JP6204532B2 - Local disinfection system for large bodies of water - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for controlling the microbiological properties of such a body of water that meets certain microbiological hygiene conditions by noting that it treats the body of a large body of water. The present invention allows people to use large bodies of water for recreational purposes in a safe manner while avoiding treatment of large entire bodies of water. The method also includes injecting a chemical agent determined by a parameter determination method based on the ORP, temperature, salinity, and optionally the diffusion of the chemical, and even the dilution power of the water. This results in the use of less chemical agent and lower energy consumption to treat the water. Thus, the present invention provides a limitation or impossibility of treating a zone of a natural or man-made body of water, such as a large lake, lagoon, reservoir, dam, hot spring, pond, or sea. Can be used to allow people to use it for recreational purposes in a safe manner.

  Several studies around the world have found that water quality found in some large waters such as lakes, reservoirs, dams and seas does not meet the water quality required for safety standards and / or recreational purposes. It has academic and physics properties. Thus, the use of such large waters for recreational purposes can pose a health threat to people and adversely affect the surrounding communities and communities.

  Water pollution can be related to changes in the chemical, physical and biological properties of water due to human activity. Over the years, the world's population has increased explosively, necessitating more living and recreational space, and therefore natural or man-made waters are used for other purposes. The growing population occupies the periphery of large cities and increases the demand for land and related utilities. Moreover, numerous industries have caused several environmental consequences that also affect the water quality of such waters.

  One cause of poor water quality is water pollution. Water can be polluted by sewage disposal, industrial pollution, excessive development in the waters, running water from agriculture and urbanization, air pollution, and the like. These examples may drop water quality below the standards required for recreational water.

  The effects of water pollution include the effects on the organisms in the body of water and, ultimately, human health where such water may be used for direct or indirect purposes.

  In addition, the amount of nutrients flowing into large water bodies has increased drastically mainly due to increased cities and agriculture over the years, resulting in microbial growth, ie eutrophication of the water areas. In the eutrophic state, the amount of nutrients increases the metabolic rate of phytoplankton, thus increasing the biochemical oxygen demand and lowering the dissolved oxygen level of the water. Moreover, since warm water has only a low ability to contain dissolved oxygen, temperature also affects the dissolved oxygen level of the water. Therefore, the combination of both effects of reducing oxygen, such as large amounts of nutrients and high temperatures, weakens organisms, making them more susceptible to disease, parasites, and more sensitive to other contaminants. Results. All such problems cause negative effects on water quality, cause long-lived algae and other microbial growth, and create a recreational environment that is dangerous for people. Global warming will also tend to increase this type of problem throughout the world.

  Much research and analysis has been done on large water bodies used for recreational purposes. Large water bodies are used for a wide variety of recreational purposes, including bathing, water skiing, windsurfing boating and many other activities. However, some water bodies used for such recreational purposes do not meet the specific microbiological hygiene conditions that apply to water bodies. For example, EPA studies have been conducted in over 1000 lakes across the United States and analyzed the potential risks of using such lakes for direct contact recreational purposes. Over 30% of all lakes are found in human health. It has been found that over 41% of lakes potentially have a wide range of impacts on the sea, giving them a high or moderate chance of being exposed to algae poisons. In addition, it has been found that the number of bacteria and the poison concentration are larger in the vicinity of the shore than in the open water area.

  Many countries around the world have regulations for the use of water areas for direct contact recreational purposes such as bathing in a safe and hygienic state, and there are generally two There are type restrictions. The first type of regulation is for swimming pools, to maintain a low microbial level and to prevent water contamination when new bathers enter the swimming pool, a high unchanging chlorine buffer. Is essentially required to maintain. Chlorine buffer detoxifies pollutants among many pollutants and disinfects bacteria brought into the swimming pool by bathers, thus maintaining high water quality suitable for recreational purposes. The second type of regulation applies to many large bodies of water, especially large, natural or man-made bodies of water, such as lakes, water, lagoons, reservoirs or dams, for bathing that makes whole body contact with recreational water. It is applied as a standard. This regulation is based on the ability to dilute water. When the water has an acceptable bacterial level and a new bather enters the water area, the pollutants are diluted to a concentration that causes significant effects in the water area. Thus, in large bodies of water, a bactericidal buffer is not necessary due to the high diluting power of large water volumes and due to the natural ability to maintain hygienic conditions.

  Direct contact recreational water regulations, such as those applied to lakes, seas, lagoons or dams, require water quality that meets several standards that allow safe use of such waters. To assess the suitability of large bodies of water for direct contact recreational purposes, the most important criterion is the microbiological parameters of water. For example, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations for bathing with whole body in contact with recreational water, for fresh water, E. coli should not exceed 126 CFU per 100 ml of water and enterococci per 100 ml of water It points out that it must not exceed 33 CFU. As another example, the NCh 1333 regulation for direct contact recreational water in Chile states that recreational water should not contain more than 1000 CFU of fecal coliforms per 100 ml of water (including E. coli in particular) Yes. Therefore, strict standards apply when such large waters are used as recreational waters in direct contact.

  The distribution of large quantities of chemicals and disinfectants across large water bodies to meet specific microbiological hygiene conditions is not technically, economically and environmentally feasible and is therefore present for recreational purposes. Obtaining such required specific microbiological conditions in large water areas that are inappropriate is a significant challenge. Thus, it is often impossible to treat an entire body of water to meet a particular microbiological condition provided to the body of water.

  Some water bodies can also meet microbiological regulations for direct contact recreational water, and more stringent regulations apply to water areas, especially those with low salinity and high temperature water. There are pathogenic microorganisms like protozoa, especially amoeba, that can exist in Therefore, there is no guarantee to maintain bacteriological regulations for direct contact recreational water that will enable safe bathing conditions invariably.

