WO1997046493A1

WO1997046493A1 - A method and a device for the purification of fluids

Info

Publication number: WO1997046493A1
Application number: PCT/NO1997/000137
Authority: WO
Inventors: Svein Stornes
Original assignee: Rc Enwa A/S
Priority date: 1996-06-07
Filing date: 1997-06-02
Publication date: 1997-12-11
Also published as: DE69709111T2; DK0912451T3; ATE210610T1; PT912451E; HUP0003167A2; PL188965B1; US6322705B1; EP0912451A1; ES2170397T3; CA2256451A1; EP0912451B1; PL330290A1; DE69709111D1; NO303968B1; AU3195097A; HUP0003167A3; CA2256451C; NO962428D0

Abstract

A method and a plant for purification and other treatment of circulating water in water-based heating/cooling plants, district heating plants etc. The water is lead into the upper area of a tank (10) containing a 'stack of layers' comprising material layers (44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) of granulated filtration materials and chemical reaction materials, in which the densities of the layers increase by the layer downwards, whereby treated water is let out at the lower area of the tank (10) and is returned to the water-based plant. The individual granulated materials of such a stack of layers may be washed clean of sludge and corrosion particles etc. by directing a water flow in the upward direction from the bottom of the tank (10). The individual granulated filtration/reaction materials as the backwashing is finished will settle - because of their mutually differing density values - into their respective layers (44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) at the original levels.

Description

A METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR THE PURIFICATION OF FLUIDS

The present invention relates to a method and a device for the purification of fluids, especially water, which is part of, among other things, closed and open water- based heating and cooling plants, ice water plants, district heating plants, heat recovery plants, open cooling towers, etc., by preferably continuous partial flow filtration. The method and fluid purification device according to the invention also include the purification of new fluid for the water-based heating/cooling plant etc. , before supplying or recharging into the plant in question, and also the purification of filtering media and possibly other media which are comprised by the fluid filtration device.

The knowledge of water treatment is a highly specialized science, in which the effort, in Norway, has been concentrated mainly on securing the intake and transport of consumption water to the consumers. The requirements to quality and properties of water have until the last 5-6 years been connected to medical conditions, including the use of chlorine to inactivate harmful bacteria, micro organisms etc. Only in the recent years parameters like alkalinity, calcium content and pH have been thought to be of major importance. Norway is one of the few European countries in which so-called surface water is used, that is water from open resources like dams, tarns, brooks, inland water, lakes or similar. This water type is very poor in dissolved minerals, metals and salts. The water type has a low electric conductivity, normal pH value of 4- 6, i.e. acid surplus, and is characterized as soft, i.e. almost without any calcium and magnesium. These are water properties clearly distinguishing surface water from the properties of groundwater which, among other things, is richer in minerals.

As carrier of energy, carrier of thermal energy - heat or cold carrier - water has a series ^>f properties making it unique in the field of chemistry.

As known, water can be found in three different phases: as ice, in the form of liquid and in the form of gas (as vapour) . In the liquid state no other liquid has a greater ability and capacity of absorbing, retaining and emitting thermal energy.

In the earliest centrally heated heating plants there was no use of centrifugal pumps, the introduction of which reduced the installation investments, which made central heating and water-based energy transfer more easily available to a considerably larger amount of consumers than before.

A number of serious problems have been encountered in water-based heating plants, cooling towers etc. In countries having water sources based on ground water sedimentation problems quickly developed in closed heating systems, which resulted in a great increase in the consumption of energy. Internal sedimentation from ground water mainly consists of lime (calcium) and magnesium, which is kept dissolved in the water as long as the content of aggressive carbonic acid is sufficient. However, this carbonic acid content is reduced as the ground water is being pumped to the surface, and by heating, whereby the lime and the magnesium passes from the dissolved to the solid state, followed by sedimentation on the hottest surfaces. Such sedimentation results in greatly reduced heat transfer capacity in for example the boiler of a heating plant, which may have serious consequences: increased energy consumption to operate the plant, possible production interruptions, and a risk of destruction of material and accidents among the staff.

