ES2407130A2 - Pressure filter for water treatment (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Pressure filter for water treatment. It includes in principle a set of filter membranes arranged vertically inside a housing that has an inlet of the water to be treated that passes through said membranes reaching the interior space delimited by them and counting the housing also with a mouth of exit of that water already treated after having passed through the filtering membranes. It is characterized in that the filter membranes (8) comprise heads (8 ') which are removably coupled and sealed in a lower horizontal structure that separates a lower tank (30) that receives the treated water after filtering and a larger upper space where the filtering membranes (8) are housed. The upper heads (8 ') also fit tightly against an upper cover (5). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification, refers to a pressure filter for water treatment that has a characteristic structure that allows maintenance operations and replacement of tubular filter membranes located in a interior space if necessary, in a quick and simple way, highlighting that such maintenance and replacement is independent, that is, it is possible to independently extract and mount such tubular filter membranes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pressure filters for water treatment, such as seawater, brackish water, wastewater and any other type of water that can be processed, such filters include a housing inside which filter membranes are arranged to perform the filtering.

Currently there is a wide variety of this type of filters, being able to be circular, rectangular, horizontal, vertical housings, etc.

An example of these filters is that described in the Utility Model with application number U-200930470, which describes a filter for the treatment of water whose housing is rectangular and the inner membranes of said filter have a plantar configuration quadrangular.

The problem of the previous filters, especially the vertical filters, is that when performing the maintenance operations of the inner membranes or when any of these membranes have to be replaced, the entire block of inner filter membranes must be removed of the filter housing.

This is due to the fact that the membranes in said filters are mounted on a grid that acts as a support for the membranes, and therefore, to remove the membranes, a bridge crane is required that hooks to said grid by means of eyebolts that It has such a grid on its periphery and in this way the whole assembly is removed.

This extraction operation is expensive, both in time and in means necessary to carry it out, while the time lost in said extraction is time that is not used in the filtrate of the water to be treated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the inconveniences mentioned in the previous sections, the invention proposes a pressure filter for the treatment of water that in principle includes a set of filter membranes with a quadrangular plantar configuration arranged vertically within a housing that has an inlet of the water to be filtered that passes through said membranes reaching the interior space delimited by them and also counting the housing with an outlet of that water already treated after having passed through the filtering membranes.

It is characterized in that the filter membranes comprise heads at their upper and lower ends that are sealed and detachable in a lower horizontal structure that separates a lower reservoir where the treated water is received after filtration and an upper horizontal structure responsible for exercising a vertical pressure on the set of membranes by means of tubular bodies of elastic structure installed in the upper heads of the membranes, contacting the free ends of such tubular bodies against an upper cover arranged in a horizontal plane that tightly closes the mouth of the housing, the filter further comprising a counter current aeration system.

The lower horizontal structure where the lower heads of the filter membranes are coupled, comprises a lower panel and an upper panel, both perimetrically connected to the enclosure side wall of the housing, defining between them an intermediate chamber.

The countercurrent aeration system comprises a lower air inlet mouth that flows into the intermediate chamber delimited between both upper and lower panels, with the upper panel counting through through holes that communicate with the interior space where the filter membranes are located, at the same time that such aeration system further comprises an upper air outlet defined by a bent pipe that crosses the side wall of the housing, a tube whose upper end is close to the upper cover, while its lower end is arranged by outside the housing, the air outlet being below the water inlet.

The part of the angled tube that is inside the housing is located in a side cabin delimited by a wrap plate fixed to the side wall of the mentioned housing.

Another feature of the invention is that lower heads of the filter membranes have terminal narrowings in which male bushes are embedded, which are in turn fitted inside female bushes embedded in correspondence with facing openings respectively established in the panels, upper and lower, the female bushes counting with an upper section protruding above the upper panel, said upper section constituting the part where the male bushes are embedded.

The coupling between the male and female bushes incorporates an o-ring seal housed in an annular groove of the male bushing.

In one embodiment, the connection between both bushings is made by pressure.

In another embodiment, the connection between both male and female bushings is carried out by means of a pair of opposing nuts coupled in a thread of the protruding upper sections of the female bushings.

Another feature of the invention is that the female bushes incorporate an annular recess that abuts against the inner face of the upper panel of the lower horizontal structure.

The upper panel of the lower horizontal structure is characterized in that it further comprises additional air inlets formed by tubular portions located within the intermediate chamber and which lead to through perforations of said upper panel.

Said tubular portions are responsible for compensating a possible loss of horizontality of the panel that affects the good distribution of the air inside the filter, obtaining thanks to said tubular portions a uniform distribution of air inside the filter.

Another feature of the invention is that the tubular bodies of elastic structure that exert downward pressure on the filter membranes comprise stops that contact at their free ends against the upper cover that closes the mouth of the filter housing.

In another embodiment, the tubular bodies of elastic structure are springs that will be coupled in correspondence with the upper heads of the filter membranes.

The upper cover is coupled in correspondence with a perimeter flap integral with the enclosure wall of the housing in correspondence with its mouth, ensuring the immobilization of said upper cover by means of screws and nuts.

