IE86280B1 - Water treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Water treatment apparatus comprises a module for mounting on a storage tank, the module including at least one inlet opening associated with an upstream conduit, at least one outlet in fluid communication with the storage tank and at least one outlet opening associated with a downstream conduit. The module includes a base mountable in an opening of the storage tank, the base including a ring for coupling with the opening in the storage tank, and a seal situated between the ring and the opening. <Figure 2>

Description

Water Treatment Apparatus Field of the Invention The present invention relates to water treatment apparatus and in particular to water treatment apparatus formed of both plastics materials and traditional building materials such as concrete.

Background of the Invention Water treatment apparatus is used widely in many different situations. One typical use of water treatment plants is in the separation of contaminants from water in which they are carried.

Traditionally water treatment apparatus, such as septic tanks, were constructed of brick, stone or concrete. More recent developments of water treatment apparatus have seen the introduction of materials such as moulded plastics and glass reinforced plastics.

The use of these materials allows more intricate components to be mass produced. However, in many countries there is a resistance to the use of plastics in building works and more traditional materials are still favoured. For example, in some instances water treatment apparatus is constructed using concrete rings, which may be stacked one on top of the other to construct a cylinder of a required height. The base of the cylinder is filled with concrete and the top covered with a slab having a manhole opening therein. Whilst it would be possible to form openings in the concrete rings during construction, the nature of building with such structures means that narrow tolerances cannot be adhered to and therefore it is more common for the cylinders to be constructed of blank rings and for openings to receive inflow and outflow pipes to be made after assembly of the structure. This is a time consuming task and the junction of the pipe to the concrete must be sealed.

It is well known that where holes are made in concrete post casting the concrete is significantly weakened.

In a typical water treatment apparatus using concrete ring construction a cylinder is formed of a plurality of concrete rings stacked one on top of the other. Holes are cut in the wall of one of the concrete rings on the inlet and outlet sides. A filter is attached to the hole on the inlet side and an overflow is fitted to the hole on the outlet side. The holes must be aligned as accurately as possible with inlet and outlet pipes, and the space between the pipes and the wall of the hole made in the concrete ring sealed.

Due to the size of the concrete rings used to construct the cylinder in most instances it is not possible to locate the manhole such that the both the inlet filter and oudet overflow may be reached from the manhole. Since the filter typically needs to be accessed more frequently than the outlet overflow, the manhole is usually positioned such that the filter may be accessed. Access to the outlet overflow may then only be gained by entering the cylinder. This problem of access is not confined to concrete structures, but is also found in larger tanks formed of other materials.

It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved water treatment apparatus which provides for the more efficient use of tanks constructed of concrete or other traditional building materials.

It would also be desirable to provide an improved filter for use in a water treatment plant and a chamber for mounting such a filter.

It would also be desirable to provide a component having multiple uses in a water treatment plant Summary of the Invention According a first aspect of the invention there is provided a water treatment apparatus comprising a module for mounting on a storage tank, the module including at least one inlet opening associated with an upstream conduit, at least one outlet in fluid communication with the storage tank and at least one outlet opening associated with a downstream conduit, wherein the module includes a base mountable in an opening of the storage tank, wherein the base includes a ring for coupling with the opening in the storage tank, and a seal situated between the ring and the opening, wherein both the ring and the opening are circular.

Advantageously, the base includes a collar extending around the ring and substantially perpendicular thereto, and wherein in use, the seal is situated between the adjacent faces of the opening and the ring.

Pre^raEIyj^ie collar is situated on the ring in a position wfucfi, in use, prevents the seal lifting from between the adjacent faces of the opening and the ring. The opening may be occupied by a conduit of another component mounted in the module.

Preferably, the at least one oudet in fluid communication with the storage tank is formed by an opening in the base of the module.

According a second aspect of the invention there is provided a water treatment apparatus having at least one inlet opening associated with upstream conduit and at least one outlet opening associated with a downstream conduit, the apparatus comprising a water sampling unit, the sampling unit having an inlet for receiving treated water and an outlet connectable to one of the at least one downstream conduits associated with an outlet opening and a sampling bowl in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet of the sampling unit, the bowl including an opening for receiving a sampling utensil.