These sedimentation/deposit problems were sought to be solved by reducing the pH value to thereby keep said minerals in the dissolved state. However, this required the use of very low pH values, so that in stead substantial acidic corrosion problems arose.

However, the introduction of phosphorus compounds very effectively solved the sedimentation problems by keeping calcium and magnesium in the dissolved state in a wide temperature range, without introducing other problems such as deposits or corrosion in the plant. The use of these phosphorus compounds quickly became so commonly used that, also in countries having surface water of low pH value, these additives were added uncritically to water for heating/cooling plants, without the water first being submitted to a detailed examination or chemical analysis to prove the need for such additives. A conventional heating/cooling plant etc. has an outer piping circuit which together with the plant form a closed loop and in which a circulation pump is connected in a well known manner. A partial flow of the water circulating in the heating/cooling plant and in the outer circuit, is drawn from the circuit at a bleeding point in the pipe circuit, and is lead through a further pipe, having an in-line shut-off valve, to a filtration housing containing a filter mass for mechanical filtration of the water, which thereafter, possibly together with recharge water, is returned to the circuit through a return pipe with a control valve. The filter mass in the filtration housing must be replaced frequently. The filtration effect is not very satisfactory, both in terms of quality and quantity.

The present invention presents respectively an improved filtration method and filtration device for qualitatively and quantitatively satisfactory water treatment in connection with water-based heating/cooling plants etc. , among others of the initially mentioned kind and similar kind, and in which the properties of the water after treatment/filtration and the heating/cooling plant components exposed to the treated/filtered water, distinguish themselves by: eliminated/minimized corrosion including galvanic corrosion; sludge, corrosion particles and other corrosion products being removed by filtration from the circulating amount of water (by partial flow filtration, known in itself) ; any aggressive carbonic acid present being eliminated. This results in, among other things, the following technical advantages: The efficiency of the open/closed water-based heating/cooling plants is optimized; the effect of control valves is optimized; the water circulation increases and circulation pumps meet less resistance. For surface water two parameters are analyzed; pH value and alkalinity. The values obtained are inserted into a diagram to decide whether the water will corrode steel, iron and stainless steel. From this diagram (curve) may be read, which values will have to be altered to avoid corrosion of iron. Another diagram shows the pH-related aggressive properties of the water towards copper. The two diagrams indicate that pH-values between 8,6 and 9,5 should be aimed at, to reduce the aggressiveness of the water towards the above metals. A third diagram shows simple ways of removing/reducing the solid particle content of the water. Experience by users at more than 100 plants have provided sensational results. By selecting suitable filters, considerable amounts of solid mass were removed through filtration.

However, there is a need for a complete solution to water treatment/filtration at said cooling/heating plants etc. ; comprising:

i) Chemical alteration of the aggressive properties of the water towards the metals being part of the components in water-based heating, cooling, heat recovery and ice water plants;

ii) Separation of the solid particle content of the water, i.e. sludge, such as corrosion, graphite from steel pipes, oxides, welding slag and any precipitated organic material;

iii) Pre-treatment of dilution water.

In accordance with the present invention, as "filtering device" has been provided a reactor tank made of a chemically passive material, which may withstand pressure occurring in water-based plants, for example of 0 - 12 bar. The dimensions of the tank have been accurately adapted to the chemical reactions which are necessary to deactivate the water, and to achieve optimum separation of particle matter. The reactor tank may for example exhibit the following internal measurements: diameter 25,4 cm x height 132 cm, corresponding to a volume of 66 litres. Of course, these dimensions constitute a non-limiting example.

The reactor tank, which may have a four-gate manual control valve arranged thereto, for, among other things, the continuous supply of a partial flow of water included as a thermal energy carrier in a cooling/heating plant, is provided, at the top, with a fill opening for the filling up/replenishing with

"reaction mass". The reactor tank is filled, in one embodiment, with layers (mainly horizontal layers) , from top to bottom, of fine filtration sand, granulated magnesium oxide, granulated calcium carbonate, coarse filtration sand, porcelain isolators, glass spheres or spheres of other chemically indifferent material (as the bottom layer) .

