FI110537B - The vacuum sewer system - Google Patents

Description

110537 5 VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a vacuum sewer system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Vacuum drainage systems of this type are generally known in the art. In such systems, dry lamellae pumps are often used as a means of generating vacuum. However, dry lamellar pumps are subject to corrosion by water and moisture, as well as by the harmful gases evaporated from the treated waste, as well as by the solvents used in the system. Various protective measures have been used to eliminate these problems, which has resulted in an increase in the number of components in the system and an increase in costs, as evidenced, for example, in EP 0 644 299. However, in the prior art arrangements, the cooling systems required by such pumps have been complicated and expensive and, above all, dependent on an external source of cooling water.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid the above drawbacks and to provide a vacuum sewer system in which vacuum is developed in a reliable and simple manner. This object is achieved by a vacuum sewer system according to claim 1.

The basic idea of the invention is to provide an integrated vacuum pressure generating arrangement having a basically independent and self-contained cooling system. This is accomplished by using a liquid ring pump as a vacuum generator, with an integrated water tank 30. In addition, the pump's exhaust air pipe is equipped with a water separator. a means that is in fluid communication with the integrated water tank. This; ··; one advantage of the arrangement is that it avoids external cooling arrangements, which are often used in connection with heat exchangers and other components. In addition, no additional external water source is required. Depending on its source, the external water 35 may be contaminated or otherwise not suitable for direct use, whereby water treatment units and special valves would be required as in prior art solutions. An additional advantage of the invention is that even if high quality water is available, for example, from the main water pipe of the house, it still saves the total water consumption.

Preferably, the water separator means may be in the form of a condensate reservoir 10 provided with aeration means, whereby the saturated air generated in the removal process can be effectively recovered.

In order to improve condensate assembly and condensate feed back to the pump, the condensate reservoir shape is preferably substantially elongated so as to be inclined. The inclined position 1 5 ensures that the condensate can be recovered and does not escape from the condensate collecting tank.

Taking into account the reflux of condensate, it has proved advantageous to have an inclination angle in the range of about 30 ° to 60 °.

In addition, condensate collection can be promoted by providing the condensate collection tank with internal droplet separator means, for example baffles or baffles.

Further advantageous features of a vacuum system are disclosed in claims 6-10.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing which shows an embodiment of a vacuum sewer system.

In the drawing, a vacuum sewer system is generally indicated by reference numeral 1. The system comprises a waste material source, which in this embodiment is shown as a toilet unit 2 and a shower arrangement 3, 30 which are connected to the waste material container 6 in the first drain pipe 4.

* K I

. · '. via a first valve member 5, preferably •; ··; non-return valve. The waste container 6 is connected to a waste drainage space, ·· 'indicated by an arrow in the drawing, through a second sewer pipe 7 which. : is provided with a second valve member 8, preferably a non-return valve.

110537 5 The waste container 6 is provided with a lower surface level sensor 21, an upper surface level sensor 22 and a high surface level sensor 23 to monitor the level of the waste material collected in the waste container 6. The surface level sensors 21, 22 and 23 communicate with the control center 20.

The system is provided with a vacuum generating means in the form of a liquid-ring pump 30 with a drive motor M, which also communicates with the control center 20. The liquid-ring pump 30 has an integrated water tank. The discharge air pipe 31 of the liquid ring pump 30 has a water separator, in this embodiment a condensate collecting tank 32 having a first aeration member 33. The condensate collecting tank 32 collects 15 during the development of saturated air vacuum created by the liquid ring pump 30 removal process. The condensate collecting container 32 has a substantially elongated shape and is arranged in an inclined position, whereby it has proven advantageous that the inclination angle? Is in the range of about 30 ° to about 60 ° or about 45 °, as shown schematically. The condensate recovery would not be sufficiently successful if the condensate collecting tank was in an upright position. The condensate collecting tank 32 may further be provided with internal baffles 34 and baffles 35, i.e., droplet separators, to improve condensate collection.

| The suction side of the liquid ring pump 30 is in fluid communication. . 25 with the waste material container 6 via a vacuum pipe 36 provided with a second aeration member 37 and a pressure switch 38. The second aeration member 37 and the pressure switch 38 communicate with the control center 20.

