JPH07265721A - Method and apparatus for controlling regeneration of water softener - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To certainly regenerate an ion exchange resin and to prevent a wasteful use of salt by allowing a predetermined amt. of salt necessary for regeneration to act on the ion exchange resin when the introducing amt. of salt water into a treatment container is controlled in the regeneration of the ion exchange resin. CONSTITUTION:In a water softener 10 of a type performing salt water introducing operation constituted so that hardness components in raw water are removed by passing raw water through a treatment container 11 having an ion exchange resin received therein and, when the capacity of the Jon exchange resin is lowered, salt water in a salt water tank 13 is introduced into the treatment container 11 to regenerate the capacity of the ion exchange resin, the concn. of salt water is detected and the flow rate of salt water from the salt water tank 13 to the treatment container 11 is detected. By comparing these detection signals with a predetermined value of the amt. of salt necessary for regeneration, the amt. of salt water necessary for regeneration is calculated by operational processing and, by keeping a salt water introducing state on the basis of this result, the introducing amt. of salt water corresponding to the concn. of salt water is controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a regeneration control method and apparatus in a water softener for ion-exchange treatment of raw water containing hardness to soft water.

[0002]

As is well known, a water softener obtains soft water by removing hardness contained in raw water.
Generally, an ion exchange resin is used. In such a water softener, the total removal amount of hardness is a certain amount (generally referred to as resin capacity) determined by the type and amount of ion exchange resin. Therefore,
If the water softening treatment with the water softener is continued, the hardness component cannot be finally removed. Therefore, before that, it is necessary to act salt water to recover the resin ability (generally called regeneration). is there. In addition, the period up to this regeneration operation is estimated such that the total amount of hardness removed by the water softener is estimated from the usage period or the cumulative amount of raw water flowing, and this estimated value is below the resin capacity. .

In recent years, an automatic water softener configured to alternately repeat the water softening treatment of the raw water and the regeneration treatment of the ion exchange resin as described above has been widely used, and such an automatic water softener is used. In the above, a treatment container accommodating an ion exchange resin, a control valve for automatically switching flow paths for water softening treatment and regeneration treatment, and a salt water tank for storing salt water for regeneration of the ion exchange resin are provided.

At the time of regeneration, a control valve is connected to the flow channel at the time of regeneration to connect the regeneration salt water from the salt water tank into the processing container. In addition, in this type of water softener, it has a water replenishment step for generating salt water used for the next regeneration, and in this step, raw water is supplied to a predetermined water level in a salt water tank (water replenishment), Salt water is prepared by dissolving a large amount of regenerating salt. By the way, in this type of water softener, the amount of salt water introduced and the amount of replenished water are controlled by incorporating a timer function in the control valve and performing the operation of introducing salt water and the operation of replenishing water for a predetermined period of time, respectively. In general, a water level detector is provided in the tank to control the amount of salt water introduced and the amount of supplemental water.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional water softener, assuming that the salt water used for regeneration has a substantially saturated concentration, the salt water is allowed to act on the resin in a predetermined amount. There is. That is, in such a water softener, a large amount of regenerating salt is put in a salt water tank, and water is replenished in the salt water tank to dissolve the regenerating salt until the next regeneration treatment, so that a saturated concentration is reached. Is getting salt water close to. Incidentally, the salt water concentration at this time, the diluted salt water after replenishing the raw water, is obtained by dissolving a large amount of salt previously put in the salt water tank at room temperature, and until the next regeneration Since it is obtained by dissolving by leaving it to stand for a while, it is not a saturated concentration, but it is usually 20% by weight or more. In addition, although salt water having such a concentration may be directly introduced into the treatment container, in a general water softener, this ejected salt water is sucked by the fluid pressure of the raw water using an ejector to introduce the salt water together with the raw water. Therefore, the concentration of salt water actually flowing into the processing container is diluted, but the salt water concentration at this point is 10% by weight.
It is preferable to ensure the above.

However, if the amount of input salt is insufficient,
When the regenerated salt at the time of injection dissolves so as to form a cavity inside while maintaining the outer shape, and a so-called salt bridge occurs, it is caused by the residual amount of regenerated salt, temperature, and tank shape (size and shape). If the salt dissolution rate fluctuates, the salt water concentration does not reach such a concentration.Therefore, as described above, salt water is introduced for a certain period of time, or the salt water is reduced by a predetermined drop in the salt water tank. In the regenerating system in which a certain amount of salt water is supplied, which causes a defective regeneration of the resin capacity, the regenerating processing is terminated without completely regenerating the capacity, and a steady water flow processing is performed. Then, before the next regeneration time arrives, the resin capacity is saturated, and the hardness component leaks to the equipment used downstream.