The upper layer consists of chemically neutral granulate in which the filtration mass has a grain size from 0,6 to 1,2 mm. The mass consists of a chemically neutral silicide/aluminium compound. Each filter particle has a highly irregular surface, which means correspondingly great adsorptive power, as the grade of filtration in a typical case will be down towards a size of 20 μm. This grade is required to enable filtration of the most commonly occurring corrosion and sludge particles. The density of the filter mass is very low. The second layer from the top consists of granulated magnesium oxide, and the layer immediately below consists of granulated calcium carbonate. Then follows a layer of "coarse" filtration sand, grain size 1-3 mm, and next a lowermost layer but one, consisting of hollow porcelain thimbles, for example of the same type as is used as electric isolators for example for heating conductors, and the lowermost layer in the reactor suitably consists of spherical, smooth glass balls, in a typical case of a diameter of 10-15 mm.

"Raw water" and recharge water is lead into the top of the reactor tank, and possible sediments (particles of grain size > 20-30 μm, for example corrosion particles) form in the top layer in the form of the first filter layer. Density: 1,12 kg/litre.

Then, water flowing downward in the upright reactor tank, gets into contact with the underlying, uppermost but one, filter layer, i.e. the second filter layer (the chemically active layer of granulated magnesium oxide, density of 1,34 kg/litre) , in which the pH value is upgraded according to the following chemical reaction:

MgO + H₂0 — Mg₂₊ + 2 OH - (OH- increases the pH value) .

Then the water gets into contact with the next underlying filter layer, i.e. the third filter layer, serving as "after-polishing" to the second filter layer, that means, causes a further increase of the pH value in case the time of contact was insufficient in the above, second filter layer. As mentioned, the third filter layer consists of granulated calcium carbonate, for example in the form of crushed marble (CaC0₃) .

Here the following chemical reaction takes place:

CO₂ + H₂O — H₂CO₃ (Water which has been exposed to air, always contains some carbon dioxide, whereby carbonic acid is formed, a weak acid which can dissolve calcium carbonate.)

CaC0₃ + H₂CO₃ = Ca++ + 2HC0₃ - (HCO₃ increases the pH)

The density of the filter mass of the third filter layer is 1,48 kg/litre.

The coarse filter sand of the fourth layer (from the top) in the reactor tank only serves as a support layer and isolates chemically active filter mass of the above layer from the chemically inactive filter masses of the two underlying layers, the fifth and the sixth layers. The density of the coarse filtration sand or similar material is 1,55 kg/litre.

The lowermost layer but one, and the lowermost layer, corresponding to the fifth and the sixth layers, consist respectively of for example hollow porcelain thimbles and glass spheres. Both these layers of chemically indifferent materials are intended to create chemically neutral surroundings for a zinc electrode, described below, and both these layers have a higher density than the materials of the other layers; density of porcelain: 1,82 kg/litre, density of glass balls: 2,30 kg/litre,

Further aims, advantages and features of the method and device according to the invention, are explained in detail in the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which

Figs. 1 - 3 show the same circuit diagram of the reactor tank connected in a pipe system provided with valves, and with one branch connected to an outer circulation circuit having a circulation pump for a water-based plant, in which the reactor tank of said pipe system has a control valve in the form of a four- way valve arranged thereto,

Fig. 1 showing the system in a state, in which dilution water is supplied to the reactor tank for the water- based plant;

Fig. 2 showing the system during ordinary operation;

Fig. 3 showing the system during backwashing of filtration and reaction media; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic vertical cross section of the upright reactor tank, showing the different layers and immediately adjacent, associated equipment, among other things pipe couplings, said four-way valve, etc.

The at any time water-conveying pipelines are drawn in full-drawn lines as opposed to the at the same time not water-conveying pipelines, whose mutual connectability through valves will clearly appear from the following especial description.

