KR102624675B1 - Water softening system - Google Patents

Abstract

The water softening system according to the present invention includes a removal mode for removing at least a portion of ionic substances contained in supplied raw water based on electrical force and discharging soft water containing less ionic substances than the raw water; First and second filter units that selectively perform one of the regeneration modes for discharging ionic substances collected during the mode together with the supplied raw water and discharging regenerated water containing more ionic substances than the raw water; first and second supply passages provided to supply the raw water to the first and second filter units, respectively; first and second discharge passages provided to discharge the softened water or the regenerated water from the first and second filter units, respectively; a first recovery passage portion for guiding at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the first discharge passage to the second supply passage; and a second recovery passage portion for guiding at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the second discharge passage to the first supply passage.

Description

Water softening system {WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to water softening systems.

A soft water system is a system that produces soft water from raw water and supplies it to consumers. For example, in a PoE (Points of Entry) type soft water system, the consumer can be a home, and the soft water delivered to the consumer is then delivered to faucets, shower heads, etc. that require water use.

Filters that soften raw water by removing ionic substances from raw water cannot be used permanently, and even filters that can be used semi-permanently must be periodically regenerated to discharge the collected ionic substances in order to use them smoothly. do.

In an electric deionization system that deionizes raw water using electrical force, there is a limit to increasing the recovery rate. The recovery rate is the amount of soft water discharged divided by the amount of water input, and generally amounts to about 80%. If the amount of softened water is excessively increased to increase the recovery rate, ionic substances are not sufficiently removed from the raw water, resulting in low-quality soft water being discharged and poor water softening performance.

The present invention was devised to solve these problems and provides a water softening system with increased recovery rate.

The water softening system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a removal mode for removing at least a portion of ionic substances contained in supplied raw water based on electrical force and discharging soft water containing less ionic substances than the raw water; , first and second filter units that selectively perform one of the regeneration modes for discharging the ionic substances collected during the removal mode together with the supplied raw water and discharging regenerated water containing more ionic substances than the raw water. ; first and second supply passages provided to supply the raw water to the first and second filter units, respectively; first and second discharge passages provided to discharge the softened water or the regenerated water from the first and second filter units, respectively; a first recovery passage portion for guiding at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the first discharge passage to the second supply passage; a second recovery passage portion for guiding at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the second discharge passage to the first supply passage; and a processor electrically connected to the first and second filter units, wherein when the first filter unit performs the removal mode and the second filter unit performs the regeneration mode, the processor ; At least a portion of the reclaimed water discharged from the second filter unit through the second discharge passage is controlled to be supplied to the first supply passage through the second recovery passage.

Accordingly, the recovery rate of the softened water system can be increased.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a water softening system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of removing ionic substances in the CDI method.
Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of electrode regeneration in the CDI method.
Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a situation in which soft water is provided by controlling parallel filter units of a water softening system according to an embodiment of the present invention, while reclaimed water is drained.
Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a situation in which soft water is provided and reclaimed water is recovered by controlling filter units configured in parallel in a water softening system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a situation in which filter units configured in parallel in a water softening system according to another embodiment of the present invention are controlled to provide soft water while recovering and draining reclaimed water.

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 embodiments of the present invention, if detailed descriptions of related known configurations or functions are judged to impede understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the detailed descriptions will be omitted.

Additionally, in describing the components of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish the component from other components, and the nature, sequence, or order of the component is not limited by the term. When a component is described as being "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, that component may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but there is no need for another component between each component. It should be understood that may be “connected,” “combined,” or “connected.”

1 is a conceptual diagram of a water softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the water softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a filter unit 11 and 12, a supply passage 21 and 22, a discharge passage 31 and 32, and a recovery passage 50. Includes. The water softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes discharge valves 310 and 320, drain passages 41 and 42, drain valves 410 and 420, a water source passage 60, and a water source valve 600. It may further include a demand channel 70, a flow rate acquisition unit 80, and a processor (not shown).

Supply Euro(21, 22)

The supply flow passages 21 and 22 are passages provided to supply raw water to the filter units 11 and 12. A plurality of supply passages 21 and 22 may be formed and arranged in parallel. In one embodiment of the present invention, a total of two supply passages 21 and 22 are shown, and the first supply passage 21 and the second supply passage 22 are arranged in parallel, but the supply passages 21 and 22 )'s configuration is not limited to this.