The inlet may be provided with a filter.

Preferably, the opening is formed by a mouth extending upwardly from the bowl. At least part of the upper edge of the mouth is preferably situated hydraulically above the lower surface of the outlet connectable to a downstream conduit.

Advantageously, the water treatment apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention is mounted within a module according to the first aspect of the invention.

Advantageously, the inlet has a conduit attached thereto, the conduit extending into a liquid soure.

According a third aspect of the invention there is provided a multi-purpose component for a water treatment apparatus, the multi-purpose component comprising a bowl, an inlet to the bowl and an outlet from the bowl, the multi-purpose component being configurable inter alia as a sampling unit, an overflow and a calmed inlet.

Advantageously, the multi-purpose component includes an access to the bowl.

Preferably, the component may include at least one region of reduced thickness. The region of reduced thickness may be included to facilitate configuration of the component as a sampling unit, an overflow or a calmed inlet One of the inlets may be provided with a cover including one or more apertures. The cover may include a screened opening. In one example, the cover is provided with a plurality of apertures each covered by a screen or filter.

The multi-purpose component may be configured as a calmed inlet, the component having an inlet to one side of the bowl and attachable to a conduit for delivering water thereto and an outlet for debouching into a liquid store.

The multi-purpose component may be configured as an overflow, the component having an inlet to one side of the bowl, the inlet providing at least one opening for entry of fluid into the bowl, and an outlet to another side of the bowl connectable to a downstream conduit.

The multi-purpose component may be configured as a sampling unit having an inlet for receiving treated water and an outlet connectable to one of the at least one outlets and a sampling bowl in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet of the sampling unit, the bowl including an opening for receiving a sampling utensil According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided filter assembly for a water treatment apparatus, the filter including first and second filter elements, the first and second elements being attached together and, in use, functioning in series.

The filter assembly may include a handle attached to at least one of the first and second filter elements, and preferably to both the first and second filter elements.

Preferably, the first and second filter elements each include a filter material support and a filter material supported thereon. At least one of the filter materials may include a screen, such as a mesh screen or a gauze screen. At least one of the filter materials may include a foam element.

Preferably, the filter is configured to form a component of a water treatment apparatus, the first filter element lying on an angle relative to the horizontal. Preferably, the second filter element, in use, lies in a substantially horizontal plane.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a filter housing comprising at least one inlet and at least one first oudet and a second outlet situated between the at least one inlet and the at least one first outlet, and a filter assembly associated with the second outlet.

Advantageously, the second outlet provides a seat for the filter assembly, the seat lying at an angle with respect to the horizontal. Preferably, the filter assembly includes at least one filter element, such as a screen, which may be a gauze, and the filter element is supported by the seat to lie on substantially the same angle as the seat. This provides the advantage that the filter element is self cleaning. Preferably, the screen is a stainless steel material, such as a stainless steel gauze.

The second outlet may include a first section and a second section, the first section being of greater dimension than the second. The first and second sections may be connected by a wall lying on an angle.

Advantageously, the filter assembly includes first and second filter elements, the first and second filter elements being attached together and the second filter element, in use, being situated in one of the first and second sections of the filter housing, and preferably in the first section.

Preferably, the housing includes channel means configured to channel fluid entering the housing via the at least one inlet towards the second outlet.

The housing may be provided with a collar adapted to receive another component, such as a riser. The riser may support a manhole cover. The collar may include a protrusion for engaging the component.

The protrusion may extend inwardly of the collar. A seal may be provided between the adjacent faces of the collar and the riser.

The inlets and outlets of the housing may be configured for attachment to a number of conduits of differing diameters.

Preferably, the water treatment apparatus accordingto the first aspect of the invention is a rain water harvesting apparatus and includes a housing according to the fifth aspect of the invention mounted in the module, the at least one inlet of the housing connecting to an upstream conduit and the at least one first outlet connecting to a downstream conduit.

A multi-purpose component of the third aspect of the invention and configured as an overflow may be supported in the module, the outlet of the overflow being connected to a downstream conduit.

