JPH11104635A - Water softener - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water softener easy to control and relatively compact in constitution. SOLUTION: A raw water tank 4 and a salt water tank 5 are provided above a resin cylinder 1 in a parallel state and the lower part of the resin cylinder 1 is connected to the raw water tank 4 by a raw water line 7 and a soft water line 15 is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder 1 while the salt water tank 5 is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder 1 by a salt water flow-down line 19 and the raw water tank 4 is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder 1 by a raw water flow-down line 22 and a drain line 24 is further connected to the lower part of the resin cylinder 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water softener for ion-exchanging raw water containing hardness into soft water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a water supply line for cooling equipment such as a boiler, a water heater or a cooler is required to prevent scale adhesion in the cooling equipment, so that the hardness contained in the water is removed. In particular, an automatic regeneration type water softener of a system for removing hardness by using an ion exchange resin is widely used. As shown in FIG. 6, this type of water softener is composed of a salt water tank and a resin cylinder filled with ion exchange resin, and a control valve mounted on the upper part of the resin cylinder is operated to perform (1) a water passage process. , (
5 cycles are controlled: 2) backwashing step, (3) salt water regeneration step, (4) washing step and (5) water refilling step.

Recently, hard water such as tap water has been softened using a water softener used for industrial purposes as described above.
For example, it has come to be used for general household bath water. However, the industrial water softener shown in FIG. 6 has a relatively large size for both the resin cylinder and the salt water tank, and also has a control method of five cycles as described above, and lacks versatility as a relatively simple one. However, it is difficult to apply for general household use. However, there is a demand for a water softener that has a simple control method, a relatively compact configuration, and can be easily used for home use.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a water softener having a simple control method and a relatively compact structure in view of the above problems.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 has a raw water tank and a salt water tank arranged in parallel above a resin cylinder. The raw water tank is connected to the lower part of the resin cylinder with the raw water tank, a soft water line is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder, and the salt water tank and the upper part of the resin cylinder are connected to each other by a saline flowing line. The raw water tank and the upper part of the resin cylinder are connected by a raw water flow down line, and a drain line is further connected to the lower part of the resin cylinder, and the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that: A raw water tank and a salt water tank are provided in a parallel state above, and a water pipe extending from the top to the vicinity of the bottom of the resin cylinder is inserted into the resin cylinder, and an upper end of the water pipe and the raw water tank are connected to a raw water line. Connect with With, a soft water line is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder, the salt water tank and the upper part of the resin cylinder are connected by a salt water flowing down line, and the raw water tank and the upper part of the resin cylinder are connected by a raw water flowing down line, Further, a drain line is connected to a lower part of the resin cylinder, and the invention according to claim 3 is provided with a water supply pump and a first solenoid valve in the raw water line, and a fourth electromagnetic valve is provided in the salt water flow down line. A valve is provided, and a fifth solenoid valve is further provided on the drain line.The invention according to claim 4 further comprises a flow sensor provided on the raw water line, and an accumulator on the upstream side of the flow sensor. It is characterized by having been provided. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the resin cylinder forms a silica layer by filling silica at a bottom portion of the resin cylinder, and a predetermined amount is formed between the resin cylinder and a wire mesh installed above the silica layer. The present invention is characterized in that the resin cylinder has a structure in which a particle layer is interposed between the wire mesh and an upper portion of the ion exchange resin. It is characterized by being.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the raw water flows through the raw water line from the lower part of the resin cylinder as upward flow, and the hard water is softened while the resin layer floats. Regeneration of the ion exchange resin consists of three cycles of salt water regeneration, water washing and water replenishment. At the time of regeneration, saturated salt water from the salt water tank via the salt water falling line and raw water from the raw water tank via the raw water falling line are used. Is mixed into the resin cylinder to regenerate the ion exchange resin, and the regenerated salt water is discharged from the drain line to the outside of the system. In the next water washing, stop the flow of the saturated salt water from the salt water tank, let only the raw water from the raw water tank flow down into the resin cylinder, wash the ion-exchange resin with water to remove the salt, and wash the raw water from the drain line with the drain line. Discharge outside. Then, the water supply to the salt water tank after the supply of the saturated salt water is supplied to a predetermined water level via the raw water tank.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing a configuration of a water softener embodying the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a resin cylinder, in which a predetermined amount of silica 2 is accommodated in a lower part of the resin cylinder 1, and a predetermined amount is provided between the resin cylinder 1 and a wire mesh 33 installed above the silica stone 2. Of the ion exchange resin 3. A raw water tank 4 and a salt water tank 5 are provided in parallel above the resin cylinder 1, and a raw water inlet 6 provided at a lower part of the resin cylinder 1 and a lower part of the raw water tank 4 are connected by a raw water line 7. 7, a water supply pump 8, a first check valve 9, a pressure sensor 10, an accumulator 11, a flow sensor 12, and a first solenoid valve 13 are sequentially provided from the upstream side. A soft water outlet 14 is provided at the upper part of the resin tube 1, a soft water line 15 is connected to the soft water outlet 14, and a second solenoid valve 16 is provided in the middle. And this second solenoid valve 1
6 is connected to the soft water line 15 downstream of the flow sensor 12.
A bypass line 17 branched from the raw water line 7 is connected between the first electromagnetic valve 13 and the first electromagnetic valve 13.
A third solenoid valve 18 is provided on the way. The bypass line 17 is connected to the ion exchange resin 3 in the resin cylinder 1.
To avoid water interruption during regeneration. The accumulator 11 is used to reduce the number of times the water supply pump 8 starts and stops due to leakage of water from a faucet (not shown) of the soft water line 15 and discharge of water.