That is, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to control the amount of salt water to be introduced into the treatment container for regeneration of the ion-exchange resin. It is an object of the present invention to provide a water softener regeneration control method and apparatus capable of controlling the amount of introduction and always allowing a certain amount of salt necessary for regeneration to act on a resin, thereby ensuring reliable regeneration and preventing waste of salt.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a control method thereof is as follows: When the capacity of the ion exchange resin is reduced by removing hardness, the salt water in the salt water tank is introduced into the treatment container to regenerate the capacity of the ion exchange resin. In addition to detecting the concentration, the flow rate of salt water from the salt water tank to the processing container is detected, and the amount of salt water required for regeneration is calculated by comparing the detection signals with the predetermined amount of salt required for regeneration. It is characterized in that the state of introduction of salt water is maintained until the amount of salt water is reached.

As a control device thereof, a treatment container filled with an ion exchange resin, a salt water tank containing salt water for regenerating the ion exchange resin, a raw water line to the treatment container, and a treatment vessel from the treatment container. In a water softener equipped with a soft water line, a drain line from the processing container, and a control valve that switches the salt water line between the processing container and the salt water tank for each processing step, a salt water concentration sensor is provided in the salt water tank. A flow rate detector is installed in the system of the salt water line, and the concentration detection signal from the salt water concentration sensor and the flow rate detection signal from the flow rate detector are compared with a predetermined position of the amount of salt required for regeneration. Control signal to maintain the control valve in the state of salt water introduction until the amount of salt water required for regeneration is calculated by calculation. And it is characterized in that it comprises a control device for outputting to the control valve.

[0010]

According to the regeneration control method of the water softener according to the present invention, the concentration of the salt water in the salt water tank is detected and the flow rate of the salt water from the salt water tank to the processing container is detected. Calculate the amount of salt water required for regeneration by comparing the required amount of salt with a predetermined position,
By keeping the water softener in the salt water introduction state until reaching this salt water amount, regardless of the salt water concentration in the salt water tank,
A certain amount of salt required for regeneration is always applied to the resin to surely regenerate the resin.

According to the control device of the present invention,
The salt water concentration sensor provided in the salt water tank detects the salt water concentration in the salt water tank, and the flow rate detector provided in the system path of the salt water line detects the salt water flow rate, and these detection signals are sent to the control device. input. The control device calculates the amount of salt water required for regeneration by comparing the concentration detection signal from the salt water concentration sensor and the flow rate detection signal from the flow rate detector with a predetermined value of the amount of salt required to regenerate the resin. Obtained by processing. Then, this control device outputs a control signal for maintaining the salt water introduction state to the control valve until the salt water amount as a result of this arithmetic processing is reached, regardless of the salt water concentration in the salt water tank. ,
A certain amount of salt required for regeneration is always applied to the resin to surely regenerate the resin.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the normal water softening treatment operation of the water softener, and the configuration relating to the regenerating operation are omitted, and only the basic configuration necessary for explaining the present invention is shown. Yes, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing one embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a water softener (10) equipped with a regeneration control device according to the present invention comprises a treatment container (11) containing an ion exchange resin, and a water softening treatment operation of the water softener (10). The control valve (12) for switching the regeneration operation, the salt water tank (13) that stores the salt water for regeneration, and the signals from various detectors and the built-in timer, which will be described later, make the control valve operate in a predetermined state. Control device to switch to (20)
And have.

In this embodiment, the control valve (12) is attached to the upper part of the processing container (11), and the control device (20) controls each flow path inside the water softener (10) and the water softener (10). )), The raw water line (1) for supplying raw water to the water softener, the treated water line (2) for supplying the treated liquid after the water softening treatment to subsequent demand points, and the salt water. Tank (1
3), and selectively switches between the salt water line (14) for introducing and replenishing salt water, and the drain discharge line (3) for draining water from the processing container during regeneration, and a water softener
The water softening treatment operation (10) and the regeneration operation are switched. In addition, in this control valve (12),
An ejector (not shown) for introducing the salt water in the salt water tank (13) into the processing container (11) at the time of regeneration is incorporated. This ejector sucks the salt water in the salt water tank (13) through the salt water line (14) using the fluid pressure of the raw water from the raw water line (1) as described above. Flows into the treatment container (11) together with the raw water. After regenerating the resin capacity in the processing container (11), the drain discharge line
It is discharged from the system from (3). Also, when replenishing water,
By the switching operation of the flow path by the control valve (12),
Raw water from the raw water line (1) flows into the salt water tank (13) through the salt water line (14).

