JPH04360922A - Rain water-utilizing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To collect a max. amount of rain water of good quality by a method in which when rain fall is detected, a flow path-switching solenoid valve is controlled in such a way as to enable rain water to be collected into a storage tank from after the lapse of a given time period corresponding to the preceding no-raining time in order to minimize the draining of rain water containing pollutants in the early period of rain fall. CONSTITUTION:When the beginning of rain fall is detected by a rain sensor 9, an early-period rain water-draining time corresponding to the count value of a time counter 10 as a preceding no-raining time is set up in a timer 11 for actuation. A solenoid valve 12 is switched front a sedimentation tank 3 to a drain side until the given time period is elapsed to drain the rain water in the early period in order to remove deposited dirt on the roof 1. After the set time of the timer 1 is out, the flow path of the solenoid valve 12 is switched to collect rain water from the roof to the tank 3 to take good-quality rain water into the tank 3 and stored in the storage tank 4. After dirt is removed from the rain water through a filter tank 8, the water is supplied through a water tank 5 into each utilizing device such as toilet.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rainwater utilization system that collects rainwater into a storage tank and utilizes it.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Research has been conducted from various angles to recover and effectively utilize solar energy, geothermal energy, and waste heat energy from the viewpoint of resource and energy conservation. Collecting and utilizing rainwater is also a resource recovery and utilization process, similar to the above-mentioned energy recovery and utilization. When using rainwater, a simple method of collecting water from the roof can be adopted without the need for special water collection equipment, and it is generally used for washing water.

However, when trying to collect and utilize rainwater from a roof, for example, there is a problem in that the quality of the collected water deteriorates due to turbidity at the beginning of rain. This is because dust and the like in the atmosphere fall onto the roof, accumulate thinly on the surface, and are washed away with rainfall. Therefore, if rainwater is collected from the roof and supplied directly to the equipment used, equipment such as piping and pumps will be damaged.

[0004] When rainwater is collected and used in this way, pollutants are mixed in during the early stages of rain, so as a countermeasure to this problem, there is a system in which a treatment device is installed to filter out the mixed pollutants. The processing equipment can almost completely remove pollutants using equipment such as sand filtration and micro strainers.

[0005] Furthermore, as a method that does not use a processing device,
Systems have been devised that include some initial rainwater removal devices. Conventional initial rainwater removal devices include the following.

[0006] ■ A device that combines a rain gauge and a timer, activates the timer when rainfall intensity exceeds a certain level, removes rainwater for a certain period of time, and then allows the rainwater to flow into a rainwater utilization system.

[0007] ■ A device that stores incoming rainwater in a small pit and uses an electrical conductivity meter to remove rainwater that exceeds a certain value.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with each of the above-mentioned conventional devices, the amount of usable water decreases due to excessive removal of initial rainwater, and the use of sensors that have a low correlation with turbidity concentration makes it difficult to remove initially contaminated rainwater. Sufficiently large sedimentation tanks and storage tanks are also required to prevent deterioration of water quality due to the inability to remove water properly. Further, when a filtration device is installed, there is a problem that the initial cost of the device is high, and the running cost such as electricity charges is also high.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned conventional initial rainwater removal device,
Although the operation is controlled based on the rainfall intensity, the turbidity of rainwater containing dust accumulated on the roof surface does not have a clear correlation with the rainfall intensity, so it is difficult to remove the initial contaminated water effectively. The problem is that it can't be done. Furthermore, in the method of eliminating initially contaminated water using electrical conductivity, the actual turbidity cannot be accurately measured because the method detects the concentration of soluble salts.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to minimize the amount of rainwater containing turbidity removed in the early stages of rainfall, and to collect the maximum amount of high quality rainwater. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the initial cost and running cost of the system used.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To this end, the present invention provides a rainwater utilization system that collects rainwater in a storage tank and utilizes the rainwater. A counting means for counting time, a flow path switching means for switching between a flow path for collecting rainwater into a storage tank and a flow path for discharging rainwater, and a control means for controlling flow switching of the flow path switching means. is detected, the control means controls the flow path switching means so that the rainwater is collected into the storage tank after a predetermined period of time corresponding to the preceding rain-free time counted by the counting means has elapsed. This is a characteristic feature.