A lower portion of the salt water tank 5 and the soft water line 15 located near the soft water outlet 14 are connected by a salt water falling line 19, and a second check valve 20 and a fourth check valve The solenoid valves 21 are provided sequentially from the upstream side. Then, the soft water line 15 and the lower part of the raw water tank 4 are connected to the lower part of the raw water tank 4 on the downstream side of the point where the salt water flow-down line 19 is connected to the soft water line 15 and the upstream side of the second solenoid valve 16. A third check valve 23 is provided in the middle of the connection with the downflow line 22. That is, the raw water flow down line 22 in this embodiment is connected to the fourth solenoid valve 21.
And the upper part of the resin tube 1 is connected to the soft water line 15. Then, a drain line 24 is connected to the raw water inlet 6 provided at the lower part of the resin cylinder 1, and a fifth solenoid valve 25 is provided on the way.

The raw water tank 4 has a water level controller 26
(For example, a ball tap method) is provided, and a raw water supply line 27 for supplying raw water such as tap water is connected to the water level control device 26. The raw water tank 4 and the salt water tank 5 are connected by a connecting pipe 28 so that raw water is supplied to the salt water tank 5. This connecting pipe 28
Is provided with a fourth check valve 29. A net 30 is provided in the salt water tank 5, and the salt 31 is stored on the net 30. The salt 31 is dissolved in the raw water supplied from the raw water tank 4 to generate saturated salt water. Further, the feed pump 8, the pressure sensor 10, the flow sensor 12, and the solenoid valves 13, 16, 18, 2
Reference numerals 1 and 25 are respectively connected to a controller (not shown) via a line (not shown).

Next, a control method of the water softener having the above configuration will be described. First, a faucet (not shown) of the soft water line 15 is opened, and in the water passing step of passing soft water, the first solenoid valve 1
3 and the second solenoid valve 16 are opened, the third solenoid valve 18, the fourth solenoid valve 21 and the fifth solenoid valve 25 are closed, and the raw water in the raw water tank 4 is supplied to the resin cylinder 1 via the raw water line 7. From the raw water inlet 6. That is, a controller (not shown) drives the water supply pump 8 in response to a signal from the flow rate sensor 12 in the raw water line 7 to flow raw water from the lower part of the resin tube 1 as an upward flow. The soft water is softened by the action of the ion exchange resin 3, and the soft water is supplied through the soft water line 15 from the soft water outlet 14 provided at the upper part of the resin tube 1. In the water passing step, the ion exchange resin 3 floats by the upward flow of the raw water, and sinks when the supply of the raw water is stopped. Therefore, the ion exchange resin 3 is loosened by repeating the supply and stop of the raw water, so that the conventional backwashing step becomes unnecessary.

