An underwater vehicle ballast water intake treatment system and method

Abstract

This invention proposes a ballast water inlet treatment system for underwater vehicles, comprising a filtration mechanism, a first three-way valve, a diversion mechanism, a heating mechanism, a ballast pump, a second three-way valve, a cooling mechanism, and a booster pump. The inlet of the filtration mechanism is connected to external ballast water, and the outlet of the filtration mechanism is connected to the first port of the first three-way valve. The filtration mechanism has a preheating channel with a heat exchange medium flowing within it for filtering impurities in the introduced ballast water. This system achieves efficient treatment and cleaning of ballast water through filtration, heating and distillation, diversion and inactivation, condensation, and pipeline flushing, improving water quality safety. It also effectively flushes and discharges residual substances in the pipeline, effectively improving the efficiency and safety of ballast water treatment, protecting the marine environment, and reducing the risk of harmful microorganism transmission.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ballast water ingress technology, and in particular to a ballast water ingress treatment system and method for underwater vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Ballast water refers to the water added to an underwater vehicle to adjust or control its roll, pitch, draft, stability, vibration, or strength. Ballast water is crucial for the safe and stable navigation of underwater vehicles, helping them maintain appropriate attitude and depth in different waters and conditions, thus improving navigation efficiency and safety.

[0003] A ballast water anti-marine biological treatment system and its control method are disclosed in CN11090289 A. The system includes a seagate, a ballast water treatment device, and a ballast water tank. The seagate is connected to the inlet of an inlet pipe, which is connected to a first water supply pipe and a second water supply pipe. The first water supply pipe is connected to the inlet of the ballast water treatment device. The outlet of the ballast water treatment device is connected to a third water supply pipe and an outlet pipe via a main water supply pipe. The third water supply pipe is connected to the first inlet of the ballast water tank, and the outlet pipe is connected to the seagate. The second water supply pipe is connected to the second inlet of the ballast water tank.

[0004] Existing ballast water inlet treatment systems are often not effective enough in treating marine microorganisms in ballast water. When the ballast water entering the ballast tank reaches the predetermined tonnage, the inlet system is shut off. At this time, some ballast water in the ballast water delivery pipeline remains untreated, which reduces the efficiency and safety of ballast water treatment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention proposes a ballast water inlet treatment system and method for underwater vehicles, which can effectively solve the problem of incomplete treatment of marine microorganisms in ballast water by existing ballast water inlet treatment systems, effectively improve the efficiency and safety of ballast water treatment, protect the marine environment and reduce the risk of spread of harmful microorganisms.

[0006] On one hand, the present invention provides a ballast water inlet treatment system for underwater vehicles, including a filtration mechanism, a first three-way valve, a diversion mechanism, a heating mechanism, a ballast pump, a second three-way valve, a cooling mechanism, and a booster pump, wherein...

[0007] The inlet of the filter mechanism is connected to the external ballast water, and the outlet of the filter mechanism is connected to the first port of the first three-way valve. The filter mechanism is equipped with a preheating channel, and a heat exchange medium flows in the preheating channel to filter impurities in the introduced ballast water.

[0008] The inlet of the diversion mechanism is connected to the second port of the first three-way valve, and the outlet of the diversion mechanism is connected to the pumping end of the ballast pump. The diversion mechanism is provided with several liquid delivery channels and heating channels. The several liquid delivery channels are arranged at equal intervals and are not connected to each other. Each heating channel is respectively fitted outside the corresponding liquid delivery channel, and the several heating channels are connected to each other. A heat exchange medium flows in the heating channel.

[0009] The heating mechanism has a water inlet and an exhaust outlet. The water inlet of the heating mechanism is connected to the third port of the first three-way valve, and the exhaust outlet of the heating mechanism is connected to one end of the preheating channel and the farthest end of the heating channel, respectively, for heating and distilling ballast water to generate a heat exchange medium.

[0010] The outlet of the ballast pump is connected to the first port of the second three-way valve, and the second port of the second three-way valve is connected to the inside of the ballast tank.

[0011] The cooling mechanism has a water outlet and an air inlet. The other farthest end of the heating channel and the other end of the preheating channel are connected to the air inlet of the cooling mechanism for condensing the heat exchange medium.

[0012] The inlet of the booster pump is connected to the outlet of the cooling mechanism, and the outlet of the booster pump is connected to the third port of the second three-way valve, which is used to flush out residual substances in the pipes.

[0013] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the filtration mechanism includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, a coarse filter assembly, a cylinder cover, a filter element assembly, and a bottom valve, wherein,

[0014] The inner cylinder is shaped like a boss and is hollow inside. The inner cylinder is fixed inside the outer cylinder. A first cavity is formed between the outer side of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and a second cavity is formed between the inner side of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. The water inlet of the filter mechanism passes through and extends into the first cavity.

[0015] The preheating channel is opened on the inner cylinder along the radial spiral direction of the outer cylinder;

[0016] The coarse filter assembly is located in the first chamber, and the water inlet of the filtration mechanism is located above the coarse filter assembly for the initial filtration of ballast water.

[0017] The cylinder cover is threaded onto the outer cylinder body, and the cylinder cover has a mounting hole that corresponds to the position of the second cavity.

[0018] The filter element assembly is threaded into the mounting hole. The middle part of the filter element assembly is hollow and connected to the water outlet end of the filtration mechanism for secondary filtration of ballast water.

[0019] One end of the submersible valve is connected to the external seawater, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the filtration mechanism.

[0020] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the filter element assembly includes a filter cartridge, a filter element section, and a cleaning component, wherein,

[0021] The filter cartridge is threaded into the mounting hole, and a third cavity is provided on the filter cartridge. Several filter holes communicating with the third cavity are provided on both the inner and outer sides of the filter cartridge.

[0022] The filter element is located in the third chamber, and the size of the filter element matches that of the third chamber.

[0023] The cleaning component is located inside the filter cartridge and is used to clean the outer surface of the filter cartridge.