Next, in order to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report and forming an integral part thereof, some figures are attached in which the object of the invention has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.- Shows a sectioned elevation view of the pressure filter for water treatment, object of the invention. It basically comprises a set of filter membranes provided with heads, by means of which the aforementioned membranes are stably fixed in the interior space of a housing provided with a larger inlet of water and an outlet of that already treated water, after have passed through the filter membranes. Also included are, among other elements, a lower air inlet mouth and an upper outlet of that air.

Figure 2.- Shows a sectioned elevation view where the lower coupling of the filter membranes through their heads and other related elements is shown in detail.

Figure 3.- Shows a sectioned elevation view that represents the upper coupling of the filter membranes, also through their heads and other elements.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, the pressure filter for water treatment includes the following nomenclature used in the description:

1.-Housing.

2.-Water inlet.

3.-Water outlet.

4.-Bottom housing.

5.-Top cover.

5 ’.- Perimeter fin.

6.-Top cover fixing screws.

7.-Top cover fixing nuts.

8.-Filter membranes.

8 ’.- Heads.

9.-Terminal narrowings.

10.-Male bushes.

11.-Female caps.

12.-O-ring.

13.-Annular groove.

14.-Top panel.

15.-Bottom panel.

16.-Chamfer terminal.

17.-Nuts opposed.

18.-Upper sections of the female bushes.

19.-Superior opening.

20.-Lower opening.

21.-Annular recess.

22.-Elastic tubular stops.

23.-Springs.

24.-Intermediate aeration chamber.

25.-Lower mouth of air inlet.

26.-Holes.

27.-Upper mouth of air outlet.

28.-Layered tube.

29.-Envelope plate.

30.-Lower deposit.

31.-Tubular portion.

32.-Legs.

The filter of the invention comprises a housing 1 provided on its side wall with an inlet of water 2 to be arranged superiorly arranged and an outlet 3 of that treated water arranged in the bottom 4 of such housing 1, which is closed by its upper opening by means of an upper cover 5 arranged in a horizontal plane and fixed on a perimeter wing 5 'of the housing 1 with the help of screws 6 and nuts 7.

In the interior space of the housing 1 there is a set of filter membranes 8 arranged vertically, which have heads 8 'that end in narrowings 9, through which the filter membranes 8 are immobilized in combination with other elements which will be described later. The filter membranes 8 have a quadrangular plantar configuration. It should be remembered that, conventionally, the membranes are attached directly and together to a grid as an armor.

Thus, in the narrowings 9 of the lower ends of the filter membranes 8, male bushings 10 which fit tightly inside female caps 11 are embedded, with interposition of an O-ring 12 located in an annular groove 13 of the male bushing 10. The female bushes 11 are fixed in a pair of parallel panels arranged in horizontal planes: an upper one 14 and a lower one 15, both of which are fixed tightly by their free edges on the casing side wall of the housing 1. Such panels constitute a lower horizontal structure.

The male bushes 10 have a terminal chamfer 16 which facilitates their introduction into the female bushes 11.

The connection between the pairs of bushes 10-11 can be under pressure or by means of pairs of opposing nuts 17 that thread in upper sections 18 of the female bushes 11 protruding above the upper panel 14.

On the other hand, the female bushes 11 are embedded in opposite openings 19-20 established in the upper panel 14 and lower 15, such female bushes 11 counting with an annular recess 21 that abuts against the lower face of the upper panel.

14. The immobilization of the upper ends of the filter membranes 8 can be carried out through elastic tubular stops 22 embedded in the narrowings 9 of the filter membranes 8, or through springs 23 coupled to the heads 8 'of the filter membranes 8, so that the free ends of the springs 23 and elastic tubular stops 22 contact the upper cover 5, whereby both elements 22-23 exert a downward pressure on the filter membranes 8.

Between the two parallel panels 14-15 an intermediate chamber 24 is connected to a lower air inlet mouth 25 that reaches the lower space of the countercurrent filter where the filter membranes 8 are located through holes 26 established in the panel upper 14, further incorporating an upper outlet 27 of that air located below the inlet mouth 2 of the water.

The upper air outlet mouth 27 is part of a bent tube 28 that crosses the side wall of the housing 1 and whose end end is close to the top cover 5, said bent tube 28 located in a side cabin delimited by a plate envelope 29.

It should be noted that in conventional air filters, this fluid is introduced along with the raw water to be purified in the same direction and direction. On the other hand, in the case of the invention that concerns us the raw water is introduced through the water inlet 2 while the aeration is introduced separately by the lower air inlet 25, whereby the flows of water and air continue to have the same direction but opposite directions, with which a greater effectiveness is achieved, therefore the air is injected against the current with respect to the direction of the water flow.

The water to be filtered is introduced through the inlet port 2 of greater dimension, reaching the interior space of the filter where the filter membranes 8 are located, and then passing inside the membranes and thus reaching a lower reservoir 30 where the female bushes end 11, said lower tank 30 being delimited between the bottom 4 of the housing 1 and the lower panel 15.