Referring first to Fig. 1 showing the plant in the state, which is adopted by, among other things, the pipeline connections on filling up and/or replenishing the heating/cooling plant with water via the filtration and reaction device in the form of an upright tank which is designated by the reference numeral 10, shown on a larger scale and in closer detail in Fig. 4, and which will be described later.

A water-based plant 12 is shown in the form of a dotted-line block, and has, in a manner known in itself, an outer pipeline circuit 14 which, together with the plant 12, form a closed water circulation loop. In the outer circuit 14 is connected a circulation pump 16, the flow direction of the water being indicated by arrows in the outer circuit 14.

Between the water-based plant 12, 14 and the filtration and reaction device 10 extend various pipeline sections which may be connected, disconnected, shut off, opened etc. by means of valves.

A first pipeline section 18a leads from the upper portion of the reactor tank partly to a four-way valve 20 and partly to a drain 22 for water in the upper part of the reactor tank 10 via a second pipeline section 18b, in which a shut-off valve 24 is shut in the case according to Fig. 1. Through the four-way valve 20 the first pipeline section 18a communicates with a third pipeline section 18c, which at a point 26 may be connected to either a fourth pipeline section 18d, which is shut here by means of a shut-off valve 28, but which is connected to the outer circuit 14 of the water-based plant 12, or to a fifth pipeline section 18e which in the case according to Fig. 1 has an open shut-off valve 30, and which is connected to a source of dilution water.

A sixth pipeline section 18f connected to the lower portion of the reactor tank, leads partly to the four- way valve 20 and partly, via a seventh pipeline section 18g having a closed shut-off valve 32, to a drain 34 for water in the lower area of the reactor tank 10.

Via the four-way valve 20 the sixth pipeline section 18f is in liquid communication with an eighth pipeline section 18h, which is provided with a regulating valve 36 and is connected to the outer circulation circuit 14 of the water-based plant 12.

The water-conveying pipelines according to Fig. 1 are thus formed, on the one hand, by the sixth and the eighth pipeline sections 18f, I8h, in which the flow direction of the water, indicated by arrows in broad lines, representing these connected, water-conveying pipeline sections, is from the reactor tank 10 to the water-based plant 12, upstream of the circulation pump 16 in the outer circulation circuit 14, and, on the other hand, by the first, third and fifth pipeline sections 18a, 18c and 18e whose water flow direction is from said water source (not shown) to the upper area of the reactor tank.

The regulating valve 36 in the pipeline section 18h shall in the state of the system according to Fig. 1 be adjusted as during ordinary operation. In the fourth pipeline section 18d there is, besides the shut-off valve 28, connected a check valve 38. The valve 28 shall normally effect a shut-off during the filling up/replenishing with untreated "raw water". The check valve 38 thus serves as an extra guard against untreated raw water being filled directly into the water-based plant 12, 14.

For filling up and replenishing the water-based plant 12, 14, water from a hot water supply is preferably used, so as to minimize the oxygen content, but, of course, cold water supply may be used instead. The pipeline sections conveying untreated raw water are according to Fig. 1: 18e, 18c and 18a. This raw water passes the shut-off valve 30 which has the function of a fill cock. By a water meter 40 arranged to the pipeline section 18c the amount of water passing the valve 30 may be observed. Untreated raw water from the pipeline section 18c is lead into the four-gate control valve 20 of the filtration and reaction device 10, in which the gates a and b on the one side, and c and d on the other side are connected. On its way into the upper portion of the reactor tank 10 the raw water passes a first pressure gauge 42 in the first pipeline section 18a, and this indicates the input pressure on the filtration and reaction tank.