[0024] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the cleaning assembly includes a rotating seat, a shaft, an impeller, and a scraper section, wherein,

[0025] The filter cartridge has a reduced diameter section inside, which is connected to the water outlet of the filtration mechanism.

[0026] The rotating seat is rotatably sealed to the bottom of the filter cartridge;

[0027] The shaft is fixed at the center of the rotating seat, and one end of the shaft passes through and extends to the reduced diameter section;

[0028] The impeller is fixed to the end of the shaft away from the rotating seat, and the impeller is located within the reduced diameter section;

[0029] One end of the scraper is fixed on the rotating seat, and the other end is slidably connected to the filter cartridge, with one side of the scraper abutting against the outer surface of the filter cartridge.

[0030] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the diversion mechanism includes a liquid diverter, two diversion branch pipes, several inner diameter pipes, several outer diameter pipes, and several connecting joints, wherein,

[0031] The inlet of the liquid distributor is connected to the second port of the first three-way valve. The branch pipe has several branch ends and a confluence end. The outlet of the liquid distributor is connected to the confluence end of one of the branch pipes. Each branch end of one branch pipe is connected to one end of a corresponding inner diameter pipe. The other ends of several inner diameter pipes are connected to each branch end of another branch pipe. The confluence end of the other branch pipe is connected to the pumping end of the ballast pump.

[0032] Several outer diameter pipes are respectively fitted on the outside of each inner diameter pipe, and a gap is left between the inner surface of each outer diameter pipe and the outer surface of the corresponding inner diameter pipe.

[0033] Several connecting joints are respectively set between two adjacent outer diameter pipes, and both ends are connected to the two adjacent outer diameter pipes respectively. The several connecting joints are arranged alternately along the radial direction of the inner diameter pipe.

[0034] The infusion channel is located inside the inner diameter pipe, and the heating channel is located between the outer diameter pipe and the inner diameter pipe.

[0035] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, each inner diameter pipe is provided with several baffles, and the several baffles in each inner diameter pipe are distributed at equal intervals and are staggered along the radial direction of the inner diameter pipe.

[0036] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the heating mechanism includes a heating cylinder, several heating elements, a descaling mechanism, an air pump, a liquid level monitoring element, and a temperature detection element, wherein,

[0037] The water inlet and exhaust outlet of the heating mechanism are both located at the top of the heating cylinder, and a drain valve is provided at the bottom of the heating cylinder.

[0038] Several heating elements are fixed inside the heating cylinder, and the heating elements are distributed at equal intervals along the axial direction of the heating cylinder for heating ballast water.

[0039] The descaling mechanism is located inside the heating mechanism and is used to descale the surfaces of each heating element;

[0040] The air pump's suction end is connected to the heating mechanism's exhaust end, and the air pump's outlet end is connected to the end of the preheating channel located on the upper side and the port of the uppermost connecting joint near the ballast pump.

[0041] The liquid level monitoring device is fixed to the outside of the heating cylinder and is used to monitor the ballast water level inside the heating cylinder;

[0042] The temperature sensing element is fixed to the outside of the heating cylinder to monitor the temperature of the water vapor inside the heating cylinder.

[0043] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the descaling mechanism includes a lead screw, a limiting rod, a moving part, a descaling assembly, and a driving part, wherein,

[0044] The lead screw is rotatably connected inside the heating cylinder, and the lead screw is set parallel to the heating element;

[0045] The limiting rod is fixed inside the heating cylinder and is set parallel to the lead screw;

[0046] The moving part has a threaded hole and a round hole. The position of the threaded hole corresponds to the position of the lead screw, and the position of the round hole corresponds to the position of the limit rod. The moving part is straddling between the lead screw and the limit rod. The lead screw passes through the threaded hole and is threadedly connected to it, and the limit rod passes through the round hole and is slidably connected to it.

[0047] Several descaling components are fixed on the moving part, and several cleaning parts are provided on the descaling components. The cleaning parts are located on both sides of each heating element and abut against each other.

[0048] The drive unit is fixed to the outside of the heating cylinder, and the output shaft of the drive unit is fixedly connected to the end of the lead screw to drive the lead screw to rotate circumferentially.

[0049] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, the cooling mechanism includes a cooling cylinder and a refrigeration system, wherein the refrigeration system is disposed on the cooling cylinder, and the evaporator of the refrigeration system is disposed inside the cooling cylinder.

[0050] Secondly, the present invention also provides a method for treating ballast water ingress in an underwater vehicle, employing the underwater vehicle ballast water ingress treatment system as described above, the method comprising the following steps:

[0051] S1, control to open the seabed valve, external ballast water enters the filtration mechanism, and passes through the coarse filter component and the filter element component in sequence for two filtrations, filtering out most of the impurities in the ballast water;

[0052] S2, when the ballast water flows out from the outlet of the filter mechanism, the water flows through the narrowing section, which drives the shaft and rotating seat connected to the impeller to rotate. The rotating seat drives the scraper to rotate along the outer surface of the filter cartridge to clean the outer surface of the filter cartridge.

[0053] S3, control to open the first port and the third port of the first three-way valve to connect them, and the ballast water enters the heating mechanism for heating and distillation. The high-temperature water vapor generated by distillation is delivered to the preheating channel and the heating channel of the filtration mechanism through the exhaust end to preheat the ballast water and heat the pipe of the diversion mechanism. When the liquid level monitoring device detects that the ballast water in the heating cylinder reaches the preset water level threshold, control to close the third port of the first three-way valve and monitor the temperature in the heating cylinder. When the preset temperature threshold is reached, control to open the second port of the first three-way valve.

[0054] S4, the ballast water is evenly distributed to the pipes of each inner diameter through the liquid distributor and the branch pipe. The high temperature water vapor passing through the heating channel heats the ballast water and inactivates the microorganisms in the ballast water. The water vapor and liquid cooling water flowing out from the heating channel and the preheating channel are transported to the cooling mechanism for liquid cooling and turned into water stored in the cooling cylinder.

