FR2580624A2 - Plant for the conditioning of water containing calcium carbonate - Google Patents

Abstract

Plant for the conditioning of water provided with a device for the treatment of water containing calcium carbonate. According to a particular embodiment, this plant contains three components 101, 102 and 103 mounted coaxially in the extension of one another inside an outer enclosure 100. A valve 101a separates the components 101 and 102 and a valve 102a separates the components 102 and 103. When the flow rate at the inlet 102 of the first device is greater than a given threshold value, the water is treated by this component and turned back towards the other components in the direction of the arrows C and D. If the flow rate at the inlet is less than this threshold value, the valve 101a is closed and the water flows in the direction of the arrows D. This plant makes it possible to adapt the conditioning of the water depending on the flow rates at the inlet.

Description

WATER CONDITIONING SYSTEM CONTAINING CARBONATE
CALCIUM
The present invention relates to a water conditioning installation provided with a device for the treatment of water containing calcium carbonate, this treatment consisting in circulating this water in a helical path through a magnetic field created by a column of permanent magnets of cylindrical shape, separated from each other by studs of soft iron or the like and superimposed so that their adjacent blades are of the same nature, these magnets being housed inside a first tubular element of an electrically insulating material, this device comprising a second tubular element coaxial with the first, arranged so as to provide an annular space between the first and the second tubular element, in which this device also comprises two ends respectively mounted at the two ends of the two elements tubular, arranged in such a way that they simultaneously maintain these two tubular elements in their pos respective itions, these nozzles each comprising a central bore and at least one lateral opening communicating the central bore with said annular space.

In the main patent, the applicant has described the conditions necessary to create a helical flow of the water being treated in the annular space surrounding the column of permanent magnets.

Furthermore, it is known that any impurity fixed on a wall composed of metallic iron in contact with water, constitutes an anodic zone which dissolves the metal and gives way to iron hydroxide
II, Fe (OH) 2 in the presence of deaerated water, and also to iron hydroxide III Fe (OH) 3, in the presence of aerated water. Under certain conditions, Fe (OH) 2 can transform into Fe304, or magnetite, which constitutes an oxide forming a very resistant layer.

By preventing calcium carbonate CaC03 from encrusting on the metal, corrosion is prevented from settling, because the interior surface of the pipes remains clean. Consequently, the magnetic conditioner acts indirectly on corrosion.

We also know, from the Pourbaix diagram, described by G.

Poirier, in the summary of cathodic protection S.T.E.C.P.A "(Paris, 1962) on pages 30 to 33, the corrosion zones and the zones of passivation or immunity of iron in water.

We know that it is particularly interesting to be in the passivation conditions, that is to say in the zone of formation of protective oxides (Fe203), if one wishes to preserve the pipes from rust.

The present invention proposes to define the conditions required for reaching a place in a passivation zone and to provide an installation for the treatment of water making it possible to meet at least some of these conditions.

Experiments carried out with different conditioners as described by the main patent, but having different dimensions, have shown that each of these conditioners has an optimal operating range with regard to obtaining passivating conditions for the pipes arranged downstream. In particular, it has been found that the speed of circulation of the water in the annular enclosure defined by said first and second tubular elements is decisive for achieving these passivating conditions.

However, in domestic installations, as indeed in certain industrial installations, the flow rate, and consequently the speed of circulation in the conditioners, varies according to the needs of the user.

The main object of the present invention is to provide the user with an installation making it possible to work under optimal conditions, whatever the momentary flow of water in the pipes, in order to reach the conditions at all times. passivating for downstream pipelines.

For this purpose, the installation according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least two of said devices, mounted in series, and at least one control valve arranged to direct the water through one or the other of these devices depending on the flow of this water.

According to a preferred embodiment, the two devices are mounted in the extension of one another, inside the same tubular enclosure, and said valve is disposed between these two devices.

Each of the devices has a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The second tubular element of the first device is advantageously constituted by said external enclosure of the installation and the second tubular element o second device is preferably mounted coaxially inside this enclosure, so as to define with e # 1.e a second annular space of section substantially equal to that of the annular space formed between the two tubular elements of the first device.

The valve disposed between two successive elements mounted in the extension of one another, preferably comprises a central element movable axially inside a fixed part secured to the inlet nozzle of the following device, and a spring member arranged to push the central element into a first position when the flow of water through the preceding element is less than a determined threshold value and to compress and allow the displacement of the central element in a second position when the flow of water through the preceding element is greater than said determined threshold value.

According to a particular embodiment, the spring member comprises a spiral spring.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the spring member comprises a pneumatic system constituted by an airtight annular chamber formed between the movable element and the fixed part, this chamber being arranged to receive a gas under pressure.