  Currently, water treatment techniques applied to swimming pools require the addition of chemicals to maintain a constant chlorine buffer of at least 1.5 ppm or to maintain a constant ORP of at least 750 mV. And Because current methods are technically, economically and environmentally unfeasible for large bodies of water, currently treat large bodies of water contaminated by microorganisms, such as lakes, seas, lagoons, reservoirs or dams There is no known practical method. ORP is increasingly becoming the first approach to standardizing water disinfection parameters. The metabolism of microorganisms and consequently their ability to survive and reproduce depends on the ORP (oxidation reduction potential) of the living environment in which they live. From a bacteriological point of view, oxidants remove and accept electrons from the cell membrane (reduction-oxidation reaction), destabilize the cells and cause rapid death.

  The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), ie the tendency of a chemical agent to gain electrons from another chemical species, can be controlled by the addition of another disinfectant, which can treat the water And allows the sterilization of dangerous microorganisms that may create an unsafe environment for recreational purposes. Also, the temperature of water plays an important role in its biological properties and microbial growth, and microbial growth tends to increase at higher temperatures. Moreover, in order for certain microorganisms to be able to grow, a certain salinity level is required, and the salinity of water is also biological, as it cannot tolerate a different salinity living environment. Plays an important role in nature. For example, certain pathogenic protozoa can only grow in water with a salinity lower than 2% by weight, and thus at higher salinity, such microorganisms cannot grow or proliferate.

  Swimming pool water treatment techniques require the addition of large amounts of chemicals to maintain proper disinfection parameters. For large bodies of water, current swimming pool disinfection technology is not technically and economically feasible due to the large amount of chemicals that would be necessary and cause serious environmental destruction.

  Currently, there are no known practical methods for disinfecting and treating large bodies of water such as lakes, seas, lagoons, reservoirs or dams. Appropriate treatment and disinfection would not be technically, economically and environmentally feasible if traditional disinfection techniques were utilized. Thus, in order to provide a zone that meets certain microbiological hygiene conditions, a method is provided for treating a large body of water, preferably a limited portion of the large body of water, and the body of water is in a safe manner, It is desirable to use it for recreational purposes.

  Thus, there are unresolved issues regarding recreational use for large natural or man-made bodies of water, such as lakes, lagoons, seas, or dams, with poor water quality. Enables the safe implementation of recreational purposes within water bodies and avoids any health threats to the community or nearby areas (though not currently occurring in many large waters around the world) Therefore, the microbiological nature of such large bodies of water must meet the regulations of water in direct contact or the more stringent and regulations that apply to specific bodies of water.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 623,268 discloses a method and apparatus for treating large bodies of water by induced circulation, and the method and apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 623,268 describes oxygen depletion, stagnant areas, freezing, and others. It relates to maintaining a water cycle within a large body of water in order to avoid uneven conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 623,268 does not disclose any mention of a method for treating a portion of water in a large body of water to meet certain bacteriological hygiene requirements, and merely provides circulation within the large body of water. Only a method for maintaining is disclosed. The method of U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,268 does not add chemicals by diffusion means to create a zone where sanitary conditions are met and maintains circulation within the body of water, which disperses chemicals throughout the body of water, It is not possible to create a zone that meets the conditions.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,901 discloses a fresh water or salt water pool, which is created over a natural or artificial water area, in a large body of water by means of a physical barrier that allows water to pass and does not allow contaminants to pass. It is possible to use water from such water bodies by preventing contamination by dirt or other sediments contained in the water, but it is necessary to install physical confinement means in large water bodies.

  Chinese Patent No. 102092824 discloses a water circulation system for ponds, lakes, urban tanks, and other water bodies, which enables the creation of a flow from the bottom to the surface of the water, and eutrophication of the water area. To avoid. Chinese Patent No. 102092824 mentions and discloses a method for controlling the microbiological characteristics of a portion of water in a large body of water to create a zone that meets sanitary conditions enabling recreational purposes. Not.

  Surprisingly, the present invention controls the microbiological properties of a large body of water by treating a portion of the large body of water, without the need to treat the entire large body of water, so that a portion of the large body of water is a specific microorganism. Provide zones that meet sanitation conditions and thus are sanitary conditions arranged to encompass areas used for recreational purposes, enabling water quality that meets certain microbiological sanitation conditions .

  The method makes it possible to treat a small part of the total volume of water. Thus, the method requires a small amount of chemicals and low energy consumption due to the use of dispenser means, does not require treatment of the entire body of water, and makes it possible to create zones that meet safe hygiene conditions. Thus, the present invention can be used to create a zone within a large body of water for recreational purposes in a safe manner, overcoming the limitations and impossibility of treating the entire body of water, It only treats the zones used for such purposes, making it possible to use the myriad lakes, coasts, lagoons and many waters that are not currently available due to safety or sanitation issues, It creates new recreational and travel opportunities that can change people's lifestyles.

  The present invention can be practiced on large natural or man-made bodies of water such as lakes, seas, estuaries, reservoirs, dams, and lagoons. Moreover, the water contained in such a large body of water may be fresh water, brackish water, salt water, or sea water.

  Accordingly, some embodiments relate to a method for controlling the microbiological properties of water by identifying a portion of the body of water. The method further comprises injecting a chemical agent to maintain at least a minimum ORP of water for at least a minimum period depending on water hygiene and temperature, and to maintain at least the minimum ORP for at least a minimum period. Including. The introduction of the chemical agent is preferably carried out by a dispenser means that makes it possible to create a zone that meets safe hygiene conditions. The introduction of the chemical agent may be further based on the diffusion of the chemical substance in the water and the dilution power in the water.