Each supply flow path (21, 22) connects the water source and the filter units (11, 12), respectively. The first supply flow path 21 may be connected to the first filter unit 11, and the second supply flow path 22 may be connected to the second filter unit 12. The meaning of connection here includes cases of direct connection and cases of indirect connection through other components. Therefore, as shown, the water source and the supply passages 21 and 22 may be connected in such a way that each of the supply passages 21 and 22 is connected to and branched from the water source passage 60 connected to the water source. Each of the supply passages 21 and 22 may be formed in the shape of a hollow pipe body to deliver raw water containing at least one of water provided from a water source and reclaimed water to the filter units 11 and 12. A water source valve 600 is formed in the water source flow path 60 to determine whether to open or close the flow path.

First and second upstream recovery passages 51 and 52 included in the recovery passage portion 50, which will be described later, may be connected to the first and second supply passages 21 and 22, respectively. That is, the first supply passage 21 is connected to the second recovery passage portions 51, 54, 55 through the first upstream recovery passage 51, and the second supply passage 22 is connected to the second upstream recovery passage 52. ) can be connected to the first recovery passage portion (52, 53, 55).

Discharge flow path (31, 32)

The discharge passages 31 and 32 are passages provided to discharge soft water or reclaimed water from the filter units 11 and 12. Since the filter units 11 and 12 may be composed of two, the discharge passages 31 and 32 may also be composed of a corresponding number and connected to each other. That is, the first discharge passage 31 may be connected to the first filter unit 11, and the second discharge passage 32 may be connected to the second filter unit 12. In one embodiment of the present invention, a total of two discharge passages 31 and 32 are shown, and the first discharge passage 31 and the second discharge passage 32 are shown to be arranged in parallel. However, the discharge passages 31 and 32 are shown as being arranged in parallel. )'s configuration is not limited to this.

The discharge valves 310 and 320 are components disposed in each discharge passageway 31 and 32 to control the opening and closing of the discharge passageways 31 and 32. As the opening degree is adjusted, the discharge passageways 31 and 32 are opened and closed. It can be open or closed. When the discharge passages 31 and 32 are closed by the discharge valves 310 and 320, water is not delivered to the consumer through the closed discharge passages 31 and 32. When the discharge passages (31, 32) are opened by the discharge valves (310, 320), water is delivered to the consumer through the open discharge passages (31, 32) or through the drainage passages (41, 42), which will be described later. It can be discharged or recovered. Each of the discharge passages 31 and 32 may be formed in the shape of a hollow tube so that the water provided from the filter units 11 and 12 flows.

At least one of the discharge valves 310 and 320 may be controlled by the processor to remain open during operation of the water softening system 1. At this time, the discharge valves 310 and 320 that remain open may be discharge valves 310 and 320 disposed in the discharge passages 31 and 32 connected to the filter units 11 and 12 performing the removal mode. . Therefore, even while one of the filter units 11 and 12 is in the regeneration mode, the soft water discharged from the filter units 11 and 12 in the removal mode can be delivered to the consumer.

As shown, the demand source and the discharge flow path (31, 32) can be connected in such a way that each discharge flow path (31, 32) is connected and combined with the demand source flow path (70) connected to the demand source. A flow rate acquisition unit 80, which will be described later, may be placed in the demand channel 70.

Recovery flow department (50)

The recovery passage unit 50 is a component for recovering and providing the regeneration water discharged from the filter units 11 and 12 performing the regeneration mode to other filter units 11 and 12.

The recovery passage portion 50 may include first recovery passage portions 52, 53, and 55 and second recovery passage portions 51, 54, and 55. The first recovery passage portions 52, 53, and 55 are disposed to guide at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the first discharge passage 31 to the second supply passage 22, and the reclaimed water in the second discharge passage 32 is disposed. Second recovery passage portions 51, 54, and 55 may be disposed to guide at least a portion of the water to the first supply passage 21. To enable each operation, the first recovery passage portions 52, 53, and 55 may be connected to the first discharge passage 31 and the second supply passage 22, and the second recovery passage portions 51, 54, 55) may be connected to the second discharge passage 32 and the first supply passage 21.

The first recovery passage portions 52, 53, and 55 and the second recovery passage portions 51, 54, and 55 may share a common recovery passageway 55. The first recovery passage portions 52, 53, and 55 may include a first downstream recovery passage 53, a common recovery passage 55, and a second upstream recovery passage 52, and the second recovery passage portion 51 , 54, 55) may include a second downstream recovery passage 54, a common recovery passage 55, and a first upstream recovery passage 51.