The inside of the salt water tank (13) is partitioned by a partition member (15) capable of holding the salt for regeneration (S) without impeding the flow of water through a net or a perforated plate. Element
(15) On top of this, salt for regeneration (generally in the form of lumps of appropriate size) (S) is fed. The regeneration salt (S) supplied while being retained on the partition member (15) is the partition member (15) at the time of replenishing the raw water supplied through the salt water line (14) after the ion exchange resin regeneration. ) It dissolves in raw water by replenishing water to a higher level and produces salt water of a specified concentration. This salt water tank (13) is provided with a salt water concentration detector (21) for detecting the concentration of salt water, and this concentration detector (21) detects the concentration of salt water and outputs the detected value. Output to the control device (20). Further, the salt water line (14) between the salt water tank (13) and the processing container (11) is provided with a flow rate detector (22) for detecting the flow rate of salt water.
(22) detects the flow rate of salt water, and the detected value is detected by the control device (2
Output to 0).

In the present invention, when the salt water is introduced into the treatment container (11), the concentration of the salt water in the salt water tank (13) is detected and the treatment container is discharged from the salt water tank (13).
The salt water flow rate to (11) is detected, and the amount of salt water required for regeneration is calculated by comparing these detection signals with the predetermined value of the amount of salt required for regeneration, and the processing container is calculated from this amount of salt water. The amount of salt water required to regenerate the ion exchange resin in (11) is obtained by arithmetic processing, and the introduction time of salt water is controlled from this amount of salt water.
(20) has the following arithmetic processing functions.

That is, the control device (20) receives the concentration of the salt water in the salt water tank (13) as a detection signal from the concentration detector (21), and the salt water line () from the salt water tank (13). Received as a detection signal from the flow rate detector (22) the flow rate of salt water introduced toward the processing container (11) via 14),
By comparing these detection signals with a predetermined value of the amount of salt required for regeneration of the capacity of the resin, the amount of salt water required for regeneration of the ion-exchange resin in the processing container (11) is determined by calculation processing
Until the amount of salt water is reached, a control signal for maintaining the state of introduction of salt water is output to the control valve (12). Alternatively, the control device (20) compares the salt water concentration detection signal from the concentration detector (21) with a predetermined value of the amount of salt required to regenerate the capacity of the resin, and calculates the required amount of salt water. Obtained, the salt water introduction time is determined by arithmetic processing from the detection signal of the salt water amount and the salt water flow rate from the flow rate detector (22), and the determined introduction time is output to the control valve (12) as a control signal. It may be configured to do so.

Then, the control valve (12) receiving the control signal from the control device (20) maintains this salt water introduction operation, and after introducing a necessary amount of salt water into the processing container (11),
After this salt water introduction operation is completed, the next operation, for example, a cleaning operation of introducing raw water and discharging excess salt water from the drain discharge line (3), and further raw water through the salt water line (14) to the salt water tank Then, the water refilling operation is started.

In addition to the control described above, the control device (20) is, as is well known, various detectors such as raw water (or raw water).
The operating condition of the water softener is grasped from various detectors such as a flow rate detector that detects the flow rate of treated water) and a pressure detector (17) that detects the supply pressure of raw water.
(12) is switched to a predetermined operating state (switching to softening treatment and regeneration operation, etc.), and various operating states of the water softener (the softening treatment described above, depending on the set value in the built-in timer (not shown)) Control is performed so as to maintain the cleaning operation by introducing raw water during the regeneration operation for a predetermined time.

In the above description, the arithmetic processing in the control device (20) is based on the assumption that the salt water concentration and the salt water flow rate do not change during the salt water introduction operation. When there is a high possibility that fluctuations will occur, especially in a situation where the fluctuation range is large, the following control can be performed. That is, the control device (20), by comparing the concentration detection signal of the salt water from the concentration detector (21) and a predetermined value of the amount of salt required for capacity regeneration of the resin, by performing arithmetic processing, the required salt water Obtain the amount, further compare this salt water amount and the integrated value of the salt water flow rate by the flow rate detector (22), until the control valve (12) under the salt water introduction state until the salt water amount and the integrated value match. The control valve (12) is configured to output a control signal so that the salt water is kept at a constant temperature so that a predetermined amount of salt is always applied to the resin even if the flow rate of the salt water changes during the salt water introduction operation. Is possible. Furthermore, the control device (20),
From the salt water concentration detection signal from the concentration detector (21) and the salt water flow rate by the flow rate detector (22), the amount of salt supplied per hour is calculated by arithmetic processing, and the integrated value of the amount of salt supplied is calculated. And a predetermined amount of salt required for regeneration of the capacity of the resin, and the control valve (12) is introduced with salt water until the integrated value of the salt supply amount and the predetermined value of the required salt amount match. The control valve (12) is configured to output a control signal to maintain the state, so that even if the concentration and flow rate of salt water change during the salt water introduction operation, a predetermined amount of salt is always supplied to the resin. Can be made to act on. Further, in the control during the water supply operation, the water supply flow rate is monitored by the flow rate detection signal from the flow rate detector (22) provided in the salt water line (14) by the control device (20), and the above-mentioned salt water introduction is performed. By controlling the control valve (12) so as to replenish water in an amount corresponding to the amount of salt water used in the operation, the water level in the salt water tank (13) can be kept constant.

