 to the connection for the gas bottle 8, namely between the check valve 11 and the pressure reducer 21. The gas pressure in the head space 5 can thus differ from the gas pressure in the gas chamber 19, the pressure in the gas space 19 is adapted to the pressure in the branch line 35, while the pressure in the head space 5 can also be used as a delivery pressure for the water.

While in the set 15 of the device 13 the water is impregnated with the CO₂, in the set 16 there is a backmixing of the impregnated water, so as to improve the impregnation and the concentration of CO₂ still further and to ensure that the proportion of larger bubbles is extremely low is. A displacement body 22 can be arranged concentrically in the device 13.

The device 13 has an outlet 17 which projects downwards into the water reservoir 4. Offset with respect to this outlet, an outlet 24 can be provided in the bottom of the container 3. The displacement is intended to ensure that any larger bubbles 18 can rise in the impregnated water at rest and are not carried away to the outlet 24. An idle protection 25 is assigned to the outlet 24. In the example shown, the outlet line branches behind this in branch lines 64 and 67. A metering device 65 or 68 is assigned to each branch line. Behind the metering device, the branch line at 66 or 69 opens into connecting lines 62 or 54, which are connected in parallel to one another via lines 56, 57 with the water extraction line 36 via check valve 60, a partial quantity counter 59 and adjustable pressure reducers 58, from which the branch line 35 branches off to supply the device 13.

It is assumed that the line 54 is the usual household supply line from which drinking water and process water as well as water for the various household machines and the like are taken. From this line 54, the water for a domestic beverage dispenser 52 can be removed via a branch line 53, which is either designed as a coffee machine or, as in the example shown, for the production of CO₂-impregnated cupboards and has a carbonator for this purpose. The CO₂ supply to the carbonator takes place via a branch line 50, which is connected via check valve 51 to the same compressed gas bottle 8, 9 as the facility 13.

It is assumed that the second line 62 is provided as a irrigation water line, as is provided in many households and for hobby gardeners with an external connection for watering purposes in the garden or household. In the case of larger garden areas, an additional pump 63 can also be provided if necessary.

By separating the gas chamber 19 from the head space 5, pressure conditions, in particular partial pressures, are obtained in the device 13, which can be so low regardless of the delivery pressure in the water distribution system that the formation of large bubbles physically bound to the water is largely eliminated. From the entry point 66 or 69 of the impregnated water into the lines 62 or 54, the reunited subsets of water require a certain path until complete mixing. This means that any entrained bubbles from the collecting chamber 4 to the union point 66 or 69 meet non-impregnated water, the CO₂ content of which is significantly smaller than the natural absorption capacity of the water for CO₂. Any gas bubbles can be easily absorbed by the non-impregnated water content before this water content has also assumed a higher CO₂ content. Characterized is in the lines 54 and 62 with CO₂ impregnated water without bubbles, so that this water maintains its impregnation state with extremely high stability, the CO₂ and the H₂CO₃ formed with it penetrate to a large extent into the ground when pouring with the water and in Household remains largely in the water until immediate consumption or until drinking. At the same time, the CO₂ consumption to achieve predetermined concentrations in the lines 54 and 62 is kept extremely low.

It is useful if the concentration of CO₂ and H₂CO₃ in the drinking and industrial water of a household as well as the concentration in the irrigation water is controlled depending on the nature of the water in the supply network. For this purpose, the water connection 36 or the branch line 35 can be assigned measuring devices 70 which, for example, measure the pH and / or the electrical conductivity of the water. The measured values of the sensor 70 are fed via line 71 to a control unit 72, which controls the two dosing devices 65 and 68 individually according to a predetermined program as a function of the measured values via lines 73 and 74. Thereby the optimal concentrations can be reliably set and maintained, even if the nature of the water should change.

Instead of the arrangement shown in the figure for a central supply of the household or business with water that has been impregnated with CO₂ to form H₂CO₃, it may be appropriate to use independent impregnation devices of the type described above with reference to the figures in each case the removal or consumer points assign directly, for example be supplied with commercially available small cartridges for CO₂. This arrangement according to claim 2 has the advantage that no sensitivity to the sensitivity of the pipeline network installed in the house or operation against the content of CO₂ and H₂CO₃ need to be taken into account.

