JP2662623B2 - Environmental water purification equipment and artificial seaweed beds - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an environmental water purification apparatus for purifying environmental water such as river water or seawater using photosynthesis performed by algae in water, and to artificially convert algae into water. It relates to artificial algal beds to be grown.

"Conventional technology" In order to purify the sea area, it is necessary to prevent the inflow of dirty environmental water such as river water into the sea area.For example, in order to prevent the inflow of dirty river water into the sea area, A treatment plant is set up near the mouth of the river to remove pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus contained in the river water,
It is desirable to purify polluted river water by reducing D (chemical oxygen demand), and then discharge the treated water to the sea area.

By the way, in ordinary water treatment facilities, it is difficult to reduce the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and the like in wastewater to a satisfactory level, because it is difficult from a cost or technical point of view.
The concentration is not always reduced to a sufficient level.
In addition, since the limit of the treatment capacity is determined by the amount of water rather than the quality of the raw water, even if the water quality exceeds the limit of the treatment capacity by introducing river water, it will be exceeded even if the water quality is relatively good. Raw water cannot be treated at all,
In some cases, raw water is discharged as it is. Therefore, when purifying a large amount of environmental water such as river water, a treatment plant having a treatment capacity much larger than that of a normal sewage treatment plant is required, and the construction cost and running cost of the treatment plant are enormous. Amount.

For this reason, recently, it has been desired to efficiently purify a large amount of environmental water such as river water at low cost using, for example, photosynthesis of algae.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When purifying a large amount of environmental water such as river water using algae, it is necessary to grow a large amount of algae in the treatment tank. It must be grown in a state. However, in a normal treatment tank, the supply of light necessary for the growth of algae is limited only to the incidence of sunlight from above the water surface, and when the light enters the water, it is rapidly attenuated. When algae are grown in such a high concentration state as described above, there is a problem that light does not sufficiently reach all the algae. In addition, when algae are grown in a state of floating in the water in the treatment tank, when the treated water is discharged into the sea area, the algae may flow out of the process system together with the flow of the treated water. is there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can sufficiently supply light to all algae even when the algae are grown in a high concentration state. It is an object of the present invention to provide an environmental water purification device that efficiently purifies a large amount of environmental water such as water at a low cost. It also aims to provide artificial seaweed beds for production.

Means for Solving the Problems The environmental water purifying apparatus of the present invention is an environmental water purifying apparatus for purifying environmental water such as river water or seawater by photosynthesis performed by algae in water. A light-emitting device for generating light having a wavelength distribution suitable for growing algae and a solar concentrator is arranged on the light-emitting optical fiber for growth while disposing the light-emitting optical fiber for growth in a dense state,
The algae growth light-leakage optical fiber is adhered and fixed to the surface of the algae growth light-leakage optical fiber to form a floor, and the algae growth light-leakage optical fiber has a configuration in which the refractive index difference between the clad and the core is adjusted by an additive. Is what is being done.

Here, the light leakage optical fiber for algae growth will be described.

Normal optical fiber is made of quartz glass, multi-component glass,
It consists of a dielectric material that is transparent to light such as plastic, and has a circular cross-section core composed of a dielectric material with a high refractive index at the center and a low-refractive-index clad laminated around the core. ing. For example, in the case of a silica glass optical fiber, an additive such as GeO ₂ , P ₂ O ₅ , or Al ₂ O ₃ is added to the core to increase the refractive index of the core, or F, B ₂ O Additives such as ₃ are added to the clat to lower the refractive index of the cladding, thereby causing a difference in the refractive index between the core and the cladding. Such an ordinary optical fiber is used as a light transmission path or the like, and the light is transmitted by totally reflecting the light at the boundary between the core and the clad or propagating while meandering in the core. Thus, light is transmitted with extremely low loss without leaking to the outside on the way.

However, in the case of the light leakage optical fiber for growing algae used in the present invention, in order to supply light to the algae immobilized on the surface, it is necessary to slightly leak light from the surface. In the light leakage optical fiber for growth, the amount of the additive to be added to the core or the clad is smaller than that of a normal optical fiber, and therefore, the difference in the refractive index between the core and the clad is small.

The artificial algae field of the present invention is an artificial algae field for artificially growing algae, in which a required amount of light-transmitting optical fibers for algae growth are densely arranged in water, and the light-transmitting light for algae growth is provided. The fiber is connected to a solar concentrator or a light emitting device that generates light having a wavelength distribution suitable for growing algae, and algae are attached to the surface of the light leaking optical fiber for growing algae. The optical fiber has a configuration in which the difference in the refractive index between the cladding and the core is adjusted by an additive.