At this stage of the water treatment/filtration process, reference is made to Fig. 4, which shows a vertical cross-section through the reactor tank 10 and its individual layers placed on top of each other, comprising, mentioned from the top: an upper mechanical filtration layer 44 of fine filtration sand, and a next thereto underlying pH-upgrading layer 46 of granulated magnesium oxide, a possible next underlying pH- upgrading layer 48 of granulated calcium carbonate, and a next thereto underlying mechanical filtration layer 50 which primarily serves to separate the chemically active layers 46, 48 from the two lowermost layers 52 and 54 of chemically inactive substances, porcelain thimbles and glass balls, respectively. For all six layers a detailed description as to grain sizes, sizes, densities etc. has been given earlier. Likewise, it has been described and explained what the water, under treatment, is subjected to, in terms of mechanical filtration (particularly in the uppermost layer of fine sand 44) and chemical action in the layers 46 and 48, particularly by increasing the pH value. At the top the reactor tank 10 has an upwards open neck portion 10' with a cap in the form of a so-called top-screw 56 for filling up/replenishing with reaction mass (in the layers 46 and 48) .

The water-flow direction in the reactor tank 10 is from the top downwards in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, see arrows. The water treatment process itself in the reactor tank 10 takes place "downstream", as solid particles deposit in particular in the layer 44, but also in the layers 50, 52 and 54, pH value and alkalinity being regulated by passing through the chemically active layers 46 and 48 before the treated water passes a corrosion indicator 58 whose corrosion electrode 60 is placed in the lower end of the reactor tank 10 itself.

The treated water passes a second pressure gauge 62 in the pipeline section 18f which leads from the bottom of the tank 10 to gate d of the control valve 20 and out through gate c to the pipeline section 18h, which is connected, via the regulating valve 36, to the water- based plant 12, 14, upstream of the centrifugal pump 16. For a reactor tank of an external diameter of 25,4 cm and a total height of 134 cm, the regulating valve 36 should be adjusted corresponding to a water supply rate of approx. 12 litres/min. In typical applications this gives an approximate time of contact between raw water and water filtration/treatment media of about 5 minutes, which has proved to yield highly satisfactory results. Larger amounts of water per time unit may easily be obtained by increasing the physical dimensions of the filtration and reaction device.

Here, reference is made to fig. 2, which illustrates treatment of the water of the water-based plant during normal operation of the plant.

The filtration and reaction device according to the invention, as well as the procedure for the treatment of water, according to the invention, are based on an at all times (normal operation) continuous treatment of a percentage of the total amount of water circulating in the water-based plant (normally the plants shall be adjusted to 10 - 15 % of the yield of the circulation pump 16) .

Water which is part of the water-based plant 12, 14, and which is to be treated in the filtration and reaction tank 10, is drawn as a partial flow, in a manner known in itself, by opening the shut-off valve 28 in the pipeline section 18d, and passes the water meter 40 before entering gate b of the four-gate, three-position control valve 20, which is now connected by manual operation of control valve 20 to the first pipeline section 18a, which by way of the first pressure gauge 42 leads to the upper portion of the reactor tank 10, in exactly the same way and with the same water direction from the top downwards as in the treatment of raw water according to Fig. 1 Used water from the water-based plant 12, 14, which is continuously being lead, in the form of a partial flow, to the upper area of the reactor tank 10, and successively flows through the filtration layers and chemical reaction layers therein, is subjected to the following filtration/chemical effect: In the top layer 44 (fine sand) solid particles, corrosion, graphite sludge etc. down to 20 μm are removed by filtration, while the two underlying layers, containing respectively granulated magnesium oxide and granulated calcium carbonate, increase pH and alkalinity to "non- aggressive" values. This water treatment process is visualized through the corrosion indicator mounted on the filtration and reaction tank (10), see Fig. 4.