The second outlet may be attached to a downstream conduit configured to debouche into the bottom region of a storage tank. Preferably, a calmed outlet is attached to the downstream end of the conduit In one embodiment the storage tank is closed by a concrete slab, the concrete slab having an opening formed therein during the process of casting the said slab. The storage tank may have walls formed of concrete or masonry for example.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and are by way of example: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of water treatment apparatus according to the invention configured for rainwater harvesting; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the water treatment apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of water treatment apparatus according to the invention configured as a grease trap; Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of water treatment apparatus according to the invention configured as an alternative grease trap; Figure 4a is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a water treatment apparatus according to the invention configured as a grease trap using the multi-purpose component illustrated in Figure 6; Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional representation oEa water treattnentapparatus according to the invention configured for rainwater harvesting where the tank is formed of concrete; Figure 5a is a schematic representation of module of the water treatment apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 and its component parts; Figure 6 is a side view of a multi-purpose component according to an aspect of the invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of the component illustrated in Figure 6; Figure 8 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional elevation and a top plan view of a water treatment apparatus including two of the multi-purpose components illustrated in Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 illustrates a cross-sectional elevation of a chamber according to another aspect of the invention; Figure 10 illustrates a top plan view of the chamber illustrated in Figure 9; Figure 11 illustrates an end view of the chamber illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 viewed from the outlet end; Figure 12 illustrates an end view of the chamber illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 viewed from the inlet end; Figure 13 illustrates a filter element for use in a chamber of the type illustrated in Figures 9 to 12; Figure 14 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional side elevation and a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of water treatment apparatus configured for rainwater harvesting according to an aspect of the invention; Figure 15 illustrates water treatment apparatus comprising including a chamber of the type illustrated in Figures 9 to 12; Figure 16 illustrates a water treatment apparatus including the multi-purpose component illustrated in Figure 6 configured for sampling; and Figure Ϊ7 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the chamber illustrated in Figures 9 to 12, with an alternative filter.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a rain water harvesting apparatus 10 comprising a tank 11 and a module 20. The tank 11 includes an element 12 which extends upward from the top surface of the tank 11 and is reinforced by ribs 13. A circular opening 14 is formed in the element 12 and is bounded by a collar 15.

The components that are likely to require servicing and which must be connected to external pipe work are mounted in the module 20, which is provided with a circular ring 21 configured to sit in the circular opening 14. The module 20 mounts an inlet pipe 22 and an outlet pipe 23, between which is situated an internal chamber 24 mounting a filter element 24* and a U-bend 25. The U-bend 25 also provides an overflow 26 so that in storm conditions water entering the module 20 through inlet pipe 22 may pass directly to outlet pipe 23, without passing through the U-bend 25.

A seal 21” which sits between the ring 21 and the collar 15 and is prevented from rising upward by a collar 21’, which extends substantially perpendicularly to the ring 21. The module 20 may be secured on to the element 12 simply by its own weight, or by the use of fasteners such as bolts. The seal is preferably a self-lubricating seal.

As will be appreciated from Figure 1, the tank 11 illustrated is a moulded from a plastics material. However, the tank 11 could be replaced by a tank made of concrete, such as concrete rings stacked one on top of the other with a poured concrete base. The slab used to form the lid of the tank would have an opening formed therein during the casting process. If the opening formed in the concrete slab corresponded to the shape of the ring 21 then the ring 21 may be dropped into the opening with a suitable seal therebetween. Alternatively, the opening cast into the slab may be of a different shape, such as a square or rectangle, in which case an adaptor plate having an opening corresponding to the shape of ring 21 would be placed in the opening cast in the slab and the ring 21 dropped into the opening in the adaptor, again with a suitable seal. Such an arrangement may be preferred as the adaptor may also include a manhole for gaining access to the tank 11.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the module 20 configured as a grease trap. When so configured, the module is not provided with a base. The module 20 illustrated in Figure 3 mounts an inlet pipe 22 and an outlet pipe 23. The outlet pipe is connected to an outlet aperture 73 of a bowl 70 which is mounted in the module 20. The upper edge of the bowl 70 includes a lip 74 which rests upon a surface of the module 20. The bowl 70 includes an inlet 71 configured to permit entry of fluid into the bowl from its underside.

