KR20050008344A - Electrodeionization water purifier system operated by intermittent regeneration process, and the method for controlling intermittent regeneration - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an electrodeionization water purifier system operated by an intermittent regeneration process, which is able to simplify constitution of the system by allowing an ion exchanger to be intermittently regenerated by a measurement means, and a method for controlling the intermittent regeneration thereof. CONSTITUTION: Between a pre-treatment carbon filter (12) and a post-treatment carbon filter (14), an electrodeionization module (13) is installed. A measurement means (200) is equipped between the electrodeionization module and the post-treatment carbon filter and determines a periodic regeneration time of an ion exchanger based on conditions of accumulated value that is measured by the measurement means to allow the ion exchanger to be intermittently regenerated.

Description

Electrodeionization water purifier system operated by intermittent regeneration process, and the method for controlling intermittent regeneration}

The present invention relates to a water purification system having an electric deionization module, and more particularly, to a system in which regeneration is intermittently performed for the purpose of minimizing the module size, securing the flow rate, and ease of application of the product, instead of simultaneously purifying water and regeneration. In particular, the present invention relates to an electric deionized water purification system operated in an intermittent regeneration system having a function of automatically cleaning an ion exchange membrane and an electrode, and an intermittent regeneration control method thereof.

Recently, due to the development of the industrial society, the pollution of the natural environment such as water pollution and soil pollution is increasing, and the raw water is purified and distributed.In addition, the water purifier is widely used to clean water as drinking water by purifying tap water in each household. It is a trend that is spreading.

In general, a water purifier is a device for purifying by disinfecting foreign substances or various contaminants remaining in tap water, and there are various types of filters in the water purifier to remove contaminants, heavy metals, bacteria, etc. contained in the supplied raw water. In recent years, water purifiers using membrane filters, activated carbon filters, hollow fiber membrane filters, carbon filters, and the like have been used.

On the other hand, the present applicant has already applied for a water purifier using an electric deionization module in the domestic patent application No. 2003-34667 (2003.5.30 application), the disclosure is as follows.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a water purification system having an electric deionization module shown in the above known art, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an operating state of internal components of the electric deionization module of FIG. 1. .

As shown, the water purifier provided with such an electric deionization module includes a plurality of filters such as a precipitation filter 11, a pretreatment carbon filter 12, an electric deionization module 13, a post treatment carbon filter 14, and the like. To remove heavy metals or impurities contained in the raw water, and the ion exchanger (140, see Fig. 2) is filled in the electric deionization module 13, the concentrated water generated after the regeneration of the ion exchanger (140) The drain pipe (13a) is provided at the lower end of the electric deionization module 13 to discharge the outside.

In addition, the electric deionization module 13 is disposed spaced apart from the electrode 120 between the body 110, a pair of electrodes 120 installed inside the body 110, and the electrodes 120. It consists of a pair of ion exchange membrane 130 and the ion exchanger 140 is filled between the ion exchange membrane 130, the ions contained in the raw water is adsorbed to the ion exchanger 140 and then the electrode 120 By the current generated in the ion through the ion exchange membrane 130, the ion exchanger 140 is regenerated at the same time as the purified water. That is, the water purified while passing through the electric deionization module 13 is supplied to the user after passing through the aftertreatment carbon filter 14, and at the same time, the ions adsorbed to the ion exchanger inside the electric deionization module are the electrodes. The ion exchanger is regenerated by penetrating the ion exchange membrane by the current generated in. Here, reference numerals 125 and 135, which are not described, denote concentration chambers and dilution chambers.

By the way, the most widely used membrane filter has been able to obtain purified water at the level of TDS of raw water less than about 2, but raw water conditions and operating conditions are special, resulting in performance fluctuations, small purified water flow, pH of purified water, wastewater generation, etc. There is a problem.

In addition, when the electric deionization module of FIG. 1 is applied in place of the membrane filter, excellent water purification performance can be expected. However, since regeneration occurs simultaneously with water purification, when the TDS of the raw water is high or a high amount of water purification is required, Increasing size or the necessity of several layers of modules has disadvantages in terms of manufacturing and price.

In addition, in a water purification system in which current is applied every time water purification is performed and regeneration is performed at the same time, there is a problem that the life of the electrode may be shortened because the use degree of the electrode increases and the consumption rate of the electrode increases. In particular, as the current is applied more frequently, a lot of scale or fouling occurs in the ion exchange membrane of the water purifier, and accordingly, there is another problem of frequently replacing the ion exchange membrane.