[Operation] In the environmental water purification apparatus of the present invention, a required amount of light leakage optical fiber for growing algae is arranged in water in a dense state, and a solar concentrator or the growth of algae is placed on the light leakage optical fiber for growing algae. By connecting a light emitting device that generates light having a wavelength distribution suitable for the algae, the algae are adhered and fixed to the surface of the algal growth light-leak optical fiber to form a floor. For the immobilized algae, sunlight is supplied to the algae by a solar concentrator, or light having a wavelength distribution suitable for growing the algae is supplied by a light emitting device. In this case, the algae grows well even in a high concentration state, and nitrogen and phosphorus in the environmental water are taken in and removed by the algae by photosynthesis performed by the algae, and oxygen is released from the algae to release the algae. COD is reduced, and a large amount of environmental water is efficiently purified.

Moreover, in the artificial algal bed of the present invention, by having the same configuration as the above-mentioned environmental water purification device, the algae grow well in a high concentration state, thereby efficiently producing a large amount of algae. It will be.

Embodiment Hereinafter, as a first embodiment of the present invention, an environmental water purification device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, this environmental water purification device
Is introduced into the treatment tank 3 by the pump 2, and the treated water treated in the treatment tank 3 is discharged to the sea area 4. The light leakage optical fibers 5 for growing algae are arranged in a dense state, the algae are adhered and fixed on the surface of the light leakage optical fibers 5 for growing algae, and this is used as a floor. Solar concentrator 6 with tracking mechanism
Is installed.

As shown in FIG. 2, a light emitting device 7 for generating light having a wavelength distribution suitable for growing algae is installed in the ground adjacent to the processing tank 3 together with the solar light collector 6 as shown in FIG. The normal type optical fibers 8 and 9 connected to the light emitting device 7 and the solar concentrator 6 are respectively connected to a light source switching unit 10, and the light source switching unit 10 includes a plurality of light leakage for algae growth. The optical fibers 5 are connected (three are shown in FIG. 2, but tens or hundreds or more may be connected).

Here, the difference between the light leakage optical fiber 5 for algae growth and the normal type optical fibers 8 and 9 will be described.

The ordinary type optical fibers 8, 9 are made of a dielectric material transparent to light, such as quartz glass, multi-component glass, plastic, etc., and are made of a dielectric material having a high refractive index at the center. And a low refractive index clad laminated around the core having a circular cross section. For example, in the case of a silica glass optical fiber, an additive such as GeO ₂ , P ₂ O ₅ , or Al ₂ O ₃ is added to the core to increase the refractive index of the core, or F, B ₂ O ₃ or the like. Is added to the cladding to lower the refractive index of the cladding, thereby causing a difference in the refractive index between the core and the cladding. Such ordinary type optical fibers 8 and 9 are generally used as a light transmission path or the like, and the light is transmitted by total internal reflection at the core / cladding boundary or meandering in the core. It is performed by propagating while
Light is transmitted with extremely low loss without leaking to the outside on the way.

In contrast, the light leakage optical fiber 5 for growing algae was used.
The amount of the additive to be added to the core or the clad is made smaller than that of the ordinary optical fibers 8 and 9 so that
The difference in the refractive index between the core and the cladding is small, so that light leaks slightly from the surface and supplies light to algae immobilized on the surface.

When purifying river water with such an environmental water purifying device, the pump 2 is constantly operated to continuously introduce the river water of the river 1 into the treatment tank 3. In the daytime, sunlight is supplied to the algae growing light leaking optical fiber 5 in the treatment tank 3 by the solar light concentrator 6 to be fixed to the surface of the algae growing light leaking optical fiber 5. The sunlight is supplied to the algae which are present, and at night, the light leakage switching optical fiber 5 for algae growth is connected to the light emitting device 7 by switching the light source switching unit 10, and the light emitting device 7 allows the wavelength distribution suitable for the growth of the algae. Of light. In this way, the algae grow well even in a high concentration state, and nitrogen and phosphorus in the river water are taken into the treatment tank 3 by the photosynthesis performed by the algae and removed by the algae. Oxygen release lowers COD in environmental water and effectively purifies large amounts of river water. Then, while the river water is continuously introduced into the treatment tank 3 as described above, the treatment tank 3
The water in the treatment tank 3 is continuously treated in the basin, and at the same time, by utilizing the tidal range, the water in the treatment tank 3 is passed over the sea-side wall set at almost the same height as the sea surface. Is gradually exchanged with seawater, and, if necessary, a water gate (not shown) is opened to adjust the amount of water in the treatment tank 3, thereby discharging treated water treated in the treatment tank 3 to the sea area 4. To keep going.

