WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

Description

2 According to the invention, a wastewater treatment system is provided comprising a wastewater inlet and a treated water outlet as well as a first hydraulic circuit comprising elements connected hydraulically in series between the wastewater inlet and the treated water outlet, said elements comprising: -a first filter having a fineness between 50 microns and 200 microns, preferably between 80 microns and 150 microns, preferably between 90 microns and 110 microns, preferably 100 microns; -a magnetic device configured to produce, in the water coming from the first filter, an electromagnetic field with a frequency between 1 kHz and 2 MHz, preferably between 50 kHz and 500 kHz; 10 -a second filter having a fineness between 0.5 microns and 5 microns, preferably between 0.5 microns and 3 microns, preferably between 0.9 microns and 1.1 microns, preferably 1 micron.The inclusion, in the wastewater treatment chain, of a magnetic device 15 configured to produce an electromagnetic field in the water coming from the first filter, makes it possible to continue treatment with a coarser filter than those known for wastewater recycling, such as, for example, a second filter with a fineness of 0.5 to 5 microns. Indeed, the magnetic device will have destroyed a good portion of the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, algae, etc.) present in the water to be treated, 20 which will limit or prevent the deposition of a biofilm in the second filter and thus reduce its clogging. The magnetic device will also have the effect of agglutinating the fine particles present in the water passing through it, thus contributing to the possibility of using a less fine second filter downstream, while eliminating the fine particles that were present upstream. 25 Such magnetic devices are known, for example from patents EP1848666B1, EP0720588B1, and EP2632585B1.Preferably, the electromagnetic field produced by the magnetic device is a pulsed electromagnetic field, each pulse having a frequency between 130 kHz and 2 MHz, preferably between 50 kHz and 500 kHz, and more preferably between 120 kHz and 150 kHz. Preferably, the pulsed electromagnetic field has sinusoidal pulses. More preferably, each sinusoidal pulse has a decreasing amplitude between the beginning and end of the pulse. Preferably, the elements of the first hydraulic circuit also include an activated carbon filter. Preferably, the elements of the first hydraulic circuit also include an ultraviolet water treatment device for the water flowing through it. The invention also relates to a wastewater treatment and recycling system and to a wastewater treatment method.10 Brief description of the figures These aspects, as well as other aspects of the invention, will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings, in which: 15 Fig. 1 schematically shows an example of a wastewater treatment system according to the invention; Fig. 2 schematically shows another example of a wastewater treatment system according to the invention; 20 Fig. 3 schematically shows yet another example of a wastewater treatment system according to the invention; Fig. 4 schematically shows an example of a magnetic device forming part of the wastewater treatment system; Fig. 5 schematically shows another example of a magnetic device forming part of the wastewater treatment system; Fig. 6 schematically shows an example of a wastewater treatment and recycling unit; Fig. 7 schematically shows another example of a wastewater treatment and recycling system; Fig. 8 schematically shows yet another example of a wastewater treatment and recycling system.BE2025 / 5704 4 The drawings in the figures are neither to scale nor in proportion. Generally, similar or identical elements are denoted by identical reference numerals in the figures. 5 Detailed description of embodiments of the invention Fig. 1 schematically shows an example of a wastewater treatment system according to the invention. The wastewater treatment system comprises a wastewater inlet (E) and a treated water outlet (S). The wastewater inlet can be supplied by various wastewater sources such as, for example, the outlet of a wastewater treatment plant or a micro-wastewater treatment plant or a septic tank or any other pre-treatment device (3). The system includes a first hydraulic circuit comprising a plurality of treatment elements 15 connected hydraulically in series between the wastewater inlet (E) and the treated water outlet (S).The said processing elements include a first filter (10) having a fineness (sometimes called the filtration index) between 50 microns and 200 microns, preferably between 80 microns and 150 microns, preferably between 90 microns and 110 microns, preferably 100 microns. The fineness or filtration index values ​​of the filters indicated in this description correspond to their nominal or absolute value. This first filter (10) has the function of filtering particles whose size is greater than the fineness of the filter. Preferably, the first filter (10) is a self-cleaning filter. Such filters are known. For example, they may be cartridge filters or sand filters. 