The first upstream recovery passage 51 and the second upstream recovery passage 52 may connect the common recovery passage 55 to the first supply passage 21 and the second supply passage 22, respectively. The first downstream recovery passage 53 and the second downstream recovery passage 54 may connect the common recovery passage 55 to the first discharge passage 31 and the second discharge passage 32, respectively. Reclaimed water flows from each discharge passage (31, 32) into the common recovery passage (55) through the downstream recovery passages (53, 54) to each supply passage (21, 22) through the upstream recovery passages (51, 52). Recovery of reclaimed water can be achieved in a way that it is delivered to .

Various recovery valves may be disposed to open and close the recovery passage portion 50. Specifically, a first upstream recovery valve 510 and a second upstream recovery valve 520 may be disposed in the first upstream recovery passage 51 and the second upstream recovery passage 52, respectively. A first downstream recovery valve 530 and a second downstream recovery valve 540 may be disposed in the first downstream recovery passage 53 and the second downstream recovery passage 54, respectively.

The first downstream recovery valve 530 and the second downstream recovery valve 540 may be check valves that only allow flow from the first discharge passage 31 or the second discharge passage 32 to the common recovery passage 55. there is. The first downstream recovery valve 530 and the second downstream recovery valve 540 only allow water to flow into the common recovery passage 55, and conversely, water flows from the common recovery passage 55 to each discharge passage 31 and 32. Backflow can be blocked to prevent recycled water from flowing back into the filter units (11, 12) through the outlet ends of the filter units (11, 12) or from being discharged to the consumer through the discharge passages (31, 32). .

A pump 550 may be disposed in the recovery passage portion 50 to pump out reclaimed water. The pump 550 may be a constant flow pump 550 that pumps reclaimed water at a limit flow rate greater than the limit flow rate that can be discharged through any one of the first and second drain valves 410 and 420, which will be described later. The direction in which the pump 550 pumps water is from the discharge flow path (31, 32) side to the supply flow path (21, 22) side.

Filter units (11, 12)

The filter units 11 and 12 are components that remove ionic substances in raw water to create soft water. The filter units 11 and 12 are provided in the supply passages 21 and 22, respectively, and remove at least a portion of the ionic substances contained in the supplied raw water by electrical force, so that the water contains less ionic substances than the raw water. Soft water can be discharged. This operating state can be referred to as removal mode. The filter units 11 and 12 may discharge the ionic substances collected during the removal mode together with the supplied raw water, thereby discharging regenerated water containing more ionic substances than the raw water. This operating state can be referred to as a playback mode. The filter units 11 and 12 can selectively perform either removal mode or regeneration mode. The filter units 11 and 12 may be composed of a plurality, and in one embodiment of the present invention, two filter units 11 and 12 of the first and second filter units 11 and 12 are disposed. , its composition is not limited to this.

The filter units 11 and 12 may remove ionic substances using an electrical deionization method. 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 electrical force (electrophoresis).

Electrodeionization methods include electrodialysis (ED), electro deionization (EDI), continuous electro deionization (CEDI), and capacitive deionization (CDI). The ED type filter units 11 and 12 are provided with electrodes and an ion exchange membrane. And the EDI type filter units 11 and 12 are equipped with electrodes, an ion exchange membrane, and an ion exchange resin. In contrast, the CDI type filter units 11 and 12 do not include either an ion exchange membrane or an ion exchange resin, or do not include an ion exchange resin.

The filter units 11 and 12 according to an embodiment 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 2 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of removing ionic substances in the CDI method. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of electrode regeneration in the CDI method.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the removal mode and playback mode of the CDI method will be described. As shown in Figure 2, 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 units 11 and 12 remove ions (ionic substances) in the water passing through the filter units 11 and 12 through the electrode is called a 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. 3, 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 units 11 and 12 regenerate the electrodes is called a regeneration mode. Replay mode can be performed before or after removal mode.

Therefore, for this action, the filter units 11, 12 may comprise electrodes. The filter units 11 and 12 can selectively perform one of a removal mode in which ionic substances are removed by electrodeionization through an electrode and a regeneration mode in which the electrode is regenerated. Therefore, when raw water is supplied to the filter units 11 and 12, in the removal mode, at least some of the ionic substances in the raw water are removed to create soft water, which the filter units 11 and 12 discharge, and in the regeneration mode, the ions contained in the electrode are removed. By providing ionic substances to raw water, the filter units 11 and 12 can discharge water with an increased content of ionic substances.