[0055] S5 controls the opening of the first and second ports of the second three-way valve and the closing of the third port. The heated ballast water is transported to the ballast tank through the ballast pump. When the ballast water reaches the preset tonnage, the entire ballast water inlet system is shut down.

[0056] S6 controls the opening of the first and third ports of the second three-way valve and the closing of the second port. The booster pump draws out the liquid cooling water in the cooling cylinder and reverses its flow to flush out the residual substances in the pipe and discharge them into the outside seawater. When the preset discharge time threshold is reached, the seabed valve is closed.

[0057] The present invention provides a ballast water ingress treatment system and method for underwater vehicles, which has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0058] (1) This system achieves efficient treatment and cleaning of ballast water by filtering, heating and distilling, diverting and inactivating, condensing and flushing the pipeline, which improves water quality safety. It also effectively flushes and discharges residual substances in the pipeline, which effectively improves the efficiency and safety of ballast water treatment, protects the marine environment and reduces the risk of the spread of harmful microorganisms.

[0059] (2) Through the three layers of coarse filter components made of different materials, the ballast water is filtered in stages, which can remove various impurities and pollutants in the water more effectively. The heat exchange medium flowing in the preheating channel heats the first and second coarse filter layers, which can improve the filtration speed and efficiency.

[0060] (3) The impeller is driven to rotate by water flow, which in turn drives the scraper to automatically clean the outside of the filter cartridge. No external power source is required, which realizes automatic cleaning and reduces maintenance costs. The scraper can effectively scrape off the dirt on the outside of the filter cartridge, keep the filter cartridge clean and permeable, and ensure the filtration effect.

[0061] (4) The ballast water was evenly distributed through the liquid distributor and the branch pipe, ensuring that the water volume in each delivery channel was uniform. The heating channel was installed on the outside of the delivery channel to heat the ballast water after the distribution, which can achieve more comprehensive and efficient heating and improve the treatment effect of marine microorganisms.

[0062] (5) The scale layer on the heating element is effectively scraped or cleaned by the descaling mechanism to avoid the salt generated in the ballast water from adhering to the surface of the heating element and affecting the heating effect. Attached Figure Description

[0063] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0064] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention;

[0065] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the filtration mechanism of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention;

[0066] Figure 3This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the coarse filter assembly of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention.

[0067] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the coarse filter assembly of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention.

[0068] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the diversion mechanism of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention;

[0069] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure between the inner diameter pipe and the outer diameter pipe of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention.

[0070] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the heating mechanism of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention.

[0071] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the descaling mechanism of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention.

[0072] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the descaling mechanism of a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0073] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0074] This invention provides a ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle, comprising a filtration mechanism 1, a first three-way valve 2, a diversion mechanism 3, a heating mechanism 4, a ballast pump 5, a second three-way valve 6, a cooling mechanism 7, and a booster pump 8, wherein...

[0075] The inlet of the filter mechanism 1 is connected to the external ballast water, and the outlet of the filter mechanism 1 is connected to the first port of the first three-way valve 2. The filter mechanism 1 is provided with a preheating channel 100, and a heat exchange medium flows in the preheating channel 100 for filtering impurities in the introduced ballast water.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, the filtration mechanism 1 includes an outer cylinder 11, an inner cylinder 12, a coarse filter assembly 13, a cylinder cover 14, a filter element assembly 15, and a bottom valve 16. The inner cylinder 12 is boss-shaped and hollow inside. The inner cylinder 12 is fixed inside the outer cylinder 11. A first cavity 110 is formed between the outer side of the inner cylinder 12 and the outer cylinder 11, and a second cavity 120 is formed between the inner side of the inner cylinder 12 and the outer cylinder 11. The water inlet of the filtration mechanism 1 extends through and into the first cavity 110. A preheating channel 100 is opened along the radial spiral direction of the outer cylinder 11 within the inner cylinder. 12. The coarse filter assembly 13 is disposed in the first cavity 110, and the water inlet end of the filter mechanism 1 is located above the coarse filter assembly 13, for the initial filtration of ballast water; the cylinder cover 14 is threadedly connected to the outer cylinder 11, and the cylinder cover 14 is provided with a mounting hole 130, which corresponds to the position of the second cavity 120; the filter element assembly 15 is threadedly connected to the mounting hole 130, the middle part of the filter element assembly 15 is hollow, and it is connected to the water outlet end of the filter mechanism 1, for the secondary filtration of ballast water; one end of the sea valve 16 is connected to the external seawater, and the other end is connected to the water inlet end of the filter mechanism 1.

[0077] It should be noted that the external ballast water enters the filtration mechanism 1 through the sea valve 16. In the filtration mechanism 1, the ballast water first undergoes primary filtration through the coarse filter assembly 13 to remove larger particles of impurities. Then, the water that has undergone primary filtration enters the second chamber 120 and undergoes secondary filtration through the filter element assembly 15 to further remove fine impurities from the water. The heat exchange medium in the preheating channel 100 preheats the ballast water during filtration, which helps with subsequent processing. The water filtered by the filter element assembly 15 flows out from the outlet of the filtration mechanism 1 and enters the first three-way valve 2.

[0078] In addition, the coarse filter assembly 13 in this embodiment includes a first coarse filter layer, a second coarse filter layer, and a third coarse filter layer. The first, second, and third coarse filter layers are sequentially filled in the first cavity 110 along the axial direction of the inner cylinder 12. The first coarse filter layer is made of silicon carbide ceramic, which has high hardness and wear resistance. This layer is mainly used to filter out large particulate impurities and solid matter in the ballast water, playing a preliminary physical filtration role. The second coarse filter layer is composed of granular material made of perlite filter aid. Perlite has good adsorption performance and filtration effect, which can further remove suspended particles and organic matter in the water. The third coarse filter layer is made of activated carbon. Activated carbon has extremely strong adsorption capacity and can effectively remove odors, pigments, organic pollutants, etc. in the water. At the same time, it also has a certain adsorption effect on some heavy metal ions. Through three coarse filter layers of different materials, the ballast water is filtered in stages. Each layer has its specific filtration function, which can more effectively remove various impurities and pollutants in the water.