In one embodiment, the method of the invention comprises:
a. Identify areas of the large body of water for recreational purposes, define dispenser means,
b. Maintaining at least a minimum ORP level in such a property of water for at least a minimum period, wherein the minimum ORP level and the minimum period cannot be lower than the numerical value calculated by iv below:
i. Determining the least preferred zone of the body of water,
ii. Determining the salinity of water in the least preferred zone;
iii. Determining the minimum ORP value based on the salinity of the water;
here,
-For a salinity of the water from 0% to 1.5%, the minimum ORP level is 550 mV;
-For salinity of water above 1.5% and up to 2.5%, the minimum ORP level is calculated by the following equation:
(Minimum ORP level) = 625-50 × (Saline concentration of the water (%) (Percent of Shigerou))
-For a salinity of the water higher than 2.5%, the minimum ORP level is 500 mV;
iv. Determining the temperature of the water in the least preferred zone;
v. Determining the minimum period based on the water temperature;
here,
For water temperatures from 5 ° C to 35 ° C, the minimum period is calculated by the following equation:
(Minimum period (minutes)) = 80-2 × (temperature of the water (° C.))
For water temperatures from 35 ° C to 45 ° C, the minimum period is formed by the following equation:
(Minimum period (minutes) = 5 × (temperature of the water (° C.)) − 165
c. Introducing an amount of chemical agent effective to maintain at least the minimum ORP level for at least the minimum period of time in the least preferred zone;
d. In order to avoid the ORP in the least preferred zone decreasing beyond 20% of the minimum ORP level, step c. repeat,
Including that.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention.
By convention, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features. Reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a small part of a large body of water (2) and a zone (1) that meets sanitary conditions. FIG. 2 shows a top view of a smaller part of a large body of water, in particular the zone (1), the dispenser means (3) and the boundary zone (4) that meet the sanitary conditions. FIG. 3 is a graph depicting the change in the minimum ORP value of water with the salinity of water as a result of an embodiment of the method of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a graph representing the change in minimum time period during which the minimum ORP value is maintained due to water temperature as a result of an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

  The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Although several embodiments have been described, modifications, adjustments, and other adaptations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions or changes may be made to the elements shown in the drawings, and the method described herein replaces, reorders, or adds steps to the disclosed method. It may be changed depending on the situation. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not limited to the scope of the disclosure. Although systems and methods are described and illustrated with the phrase “including” various devices and steps, the systems and methods also “essentially” have various devices or steps, unless otherwise stated, or various It can also consist of the following devices or steps.

Definitions In the present invention, the following terms or phrases are to be understood in the meaning described below.

  As used herein, common types of water and their corresponding Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentrations (mg / L) are TDS ≦ 1500 for fresh water and 1500 <TDS for brackish water. ≦ 10000, salt water is 10,000 <TDS ≦ 30000, and seawater is TDS> 30000. TDS can be measured, for example, using a conductivity meter or by applying a gravimetric method that measures the mass of the residue left after evaporation of the solvent.

  As used herein, a “sanitary-compliant zone” means a portion of a large body of water set up for recreational purposes, and when used for recreational purposes, Or, when required, certain microbiological hygiene requirements are required. It should be noted that zones that meet hygiene requirements may not be permanently physically the same zone, but may vary according to people's requirements for recreational purposes.

  As used herein, “specific microbiological hygiene conditions” means microbiological properties / conditions that must be achieved without zones that meet hygiene conditions to enable recreational purposes. Say. Such conditions can be determined by specific local, state, federal regulations to reduce a particular microorganism, or by another predetermined specific condition.

  As used herein, “minimum ORP level” refers to the minimum ORP that can be tolerated in such a zone in order to properly control the microbiological properties in the least preferred zone.

  As used herein, “minimum duration” refers to the minimum amount of time that the minimum ORP level of water must be maintained in the least preferred zone to allow the required sanitary conditions.

  As used herein, a “boundary zone” corresponds to a virtual zone that delimits a zone that satisfies sanitary conditions and does not require a physical barrier.

  As used herein, the “most unfavorable zone” corresponds to the zone that exhibits the lowest ORP value within the identified water area, especially after the addition of a given chemical agent. The least preferred zone is not always, but is found in the boundary zone of the identified body of water part furthest away from the chemical dispenser.

  As used herein, “dispenser means” refers to any means for adding one or more chemical agents to water, such as an injector, diffuser, sprinkler, piping, manual addition. , And combinations thereof, pipes, valves and may be selected from the group consisting of connecting elements that allow for the appropriate addition of chemicals into the set water section to be treated.

  As used herein, “chemical agent” added to a body of water refers to any chemical agent that enables the desired ORP level of water to be achieved. An “effective amount of chemical agent” corresponds to the minimum amount of chemical that can be added to the water to maintain at least the minimum ORP level for at least a minimum period in the least preferred zone.

  The method of the present invention makes it possible to control the microbiological properties of a large body of water by treating a portion of the large body of water, and when necessary, that portion of the large body of water can have a specific microbiological character. Satisfy sanitation conditions and thus overcome the limitations and impossibility of treating the entire body of water. In order to broadly cover the area used for recreational purposes, zones are created that meet strategically placed sanitary conditions.

  Because this particular method does not require the entire water area to be documented, the disclosed method requires a smaller amount of chemicals and reduced energy consumption (the water area is a different process than the method of the present disclosure. May be required). Thus, the present invention allows people to use a zone within a large body of water for recreational purposes in a safe manner, and the economic, technical and environmental limitations of treating the entire body of water and A novel that can overcome the impossibility and change the lifestyles of people around the world, making it possible to use countless lakes, coasts, lagoons and many waters that are not currently available due to safety and health issues Create recreation and travel opportunities.