The union between the filter membranes 8 and closing areas of such membranes with respect to their ends, must be such that it ensures the closure and the tightness between the different elements.

By means of the structure of the invention, in case of having to carry out the maintenance operations or the replacement of any of the filter membranes 8, it will be enough to extract only the membrane to be replaced and not the assembly of them as conventionally occurs.

Also, thanks to the structure of the invention, it is possible to check which membrane of the filters is damaged. To do this, simply remove the top cover 5, all the filtering membranes are plugged and the treated water outlet is closed, then air is introduced through each filter membrane, in case of bubbling in the water inside the structure means that The membrane is damaged and must be replaced.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the female bushes 11 are welded or connected in a sealed manner to the upper and lower panels 14, so that the filtered water does not come into contact with the air in the intermediate chamber 24, passing said filtered water through the corresponding bushings until reaching the lower tank 30 and finally withdrawing it through the outlet 3 which starts from such tank.

The holes 26 as well as the tubular portions 31 established in correspondence with the upper panel can be circular or torn to achieve a better distribution of air from inside the intermediate chamber 24 to the interior space of the filter where

find the filter membrane assembly 8.

Thanks to the pressure with which the air is expelled into the filter, the intermediate chamber 24 is prevented from filling with raw water.

5 The number and arrangement of the holes 26 of the upper panel 14 will depend on the size of the filter and the number of filter membranes 8.

On the other hand and in order to compensate for a possible loss of horizontality of the upper panel 14 that affects 10 the good distribution of the air, the tubular portions 31 have been added which can be cylindrical in shape or can have the peripheral shape of the holes 26 incorporated in such a top panel, obtaining thanks to said tubular portions 31 an air distribution

15 uniform inside the filter. The air, as mentioned above, is subsequently collected in the upper area of the filter, and then extracted to the outside through the angled tube 28.

Claims (13)

1.-PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, which includes a set of filter membranes arranged in vertical directions inside a housing that has a water inlet to be treated that passes through said membranes reaching the interior space delimited by them and also counting the housing with an outlet of that water already treated after having passed through the filter membranes; characterized in that the filter membranes (8) comprise heads (8 ') that are sealed, detachable and independently coupled in a lower horizontal structure that separates a lower reservoir (30) that receives the treated water after filtering and a larger upper space where the filter membranes (8) are housed, whose upper heads (8 ') fit tubular bodies of elastic structure that exert downward pressure on the filter membranes (8), contacting the free ends of such bodies tubular against an upper cover (5) arranged in a horizontal plane that tightly closes the mouth of the housing (1), the filter further comprising a countercurrent aeration system. 2. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower horizontal structure where the lower heads (8 ') of the filter membranes (8) are coupled, such lower horizontal structure comprises a lower panel (15) and an upper panel (14), both connected perimetrically and tightly to the enclosure side wall of the housing (1), defining between the two panels (14-15) an intermediate chamber (24). 3. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim 2, characterized in that the countercurrent aeration system comprises a lower mouth

(25)

air inlet that flows into the intermediate chamber (24) delimited between both panels, upper

(14)

 and lower (15), the upper panel (14) having through holes (26) that communicate with the interior space where the filtering membranes (8) are located, while such aeration system also comprises an upper mouth ( 27) Air outlet defined by a cranked tube (28) that crosses the casing side wall of the housing (1), tube whose upper end is close to the upper cover (5), while its lower end is arranged outside of the housing (1)

4. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim (3), characterized in that the part of the bent tube (28) that is inside the housing (1) is located in a side cabin delimited by a wrap plate (29) fixed to the side wall of the housing (1). 5. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower heads (8 ') of the filter membranes (8) have terminal narrowings (9) in which male bushes are embedded (10) which, in turn, fit inside female sockets (11) embedded in correspondence with opposite openings (19-20) established respectively in the upper (14) and lower (15) panels, counting the sockets female (11) with an upper section protruding above the upper panel (14). 6. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupling between the male (10) and female bushings (11) incorporates an O-ring (12) sealed in an annular groove (13) ) of the male bushing (10). 7. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the connection between both bushings is carried out by pressure. 8.-PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the connection between both bushings (1011) is carried out by means of a pair of opposing nuts (17) coupled in a thread of the upper protruding sections of the female bushes (11). 9. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim (5), characterized in that the female bushes (11) incorporate an annular recess (21) that stops against the inner face of the upper panel (14) of the structure lower horizontal. 10. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper panel (14) of the lower horizontal structure further comprises additional inlets (31) formed by tubular portions located within the intermediate chamber ( 24) and which lead to through perforations of said upper panel (14). 11. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular bodies of elastic structure comprise tubular stops (22). 12. PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular bodies of elastic structure comprise springs (23). 13.-PRESSURE FILTER FOR WATER TREATMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper cover (5) is coupled to a perimeter fin (5 ') integral with the casing side wall (1) in correspondence with its mouth, said upper cover (5) being immobilized by means of screws (6) and nuts (7).