According to Fig. 2 the treated water flows into gate d of the four-gate control valve 20, which gate d is now connected, by manually operating control valve 20, to gate c, from where the treated water passes through the pipeline section 18h to the water-based plant 12 ,14 via the regulating valve 36, at which the water flow portion for the filtration and reaction device is preset at 10-15 % of that of the circulation pump. Theoretically, such a setting will effect a filtration and treatment of the total water volume 2,4 times per 24 hours. The main task of the pressure gauges 42, 62 is to indicate the working pressure of the filtration and reaction device and to indicate head loss. When, after a certain time of operation, depending on the amounts of sludge in the water-based plant, head loss readings exceeding for example values corresponding to a water column of 5 metres are observed, it is time to wash the reaction media in the tank 10 clean of accumulated contaminating materials. This washing operation takes place in the opposite direction of the water treatment process itself. In this connection reference is made to Fig. 3, which illustrates the filtering and reaction device during this backwash operation.

In known water treatment devices for water-based heating/cooling plants of various kinds, are normally used filter cartridges containing a straining web, a membrane or spun filter material. When the filter material must be discarded, after having been used for some time, the filter cartridges must be replaced.

According to the invention, as opposed to such disposable filter cartridges, is used an accurately balanced combination of granulated mass, in which the mass having the lowest density is placed at the top in the form of a filtration layer 44, after which, in a downward direction, follow the two chemically active layers 46, 48 and the layers 50, 52, and finally is used a distributing/supporting layer 54 downmost in the tank 10, which layer 54 consists of said smooth, spherical glass balls of a density much higher than those of the materials in the layers above.

The object of this mutual arrangement of the individual layers 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54 in the reactor tank 10 has been, among other things, to enable washing clean the filter materials (upper layer 44) as well as the reaction media (second layer 46 from the top and the immediately underlying layer 48) of the reactor tank 10 to remove accumulated sludge and corrosion particles, other contaminating particles and so on. The reactor tank 10 receives untreated raw water from the so-called "dilution water supply" introduced at the bottom of the tank 10, see Fig. 3, where the pipeline sections 18e, 18c and 18f are connected through shutting the shut-off valve 28 and manually connecting gate b to gate d. The water flow direction (from below/upwards) in the tank 10 is indicated by an arrow.

Untreated raw water passes the water fill cock 30 and then flows via the water meter 40 into gate b of the control valve 20, which gate b is manually connected with gate d for the inflow to the lower area of the reaction tank 10 through pipeline section 18f in which is interposed the second pressure gauge 62.

At this moment the shut-off valve 24 is opened, which valve 24 serves as a drain valve in the second pipeline section 18b which is connected to the first pipeline section 18a, communicating with the top area in the reactor tank 10, and in which the first pressure gauge 42 is connected. At the same time as the valve 24 is opened, the amount of water is observed at the water meter 40 and the adjustable drain valve 24 is adjusted until the prescribed amount of wash water per time unit is achieved.

This amount of wash water per time unit is related to the individual reactor tank embodiments and particularly to their physical dimensions. For an embodiment having the dimensions 24,5 x 127 cm the amount of wash water per time unit should be adjusted to a minimum of 35 litres/minute, a maximum of 45 litres/minute. Normal time for this sequence, the wash sequence, is 5 minutes, but by extraordinarily great amounts of sludge collected in the reactor tank 10, it may come into question to somewhat prolong the wash time. On implementing this washing, the shut-off valve 28 is shut in the pipeline section 18d which is connected to the water-based plant 12,14 through the check valve 38. The reduction/regulating valve 36 is shut, see Fig. 3.

This washing process, which in the reactor tank 10 takes place from the bottom/upwards, has three functions:

(i) To wash out sludge accumulated in the filtration layers and reaction media layers.

(ii) To cause a 20-30 % expansion of the media of the three top layers 44, 46, 48, so that these are "fluidized" within the tank 10, and when the washing is finished, settle in the "stack of layers" according to their densities. This function is important since it might otherwise be found that filter grains from material belonging to the upper layer 44 would follow the water flow (Fig. 2) downwards in the tank 10 during ordinary operation, and something similar might occur for the media in the second layer 46 from the top and the next underlying layer 48. These chemically active media will in time dissolve in the water in the tank 10, and the grain size will then be reduced. Experiments with a transparent tank 10 have proved highly satisfactory results of this function; (iii) To wash the corrosion electrode 60, Fig. 4, clean of any oxidation or other deposit working as isolation between the electrode 60 and the water under treatment.