The disclosed methods can be performed on large natural or man-made bodies of water such as lakes, seas, estuaries, reservoirs, dams and lagoons. The disclosed method can be used with different types of water including fresh water, brackish water, salt water and sea water. In one embodiment, a method for controlling the microbiological properties of a body portion of a large body of water is:
a. Identify areas of the large body of water for recreational purposes, define dispenser means,
b. Maintaining at least a minimum ORP level in such a property of water for at least a minimum period, wherein the minimum ORP level and the minimum period cannot be lower than the numerical value calculated by iv below:
i. Determining the least preferred zone of the body of water,
ii. Determining the salinity of the water in the least preferred zone;
iii. Determining the minimum ORP value based on the salinity of the water;
here,
-For a salinity of the water from 0% to 1.5%, the minimum ORP level is 550 mV;
-For salinity of water above 1.5% and up to 2.5%, the minimum ORP level is calculated by the following equation:
(Minimum ORP level) = 625-50 × (Saline concentration of the water (%) (Percent of Shigerou))
-For a salinity of the water higher than 2.5%, the minimum ORP level is 500 mV;
iv. Determining the temperature of the water in the least preferred zone;
v. Determining the minimum period based on the water temperature;
here,
For water temperatures from 5 ° C to 35 ° C, the minimum period is calculated by the following equation:
(Minimum period (minutes)) = 80-2 × (temperature of the water (° C.))
For water temperatures from 35 ° C to 45 ° C, the minimum period is formed by the following equation:
(Minimum period (minutes) = 5 × (temperature of the water (° C.)) − 165
c. Injecting an effective amount of chemical agent to maintain at least the minimum ORP level for at least the minimum period of time in the least preferred zone;
d. In order to avoid the ORP in the least preferred zone decreasing by more than 20% of the minimum ORP level, step c. repeat,
Including that.

  The most unfavorable zone locations, water salinity, and water temperature vary independently of each other as a result of external conditions. Thus, the disclosed method optionally comprises a further step e. Step b. C. And d. Will be performed again or again.

  A strategic analysis is performed to determine the zones that must meet specific microbiological hygiene conditions applied to water bodies to provide accessible zones that can enable safe recreational purposes It may be.

  Preferably, the chemical agent input by the dispenser means is controlled by a parameter determination method that combines the effect of the ORP of water, the salinity of the water, and the temperature of the water. Optionally, in the parameter determination method, the diffusion of chemicals and the brute force of water may be further taken into account. Due to the combined effects of water disinfection properties (ORP), the resistance of certain microorganisms that depend on the salinity of water, temperature, and, optionally, the ability to dilute water, which is the result of extensive research, In order to meet the specific microbiological hygiene requirements applied, it is possible to use much less chemical than that required by the swimming pool. In the prior art, in order to maintain the quality of the water that meets the specific microbiological hygiene conditions applied to the body of water, currently methods involving the addition of large amounts of disinfectant or alternatively relying on the dilution power of water There are two methods. The present invention combines both effects to create their best synergistic effect, thus providing an effective and appropriate method for zones that meet specific microbiological hygiene requirements.

Identifying the area of water to be treated The location of the area of water to be treated is the strategic part of the water that is most suitable for use for recreational purposes after the process of the present invention has been designated as a zone that meets sanitary conditions. Can be determined by specifying. This location can be determined by considering the user's suitability to enter the water, propulsion, water purpose (eg, bathing, swimming, skiing, boating, fishing, etc.), water temperature, and the like. For example, if the body of water is located right next to the hotel, the zone that meets the sanitary condition would be the portion of the body of water immediately next to the hotel that is most appropriate for the user to enter the water. This is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and shows a zone 1 that meets the sanitary conditions located at the edge of a large body of water 2. In other cases, the zone that meets sanitary conditions may be in the middle of the body of water and surrounded by a large body of water. In some cases, it corresponds to a recreational area that is partitioned by visible rope or physically separated from the rest of the water (eg, fenced and walled).

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, zone 1 meets predetermined sanitary conditions. As discussed, sanitary conditions may be determined by local, state or federal regulations or other predetermined specific conditions. Specific recreational water regulations state that E. coli should not exceed 126 CFU per 100 ml of water and enterococci should not exceed 33 CFU per 100 ml of water. For seawater, EPA regulations state that enterococci should not exceed 35 CFU per 100 ml of water. In Chile, regulations for direct recreational water NCh 1333 state that water should not contain more than 1000 CFU of fecal coliforms per 100 ml of water (among others including E. coli). Therefore, strict standards apply when such large waters are used as recreational waters in direct contact. Alternatively, hygienic conditions or microbial properties may be determined by reference to the concentration of certain microorganisms. In any case, zone 1 that satisfies the sanitary condition meets the sanitary condition, while the remaining water area 2 does not meet the specific sanitary condition applied to the zone that satisfies the sanitary condition.

  Furthermore, the zone that satisfies the sanitary condition has one or more dispensers 3 for introducing the chemical agent, and the remaining water area 2 may not have the dispenser 3.

  A zone that satisfies the sanitary condition is virtually bounded by a border zone 4. The boundary zone 4 is a virtual barrier that may have a physical barrier but does not require a physical barrier.

  The present invention requires water to be circulated in the various zones, i.e., in zones that meet sanitary conditions, boundary zones and least preferred zones. Indeed, in some embodiments, water is not specifically circulated. For the large water areas described here, it may not be economically, technically and environmentally feasible to circulate the water in the large water areas. The present invention treats a specified portion of the water with a chemical agent to cause such zones to meet specific microbiological hygiene conditions for such areas. In a body of water, chemical agent dispersion from a zone that meets sanitary conditions to other zones may occur naturally, but is not necessary for the present invention. Thus, in certain embodiments, maintaining water circulation throughout the body of water will be counterproductive to the method of the present invention.

  After a portion within a large body of water to be used for recreational purposes has been identified or established, parameter determination based on water ORP, water salinity, water temperature, and optionally chemical diffusion and water dilution power A dispenser means controlled by the method is defined.

  The dispenser means 3 may be selected from one or more dispensers, injectors, sprinklers, dispensers by weight, piping, manual addition, or combinations thereof. The dosing device is designed to release an effective amount of chemical into the body of water and has the equipment necessary to allow proper operation of the dispenser means, such as pipes, valves and connecting elements. Also good.

  To create zones that meet specific microbiological hygiene conditions applied to water bodies, the chemical concentration is the ORP of water, the salinity of water, the water temperature, and optionally the diffusion of chemicals, and even the dilution power of water. Must be applied according to the parameter determination method based on. The chemicals are preferably added by a dosing device 3 configured to cover the water area used for recreational purposes.

  The present invention does not require a physical barrier to surround the area of the water area to be treated, but instead the chemical concentration meets certain microbiological hygiene requirements that apply to such areas of the water area. Applied to that part of the water.