The inlet 71 is provided with a screen 72. Grease contaminated water enters the module 20 through inlet pipe 22. Grease tends to separate out and rise to the top of the water surface to leave dirty water from which matter heavier than water tends to settle. The screen 72 removes contaminants from water exiting via the outlet 23. The upper surface of the bowl 70 is open. This allows the bowl 70 to be used for sampling treated water immediately prior to it leaving via outlet 23. The desirability of such a bowl is further eluded to in the description below with reference to Figure 16 in particular.

In Figure 4, rather than the bowl 70 being provided with a screen 72, it is provided with a coalescing grease filter 73, with the lower face of the inlet 71 being blanked off and openings 72a being in the inlet 71, which is surrounded by the coalescing grease filter 73. Alternatively, the coalescing grease filter may cover the inlet 71.

Figure 5 illustrates a water treatment apparatus 10 in which the tank 11 is formed of concrete two concrete rings 11’ stacked one on top of the other and dosed by a lid 11” comprising a concrete slab, having an opening 14 formed therein, in which is received the ring 21 of the module 20. In this embodiment the outlet 23 and overflow 30 of the module 20 are configured slightly differently and is described in greater detail below.

A multi-purpose component 30 is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The component 30 has multiple uses in a water treatment apparatus. It may be used as an overflow. For example, the overflow illustrated in Figure 5 is formed using component 30. It may be used as a calmed inlet again as illustrated in Figure 5. The function of the calmed inlet is to reduce the velocity of water entering the base of the tank 11 through pipe 27, thereby minimising disturbance of any sediment layer at the base of the tank 11, and to introduce oxygen into the body of water stored in the tank 11. The component 30 may also be used as a sampling point, i.e. a convenient place from which a sample of water may be taken for testing. For example, see Figure 4a.

The multi-purpose component 30 comprises an inlet 30a and an outlet 30b, the outlet including an aperture 30c of a diameter smaller than that of outlet 30b. Where it is not desirable to choke the outlet to the diameter of aperture 30c, the wall surrounding the aperture 30c may be removed. In similar fashion, if the particular shape of the opening of inlet 30a is not required, the shaped inlet portion may be removed by cutting along cut line 30d. The base of the component 30 forms a bowl 30e. Water flows through this bowl 30e between inlet 30a and outlet 30b. A lip 30f extends around the top of the bowl 30e. The lip 30f provides some rigidity to the component and allows the component to be seated on or in another part of a water treatment apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 8 to 13, the chamber 24 and its function will now be described in greater detail. The chamber 24 comprises three inlet pipes 22, 22’ and 22” which debouch respectively into the centre of the chamber 24 through openings 24a, 24b and 24c. The base of the chamber 24 is shaped to channel water received through the openings 24a, 24b and 24c to an opening 24d, which in use is covered by the filter illustrated in Figure 13. Hence, water entering the chamber through the openings 24a to 24c passes over the filter. Most of the water passes through the filter, through outlet 24e and into the tank 11, with a small proportion of the water and most debris, which is removed by the filter, passing through outlet pipe 23.

In Figure 8, the module 20 is provided with an overflow comprising a component 30, the outlet 30b of which is attached to an outlet pipe 31. The inlet 30a is covered with a plate which provides three openings 30g each provided with a strainer 30h. TheUp30f ofthe component 30 rests on the edge oi aiT opening in the base of the module 20 configured to receive the bowl 30e of the component 30.

The filter 40 comprises a filter element 41 formed typically of a stainless steel mesh (although any suitable filter material may be used) supported on a ring 42 similarly formed of stainless steel, with a handle 43 extending upwardly from the ring 42. A seal 44, in the illustrated example a rubber seal, is provided around the ring 42.

Figure 14 illustrates a water treatment apparatus including a chamber 24 of the type illustrated in Figure 9 to 12. However, in this apparatus the chamber is not situated in a module that is removably mounted on the tank, but is mounted in an extension that is integral with the tank.