30 These treatment elements also include a magnetic device (20) BE2025 / 5704 5 configured to produce, in the water coming from the first filter (10), an electromagnetic field with a frequency between 1 kHz and 2 MHz, preferably between 50 kHz and 500 kHz, more preferably between 120 kHz and 150 kHz. Preferably, the pulsed electromagnetic field has sinusoidal pulses.Preferably, each sinusoidal pulse has a decreasing amplitude between the beginning and end of the pulse. Such a magnetic device (20) may, for example, be installed at least partially around or near a water pipe connecting an outlet of the first filter (10) to an inlet of the second filter (30), as will be described below. The said treatment elements also include a second filter (30) having a fineness between 0.5 microns and 5 microns, preferably between 0.5 microns and 3 microns, preferably between 0.9 microns and 1.1 microns, preferably 1 micron. Such filters are also known. It may, for example, be a cartridge filter. Preferably, the second filter (30) is a self-cleaning filter. Fig. 2 schematically shows another example of a wastewater treatment system according to the invention. It is the same as that of Fig. 1, except that the elements of the first hydraulic circuit also include an activated carbon filter (40).In this example, the activated carbon filter (40) is placed downstream of the second filter (30), but it could also be placed upstream of the second filter (30). Such an activated carbon filter (40) is known, in particular, for its function of limiting or eliminating bad odors emanating from the water that passes through said filter. Fig. 3 schematically shows yet another example of a wastewater treatment system according to the invention. It is the same as that of Fig. 2, except that the elements of the first hydraulic circuit also include an ultraviolet treatment device (50) for the water passing through it. Such an ultraviolet treatment device (50) is known and has the function of destroying all or part of the microorganisms present in the water passing through the device. In this example, the ultraviolet treatment device (50) is placed downstream of the activated carbon filter (40), but it could also be placed upstream of the activated carbon filter (40) and preferably downstream of the second filter (30). Preferably, the first filter (10) is a self-cleaning filter.5 Preferably, the second filter (30) is a self-cleaning filter. Fig. 4 schematically shows an example of a magnetic device (20) forming part of a wastewater treatment system. This device comprises a ring (21) made of ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material surrounding a water pipe (20A) connecting the first filter (10) to the second filter (30). It may, for example, be a ferrite ring. The device also comprises a primary coil (21) wound around part of the ring, and an oscillator (23) configured to apply to the primary coil (22) an alternating voltage with a frequency between kHz and 2 MHz, preferably between 50 kHz and 500 kHz, more preferably between 120 kHz and 150 kHz. Thus, when the magnetic device (20) is energized (by a power supply not shown), it will generate, by induction, an electromotive force and an alternating antionic current in the water which runs through the water pipe (20A).This current will notably have the effect of destroying certain bacteria and / or algae, thus limiting the formation of biofilm in the second filter (30), and / or agglomerating certain fine particles as a chemical flocculant (20) would, and / or reducing the formation of scale upstream and downstream of the magnetic device (20). Preferably, the voltage applied by the oscillator (23) to the filter (21) is a pulsed voltage comprising sinusoidal pulses. Preferably, each sinusoidal pulse has a decreasing amplitude between the beginning and end of the pulse. Such devices are also known, for example, from patents EP1848666B1, EP0720588B1, and EP2632585B1. Fig. 5 schematically shows another example of a magnetic device (20) forming part of the wastewater treatment system. It is similar to that of Fig. 4 except that here the coil (22) is directly wound around the pipe (20A). BE2025 / 5704 7 Fig. 6 schematically shows an example of a wastewater treatment and recycling assembly.This assembly includes at least one utility device (2) configured to supply wastewater after the use of clean water (water not originating from outlet (S)5 of the wastewater treatment system as described above) or recycled water (water originating at least partially from outlet (S)5 of the wastewater treatment system as described above). Examples include a toilet and / or a shower and / or a sink