WO2014162293A1

WO2014162293A1 - Water treatment system for off-grid buildings

Info

Publication number: WO2014162293A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/060424
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Baldini; Paolo FULINI; Riccardo Basosi; Giampaolo MANFRIDA; Davide BONSIGNORE
Original assignee: CECCHINI, Emiliano
Priority date: 2013-04-05
Filing date: 2014-04-04
Publication date: 2014-10-09
Also published as: ITFI20130077A1

Abstract

A water treatment system for off-grid buildings comprising at least one first containment body for collecting the water to be treated and at least one second containment body for collecting the treated water, such first and second containment bodies being connected through a pipe. Such first containment body comprises at least one evaporation device able to generate water vapour which is conveyed to the second containment body. The water collected by such water vapour in the second containment body is treated water, which can be reused.

Description

WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR OFF-GRID BUILDINGS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a water treatment system, in particular for buildings or other off-grid residential units, such as camper vans, caravans, boats, etc.

Up to now off-grid buildings are known, i.e. buildings intended for residential use, offices or for industrial use, so that they are independent from electricity, gas, sewer and plumbing networks, etc.

For example, such an off-grid building is described in patent application no. AR2009A00001 1 ; in this application, the independent management of electrical energy in such a building is analysed.

In traditional off-grid systems rainwater is collected in a first underground tank, specifically for rainwater, whereas waste water, such as sewage or grey water from the drains of the buildings, is collected in a second tank, known as a phyto-treatment tank, where it is treated. Hence, colourless (transparent) and odourless water is obtained from such waste water which, whilst not being suitable for drinking, can be used as technical or irrigation water, which is collected in a second tank specifically for waste water.

Typically such rainwater and waste water collection tanks for off-grid buildings are separate from one another.

In this context, the technical problem underpinning the present invention is therefore to provide a solution in which the water treatment procedure is optimised, by conveying the various types of water towards a single container, hence using the lowest possible number of components, without wasting water and with respect for the environment.

Such a problem is solved according to the invention by a water treatment system such as the one indicated in claim 1 .

The Applicant of the present application has therefore surprisingly found that a water treatment system for off-grid buildings comprising: at least one first containment body for collecting the water to be treated, at least one second containment body for collecting the treated water, at least one connecting pipe that connects said at least one first containment body to said at least one second containment body,

characterised in that said at least one containment body comprises at least one evaporation device,

can allow the treatment of various types of water in a single container, regardless of their origin.

In fact, whatever the type of water to be treated, it is transformed into water vapour by means of the evaporation device contained in the first containment body. The water vapour, for example through partial condensation, reaches the second container forming within it the treated water which, not having been treated to the point that it can be considered suitable for drinking, can however be reused as water for flushing toilets, washing outside the building, irrigating the garden or other elements that can also be intended for the production of food items.

In this context, the term "water to be treated" means any type of water to be treated, such as, for example, polluted rainwater, sewage, grey water, industrial waste water, water from water courses such as rivers and streams, seawater, lake water, or a mixture thereof. In this context, the term "sewage" means waste water from toilets, containing faeces and urine, whereas the term "grey water" means waste water from wash basins, washing machines and the like.

The system according to the present invention is particularly used in off- grid buildings, for example buildings for residential use or buildings for industrial offices, but also in vehicles potentially intended for residential use, such as, for example, boats, yachts, camper vans, caravans and the like.

Preferably, said first and second containment bodies for the water to be treated and for the treated water are cisterns or collection tanks for liquids. Preferably, said connecting pipe is able to convey and run said water vapour into at least one second containment body.

In this way, no water is wasted since all the water vapour, obtained through the transformation of the waste water after it has been treated by means of the evaporation device contained in the first containment body, is conveyed as treated water to the second containment body.

Preferably, the water treatment system according to the present invention comprises a first containment body for collecting the water to be treated and a second containment body for collecting the treated water.

However, it is possible that the water treatment system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of couplings of first and second containment bodies, each of such couplings being formed by a first containment body for collecting the water to be treated and a corresponding second containment body for collecting the treated water, connected to said first containment body through a connecting pipe for the passage of water vapour.

It is also possible that a system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of first containers (i.e. comprising respective evaporation means) connected in series to a single second container. In this way, it is possible to increase the level of treatment of the water taken into the second container.

In fact, it is possible to obtain a series of evaporations (or treatments) of the water to be treated.

Preferably, the water treatment system according to the present invention further comprises a network of water pipes to convey all said water to be treated into said first containment body, wherein each different type of water to be treated (rainwater, sewage, grey water, etc.) is conveyed into said first containment body by means of a different water pipe.

In this way, said first containment body is able to receive all types of waste water to be treated coming from different waste sources.

