KR102621163B1 - Softening system - Google Patents

Abstract

Soft water that is connected to the main flow path for supplying raw water to the consumer, removes at least part of the ionic substances contained in the raw water supplied through the main flow path, and supplies soft water containing less ionic substances than raw water to the consumer. The system receives water derived from raw water, removes at least a portion of the ionic substances contained in the supplied water based on electrical force, and discharges first soft water containing less ionic substances than the supplied water. a filter unit that does; a storage unit that receives first soft water from the filter unit and stores it; A discharge line that supplies the first soft water discharged from the filter unit to the consumer, sequentially passing through the first port and the second port formed in the storage unit, and passing through the storage unit to connect to the consumer; and a plurality of through holes formed in the discharge line and communicating with the inner space of the storage unit and the inner space of the discharge line.

Description

Softening system {SOFTENING SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to water softening systems.

General tap water contains ionic substances such as calcium ions (Ca2+) and magnesium ions (Mg2+). Water containing ionic substances can cause damage to skin and fabrics. Additionally, calcium ions (Ca2+) may be precipitated into calcium carbonate (CaCO3) by heat, and the precipitated calcium carbonate (CaCO3) may be adhered to pipes through which water flows. Such adhesion may cause cracks in pipes, etc.

Therefore, water softening systems that remove ionic substances from water containing ionic substances are being used. Conventionally, a water softening system that removes ionic substances using an ion exchange resin was used, but the conventional water softening system had a problem in that it was difficult to control the amount of ionic substances contained in the water discharged from the water softening system. In addition, salt must be replenished for continuous operation, and as a result, the water from which ionic substances have been removed contains salt, making it difficult to use it as drinking water.

One object of the present invention is to provide a water training system that can solve at least one of the problems described above.

In one example, it is connected to a main flow path for supplying raw water to a consumer, and removes at least a portion of the ionic substances contained in the raw water supplied through the main flow path to produce soft water containing less ionic substances than the raw water. A water softening system for supplying water to the demander receives water derived from the raw water and removes at least a part of the ionic substances contained in the supplied water based on electrical force, so that the water becomes more ionic than the supplied water. A filter unit that discharges first soft water containing a small amount, a storage unit that receives and stores the first soft water from the filter unit, and a discharge line that supplies the first soft water discharged from the filter unit to the consumer, A discharge line that sequentially passes through the first port and the second port formed in the storage unit and connects to the demand destination through the storage unit, and is formed in the discharge line and forms an internal space of the storage unit and an internal space of the discharge line. It includes a through hole for communicating, and a first supply line that supplies raw water supplied from the main flow path to the storage unit, and when an increase in the soft water supplied to the demander is required, the raw water is supplied through the first supply line. By supplying it to the storage unit, the amount of soft water flowing from the storage unit through the through hole into the discharge line and mixed with the first soft water in the discharge line can be increased.

According to the present invention, the soft water stored in the storage unit can be utilized to supply to the demander, so that a relatively higher flow rate of soft water than before can be supplied to the demander.

In addition, according to the present invention, since ionic substances are removed based on electrical force, it can be more convenient than a conventional water softening system that requires continuous supply of salt.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the first soft water discharged from the filter unit is supplied to the consumer along a discharge line penetrating the storage unit, the first soft water is supplied to the storage unit without a discharge line passing through the storage unit, and the water in the storage unit is supplied to the customer. In contrast to when supplying to the consumer, when the first soft water discharged from the filter unit is supplied to the consumer, the first soft water may be mixed to a lesser extent with the water in the storage unit.

In addition, according to the present invention, the amount of ionic substances contained in the mixed soft water supplied to the consumer can be adjusted by controlling the flow rate of the raw water mixed to produce the mixed soft water.

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an installed state of a water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a filter unit.
Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of ion removal in the CDI method.
Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of electrode regeneration in the CDI method.
Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of removing ionic substances from the softened water stored in the storage unit in the water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention when the supply of water to the consumer is stopped.
Figure 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of regenerating the filter unit in the water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention when the supply of water to the consumer is interrupted.
Figure 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 2 of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 3 of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of removing ionic substances from the softened water stored in the storage unit in the water softening system according to Example 3 of the present invention when the supply of water to the consumer is stopped.
Figure 11 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 4 of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of removing ionic substances from the softened water stored in the storage unit in the water softening system according to Example 4 of the present invention when the supply of water to the consumer is stopped.
Figure 13 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 5 of the present invention.
Figure 14 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of removing ionic substances from the softened water stored in the storage unit in the water softening system according to Example 5 of the present invention when the supply of water to the consumer is stopped.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail through illustrative drawings. When adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that identical components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. Additionally, when describing an embodiment of the present invention, if a detailed description of a related known configuration or function is judged to impede understanding of the embodiment of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

Example 1

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an installed state of a water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the water softening system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, raw water such as tap water is supplied to the consumer 20 along the main flow path 10. The consumer 20 may be an ordinary home. And the water softening system 1 according to Example 1 of the present invention is connected to the main flow path 10 and removes at least a portion of the ionic substances contained in the raw water supplied through the main flow path 10. Therefore, soft water containing less ionic substances than raw water is discharged from the softened water system (1) and supplied to the consumer (20).

In this way, the water softening system provided in front of the inlet of the demand source 20 and removing ionic substances in all raw water supplied to the demand source 20 is called a Point Of Entry (POE) water softening system, and Example 1 of the present invention The training system 1 according to may be a POE training system.