The installation can advantageously comprise several, in particular three devices mounted in series, arranged one in the extension of the other coaxially inside the external enclosure, each of these devices being designed so that the water flow which effectively crosses and the flow circulating in the annular spaces which surround it have a sum substantially equal to the flow measured at the inlet of the first device having the greatest capacity.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the description of an embodiment and the accompanying drawing in which
FIG. 1 schematically represents a first embodiment of the installation according to the invention,
FIG. 2 represents the preferred embodiment of the installation according to the invention,
FIG. 3 represents an enlarged detail view of a control valve mounted between two adjacent conditioners of the installation according to the invention, and
FIG. 4 represents a detail view of an alternative embodiment of the valve according to FIG. 3.

 Fig. 1 illustrates a particular embodiment of the installation according to the invention, comprising any number, for example three devices 1, 2 and 3 for the treatment of water containing calcium carbonate, as described in the patent main or in the first certificate of addition. Each of these devices is associated with a valve respectively la, 2a and 3a which can be actuated manually or controlled automatically, according to any principle known per se, as a function of the flow rate Qo of the water circulating in the inlet duct 4 This flow rate can for example be measured, and the installation can be equipped with a central unit arranged to control the valve 1a as a function of this flow rate.

Each of the three devices 1, 2 and 3 is sized to work optimally within a fixed flow range. By way of example, the device or conditioner 1 is designed to work optimally for flow rates greater than 30 1 / min, the device 2 is designed to work optimally for flow rates between 15 and 30 1 / min, and the device 3 is designed to work for flow rates lower than 15 1 / min.

Valves 1a, 2a and 3a are one-way and two-way valves. When the inlet flow rate Qo is greater than 30 l / min, the water treated by the conditioner 1 is directly directed by the valve la to the outlet duct 5.

On the other hand, when the inlet flow rate Qo is less than 30 1 / min the valve selects the other outlet path and directs the pretreated water to the inlet 6 of the second conditioner 2.

If the flow rate Q1 determined at this location is within the optimal operating range of the second conditioner, that is to say between 15 and 30 1 / min, the water is directly directed by the valve 2a to the outlet. 5 of the installation.

If the flow rate Q1 is less than 15 l / min, the valve 2a directs the water to the inlet 7 of the third conditioner 3, where it is treated before being transmitted to the outlet 5 of the installation.

it is obvious that such conditioning by successive stages of treatment could be generalized. The installation could include a larger number of conditioners, each working optimally within a clearly defined flow range.

Fig. 2 illustrates a particularly advantageous embodiment of another installation with three stages of water treatment. This installation comprises an external enclosure 100 containing the three treatment devices 101, 102 and 103 and two control valves 101a and 102a. The three devices are superimposed and coaxial.

The treatment device 101 comprises a first internal tubular element 110 containing a column of magnets 114 separated by soft iron studs 115, and a second external tubular element 111, which in this case is constituted by the walls of the external enclosure 100. The inlet nozzle 112 is identical to the inlet nozzle 12 of the device shown in FIG. 1 of the main patent. The outlet nozzle is incorporated in the valve 101a which will be described in more detail below, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The processing device 102 comprises, as previously, a first internal tubular element 120, containing a column of magnets 124 separated by soft iron studs 125, and a second external tubular element 121 which in this case is constituted by the walls of a 100 'interior enclosure. The inlet nozzle 122 is incorporated into the valve 101a and the outlet nozzle is incorporated into the valve 102a.

The processing device 103 also includes a first internal tubular element 130 containing a column of magnets 134 separated by soft iron studs 135, and a second external tubular element 131. The inlet nozzle 132 is incorporated in the valve 102a and the outlet nozzle 133 is incorporated into the general outlet nozzle 113 of the installation. This outlet nozzle is identical to the outlet nozzle 13 illustrated in FIG. 1 of the main patent.

In practice, the device operates in the same way as the device illustrated in FIG. 1. In fact, the water which penetrates through the end piece 112 in the direction of the arrow A, crosses the orifices 112 ′ formed in this end piece and enters in the form of a helical flow illustrated by the arrow E inside of the annular enclosure 118. If the initial flow rate is high enough for the water circulation speed to correspond to the optimal operation of the device 101, the valve 101a remains open and allows the water to flow through the second space annular 128 formed between the outer enclosure 100 and the inner enclosure 100 ′, in the direction of the arrows C and passing through the second device 102 in the direction of the arrows D.

On the other hand, if the flow rate is below the optimal operating threshold of the device 101, for example at 301 / min, the valve 101a is closed and prevents the evacuation of the water pretreated by the device 101 through the annular space 128 In this case, the water is forced to pass through the conditioner 102 in the direction of the arrows D. The valve 102a acts in the same way between the conditioners 102 and 103.