According to Fig. 4 the corrosion electrode 60 is earthed through an electric cable 64 with an in-line milliampere meter 66 and an earthing clamp 68 attached to the tank material. The corrosion indicator 58 which is provided with a potentiometer 70, serves to prove the wanted chemical processes, i.e. to make it possible to check if the water is aggressive or not aggressive through measuring reduction-oxidation-reactions. By monitoring head loss by means of the pressure gauges 42, 62 it may be observed when washing of foreign matter collected in the filter and reaction media, causing the head loss, should be implemented. This function may possibly be automated.

Filling up/replenishing with reaction masses of the kind constituting the second layer 46 from the top in the embodiment in Fig. 4, and the next underlying layer 48, in time dissolving in the water in the tank 10, is done via the top opening of the tank 10 at the end of the neck portion 10' , which is normally covered and closed by a top screw 56. In Fig. 4, 72 designates the water inlet of the four-gate control valve 20, while 74 designates the outlet for treated water.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Method for the purification of fluids, especially water and in particular water which is included as thermal energy carrier in among other things closed and open water-based heating and cooling plants, ice water plants, district heating plants, heat recovery plants, open cooling towers, etc., in which is implemented a preferably continuous filtration of circulating water which is drawn from said water-based plant (12,14,16) in the form of a partial flow, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d i n that circulating water to be cleaned, is subjected, in addition to a mechanical filtration known in itself, to a chemical treatment, at least to upgrade the pH value, for example to a value between 8,6 and 9,5, whereby the filtration and the chemical treatment of the water are implemented in one and the same tank (10) , and that granulated material is used, that means grain/cut material, material consisting of many small spherical/tubular etc. bodies as mechanical filter material as well as chemical reaction material, the individual materials being arranged in layers one below the other in a stack of layers, in which the material of the lowest density (44) is located at the top of the stack of layers (44,46,48,50,52,54), whereafter the other layers follow in order of density and preferably in direct contact with each other, so that a material having the greatest density implies that it is located in the lowermost layer (54) in said tank constituted by a filtration and reactor tank (10) .

2. Method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d i n that mechanical filter material, for example fine-grained sand (in the top layer 44) and chemical reaction material(s), for example granulated magnesium oxide (in the second layer 46 from the top) in direct contact with the fine-grained sand and for example granulated calcium carbonate (the layer 48 of which is located immediately below the layer of magnesium oxide 46 and in direct contact therewith) and other granulated materials (of the layers 50, 52, 54) in the filtration and reactor tank, by interrupted operation of the water-based heating/cooling plant (12,14,16) is subjected to a flow of raw water from the bottom of the filtration and reactor tank (10) in the upward direction, with raw water being drawn from the upper area of the tank (10) (through 18a, 42, 18b, 24), used raw water leaving the plant by way of a drain (22) , whereby the different granulated materials are swirled in the tank (10) and are thus freed of sludge, corrosion and other contaminating particles which leave the tank together with said used raw water, and that the forcedly implemented flow of raw water in the direction from below/upwards in the tank, after a certain washing time for the cleaning of the filter and reaction materials in the tank, is stopped, whereby the mutually different densities of the different granulated materials ensure that the materials settle into place and form the original layers (44, 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54) .

3. Method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d i n that before filling up/replenishing with dilution water for the water-based plant, the during normal operation regular pipeline connection between the water-based plant (12,14,16) and the top water inlet (at the pressure gauge 42) in the filtration and reaction device in the form of said tank (10) with associated equipment (20, 56, 58) is temporarily interrupted, and untreated raw water is let into the upper portion of the reactor tank (10) for a downward flow through the successive layers of filter/reaction mass, and that the dilution water thus treated is drawn at the bottom of the tank (10) to be supplied to the water-based plant (12,14,16) .