The modern household machines such as washing machines or dishwashers as well as medical or hygienic facilities mostly consist of materials that are insensitive to CO₂ and H₂CO₃. So it is possible to adapt the impregnation from the two points of view: economical use of CO₂ on the one hand and optimal degree of impregnation for the respective purpose on the other hand to the respective application. In the case of the individual impregnation devices, rough impregnation can be provided taking into account the respective water hardness. For the rest, at least two different degrees of impregnation are provided depending on the water temperature: an impregnation stage working up to the maximum impregnation is provided for the cold water used, for example for cold rinsing processes in washing machines or dishwashers or cold water treatment processes in the medical field. The maximum impregnation with CO₂ prevents the deposition of solids in the machines and, in conjunction with a metering device for mineral salts downstream of the device, ensures optimal enrichment of the impregnated water with such minerals in the medical or hygienic field. A second impregnation stage provides for impregnation up to the maximum absorption capacity of the water at the increased use temperature in the machines or for medical or hygienic purposes. An impregnation taking into account the temperature ensures an increased CO₂ content even of the heated water with simultaneous extremely economical use of CO₂, since expulsion of CO₂ does not occur or is reduced when the water is heated.

The impregnation levels can be controlled automatically depending on the temperature. However, depending on the switching of e.g. Depending on the program, the washing process follows the rinsing process or the like.

Claims (7)

1. An arrangement for improving the quality of water which is available at various removal or consumption sites (62, 54, 52) for drinking water and/or industrial water in households, works or the like and which is removed from a conventional, public supply network, which arrangement is composed of a CO₂ pressure gas source (8); a water removal conduit (36) under the customary pressure which is joined up to the supply network and is connected to various removal Or consumption sites via at least two parallel connecting conduits (56, 57); a branch conduit which is joined up to the water removal conduit (36) before the latter branches off into the parallel connecting conduits (56, 57) and which is connected to the water connection (14) of a device (13) for ultra-finely impregnating the water with CO₂, this device (13) having, in a row arrangement coaxial to its water connection (14), both a plurality of areas which are arranged one behind the other and in each case have an abrupt widening of their cross-section of passage plus a wreath of injection openings in this widening, via which injection openings each of these areas is in a free gas-intake-connection with a Co₂ gas chamber (19), and an outlet (17) for the impregnated water; the CO₂ gas chamber (19) being connected to the CO₂ pressure gas source (8) and the outlet (17) being connected to a collecting chamber (3) for the impregnated water (4), the head space (5)* of this collecting chamber likewise being connected to the CO₂ pressure gas source (8) and the collecting chamber being connected on the outlet-side (24) to each of the connecting pipes (56, 57), in the area between the branching site and the removal and consumption sites (62, 54, 52), via in each case a metering device (65, 68) feeding the CO₂ impregnated water in a predetermined ratio to the water in the connecting conduits (56, 57), and the motoring devices (65, 68) for setting different CO₂ concentrations being able to be set independently of one another.
2. An arrangement for improving the quality of water which is available at various removal or consumption sites (52, 54, 62) in households, works or the like and which is removed from a conventional, public supply network, which arrangement is composed of a CO₂ pressure gas source (8); a water removal conduit (36) under the customary pressure which is joined up to the supply network and is connected to the removal or consumption sites via at least two parallel connecting conduits (56, 57); in each case a device (13) for ultra-finely impregnating the water with CO₂ in each of the connecting conduits (56, 57), each device (13) having, in a row arrangement coaxial to its connection (14) for the entering water, both a plurality of areas which are arranged one behind the other and in each case have an abrupt widening of their cross-section of passage plus a wreath of injection openings in this widening, via which injection openings each of these areas is in a free gas-intake-connection with a CO₂ gas chamber (19), and an outlet (17) for the impregnated water, the CO₂ gas chamber (19) being connected to the CO₂ pressure gas source (8) and the outlet (17) being connected to a collecting chamber (3) for the impregnated water which is connected to the removal or consumption sites, the head space (5)* of the collecting chamber being connected to the CO₂ pressure gas source (8).
3. An arrangement in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a measuring device (70) for monitoring the character, in particular the pH value and/or the electrical conductivity, of the water removed from the supply network, is associated with the water removal conduit (36) or the branch conduit (35).
4. An arrangement in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a CO₂ impregnating device (13) is connected directly in series with a machine or removal site using water of differing temperature, this device (13) being able to be switched over between at least two different impregnating stages of which one approximately corresponds to the maximum impregnatability at the temperature of the water in the water removal conduit (36) and another approximately corresponds to the impregnatability at the predetermined raised temperature.
5. An arrangement in accordance with Claim 4, characterized in that when the impregnating device (13) is connected in series before a washing or dishwashing device, the switching over of the CO₂ impregnating device (13) takes place automatically dependant on the switching over from main wash process or rinse process to a cold rinse process.
6. An arrangement in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the CO₂ impregnating device (13) has a course-adjustment device for preadjusting the impregnation level dependant on the hardness of the water.
7. An arrangement in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that a metering device for mineral salts is arranged after the impregnating device (13) of a water removal site for hygienic or medical purposes.

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