JP2007512953A - Fully automated water treatment control system - Google Patents

Abstract

  A fully automated system that controls the water purification unit based on distillation. Control parameters in the system include an overall power input fuse (2) that protects against electrical shorts, a manual reset switch (3) that resets the entire system to its initial state, and a thermal overload that protects the boiler from becoming dry Switch (1), product water level switch (4) that protects the product tank from overflowing, boiler pressure switch (5) that maintains the proper water level in the boiler, and inflow solenoid (6) that controls the flow of incoming water A boiler drain solenoid (8) that controls the regular drainage of the boiler, a timer delay relay (9) that prevents the water produced during the transient state from entering the product container, the product water in the product container or It includes a product output solenoid (10) to be sent into the drainage stream and three indicator lights (11, 12, 13) that provide continuous operating conditions.

Description

  This application claims the benefit of the application of US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 526,530, filed Dec. 2, 2003, entitled “Automated Water Processing Control System”. . That specification is incorporated herein by reference.

  Further consolidation due to the lack of traditional water sources, the deterioration of local drinking water distribution systems, and the depletion of wells and reservoirs due to increased water consumption, causing salt pollution. Agricultural and gasoline additives, and even toxic heavy metals, cause further contamination of traditional water sources and are used to disinfect microorganisms and bacteria, salts, MTBE, chlorates and perchlorates, arsenic, mercury, and drinking water Water purification technology is rapidly becoming an indispensable aspect of modern life, leading to an increase and undesirable levels of chemicals such as chlorinated compounds.

  Conventional techniques such as reverse osmosis (RO), filtration and chemical treatment are rarely able to cope with various water pollutants, which are commercially available, but many treatments to achieve acceptable water quality Often requires a stage or a combination of different techniques. Newer technologies such as ultraviolet (UV) irradiation or ozone treatment can be effective against viruses and bacteria, but remove other pollutants such as dissolved gases, many salts, hydrocarbons, and insoluble solids. It is rare to do. Although most distillation techniques are generally superior in removing a large number of contaminants, they still cannot deal with all types of contaminants unless they are equipped with a selective brackish water separation system.

  Therefore, an advanced distillation system that is continuous and self-cleaning and draws most of the input water appears to be the best long-term option to solve the growing water pollution problem and water shortage. However, considering the numerous features of such systems, they deliberate, boil, steam separation, and condensing operations with a careful balance of input and output streams to ensure sufficient quality of the product water Multiple control is required, which is the subject of the present invention.

  Prior attempts to control water distillation systems are described in US Pat. Nos. 6,663,770, 5,968,321, 6,582,563, 6,358,371, 6,030,504, 6,009,238, 5,833,812, 5,609,732, 5,286,351, 5,348,623 No. 5,286,350 No. 5,059,287 No. 5,021,128 No. 4,943,353 No. 4,415,075 No. 4 110, 170, and 3,980,526. U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,770 describes a feed solenoid valve and a float valve. Unlike the present invention, the feed solenoid valve described in US Pat. No. 6,663,770 is connected to the float valve in the boiler rather than the differential pressure sensor in the present invention. Float valves, which are mechanical-electrical devices that operate at the boiling point, have reliability issues with regard to wear, fatigue, and dimensional stability.

  US Pat. No. 5,968,321 provides boiler water level control by means of a vertical sight tube, but this requires visual monitoring of its function and is therefore not a fully automated operation, Alternatively, it activates an electrical light sensing signal that controls the inlet valve.

  US Pat. No. 6,582,563 discloses an inflow solenoid valve that controls the inflow of water into a control tank and regulates the boiler water level in a distillation system, and an electronically controlled drain valve operated by a timer. Is described. US Pat. Nos. 6,358,371 and 6,030,504 both describe an electrical control system comprising a heater thermostat that controls the boiler heater and a fan thermostat that controls the cooling of the condenser.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,238 describes an automatic shut-off thermostat that prevents the boiler in the distillation system from becoming dry.

  US Pat. No. 5,833,812 describes a power supply unit that applies a voltage potential to a heating probe submerged in the boiler, and a selector control that maintains the water level in the boiler.

  U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,732 describes automatic temperature control to prevent the boiler from becoming anhydrous during distillation.

  U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,348,623 and 5,286,351 describe temperature sensors in the boiler for controlling the boiler water level.

  U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,350 describes a float valve for controlling the water level in a boiler.

  U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,287 describes a temperature sensor above the water in the boiler to shut off power input to the boiler.

  U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,021,128 and 4,943,353 describe a water level probe in a boiler for maintaining the water level within a predetermined range.

  U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,075 describes a float switch and a low water level safety switch for controlling the water level in a boiler.