In addition, in this environmental water purification device, the river water is introduced into the treatment tank 3 by the pump 2, but the river water can be introduced into the treatment tank 3 by a difference in water level.

Next, an artificial algae bed according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

This artificial algae bed is composed of a light leakage optical fiber 5 for growing algae, a solar light concentrator 6, a light emitting device 7, and a light source switching unit 10 as in the case of the above-mentioned environmental water purification device. The algae are grown artificially in a state where the algae are attached to the surface of the sexual optical fiber 5, and the light leakage optical fibers 5 for growing algae are arranged densely in the sea.

In this artificial algal bed, algae grow well even in a high concentration state, whereby a large amount of algae is efficiently produced.

In each of these embodiments, the environmental water purification apparatus for preventing sea area pollution and the artificial algae bed for the purpose of producing algae have been described. It can also be applied to various purposes other than the above, for example, by embedding the above-mentioned light leakage optical fiber for algae growth in sediment, organic matter in the sediment can also be decomposed by photosynthetic bacteria, It can also be applied to a compact biological water treatment system in outer space.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the environmental water purification apparatus of the present invention, a required amount of light leakage optical fibers for growing algae is arranged in water in a dense state, and a sunlight concentrator or A light emitting device that generates light having a wavelength distribution suitable for growing algae is connected, and algae are adhered and fixed to the surface of the light leaking optical fiber for growing algae to form a floor, and the light leaking optical fiber for growing algae is clad. And the refractive index difference between the core and the core was adjusted by an additive, so that the algae immobilized on the surface of the algae-growing light leaking optical fiber, for example, in the daytime to algae by a solar concentrator Sunlight can be supplied, and light having a wavelength distribution suitable for growing algae can be supplied by the light emitting device at night. For this reason, since the algae can be satisfactorily grown even in a high concentration state, nitrogen and phosphorus in the environmental water can be removed by photosynthesis performed by the algae, and COD can be reduced, whereby a large amount of environmental Water can be purified efficiently. In addition, since the algae are grown while being immobilized on the surface of the light leakage optical fiber for growing algae, the algae flow out of the treatment tank together with the flow of water when the treated water is discharged into the sea area. The algae in the treatment tank can be used effectively, and the algae can be satisfactorily grown in a higher concentration state by directly acting on the algae in proximity to the light. Further, since the algal growth light-leak optical fiber having a configuration in which the refractive index difference between the clad and the core is adjusted by the additive, it is possible to manufacture this algal growth light-leak optical fiber with general production equipment.
An inexpensive environmental water purification device can be provided.

Further, according to the artificial algal bed of the present invention, by having a configuration similar to that of the above-mentioned environmental water purification device, algae can be satisfactorily grown even in a high concentration state, whereby a large amount of algae can be efficiently produced. Can be produced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an environmental water purification device, and FIG. 2 is a solar light concentrator, a light emitting device, and a light source switch. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the connection state with a unit. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an artificial algal bed showing a second embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... River, 2 ... Pump, 3 ... Treatment tank, 4 ... Ocean area, 5 ... Light leakage optical fiber for algae growth, 6 ... Solar concentrator, 7 ... Light emitting device, 8, 9 …… Optical fiber, 10 …… Light source switching unit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An environmental water purifying apparatus for purifying environmental water such as river water or seawater by photosynthesis performed by algae in water, wherein a required amount of water leakage optical fibers for growing algae is densely arranged in water. A solar concentrator or a light emitting device that emits light having a wavelength distribution suitable for growing algae is connected to the light leaking optical fiber for growing algae, and the algae are attached and fixed to the surface of the light leaking optical fiber for growing algae. An environmental water purification apparatus, wherein the optical fiber for growing algae is configured as a floor, and the refractive index difference between the clad and the core is adjusted by an additive. 2. An artificial algae field for artificially growing algae, wherein a required amount of light leakage optical fibers for growing algae are densely arranged in water, and sunlight is collected on the light leakage optical fibers for growing algae. An optical device or a light emitting device that generates light having a wavelength distribution suitable for growing algae is connected, and algae are attached to the surface of the algal growing light leaking optical fiber, and the algal growing light leaking optical fiber is An artificial algae field, wherein the refractive index difference between the clad and the core is adjusted by an additive.