As described above, the filter units (11, 12) are connected to the supply passages (21, 22) and the drainage passages (41, 42), receive water through the supply passages (21, 22), and drain the water passages (41, 22). 42), the treated water can be discharged. The filter units 11 and 12 may be provided with raw water containing at least one of water delivered from a water source and reclaimed water, and may remove ionic substances from the supplied raw water to generate and discharge soft water, or discharge ionic substances. Recycled water can be generated and discharged.

Drainage flow path (41, 42)

The drain passages 41 and 42 are components connected to the discharge passages 31 and 32 and drain the water in the discharge passages 31 and 32 to the outside. Accordingly, like the discharge passages 31 and 32, the drain passages 41 and 42 may also be formed in the form of a hollow tube to allow fluid to flow.

Drainage passages 41 and 42 may be disposed in each of the discharge passages 31 and 32. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, since the discharge passages 31 and 32 include the first discharge passage 31 and the second discharge passage 32, the drainage passages 41 and 42 also include the first discharge passage 41. ) and a second drainage passage 42, the first drainage passage 41 may be connected to the first discharge passage 31, and the second drainage passage 42 may be connected to the second discharge passage 32. there is.

Water that has passed through the filter units 11 and 12 may be discharged through the drain passages 41 and 42. In particular, when the filter units 11 and 12 are operating in a regeneration mode, the regenerated water discharged through the discharge passages 31 and 32 may be discharged to the outside through the discharge passages 41 and 42 and be discarded.

However, this water is not always discharged, and whether it is discharged and the amount of discharge can be controlled. Accordingly, drain valves 410 and 420 may be provided in the drain passages 41 and 42 to open and close the drain passages 41 and 42, respectively. In one embodiment of the present invention, since the drain passages 41 and 42 include the first drain passage 41 and the second drain passage 42, the first drain passage 41 has a first drain valve 410. , a second drain valve 420 may be disposed in the second drain passage 42.

The drain valves 410 and 420 may be constant flow valves provided to discharge water at a predetermined flow rate.

Flow rate acquisition unit (80)

The flow rate acquisition unit 80 is a component that acquires the flow rate of water delivered to the consumer, that is, the flow rate of water used by the user. The flow rate acquisition unit 80 is provided to obtain the total flow rate of soft water discharged by the first discharge passage 31 and the second discharge passage 32. Accordingly, the flow rate acquisition unit 80 is disposed in the demand destination flow path 70 and can obtain the flow rate of water passing through the demand destination flow path 70. The flow rate acquisition unit 80 can acquire the flow rate of water delivered to the demand destination using the Kalman vortex method, a method using the Doppler effect, etc., but the method of obtaining the flow rate is not limited to this.

The flow rate acquisition unit 80 is connected to the processor and transmits the obtained flow rate to the processor. The processor can control the opening and closing of each valve according to the received flow rate. Additionally, the processor can control the operation of the pump 550 based on the received flow rate and determine the operating status of the filter units 11 and 12.

processor

A processor is a component that includes elements capable of logical operations that perform control commands, and may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor is connected to components such as the filter units 11 and 12 and discharge valves 310 and 320, and can transmit signals according to control commands to each component, and is connected to various sensors or acquisition units to obtain signals. Information can be received in the form of signals. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the processor may be electrically connected to the valves, filter units 11 and 12, flow rate acquisition unit 80, and pump 550 included in the water softening system 1. Since the processor can be electrically connected to each component, it can communicate with each other by connecting with a conductive wire or by further having a communication module capable of wireless communication.

The training system 1 further includes a storage medium, so that control commands performed by the processor can be stored and utilized in the storage medium. The storage medium may be a device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), solid state drive (SSD), server, volatile media, or non-volatile media, but the type is not limited thereto. In addition, data needed by the processor to perform tasks may be stored in the storage medium.

The manner in which the processor controls the water softening system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a situation in which the filter units 11 and 12 configured in parallel in the water softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention are controlled to provide soft water and drain the reclaimed water. Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a situation in which soft water is provided and reclaimed water is recovered by controlling the filter units 11 and 12 configured in parallel in the water softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The description will be made assuming that the first filter unit 11 performs a removal mode and the second filter unit 12 performs a regeneration mode. However, this is for convenience of explanation, and the filter units 11 and 12 may operate in such a way that the first filter unit 11 performs the regeneration mode when the second filter unit 12 performs the removal mode. , at this time, the water flow and the operating state of the valve can also be changed to correspond, so that the water softening system (1) can operate.