Since the POE softened water system needs to treat all raw water supplied to the demand point 20, it must process a relatively high flow rate of raw water. For this purpose, the softened water system 1 according to Example 1 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. As shown, it includes a filter unit 200, a storage unit 300, a discharge line 430, and a plurality of through holes 435. Additionally, the water softening system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a first supply line 410.

First, the filter unit 200 will be described. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a filter unit. The filter unit 200 receives water derived from raw water. Receiving water derived from raw water includes directly receiving raw water flowing along the main flow path 10 and receiving water stored in the storage unit 300 as water derived from raw water. You can. The filter unit 200 removes at least a portion of the ionic substances contained in the supplied water based on electrical force and discharges first soft water containing less ionic substances than the supplied water.

More specifically, among the methods for removing ionic substances, there is an electrodeionization method. When a direct current voltage acts on the charged particles in the electrolyte, the positively charged particles move to the cathode, and the negatively charged particles move to the anode. This is called electrophoresis. Electrodeionization refers to a method of removing ions (ionic substances) in water by selectively adsorbing or moving them through electrodes or ion exchange membranes, based on the principle of electrophoresis.

Electrodeionization methods include electrodialysis (ED), electro deionization (EDI), continuous electro deionization (CEDI), and capacitive deionization (CDI). The ED type filter unit is equipped with an electrode and an ion exchange membrane. And the EDI type filter unit is equipped with an electrode, an ion exchange membrane, and an ion exchange resin. In contrast, the CDI type filter unit does not include an ion exchange membrane or ion exchange resin.

The filter unit 200 according to Example 1 of the present invention can remove ionic substances using a capacitive deionization (CDI) method among the electrical deionization methods. The CDI method refers to a method of removing ions using the principle that ions (or ionic substances) are adsorbed and desorbed from the surface of an electrode by electrical force.

Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of ion removal in the CDI method. Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of electrode regeneration in the CDI method. As shown in Figure 4, when a voltage is applied to the electrode and water containing ions passes between the electrodes, negative ions move to the anode and positive ions move to the cathode. In other words, adsorption occurs. Ions can be removed from water through this kind of adsorption. In this way, the mode in which the filter unit removes ions (ionic substances) in the water passing through the filter unit through the electrode is hereinafter referred to as the removal mode.

However, the adsorption capacity of the electrode is limited. Therefore, if adsorption continues, the electrode reaches a state where it can no longer adsorb ions. To prevent this, it is necessary to regenerate the electrode by desorbing the ions adsorbed on the electrode. To this end, as shown in FIG. 5, a voltage opposite to that in the removal mode may be applied to the electrode, or no voltage may be applied. In this way, the mode in which the filter unit regenerates the electrode is hereinafter referred to as the regeneration mode. Replay mode can be performed before or after removal mode, and the time interval between play mode and removal mode can be set in various ways.

Meanwhile, if the filter unit has only one pair of electrodes, the first soft water may not be discharged from the filter unit when the filter unit performs the regeneration mode. Therefore, the filter unit 200 of the water softening system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention may include a plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b as shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may be arranged in parallel so that the inlet through which water is supplied communicates with each other, and the outlet through which water is discharged communicates with each other.

Each of the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b can selectively perform either a removal mode or a regeneration mode. At this time, at least one of the plurality of filter modules may perform a removal mode so that the first soft water is continuously supplied to the demander 20. Alternatively, the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may alternately perform the removal mode and the regeneration mode together. The number of filter modules provided in parallel is not particularly limited.

Meanwhile, each of the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may be controlled so that the time for performing the removal mode is longer than the time for performing the regeneration mode. Accordingly, the flow rate of the first soft water discharged from the filter unit 200 may increase. And by controlling the amount of power supplied to the electrode in the regeneration mode to be greater than the amount of power supplied to the electrode in the removal mode, the electrode can be sufficiently regenerated in the regeneration mode for a relatively short period of time. .

Since the filter unit 200 removes ionic substances while performing a regeneration mode and a removal mode, the inconvenience of having to continuously supply salt like a conventional water softening system using an ion exchange resin can be eliminated. In addition, since the first soft water discharged from the filter unit 200 does not contain salt, the first soft water can be used as drinking water, and when the filter unit 200 performs the regeneration mode, the water discharged contains only ions. Therefore, it is possible to prevent environmental pollution caused by wastewater like in the conventional water softening system.

Next, the storage unit 300 receives the first soft water from the filter unit 200 and stores it. Alternatively, among the raw water flowing along the main flow path 10, the raw water that is not supplied to the filter unit 200 may be directly supplied to the storage unit 300. The first supply line 410 supplies raw water supplied from the main flow path 10 to the storage unit 300.

The discharge line 430 refers to a line that supplies the first soft water discharged from the filter unit 200 to the consumer 20. More specifically, the discharge line 430 sequentially passes through the first port 301 and the second port 302 formed in the storage unit 300 and connects to the demand source 20 through the storage unit 300. . Here, the first port 301 and the second port 302 are ports formed in the storage unit 300 to communicate with the internal space of the storage unit 300. In addition, in FIG. 2, the discharge line 430 is shown as if it is formed as a single pipe, but it does not necessarily have to be a single connected pipe, and may be in the form of multiple lines connected.

A plurality of through holes 435 are formed in the discharge line 430. A plurality of through holes 435 communicate with the inner space of the storage unit 300 and the inner space of the discharge line 430. Water flowing along the discharge line 430 may flow into the internal space of the storage unit 300 through a plurality of through holes 435, and water stored in the storage unit 300 may also flow into the internal space of the storage unit 300 through a plurality of through holes 435. ) can flow into the discharge line 430 through them.

