WO2009112612A1

WO2009112612A1 - Water recovery method

Info

Publication number: WO2009112612A1
Application number: PCT/ES2009/000131
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leopoldo Diaz Herrasez
Original assignee: Piscis System, S.L.
Priority date: 2008-03-12
Filing date: 2009-03-10
Publication date: 2009-09-17
Also published as: ES2338735B1; ES2338735A1

Abstract

A water recovery system consisting of a container made up of a housing (1) enclosing a tank (2) that is filled with waste water from various sources around the home such as a washing machine or heating and air-conditioning condensates. The tank is filled via inlets (3) provided in the housing (1) and connected to the tank (2) via tubes (17) communicating with the tank (2), whereafter the water to be reused is emptied from the tank (2) through a pipe (10) or drainage outlet (11) connected to a siphon (15). Pumps (12) pump the water through flow channels (14, 21) in which the flow is controlled by stopcocks (13, 16).

Description

SYSTEM FOR WATER RECOVERY

DESCRIPTION

Object of the invention

The present invention refers, as the title indicates, to a system for recovering water already used.

Field of the invention

This invention has its application within the industry dedicated to the recovery of water in facilities for food or water evacuation.

Background of the invention

Water is a source of life and provides the stability necessary to maintain the balance of the environment. But due to various factors, the correct use of this resource is increasingly in danger. For example, the variation of the weather in the Iberian Peninsula, with very humid areas and other almost desert, is a clear example of the contrast that exists in terms of the distribution of water from rainfall, being abundant in some places and scarce in others . The underground reserves are practically depleted and the river flow decreases year after year. The environmental consequences are palpable throughout the territory and this is reflected in problems such as the salinization of wells, the disappearance of underground reserves, serious situations produced due to desertification, difficulty of supply, etc. In addition, the demand for water is growing at a much higher rate than the available reserves, and therefore, restrictions on supply are becoming more frequent. This shortage, together with the expensive treatment of purification and transport to the consumer, is causing the cost of water to rise vertiginously and having an impact on the increasingly high price that the consumer has to pay. All this implies the need to make better use of water, promoting the rational use of a resource that, although it may not seem so, is becoming increasingly limited. With this it is tried to guarantee the sustainability and the capacity to face the situation better.

There are certain necessary activities in daily life that do not require the use of drinking water, for example, the water in the cisterns of the bathrooms, the washing machine, the general cleaning or the irrigation of a garden.

At present there are different systems to solve this pressing problem through the reuse of water already used, but few of these systems are designed to work in residential buildings in cities, which is precisely where one of the largest expenses of this resource, and the systems that are designed in this sense do not become complete in their operation.

Description of the invention

The invention that describes this report responds to the aforementioned problems, by using the water that is poured from household items, such as washing machines and condensates that are obtained in heating and air conditioning installations, This recovered water can be used in activities that do not require drinking water. This allows reducing the consumption of the network by a very important percentage. It is an ecological system that saves money and water resources, helping to maintain reservoir reserves.

Said invention consists of a system whose main component is a container formed by an outer casing that envelops a container inside.

The inner container, or reservoir, receives the water used in other necessities that is deposited in it instead of going to the drainage network, and acts as a store of water to be reused. This deposit can be made of materials such as PVC or derivatives, and has the following elements installed:

- Drain pumps for the circulation of water and that communicate with the hose and with drainage sockets that send the water where necessary.

- A pressure switch to be able to start the motors of the pumps and to be able to send the water where necessary, also serving to cut off the water inlet to the tank if it is very full.

- A drain in the bottom of the tank to empty it if necessary. - Water inlet pipes connected to the outer container, where the tank will be filled.

- A siphon valve or siphon, for water collection or water expulsion, in order to avoid any bad odors that may occur.

- Manual cutting keys to make water use independent. - Roller hose connected for manual emptying of the tank, and can also be used for household cleaning or other necessities.

The tank is wrapped by a metal housing, which can be made of aluminum or enameled sheet like ordinary appliances. This housing, in addition to containing the tank, has the following elements installed:

- Water inlets collected from washing machine or condensate heating or air conditioning or any other element that is taken into account, also connected to the tank.

- A main access door that allows access to the interior of the container. - TO -

- An additional access door to access the hose

- A digital manometer to measure the internal pressure and also the water content

- A switch on and off - A warning light and sound, to warn in case of filling of tank to warn of the evacuation

The tank could also have, additionally, a tube tip with screw cap that would be located in the upper part so that, in case the water exceeds the level marked by the tube tip, the excess water can be channeled Towards a drain.

The system is completed with an electrical installation that supplies current to the elements that require it.

The main part of the system operation is related to the filling and emptying of the tank. The water used fills the tank through the water inlets of the housing that are connected to the tank. Once you want to reuse, the pumps that push the water through the hose or pipes that access the places destined for use and whose flow is controlled by the cutting keys are put into operation. The pumps will also be put into operation when an excess filling of the tank is detected by means of the pressure switch and it is necessary to empty it.

The container can have different sizes and installation possibilities because it is designed both to be placed independently inside a floor, and to be installed in a community of floors. In the latter case the system would be of general access, would be installed in some area of the building suitable for it, would have connection with all floors, and could carry a consumption meter connected to the warehouse, which would be reached through the door of access. For the correct dimensioning of the tank, must take into account the number of floors that make up the community.