  U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,170 describes a temperature sensor at the boiler outlet for controlling the flow of incoming water into the boiler.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,526 describes a float sensor that is connected directly to a tubular stem rather than to the incoming water flow into the boiler.
US Pat. No. 6,663,770 US Pat. No. 5,968,321 US Pat. No. 6,582,563 US Pat. No. 6,358,371 US Pat. No. 6,030,504 US Pat. No. 6,009,238 US Pat. No. 5,833,812 US Pat. No. 5,609,732 US Pat. No. 5,286,351 US Pat. No. 5,348,623 US Pat. No. 5,286,350 US Pat. No. 5,059,287 US Pat. No. 5,021,128 US Pat. No. 4,943,353 US Pat. No. 4,415,075 US Pat. No. 4,110,170 US Pat. No. 3,980,526

  The object of the present invention is to provide a fully automated water treatment control system that is designed to work with advanced water distillation systems that are particularly continuous and equipped with degassing and selective vapor separation capabilities. That is.

  The operation of the boiler has three separate controls. Operation is controlled not to operate in an anhydrous state by a thermal overload switch. An appropriate water level in the boiler is controlled by a boiler pressure switch that activates a solenoid that controls the flow of the incoming water. The boiler is periodically drained by a boiler drain solenoid.

  The operation of the product water tank is subject to three additional controls. There is a product level switch that prevents the product water tank from overflowing. A timer delay relay prevents water generated during the transient state from entering the product container by a product output solenoid that sends product water to either the product container or the waste stream.

  In addition, the entire system has a manual reset switch that resets the entire system to an initial state, and three indicator lights that provide continuous operation for all states. There is also an overall power input fuse that protects against electrical shorts for protection from electrical shorts.

  The present invention has a fully automated system for controlling a water purification unit, particularly a water purification unit that utilizes distillation technology. Proper control of the distillation unit is important when such types of equipment operate continuously and must ensure the proper quality of the product, regardless of the contaminants present in the input water. The controls required in advanced water distillation systems are addressed at each processing stage of the distillation unit, typically including steam generating boilers, selective steam separation stages, and condensation of clean steam to final pure water. Must. Given the sequence of processing steps, the controls provided by the present invention are mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical in nature.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of multiple control in the present invention and provides an example of an assembly drawing. In FIG. 1, AC power is supplied by a standard three-pronged “AC plug”. The “fuse” (2) protects the entire circuit from short circuits. A manual “reset switch” (3) allows the user to reset the system to its initial state in preference to automatic control. The normally closed "thermal overload switch" (1) is located near the heater on the boiler and opens the circuit when the boiler reaches an overheated state. The “product water level switch” (4) monitors the water level of the output water container and opens when the container is full. The “boiler pressure switch” (5) is a differential pressure switch that maintains the correct water level in the boiler. An “inflow water solenoid” (6) controls the flow of input water into the system. The “heater” (7) is an electric heating element that heats the water in the boiler to the boiling point. The “boiler drain solenoid” (8) controls drainage from the boiler. The “timing delay relay” (9) generates a delay timing pulse when power is applied to the input. The pulse delay time is set by various resistors. A “product output solenoid” (10) controls the flow of water to either the output water container or the waste container or tube. There are three indicator lights (power indicator (11), heating indicator (12), and on indicator (13)) to provide operational status. The water treatment unit consists of a boiler, a steam removal and separation device, and a condenser unit. The output water from the output water container is distributed by the output water cock.

  The control system operates in three different states.

  "off". This is the “control state” when no power is applied, the reset switch is not actuated, or the output water container is full (the product water level switch is open). In this state, the heater is turned off, the inflow water is shut off (the inflow water solenoid is closed), and the boiler drain solenoid is opened to drain the boiler. This is a non-operational state of the system shown when the power indicator is not lit.

  "heating". This is a control state when power is applied or the reset switch is released and water treatment is started. In this state, the heater is turned on, incoming water flows in (the incoming water solenoid is opened), the boiler drain solenoid is closed (thus filling the boiler), and the product output from the condenser is either a waste container or Sent to the tube (the product output solenoid is opened). In this state, the boiler pressure switch operates independently, and controls the water level in the boiler by monitoring the pressure difference between the boiler drain pipe and the boiler. The boiler pressure switch controls the inflow water solenoid so that the water level in the boiler is actively monitored. This state is indicated when the heating indicator is lit.

  "on". This is the control state when the output pulse of the timing delay relay is being driven. In this state, the water treatment unit is at operating temperature and the product output from the condenser is sent to the output water container. This is accomplished by closing the product output solenoid, which sends the flow of output product water to the output water container by reversing the output product water inside the legs of the T-tube of the product output solenoid. In this state, the boiler pressure switch operates independently, and controls the water level in the boiler by monitoring the pressure difference between the boiler drain pipe and the boiler. The boiler pressure switch controls the inflow water solenoid so that the water level in the boiler is actively monitored. This state is indicated when the ON indicator is lit.

1 is a schematic assembly view of the present invention. It is a list of input signals (INPUTS) and output controls (OUTPUTS) of the control system used in this system. It is a state diagram of a control system.