As shown in FIG. 5, the processor causes at least a portion of the reclaimed water discharged from the second filter unit 12 through the second discharge passage 32 to enter the first supply passage through the second recovery passage portions 51, 54, and 55. 21) can be controlled to be supplied. The soft water discharged from the first filter unit 11 is discharged to the consumer through the first discharge passage 31, and the reclaimed water discharged from the second filter unit 12 to the second discharge passage 32 is discharged to the second recovery passage. It can be delivered to the first filter unit 11 along with water provided from a water source through the units 51, 54, and 55 and the first supply passage 21. Accordingly, the first filter unit 11 receives the recovered recycled water together with the water provided from the water source, removes ionic substances, and discharges soft water, thereby increasing the recovery rate.

To allow this water flow to occur, the processor controls the first discharge valve 310 and the first upstream recovery valve 510 to be opened and the second discharge valve 320 and the second upstream recovery valve 520 to be closed. You can. Additionally, the processor may control the first drain valve 410 and the second drain valve 420 to be closed so that no water is drained. The second discharge valve 320 and the second upstream recovery valve 520 are closed to prevent the reclaimed water from being delivered to the destination or re-introduced into the second filter unit 12.

The processor controls the regeneration water to be drained through the second drain passage 42 as shown in FIG. 4 for a predetermined time after the second filter unit 12 starts the regeneration mode, and from a predetermined time until the regeneration mode ends, As shown in 5, the reclaimed water can be controlled to be supplied to the first supply passage 21.

Initially, when the filter units 11 and 12 operate in the regeneration mode, a large amount of ionic substances contained in the filter units 11 and 12 are discharged together with water, so the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of the regeneration water is high. If it is too high, it may impair the quality of soft water if it is recovered and used for soft water. Therefore, the initially generated reclaimed water needs to be drained instead of recovered.

However, after a predetermined time has passed after the filter units 11 and 12 start operating in the regeneration mode, the TDS of the regeneration water becomes sufficiently low, so the regeneration water can be recovered and used for soft water. Therefore, after a certain period of time, drainage can be stopped and recovered, thereby increasing the recovery rate.

The above predetermined time may be the time from when the regeneration mode is executed to the time when the TDS of the regenerated water becomes less than 3 times the TDS of the water provided from the water source. In addition, the water softening system (1) of the present invention further includes a TDS acquisition unit (not shown) capable of acquiring TDS in each discharge flow path (31, 32) and further electrically connected to the processor, so that the obtained TDS is transferred from the water source. The processor may control each valve so that drainage occurs when the TDS of the water provided is more than 3 times, and recovery occurs when it is less than that.

In order for this water flow to occur, the processor opens the first discharge valve 310 and the second drain valve 420 so that the regeneration water is drained for a predetermined time after the second filter unit 12 starts the regeneration mode. The first and second upstream recovery valves 510 and 520 and the first drain valve 410 can be controlled to close. And the processor is configured to supply the first discharge water to the first supply passage 21 through the second recovery passage portions 51, 54, and 55 from a predetermined time after the second filter unit 12 starts the regeneration mode. The valve 310 and the first upstream recovery valve 510 are open, and the second discharge valve 320, the second upstream recovery valve 520, and the first and second drain valves 410 and 420 are closed. It can be controlled as much as possible. That is, to prevent recovery from occurring in the initial stage, the processor closes all of the first and second upstream recovery valves 510 and 520 and opens the second drain valve 420 to allow drainage.

The processor may control the pump 550 to operate when the flow rate of the soft water obtained by the flow rate acquisition unit 80 is greater than a predetermined critical flow rate, and to not operate when the flow rate of the soft water is less than the critical flow rate. Here, the critical flow rate may be greater than or equal to the critical flow rate when the pump 550 is a constant flow rate pump 550. When the pump 550 attempts to pump a flow rate higher than the flow rate of soft water that the user wants to use, water is not delivered directly from the water source to the first filter unit 11 performing the removal mode, but rather is delivered from the water source to the supply flow path 21. This is because all of the water provided to , 22) can be delivered to the second filter unit 12 and then converted into reclaimed water and delivered to the first filter unit 11 through the recovery passage unit 50. The processor may perform the above control so that the recycled water recovered from the water source is mixed while maintaining an appropriate ratio and provided to the first filter unit 11 to produce high-quality soft water.