  The dispenser means is controlled by a parameter determination method based on a parameter determination method based on the ORP of water, the salinity of water, the water temperature, and optionally the diffusion of chemicals and the dilution power of water. The dispenser means adds chemicals to the water to allow for appropriate diffusion conditions within the body of water and to meet certain microbiological hygiene conditions applied to the body of water. The dispenser means may be strategically constructed and arranged in relation to a scheduled water area portion for recreational purposes in order to provide the necessary chemical concentration for the zone that meets sanitary conditions.

Number and position of dispensers In one embodiment, the dispensers are arranged or used to cover a zone of water that meets sanitary conditions. The number and location of dispensers for dispensing chemical agents should be determined by the specific conditions of each part of the water to be treated. The total number of dispensers can be calculated by the chemical flow rate to be added to the body of water, such chemical flow rate being in a series of dispensers to allow uniform addition of chemicals in the water region to be treated. It should be distributed.

  For example, there is an effective amount of chemical to be added to treat the same part of the body of water. The effective amount is preferably dependent on several variables, such as, for example, water flow, and many other variables that may affect the uniformity of chemical addition within the body of water, preferably several small quantities. It is preferably added by means of a flow dispenser or only a few large flow dispensers.

  The dispenser can generally be placed on the outer edge of such a portion so as to sufficiently cover the area of water to be treated, but the dispenser also maintains the uniformity of chemical addition and the entire water area. Other configurations may be associated with the specific requirements of the body of water to allow diffusion of chemicals.

Types of dispensers The types of dispensers that can be used in the method of the present invention can be varied according to the requirements of chemical addition, diluters, injectors, dispensers by weight, manual addition, manifolds, piping, sprinklers , Nozzles, or combinations thereof. The dispenser used in the claimed method is a nozzle, more preferably an injector.

Release of an effective amount of a chemical agent A chemical agent is used to create a zone that meets hygiene conditions by reducing the number of microorganisms in the zone that meets hygiene conditions to below a predetermined amount. The concentration of the chemical agent in the zone that satisfies the sanitary conditions can be controlled by the amount of chemical agent introduced from one dispenser as well as the total number of dispensers. For example, it is desirable to add less chemical agent from one dispenser, but to increase the number of dispensers in zones that meet sanitary conditions. FIG. 2 shows an example in which a large number of dispensers are used. Here, a plurality of dispensers 3 are arranged at the peripheral edge of the zone that satisfies the sanitary condition. In one embodiment, the number and location of dispensers for injecting chemical agents is determined to cover the volume of water in the zone that meets sanitary conditions.

  The dispenser 3 may be a dispenser, a syringe, a sprinkler, a dispenser by weight, piping, manual addition, or a combination thereof. The dispenser releases an effective amount of chemical agent into the body of water. The dispenser also has all the equipment necessary to operate the dispenser, such as pipes, valves and connecting elements.

  Exemplary chemical agents include antimicrobial agents such as ozone, chlorine, chlorine compounds, biguanide products, halogenated compounds, brominated compounds and combinations thereof.

  The total amount of chemicals added to achieve an ORP level in water is, for example, pH, weather conditions, rain, level of use, organic loading, salinity, temperature, alkalinity, disinfection, among many factors It depends on several variables, such as drug concentration and / or metal and contaminant concentrations. ORP is a measure of the tendency to oxidize or reduce certain chemical species found in water bodies and therefore does not represent the total amount of chemical agent contained in water. The ORP measurement gives the advantage of measuring not only the concentration of the disinfectant, but also its activity in water and its ability to kill microorganisms and bacteria.

  Due to the variable and its interaction complexity, the diffusion of chemicals in the water can be related to the water temperature, water salinity and dilution power to maintain a minimum ORP in a portion of the water for a minimum period of time. There is an unknown equation. In order to estimate the amount of chemicals that should be added to the body of water, a complicated model must be constructed. Since the water area is contained in a large water area, when the chemical is added, the chemical diffuses into the water area and is higher near the dispenser and lower in chemical gradient near the least preferred zone. To produce.

  It should be noted that when a chemical addition is made, first there is no significant change in the ORP of the water as the chemical oxidizes some other compound in the water. However, at some point, the addition makes it possible to generate a residual concentration of chemical that helps raise the ORP to the desired level, thus providing the desired disinfection capability. Therefore, it should be noted that chemical consumption is divided into two groups.

  -The amount of chemical added to help oxidize various compounds that do not significantly affect the ORP. Such chemical consumption depends entirely on the quality of the raw water and must be determined on site. Such concentrations can also be determined by complex models based on physicochemical parameters of water quality.

  The amount of chemical added that produces a residual concentration in the water and thus raises the ORP in the water. Such chemical concentrations can be estimated in the field or by a variety of methods depending on water quality and physicochemical conditions or parameters.

  Notwithstanding the foregoing, without limiting the present invention, the oxidant coverage for different oxidants varies with water quality. Usually, the range of use of some oxidants is as follows.

Applicants present several embodiments for estimating the amount of residual chemicals in water.
a. Assuming that the body of water to be treated behaves as a closed body of water, it is possible to estimate the minimum amount of oxidant that must be added to the water to obtain a certain ORP in the entire body of water to be treated. For example, a minimum amount of chemical can be estimated to achieve a certain ORP in the total volume of a body of water. For example, if the water area has a volume of 1000 m ³ , the water area is considered closed and the residual concentration of 0.07 ppm of sodium hypochlorite is used to achieve an ORP of 550 mV in water. You can estimate what must be maintained. To obtain a residual concentration of 0.07 ppm, a first dose of 1.2 ppm sodium hypochlorite is added to meet the required chlorine in the water and no residual concentration occurs. Thereafter, a dose of 0.07 ppm is added to obtain the desired residual concentration and a desired ORP level of 550 mV. Therefore, the amount of sodium hypochlorite added to the water can be calculated from the sodium hypochlorite concentration in the water area as follows.