[0079] When the heat exchange medium in the preheating channel 100 flows, it can heat the first and second coarse filter layers. Heating helps to remove moisture and volatile substances from the perlite, improves its adsorption and filtration capacity, and heating the silicon carbide ceramic helps to reduce the adhesion of fluid on the ceramic surface and improve the filtration speed, thereby improving the filtration speed and efficiency.

[0080] According to the dual filtration design of the coarse filter assembly 13 and the filter element assembly 15 in this embodiment, impurities in the ballast water can be removed efficiently, ensuring the quality of the treated water. The heat exchange medium in the preheating channel 100 can preheat the ballast water, which is convenient for subsequent treatment, effectively improving the treatment efficiency and saving energy consumption.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment, the filter cartridge assembly 15 in this embodiment includes a filter cartridge 151, a filter element portion 152, and a cleaning assembly 153. The filter cartridge 151 is threaded into the mounting hole 130, and a third cavity 140 is formed on the filter cartridge 151. The inner and outer sides of the filter cartridge 151 are provided with a plurality of filter holes communicating with the third cavity 140. The filter element portion 152 is disposed in the third cavity 140, and the size of the filter element portion 152 matches that of the third cavity 140. The cleaning assembly 153 is disposed inside the filter cartridge 151 and is used to clean the outer surface of the filter cartridge 151.

[0082] It should be noted that after the ballast water is initially filtered by the coarse filter assembly 13, it enters the third chamber 140 of the filter cartridge 151. The water flows through the filter holes on the inner and outer sides of the filter cartridge 151 and then through the filter element 152. The filter element 152 can capture tiny particles and impurities in the water, thereby achieving fine filtration of the ballast water. Over time, the filter holes of the filter element 152 and the filter cartridge 151 may become clogged with impurities, affecting the filtration effect. The cleaning assembly 153 can clean the outer surface of the filter cartridge 151, remove the attached impurities, restore the permeability of the filter holes, and ensure the continued effectiveness of the filtration effect.

[0083] According to this embodiment, the filter elements 152 and the filter cartridge 151 can achieve fine filtration of ballast water, effectively removing small particles and impurities and improving water quality. The cleaning component 153 enables the filter element assembly 15 to have self-cleaning ability, which can clean the outer surface of the filter cartridge 151 regularly or as needed, thereby extending the service life of the filter element assembly 15 and reducing the frequency and cost of manual maintenance.

[0084] In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning assembly 153 includes a rotating seat 1531, a shaft 1532, an impeller 1533, and a scraper 1534. The filter cartridge 151 has a reduced-diameter section 1510 inside, which is connected to the outlet end of the filtration mechanism 1. The rotating seat 1531 is rotatably and sealingly connected to the bottom end of the filter cartridge 151. The shaft 1532 is fixed at the axis of the rotating seat 1531, and one end of the shaft 1532 extends through and to the reduced-diameter section 1510. The impeller 1533 is fixed at the end of the shaft 1532 away from the rotating seat 1531, and is located inside the reduced-diameter section 1510. One end of the scraper 1534 is fixed to the rotating seat 1531, and the other end is slidably connected to the filter cartridge 151, with one side of the scraper 1534 abutting against the outer surface of the filter cartridge 151.

[0085] It should be noted that when the filtered water flows out of the filter element assembly 15, the water flow passes through the narrowing section 1510, and the flow velocity increases. At this time, the water flow impacts the impeller 1533, causing it to rotate. The diameter of the narrowing section 1510 is equal to 1 / 3 of the inner diameter of the filter cartridge 151. The rotation of the impeller 1533 drives the shaft 1532 and the rotating seat 1531 to rotate together. Since the rotating seat 1531 is rotatably sealed to the bottom of the filter cartridge 151, the rotating seat 1531 can rotate freely relative to the filter cartridge 151. One end of the scraper part 1534 is fixed on the rotating seat 1531. As the rotating seat rotates, the scraper part 1534 slides along the outer surface of the filter cartridge 151, thereby scraping away impurities and dirt attached to the outside of the filter cartridge.

[0086] In this embodiment, the impeller 1533 is driven to rotate by water flow, which in turn drives the scraper 1534 to automatically clean the outside of the filter cartridge 151. No external power source is required, thus achieving automatic cleaning and reducing maintenance costs. The scraper 151 can effectively scrape off dirt from the outside of the filter cartridge, keeping the filter cartridge clean and permeable, ensuring the filtration effect. Furthermore, the top of the scraper 1534 is slidably connected to the filter cartridge 151 along the circumference, ensuring the stability of the scraper 1534's movement.

[0087] The inlet end of the diversion mechanism 3 is connected to the second port of the first three-way valve 2, and the outlet end of the diversion mechanism 3 is connected to the liquid extraction end of the ballast pump 5. The diversion mechanism 3 is provided with a plurality of liquid delivery channels 300 and heating channels 310. The plurality of liquid delivery channels 300 are arranged at equal intervals and are not interconnected. Each heating channel 310 is respectively fitted outside the corresponding liquid delivery channel 300, and the plurality of heating channels 310 are interconnected. A heat exchange medium flows in the heating channel 310.

[0088] The outlet of the ballast pump 5 is connected to the first port of the second three-way valve 6, and the second port of the second three-way valve 6 is connected to the interior of the ballast tank.