Next, the salt water regenerating step for regenerating the ion exchange resin 3 will be described. In this salt water regenerating step, the first and second solenoid valves 13 and 16 are closed and the third to fifth solenoid valves 18, 21 and 25 are opened, so that the saturation in the salt water tank 5 is reduced. Brine flows down through a brine downflow line 19. Meanwhile, the raw water tank 4
The raw water inside flows down through the raw water flow down line 22, and the saturated brine and raw water mix at the soft water outlet 14 to become a brine of a predetermined concentration (about 10%), and flow down from the upper part of the resin cylinder 1. To regenerate the ion exchange resin 3. The salt water after the regeneration is discharged out of the system through the drain line 24. Then, when the regeneration of the ion exchange resin 3 is completed by flowing a predetermined amount of salt water, the process proceeds to the next water washing step (extrusion step). The controller is connected to the salt water downflow line 19.
The fourth electromagnetic valve 21 is closed and the raw water flow down line 2 is closed.
The salt remaining in the ion-exchange resin 3 is extruded with the raw water from Step 2 and washed with water.
It is discharged out of the system via 4. Then, a predetermined amount of raw water is caused to flow down to extrude salt, and the washing step is completed. After the completion of the water washing step, each of the solenoid valves 1 is returned to the state of the water passing step.
3, 16, 18, 21, 25 are restored. During the salt water regeneration step, when a faucet (not shown) of the soft water line 15 is opened and a signal is transmitted from the flow rate sensor 12, the controller drives the water supply pump 8 to bypass the raw water. Supply via line 17 to avoid water interruption.

When the water-washing step is completed and the water-flowing state is reached, the process proceeds to the next water-supplying step. That is, the raw water flows from the raw water tank 4 into the salt water tank 5 via the connecting pipe 28 (supplementation), generates saturated brine for the next regeneration, and stores a predetermined amount. Also, by the operation of the water level control device 26 of the raw water tank 4, raw water flows from the raw water supply line 27 to a predetermined water level in the raw water tank 4.

As described above, the control method of the water softener according to the present invention includes four cycles of (1) a water passing step, (2) a salt water regenerating step, (3) a washing step, and (4) a water refilling step. The control is sufficient and the conventional (1) water flow process, (
It is possible to simplify the five-cycle control of the 2) backwashing step, (3) salt water regeneration step, (4) water washing step and (5) water refilling step.

Next, an embodiment replacing the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The same members as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a configuration of a water softener embodying the present invention. Here, only a configuration different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a soft water line 15 is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder 1, and the salt water tank 5 and the upper part of the resin cylinder 1 are connected by a salt water flowing down line 19 provided with a fourth solenoid valve 21. A raw water flow-down line 22 for supplying raw water from the raw water tank 4 is connected between the fourth solenoid valve 21 and the upper part of the resin cylinder 1. That is, the raw water flow down line 22 in this embodiment is connected to the fourth solenoid valve 2.
1 and the upper part of the resin tube 1, the connection is made to the salt water falling line 19.

Next, an embodiment replacing the aforementioned FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a configuration of a water softener embodying the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a resin cylinder, in which a predetermined amount of silica 2 is accommodated in a lower part of the resin cylinder 1, and a predetermined amount is provided between the resin cylinder 1 and a wire mesh 33 installed above the silica stone 2. Of the ion exchange resin 3. A raw water tank 4 is provided above the resin cylinder 1.
And a salt water tank 5 are provided in parallel, and a water pipe 32 extending from the top to the vicinity of the bottom of the resin pipe 1 is inserted into the resin pipe 1, and the upper end 32 a of the water pipe 32 and the raw water tank 4 The lower part is connected by raw water line 7, and this raw water line 7
Inside, a water supply pump 8, a first check valve 9, a pressure sensor 10,
The accumulator 11, the flow sensor 12, and the first solenoid valve 13 are sequentially provided from the upstream side. A soft water line 15 is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder 1, and a second solenoid valve 16 is provided on the way. Then, the downstream side of the second electromagnetic valve 16 provided in the soft water line 15 and the raw water supply line 27 connected to the raw water tank 4 are connected by a bypass line 17, and a third electromagnetic valve 18 is provided in the middle. . This bypass line 17 is for avoiding water interruption during regeneration of the ion exchange resin 3 in the resin cylinder 1. The accumulator 11 is used to reduce the number of times the water supply pump 8 starts and stops due to leakage of water from a faucet (not shown) of the soft water line 15 and discharge of water.

The lower part of the salt water tank 5 and the upper part of the resin cylinder 1 are connected by a salt water falling line 19, and a second check valve 20 and a fourth solenoid valve 21 are sequentially provided in the salt water falling line 19 from the upstream side. ing. A raw water flow-down line 22 for supplying raw water from the raw water tank 4 is connected between the fourth solenoid valve 21 and the upper part of the resin cylinder 1, and a third check valve 23 is provided in the middle. A drain line 24 is connected to the lower part of the resin cylinder 1 and a fifth solenoid valve 25 is provided in the middle.