First dose:
1.2 ppm = 1.2 (ppm sodium hypochlorite / liter of water) × 1000 × (m ³ × 1000 liter / 1 m ³ )
Total sodium hypochlorite = 1200kg

Residual concentration:
0.07 ppm = 0.07 (ppm sodium hypochlorite / liter of water) × 1000 × (m ³ × 1000 liter / 1 m ³ )
Total sodium hypochlorite = 70kg

  Therefore, to obtain a uniform residual concentration of 0.07 ppm sodium hypochlorite in water, a total amount of 1270 kg sodium hypochlorite should be added, thus obtaining an 550 mV ORP in such a zone. Can do. In practice, the concentration will not be uniform because the water area is found within a large body of water, and the previously calculated dose is to obtain such an ORP due to the diffusion of chemicals caused by the flow. Can be considered as a minimum.

  b. It is also possible to use a free chlorine method that makes it possible to calculate the ORP of water based on the pH and free chlorine concentration in the water. There is a linear relationship between ORP and free chlorine when the pH is maintained at a constant value. Thus, the amount of chemical required to achieve a certain amount of free chlorine can be calculated by the ORP level as follows.

  c. In order to stop chemical addition when a certain ORP is reached, chemical addition with periodic monitoring can be further selected. This method is a trial and error method that allows chemical addition by periodically monitoring the ORP, and the addition of the chemical must be stopped when the desired ORP is reached.

  d. Another method used to determine the amount of a chemical is to take a small sample of water and perform a small test to determine the amount of chemical that must be added to achieve a certain ORP level. Consists of running. This method is commonly used to allow estimation of the amount of chemicals without considering diffusion or other variables. The result of this method should therefore be considered as the minimum amount of chemical required.

  In some embodiments, the least preferred zone ORP level is reduced by about 0.1%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%. It is desirable to add further chemical agents before doing so.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, ORP is a certain number of people or if there are many streams that affect the disinfection characteristics of a zone that meets sanitary conditions, and for safety or other reasons. For a period of time, it should be maintained in a zone that meets sanitary conditions.

  Also, in certain embodiments of the present invention, water treatment is only utilized when the bather is in a zone that meets sanitary conditions, and therefore treatment may be performed permanently, even if it needs to be done all day. There is no need. For example, water treatment may be performed only during the day, and can be stopped at night when there are no bathers in a zone that satisfies the sanitary conditions. Thus, water treatment methods are applied when zones that meet sanitary conditions are effectively used for recreational purposes.

  In some embodiments, it may be desirable to improve water quality in zones that meet sanitary conditions by supplying fresh water or water from another part of a large body of water. This may, for example, provide the benefit of diluting the effects of contaminants from the user, but may cause undesirable diffusion effects for chemicals. The minimum effective amount of disinfecting ingredients should be calculated by the following equation (Voice and Hamblin, 1975).

The above equation is for a constant volumetric flow rate Q _i (m ³ / s) in a fluid with depth Z (m), horizontal and vertical distances x (m) and y (m), respectively, and a point source Is a solution for a point source that emits continuously at a concentration of C _i (μM). D (cm ² / s) is a diffusion coefficient of a specific chemical substance in water, and K ₀ is a modified Bessel function of the second type. U (cm / s) is the uniform flow of the water area from end to end of the x-axis, and γ (−) is the decay process of the chemical substance on the time scale.

Most unfavorable zone In order to meet the specific microbiological hygiene requirements applied to the body of water, the most unfavorable zone of the set body area should be determined. The least preferred zone corresponds in particular to the one having the lowest ORP value after a predetermined amount of chemical has been reduced by the dispenser means in the set water area, and the least preferred zone is the boundary zone or the dispenser May be found furthest from the means. The predetermined amount of chemical can be determined in the field, and its mere purpose is to determine the zone with the lowest ORP value within the water body portion to be treated.

  If the body of water has a surface area less than 5 hectares, the least preferred zone is usually the central zone of the body of water.

  Parameter determination methods are defined to take into account different implementation situations of the system. It should be noted that it is not feasible to perform constant measurements of water bodies, and thus the present invention provides water quality that meets specific microbiological hygiene requirements without requiring constant measurements. Make it possible.

  The parameter determination method is based on the ORP of water, the salinity of water, the water temperature, and optionally the diffusion of chemicals and the diffusing power of water in the identified body of water. The ORP, salinity, and temperature of water can be determined by experimental methods such as visual inspection, empirical methods, and analytical methods. The present invention is related to these variables, and after very extensive research, has solved a very complex interaction with water quality.

  Salinity is determined by experimental or analytical methods such as visual inspection, salinometer based on water conductivity, hydrometer based on water specific gravity, or refractometer based on water refractive index, among others. Or may be known or may be information from other sources.

  The water temperature can be determined by experimental or analytical methods, such as visual inspection, thermometer, thermocouple, resistance temperature detector, pyrometer, or infrared device, or may be known. Or information from other sources.

  The ORP of water can be determined by experimental or analytical methods such as using an ORP meter with electrodes to measure the voltage across the circuit in water.

  The ORP of water, water temperature, water salinity, and dilution power can be known in advance or determined experimentally, so the method according to the present invention can be applied to a given portion of water with knowledge of these variables. It should be noted that can be applied.

  The parameter determination method includes maintaining at least a minimum ORP level in the least preferred zone for at least a minimum period to ensure the sanitary conditions required for the entire established body portion within a large body of water.

  The minimum ORP level may depend on the salinity of the water, and certain microorganisms, such as pathogenic protozoa, can only grow or live in waters with a maximum salinity of 2% by weight. . Thus, the minimum ORP level may depend on the salinity characteristics of the water, and as far as a certain salinity is concerned, the water is a life for some organisms to grow and cause health threats and unsanitary conditions. It will not be useful as an environment.