[0089] In a preferred embodiment, the diversion mechanism 3 includes a liquid diverter 31, two diversion branches 32, several inner diameter pipes 33, several outer diameter pipes 34, and several connecting joints 35. The inlet end of the liquid diverter 31 is connected to the second port of the first three-way valve 2. The diversion branches 32 have several diversion ends and a confluence end. The outlet end of the liquid diverter 31 is connected to the confluence end of one of the diversion branches 32. Each diversion end of one diversion branch 32 is connected to one end of a corresponding inner diameter pipe 33, and the other ends of the several inner diameter pipes 33 are connected to the other diversion branch 32. Each branch end is connected, and the confluence end of another branch pipe 32 is connected to the liquid extraction end of the ballast pump 5; several outer diameter pipes 34 are respectively sleeved on the outside of each inner diameter pipe 33, and the inner surface of each outer diameter pipe 34 and the outer surface of the corresponding inner diameter pipe 33 are left with a gap; several connecting joints 35 are respectively set between two adjacent outer diameter pipes 34, and both ends are respectively connected to the two adjacent outer diameter pipes 34, and the several connecting joints 35 are staggered along the radial direction of the inner diameter pipe 33; the infusion channel 300 is set inside the inner diameter pipe 33, and the heating channel 310 is set between the outer diameter pipe 34 and the inner diameter pipe 33.

[0090] It should be noted that the ballast water, after being regulated by the first three-way valve 2, enters the liquid distributor 31 and is then evenly distributed into each inner diameter pipe 33 to achieve water flow diversion. The heat exchange medium flows in the heating channel 310 to heat the ballast water in the inner diameter pipe 33. The heated ballast water is finally collected through the confluence end of another branch pipe 32 and pumped away by the ballast pump 5, and then transported to the ballast tank through the second port of the second three-way valve 6.

[0091] According to this embodiment, the ballast water is evenly distributed through the liquid distributor 31 and the branch pipe 32, ensuring that the water volume in each infusion channel 300 is uniform. The heating channel 310 is sleeved on the outside of the infusion channel 300 to heat the ballast water after distribution, which can achieve more comprehensive and efficient heating and improve the treatment effect of marine microorganisms.

[0092] In addition, each inner diameter pipe 33 is provided with several baffles 36. The baffles 36 in each inner diameter pipe 33 are distributed at equal intervals and are staggered along the radial direction of the inner diameter pipe 33.

[0093] It should be noted that when the ballast water flows through the inner diameter pipe 33, its flow direction is changed multiple times by these staggered baffles 36, forming a tortuous flow path. The residence time of the ballast water in the inner diameter pipe 33 is relatively increased, which increases the contact time between the ballast water and the heat exchange medium in the heating channel 310, thereby improving the heating efficiency.

[0094] The heating mechanism 4 has a water inlet and an exhaust outlet. The water inlet of the heating mechanism 4 is connected to the third port of the first three-way valve 2. The exhaust outlet of the heating mechanism 4 is connected to one end of the preheating channel 100 and the farthest end of the heating channel 310, respectively, for heating and distilling ballast water to generate a heat exchange medium.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment, the heating mechanism 4 includes a heating cylinder 41, several heating elements 42, a descaling mechanism 43, an air pump 44, a liquid level monitoring element 45, and a temperature detection element 46. The water inlet and exhaust ends of the heating mechanism 4 are both located at the top of the heating cylinder 41, and a drain valve is connected to the bottom of the heating cylinder 41. Several heating elements 42 are fixed inside the heating cylinder 41 and are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the heating cylinder 41 for heating the ballast water; descaling... Mechanism 43 is installed inside heating mechanism 4 and is used to descale the surface of each heating element 42; the suction end of air pump 44 is connected to the exhaust end of heating mechanism 4, and the outlet end of air pump 44 is connected to the end of preheating channel 100 located on the upper side and the port of the uppermost connecting joint 35 near ballast pump 5; liquid level monitoring element 45 is fixed on the outside of heating cylinder 41 and is used to monitor the ballast water level in heating cylinder 41; temperature detection element 46 is fixed on the outside of heating cylinder 41 and is used to monitor the water vapor temperature in heating cylinder 41.

[0096] It should be noted that the ballast water enters the inlet of the heating mechanism 4 from the third port of the first three-way valve 2 and flows into the heating cylinder 41. Inside the heating cylinder 41, several heating elements 42 heat the ballast water to the boiling point and generate water vapor. The generated water vapor is discharged through the exhaust port of the heating mechanism 4 and pumped by the air pump 44. The air pump 44 delivers the water vapor to the preheating channel 100 and the heating channel 310 respectively to provide a heat source. During the heating process, the descaling mechanism 43 automatically descales the surface of each heating element 42.

[0097] According to this embodiment, the heating elements 42 with equal spacing are used to achieve efficient heating and rapid distillation of ballast water, which improves the generation efficiency of the heat exchange medium. The descaling mechanism 43 effectively prevents the accumulation of scale on the surface of the heating elements 42, ensuring heating efficiency and service life of the heating elements. The air pump 44 can flexibly transport the generated water vapor to the preheating channel 100 and the heating channel 310, providing a stable heat source and improving the thermal efficiency of the entire system.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment, the descaling mechanism 43 includes a lead screw 431, a limiting rod 432, a moving part 433, a descaling assembly 434, and a driving part 435. The lead screw 431 is rotatably connected inside the heating cylinder 41 and is arranged parallel to the heating element 42. The limiting rod 432 is fixed inside the heating cylinder 41 and is arranged parallel to the lead screw 431. The moving part 433 has a threaded hole and a round hole; the threaded hole corresponds to the position of the lead screw 431, and the round hole corresponds to the position of the limiting rod 432. The movable component 433 is straddling the lead screw 431 and the limiting rod 432. The lead screw 431 passes through the threaded hole and is threadedly connected to it, while the limiting rod 432 passes through the round hole and is slidably connected to it. Several descaling components 434 are fixed on the movable component 433, and several cleaning parts are provided on the descaling components 434. Several cleaning parts are provided on both sides of each heating element 42 and abut against each other. The driving component 435 is fixed on the outside of the heating cylinder 41, and the output shaft of the driving component 435 is fixedly connected to the end of the lead screw 431 to drive the lead screw 431 to rotate circumferentially.