The raw water tank 4 has a water level controller 26
(For example, a ball tap method) is provided, and a raw water supply line 27 for supplying raw water such as tap water is connected to the water level control device 26. The raw water tank 4 and the salt water tank 5 are connected by a connecting pipe 28 so that raw water is supplied to the salt water tank 5. This connecting pipe 28
Is provided with a fourth check valve 29. A net 30 is provided in the salt water tank 5, and the salt 31 is stored on the net 30. The salt 31 is dissolved in the raw water supplied from the raw water tank 4 to generate saturated salt water. Further, the feed pump 8, the pressure sensor 10, the flow sensor 12, and the solenoid valves 13, 16, 18, 2
Reference numerals 1 and 25 are respectively connected to a controller (not shown) via a line (not shown).

Next, a method of controlling the water softener having the above-described configuration will be described. First, a faucet (not shown) of the soft water line 15 is opened, and in the water passing step of passing soft water, the first solenoid valve 1
3 and the second solenoid valve 16 are opened, the third solenoid valve 18, the fourth solenoid valve 21 and the fifth solenoid valve 25 are closed, and the raw water in the raw water tank 4 is supplied to the resin cylinder 1 via the raw water line 7. It is supplied from a water pipe 32 inside. That is, a controller (not shown) drives the water supply pump 8 in response to a signal from the flow rate sensor 12 of the raw water line 7 to flow raw water as upward flow through the water pipe 32. Then, the hard water is softened by the action of the ion exchange resin 3, and the soft water is supplied through the soft water line 15 provided above the resin tube 1. In the water passing process, the ion exchange resin 3
It rises due to the upward flow of raw water and sinks when the supply of raw water stops. Therefore, the ion exchange resin 3 is loosened by repeating the supply and stop of the raw water, so that the conventional backwashing step becomes unnecessary.

Next, the regeneration of the ion exchange resin 3 will be described. During the regeneration, the first and second solenoid valves 13 and 16 are closed, and the third to fifth solenoid valves 18, 21 and 25 are opened, so that the saturated salt water in the salt water tank 5 is opened. Flows down through a brine flow down line 19. On the other hand, the raw water in the raw water tank 4 flows down through the raw water flowing down line 22, and the saturated brine and the raw water are mixed below the salt water flowing down line 19 to a predetermined concentration (about 1%).
(0%), and flows down from the upper portion of the resin tube 1 to regenerate the ion exchange resin 3. The salt water after the regeneration is discharged out of the system through the drain line 24. When the regeneration of the ion-exchange resin 3 is completed by flowing down a predetermined amount of salt water, the controller sets the salt water falling line 19
Is closed, the salt remaining in the ion exchange resin 3 is washed with raw water from the raw water line 22, and the washed raw water is discharged out of the system via the drain line 24. . Then, a predetermined amount of raw water is caused to flow down to wash the salt, and the regeneration is completed. After completion, the solenoid valves 13, 16, 18, 21, and 25 are returned to the state of the water passage process. At the time of the regeneration, the faucet (not shown) of the soft water line 15 is opened, and when there is a water supply request, the raw water is supplied through the bypass line 17 to avoid water cutoff.

When the regeneration is completed and the water flow state is reached, the raw water from the raw water tank 4 flows into the salt water tank 5 through the communication pipe 28 (refilling), and the saturated saline solution at the next regeneration is regenerated. Generate and store. Also, by the operation of the water level control device 26 of the raw water tank 4, raw water flows from the raw water supply line 27 to a predetermined water level in the raw water tank 4.

As described above, the regeneration of the ion exchange resin 3 may be performed in three cycles of (1) salt water regeneration, (2) water washing and (3) water replenishment. 2)
The four cycles of salt water regeneration, (3) water washing and (4) water refilling can be simplified.