In this way, for example, a water pipe network for conveying the rainwater into said first containment body is comprised of gutters, or other similar systems for holding rainwater, and tubes or pipes to make it run towards such a container appropriately so as not to generate waste or water leaks. Furthermore, for example, a water pipe network for conveying sewage into said first containment body comprises piping that conveys such sewage from toilets and the like towards said first containment body. Similarly, for example, a water pipe network to convey the grey water into said first containment body comprises piping that conveys such grey water from wash basins or washing machines.

Preferably, said evaporation device is contained within said first containment body.

Preferably, said evaporation device is fed by means of an electrical resistance. More preferably, said electrical resistance can be activated through devices which are able to produce renewable energy, such as, for example, hydroelectric, solar, wind or marine energy and the like.

A further embodiment also envisages the use of thermal energy, for example, coming from solar-thermal, biomass or geothermal devices, in addition to or independently from the aforementioned electrical resistance. Preferably, the water treatment system according to the present invention further comprises at least one treatment tank (advantageously a phyto- treatment tank), positioned upstream of said at least one first containment body, to subject such sewage and/or grey water to a first pre-purification treatment.

Preferably, said treatment tank comprises treatment means, such as, for example, filters based on sand, gravel, plants and other plant elements able to treat the water conveyed therein (phyto-treatment).

Preferably, the water treatment system according to the present invention further comprises at least one pump and at least one chopping element associated with it, positioned upstream of said at least one treatment tank. In this way any solids present in the sewage and/or grey water are shredded before they reach said treatment tank. Preferably, the water treatment system according to the present invention further comprises at least one septic tank located downstream of said at least one pump at least one chopping element and upstream of such treatment tank.

In this way, any solids still present in said sewage and/or grey water are left to decant.

Preferably, both the sewage and the grey water are conveyed into said at least one septic tank.

Preferably the water treatment system according to the present invention further comprises at least one non-return valve, positioned in said connecting pipe between said at least one containment body for collecting the water to be treated and said at least one containment body for collecting the treated water. In this way, the risk that the treated water, once formed in the second treated water containment body, can return into said containment body for the water to be treated, is prevented.

Preferably, said first containment body for collecting the water to be treated and said second containment body for collecting the treated water are contained within an external casing, preferably a container, equipped with interconnections for connecting to the building.

In an alternative embodiment, said first containment body for collecting the water to be treated and said second containment body for collecting the treated water, comprise respective underground tanks in special holes afforded outside in the vicinity of the off-grid building.

Preferably, the system according to the present invention can further comprise other functional units for the management of the water to be treated and the treated water.

For example, preferably, the system according to the present invention can comprise devices such as heat exchangers to cool down or raise the temperature of such water to be treated and/or treated water collected in the corresponding containment bodies.

Preferably, the system according to the present invention can further comprise other devices, such as, for example, electrical energy generation means and renewable thermal energy, electrolytic cells, electrolysers, means for storing and using solar energy, photovoltaic systems, and other similar devices typically present in an off-grid building or vehicle.

The first container may also comprise a further heat exchanger adapted to supply domestic water.

In particular, it is possible to make the water to be treated and therefore heated by the evaporation means be crossed by a coil containing the domestic water which through heat exchange can raise its temperature for domestic uses and/or for a heating system.

Further objects and advantages are reached by a system comprising the technical characteristics described in one or more of the appended claims. Such characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more fully emerge from the non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a waste water treatment system, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a system according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a system according to the present invention.

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of a technical detail of the connecting pipe between the first and the second container.

With reference to the appended figures, 1 indicates a water treatment system for off-grid buildings according to the present invention.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , system 1 is advantageously of the "in-box" type, i.e. comprising one or more components contained within a container equipped with relevant interconnections with the various services of the building.

In this embodiment, therefore, it is possible to simply provide the container in proximity to a building and to connect the various utilities of the building itself to it (sewage connection, grey water connection, rainwater connection, etc.).

The system 1 comprises at least one first cistern 3 into which all the water to be treated is conveyed, i.e. the rainwater through a water pipe network 2; the sewage produced by toilets, through a water pipe network 4; the grey water produced by wash basins and washing machines, through a water pipe network 5; the industrial waste water, through a water pipe network 9.

The types of water described above are not limiting since a system according to the present invention can be applied for the treatment of any type of unusable water of any origin, for example seawater.

Within the first cistern 3 there is an evaporation device 1 1 which is fed by means of an electrical resistance 14; such electrical resistance 14 is in turn activated through solar energy or through devices that can produce renewable energy.

As described above, the electrical resistance 14 can be replaced or coupled with any device able to supply thermal energy, advantageously of the renewable type.

The evaporation device 1 1 is able to transform the water to be treated conveyed therein into water vapour.

In Figure 1 a second cistern 7 can also be seen, positioned alongside the first cistern 3, and a connecting pipe 10 that puts such first cistern 3 in communication with such second cistern 7.