That is, as a plurality of through holes 435 are formed in the discharge line 430, raw water is supplied to the storage unit 300 through the first supply line 410, and the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 may flow into the discharge line 430 through a plurality of through holes 435. And the first soft water discharged from the filter unit 200 and supplied to the consumer 20 through the discharge line 430 is mixed with the soft water flowing into the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435 and discharged. It can be supplied to the demand source 20 through the line 430. Therefore, since the first soft water discharged from the filter unit 200 and the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 can be supplied to the consumer 20, a sufficient amount of soft water can be supplied to the consumer 20.

Meanwhile, the shape of the through hole 435 is not particularly limited, and if the discharge line 430 is formed of a plurality of pipes, it may be provided in the form of a mesh connecting the pipes.

And the port connected to the first supply line 410 in the storage unit 300 is defined as the raw water port 303, and the portion between the first port 301 and the second port 302 of the discharge line 430 When defined as the internal line (430a), the plurality of through holes 435 are located far from the raw water port 303 among the first port 301 and the second port 302 in the internal line 430a. It can be provided in a location adjacent to . Accordingly, the distance for raw water supplied to the storage unit 300 through the first supply line 410 to flow into the through hole 435 is formed to be long, so that the raw water flows through the through hole 435 into the discharge line 430. It can be prevented from flowing into the water, and the hardness of the water supplied to the consumer 20 can be prevented from increasing.

The water softening system (1) according to Example 1 of the present invention includes a second supply line ( 420) may further be included. In addition, a second supply valve 620 will be provided in the second supply line 420 as a flow control valve that opens and closes the second supply line 420 and regulates the flow rate of water flowing along the second supply line 420. You can.

As described above, the first soft water and the soft water introduced through the plurality of through holes 435 are mixed and discharged from the storage unit 300 through the discharge line 430, and here the second supply line 420 is connected. The raw water supplied through the raw water can be mixed to create mixed soft water supplied to the consumer (20). And through the flow control valve 620, the flow rate of raw water supplied to the discharge line 430 to generate mixed soft water can be adjusted.

More specifically, if the hardness of the mixed soft water supplied to the consumer 20 is different from the hardness required to be supplied to the consumer 20, it is necessary to adjust the hardness of the mixed soft water. The hardness of the mixed soft water is determined by the flow rate and hardness of the first soft water discharged from the filter unit 200, the hardness of the soft water stored in the storage unit 300, and the flow into the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435. It can be controlled by the flow rate of the soft water and the flow rate and hardness of the raw water supplied from the main flow path 10 to the discharge line 430. And the control unit that controls the soft water system according to Example 1 of the present invention, based on the hardness of the water mixed with the first soft water and the soft water flowing into the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435, By adjusting the flow rate of the raw water supplied to (430), the hardness of the mixed soft water can be adjusted. For this purpose, a hardness measurement sensor 701 may be provided at the end of the discharge line 430.

At this time, the hardness and flow rate of the first soft water discharged through the filter unit 200 can be adjusted by controlling the amount of power supplied to the filter unit 200 and the flow rate of water passing through the filter unit 200. . And the flow rate of water flowing from the storage unit 300 into the plurality of through holes 435 can be adjusted through the size of the raw water port 303 and/or the number and size of the through holes 435. Furthermore, since the hardness of raw water such as tap water that flows along the main flow path 10 is generally constant, the hardness of the mixed soft water can be adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of the raw water mixed to create mixed soft water.

Additionally, the water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention may further include a filter line 405 and a drain line 440.

The filter line 405 refers to a line that supplies raw water from the main flow path 10 to the front end of the filter unit 200. In FIG. 2, the filter line 405 is shown as one line. However, when the filter unit 200 includes a plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b as shown in FIG. 3, the filter line 405 is It may be branched into a plurality of lines (405a, 405b) to supply raw water to each filter module (200a, 200b).

The drain line 440 is a line for draining water discharged from the filter unit 200 to the outside, and refers to a line that branches off from the discharge line 430 and connects to the outside. In FIG. 2, the drain line 440 is shown as one line, but when the filter unit 200 includes a plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge line 430 is It may include a plurality of lines (430a, 430b) connected to each filter module (200a, 200b), and the plurality of lines (440a, 440b) may be combined into one line. In addition, the drain lines (440a, 440b) may also be provided to branch from each of the plurality of discharge lines (430a, 430b) connected to the plurality of filter modules (200a, 200b).

In addition, a three-way valve as a drain valve 640 is provided at the point where the discharge line 430 and the drain line 440 meet, so that the water discharged from the filter unit 200 flows toward the consumer 20. The direction of water discharged from the filter unit 200 can be determined by being open to flow or to be open to flow toward the drain line 440. However, the drain valve 640 does not necessarily need to be a three-way valve, and a valve that opens and closes a plurality of drain lines 440 may be used.

Meanwhile, a main valve 601 and a hardness measurement sensor 700 are provided in the main flow path 10, so that raw water is supplied or not supplied to the softened water system 1 according to the opening and closing of the main valve 601, and the supplied raw water The hardness of can be measured through the hardness measurement sensor 700.