Claims (18)

A system for controlling the amount of water in a boiler,
It was configured to detect the amount of pressure in the boiler drain and compare the amount of pressure in the boiler drain with the amount of pressure elsewhere in the boiler, thereby measuring the differential pressure in the boiler A differential pressure sensor,
An inflow water solenoid for operating the flow of water into the boiler;
The differential pressure sensor is a system configured to control the inflow water solenoid based on the differential pressure. A device for water purification,
A condenser,
A waterway having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
A product tank;
A waste region, wherein the condenser is in fluid communication with the inlet of the water channel, and the first outlet of the water channel receives water so that water from the condenser enters through the inlet of the water channel. A waste area that is sent to the waste area and the second outlet of the water channel sends water to the product tank;
A product output solenoid configured to open a first outlet and close a second outlet, or to close the first outlet and open the second outlet;
A device having a timer delay relay configured to generate a delay signal for switching the product output solenoid at a predetermined time after the device is started upon the device being started.   The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a thermal overload switch thermally coupled to the boiler. A fully automated water treatment system,
Having a boiler, said boiler,
A boiler drain pipe comprising a boiler drain solenoid configured to allow drainage of water from the boiler;
A boiler pressure switch configured to be able to measure the amount of water in the boiler;
A water inlet through which water can enter the boiler, the water inlet having a water inlet solenoid, thereby controlling the amount of water entering the boiler, the desired water in the boiler A system having a water inlet in communication with the boiler pressure switch and the water inlet solenoid to maintain volume.   The system of claim 4, further comprising a thermal overload switch thermally coupled to the boiler, wherein the thermal overload switch opens in an excessive temperature range of the boiler.   The apparatus further comprises a steam removal device that communicates with the boiler so that steam from the boiler enters, and further includes a condenser that communicates with the steam removal device so that steam from the steam removal device enters. 5. The system according to 5.   The system of claim 6, further comprising an output pipe in fluid communication with the condenser, wherein the output pipe allows water from the condenser to flow into a drain. A steam separator in steam communication with the boiler so that steam from the boiler enters;
The system of claim 5, further comprising a condenser in vapor communication with the vapor separator so that clean vapor from the vapor separator enters. An output pipe in fluid communication with the condenser, having a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein water from the agglomerator flows into an output solenoid provided in the output pipe; An output pipe configured to control flow from the aggregator through the first and second outlets through which water from the agglomerator flows;
A product tank in fluid communication with the output pipe, wherein water from the condenser flows into the product tank when the output solenoid is closed and condensing when the output solenoid is open 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a product tank in which water from the vessel flows into the waste container. A control system for automating a water purification system having a boiler and a product tank,
A water inlet solenoid;
A boiler pressure switch that controls the water inlet solenoid to ensure that the boiler does not overflow or become anhydrous and measures the water pressure to determine whether the water inlet solenoid should be activated. When,
An output solenoid configured to send water from the boiler to (1) a product tank or (2) a waste line;
A timer delay relay for controlling the output solenoid configured to provide a delay sufficient for an initial amount of water entering the boiler to move to the output solenoid upon startup of the water purification system;
A system comprising a product level switch that monitors the amount of product in the product tank and closes the water inlet solenoid when the product tank is full. The water treatment system comprises:
A steam separator that communicates with the boiler and steam;
11. A control system according to claim 10, comprising a condenser in which the separator and steam are in communication, wherein water can be moved from the condenser to a position sent by the output solenoid. A control system for water purification,
Means for controlling water input into the boiler based on the amount of water in the boiler;
Means for detecting the temperature of the boiler, and means for switching off the boiler if the temperature is too high;
Means for communicating with the boiler in steam and converting the steam from the boiler into a liquid;
Means controlled by a time delay relay, in liquid communication with means for converting vapor from the boiler into liquid, and means for sending the liquid into a waste container or product tank;
A product tank in liquid communication with the means for feeding;
Means for blocking water flow to the product tank when the product tank is full. A method for controlling a water treatment system, comprising:
Monitoring the amount of pressure in the boiler drainpipe, comparing the amount of pressure in the boiler drainpipe with the amount of pressure at other locations in the boiler;
Using the pressure comparison to control a water inlet solenoid that controls the flow of water into the boiler.   14. The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring the amount of product produced by the water treatment system, whereby the system itself stops when a preset amount of water is produced. .   15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, further comprising monitoring the temperature of the boiler and stopping the boiler if the temperature exceeds a certain level.   Further comprising selecting cleaner water from the boiler by removing an initial amount of water produced by the system and sending water produced later by the system into the product tank; The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15.   17. The method of any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising displaying to a supervisor which steps are being performed in the system while each step is being performed in the water treatment system. Method. A method for controlling a water treatment system, comprising:
Avoiding an initial amount of water from the product tank during water treatment;
Feeding later generated water into the product tank.

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