In particular, the concentration chamber 125 between the electrode 120 and the ion exchange membrane 130 may inhabit the microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, bacteria, etc. due to the supply of contaminated raw water, in this case to remove the microorganisms There was another problem that there was no clear measure.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in order to secure raw water conditions, flow rates, and operating conditions, the regeneration of the ion exchanger does not operate at the same time as the purified water, but by applying a current to the electrode according to a predetermined condition. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric deionization water purification system and an intermittent regeneration control method which are operated in an intermittent regeneration manner so that regeneration of the electric deionization module occurs intermittently.

In addition, the present invention is to control the regeneration of the electric deionization module intermittently by adjusting the total dissolved solids (hereinafter referred to as 'TDS'), purified water operation time, purified water flow rate of purified water, ion exchange, In addition to improving the capacity and performance of the sieve, the deionized filter module can be compactly designed even when a high-purity water purifier is required, and can be implemented as a single layer module instead of a multi-layer module. Another object of the present invention is to provide a water purification system having an electric deionization module which is operated by an electric furnace and an intermittent regeneration control method thereof.

In particular, the present invention minimizes the consumption rate of the electrode used in the regeneration water purification system which is intermittently applied to the current, and maximizes the lifetime of the electrode even when a high flow water purification system is required, while providing the ion exchange membrane inside the electric deionization module. It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric deionization water purification system and an intermittent regeneration control method which operate in an intermittent regeneration method that minimizes scale and fouling, and automatically has an automatic cleaning function of an ion exchange membrane.

In addition, in the concentration chamber 125 between the electrode 120 and the ion exchange membrane 130, an electric deionized water purification system operated by an intermittent regeneration method that can fundamentally block the reproduction of microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, bacteria, and the like. Another object is to provide an intermittent playback control method.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a water purification system having a conventional electric deionization module.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the operating states of the internal components of the electrical deionization module of FIG.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a water purification system having an electric deionization module capable of intermittent regeneration according to the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the operating states of the internal components of the electrical deionization module of FIG.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an intermittent regeneration control method of a water purification system having an electric deionization module according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

13: electric deion module 110: body

120 electrode 125 concentration chamber

130: ion exchange membrane 135: dilution chamber

140: ion exchanger 145: drain pipe

151: sensor 152: automatic valve

200: measuring means 300: fibrous activated carbon

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention is filled between the body, a pair of electrodes installed inside the body, a pair of ion exchange membranes spaced apart from the electrode between the electrodes and the ion exchange membrane In a water purification system having an electric deionization module including an ion exchanger, the purified water is purified by an ion exchanger filled therein at the time of water purification, and after the predetermined period of water purification operation occurs, the ion Further comprising at least one measuring means for indicating the regeneration time of the exchanger, when the cumulative value measured by the measuring means reaches a set value current is applied to the electrode inside the electrical deionization module so that the ion exchanger It is characterized in that the configuration can be simplified by reproducing intermittently.

The measuring means may optionally include one or more of a flow meter, a timer, or a TDS measuring instrument, wherein the cumulative value is a cumulative integer flow rate, a purified water operation time or a total dissolved solids.

Fibrous activated carbon is further provided between the electrode and the ion exchange membrane, and the fibrous activated carbon makes electricity and heat generated from the electrode well when electricity is applied to the electrode, and microorganisms and the like penetrate and exist in the module. It is characterized by performing organic decomposition and sterilization functions by radicals generated by electricity and heat and electric force.

The electric deion module is provided with a drain pipe so as to discharge the concentrated water generated after the regeneration to the outside, the drain pipe is a sensor for detecting the concentration of the concentrated water, and if the concentration detected by the sensor is more than a certain concentration outside the concentrated water It is characterized in that the automatic valve is discharged automatically.

In addition, the intermittent regeneration control method according to the present invention comprises the steps of supplying the raw water is supplied to the dilution chamber between the ion exchange membrane inside the electric deion module after various impurities are removed while passing through the settling filter, pretreatment carbon filter; Ions contained in the raw water supplied to the electric deionization module are once caught in the ion exchanger filled in the dilution chamber, and only clean water is supplied to the outside; Thereafter, applying an electric current to the electrode according to a predetermined condition sensed by the measuring means, the ions adsorbed on the ion exchanger passes through the ion exchange membrane and moves to the concentration chamber, thereby intermittently regenerating the ion exchanger.

The condition is characterized in that the regeneration cycle of the ion exchanger is determined intermittently by selectively adjusting the water accumulation flow rate of purified water, water purification operation time, total dissolved solids.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the water purification system having an electric deionization module according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a water purification system having an electric deionization module capable of intermittent regeneration according to the present invention, Figure 4 schematically shows the operating state of the internal components of the electrical deionization module of FIG. One cross section. Here, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as the conventional components, and the new components will be described with the new reference numerals, and detailed description of the same components will be omitted.