4. Fluid purification and treatment plant for the purification and treatment of fluids, especially water, in particular flowing water included as carrier of thermal energy in closed and open water-based heating and cooling plants, ice water plants, district heating plants, heat recovery plants, open cooling towers, etc., which plant (12,14,16) has a preferably continuous filtration device arranged thereto, which at any time filters water which is bled in the form of a partial flow from the pipeline network of the plant, and in which filtered water is returned to the plant (12,14,16), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the purification and treatment device comprises an upright tank (10) having an inlet for untreated water at least in its upper portion and an outlet for treated water at least in its lower portion, and that the tank (10) contains granulated materials arranged in layers, one immediately below the other, comprising at least one mechanical filter layer (44, 50) as well as at least one layer (46, 48) of chemically active material of such properties which at least affect the water pH value to upgrade it.

5. Fluid purification and treatment plant according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said tank (10) comprises the following stack of material layers, mentioned from the top downwards: a top layer (44) of fine filtration sand of a particle size of 0,6 - 1,2 mm and of a great adsorptive power as the filtration grade in typical cases may be down to 0,02 mm; a second layer (46) of granulated magnesium oxide, a there below located layer (48) of granulated calcium carbonate, a next underlying supporting and isolating layer (50) , for example of coarse filtration sand, which essentially serves to isolate the chemically active materials of the second and third layers (46, 48) from the top, from the underlying, chemically inactive material layers (52, 54) which for instance may contain respectively hollow bodies of porcelain (porcelain thimbles) and glass spheres, in which the fine filtration sand of the top layer (44) has the lowest density of the materials in the stack of layers (44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54), while the glass spheres of the bottom layer (54) has the highest density, the intermediate layers (46, 48, 50, 52) having mutually different densities successively increasing in a downward direction.

6. Fluid purification and treatment plant according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that at the bottom of the filtration and reactor tank (10) extends an earthed corrosion electrode (60) which is connected to an externally arranged corrosion indicator (58) , which may comprise a potentiometer (70) and a milliampere meter (66) .

7. Fluid purification and treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims 4 - 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n that the filtration and reaction tank (10) at the very top has a coverable/shutable fill opening for the filling up/replenishing with chemical materials contained in layers (46, 48) of the stack of layers (44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54).

8. Fluid purification and treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims 4 - 7, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d i n that the pipeline system between the filtration/reaction tank (10) and the water-based plant (12,14,16) or between the filtration/reaction tank (10) and a raw water source has a manually operable four-gate/three-position control valve (20) arranged thereto, in which the four gates (a-d) are connected in pairs, so that the filtration/reaction tank (10) adopts the following states: (i) regular operation: gate a is connected to gate b, gate d is connected to gate c, so as to make provisions for a water flow from the water-based plant (12,14,16) to the upper area in the tank (10) , and for a flow of treated water from the lower area in the tank (10) back to the water-based plant (12,14,16); (ii) during filling up/replenishing the water-based plant (12,14,16) with dilution water, after treatment in the filtration/reaction tank (10) : the same combinations of gates, gate a to b, gate d to c, but shut-off of the bleeding point (at the shut-off valve 28) of the water- based plant (12,14,16) and opening of the supply of raw water to gate b of the four-gate control valve (20) ; (iii) washing the granulated materials comprised by the individual layers (44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) of the stack of layers in the tank (10) : gate b connected to gate d for the supply of untreated raw water to the lower area of the tank (10), the pipeline (18a,18b) from the upper area of the tank (10) being opened towards a drain (22) , gate a being connected to gate c, but the thereby established water flow path being shut off.

9. Fluid purification and treatment plant according to the preceding claims 4 - 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that in the pipeline (18h) conveying treated water to the water-based plant (12,14,16) is interposed a regulating/reduction valve (36) .

10. Fluid purification and treatment plant according to the preceding claims 4 - 9, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d i n that the filtration/reaction plant comprises pressure gauges (42, 62), one (42) at the inlet/outlet at the upper pipeline connection of the tank (10) and one (62) at the outlet/inlet at the lower pipeline connection of the tank (10) .