[0099] It should be noted that the driving component 435 drives the lead screw 431 to rotate circumferentially, and the moving component 433 is straddling the lead screw 431 and the limiting rod 432. Due to the action of the thread, the moving component 433 will move along the length direction of the lead screw 431. The moving component 433 drives the cleaning part of the descaling component 434 to move, effectively scraping or cleaning the scale layer on the heating element 42, and preventing the salt generated in the ballast water from adhering to the surface of the heating element 42 and affecting the heating effect. The cleaned salt or scale layer falls to the bottom of the heating cylinder 41 and can be discharged by opening the drain valve.

[0100] In this embodiment, the cooling mechanism 7 has a water outlet and an air inlet. The other farthest end of the heating channel 310 and the other end of the preheating channel 100 are connected to the air inlet of the cooling mechanism 7 for condensing the heat exchange medium.

[0101] The cooling mechanism 7 includes a cooling cylinder 71 and a refrigeration system 72, wherein the refrigeration system 72 is disposed on the cooling cylinder 71, and the evaporator of the refrigeration system 72 is disposed inside the cooling cylinder 71.

[0102] It should be noted that the heat exchange medium discharged from the heating channel 310 and the preheating channel 100 enters the air inlet of the cooling mechanism 7 through a pipe. When this high-temperature water vapor enters the cooling cylinder 71, it encounters the low-temperature environment generated by the refrigeration system 72. The evaporator in the refrigeration system 72 is located inside the cooling cylinder 71. The evaporator absorbs heat from the cooling cylinder 71 through refrigerant circulation, thereby reducing the internal temperature of the cooling cylinder 71. As the temperature decreases, the water vapor gradually condenses into liquid water and is collected.

[0103] Understandably, the principle of the refrigeration system 72 is as follows: the compressor compresses low-pressure vapor into high-pressure vapor, reducing the volume of the vapor and increasing its pressure. The compressor draws in low-pressure working fluid vapor from the evaporator, increases its pressure, and sends it to the condenser, where it condenses into a high-pressure liquid. After being throttled by the expansion valve, it becomes a low-pressure liquid and is sent to the evaporator, where it absorbs heat and evaporates into low-pressure vapor, which is then sent back to the compressor inlet, thus completing the refrigeration cycle. This is existing technology and will not be elaborated further here.

[0104] In this embodiment, the inlet of the booster pump 8 is connected to the outlet of the cooling mechanism 7, and the outlet of the booster pump 8 is connected to the third port of the second three-way valve 6, which is used to flush out the residual substances in the pipe.

[0105] It should be noted that when the ballast water reaches the preset tonnage, the entire ballast water inlet system is shut down; the first and third ports of the second three-way valve 6 are opened, and the second port is closed. The booster pump 8 draws out the liquid cooling water in the cooling cylinder 71 and transports it in the reverse direction. The first and second ports of the first three-way valve 2 are opened, and the third port is closed. The liquid cooling water flushes the residual substances in the pipeline and discharges them into the open sea. When the preset discharge time threshold is reached, the seabed valve 16 is closed first, and then the booster pump 8 is shut down. This can effectively clean the inner wall of the pipeline, remove the attached residual substances, keep the pipeline clean, and avoid marine environmental pollution caused by the residual ballast water in the pipeline, thereby improving the efficiency and safety of ballast water treatment.

[0106] Secondly, the present invention also provides a method for treating ballast water ingress in an underwater vehicle, employing the underwater vehicle ballast water ingress treatment system as described above, the method comprising the following steps:

[0107] S1, control to open the seabed valve 16, external ballast water enters the filtration mechanism 1, and passes through the coarse filter assembly 13 and the filter element assembly 15 in sequence for two filtrations, filtering out most of the impurities in the ballast water;

[0108] S2, when the ballast water flows out from the outlet end of the filter mechanism 1, when the water flows through the narrowing section 1510, it drives the shaft 1532 and the rotating seat 1531 connected to the impeller 1533 to rotate. The rotating seat 1531 drives the scraper part 1534 to rotate along the outer surface of the filter cartridge 151 to clean the outer surface of the filter cartridge 151.

[0109] S3, control the opening of the first port and the third port of the first three-way valve 2, and at this time close the second port. Ballast water enters the heating mechanism 4 for heating and distillation. The high-temperature water vapor generated by distillation is delivered to the preheating channel 100 and the heating channel 310 of the filtration mechanism 1 through the exhaust end to preheat the ballast water and heat the pipeline of the diversion mechanism 3. When the liquid level monitoring device 45 detects that the ballast water in the heating cylinder 41 reaches the preset water level threshold, it controls the closing of the third port of the first three-way valve 2 and monitors the temperature in the heating cylinder 41. When the preset temperature threshold is reached, it controls the opening of the second port of the first three-way valve 2.

[0110] When the ballast water in the heating cylinder 41 does not reach the preset water level threshold, the third port of the first three-way valve 2 is opened until the preset water level threshold is reached, effectively ensuring a stable supply of heat exchange medium. When the entire water inlet treatment system is shut down, the heating element 42 stops and the third port of the first three-way valve 2 is closed.

[0111] S4, the ballast water is evenly distributed into the inner diameter pipes 33 through the liquid distributor 31 and the branch pipe 32. The high temperature water vapor passing through the heating channel 310 heats the ballast water and inactivates the microorganisms in the ballast water. The water vapor and liquid cooling water flowing out from the heating channel 310 and the preheating channel 100 are transported to the cooling mechanism 7 for liquid cooling and are stored in the cooling cylinder 71.

[0112] S5 controls the opening of the first and second ports of the second three-way valve 6 and the closing of the third port. The heated ballast water is transported to the ballast tank through the ballast pump 5. When the ballast water reaches the preset tonnage, the entire ballast water inlet system is shut down.