And the hardness measurement sensors 700, 701, 702, and 703 described above and to be described later may be TDS sensors that measure the TDS of water. It can be difficult to directly obtain the amount of ionic substances contained in water, i.e. directly measure water hardness, and a high TDS (total dissolved solids) of water may mean that there are a lot of ionic substances in the water. In other words, the amount of ionic substances contained in water can be estimated based on the TDS of water. In addition, a hardness measurement sensor 701 is provided at the end of the discharge line 430 to measure the hardness of the water supplied to the consumer 20, and TDS sensors 702 and 703 are also provided in the storage unit 300 to measure the hardness of the water supplied to the consumer 20. The hardness of the soft water stored in 300 can also be measured. At this time, a plurality of sensors 702 and 703 are provided in the storage unit 300 at positions spaced apart from each other, so that the hardness of the water stored in the storage unit 300 can be measured more accurately.

A first supply valve 610 is provided in the first supply line 410 to open and close the first supply line 410, and a discharge valve 630 is provided in the discharge line 430 to open and close the discharge line 430. It can be. The first supply valve 610 and discharge valve 630 may also be flow control valves.

When supplying mixed soft water to the consumer

Hereinafter, the process of supplying mixed soft water from the water softening system 1 according to Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In the conceptual diagram below, a thick line means a line where water is flowing, and a dotted line means a line where water is not flowing.

As shown in FIG. 2, some of the raw water supplied from the main flow path 10 is supplied to the filter unit 200, and among the raw water supplied from the main flow path 10, the raw water not supplied to the filter unit 200 is It may be supplied to the storage unit 300 through the first supply line 410, or may be supplied to the discharge line 430 between the storage unit 300 and the demand source 20 through the second supply line 420. .

The first soft water discharged through the filter unit 200 is supplied to the consumer 20 along the discharge line 430, and as raw water is supplied to the storage unit 300 through the first supply line 410, the storage unit The soft water stored in 300 may flow into the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435 and be mixed with the first soft water. The first soft water and the soft water flowing in through the plurality of through holes 435 flow along the discharge line 430 and are mixed with the raw water supplied through the second supply line 420 to generate mixed soft water. Mixed soft water can be supplied to the consumer (20).

To form this flow of water, the controller can control the water softening system as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 2.

At this time, at least one of the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may perform a removal mode so that the first soft water is continuously supplied to the demand source 20. For example, when the drain valve 640a is opened toward the consumer 20 and the drain valve 640b is opened toward the drain line 440, the filter module 200a is in the removal mode, and the filter module 200b is in the removal mode. can perform playback mode. Accordingly, the hardness and flow rate of the mixed soft water supplied to the consumer 20 can be kept constant (see Figure 3).

When the amount of ionic substances in the soft water stored in the storage unit exceeds the limit

As the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 is discharged to generate mixed soft water, and raw water flows into the storage unit 300 through the first supply line 410, ionic substances contained in the incoming raw water This may be accumulated in the storage unit 300.

Meanwhile, the amount of ionic substances contained in the soft water supplied to the demander 20 may be preset to be below a certain standard value, and the amount of ionic substances in the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 increases, resulting in mixed soft water. If the amount of ionic material contained in exceeds the preset standard value, it may be determined that the amount of ionic material in the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 has exceeded the limit. At this time, the control unit may inform the user that the amount of ionic substances in the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 exceeds the limit.

When water supply to the consumer is interrupted

When the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped, control to remove ionic substances contained in the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 may be performed. That is, the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 is circulated between the filter unit 200 and the storage unit 300 and ionic substances are removed through the filter unit 200, so that the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 is larger. It can be made to contain a small amount of ionic substances.

Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of removing ionic substances from the softened water stored in the storage unit in the water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention when the supply of water to the consumer is stopped. The water softening system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a circulation pump 710 provided in the first supply line 410 to circulate water.

When the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped and the filter unit 200 performs the removal mode, the water stored in the storage unit 300 is discharged as the circulation pump 710 operates. It sequentially passes through the first supply line 410, the filter line 405, the filter unit 200, and the discharge line 430 and can circulate between the storage unit 300 and the filter unit 200. At this time, the first soft water flowing along the discharge line 430 may be supplied to the storage unit 300 through a plurality of through holes 435.

The control unit can control the water softening system 1 as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 6.

At this time, the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may alternately perform the removal mode and the regeneration mode together. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least one of the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may perform a removal mode.

Figure 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of regenerating the filter unit in the water softening system according to Example 1 of the present invention when the supply of water to the consumer is interrupted.

When the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped and the filter unit 200 performs the regeneration mode, the raw water supplied through the filter line 405 passes through the filter unit 200 and the filter unit 200 It can be drained to the outside through the drain line 440 along with the ionic material desorbed from the electrode.

The control unit can control the water softening system 1 as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 10.

Example 2

Figure 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 2 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the water softening system 2 according to Example 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The water softening system according to Example 2 of the present invention is different from the water softening system 1 according to Example 1 in the shape of the first supply line 410. Configurations that are the same or equivalent to those of the water softening system 1 according to Example 1 are assigned the same or equivalent reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

Referring to FIG. 8, the water softening system 2 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention has a first supply line 410 provided in the storage unit 300 and a raw water port 303 communicating with the internal space of the storage unit 300. ) and can be inserted into the internal space of the storage unit 300. And the plurality of through holes 435 will be provided in a position adjacent to the port located far from the end of the first supply line 410 among the first port 301 and the second port 302 in the internal line 430a. You can.

That is, raw water supplied to the storage unit 300 along the first supply line 410 may be supplied to the storage unit 300 from the end of the first supply line 410, and the plurality of through holes 435 are By being located far from the end of the first supply line 410, raw water can be prevented from flowing into the discharge line 430 through the through holes 435.