In the event that it was placed independently inside a floor, the required plumbing installation would be minimal.

The cutting keys to make water use independent, initially would be manual, but with the possibility of automating the process.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention can be seen more clearly from the detailed description that follows in a preferred embodiment, given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures.

Description of the drawings

To complete the present description, and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a descriptive and non-limiting series of figures is attached to the present specification:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the external part of the housing.

• Figure 2 shows the tank contained in the housing.

• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the external part of the tank.

• Figure 4 shows the internal part of the tank.

• Figure 5 shows the general connections.

• Figure 6 shows the connections applicable in the reuse of water in a cistern.

Preferred embodiment of the invention The detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention will be carried out in what follows with the help of the attached drawings, through which the same numerical references are used to designate the same or similar parts, and have in account of the exposed explanation of the invention

In this preferential embodiment, an installation on a floor of a water recovery system whose container would be mounted in the kitchen will be taken into account.

Figure 1 shows the external part of the housing (1) constructed of enameled sheet, in which the water intakes (3) that comes from the washing machine and the heating condensates are installed. On one side you see the main access door (4) and on the front, the warning signal (5), the digital pressure gauge (6) and the on / off switch (7). Also in the front part is the additional access door (8).

Figure 2 shows the inside of the housing (1) where the tank (2) can be seen, which will be made of PVC.

Figure 3 graphically describes the elements that accompany the tank (2). In its upper part are the tubes (17) that connect with the water intakes (3) of the housing (1) and that allow the filling of the tank (2). Also in the upper part is the pressure switch (9). The hose (10) is located on one side of the tank (2). A tube tip (22) with screw cap would be installed on it and on the top of the tank.

Figure 4 shows the inside of the tank (2) where the drain (11) located at the bottom can be seen, and the holes (23) where the pipes (17) seen in Figure 3, the hole (24) where the tube tip (22) seen in Figure 3 is installed and the hole (25) where the hose (10) seen in Figure 3 is installed. Figure 5 describes the elements that are directly involved in the movement of water within the recovery system. The water used fills the tank (2) through the water inlets (3) located in the housing (1) and the tubes (17) connected to the tank (2). Once the water wants to be reused, the pumps (12) that push it through the hose (10) or pipes (14 and 21) that access the places destined for use and whose flow is controlled are put into operation using the stopcocks (13 and 16). The water is emptied from the tank by means of the hose (10) or through the drain (11), which has a siphon (15) attached. The tube tip (22) would be used to empty the tank in case of emergency, if the water exceeds the level at which said tube tip (22) is. The use of reused water in the bath is done through a pipe (14) and is controlled by a stopcock (13), this being a particular case within the recovery system that can be seen in Figure 6.

Figure 6 shows the connections of the tank (2) with the cistern (20) of the bathroom, which is where the recovered water is used most. This, moves through the pipe (14) and the flow is controlled by the stopcock (13). To the cistern (20) is also connected a pipe (19) that carries water from the general network and whose flow is controlled by the key (18). The general situation is that, in the case where the tank (2) was empty, the stopcock (13) would be manually closed and the key (18) would be opened giving way to the water of the general network.

It should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, whereby it may be subject to modifications as long as this does not imply any alteration of the basis of said invention, such modifications may affect the shape, size or materials of manufacturing.

Claims

1.- System for water recovery, characterized in that it is formed by a housing (1) within which a tank (2) is installed that is filled with already used water that can come from different household items, such as washing machine or condensates of heating and air conditioning, whose filling of said tank (2) is carried out through water outlets (3) located in the housing (1) and connected to the tank (2) by means of pipes (17), emptying of the tank (2) for the reuse of water both through a hose (10) and a drain (11), both connected to the tank (2), the water being moved by the operation of pumps (12) that Ia they transport through pipes (14 and 21) and whose flow is controlled by the stopcocks (13 and 16).

2. System for water recovery, according to claim one, characterized in that in the housing (1) there is a main access door (4) towards its interior.

3. System for water recovery, according to claim one, characterized in that in the housing (1) there is an additional access door (8) through which the hose (10) is drawn outwards.

4. System for water recovery, according to claim one, characterized in that the housing (1) has a warning system (5) for light and sound filling.

5. System for water recovery, according to claim one, characterized in that the housing (1) has an on / off switch (7) to operate the system.

6. Water recovery system, according to claim one, characterized in that the housing (1) has a pressure gauge (6) installed to measure the pressure of the tank (2).

7. System for water recovery, according to claim one, characterized in that the tank (2) has a pressure switch (9) that allows the automatic start of the pump motors (12), also serving to cut the water inlet to the deposit (2).

8. System for water recovery, according to claim one, characterized in that the drain (11) is connected to a siphon (15) or siphon valve.

9.- Water recovery system, according to claim one, characterized in that the tank (2) may additionally have a tube tip (22) installed with a threaded plug.

10.- System for water recovery, according to previous claims, characterized in that in the connection of the tank (2) with the cistern (20) of the bath, the recovered water moves through the pipe (14) and the water flow is controlled by the stopcock (13), and also, to the cistern (20) a pipeline (19) is connected that carries water from the general network and whose flow is controlled by the faucet (18).