As shown, the present invention includes an electric deionization module 13 between the pretreatment carbon filter 12 and the aftertreatment carbon filter 14, and the electric deionization module 13 and the aftertreatment carbon filter 14. The measuring means 200 is provided between the plurality of measuring means 200 to determine the periodic regeneration time according to a predetermined condition of the cumulative value measured by the measuring means 200 to regenerate the ion exchanger 140 intermittently. That is, the regeneration process is not performed simultaneously with the water purification process but is intermittently performed according to a predetermined condition requiring reproduction.

First, the electric deionization module 13 has a body 110, the body 110 is divided into three sections, the (+), (-) electrode 120 is disposed on both inner sides, An ion exchange membrane 130 is installed at a predetermined interval in the inward direction of the electrode 120, and the ion exchanger 140 is filled between the ion exchange membranes 130, and raw water is supplied to the ion exchanger 140. Is introduced into the space between the ion exchange membrane 130 and the electrode 120 from the raw water is concentrated and discharged out (see Fig. 2). At this time, the electrode 120 used is a platinum plated on the titanium base or SUS material is mainly used.

In addition, between the electrode 120 and the ion exchange membrane 130, two concentrated chambers 125 through which concentrated water containing heavy metals pass, respectively, are formed, and between the ion exchange membrane 130 contained in the supplied raw water. A dilution chamber 135 is formed in which ions are diluted. At this time, the ion exchanger 140 is a cation exchanger and an anion exchanger is mixed in a predetermined ratio, when the ratio of the cation exchanger / anion exchanger is approximately 0.5-1.5, the regeneration efficiency of the ion exchanger 140 is the most Experimented with good.

On the other hand, the water purifying system by applying a current to the electrode 120 to measure the regeneration time of the ion exchanger 140, the measuring means 200 is an electric deionization module 13 and the post-process carbon filter 14 The ion exchanger 140 is provided in a pipe connecting the electric current to the electrode 120 inside the electric deionization module 13 according to the condition of the total accumulated value detected by the measuring means 200. Intermittently. Here, those skilled in the art will be able to perform various modifications to the installation position of the measuring means 200, and after receiving the value measured by the measuring means 200 to calculate the total cumulative value It is obvious to include a controller (not shown) which controls the regeneration process to occur only when the cumulative value satisfies a predetermined condition.

Such measuring means 200 includes a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of purified water, a timer for measuring the water purification operation time, a TDS measuring instrument for measuring total dissolved solids (hereinafter referred to as 'TDS') of purified water, or Many are optionally used.

First, when the measuring means 200 is a flow meter for measuring the total cumulative flow rate of purified water, when the total cumulative flow rate of the purified water measured by the flow meter is a predetermined amount or more to the electrode 120 inside the electric deionization module 13 By applying a current to operate the electric deionization module 13, the intermittent regeneration of the ion exchanger 140 is made.

In addition, when the measuring means 200 is a timer for measuring the time, the timer measures the operating time of the water purification system, when the measured operating time is a predetermined time or more by applying a current to the electrode 120 to ion The exchange 140 is intermittently regenerated.

Similarly, the measuring means 200 is a TDS measuring device for measuring the TDS of the purified water, and when the total TDS measured by the TDS measuring device is a certain amount or more by applying a current to the electrode 120 intermittently the ion exchanger 140 Play with

Preferably, the electric deionization module 13 has a drain pipe 145 communicating with the concentration chamber 125 at a lower end thereof, and the drain pipe 145 is concentrated with a sensor 151 for detecting the concentration of the concentrated water. It is further provided with an automatic valve 152 for discharging the water to the outside. That is, a drain pipe 145 is provided at the lower end of the electric deionization module 13 so as to communicate with the concentration chamber 125, and a sensor 151 and an automatic valve 152 are installed in the middle of the drain pipe 145. When the concentration of the concentrated water in the concentration chamber 125 is above a certain concentration, the concentrated water is discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 145 by the automatic valve 152. Here, it is obvious that the concentrated water can be discharged to the outside by a manual valve.

Therefore, the supplied raw water passes through the settling filter 11 and the pretreatment carbon filter 12 to remove various impurities, and then the dilution chamber 135 between the ion exchange membrane 130 inside the electric deionization module 13. Supplied. That is, the ions contained in the raw water supplied to the electric deionization module 13 are introduced into the dilution chamber 135 to be caught in the ion exchanger 140 to perform a water purification process, after which the aftertreatment carbon filter 14 After passing through, clean purified water is supplied to the outside. Therefore, the supplied raw water is introduced into the electric deionization module 13 to repeat the process of making purified water by the ion exchanger 140.