Meanwhile, in order to supply mixed soft water to the consumer 20 through the softened water system 2 according to Example 2 of the present invention, the control unit controls the softened water system 2 as follows to allow water to flow as shown in FIG. can do.

Meanwhile, the control method for removing ionic substances contained in the softened water stored in the storage unit 300 through the water softening system according to Example 2 of the present invention is substantially the same as the water softening system according to Example 1, and the detailed description is omitted.

Example 3

Figure 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 3 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the water softening system 3 according to Example 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The water softening system according to Example 3 of the present invention is different from the water softening system 1 according to Example 1 in the connection method of the first supply line 410 and the storage unit 300. Configurations that are the same or equivalent to those of the water softening system 1 according to Example 1 are assigned the same or equivalent reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the water softening system 3 according to Example 3 of the present invention, the first port 301 is in communication with the internal space of the storage unit 300 and is larger than the outer circumference of the discharge line 430. It differs from the water softening system 1 according to Example 1 in that it is formed. Additionally, the first supply line 410 may be connected to the first port 301 through the cap 410a.

More specifically, the cap 410a covers the first port 301 to prevent water stored in the internal space of the storage unit 300 from being discharged to the outside, and is connected to the first supply line 410 to provide the first port 301. A space may be provided for raw water supplied through the supply line 410 to flow to the first port 301. Since the first supply line 410 is connected to the first port 301 through the cap 410a, the first port 301 can be used as the raw water port 303 in the first embodiment. In addition, a plurality of through holes 435 are provided at a location adjacent to the second port 302 to prevent raw water flowing in through the first port 301 from flowing into the discharge line 430 through the through hole 435. You can.

When supplying mixed soft water to the consumer

Hereinafter, the process of supplying mixed soft water from the water softening system 3 according to Example 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, some of the raw water supplied from the main flow path 10 is supplied to the filter unit 200, and among the raw water supplied from the main flow path 10, the raw water not supplied to the filter unit 200 is It may be supplied to the storage unit 300 through the first supply line 410, or may be supplied to the discharge line 430 between the storage unit 300 and the demand source 20 through the second supply line 420. .

At this time, raw water flowing along the first supply line 410 may be supplied to the internal space of the storage unit 300 through the cap 410a and the first port 301. Since the discharge line 430 passes through the first port 301, the first soft water flowing along the discharge line 430 and the raw water supplied to the storage unit through the first port 301 do not mix with each other. You can.

And as raw water is supplied to the storage unit 300, the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 flows into the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435, and can be mixed with the first soft water. . In addition, as in Example 1, the raw water flowing through the second supply line 420 is supplied to the discharge line 430, and the first soft water flows into the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435. Mixed soft water can be created by mixing raw water and raw water supplied through the second supply line 420, and by controlling the flow rate of raw water through the second supply valve 620 provided in the second supply line 420, The hardness of mixed soft water can be adjusted.

To form this flow of water, the controller can control the water softening system as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 9. At this time, at least one of the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may perform a removal mode so that the first soft water is continuously supplied to the demand source 20.

When water supply to the consumer is interrupted

When the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped, control to remove ionic substances contained in the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 may be performed. That is, the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 is circulated between the filter unit 200 and the storage unit 300 and ionic substances are removed through the filter unit 200, so that the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 is larger. It can be made to contain a small amount of ionic substances.

Figure 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of removing ionic substances from the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 in the water softening system 3 according to Example 3 of the present invention when the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped. The water softening system 3 according to Example 3 of the present invention is provided in the first supply line 410 or between the storage unit 300 and the filter unit 200 in the discharge line 430 to circulate water. It may further include a circulation pump 710 provided in. In FIG. 10 , the description is based on the fact that the discharge pump is provided in the first supply line 410.

When the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped and the filter unit 200 performs the removal mode, the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 is transferred to the filter unit 200 as the circulation pump 710 operates. It may be circulated between storage units 300. More specifically, the water pressured from the internal space of the storage unit 300 to the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435 is discharged from the discharge line 430, the filter unit 200, and the filter line 405. And it may sequentially pass through the first supply line 410 and circulate between the storage unit 300 and the filter unit 200.

The control unit can control the water softening system 1 as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 10.

At this time, the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may alternately perform the removal mode and the regeneration mode together. However, it is not limited to this, and at least one of the plurality of filter modules may perform a removal mode.

And when the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped and the filter unit 200 performs the regeneration mode, the raw water supplied through the filter line 405 passes through the filter unit 200 and the filter unit 200 It can be drained to the outside through the drain line 440 along with the ionic material desorbed from the electrode. Since the control for regenerating the filter unit 200 is substantially the same as the control according to Embodiment 1, detailed description thereof is omitted.

Example 4

Figure 11 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 4 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the water softening system 4 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The water softening system according to Example 4 of the present invention differs from the water softening system 3 according to Example 3 in the shape of the tank used as the storage unit 300. Configurations that are the same or equivalent to those of the water softening system 3 according to Example 3 are assigned the same or equivalent reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

Referring to FIG. 11, the storage unit 300 of the water softening system 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention may include a first body 310 and a second body 320. The first main body 310 has a first storage space 315, the second main body 320 has a second storage space 325, and the second main body 320 has a first storage space 315. It can be provided within. Accordingly, the fluids stored in the first storage space 315 and the second storage space 325 can be stored separately from each other.

In addition, when fluid flows into the first storage space 315 and pressurizes the second storage space 325, the fluid stored in the second storage space 325 may be discharged to the outside, and conversely, the second storage space 325 may be discharged to the outside. When fluid flows into the space 325 and the first storage space 315 is pressurized, the fluid stored in the first storage space 315 may be discharged to the outside.