The water vapour produced by the evaporation device 1 1 in the first cistern 3 is then conveyed through the connecting pipe 10 into the second cistern 7, where the water vapour returns to the liquid state.

With reference to Figure 3, advantageously, the connecting pipe 10 comprises at a certain height a vent 15 (connected with the external environment at a higher position so as to make the condensed water fall along with that coming from the connecting pipe 10 into the second cistern 7 placed lower down) to let out any excess uncondensed water vapour. This technical detail enables the entry of vapour into the second cistern 7 to be prevented and therefore any excess pressure and excess temperature within the system but at the same time to make all the water condensed in the connecting pipe 10 and in the vent 15 fall into the cistern.

The water contained in the second cistern 7 will therefore be treated and can be reused as water for flushing toilets, for washing outside the building, irrigating the garden or other elements that can also be intended for the production of food items.

Within the connecting pipe 10 a non-return valve 8 is shown which is therefore interposed between the first cistern 3 and the second cistern 7, in order to prevent the treated water contained in the second cistern 7 returning to the first cistern 3.

In Figure 2 the part of the system 1 of Figure 1 is shown in more detail, referring to the water pipes 4 and 5 for treating sewage and grey water, respectively.

In particular, system 1 shown in Figure 2 can further comprise a pump 12 and a chopping element 13 for shredding any solids present in the sewage; system 1 also comprises a degreaser 16 for the collection of grey water.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 2, the system 1 according to the present invention further comprises a septic tank 17, positioned downstream of such pump 12, chopping element 13 and degreaser 16, where both the water pipe 4 and the water pipe 5 for the sewage and grey water, respectively, are conveyed. Through such septic tank 17, any solids present in said sewage and/or grey water are left to decant.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 2, the system 1 according to the present invention further comprises a phyto-treatment tank 6, positioned downstream of such septic tank 17. Such phyto-treatment tank 6 is provided with filters based on sand, gravel and plants to perform a first treatment of the water conveyed therein. The sewage and grey water thus partially treated are then conveyed into the first cistern 3, where the rainwater and industrial waste water are also conveyed, through the water pipes 2 and 9, respectively.

To simplify the graphical representation, in Figure 2 the second cistern for collecting the treated water and the pipe that connects the first cistern 3 to the second cistern have been omitted, having already been shown in Figure 1 with reference numbers 7 and 10, respectively.

Therefore, by means of the system 1 according to the present invention, all the waste water (rainwater, sewage, grey water, industrial, sea, toxic and polluted water...) is conveyed and collected in a single cistern 3 to be treated through the evaporation device 1 1 .

The invention therefore reaches the proposed aims, hence using the lowest possible number of components, without wasting water and with respect for the environment.

Naturally, many modifications and variations of the preferred embodiments described will be clear to persons skilled in the art, whilst remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 . A water treatment system (1 ) for off-grid buildings comprising: at least one first containment body (3) for collecting the water to be treated, at least one second containment body (7) for collecting the treated water, at least one connecting pipe (10) connecting said at least one first containment body (3) to said at least one second containment body (7), characterised in that said at least one first containment body (3) comprises at least one evaporation device (1 1 ) which transforms the water to be treated into water vapour.

2. The system (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said connecting pipe (10) is able to convey and introduce said water vapour into said at least one second containment body (7).

3. The system (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein said connecting pipe (10) comprises at a predetermined height a vent for any excess, not condensed, water vapour.

4. The system (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said evaporation device (1 1 ) is fed by means of a heat exchanger and/or an electrical resistance (14).

5. The system (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein said heat exchanger and/or said electrical resistance (14) can be activated using devices which are able to produce renewable energy.

6. The system (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, also comprising a network of water pipes (2, 4, 5, 9) for conveying said water to be treated to said at least one first containment body (3), wherein every different type of water to be treated is conveyed to said at least one first containment body (3) using a different water pipe (2, 4, 5, 9).

7. The system (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, also comprising at least one phyto-treatment tank (6), positioned upstream of said at least one first containment body (3), for pre-treating said sewage and/or said grey water.

8. The system (1 ) according to claim 7, also comprising at least one pump (12) and at least one chopping element (13), positioned upstream of said at least one phyto-treatment tank (6), for shredding any solids present in said sewage and/or said grey water.

9. The system (1 ) according to claim 8, also comprising at least one septic tank (17), for decanting any solids present in said sewage and/or said grey water, said septic tank (17) being located downstream of said at least one pump (12) and the at least one chopping element (13) and upstream of said at least one phyto-treatment tank (6).

10. The system (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said at least one first containment body (3) for collecting the water to be treated and said at least one second containment body (7) for collecting the treated water are enclosed in an outer casing, preferably a container, provided with interconnections for connecting to a building.