When the water softener is not used for a long time, organic matter may be generated during the next water passing step. Therefore, when the water supply pump 8 is not operated for a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours), the controller is operated. It is also suitable to perform the following blow step and control so as to supply clean soft water according to the implementation. That is, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the controller closes the first solenoid valve 13 and the fourth solenoid valve 21, and closes the second solenoid valve 16, the third solenoid valve 18, and the The fifth solenoid valve 25 is opened, the water supply pump 8 is driven, the raw water in the raw water tank 4 flows in from the upper part of the resin cylinder 1, and organic matter is discharged from the drain line 24 to the outside of the system. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the second to fourth solenoid valves 16, 18 and 21 are closed, the first solenoid valve 13 and the fifth solenoid valve 25 are opened, and the water supply pump 8 is opened. To drive the raw water tank 4
The raw water therein flows through the water pipe 32 in the resin tube 1, and the organic matter is discharged from the drain line 24 to the outside of the system.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the raw water tank 4 and the salt water tank 5 are formed in a single body to make them more compact, and is applied to the embodiments of the water softeners shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. This is also preferable depending on the implementation.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the inventors believe that the ion-exchange resin 3 floats due to the upward flow of the raw water during the passage of the soft water, and the ion-exchange resin 3 comes into contact with the wire mesh 33 and is clogged. And found that there was a problem in the supply of soft water. Therefore, as a countermeasure, as shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined amount of particles 34 larger than the mesh of the wire mesh 33 and lighter than the ion exchange resin 3 are accommodated below the wire mesh 33 in the resin tube 1. Then, a structure in which a particle layer 34a is formed below the wire mesh 33 is adopted.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the raw water tank and the salt water tank are provided in parallel above the resin tube containing the ion exchange resin, and the lower part of the resin tube and the raw water tank are connected to the raw water tank. A water soft line is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder, and the salt water tank and the upper part of the resin cylinder are connected by a salt water flowing line and a raw water flowing line connected to the raw water tank. Since the salted water was allowed to flow down into the resin cylinder,
Operate the control valve as before, and (1)
The four cycles of backwashing, (2) salt water regeneration, (3) water washing and (4) water replenishment regenerated the ion exchange resin.
(1) To provide a compact and low-priced water softener using a commercially available solenoid valve, which simplifies to three cycles of salt water regeneration, (2) water washing and (3) water replenishment without using an expensive control valve. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing a configuration of a water softener embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a configuration of a water softener that replaces the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a configuration of a water softener that replaces the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of an embodiment in which a raw water tank and a salt water tank are integrally formed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a configuration in which particles are arranged below a wire net in a resin cylinder.

FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view of a conventional water softener.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Resin cylinder 2 Silica 3 Ion exchange resin 4 Raw water tank 5 Salt water tank 7 Raw water line 8 Water supply pump 11 Accumulator 12 Flow sensor 13 First solenoid valve 15 Soft water line 16 Second solenoid valve 17 Bypass line 18 Third solenoid valve 19 Brine flow Line 21 Fourth solenoid valve 22 Raw water flow down line 24 Drain line 25 Fifth solenoid valve 32 Water pipe 32a Upper end 33 Wire mesh 34 Particle 34a Particle layer

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Kimishi Ueda 7 in Horie-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime Miura Kogyo Co., Ltd. ) Inventor Shigeto Ohara 7-7 Horie-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A raw water tank 4 and a salt water tank 5 are provided in parallel above a resin cylinder 1, and a lower part of the resin cylinder 1 and the raw water tank 4 are connected by a raw water line 7. A soft water line 15 is connected to the upper part, the salt water tank 5 and the upper part of the resin tube 1 are connected by a salt water falling line 19, and the raw water tank 4 and an upper part of the resin tube 1 are connected by a raw water flowing line 22. And a drain line 24 connected to a lower portion of the resin tube 1. 2. A raw water tank 4 and a salt water tank 5 are provided above the resin cylinder 1 in a side-by-side state, and a water pipe 32 extending from the top to the vicinity of the bottom of the resin cylinder 1 is inserted into the resin cylinder 1. The upper end 32a of the water pipe 32 and the raw water tank 4
Is connected by a raw water line 7, a soft water line 15 is connected to the upper part of the resin cylinder 1, the salt water tank 5 is connected to an upper part of the resin cylinder 1 by a salt water flowing down line 19, and the raw water tank 4 is A water softener characterized in that an upper part of the resin cylinder 1 is connected to a raw water flow down line 22 and a drain line 24 is connected to a lower part of the resin cylinder 1. 3. A feedwater pump 8 and a first solenoid valve 13 are provided in the raw water line 7, a fourth solenoid valve 21 is provided in the salt water falling line 19, and a fifth solenoid valve 25 is provided in the drain line 24. The water softener according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A flow sensor 12 is provided in the raw water line 7, and an accumulator 1 is provided upstream of the flow sensor 12.
The water softener according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: 5. The resin cylinder 1 is filled with silica 2 at the bottom of the resin cylinder 1 to form a silica layer, and a predetermined amount of ion exchange is performed between the resin cylinder 1 and a wire mesh 33 installed above the silica layer. Resin 3
The water softener according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the water softener has a structure accommodating the water. 6. The water softener according to claim 5, wherein the resin tube 1 has a structure in which a particle layer 34a is interposed between the wire mesh 33 and an upper portion of the ion exchange resin 3.