At this time, the first storage space is connected to the first supply line 410 so that raw water supplied through the first supply line 410 can be supplied to the first storage space, and the second storage space has a discharge line 430. As a space for passing, it may be a space where first soft water is supplied from the filter unit 200 and stored.

When supplying mixed soft water to the consumer

Hereinafter, the process of supplying mixed soft water from the water softening system 4 according to Example 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, part of the raw water supplied from the main flow path 10 is supplied to the filter unit 200, and first soft water is discharged from the filter unit 200, and the first soft water is discharged from the discharge line 430. It can be supplied to the storage unit 300 according to . And some of the raw water that is not supplied to the filter unit 200 may be supplied to the first storage space 315 through the first supply line 410. As raw water is supplied to the first storage space 315 and the second storage space 325 is pressurized, the soft water stored in the second storage space 325 flows into the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435. ) can flow into the And the first soft water discharged from the filter unit 200 and supplied to the consumer 20 through the discharge line 430 is mixed with the soft water introduced through the plurality of through holes 435 and is discharged through the discharge line 430. It can be supplied to the demand source (20).

In addition, the raw water flowing through the second supply line 420 is mixed with the first soft water and the soft water introduced through the plurality of through holes 435 to generate mixed soft water, and the mixed soft water is generated through the second supply valve. For this purpose, the hardness of the mixed soft water can be adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of raw water supplied to the discharge line 430.

To form this flow of water, the controller can control the water softening system as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 11. At this time, at least one of the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may perform a removal mode so that the first soft water is continuously supplied to the demand source 20.

When water supply to the consumer is interrupted

When the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped, control to remove ionic substances contained in the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 may be performed. That is, the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 is circulated between the filter unit 200 and the storage unit 300 and ionic substances are removed through the filter unit 200, so that the soft water stored in the storage unit 300 is larger. It can be made to contain a small amount of ionic substances.

Figure 12 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of removing ionic substances from the softened water stored in the storage unit 300 in the water softening system 4 according to Example 4 of the present invention when the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped. The water softening system 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention may further include a branch line 415 branched from the first supply line 410 and connected to the drain line 440 to circulate water. At this time, the branch line 415 is connected to the drain line 440, so that even when the discharged water from the filter unit is supplied to the consumer 20, the water flowing through the branch line 415 is drained to the outside through the drain line 440. It can be done as much as possible. Additionally, a branch valve 615 that opens and closes the branch line 415 may be provided in the branch line 415.

When the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped and the filter unit 200 performs the removal mode, if all the raw water supplied along the main flow path 10 is supplied to the filter unit 200, the filter unit 200 The first soft water discharged from can be supplied to the second storage space through the discharge line 430 and a plurality of through holes 435. And, as the first soft water is supplied to the second storage space and the first storage space is pressurized, the raw water stored in the first storage space passes through the first port 301 and the cap 410a and the first supply line 410. ), can be drained to the outside through the branch line 415 and drain line 440.

The control unit can control the water softening system 4 as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 12.

And when the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped and the filter unit 200 performs the regeneration mode, the raw water supplied through the filter line 405 passes through the filter unit 200 and the filter unit 200 It can be drained to the outside through the drain line 440 along with the ionic material desorbed from the electrode. Since the control for regenerating the filter unit 200 is substantially the same as the control according to the above-described embodiments, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Example 5

Figure 13 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of supplying mixed soft water in the water softening system according to Example 5 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the water softening system 5 according to Example 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13. The water softening system 5 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is different from the water softening system 4 according to the fourth embodiment in that the first supply line 410 is connected to the storage unit 300. Configurations that are the same or equivalent to those of the water softening system 4 according to Example 4 are assigned the same or equivalent reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

Referring to Figure 13, the first supply line 410 of the water softening system according to Example 5 of the present invention is connected to the first storage space 315, but is a separate port from the first port 301 of Example 4. It can be connected to the storage unit 300 through .

When supplying mixed soft water to the consumer

Hereinafter, the process of supplying mixed soft water from the water softening system 5 according to Example 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

As shown in FIG. 13, part of the raw water supplied from the main flow path 10 is supplied to the filter unit 200, and first soft water is discharged from the filter unit 200, and the first soft water is discharged from the discharge line 430. It can be supplied to the storage unit 300 according to . And some of the raw water that is not supplied to the filter unit 200 may be supplied to the first storage space through the first supply line 410. As raw water is supplied to the first storage space and the second storage space is pressurized, the soft water stored in the second storage space may flow into the discharge line 430 through the plurality of through holes 435. And the first soft water discharged from the filter unit 200 and supplied to the consumer 20 through the discharge line 430 is mixed with the soft water introduced through the plurality of through holes 435 and is discharged through the discharge line 430. It can be supplied to the demand source (20).

In addition, the raw water flowing through the second supply line 420 is mixed with the first soft water and the soft water introduced through the plurality of through holes 435 to generate mixed soft water, and the mixed soft water is generated through the second supply valve. For this purpose, the hardness of the mixed soft water can be adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of raw water supplied to the discharge line 430.

To form this flow of water, the controller can control the water softening system 5 as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 13. At this time, at least one of the plurality of filter modules 200a and 200b may perform a removal mode so that the first soft water is continuously supplied to the demand source 20.