The processor may control the pump 550 so that the amount of regenerated water provided to the first filter unit 11 is 30% to 40% of the amount of soft water discharged from the first filter unit 11. there is.

The drain valves 410 and 420 may be constant flow rate valves having a predetermined limit flow rate, and the pump 550 may be a constant flow rate pump 550 that pumps water at a flow rate greater than the predetermined limit flow rate. Therefore, by operating the pump 550, a flow rate greater than the flow rate that normally passes through the second filter unit 12 can pass through the second filter unit 12, and the TDS of the reclaimed water can be lowered and recovered. Since the TDS of the recovered recycled water is lowered, the quality of soft water generated through the first filter unit 11 can be improved while increasing the recovery rate.

The processor may perform reverse control of each valve and filter unit (11, 12). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, soft water is provided and regenerated water is drained, but contrary to FIG. 4, when the first filter unit 11 performs the regeneration mode and the second filter unit 12 performs the removal mode, the processor The second discharge valve 320 can be controlled to be open, and the first discharge valve 310, the first upstream recovery valve 510, and the second upstream recovery valve 520 can be controlled to be closed. Additionally, the processor may control the first drain valve 410 to be opened and the second drain valve 420 to be closed so that drainage is performed through the first drain passage 41. 5, when the first filter unit 11 performs the regeneration mode and the second filter unit 12 performs the removal mode, contrary to FIG. 5, the processor operates the second discharge valve 320 and The second upstream recovery valve 520 can be controlled to be open, and the first discharge valve 310 and the first upstream recovery valve 510 can be controlled to be closed. Additionally, the processor may control the first drain valve 410 and the second drain valve 420 to be closed so that no water is drained.

Other embodiments

Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a situation in which soft water is provided by controlling the parallel filter units 11 and 12 of the water softening system 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention, but reclaimed water is recovered and drained. The water softening system 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a first drain valve 410b, a second drain valve 420b, a first upstream recovery valve 510b, a second upstream recovery valve 520b, and a first upstream recovery valve 510b. 1 There are some differences from the water softening system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention in the downstream recovery valve 530b, the second downstream recovery valve 540b, and its control through the processor, and other parts are the same, so below The description of the water softening system 1 according to one embodiment applies to the water softening system 2 according to another embodiment, except for differences to be explained.

As shown in FIG. 6, the processor causes a portion of the reclaimed water discharged from the second filter unit 12 through the second discharge passage 32 to flow through the second recovery passage portions 51, 54, and 55 to the first supply passage 21. ) and the remaining part of the reclaimed water discharged through the second discharge passage 32 can be controlled to be drained through the second discharge passage 42. The soft water discharged from the first filter unit 11 is discharged to the consumer through the first discharge passage 31, and a portion of the reclaimed water discharged from the second filter unit 12 to the second discharge passage 32 is discharged to the second discharge passage 32. Reclaimed water can be delivered to the first filter unit 11 together with water provided from the water source through the recovery passage portions 51, 54, 55 and the first supply passage 21, and discharged to the second discharge passage 32. The remaining portion may be discarded through the second drain passage 42. That is, the reclaimed water discharged through the second discharge passage 32 is distributed to the second recovery passage portions 51, 54, and 55 and the second drainage passage 42, respectively.

To allow this water flow to occur, the processor may adjust the opening degrees of the first upstream recovery valve 510b and the second drain valve 420b so that they are at least partially open and not completely closed. Accordingly, a portion of the reclaimed water discharged to the second discharge passage 32 passes through the first upstream recovery valve 510b and is provided to the first filter unit 11, and the remaining portion is discharged through the second drain valve 420b. It can be. That is, the processor controls the opening degrees of the first upstream recovery valve 510b and the second drain valve 420b to control the recycled water discharged to the second recovery passage portions 51, 54, 55 and the second drainage passage 42, respectively. The flow rate can be adjusted. The processor may control the second discharge valve 320b and the second upstream recovery valve 520b to close, thereby preventing the reclaimed water from being delivered to the destination or re-introduced into the second filter unit 12.

To enable the above-described control by the processor, the opening degree of at least one of the first upstream recovery valve 510b, the second upstream recovery valve 520b, the first drain valve 410b, and the second drain valve 420b is adjusted. It may be a flow control valve capable of controlling the flow rate. A solenoid valve, etc. may be used as a flow control valve, but the type is not limited thereto.