0012

[Operation] In the rainwater utilization system of the present invention, rainwater is collected into a storage tank after a predetermined period of time corresponding to the preceding no-rainfall time has elapsed using the rain sensing means, the counting means for counting the no-rainfall time, the flow path switching means, and the control means. Since the flow path switching means is controlled by the control means so that the rainwater is drained, the removal of initial rainwater can be controlled in accordance with the amount of dust deposited on the roof surface. In addition, a timer switches the flow path so that the initial rainwater is drained to the sewage system and not introduced into the storage tank for a period of time according to the turbidity, ensuring that turbidity is removed and collecting high-quality rainwater efficiently. be able to.

[0013]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the rainwater utilization system of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the roof surface 1 is used to collect rainwater to be collected and used, and the gutter 2 is
The rainwater is guided to the settling tank 3. The sedimentation tank 3 is for precipitating earth and sand from rainwater collected from the roof surface 1 through the gutter 2.

[0015] The storage tank 4 stores the rainwater after the sediment has been precipitated by the sedimentation tank 3, and if there is rainfall that exceeds the storage capacity, the surplus overflows and flows into the sewer. I'm letting you do it. The filtration pump 7 is used to send rainwater stored in the storage tank 4 after sedimentation of earth and sand to the filtration tank 8, and the filtration tank 8 is used to filter and remove suspended matter.

The water pump 6 is used to send rainwater stored in the storage tank 4 to the elevated water tank 5, and the elevated water tank 5 is used to supply water to various devices such as toilets as toilet flushing water and other miscellaneous water. be.

The rain sensor 9 is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of rain, and is installed as a part of a rain gauge, for example, and has the function of sensing the presence or absence of rain even when it is alone. The time counter 10 counts the operating time of the rain sensor 9, and is cleared when the rain sensor 9 stops operating, and simultaneously sets a time in a timer 11 according to the count value and starts. To this end, it goes without saying that at least the time counter 10 or the timer 11 has a function of calculating a set time from a count value, and a function of setting and controlling the timer 11.

The solenoid valve 12 is used to switch between a flow path for collecting rainwater into the sedimentation tank 3 and a flow path for directly discharging it to the sewage system, etc., and a timer 11 is used to switch the flow path for collecting rainwater into the sedimentation tank 3 and for draining it directly to the sewage system. After being set and activated, the control is switched to the drainage flow path until it times out.

As described above, the present invention installs a rain sensor 9 on the rooftop to remove pollutants from initial rainwater, and installs a solenoid valve in the middle of the gutter 2 that collects rainwater from the roof surface to the sedimentation tank 3. At the same time, a time counter 10 and a timer 11 are installed to measure the preceding rain-free time based on the rain sensing signal from the rain sensing device 9 and to control the solenoid valve 12. This method of removing pollutants from initial rainwater is to control water collection based on the preceding rainless period, which is proportional to the amount of pollutants.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the preceding rain-free time and the initial rainwater SS concentration, and the water quality was measured by storing rainwater from a roof surface of 5 mm or less in a tank in Tokyo. As described above, the amount of dust deposited on a roof varies depending on the region, surrounding environment, weather conditions, etc., but generally it is approximately proportional to the amount of time there is no rain. However, the time it takes to wash away the dust that has accumulated on the roof surface depends on the preceding no-rain period, region, and
Settings vary depending on the surrounding environment, weather conditions, etc. In other words, even if the preceding rain-free time is short, a certain amount of washing time is required at the minimum, but if the preceding rain-free time is 1 day and 15 days, the washing time does not necessarily need to be increased by 15 times. Sometimes there isn't. In addition, there are regions with a lot of dust and regions with little dust, regions with a lot of soot and exhaust gas from factories that contain oil (viscous), and seasons with a lot of dust and seasons with a little dust. Even during the same week, flushing times can be varied to minimize the amount of rainwater removed. The set time of the timer 11 may be changed depending on each condition as described above, but may be kept the same under certain conditions. therefore,
Since the set time of the timer 11 can be determined for each preceding rain-free time under certain conditions, for example, the setting time for the preceding rain-free time can be stored as a table in the memory, and the setting time for the preceding rain-free time (time counter 10 The configuration can be such that the set time is read out using the address (value of ) and loaded into the timer 11. Of course, it goes without saying that configurations other than those described above may be adopted.

