Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/48—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage with magnetic or electric fields

Definitions

• the beneficial effects of treating water with a magnetic field (physical water treatment) for the purpose of scale reduction are well known.
• the magnetic field can be estab- lished e.g. by means of an electromagnet generating a static or alternating magnetic field or one or more permanent mag ⁇ nets made e.g. of a ceramic or ferromagnetic material such as iron generating a static magnetic field, or, alternatively, by several permanent magnets generating a field of static or alternating polarity.
• other methods of water treatment e.g. use of electrostatic or galvanic forces, electrolysis or catalysis have been employed for the purpose.
• the present invention is based upon the finding that a number of physical parameters should be carefully selected in order to obtain an optimum effect of the physical water treatment.
• the alteration of the electrical charge of the water par ⁇ ticles (the "Zeta" potential) is an important factor.
• the form of the magnetic gap (the magnetic field geometry)
• the strength of the magnetic gap field the water flow rate through the magnetic gap field and the electromotive force are of consi ⁇ deration and should be carefully selected.
• the present invention relates to a method of treating water, said method comprising passing a water flow through a gap or space defined between opposite magnetic poles of opposite polarity at a flow rate of 1 to 5 m/sec, the water flow through the magnetic field being substantially perpendicular to the magnetic field vector, maintaining a magnetic field strength of at least 6000 Gauss in the gap or space.
• the magnetic field could alternatively be measured in Tesla, i.e. the magnetic field should then be at least about 0.6T.
• the water flow rate is more than 3 m/sec, such as about 4 m/sec.
• One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of physical water treatment comprising treating the water with an induced electromotive force generated in the magnetic gap or space in the range of 0.15 V to 2.0 V, such as 0.15 V to 0.70 V.
• the form of the magnetic gap (the magnetic field geometry) is of consideration.
• the gap or space is annular.
• the gap or space may be defined between opposite poles of the same magnetic body comprising one or more adjacent magnets.
• the magnet or magnets is/are preferab ⁇ ly permanent magnets.
• the magnetic field should preferably be coaxial and of a con ⁇ siderable length in order to ensure an appropriate electro ⁇ motive force.
• the electromotive force can be varied by appropriate adjustment of the magnet gap.
• the magnet gap is adjustable. This can be accomplished e.g. as described in Fig. 2 or, alternative ⁇ ly, by means of e.g.
• the magnetic gap is not adjustable and the water flow through the gap and the thus induced electromotive force is adjusted by other means as will be described later.
• the amount of a specific salt such as calcium car ⁇ bonate to be dissolved in water until equilibrium is reached will always depend on temperature, pressure, pH and some of the other salts present in the water.
• a specific salt such as calcium car ⁇ bonate to be dissolved in water until equilibrium is reached
• the ability of the water to keep salts in solution is re ⁇ symbolized.
• the water molecules will orientate them ⁇ selves into a big sphere surrounding each ion making a so- called water complex with each ion.
• a super ⁇ saturated solution e.g.
• a calcium carbonate solution is run through a physical water treatment device, the salt is cry ⁇ stallized as microscopic particles in the water phase (e.g. calcium carbonate crystals) , and the water molecules are released from the ion complexes. This crystallization takes place in the solution itself.
• This phenomenon is due to the fact that when a water ion complex passes the magnetic gap, there will be a paralleling force acting upon each water molecule due to electric dipolemoment of the water molecule itself which makes all water molecules orientate themselves parallel to each other. As a result, the electric insulating sphere is gone and positive and negative ions will be exposed to each other.
• a strong field of e.g. 6000 Gauss it will be possible to treat a large amount of water molecules.
• the surface tension of the water is reduced imme ⁇ diately after treatment in the physical water treatment device; this effect is gradually reduced during the following minutes.
• the present invention thus comprises a method according to the invention wherein the water flow is passed from a water tank through the gap or space from which it is reintroduced into the tank, untreated water being sup ⁇ plied to the tank and treated water to be used being with ⁇ drawn from the tank.
• the untreated water is supplied through an inlet at the bottom of the tank, and the treated water to be used is withdrawn from the tank through an outlet at the top of the tank.
• a rebounding baffle or deflector may be located inside the tank in proximity to the inlet.
• the tank is preferably corrosion protected inside by coating or is made of stainless steel.
• the water tank is dimensioned in order to ensure that it is possible by means of recirculation through the device always to have a sufficient supply of recently treated water, and a pump ensures that a sufficient amount of water is passed through and treated in the water treatment device and thus that a constant supply of treated water which is larger than the consumption is always available also at peak consumption periods. It has been established that there is an induction time of about 2 sec in the physical water treatment device. The beneficial effects of the water treatment last for a period of at least 4 hours. In order to ensure that the water passing out from the system has been treated recently, it is preferred that the treatment is continuous.