Since the first downstream recovery valve 530b and the second downstream recovery valve 540b are also disposed in each recovery passage section, they may be check valves and valves capable of adjusting the flow rate through opening control. The processor can further adjust the flow rate of recovered reclaimed water by controlling the opening degrees of the first downstream recovery valve 530b and the second downstream recovery valve 540b.

At least one of the second upstream recovery valve 520b, the first downstream recovery valve 530b, and the first drain valve 410b may be a flow control valve. Through this, the water discharged through the first filter unit 11 can be distributed to the first drain passage 41 and the first recovery passage portions 51, 54, and 55.

At least one of the first upstream recovery valve 510b, the second downstream recovery valve 540b, and the second drain valve 420b may be a flow control valve. Through this, water discharged through the second filter unit 12 can be distributed to the second drain passage 42 and the second recovery passage portions 52, 53, and 55.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the processor may reverse the control of each valve and filter unit 11 and 12.

In the above, even though all the components constituting the embodiment of the present invention have been described as being combined or operated in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment. That is, as long as it is within the scope of the purpose of the present invention, all of the components may be operated by selectively combining one or more of them. In addition, terms such as “include,” “comprise,” or “have” described above mean that the corresponding component may be present, unless specifically stated to the contrary, and thus do not exclude other components. Rather, it should be interpreted as being able to include other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, have the same meaning as generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Commonly used terms, such as terms defined in a dictionary, should be interpreted as consistent with the contextual meaning of the related technology, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in the present invention.

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.

1, 2: Water softening system
11: first filter unit
12: second filter unit
21: 1st supply euro
22: Second supply flow path
31: first discharge passage
32: Second discharge passage
41: first drainage flow path
42: 2nd drainage channel
50: Recovery Euro Department
51: First upstream recovery channel
52: Second upstream recovery channel
53: 1st downstream recovery channel
54: Second downstream recovery channel
55: Common recovery path
60: Suwon Euro
70: Demand Euro
80: Flow acquisition unit
310: first discharge valve
320: second discharge valve
410, 410b: first drain valve
420, 420b: second drain valve
510, 510b: first upstream recovery valve
520, 520b: 2nd upstream recovery valve
530, 530b: first downstream recovery valve
540, 540b: Second downstream recovery valve
550: pump
600: water source valve

Claims (12)