and / or a washing machine. The assembly also includes a wastewater pretreatment device (3) connected to the utility device (2) to receive the wastewater and supply pretreated water. Such a pre-treatment device(3) may for example be a wastewater treatment plant or a micro-wastewater treatment plant or a septic tank or any other pre-treatment device preferably comprising at least one wastewater collection tank from at least one utility device(2).15 The assembly also includes a wastewater treatment system as described above and connected to the pre-treatment device (3) to receive the pre-treated water and to supply recycled water. The assembly also includes a second hydraulic circuit (100) configured to receive the recycled water and to supply at least a portion of the recycled water to the utility device (2). The first hydraulic circuit and / or the second hydraulic circuit (100) may, for example, include a pump (60) to pump the recycled water to the utility device (2) when the latter draws water. If necessary, the pump (60) will preferably be placed downstream of the magnetic device (20) and upstream of the second filter (30) because this improves the agglomeration of fine particles by some mixing of the water by the pump (60). Fig. 7 schematically shows another example of a wastewater treatment and recycling system. It is the same as that of Fig. 4 except that the elements of the first hydraulic circuit also include an activated carbon filter (40). BE2025 / 5704 8 Fig.Figure 8 schematically shows yet another example of a wastewater treatment and recycling system. It is the same as that of Figure 5, except that the elements of the first hydraulic circuit also include an ultraviolet treatment device (50) for the water that flows through it. In the examples in Figures 6, 7, and 8, a supply of fresh water 5 from a conventional water distribution system (not shown) may also be provided at various points in the system, for example, to prime the system and / or to clean the first or second filter (30), either manually or automatically, or for a temporary supply of fresh water during system maintenance. For filter cleaning, a discharge 10 of the rinse water may also be provided. At least one overflow (not shown) may also be provided for cases where, at a given time, more recycled water is produced than recycled water is consumed and cannot be stored in said water, at least one wastewater collection tank, or in other containers.15 The invention also provides a method for treating wastewater. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: -filtration of wastewater by means of a first filter (10) having a fineness between 50 microns and 200 microns, preferably between 80 microns and 150 microns, preferably between 90 microns and 110 microns, preferably 100 microns; 20 -application, in the water coming from an outlet of the first filter (10), of an electromagnetic field with a frequency between 1 kHz and 2 MHz, preferably between 50 kHz and 500 kHz; -after application of said magnetic field, filtration of the water by means of a second filter (30) having a fineness between 0.5 microns and 2 microns, preferably between 0.8 microns and 1.5 microns, preferably between 0.9 microns and 1.1 microns, preferably 1 micron. Preferably, the electromagnetic field is a pulsed electromagnetic field, each pulse having a frequency between 1 kHz and 2 MHz, preferably between 50 kHz and 500 kHz. BE2025 / 5704 9 Preferably, the pulsed electromagnetic field comprises sinusoidal pulses.Preferably, each sinusoidal pulse has a decreasing amplitude between the beginning and end of the pulse. The wastewater treatment method and system and / or the wastewater treatment and recycling system described herein can, for example, find their application in a single-family home or in a multi-unit building (apartment building, hotel, school) or for communities. They can also find their application in the industrial sector. 10 The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which are purely illustrative and should not be considered limiting. In general, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and / or described above. The presence of reference numbers in the drawings cannot be considered limiting, 15 including when such numbers are indicated in the claims.The use of the verbs "comprendre", "inclure", "comporter", or any other variant, as well as their conjugations, cannot in any way exclude the presence of elements other than those mentioned. The use of the indefinite article "un", "une", or the definite article "le", "la", or "l'",20 to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements. One aspect of the invention can also be described as follows: a wastewater treatment system comprising a first hydraulic circuit including a first filter(10) having a first filtration fineness, followed by a magnetic device(20)25 co.

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