• the connecting means to the tank from the physical water treatment device and to the tank from the existing water distributing system in the building should be adapted in an analogous way to ensure that essentially all water passes through the physical water treatment device.
• the dimensions of the physical water treatment device should be carefully selected in order to ensure a sufficient water supply for e.g. agricultural or horticultural production or for use in ships, or in municipal water works, industrial, office or domestic buildings including hotels, institutions e.g. hospitals, recreations homes, day care institutions and homes for elderly or mentally deficient children or adults.
• Within the scope of the present invention is thus a method of reducing the amount of chemical cleansing agent or agents used for cleaning milking utensils by at least 10% such as 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% of the previously used amount. It is contemplated that it may even be possible to reduce the amount to a further degree, that is to use only 10%, 20%, 30% or 40% of the previously used amount of chemical cleansing agent or agents, and it may even prove possible to totally omit the use of chemical cleansing agents.
• the reduction of the use of chemical clean ⁇ sing agent or agents has economical as well as environmental advantages, such as less wear of the utensils e.g.
• the present invention thus relates to the use of water treated by the method of the invention for agricultural production e.g. watering of animals.
• a method for increasing milk production in a non-human mammal such as a cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, camel, lama, deer, horse, pig or a fur-bearing animal comprising watering the mammal and, optio ⁇ nally, further cleaning utensils used for milking the non- human mammal, with water treated by the method of the inven ⁇ tion.
• the present invention relates to a method for increasing fertility and/or improving health performance in a non-human animal comprising watering the animal with water treated by the method of the invention.
• Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method for increasing egg production comprising watering an egg-laying animal with water treated by the method of the invention. It is also contemplated that this treatment may lead to in- creased hardness of the eggshells.
• a further aspect of the invention is a method for optimizing feed conversion and/or accelerating weight gain in a non- human animal comprising watering the animal with water treated by the method of the invention.
• the non-human animal may e.g. be selected from the group consisting of birds, such as broilers, layers, cocks, turkeys and geese, mammals such as cows, goat, sheep, buffalo, camel, lama, deer, horse, pig and fur-bearing mammals, and cold-blooded animals such as fish.
• a further aspect of the invention relates to a method for reducing the formation of algae in water supply systems such as a fish tank or pond by treating the water continuously through a device of the invention.
• the invention relates to the use of water treated by the method of the invention for horticul ⁇ tural production e.g. irrigation.
• horticul ⁇ tural production e.g. irrigation.
• Recent results have demon- strated that larger crops, improved quality of crops, size, shape, sugar level and greener leaves may be expected pro ⁇ bably due to better root formation and better health condi ⁇ tions, as well as accumulated improvement in harvest for the same farming season and longer producing season. It has been found that the quantity of fertilizers can be reduced, and reduction of blockages in the piping and feed head, due to cleaner pipes, may also be expected.
• the present invention thus relates to a method for increasing crop production yield and/or quality comprising watering the agricultural field with water treated by the method of the invention.
• the crop may e.g. be selected from the group con ⁇ sisting of grain such as wheat, oat, barley, rye, rice and maize, fruit such as apple, pear, strawberry, raspberry, white currant, black currant, plum, cherry, lemon, orange, date and melons, vegetables such as potato, tomato, salad, cucumber, cabbage, carrot, onion, beet and turnips, oil crops such as radula, trees, grass and flowers.
• the invention relates to a method for increasing grass growth rate and quality comprising watering the grass field e.g. a golf course or lawn with water treated by the method of the invention and to a method for increasing growth speed and quantity of flowers comprising watering the flowering field with water treated by the method of the invention.
• the invention further relates to an apparatus for use in the above methods.
• the invention relates to an apparatus for use in carrying out a method according to the invention, said apparatus comprising a water treating device having opposite magnetic poles of opposite polarity defining therebetween a gap or space so as to generate a magnetic field of at least 6000 Gauss in the gap or space and means for passing a flow of water through the gap or space at a flow rate of 1 to 5 m/sec.
• a water treating device is illustrated in Fig. 2. This embodiment may be modi ⁇ fied in various respects.
• One embodiment of the invention comprises an apparatus as described above further comprising a water tank, means for supplying untreated water into the tank, means for passing water from the tank through said gap or space so as to treat the water and for returning the treated water to the tank, and means for withdrawing water to be used from the tank, the tank optionally being supplied with a water rebounding plate located inside the tank in proximity to the means for supply ⁇ ing untreated water into the tank.
• the water treating device is arranged in a water circulating conduit having its opposite ends communicating with the water tank, the circulating conduit further comprising a pumping device and means for controlling the water flow through the conduit.