  On the other hand, the minimum period may also depend on the water temperature. Water temperature is an important factor for the growth of some microorganisms. During low water temperatures, microorganisms do not grow as quickly as during high water temperatures, and thus this effect is taken into account in this parameter determination method. To date, due to the complexity of variables and their interactions, water temperature, water salinity, to maintain at least a minimum ORP in a portion of a body of water for at least a minimum period, according to the diffusion of chemicals in the water, And the equation relating the dilution power was not known. Such a relationship is the result of extensive research, and the minimum ORP level and minimum period used in the method of the present invention cannot be lower than the values defined in the preferred embodiment as follows.

Minimum ORP Level Once the salinity concentration is known from the least preferred zone, the minimum ORP level can be calculated by the following equation:
i. For water salinity from 0% to 1.5%, the minimum ORP level is 550 mV.
ii. For salinity of water higher than 1.5% and up to 2.5%, the minimum ORP level is calculated by the following equation:
(Minimum ORP level) = 625-50 × (water salinity (%) (percent Shigero)) iii. For water salinity greater than 2.5%, the minimum ORP level is 500 mV.

  The parameter determination method described above is represented in a graph as shown in FIG.

  For example, if the water has a salinity of 1 wt% (ie 10000 ppm), the minimum ORP of water that must be maintained by this embodiment is 550 mV.

On the other hand, if the water has a salinity of, for example, 2 wt% (ie 20000 ppm), the minimum ORP of 525 mV of water that must be maintained by this embodiment is calculated using the following equation: The
(Minimum ORP, mV) = 625-50 * (2) = 525 mV

  Eventually, if the salinity of the water is higher than 2.5 wt%, for example higher than 3 wt%, the minimum ORP that must be maintained is 500 mV.

Minimum period The minimum period is determined by the water temperature, and the minimum period can be calculated by the following equation:
i. For water temperatures from 5 ° C. to 35 ° C., the minimum period is calculated by the following equation:
(Minimum period (minutes)) = 80-2 × (water temperature (° C.))
ii. For water temperatures from 35 ° C. to 45 ° C., the minimum period is formed by the following equation:
(Minimum period (minutes) = 5 × (water temperature (° C.)) − 165

  A curve showing how the minimum period behaves is shown in FIG.

For example, if the water temperature is 20 degrees, the minimum period is 40 minutes according to the following equation:
(Minimum duration, minutes) = 80-2 * (20) = 40 minutes

On the other hand, if the water temperature is between 35 ° C. and 45 ° C., eg 35 ° C., the minimum period is 35 minutes according to the following equation:
(Minimum duration, minutes) = 5 * (40) -165 = 35 minutes

  The parameter determination method of the above embodiment is only described for use for water temperatures between 5 ° C. and 45 ° C., since any other temperature is not suitable for recreational purposes. .

  The parameter determination method also includes adding chemical agent by dispenser means so that the most unfavorable zone ORP does not fall below the minimum ORP level.

  If there is a bather in a zone that meets sanitary conditions, the ORP of water will decrease more rapidly than when there is no bather. Thus, the parameter determination method can now include the total effect of the bather in a zone that meets sanitary conditions, controlled by the dilution power of the water. The time it takes to reach the minimum ORP level depends on the bather's use of the sanitary zone and the dilution encountered. Thus, the rate of ORP reduction depends on the total number of bathers in the water, and thus the dilution power of the water.

  Water salinity, water temperature, ORP, and chemical concentration may vary and be influenced by external factors. The present invention allows changes in these factors and does not require water salinity, water temperature monitoring, and minimum ORP and chemical concentration recalculation. Nevertheless, in some embodiments, the salinity and temperature of the water can be monitored late or continuously in real time, and the minimum ORP, minimum duration, and chemical agent concentration can be adjusted accordingly. Provide feedback to the automatically recalculating controller. In some embodiments, the dispenser may be part of an automatic feedback rope, and the dispenser automatically dispenses additional chemicals as the minimum ORP is reduced. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to periodically measure the salinity and temperature of the water to recalculate the minimum ORP, minimum duration, and chemical concentration. Such periodic measurements and recalculations are every 15 minutes, every 30 minutes, every hour, every 2 hours, 6 times a day, 4 times a day, 2 times a day, once a day, It can be done once a week or as needed.

  It should be noted that the present invention does not require a physical barrier to enclose a body of water to be treated. Rather, the chemical concentration is applied to the water area so as to meet certain microbiological hygiene requirements that apply to the water area.

  The chemical addition may be repeated to maintain at least the minimum ORP level for at least a minimum period of time before the ORP level decreases to more than 20% of the minimum ORP value in the least preferred zone. In a variant, the most unfavorable zone location, water salinity, and water temperature may vary independently of each other as a result of external factors. Thus, the method of the present invention comprises steps b. C. And d. A further step in which is executed once or repeatedly e. May optionally be included.

  The chemical agent can be added by the dispenser means to the water area set in the large water area, which dispenses the ORP of water, water salinity, water temperature, chemical diffusion, and water dilution power Driven by the parameter determination method.

  The chemical agent is selected from ozone, chlorine and chlorine compounds, biguanide products, halogen compounds, bromine compounds, or combinations thereof.

  Water quality in zones that meet sanitary conditions by supplying fresh water, or water from another part of a large body of water, to zones that meet sanitary conditions, so as to allow dilution effects of pollutants loaded by bathers It is also possible to improve.

  The following examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims of the invention, but rather are intended to be specific examples of certain embodiments. Any variation of the illustrated method that will occur to those skilled in the art is within the scope of the present invention.

Examples The present invention was applied to Lake Rapel, Navidad, Chile. The lake has an area of over 8000 hectares and more than 695 million cubic meters of fresh water. The lake is commonly used for recreational purposes.

The body of water within the large body of water was set according to the normal recreational use of the lake and covered approximately 650 m ^{2 (} corresponding to about 0.0008% of the total area of the lake). The water area was located on the periphery of the lake. The specific microbiological conditions required for this particular experiment correspond to the microbiological regulations for water for direct contact recreation determined by the EPA.