A removal mode in which at least a portion of the ionic substances contained in the supplied raw water is removed based on electrical force to discharge soft water containing fewer ionic substances than the raw water, and the ionic substances collected during the removal mode are removed. First and second filter units that selectively perform one of the regeneration modes for discharging together with supplied raw water and discharging regenerated water containing more ionic substances than the raw water;
first and second supply passages provided to supply the raw water to the first and second filter units, respectively;
first and second discharge passages provided to discharge the softened water or the regenerated water from the first and second filter units, respectively;
a first recovery passage portion for guiding at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the first discharge passage to the second supply passage;
a second recovery passage portion for guiding at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the second discharge passage to the first supply passage;
a pump disposed in the second recovery passage section to pump out the reclaimed water;
a flow rate acquisition unit provided to obtain a total flow rate of soft water discharged by the first discharge flow path and the second discharge flow path; and
It includes a processor electrically connected to the first and second filter units, the pump, and the flow rate acquisition unit,
The processor;
When it is assumed that the first filter unit performs the removal mode and the second filter unit performs the regeneration mode, at least a portion of the regeneration water discharged from the second filter unit through the second discharge passage is the second filter unit. 2 Controlling supply to the first supply passage through the recovery passage,
A water softening system that controls the pump to operate when the flow rate of the soft water obtained by the flow rate acquisition unit is greater than a predetermined critical flow rate, and to not operate when the flow rate is less than the critical flow rate. delete According to paragraph 1,
first and second discharge valves respectively disposed in the first and second discharge passages to open and close the passages;
a first upstream recovery valve disposed in the second recovery passageway to open and close the flow path; and
It further includes a second upstream recovery valve disposed in the first recovery passageway to open and close the flow path,
The processor is further electrically connected to the first and second discharge valves and the first and second upstream recovery valves,
The processor opens the first discharge valve and the first upstream recovery valve so that reclaimed water is supplied from the second discharge passage to the first supply passage through the second recovery passage, and the second discharge valve and A water softening system wherein the second upstream recovery valve is controlled to be closed. According to paragraph 3,
first and second drain passages respectively connected to the first and second discharge passages to drain the reclaimed water; and
It further includes first and second drain valves respectively disposed in the first and second drain flow paths for opening and closing the flow paths,
The processor is further electrically connected to the first and second drain valves,
The processor is configured to supply a portion of the reclaimed water from the second discharge passage to the first supply passage through the second recovery passage, and to drain the remaining portion of the reclaimed water from the second discharge passage through the second discharge passage. , the first discharge valve is opened, the second discharge valve and the second upstream recovery valve are closed, and the first upstream recovery valve and the second drainage valve are controlled to be at least partially open. According to paragraph 1,
It further includes first and second drain passages respectively connected to the first and second discharge passages to drain the reclaimed water,
The processor:
Controlling the regeneration water to drain through the second drain passage for a predetermined period of time after the second filter unit starts the regeneration mode,
A water softening system that controls the regeneration water to be supplied to the first supply flow path from the predetermined time until the regeneration mode ends. A removal mode in which at least a portion of the ionic substances contained in the supplied raw water is removed based on electrical force to discharge soft water containing fewer ionic substances than the raw water, and the ionic substances collected during the removal mode are removed. First and second filter units that selectively perform one of the regeneration modes for discharging together with supplied raw water and discharging regenerated water containing more ionic substances than the raw water;
first and second supply passages provided to supply the raw water to the first and second filter units, respectively;
first and second discharge passages provided to discharge the softened water or the regenerated water from the first and second filter units, respectively;
a first recovery passage portion for guiding at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the first discharge passage to the second supply passage;
a second recovery passage portion for guiding at least a portion of the reclaimed water in the second discharge passage to the first supply passage;
first and second drain passages respectively connected to the first and second discharge passages to drain the reclaimed water;
first and second drain valves respectively disposed in the first and second drain flow paths to open and close the flow paths;
first and second discharge valves respectively disposed in the first and second discharge passages to open and close the passages;
a first upstream recovery valve disposed in the second recovery passageway to open and close the flow path; and
It includes a second upstream recovery valve disposed in the first recovery passageway to open and close the passage,
a processor electrically connected to the first and second filter units, the first and second drain valves, the first and second discharge valves, and the first and second upstream recovery valves;
The processor:
When it is assumed that the first filter unit performs the removal mode and the second filter unit performs the regeneration mode, at least a portion of the regeneration water discharged from the second filter unit through the second discharge passage is the second filter unit. 2 Controlling supply to the first supply passage through the recovery passage,
The first discharge valve and the first upstream recovery valve are opened so that reclaimed water is supplied from the second discharge passage to the first supply passage through the second recovery passage portion, and the second discharge valve and the second upstream recovery valve are opened. The recovery valve is controlled to close,
A portion of the reclaimed water is supplied from the second discharge passage to the first supply passage through the second recovery passage, and the remaining portion of the reclaimed water is drained from the second discharge passage through the second discharge passage. The discharge valve is opened, the second discharge valve and the second upstream recovery valve are closed, and the first upstream recovery valve and the second drainage valve are controlled to be at least partially open,
The first discharge valve and the second drain valve are opened so that the regeneration water is drained for a predetermined period of time after the second filter unit starts the regeneration mode, the first and second upstream recovery valves, and the first The drain valve is controlled to close,
After a predetermined time after the second filter unit starts the regeneration mode, the first discharge valve and the first upstream recovery valve are opened so that the regeneration water is supplied to the first supply passage through the second recovery passage. , wherein the second discharge valve, the second upstream recovery valve, and the first and second drain valves are controlled to be closed. delete delete According to paragraph 1,
first and second drain passages respectively connected to the first and second discharge passages to drain the reclaimed water; and
It further includes first and second drain valves, which are constant flow rate valves, respectively disposed in the first and second drain flow paths for opening and closing the flow paths,
The pump is a constant flow pump that pumps reclaimed water at a flow rate greater than the limit flow rate that can be discharged through the second drain valve. According to paragraph 1,
The processor controls the pump so that the amount of reclaimed water provided to the first filter unit is 30% to 40% of the amount of soft water discharged from the first filter unit. According to paragraph 1,
The first recovery passageway and the second recovery passageway share a common recovery passageway,
The first recovery passage portion includes a first downstream recovery passage connecting the common recovery passage and the first discharge passage,
The second recovery passage portion includes a second downstream recovery passage connecting the common recovery passage and the second discharge passage,
First and second downstream recovery valves respectively disposed in the first and second downstream recovery passages are provided to allow only flow from the first discharge passage or the second discharge passage to the common recovery passage. Including, water softening system. According to paragraph 1,
The filter unit is a water softening system that 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.

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