[0113] S6, at this time the system immediately controls to open the first and third ports of the second three-way valve 6 and close the second port. The booster pump 8 draws out the liquid cooling water in the cooling cylinder 71 and transports it in the reverse direction to flush the residual substances in the pipe and discharge them into the outside seawater. When the preset discharge time threshold is reached, the bottom valve 16 is closed first and then the booster pump 8 is closed.

[0114] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ballast water inlet treatment system for an underwater vehicle, characterized in that, It includes a filtration mechanism (1), a first three-way valve (2), a flow diversion mechanism (3), a heating mechanism (4), a ballast pump (5), a second three-way valve (6), a cooling mechanism (7), and a booster pump (8), wherein, The inlet of the filter mechanism (1) is connected to the external ballast water, and the outlet of the filter mechanism (1) is connected to the first port of the first three-way valve (2). The filter mechanism (1) is provided with a preheating channel (100), and a heat exchange medium flows in the preheating channel (100) for filtering impurities in the introduced ballast water. The inlet of the diversion mechanism (3) is connected to the second port of the first three-way valve (2), and the outlet of the diversion mechanism (3) is connected to the pumping end of the ballast pump (5). The diversion mechanism (3) is provided with several liquid delivery channels (300) and heating channels (310). The several liquid delivery channels (300) are arranged at equal intervals and are not connected to each other. Each heating channel (310) is respectively fitted outside the corresponding liquid delivery channel (300), and the several heating channels (310) are connected to each other. A heat exchange medium flows in the heating channel (310). The heating mechanism (4) has a water inlet and an exhaust outlet. The water inlet of the heating mechanism (4) is connected to the third port of the first three-way valve (2). The exhaust outlet of the heating mechanism (4) is connected to one end of the preheating channel (100) and the farthest end of the heating channel (310), respectively, for heating and distilling ballast water to generate a heat exchange medium. The outlet of the ballast pump (5) is connected to the first port of the second three-way valve (6), and the second port of the second three-way valve (6) is connected to the inside of the ballast tank. The cooling mechanism (7) has a water outlet and an air inlet. The other farthest end of the heating channel (310) and the other end of the preheating channel (100) are connected to the air inlet of the cooling mechanism (7) for condensing the heat exchange medium. The inlet of the booster pump (8) is connected to the outlet of the cooling mechanism (7), and the outlet of the booster pump (8) is connected to the third port of the second three-way valve (6) to flush out the residual substances in the pipe.

2. The underwater vehicle ballast water inlet treatment system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filtration mechanism (1) includes an outer cylinder (11), an inner cylinder (12), a coarse filter assembly (13), a cylinder cover (14), a filter element assembly (15), and a bottom valve (16), wherein, The inner cylinder (12) is in the shape of a boss and is hollow inside. The inner cylinder (12) is fixed inside the outer cylinder (11). A first cavity (110) is formed between the outer side of the inner cylinder (12) and the outer cylinder (11). A second cavity (120) is formed between the inner side of the inner cylinder (12) and the outer cylinder (11). The water inlet end of the filter mechanism (1) passes through and extends into the first cavity (110). The preheating channel (100) is opened on the inner cylinder (12) along the radial spiral direction of the outer cylinder (11); The coarse filter assembly (13) is disposed in the first cavity (110), and the water inlet end of the filter mechanism (1) is located above the coarse filter assembly (13) for the initial filtration of ballast water. The cylinder cover (14) is threaded onto the outer cylinder (11), and the cylinder cover (14) is provided with a mounting hole (130), which corresponds to the position of the second cavity (120); The filter element assembly (15) is threaded into the mounting hole (130). The middle part of the filter element assembly (15) is hollow and connected to the water outlet end of the filter mechanism (1) for secondary filtration of ballast water. One end of the sea valve (16) is connected to the external seawater, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the filter mechanism (1).

3. The underwater vehicle ballast water inlet treatment system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The filter element assembly (15) includes a filter cartridge (151), a filter element section (152), and a cleaning assembly (153), wherein, The filter cartridge (151) is threaded into the mounting hole (130), and a third cavity (140) is provided on the filter cartridge (151). The inner and outer sides of the filter cartridge (151) are provided with a number of filter holes that communicate with the third cavity (140). The filter element (152) is disposed in the third cavity (140), and the size of the filter element (152) matches that of the third cavity (140); The cleaning component (153) is located inside the filter cartridge (151) and is used to clean the outer surface of the filter cartridge (151).

4. The underwater vehicle ballast water inlet treatment system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cleaning assembly (153) includes a rotating seat (1531), a shaft (1532), an impeller (1533), and a scraper section (1534), wherein, The filter cartridge (151) has a reduced diameter section (1510) inside, and is connected to the water outlet of the filtration mechanism (1); The rotating seat (1531) is rotatably and sealingly connected to the bottom end of the filter cartridge (151); The shaft (1532) is fixed at the center of the rotating seat (1531), and one end of the shaft (1532) passes through and extends to the reduced diameter section (1510); The impeller (1533) is fixed to the end of the shaft (1532) away from the rotating seat (1531), and the impeller (1533) is located in the reduced diameter section (1510); One end of the scraper (1534) is fixed on the rotating seat (1531), and the other end is slidably connected to the filter cartridge (151), and one side of the scraper (1534) abuts against the outer surface of the filter cartridge (151).

5. The ballast water inlet treatment system for underwater vehicles according to claim 4, characterized in that, The diversion mechanism (3) includes a liquid diverter (31), two diversion branches (32), several inner diameter pipes (33), several outer diameter pipes (34), and several connecting joints (35), wherein, The inlet end of the liquid distributor (31) is connected to the second port of the first three-way valve (2). The branch pipe (32) has several branch ends and a confluence end. The outlet end of the liquid distributor (31) is connected to the confluence end of one of the branch pipes (32). Each branch end of one branch pipe (32) is connected to one end of the corresponding inner diameter pipe (33). The other ends of several inner diameter pipes (33) are connected to each branch end of another branch pipe (32). The confluence end of another branch pipe (32) is connected to the pumping end of the ballast pump (5). Several outer diameter pipes (34) are respectively fitted on the outside of each inner diameter pipe (33), and there is a gap between the inner surface of each outer diameter pipe (34) and the outer surface of the corresponding inner diameter pipe (33). Several connecting joints (35) are respectively set between two adjacent outer diameter pipes (34), and both ends are connected to the two adjacent outer diameter pipes (34), and the several connecting joints (35) are staggered along the radial direction of the inner diameter pipe (33); The infusion channel (300) is located inside the inner diameter pipe (33), and the heating channel (310) is located between the outer diameter pipe (34) and the inner diameter pipe (33).