When water supply to the consumer is interrupted

Figure 14 is a conceptual diagram showing the process of removing ionic substances from the softened water stored in the storage unit in the water softening system according to Example 5 of the present invention when the supply of water to the consumer is stopped. In the water softening system 5 according to Example 5 of the present invention, the first supply line 410 is connected to the storage unit 300 through a port provided separately from the first port 301, and the water softening system according to Example 4 As in (4), the branch line 415 may not be included.

When the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped and the filter unit 200 performs the removal mode, if all the raw water supplied along the main flow path 10 is supplied to the filter unit 200, the filter unit 200 The first soft water discharged from may be supplied to the second storage space 325 through the discharge line 430 and a plurality of through holes 435. The first soft water is supplied to the second storage space 325 through the discharge line 430, and as the first soft water is supplied to the second storage space 325 and the first storage space 315 is pressurized, the first soft water is supplied to the second storage space 325. The raw water stored in the storage space 315 is recovered to the filter unit 200 through the first supply line 410 and the filter line 405, and the ionic substances are removed through the filter unit 200. Soft water can be supplied back to the second storage space 325 through the discharge line 430. That is, the softened water system 5 according to Example 5 has the advantage of being able to use raw water discharged from the first storage space 315 to supply soft water for storage in the second storage unit 300.

At this time, a circulation pump 710 is shown in the first supply line 410 in FIGS. 13 and 14, but the circulation pump 710 is not an essential component and provides the power to circulate the water stored in the first storage space 315. It can be used as a means to assist in providing

The control unit can control the water softening system 5 as follows to cause water to flow as shown in FIG. 14.

And when the supply of water to the demand source 20 is stopped and the filter unit 200 performs the regeneration mode, the raw water supplied through the filter line 405 passes through the filter unit 200 and the filter unit 200 It can be drained to the outside through the drain line 440 along with the ionic material desorbed from the electrode. Since the control for regenerating the filter unit 200 is substantially the same as the control according to the above-described embodiments, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The above description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical idea of the present invention, and various modifications and variations will be possible to those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but are for illustrative purposes, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted in accordance with the claims below, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the scope of rights of the present invention.

10: Main Euro
20: Source of demand
200: Filter unit
300: storage unit
301: first port
302: second port
303: raw water port
310: first body
315: first storage space
320: second body
325: Second storage space
405: Filter line
410: First supply line
410a: cap
415: branch line
420: Second supply line
430: discharge line
430a: internal line
435: Through hole
440: Drain line
601: Main valve
610: first supply valve
615: Branch valve
620: Second supply valve (flow control valve)
630: discharge valve
640: Drain valve
700, 701, 702, 703: Hardness measurement sensor
710: Circulation pump

Claims (23)