FIG. 3 illustrates a particularly advantageous embodiment of the valve 101a (or of the valve 102a). This valve essentially consists of a fixed element 140 made integral with the external tubular element 111 by a connecting ring 141 and an element 142 mounted inside the fixed part 140 and movable axially according to the double arrow M A spring 143 is mounted between the part 140 and the movable element 142. The fixed part 140 comprises the end piece 122 for entering the second stage of conditioner, that is to say of the device 102. This end piece 122 comprises, in a manner known from the main patent, at least one lateral orifice 144 which allows the flow of water in the direction of arrow N, in the form of a helical flow inside the corresponding annular space .

This fixed part 140 also includes the outlet end of the conditioner 101 provided with lateral openings 145 allowing the flow of water from the annular space 118, in the direction of arrow E.

In the state shown in fig. 3, ~ a pressure exerted by the water flowing in the direction of the arrow E is strong enough to compress the spring. 143. As a result, the mobile element 143 is pushed upwards, which has the effect of bringing the radial openings 146 of the mobile element 142 in front of side openings 147 formed in the fixed part 140. this fact, part of the flow illustrated by the arrow P can be evacuated in the direction of the arrows R through the openings 146 and 147 in the annular chamber defined by the inner wall of the outer enclosure 100 and the outer wall of the second tubular element 121 of the conditioner 102. Another part of the flow illustrated by arrow P s1 discharges in the direction of arrow S towards the inside of the second conditioner 102.

The example illustrated corresponds to an initial flow rate greater than the threshold mentioned above, corresponding for example to 30 I / min. The pressure of the spring is calculated so that the valve opens, since the water has already been treated by the conditioner 101. If the initial flow falls below this threshold, the pressure exerted by the spring 143 lowers the movable element 142, which has the consequence of closing the valve and imposing on the flow illustrated by the arrow P to circulate in the direction of the arrow S, the openings 147 being closed and preventing the passage of water in the direction of the arrows R.

 The valve illustrated in fig. 4 is of the pneumatic type. The chamber 150 formed between the fixed part 140 and the movable element 142 is supplied through a conduit 151 with pressurized gas, the pressure of which is controlled by a measuring instrument, for example a manometer 152. This adjustable pressure chamber plays the mass role that that exerted by the spring 143 illustrated in fig. 3. The advantage of the pneumatic system is to allow greater flexibility since the pressure can be adjusted very simply and its value can be checked by direct reading.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but may undergo various modifications which appear in various variants obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims (7)

Claims 1. Water conditioning installation provided with a device for the treatment of water containing calcium carbonate, this treatment consisting in circulating this water according to a helical trajectory through a magnetic field created by a column of permanent magnets of cylindrical shape, separated from each other by soft iron studs or the like and superimposed in such a way that their adjacent blades are of the same kind, these magnets being housed inside a first tubular element made of a material electrically insulating, this device comprising a second tubular element coaxial with the first, arranged so as to provide an annular space between the first and the second tubular element, in which this device also comprises two ends respectively mounted at the two ends of the two tubular elements , arranged in such a way that they simultaneously maintain these two tubular elements in their respective positions, these end pieces each comprising a central bore and at least one lateral opening communicating the central bore with said annular space, characterized in that it comprises at least two of said devices (1, 2, 3; 101, 102, 103) connected in series and at least one control valve (la, 2a, 3a; 101a, 102a) to direct the water through one or other of these devices according to the flow rate of this water. 2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the two devices (101, 102) are mounted in the extension of one another inside a same tubular enclosure (100), and said valve ( 101a) is arranged between these two devices. 3. Installation according to claim 2, in which the first device (101) comprises a first tubular element (110) and a second tubular element (111), and in which the second device (102) also comprises a first tubular element (120 ) and a second tubular element (121), characterized in that the second tubular element (111) of the first device is constituted by said external enclosure (100) of the installation, and in that the second tubular element (121) of the second device (102) is mounted coaxially inside this enclosure (100), so as to define with it a second annular space (128) of section substantially equal to that of the annular space (118) formed between the two tubular elements (110 and 111) of the first device (101). 4. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (101a or 102a) comprises a central element (142) movable axially inside a fixed part (140), integral with the inlet nozzle of the next device (for example 101) and a spring member arranged to push the central element (142) into a first position when the flow of water through the previous element (for example 101) is less than a determined threshold value , and to compress and allow the displacement of the central element (lit2) in a second position when the flow of water through the preceding element is greater than said determined threshold value.  5. Installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring member comprises a spiral spring. 6. Installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring member comprises a pneumatic system constituted by an airtight annular chamber formed between the movable element (142) and the fixed part (140), this chamber being arranged to receive a gas under pressure. 7. Installation according to claim 2 comprising several devices mounted in series one in the extension of the other, arranged coaxially inside the outer enclosure (100), each device being designed so that the water flow that it has crossed and the flow of water circulating in the annular spaces which surround it, have a sum substantially equal to the flow at the inlet of the first device.