About 20 injectors were installed on the north side of the lake. Each injector has a maximum flow rate of 1.8 liters per hour. The chemical agent used was sodium hypochlorite and was diluted in proportion to the injector flow rate. A solution of dissolved chlorine in water was prepared in a plastic hopper having a capacity of 1 m ³ . Pumping of the sodium hypochlorite solution was performed by an Iwaki electromagnetic pump with a capacity of 18 liters per minute.

  During the experiment, the set water area had an average of 60 bathers per hour.

  Measure ORP at several locations within the set water area using the HANA ORP HI 98201 ORP tester after the release of approximately 10 liters of a 10% solution of sodium hypochlorite. Determined the most unfavorable zone. The most unfavorable zone was found in the middle of the boundary zone of the set water area. The water salinity was measured with the HANA HI 931100N conductivity test. The salinity of water was found to be 0.07% by weight, and the average water temperature during measurement with a thermometer was 21.

  The minimum ORP level was determined to be 550 mV for water with a salinity concentration between 0% and 1.5%. Therefore, the minimum ORP level for water with a salinity of 0.07 wt% should be 550 mV.

The minimum period was determined to be calculated by the following equation for a water temperature between 5 ° C and 35 ° C.
(Minimum period, minutes) = 80-2 * (water temperature, ° C.)
Minimum duration in minutes = 80-2 * (21)
Minimum duration = 38 minutes

  Sodium hypochlorite was added by an injector to maintain an ORP level of at least 550 mV in the least preferred zone for a minimum period of 38 minutes. Initially, 1 ppm of sodium hypochlorite was added to treat the water. Subsequently, sodium hypochlorite was added to maintain a residual concentration of 0.10 ppm that allowed to maintain an ORP level of at least 550 mV in the least preferred zone.

  Once the total amount of sodium hypochlorite was released, the most unfavorable zone ORP was measured and determined to be 555 mV. Subsequent measurements were performed every 60 minutes. After about 30 minutes, the ORP was reduced to 490 mV (about 11% from the determined minimum ORP), at which time new sodium hypochlorite was charged.

  The ability to dilute water is affected by the average number of bathers per hour in a zone that meets sanitary conditions, and for lower bather densities, the ORP of water decreases more slowly than for higher bather densities. To do. ORP reduction is also affected by the sun and other variables.

  This example confirms that a zone that meets sanitary conditions meets the EPA's specific microbiological regulations and even more stringent regulations for recreational water in direct contact, In order to produce, it was confirmed that it was possible to add a small amount of chemical by treating the set water area by avoiding the treatment of the whole large water area.

  The chemical added in this example was at least two orders of magnitude lower than the amount of chemical required to treat the entire water area. To treat the entire body of Lake Rapel with over 695 million cubic meters of fresh water and allow its recreational use, there is a certain amount that can guarantee the safety of the bather Chemicals must be added. Total amount of sodium hypochlorite that must be added to maintain the same ORP level as the example (concentration of 0.10 ppm sodium hypochlorite with an additional 1 ppm added before treating the water) Is approximately 764.5 tons, which is more than 100,000 times the amount of sodium hypochlorite required for the treatment of the water area according to the above-mentioned embodiment, and is not economically and environmentally feasible.

Claims (13)

A method for controlling the microbiological properties of a body portion of a large body of water selected from the group consisting of a lake, sea, estuary, dam, lagoon, hot spring, pond, and reservoir,
a. Identify areas of the large body of water for recreational purposes, define dispenser means,
b. At least a minimum redox potential level (minimum ORP level) is maintained in such a water portion for at least a minimum period, and the minimum ORP level and the minimum period are lower than the numerical values calculated by i to iii below. Cannot
i. Determining the least preferred zone of the body of water that has the lowest ORP level in the body of water for recreational purposes after adding a chemical agent;
ii. Determining the minimum ORP level based on the salinity of water in the least preferred zone;
here,
-For a salinity of the water from 0% to 1.5%, the minimum ORP level is 550 mV;
-For salinity of water above 1.5% and up to 2.5%, the minimum ORP level is calculated by the following equation:
(Minimum ORP level (mV)) = 625-50 × (Saline concentration of the water (%) (weight percent))
-For a salinity of the water higher than 2.5%, the minimum ORP level is 500 mV;
iii. Determining the minimum duration based on the water temperature of the least preferred zone;
here,
For water temperatures from 5 ° C to 35 ° C, the minimum period is calculated by the following equation:
(Minimum period (minutes)) = 80-2 × (temperature of the water (° C.))
For water temperatures from 35 ° C to 45 ° C, the minimum period is formed by the following equation:
(Minimum period (minutes) = 5 × (temperature of the water (° C.)) − 165
c. Using the dispenser means to maintain at least the minimum ORP level in the least preferred zone for at least the minimum period of time; a. Inject an effective amount of chemical agent into the water area specified in
d. Step c. To avoid a redox potential in the least preferred zone being reduced by more than 20% below the minimum ORP level. repeat,
A method characterized by comprising.   Step b. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating.   The method of claim 1, wherein the large body of water is a natural or artificial body of water.   The method of claim 1, wherein the water is fresh water, brackish water, salt water, or sea water.   The method of claim 1, wherein the water area portion for recreational purposes is limited by a border zone.   The method of claim 1, wherein the body of water for recreational purposes is located at the edge of a large body of water.   The method of claim 1, wherein the body of water for recreational purposes is located within a large body of water.   The method of claim 1, wherein the least preferred zone is a central zone of the large body of water if the large body of water has an area of less than 5 hectares.   The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical agent is selected from the group consisting of ozone, chlorine and chlorine compounds, biguanide products, halogenated compounds, brominated compounds, and combinations thereof.   The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical agent is dispensed using a dispenser selected from the group consisting of an injector, diffuser, sprinkler, weight dispenser, piping, manual addition, and combinations thereof.   The method of claim 1, wherein water from another portion of the large body of water can be supplied to the body of water for recreational purposes to enable a dilution effect.   The water from another part of the large body of water can be supplied to the body of water for recreational purposes to allow a dilution effect of the bather's load of contaminants. the method of.   The method of claim 1, wherein the method is applied when the body of water is actually used for recreational purposes.