In the illustrated embodiment, a pressure detector (17) for detecting the supply pressure of raw water is provided in the raw water line (1), and this detection signal is output to the control device (20). It is configured as follows. This pressure detector (17) employs an ejector of the type in which the water softener (10) of this embodiment sucks salt water by using the fluid pressure of the raw water with respect to the suction of salt water. Since it cannot be introduced, it is necessary to determine whether the raw water pressure is the minimum required pressure, and to correct the detection value of the flow rate by detecting the feed pressure of the raw water (22). It is provided. When the raw water pressure is below the required pressure, the regeneration operation is not performed, the standby state is waited for the recovery of the raw water pressure, and the control device (20) is configured to notify this state. Preferably.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the controller
Although a calculation processing function is incorporated in (20), the calculation processing function related to this regeneration control is controlled by a separately provided calculation processing device to set the set values of the salt water introduction time and the replenishment time (20). Alternatively, the control valve may be controlled directly or indirectly via the control device (20) based on the calculation processing result. In the case of such a configuration, it becomes easy to attach it to an existing water softener, and it is possible to easily add the function of the present invention to the existing water softener of the related art and to enjoy its effect.

[0023]

The present invention has the above-mentioned structure.
By monitoring the salt water concentration in the salt water tank and the flow rate of salt water from the salt water tank to the processing container, the ion exchange resin can be regenerated without being affected by the salt water concentration in the salt water tank and the fluctuation of the salt water flow rate. Since the required amount of salt water can be surely introduced, the resin capacity can be completely regenerated. Therefore, since it is possible to reliably prevent defective regeneration of the water softener, it is possible to reliably prevent leakage of hardness to the wake side, and it is possible to control the regeneration of the water softener with a very high degree of safety. The soft water can be stably supplied to the side, and it is not necessary to add a large amount of salt water unnecessarily, so that the waste of the regenerating salt can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Raw water line (2) Treated water line (3) Drain discharge line (10) Water softener (11) Treatment vessel (12) Control valve (13) Salt water tank (14) Salt water line (20) Control device (21) Concentration detector (salt water concentration detector) (22) Flow detector

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Takeda 7 Horie-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime Miura Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenichiro Takematsu 7 Horie-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime Miura Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideaki Tomozawa 7 Horie-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime, Miura Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hidetoshi Mizogaki 7 Horie-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime, Miura Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A processing container (11) containing an ion exchange resin.
Hard water in the raw water is removed by passing the raw water through the salt water tank (13) when the capacity of the ion exchange resin decreases.
The water softener of the type that performs the operation of introducing salt water to regenerate the capacity of the ion exchange resin by introducing the salt water in the treatment vessel (11) (1
In (0), while detecting the concentration of the salt water, the flow rate of the salt water from the salt water tank (13) to the processing container (11) is detected, and these detection signals are compared with a predetermined value of the amount of salt necessary for regeneration. By doing so, the amount of salt water required for regeneration is obtained by arithmetic processing, and the state of introducing salt water is maintained until the amount of salt water is reached. 2. A processing container (11) filled with an ion exchange resin.
A salt water tank (13) containing salt water for regenerating the ion exchange resin, and a raw water line (1) to the treatment container (11),
A treated water line (2) from the treatment container (11), a drain discharge line (3) from the treatment container (11), and a salt water line between the treatment container (11) and a salt water tank (13). In a water softener equipped with a control valve (12) for switching (14) for each treatment step, a salt water concentration detector (21) is provided in the salt water tank (13), and a salt water line (14) is provided in the system. A flow rate detector (22) is installed in the concentration detection signal from the salt water concentration detector (21) and the flow rate detection signal from the flow rate detector (22) and a predetermined position of the amount of salt required for regeneration. A control device (20) that outputs a control signal to the control valve (12) to maintain the control valve in the state of introducing salt water until the amount of salt water required for regeneration is calculated by comparison and the amount of salt water is reached by calculation. A regeneration control device for a water softener, comprising: