Water management device for a system including a basin

Abstract

The invention relates to a pond water management system, the system comprising a hydraulic assembly and a storage tank (220). The hydraulic assembly comprises a pond (200) provided with a water outlet (210) to be filtered and a filtered water inlet (214), a filtration assembly (202) configured to filter water received directly or indirectly from the water outlet (210) and supply the filtered water to the water inlet (214), and an overflow (218) for discharging excess water from the hydraulic assembly. The water storage tank (202) comprises a water inlet (222) connected to the overflow (218) and an outlet (224). The filtration assembly (202) is further configured to filter water received directly or indirectly from the water outlet (224) of the storage tank (220) and to supply the filtered water to the water inlet (214) of the basin (200) and / or to the water inlet (222) of the storage tank (220). (See Figure 2 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Water management device for a system comprising a basin TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention relates to the management of water in a system comprising a basin, for example a swimming pool. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] It is first of all observed that due to the periods of heat waves which are increasing and affecting many regions, water is becoming a precious resource which should be preserved and managed effectively, in all its areas of use, particularly in the management of basins and swimming pools.

[0003] [Fig. 1] illustrates an example of water management of a swimming pool 100. As illustrated (the dotted arrows represent the direction of movement of the water, in this figure and the following ones), the water of the swimming pool is here filtered in a filtration assembly 102 comprising in particular a pump 104 and a filter 106, for example a sand filter. For these purposes, the water is captured by a skimmer (or swimming pool water surface skimmer) 108 and / or a bottom drain 110 via a pipe 112, filtered in the filtration assembly 102 and discharged towards a discharge nozzle 114 via a pipe 116.

[0004] The pool water is thus recycled.

[0005] Furthermore, a swimming pool generally comprises an overflow, often located in a skimmer, for example the overflow 118, to, if necessary, evacuate an excess volume of water, for example due to rain or excessive filling. This excess volume of water is generally evacuated into a wastewater circuit, for example into a sewer 120, via a pipe 122.

[0006] However, it has been observed that the implementation of an overflow leads to the evacuation of a quantity of water which is not in excess, but which reaches the overflow due to water movements, for example due to bathers. It is then necessary to consume water to compensate for this quantity of water evacuated.

[0007] It is noted that swimming pools are often equipped with a sand filter comprising a multifunction valve and a tank containing sand, often in several layers of different granulometries, to filter impurities from the water. Although it is very simple to operate and maintain, such a filter has disadvantages, particularly with regard to the quantity of water discharged during cleaning of the filter. During this operation, called backwashing, the pollutant load is partially evacuated by reversing the direction of the water in the filter and the dirty water is discharged into the sewer 120 via a pipe 124.

[0008] Water management in a swimming pool is therefore not optimal with regard to water consumption. There is therefore a need to improve this water management in a swimming pool and, more generally, in a basin. Statement of the invention

[0009] The present invention relates to an improved water storage system.

[0010] The invention thus relates to a water management system for a basin, - the system comprising a hydraulic assembly comprising - at least one basin provided with at least one outlet for water to be filtered and at least one inlet for filtered water, - a filtration assembly configured to filter water received directly or indirectly from the at least one water outlet and supply the filtered water to the at least one water inlet and - at least one overflow to evacuate an excess volume of water from said hydraulic assembly, - the system further comprising at least one water storage tank comprising at least one water inlet connected to said at least one overflow and comprising at least one outlet, characterized in that said filtration assembly is further configured to filter water received directly or indirectly from the at least one water outlet of said at least one storage tank and supply the filtered water to the at least one water inlet of said basin and / or to the at least one water inlet of said at least one storage tank.

[0011] The invention makes it possible in particular to optimize water consumption by avoiding the discharge of excess water from a basin.

[0012] Preferred, simple, convenient and economical characteristics of the device according to the invention are presented below.

[0013] For example, said at least one basin comprises said at least one overflow.

[0014] According to particular embodiments, said at least one basin is a basin with overflow, said hydraulic assembly further comprising a buffer tank, said buffer tank comprising said at least one overflow.

[0015] Still according to particular embodiments, said at least one overflow comprises a water outlet located at a predetermined water height representative of a nominal water volume of said hydraulic assembly.

[0016] Still according to particular embodiments, said at least one overflow comprises at least one water height sensor configured to detect an excess volume of water in said hydraulic assembly, said at least one overflow further comprising a discharge pump controlled by said at least one sensor to discharge said excess volume of water from said hydraulic assembly.

[0017] Still according to particular embodiments, said evacuation pump is a pump of said filtration assembly.

[0018] Still according to particular embodiments, said filtration assembly is configured to simultaneously filter water from said hydraulic assembly and from said at least one storage tank.

[0019] Still according to particular embodiments, said filtration assembly is configured to filter independently of the water of said hydraulic assembly and of said at least one storage tank.

[0020] Still according to particular embodiments, at least one water inlet of said at least one storage tank is connected directly or indirectly to a rainwater collector.

[0021] Still according to particular embodiments, said filtration assembly comprises a membrane filter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the devices, system and methods which are the subject of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: • [Fig.l] illustrates an example of water management in a swimming pool according to the prior art and • figures 2 to 6 illustrate examples of management of the water in a swimming pool, according to particular embodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] According to embodiments of the invention, the excess water volume of a pool is recovered to be stored in a storage tank whose contents are filtered with the same filter assembly as that used to filter the water of the pool. The excess water volume is a volume of water that exceeds a nominal water volume of the pool, corresponding to a desired volume, for example associated with a desired water height (in the pool or in a buffer tank, for example in the case of an infinity pool), beyond the natural (or nominal or optimal) tidal range. The excess water volume is for example due to rain. Indeed, due to its large surface area, a swimming pool plays an important role in capturing rainwater, like a building roof. The capture of this water, its storage and its filtering allow it to be preserved for later use, for example to add water to the pool when needed (in particular in the case of evaporation), 。 watering plants, washing a vehicle, etc.

[0024] [Fig. 2] illustrates a first example of management of the water of a swimming pool 200, according to particular embodiments of the invention. As illustrated, the water of the swimming pool is filtered in a filtration assembly 202 comprising in particular a pump 204 and a filter 206, for example a membrane filter. According to this example, the water is captured by a skimmer (or swimming pool water surface skimmer) 208 and / or a bottom drain 210 via a pipe 212, filtered in the filtration assembly 202 and discharged to a discharge nozzle 214 via a pipe 216. The water of the swimming pool is thus recycled.

[0025] According to the illustrated example, the swimming pool 200 comprises an overflow 218, here located in the skimmer 208, to evacuate an excess volume of water, for example due to rain. This excess volume of water is evacuated to a storage tank 220, via a pipe 222. As illustrated, the storage tank 220 comprises a water outlet 224 making it possible to convey the water contained therein to the filtration assembly 202, via the pipe 212.

[0026] The filtration assembly 202 thus filters water from the swimming pool 200 and the storage tank 220 and delivers the filtered water to the swimming pool via the pipe 216.

[0027] Naturally, the swimming pool 200 (like the swimming pools shown in FIGS. 3 to 6) may comprise several skimmers, several bottom drains, several return drains and / or several overflows.

[0028] It is observed here that valves or solenoid valves (not shown) may be used to select certain circuits. By way of illustration, solenoid valves may be placed upstream of the pump to select, as the source of water to be filtered, the pool 200, the storage tank 220 or the pool 200 and the storage tank 220.

[0029] [Fig. 3] illustrates a second example of water management of a swimming pool 300, according to particular embodiments of the invention. According to this example, the swimming pool 300 is an overflow swimming pool comprising a buffer tank 326. As illustrated, the water of the swimming pool is filtered in a filtration assembly 302 here comprising a pump 304 and a filter 306, for example a membrane filter. For these purposes, the water is captured by one or more drains 328 of the buffer tank 326 (advantageously comprising at least one bottom drain) and, preferably, by one or more bottom drains 310 of the swimming pool via a pipe 312, filtered in the filtration assembly 302 and discharged to a discharge nozzle 314 of the swimming pool 300 via a pipe 316. The water of the swimming pool is thus recycled.

[0030] When the filtration system is in operation, the water drawn into the buffer tank is forced back into the pool, causing the pool to overflow into the buffer tank, as shown with the dotted arrow.

[0031] According to the example illustrated, the buffer tank 326 comprises an overflow 318 for evacuating a volume of excess water, for example due to rain falling in the swimming pool 300. This volume of excess water is evacuated to a storage tank 320 via a pipe 322. The storage tank 320 further comprises a water outlet 324 to the filtration assembly 302, via the pipe 312.

[0032] The filtration assembly 302 thus filters water from the swimming pool 300 and / or from the buffer tank 326 and from the storage tank 320 and delivers the filtered water to the swimming pool via the pipe 316.

[0033] Again, valves or solenoid valves (not shown) may be used to select certain circuits. For illustration, solenoid valves may be placed upstream of the pump to select, as the source of water to be filtered, the pool 300, the storage tank 320 and / or the buffer tank 326.

[0034] [Fig. 4] illustrates a third example of water management of a swimming pool 300, according to particular embodiments of the invention. This example is similar to that illustrated in [Fig. 3], but includes a mechanism for evacuating a different volume of excess water. This is again an overflow swimming pool 400 comprising a buffer tank 426. The water of the swimming pool is here filtered in a filtration assembly 402 comprising a pump 404 and a filter 406, for example a membrane filter. For these purposes, the water is collected by one or more drains 428 of the buffer tank 426 (advantageously comprising at least one bottom drain) and, preferably, by one or more bottom drains 410 of the swimming pool via a pipe 412, filtered in the filtration assembly 402 and discharged to a discharge nozzle 414 of the swimming pool 400 via a pipe 416. The water from the swimming pool is thus recycled.

[0035] According to the example illustrated, the buffer tank 426 comprises a water height (or water level) sensor connected to a pump to evacuate an excess volume of water, for example due to rain falling in the swimming pool 400. This excess volume of water is evacuated to a storage tank 420. The storage tank 420 comprises a water inlet 422 to receive this excess water and a water outlet 324 to the filtration assembly 302, via the pipe 312.

[0036] The filtration assembly 402 thus filters water from the swimming pool 400 and / or from the buffer tank 426 and from the storage tank 420 and delivers the filtered water to the swimming pool via the pipe 416.

[0037] According to a particular embodiment, the water height sensor 430 as well as controlled valves or solenoid valves (not shown) are used in cooperation with the filtration assembly to capture water from the swimming pool 400 and / or the buffer tank 426 and discharge it towards the storage tank 420. According to other embodiments, a specific pump is used to evacuate an excess volume of water.

[0038] Still according to particular embodiments, the buffer tank 426 comprises two water height sensors located at different heights: a high sensor and a low sensor. According to this embodiment, the pump used to evacuate an excess volume of water (e.g., a specific pump or a pump of the filtration assembly) is triggered when the high sensor detects the presence of water. It is stopped as soon as the low sensor no longer detects the presence of water.

[0039] It is observed here that such a mechanism for evacuating an excess volume of water can also be implemented in a swimming pool which is not an infinity pool, the water height sensor(s) being placed directly in the swimming pool or elsewhere, for example in one or more skimmers, and the water being evacuated through one or more specific drains and / or through one or more drains used for filtering the water.

[0040] [Fig. 5] illustrates a fourth example of water management of a swimming pool 500, according to particular embodiments of the invention. This example is similar to that illustrated in [Fig. 2], but the filtration of the swimming pool water is here separated from the filtration of the water in the storage tank, although using the same filtration assembly.

[0041] As illustrated, the water of the swimming pool 500 is filtered in a filtration assembly 502 comprising a pump 504 and a filter 506, for example a membrane filter. For these purposes, the water is collected by one or more skimmers 508 and / or one or more bottom drains 510 via a pipe 512, filtered in the filtration assembly 502 and discharged to one or more discharge nozzles 514 via a pipe 516. The water of the swimming pool is thus recycled.

[0042] As illustrated, the swimming pool 500 comprises one or more overflows 518, here located in the skimmer(s) 508, for discharging an excess volume of water, for example due to rain. This excess volume of water is discharged to a storage tank 520 via a pipe 522. The storage tank 520 further comprises a water outlet 524 to the filtration assembly 502, via the pipe 526. After filtration, the water from the storage tank 520 is discharged to the latter via a particular pipe 528 and inlet 530, or via the pipe and inlet used to discharge the excess volume of water to the storage tank 520.

[0043] As illustrated, the filtration system 502 here comprises two separate inlets and two separate outlets, making it possible to filter the water of the swimming pool 500 and the water of the storage tank 520 separately. The selection of the water inlet to be filtered and the outlet to which the filtered water must be discharged can be carried out using controlled valves or solenoid valves (not shown).

[0044] Thus, according to the example illustrated in [Fig.5], the water in the swimming pool and the water in the storage tank are not mixed (apart from the quantity of residual water present in the filtration assembly 502 when changing the selection of a filtration circuit).

[0045] It is observed here that such a mechanism allowing separate filtration of the pool water and the storage tank water can also be implemented in other types of basins or swimming pools, for example in an infinity pool.

[0046] [Fig. 6] illustrates a fifth example of water management of a swimming pool 600, according to particular embodiments of the invention. This example is similar to that illustrated in [Fig. 5], but further comprises means for recovering rainwater, here roof water.

[0047] As illustrated, the water of the swimming pool 600 is filtered in a filtration assembly 602 comprising a pump 604 and a filter 606, for example a membrane filter. For these purposes, the water is collected by one or more skimmers 608 and / or one or more bottom drains 610 via a pipe 612, filtered in the filtration assembly 602 and discharged to one or more discharge nozzles 614 via a pipe 616. The water of the swimming pool is thus recycled.

[0048] According to the illustrated example, the swimming pool 600 comprises one or more overflows 618, here located in the skimmer(s) 608, for discharging an excess volume of water in the swimming pool, for example due to rain. This excess volume of water is discharged to a storage tank 620 via a pipe 622. The storage tank 620 further comprises a water outlet 624 to the filtration assembly 602, via the pipe 626. After filtration, the water from the storage tank 620 is discharged to the latter via a particular pipe 628 and inlet 630 (as illustrated), or via the pipe and inlet used to discharge the excess volume of water from the swimming pool 600 to the storage tank 520 (not shown).

[0049] The filtration assembly 602 thus filters the water from the swimming pool 600 or the storage tank 620, separately, and delivers the filtered water to the swimming pool via the pipe 626 or to the storage tank 6201a pipe 626. A selection device such as a controlled valve or a solenoid valve can be used at the outlet of the filtration assembly 602 to deliver the water to the swimming pool 600 or the storage tank 620.

[0050] According to the example illustrated in [Fig. 6], the storage tank 620 also recovers rainwater from sources other than the swimming pool, in particular from roofs 640 of one or more houses. This water is here recovered via gutters 642, downspouts 644 and a pipe 646. The water thus recovered can be pre-filtered in a pre-filter (not shown) before being discharged to the storage tank 620 where it is filtered by the filtration assembly 602.

[0051] It is observed here that such a rainwater harvesting mechanism can also be implemented in other types of swimming pools, for example in a de Similarly, the water collected and directed to the storage tank may come from sources other than those mentioned above, for example a stream, a well, a wastewater treatment system, etc.

[0052] It is further observed that if the examples illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 represent only a single storage tank, several storage tanks can be used. They can be mounted in series and / or in parallel. Still according to embodiments, the storage tank(s) comprise one or more overflows.

[0053] It is further observed that if the water contained in the storage tank(s) can be used to supply the swimming pool, for example to top up the level, it can be used for other purposes, for example for watering, washing, etc., in particular when it is not mixed with the water of the swimming pool, for example in the case of separate filtration as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

[0054] Although not illustrated in the figures, the filtration assembly used to filter the water of the swimming pool or pond and the water of the storage tank(s) comprising a pump and at least one filter, for example a membrane filter, may also comprise other elements such as elements for controlling and / or adjusting the chemistry of the water.

[0055] Finally, it is noted that a membrane filter makes it possible to have a constant quality of the filtered liquid regardless of the incoming pollutant load. By way of illustration, the membrane may be a multi-channel inorganic microfiltration membrane. The filter may thus use multi-layer membranes of recrystallized silicon carbide (R-SiC) carried by a unique honeycomb monolith geometry. This is, for example, the Crystar filter from the company Saint-Gobain (Crystar and Saint-Gobain are trademarks).

[0056] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples. It extends to other variants.

[0057] Depending on the embodiment chosen, certain acts, actions, events or functions of each of the methods described herein may be performed or occur in a different order than that in which they were described, or may be added, merged or not performed or not occur, as the case may be. Furthermore, in some embodiments, certain acts, actions or events are performed or occur concurrently and not successively.

[0058] Although described through a certain number of detailed exemplary embodiments, the proposed device, system and method include various variants, modifications and improvements which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, it being understood that these various variants, modifications and improvements are part of the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims. In addition, various aspects and features described above may be implemented together, or separately, or substituted for each other, and all various combinations and subcombinations of the aspects and features are within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, some systems and equipment described above may not incorporate all of the modules and functions described for the preferred embodiments.

Claims

Claims

1. Water management system for a pond, - the system comprising a hydraulic assembly comprising - at least one pond (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) provided with at least one water outlet to be filtered (210, 310, 410, 510, 610) and at least one filtered water inlet (214, 314, 414, 514, 614), - a filtration assembly (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) configured to filter water received directly or indirectly from the at least one water outlet (210, 310, 410, 510, 610) and supply the filtered water to the at least one water inlet (214, 314, 414, 514, 614) and - at least one overflow (218, 318, 428, 518, 618) for discharging an excess volume of water from said hydraulic assembly, - the system further comprising at least one water storage tank (220, 320, 420, 520, 620) comprising at least one water inlet (222, 322, 422, 522, 622) connected to said at least one overflow (218, 318, 428, 518, 618) and comprising at least one outlet (224, 324, 424, 524, 624),characterized in that said filtration assembly (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) is further configured to filter water received directly or indirectly from the at least one water outlet (224, 324, 424, 524, 624) of said at least one storage tank (220, 320, 420, 520, 620) and supply the filtered water to the at least one water inlet (214, 314, 414, 514, 614) of said basin (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) and / or to the at least one water inlet (222, 322, 422, 522, 622) of said at least one storage tank (220, 320, 420, 520, 620). 420, 520, 620).,

2. A water management system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one basin (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) comprises said at least one overflow (218, 318, 428, 518, 618).

3. A water management system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one basin (300, 400) is an overflow basin, said hydraulic assembly further comprising a buffer tank (326, 426), said buffer tank (326, 426) comprising said at least one overflow (318, 428).

4. A water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 3, according to which said at least one overflow (218, 318, 428, 518, 618) comprises a water outlet located at a predetermined water height representative of a nominal water volume of said hydraulic assembly.

5. A water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least one overflow (428) comprises at least one water height sensor (430) configured to detect an excess volume of water from said hydraulic assembly, said at least one overflow (428) further comprising a discharge pump controlled by said at least one sensor (430) to discharge said excess volume of water from said hydraulic assembly.

6. A water management system according to claim 5, wherein said discharge pump is a pump (404) of said filtration assembly (402).

7. A water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said filtration assembly (202, 302, 402) is configured to simultaneously filter water from said hydraulic assembly and said at least one storage tank (220, 320, 420).

8. A water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said filtration assembly (502, 602) is configured to independently filter water from said hydraulic assembly and said at least one storage tank (520, 620).

9. A water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one water inlet (646) of said at least one storage tank (620) is connected directly or indirectly to a rainwater collector (640, 642, 644).

10. A water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said filtration assembly (202, 302, 402, 502, 602) comprises a membrane filter.

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