The following briefly describes how the system works.

Vacuum is generated by a liquid ring pump 30 through a vacuum pipe 36 30 to a waste water tank 6 and to a first sewer pipe 4. The vacuum level is monitored by a pressure switch 38, whereby a preferred vacuum level would be about -0.3 to -0.7 bar, preferably about -0.4 to -0.5 bar. . The hysteresis of the pressure switch J 'keeps the negative pressure at the desired level. Due to the difference in pressure between: the ambient pressure of the toilet unit and the shower arrangement and the vacuum level of the first sewer pipe and the vacuum tank, the waste water is pushed into the sewage tank in a manner known per se.

When the level of the waste material in the waste material reservoir 6 reaches the upper surface level sensor 22, the vacuum generation is stopped by stopping the pump. Subsequently, the second aeration member 37 is opened, whereby the first valve member 5 is closed, allowing air to enter the waste container 6, which pushes the waste material out of the waste container 6 through the second sewer pipe 7 and the opened second valve member 8 in which context the invention is used. When the first valve member 5 is closed, the upstream side 1 5 of the drain pipe 4 remains under vacuum.

When the lower surface level sensor 21 of the waste container 6 is triggered as the level of the waste material in the waste container 6 reaches this level, the second aeration member 37 closes and the vacuum build-up continues, thereby closing the second valve member 8.

In the event of a malfunction of the lower level sensor 21 or the upper level sensor 22, or in the event of an overflow in the system, the high level sensor 23 of the waste container 6 may advantageously be used to initiate system shutdown.

The surface level sensors 21, 22 and 23, as well as the drive motor M of the liquid ring pump 25, the second aeration member 37 and the pressure switch 38 are preferably connected to a control center 20 which can be programmed to operate optimally with the vacuum system.

The liquid ring pump 30 is equipped with an integrated one. : with cooling water tank. When the liquid ring pump 30 is running, the suction side of the pump 30 is connected to a vacuum pipe 36 to extract air from the waste tank 6 and the first drain pipe 4. At the same time, the saturated air generated on the pump discharge side is removed by the exhaust air. via pipe 31 to an elongated condensate collecting tank 32. Saturated, ·,: air accumulates as water droplets on the tank and on the baffles 35 of the internal baffles 34 and 35 and can thus be effectively recovered

Claims (10)

A vacuum sewer system comprising a waste source (2,3), a first sewer (4), a waste container (6) and means (30) for generating negative pressure in the waste container and the first sewer pipe, characterized in that the means for generating underpressure comprises a liquid ring pump (30), that the liquid ring pump (30) is provided with an integrated liquid container, and that an outlet air pipe (31) of said pump is provided with a water separator (32) which starts in flow communication with the integrated liquid container. » Vacuum drainage system according to claim 1, characterized in that the water separating means comprise a condensation collection vessel (32) with a first venting means (33). t I Vacuum drainage system according to claim 2, characterized in that the mold "30 of the condensation collection vessel (32) is substantially elongated and the condensation collection vessel (32) is arranged in an inclined position. Vacuum drainage system according to claim 3, characterized in that the angle of inclination (a) is in the range of about 30 ° - 60 °. 8 110537 Vacuum drainage system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the condensation collection vessel (32) is provided with a drip separator (34,35). Vacuum drainage system according to claim 1, characterized in that a first valve means (5) arranged between the waste source (2,3) and the waste container (6), is connected in connection with a waste space for the waste material via a second drain pipe (7) which is provided with a second valve member (8). Vacuum drainage system according to claim 6, characterized in that the first valve member (7) and the second valve member (8) comprise check valves. Vacuum drainage system according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid ring pump (30) starts in flow communication with the waste container via a vacuum pipe (36) provided with a second venting means (37) and a pressure switch (38). '··; 20 9. A vacuum drainage system according to claim 1, characterized in that. the waste container (6) comprises an upper level sensor (21), a lower level sensor (22) and preferably a high level sensor (23). Vacuum drainage system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is provided with a control center (20), to which the drive motor (M) of the liquid ring pump, the air vent (37),, is provided. the pressure switch (38), the upper and lower level sensor (21,22) and the high level sensor (23) are connected.