Thereafter, the purified water is deteriorated by the ions adsorbed to the ion exchanger 140, the TDS of purified water is increased, the total purified water exceeds a certain amount of purified water, or the total cumulative time of purified water exceeds a certain time, that is, measurement Regeneration of the ion exchanger 140 is intermittently by applying a current to the electrode 120 only when the total cumulative value sensed by the means 200 satisfies a predetermined condition requiring a regeneration process. In particular, by adjusting the amount of the ion exchanger 140 filled in the electric deionization module 13, the flow rate can be increased to obtain a high flow rate of purified water.

In this regeneration process, ions generated by the ion exchange process are concentrated in the concentration chamber 125 between the electrode 120 and the ion exchange membrane 130, and the electrical resistance is lowered by the ions of the ion exchanger 140. It can reduce power consumption during playback.

Preferably, the concentrated chamber 125 between the electrode 120 and the ion exchange membrane 130 is embedded with a fibrous activated carbon (Active Carbon Fiber, 300), a fiber made by carbonizing organic fibers in the form of a nonwoven fabric or a block. When electricity is applied, the electricity or heat generated from the electrode 120 is well communicated, and if microorganisms or the like penetrate and exist in the module, organic matter is decomposed and sterilized by radicals generated by electricity and heat or electric force. It will perform the function. Here, those skilled in the art of the present invention may be modified in various forms so that the fibrous activated carbon 300 may be formed inside the concentration chamber as well as the nonwoven fabric to perform organic material decomposition and sterilization functions. As an example of the fibrous activated carbon, carbon fiber as well as carbon nanotubes having stronger electric conductivity and organic decomposition and sterilization power may be applied.

In addition, by having an automatic cleaning function of the ion exchange membrane 130, when the concentration of the concentrated water is more than a predetermined concentration so that the cleaning of the ion exchange membrane 130 and the electrode 120 is automatically detected and detected by the sensor 151 The concentrated water is automatically discharged to the outside by the valve 152.

That is, in the automatic washing process of the ion exchange membrane 130, the sensor 151 detects the concentration of the concentrated water of the concentration chamber 125, and discharges the concentrated water to the outside by the automatic valve 152 when the concentration is above a certain concentration. Although not shown additionally, the automatic valve 152 may be opened to allow the concentrated water to be discharged to the outside even when the discharge flow rate is over a certain amount or the operation time of the electric deionization module 13 exceeds a predetermined time. Of course, the opening condition of the automatic valve 152 may be set by the user at the optimum opening conditions according to various experimental conditions.

As a result, the regeneration does not occur simultaneously with the purified water, but the regeneration process of the ion exchanger 140 inside the electric deionization module 13 is intermittently performed according to a predetermined condition in order to secure raw water conditions or flow rate. Since the capacity and performance of the present invention is remarkably improved, even when a high flow water purification system is required, the module structure of the single-layer structure can be realized by removing the module of the conventional multilayer structure, thereby making the size of the electric deionization module compact.

In addition, in the case of the water purification system, since the ion exchanger is intermittently regenerated, the use degree of the electrode 120 is significantly reduced, and the consumption rate of the electrode 120 is reduced, thereby increasing the life of the electrode 120. . In particular, when the current is intermittently applied, the scale or fouling occurs significantly less in the ion exchange membrane 130 of the water purification system, and thus the replacement time of the ion exchange membrane 130 is extended. There is this.

On the other hand, Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating an intermittent regeneration control method of a water purification system having an electric deionization module according to the present invention.

First, in the water purification process, raw water is supplied (S1), and the supplied raw water passes through the precipitation filter 11 and the pretreatment carbon filter 12 mounted in the water purification system, and various impurities are removed, followed by an electric deionization module ( 13) it is supplied to the dilution chamber 135 between the ion exchange membrane 130 inside (S2). Next, the ions contained in the raw water supplied to the electric deionization module 13 are adsorbed to the ion exchanger 140 filled between the ion exchange membranes 130 (S3), and only clean water is supplied to the outside.

Thereafter, according to a predetermined condition of the cumulative value measured by the measuring means 200 (S4, S4 ', S4 ″), it is determined whether the condition is satisfied (S5) and the current is applied to the electrode 120 only when the condition is satisfied. (S6), the ions adsorbed to the ion exchanger 140 in accordance with the application of current is passed through the ion exchange membrane 130 and moved to the concentration chamber 125 (S7) to intermittently the ion exchanger 140 (S8).

Therefore, in the water purification system provided with the electric deionization module 13, the regeneration method is intermittently regenerated according to a predetermined condition (S4, S4 ', S4 ") rather than simultaneously with the purification of the purified water.