6. The underwater vehicle ballast water inlet treatment system according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each inner diameter pipe (33) is provided with several baffles (36), and the baffles (36) in each inner diameter pipe (33) are distributed at equal intervals and are staggered along the radial direction of the inner diameter pipe (33).

7. The underwater vehicle ballast water inlet treatment system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The heating mechanism (4) includes a heating cylinder (41), several heating elements (42), a descaling mechanism (43), an air pump (44), a liquid level monitoring element (45), and a temperature detection element (46), wherein, The water inlet and exhaust outlet of the heating mechanism (4) are both located at the top of the heating cylinder (41), and a drain valve is provided at the bottom of the heating cylinder (41). Several heating elements (42) are fixed inside the heating cylinder (41), and the heating elements (42) are evenly distributed along the axial direction of the heating cylinder (41) for heating ballast water; The descaling mechanism (43) is installed inside the heating mechanism (4) and is used to descale the surface of each heating element (42); The air pump (44) is connected to the exhaust end of the heating mechanism (4), and the air pump (44) is connected to the port of the uppermost connecting joint (35) of the preheating channel (100) and the side closest to the ballast pump (5). The liquid level monitoring component (45) is fixed on the outside of the heating cylinder (41) and is used to monitor the ballast water level inside the heating cylinder (41); The temperature sensing element (46) is fixed on the outside of the heating cylinder (41) to monitor the water vapor temperature inside the heating cylinder (41).

8. The ballast water inlet treatment system for underwater vehicles according to claim 7, characterized in that, The descaling mechanism (43) includes a lead screw (431), a limiting rod (432), a moving part (433), a descaling assembly (434), and a driving part (435), wherein, The lead screw (431) is rotatably connected inside the heating cylinder (41), and the lead screw (431) is arranged parallel to the heating element (42); The limiting rod (432) is fixed inside the heating cylinder (41) and is set parallel to the lead screw (431); The movable part (433) has a threaded hole and a round hole. The position of the threaded hole corresponds to the position of the lead screw (431), and the position of the round hole corresponds to the position of the limiting rod (432). The movable part (433) spans between the lead screw (431) and the limiting rod (432). The lead screw (431) passes through the threaded hole and is threadedly connected to it, and the limiting rod (432) passes through the round hole and is slidably connected to it. Several descaling components (434) are fixed on the movable part (433), and several cleaning parts are provided on the descaling components (434). The cleaning parts are located on both sides of each heating element (42) and abut against each other. The drive unit (435) is fixed on the outside of the heating cylinder (41), and the output shaft of the drive unit (435) is fixedly connected to the end of the lead screw (431) to drive the lead screw (431) to rotate circumferentially.

9. The ballast water inlet treatment system for underwater vehicles according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cooling mechanism (7) includes a cooling cylinder (71) and a refrigeration system (72), wherein the refrigeration system (72) is disposed on the cooling cylinder (71), and the evaporator of the refrigeration system (72) is disposed inside the cooling cylinder (71).

10. A method for treating ballast water ingress in an underwater vehicle, employing the ballast water ingress treatment system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: S1, control to open the seabed valve (16), external ballast water enters the filtration mechanism (1), and passes through the coarse filter assembly (13) and the filter element assembly (15) in sequence for two filtrations, filtering out most of the impurities in the ballast water; S2, when the ballast water flows out from the outlet of the filter mechanism (1), when the water flows through the narrow section (1510), it drives the shaft (1532) connected to the impeller (1533) and the rotating seat (1531) to rotate. The rotating seat (1531) drives the scraper (1534) to rotate along the outer surface of the filter cartridge (151) to clean the outer surface of the filter cartridge (151). S3, control the opening of the first port and the third port of the first three-way valve (2) to connect, the ballast water enters the heating mechanism (4) for heating and distillation, the high temperature water vapor generated by distillation is delivered to the preheating channel (100) and the heating channel (310) of the filtration mechanism (1) through the exhaust end respectively, to preheat the ballast water and heat the pipeline of the diversion mechanism (3), when the liquid level monitoring device (45) detects that the ballast water in the heating cylinder (41) reaches the preset water level threshold, then control the closing of the third port of the first three-way valve (2) and monitor the temperature in the heating cylinder (41), when the preset temperature threshold is reached, then control the opening of the second port of the first three-way valve (2); S4, the ballast water is evenly distributed into the inner diameter pipes (33) through the liquid distributor (31) and the branch pipe (32). The high temperature water vapor passing through the heating channel (310) heats the ballast water and inactivates the microorganisms in the ballast water. The water vapor and liquid cooling water flowing out from the heating channel (310) and the preheating channel (100) are transported to the cooling mechanism (7) for liquid cooling and stored in the cooling cylinder (71). S5, control to open the first and second ports of the second three-way valve (6) and close the third port. The heated ballast water is transported to the ballast tank through the ballast pump (5). When the ballast water reaches the preset tonnage, control to shut down the entire ballast water inlet system. S6, control the opening of the first and third ports of the second three-way valve (6), close the second port, and the booster pump (8) draws out the liquid cooling water in the cooling cylinder (71) and transports it in the reverse direction to flush the residual substances in the pipeline and discharge them into the outside seawater. When the preset discharge time threshold is reached, the seabed valve (16) is closed.

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