Next, the operation will be explained. First, the rain sensor 9 detects the presence or absence of rain, and the time counter 10 counts the time during which no rain is detected. When the rain sensor 9 detects the beginning of rain, the time counter 1 at that time
The count value of 0 is defined as the preceding rain-free time, and the timer 11 sets the initial rainwater removal time corresponding to the length of this preceding rain-free time.
and start it. The initial rainwater removal time set in this timer 11 is the time during which the initial rainwater pollutants deposited on the roof surface 1 are removed, and the solenoid valve 12 is operated from the settling tank 3 to the drainage side until this certain period of time has elapsed. Switch to . By draining the initial rainwater in this way, the pollutants accumulated on the roof surface 1 are removed.

After that, when the set time of the timer 11 has elapsed and timed out, the flow path of the solenoid valve 12 is switched so that rainwater is collected from the roof surface into the settling tank 3, and high quality rainwater is taken into the settling tank 3. Start. By doing so, rainwater from which initial pollutants have been removed is collected in the settling tank 3, and high-quality rainwater is stored in the storage tank 4.

Furthermore, the rainwater in the storage tank 4 is filtered through a filtration pump 7.
The water is sent to the filter tank 8, and suspended solids are filtered out. The water pump 6 then sends water to the elevated water tank 5, and the water is supplied from the elevated water tank 5 to each user device such as a toilet as water for toilet flushing and other miscellaneous purposes.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, a filtration device consisting of a filtration pump and a filtration tank was used, but since the initial rainwater pollutants are removed, the filtration device is omitted and the water is passed through the sedimentation tank 3 and storage tank 4 and then pumped into the pump 6. Simply sending water to the elevated water tank 5 may be used as toilet flushing water or the like. These costs can be reduced by not using a filtration device with high initial costs and high running costs.

Furthermore, a flow meter may be provided to set the cumulative flow rate in accordance with the preceding rain-free time and control the solenoid valve. In addition, the solenoid valve may be switched to the drainage side during periods of no rainfall, and then switched to the water collection side when the timer times out, or the solenoid valve may be switched to the drainage side at the same time as the timer is set by the rain detection signal. switching,
It may also be possible to switch to the water collection side when the timer times out.

[0026]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
A rain sensor and a time counter are used to count the period of no rainfall until rainfall is detected, and the initial rainwater is collected after being discharged to a sewage system according to the preceding period of no rainfall, so that it does not accumulate during the period of no rainfall. It is possible to remove pollutants and collect high-quality rainwater. Moreover, since the initial drainage of rainwater is minimized, high-quality rainwater can be collected and used effectively.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a rainwater utilization system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the preceding rain-free time and the initial rainwater SS concentration.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... Roof, 2... Gutter, 3... Sedimentation tank, 4... Storage tank, 5... Elevated water tank, 6... Water pump, 7... Filtration pump, 8... Filtration tank,
9...Rain sensor, 10...Time counter, 11...Timer,
12...Solenoid valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A rainwater utilization system that collects rainwater into a storage tank and uses it, comprising a rain sensing means for sensing rainfall, a counting means for counting rainless time from a signal from the rain sensing means, and a storage tank for storing rainwater. A flow path switching means for switching between a flow path for collecting water into a tank and a flow path for discharging water, and a control means for controlling flow path switching of the flow path switching means, and when rainfall is detected,
Rainwater utilization characterized in that the control means controls the flow path switching means so that the rainwater is collected into the storage tank after a predetermined period of time corresponding to the preceding rain-free time counted by the counting means has elapsed. Citeism.