That is, after the predetermined amount of purified water is used to determine the regeneration period intermittently, periodically regenerating according to the purified water amount (S4), or periodically using the purified water system for a predetermined time when determining the regeneration period intermittently (S4 '). In the intermittent determination of the regeneration cycle, the purification of the ion exchanger is carried out when the water-side electrical conductivity or the total dissolved solids is measured and is above a certain concentration (S4 ″).

As a result, the filled ion exchanger 140 is capable of producing purified water without special regeneration while the ion exchange capacity remains, so that regeneration is intermittently performed according to the above-described constant conditions without simultaneously purifying the purified water and regeneration. You can do it.

In the water purification system having the electric deionization module according to the present invention as described above, the regeneration of the ion exchanger is not operated at the same time as the water purification, but the regeneration process of the electric deionization module is intermittently by applying a current to the electrode according to a predetermined condition. In this case, the optimum raw water condition, flow rate and operating conditions can be ensured.

In addition, the present invention by controlling the total dissolved solids of purified water, purified water operation time, purified water accumulation flow rate, etc. to control the regeneration of the electric deionization module intermittently, the capacity and performance of the ion exchanger is improved, while Even if a water purification system is required, the size of the deionized filter module can be designed compactly, and there is another effect that can be implemented as a single layer module instead of a multi-layer module.

In particular, the present invention minimizes scale or fouling on the ion exchange membrane inside the electric deionization module while maximizing the life of the electrode even when a high flow water purification system is required, and automatically performs the automatic cleaning function of the ion exchange membrane. Eggplant has another effect.

In addition, a fibrous activated carbon is provided in the concentration chamber between the electrode and the ion exchange membrane to fundamentally block propagation of microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, bacteria, and the like contained in the concentrated water by radicals generated by electricity, heat, and electric force. At the same time, there is another effect of decomposing organic matter.

In the above, the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may vary without departing from the spirit of the technical idea of the present invention described in the claims below. It may be changed.

Claims (6)

An electric deionization module comprising a body, a pair of electrodes installed inside the body, a pair of ion exchange membranes spaced apart from the electrode between the electrodes, and an ion exchanger filled between the ion exchange membranes. In the water purification system provided with The purified water is purified by an ion exchanger filled therein, and further includes one or more measuring means for indicating the regeneration time of the ion exchanger after a predetermined period of water purification operation occurs. When the cumulative value measured by the current reaches the set value, the current is applied to the electrode inside the electric deionization module to allow the ion exchanger to be intermittently regenerated, thereby simplifying the configuration. Electric deionized water purification system. The method of claim 1, The measuring means optionally includes at least one of a flow meter, a timer or a TDS measuring instrument, wherein the cumulative value is an electric deionization operated in an intermittent regenerative manner, wherein the cumulative value is a measurement of purified water flow rate, purified water operation time or total dissolved solids. Water purification system. The method of claim 1, The electric deion module is provided with a drain pipe so as to discharge the concentrated water generated after the regeneration to the outside, the drain pipe is a sensor for detecting the concentration of the concentrated water, and if the concentration detected by the sensor is more than a certain concentration outside the concentrated water Electric deionized water purification system is operated by the intermittent regeneration method characterized in that the automatic valve is discharged automatically. The method of claim 1, Fibrous activated carbon is further provided between the electrode and the ion exchange membrane, and the fibrous activated carbon makes electricity and heat generated from the electrode well when electricity is applied to the electrode, and microorganisms and the like penetrate and exist in the module. An electric deionized water purification system operated by an intermittent regeneration method characterized in that organic matter decomposition and sterilization functions are performed by radicals generated by electricity, heat, and electric force. Supplying raw water to the dilution chamber between the ion exchange membranes inside the electric deion module after removing various impurities while passing through the precipitation filter and the pretreatment carbon filter; Ions contained in the raw water supplied to the electric deionization module are once caught in the ion exchanger filled in the dilution chamber, and only clean water is supplied to the outside; Thereafter, electric deionization includes regenerating the ion exchanger by intermittently regenerating the ion exchanger by applying a current to the electrode according to a predetermined condition sensed by the measuring means and allowing the ions adsorbed on the ion exchanger to pass through the ion exchange membrane to the concentration chamber. An intermittent regeneration control method for a water purification system having a module. The method of claim 5, The above conditions are intermittent in a water purification system having an electric deionization module, which is configured to selectively determine the regeneration cycle of the ion exchanger by selectively adjusting the accumulated water flow rate of purified water, the water purification operation time, and the total dissolved solids. Regeneration control method.