• the means for controlling the water flow through the conduit may comprise an adjustable flow-controlling valve which makes it possible after appropriate measurement(s) to adjust the water flow rate very precisely in order to ensure that an optimum flow rate is obtained taking into account e.g. the water consump- tion, the dimensions of the pipes and the capacity of the pumping device.
• Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical perspective view showing an annu- lar magnetic gap
• Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a water treat ⁇ ing device
• Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a water treating system or apparatus according to the invention.
• Fig. 1 illustrates the relationship between an axial flow w of water, radially directed magnetic field strength vectors B and the induced voltage v in a magnetic field gap 11 defined between a central pole 14 and an annular outer pole 15 of opposite polarity 15.
• the induced voltage V corresponds to an electromotive force E.
• an electro ⁇ motive force is induced having a direction perpendicular to the direction of the water flow w as well as to the direction of the magnetic field vectors B. Therefore, electric field vectors tangential to the annular gap 11, vide Fig. 1, are induced.
• the induced electromotive force E can be calculated by means of Faradays law as follows:
• L is the mean length of the annular magnetic gap
• v is the velocity of the water flow w
• B is the magnetic field density
• the treatment force F acting upon each electrical charge (ions, dipoles, charged particles) inside the magnetic field, is expressed by the Lorentz force:
• B is the magnetic field density
• q represents the electrical charge
• v is the velocity of this electrical charge
• o is the angle between the direction of the magnetic field B and the direction of velocity v.
• Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an apparatus in which a flow of water may be exposed to a strong magnetic field.
• the appara ⁇ tus comprises a housing of plastics or other non-magnetic material, in the form of a cylindrical cup 1, the axis of which extends substantially at right angles to an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 of the housing.
• the inlet 2 communicates with a central opening in the bottom of the cup 1, while the outlet 3 is in communication with an excentric opening in the bottom of the cup.
• an annu ⁇ lar permanent magnet 4 is provided which has radially orien ⁇ ted lower and upper pole shoes 5 and 6.
• a substan ⁇ tially cylindrical cup member 7 of ferro-magnetic material is provided.
• This cup member 7 is in conductive connection with the lower pole shoe 5, the lower open end of the cup member 7 is in communication with the inlet, and the walls and option ⁇ ally even the bottom of the cup member are slotted or apertu- red at 8 to permit passage of liquid.
• a cap 9 is provided at the upper closed end of the cup member 7 having a radially extending collar 10 which through the cup member 7 is in magnetic communication with the lower pole shoe 5 and which together with the upper pole shoe 6 forms a magnetic field gap 11 through which the liquid flows after having passed through the slots or apertures 8 in the cup member 7. From the said gap 11 the liquid flows on the outside of the perma- nent magnet 4 to the outlet 3.
• the housing cup 1 is closed at the upper end by means of a lid or cap 12, e.g. a screw cap.
• the cup member 7 and the cap 9 with the collar 10 are made in two separate parts to permit the removal of the cap and col ⁇ lar unit for cleaning of the surfaces of the magnetic field gap.
• Fig. 3 illustrates a water treating system comprising a water tank 16, to which untreated water may be supplied via an inlet conduit 17, and from which treated water may be with ⁇ drawn via an outlet conduit 18.
• a water treating device 19 is arranged in a water circulating conduit 20 having its oppo ⁇ site ends 21 and 22, respectively, communicating with the water tank 16. Water may be circulated from the tank through the circulating conduit by means of a pumping device 22, and the water flow rate through the conduit 20 may maintain a predetermined value by means of an adjustable and preferably measurable flow restricting valve 23.
• water from the tank 16 is constantly circulated through the conduit 20 and the treating device 19 and the valve 23 arranged therein by means of the pumping device 22. Thereby it is secured that almost all of the water contained in the tank 16 has been magnetically treated at least once and within a predetermined maximum time period.
• Treated water to be used may be withdrawn from the tank 16 through the out ⁇ let conduit 18 and water withdrawn is replaced by untreated water flowing into the tank through the inlet conduit 17.
• the outlet conduit 18 is connected to the tank 16 at the upper end thereof while the inlet conduit is connected to the bottom part of the tank. Furthermore, water flowing into the tank via the inlet conduit 17 comes into contact with a re- bounding baffle or deflector plate 24 to prevent untreated water from flowing directly into the upper part of the tank 16. This means that untreated water is preferably contained in the lower part of the tank while the upper part of the tank to which the outlet conduit 18 is connected substan- tially exclusively contains water which has been treated within a predetermined time period, such as within 4 hours.

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8104083

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (2)

Citations (5)

• 1993
  • 1993-12-07 DK DK136793A patent/DK136793D0/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1994
  • 1994-12-02 AU AU10332/95A patent/AU1033295A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-12-02 WO PCT/IB1994/000386 patent/WO1995015922A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events