It is connected to a main flow path for supplying raw water to a consumer, and removes at least part of the ionic substances contained in the raw water supplied through the main flow path, thereby supplying soft water containing less ionic substances than the raw water to the consumer. In the training system for:
Receiving water derived from the raw water, removing at least a portion of the ionic substances contained in the supplied water based on electrical force, and discharging first soft water containing less ionic substances than the supplied water. filter part;
a storage unit that receives and stores the first soft water from the filter unit;
A discharge line that supplies the first soft water discharged from the filter unit to the consumer, sequentially passing through a first port and a second port formed in the storage unit, and passing through the storage unit to connect to the consumer; and
a through hole formed in the discharge line and communicating the interior space of the storage unit with the interior space of the discharge line; and
It includes a first supply line that supplies raw water supplied from the main flow path to the storage unit,
When an increase in the soft water supplied to the demander is required, the raw water is supplied to the storage unit through the first supply line, so that the raw water flows from the storage unit to the discharge line through the through hole, and the raw water in the discharge line flows into the discharge line. 1 A water softening system that increases the amount of soft water mixed into the softened water.
delete In claim 1,
When the port connected to the first supply line in the storage unit is defined as a raw water port and the portion between the first port and the second port of the discharge line is defined as an internal line, the through hole is, A water softening system provided in a line adjacent to a port located farther from the raw water port among the first port and the second port.
delete In claim 1,
It further includes a second supply line that guides the raw water supplied from the main flow path to a discharge line between the storage unit and the consumer, and a flow control valve provided in the second supply line,
The raw water supplied through the second supply line is mixed with the mixed water of the first soft water and the soft water introduced through the through hole to generate mixed soft water supplied to the consumer,
A water softening system in which the hardness of the mixed soft water is adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of the raw water supplied to the discharge line for generating the mixed soft water through the flow rate control valve.
In claim 5,
If the hardness of the mixed soft water supplied to the consumer is different from the hardness required to be supplied to the consumer, the hardness of the water mixed with the first soft water and the soft water flowing into the discharge line through the through hole is different from the hardness required to be supplied to the consumer. Based on this, a water softening system that adjusts the hardness of the mixed soft water by adjusting the flow rate of raw water supplied to the discharge line.
In claim 1,
A water softening system wherein the filter unit selectively performs one of a removal mode in which the ionic material is removed by electrodeionization through an electrode and a regeneration mode in which the electrode is regenerated.
delete delete In claim 1,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped, the soft water stored in the storage unit is circulated between the filter unit and the storage unit to remove ionic substances through the filter unit, so that the soft water stored in the storage unit is reduced to a smaller amount. A water softening system that includes ionic substances.
In claim 10,
A filter line that supplies the raw water from the main flow path to the front end of the filter unit, a drain line branched from the discharge line and connected to the outside to drain water discharged from the filter unit to the outside, and the first supply line It further includes a circulation pump provided in,
The filter unit selectively performs one of a removal mode in which the ionic material is removed by electrical deionization through an electrode and a regeneration mode in which the electrode is regenerated,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped and the filter unit performs the removal mode, as the circulation pump operates, the water stored in the storage unit is transferred to the first supply line, filter line, filter unit, and discharge line. sequentially passes through and circulates between the storage unit and the filter unit,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped and the filter unit performs the regeneration mode, the raw water supplied through the filter line passes through the filter unit and enters the drain line along with the ionic material desorbed from the electrode of the filter unit. A water softener system that drains to the outside through a water softener system.
In claim 1,
The first port communicates with the internal space of the storage unit and is formed to be larger than the outer circumference of the discharge line,
The first supply line is soft water connected to the first port through a cap that covers the first port and provides a space for raw water supplied through the first supply line to flow into the first port. system.
In claim 12,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped, the soft water stored in the storage unit is circulated between the filter unit and the storage unit to remove ionic substances through the filter unit, so that the soft water stored in the storage unit is reduced to a smaller amount. A water softening system that includes ionic substances.
In claim 13,
A filter line that supplies the raw water from the main flow path to the front end of the filter unit, a drain line branched from the discharge line and connected to the outside to drain water discharged from the filter unit to the outside, and the first supply line It is provided in or further includes a circulation pump provided between the storage unit and the filter unit in the discharge line,
The filter unit selectively performs one of a removal mode in which the ionic material is removed by electrical deionization through an electrode and a regeneration mode in which the electrode is regenerated,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped and the filter unit performs the removal mode, the water pumped from the internal space of the storage unit to the discharge line through the through hole as the circulation pump operates is, the filter unit, It sequentially passes through the filter line and the first supply line and circulates between the storage unit and the filter unit,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped and the filter unit performs the regeneration mode, the raw water supplied through the filter line passes through the filter unit and enters the drain line along with the ionic material desorbed from the electrode of the filter unit. A water softener system that drains to the outside through a water softener system.
In claim 3,
The first supply line is provided in the storage unit and is inserted into the internal space of the storage unit through a raw water port communicating with the internal space of the storage unit,
The through hole is provided in a position adjacent to one of the first port and the second port in the internal line, which is located farther from the end of the first supply line.
In claim 1,
The storage unit includes a first body having a first storage space connected to the first supply line, and is provided within the first storage space, receives and stores the first soft water from the filter unit, and passes the discharge line. It includes a second main body including a second storage space, which is a space for
As the raw water is supplied to the first storage space through the first supply line and the second storage space is pressurized, soft water stored in the second storage space flows into the discharge line through the through hole. ,
The first soft water discharged from the filter unit and supplied to the consumer through the discharge line is mixed with soft water introduced through the through hole and supplied to the consumer through the discharge line.
In claim 16,
It further includes a second supply line that guides the raw water supplied from the main flow path to a discharge line between the storage unit and the consumer, and a flow control valve provided in the second supply line,
The raw water supplied through the second supply line is mixed with the mixed water of the first soft water and the soft water introduced through the through hole to generate mixed soft water supplied to the consumer,
A water softening system in which the hardness of the mixed soft water is adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of the raw water supplied to the discharge line for generating the mixed soft water through the flow rate control valve.
In claim 17,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped, the soft water stored in the storage unit is circulated between the filter unit and the storage unit to remove ionic substances through the filter unit, so that the soft water stored in the storage unit is reduced to a smaller amount. A water softening system that includes ionic substances.
In claim 18,
The first port communicates with the internal space of the storage unit and is formed to be larger than the outer circumference of the discharge line,
The first supply line is connected to the first port through a cap that covers the first port and provides a space for raw water supplied through the first supply line to flow into the first port. water softening system.
In claim 19,
A filter line that supplies the raw water from the main flow path to the front end of the filter unit, a drain line branched from the discharge line and connected to the outside to drain water discharged from the filter unit to the outside, and the first supply line It further includes a branch line branched from and connected to the drainage line,
The filter unit selectively performs one of a removal mode in which the ionic material is removed by electrical deionization through an electrode and a regeneration mode in which the electrode is regenerated,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped and the filter unit performs the removal mode, the first soft water is supplied to the second storage space through the discharge line, and the first soft water is supplied to the second storage space. As the first storage space is supplied and pressurized, the raw water stored in the first storage space passes through the first port and cap and is drained to the outside through the first supply line, branch line, and drain line. system.
In claim 20,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped and the filter unit performs the regeneration mode, the raw water supplied through the filter line passes through the filter unit and enters the drain line along with the ionic material desorbed from the electrode of the filter unit. A water softener system that drains to the outside through a water softener system.
In claim 18,
It further includes a filter line that supplies the raw water from the main flow path to the front end of the filter unit, and a drain line branched from the discharge line and connected to the outside to drain the water discharged from the filter unit to the outside,
The filter unit selectively performs one of a removal mode in which the ionic material is removed by electrical deionization through an electrode and a regeneration mode in which the electrode is regenerated,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped and the filter unit performs the removal mode, the first soft water is supplied to the second storage space through the discharge line, and the first soft water is supplied to the second storage space. As the first storage space is supplied and pressurized, the raw water stored in the first storage space is recovered to the filter unit through the first supply line and the filter line, and the ionic substances are removed through the filter unit. A soft water system wherein the first soft water is supplied to the second storage space through the discharge line.
In claim 22,
When the supply of water to the demand source is stopped and the filter unit performs the regeneration mode, the raw water supplied through the filter line passes through the filter unit and enters the drain line along with the ionic material desorbed from the electrode of the filter unit. A water softener system that drains to the outside through a water softener system.

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