Figure 15 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where a chamber 24 which forms part of a rainwater harvesting system in which the storage tank or reservoir is located remote from the chamber. The inlet 22 is connected to a pipe 62, which is itself connected to a rainwater downpipe. Whilst only one pipe is shown connected to one of the inlet pipes 22, the inlet pipes 22’ and 22” may be connected to other rainwater downpipes. The outlet 24e is connected to a pipe 60 which delivers water to a tank or reservoir. In this way the rainwater can be collected from a number of downpipes of a building, whereas in known rainwater harvesting systems each downpipe generally has its own storage butt. This is unsightly and makes using rainwater more difficult. A harvesting system which takes all rainwater to a single storage tank or reservoir makes use of the stored rainwater much simpler and avoids placing unsightly rainwater butts against the walls of houses. Access to the chamber 24 and hence filter 40 is gained through riser and manhole cover assembly 61 is connected to the upper part of the chamber 24.

Referring now to Figure 16, another water treatment apparatus is shown comprising a plurality of tanks 11. The most downstream tank stores the cleanest water, that being water for discharge to a watercourse or soak-away for example. In many countries water must meet certain quality standards before it may be discharged to a watercourse. In order to be able to establish that water meets the required standard it is necessary to test the discharge water from time to time. The component 30 is configured as a sampling chamber in Figure ίό. The bowl 30e has a hole in its base and a dip pipe 27 is connected thereto. The upper edge of the mouth 30a lies above the surface of the body of water contained in the tank 11, which is determined by the level of the outlet pipe 23. When the multi-purpose component 30 is used in this manner the inlet of the component is the dip pipe 27. Hence, water exiting the apparatus is from the central region of the tank 11 rather than die top or the bottom. The water at the bottom of the tank is likely to contain some sediment (products entrained with the water that are more dense than water), whereas the water at the top may contain some contaminant (products that are less dense than water). Not only is it desirable to discharge water that is as free as possible from contaminant, and hence from the centre of the tank 11, but it is also preferable to test the water that is actually discharged. In the known water treatment apparatus, water would be sampled by opening the access way to the tank and lowering a receptacle into the body of water. The contaminants in the upper part of the body of water cannot be avoided using this method. The sample would not be representative of the actual discharged water, having its source in the centre region of the body of water. Water samples may be taken downstream of the water tank outlet, but often discharge to a watercourse is through another drain, which may be otherwise contaminated. It is therefore very desirable to be able to sample the actual discharged water in a convenient manner. In the present example, an operator simply removes a cover from the tank 11, lowers a sample pot into the mouth 30a of the component 30, allows the sample pot to fill and retrieves it.

Referring now to Figure 17, an alternative form of filter 40’, which comprises a filter element 41’ formed typically of a stainless steel mesh (although any suitable filter material may be used) supported on a ring 42’ similarly formed of stainless steel, with a handle 43’ extending upwardly from the ring 42’. A seal 44’, in the illustrated example a rubber seal, is provided around the ring 42’. The handle 43’ extends downward from the support ring 42’ and terminates at a second support ring 45 which mounts a seal 46 extending around the edge of the support ring 45, Mounted on the top of the support ring 45 is a secondary filter, which in the illustrated example is a foam filter, and which serves to remove algae and fines from water flowing through the outlet 24e/24f.

Claims (8)

Claims

1. Water treatment apparatus comprising a module for mounting on a storage tank, the module including at least one inlet opening associated with an upstream conduit, at least one outlet in fluid communication with the storage tank and at least one outlet opening associated with a downstream conduit, wherein the module includes a base mountable in an opening of the storage tank, wherein the base includes a ring for coupling with the opening in the storage tank, and a seal situated between the ring and the opening, wherein both the ring and the opening are circular.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein in use, the seal is situated between the adjacent faces of the opening and the ring.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the base includes a collar extending around the ring and substantially perpendicular thereto, and wherein in use, the seal is situated between the adjacent faces of the opening and the ring and the underside of the collar.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one outlet in fluid communication with the storage tank is formed by an opening in the base of the module.

5. Water treatment apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a storage tank, the storage tank including a lid formed by a concrete slab having an opening formed therein during the casting of the said lid.

6. Water treatment apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the opening is configured to receive the said ring of the module.

7. Water treatment apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the opening is configured to receive an adapter and the adapter is configured to receive the ring.

8. Water treatment apparatus substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to one or more of the drawings.