Water taking device

Abstract

The invention discloses a water taking device, and relates to the technical field of water taking devices.The water taking device comprises a seawater cabinet, a water taking assembly, a pipeline assembly, a seawater supply pump and a control assembly, the seawater cabinet is used for being installed in a cabin of a floating type platform, the water taking assembly comprises a rotating part and a water taking pipe, and one end of the water taking pipe is arranged in the seawater cabinet; the other end of the water taking pipe is used for stretching into seawater, the rotating part is in transmission connection with the top of the water taking pipe so as to drive the water taking pipe to rotate, the pipeline assembly is used for communicating the seawater cabinet and the seawater fresh water generator, the seawater supply pump is arranged on the pipeline assembly so as to be used for pumping seawater in the seawater cabinet to the seawater fresh water generator, and the control assembly comprises a controller and a flow direction sensor. The flow direction sensor is used for being arranged at the end, stretching into seawater, of the water taking pipe, and the controller is in signal connection with the rotating component and the flow direction sensor. And through closed-loop control of the flow direction sensor and the rotating component, an inlet of the water taking pipe always faces the water flow direction, the effective water taking area is increased, and therefore the water taking efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water intake device technology, and in particular to a water intake device. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of marine resource development, ocean shipping, and island construction, the demand for freshwater from floating platforms is increasing daily. As the core equipment for desalinating seawater, the stable operation of a seawater maker directly depends on a continuous and efficient supply of seawater. Since floating platforms are far from land and cannot rely on shore-based water supply systems, the seawater intake system becomes the crucial link connecting the marine water source and the maker. Its intake efficiency, stability, and water quality directly affect the maker's water production capacity, energy consumption, and equipment lifespan.

[0003] Currently, most seawater generators on floating platforms use fixed-direction water intake pipes for water intake.

[0004] However, since the direction of ocean currents is dynamically changing due to factors such as tides, ocean currents, and monsoons, a water intake pipe with a fixed direction cannot be adjusted to follow the direction of the current. If the angle between the water intake pipe inlet and the direction of the current is too large, the resistance to the current will increase, resulting in a decrease in the water intake flow rate.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new water intake device to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The main objective of this invention is to provide a water intake device that aims to improve the technical problem of low water intake efficiency in existing water intake devices.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a water intake device, comprising: Seawater tank, the seawater tank being installed inside the cabin of a floating platform; A water intake assembly, comprising a rotating component and a water intake pipe, wherein one end of the water intake pipe is disposed in the seawater tank and the other end of the water intake pipe is used to extend into seawater, and the rotating component is connected to the top of the water intake pipe for driving the water intake pipe to rotate. Piping assembly for connecting the seawater tank and the seawater generator; A seawater supply pump is installed in the pipeline assembly to pump seawater from the seawater tank to the seawater generator. The control component includes a controller and a flow direction sensor. The flow direction sensor is installed at the end of the water intake pipe that extends into the seawater. The controller is signal-connected to both the rotating component and the flow direction sensor.

[0008] In one embodiment, the water intake device further includes a waterproof shell, which is disposed inside the seawater tank and forms a sealed cavity with the seawater tank, and the rotating component is disposed in the sealed cavity.

[0009] In one embodiment, the rotating component includes a first drive motor and a rotating shaft. The first drive motor is connected to the rotating shaft via a coupling. The first drive motor is placed in the sealed cavity. The rotating shaft extends out of the waterproof shell and is fixedly connected to the water intake pipe. The controller is signal-connected to the first drive motor.

[0010] In one embodiment, the water intake device further includes a seawater quality sensor and a lifting component. The lifting component is connected to the rotating component to drive the water intake pipe to move up and down in a vertical direction. The lifting component is disposed in the sealed cavity. The seawater quality sensor is used to detect the quality of seawater. The controller is connected to the seawater quality sensor and the lifting component for signal transmission.

[0011] In one embodiment, the lifting component includes a second drive motor, a lead screw, a nut slider, and a slide rail. The slide rail is vertically disposed on the seawater tank. The second drive motor is signal-connected to the controller. The output shaft of the second drive motor is drivenly connected to the lead screw via a coupling. The nut slider is fixedly connected to the rotating component. The nut slider slides in cooperation with the slide rail. The nut slider is threadedly connected to the lead screw.

[0012] In one embodiment, the lifting component further includes an upper limit switch and a lower limit switch, which are respectively disposed at the top and bottom of the slide rail, and both the upper limit switch and the lower limit switch are signal connected to the controller.

[0013] In one embodiment, the seawater tank has an opening for communicating with seawater, and the water intake device further includes a sealing ring, the outer periphery of which is sealed and fitted with the opening, and the inner periphery of which is sealed and fitted with the water intake pipe.

[0014] In one embodiment, the water intake pipe includes a first connecting section and a second connecting section that are interconnected. The inner circumference of the sealing ring is sealed and fitted with the outer circumference of the first connecting section. The second connecting section is used to be placed in seawater, and the outer diameter of the second connecting section is larger than the inner diameter of the opening.

[0015] In one embodiment, the water intake device further includes a vent pipe connected to the seawater tank.

[0016] In one embodiment, the water intake device further includes a sampling pipe, a sampling valve, and a sampling pump. The two ends of the sampling pipe are respectively connected to the sampling pump and the seawater tank. The sampling valve is disposed on the sampling pipe for connecting or disconnecting the sampling pipe.

[0017] In the above scheme, the water intake device includes a seawater tank, a water intake assembly, a pipeline assembly, a seawater supply pump, and a control assembly. The seawater tank is installed inside the cabin of the floating platform. The water intake assembly includes a rotating component and a water intake pipe. One end of the water intake pipe is located in the seawater tank, and the other end is used to extend into the seawater. The rotating component is connected to the top of the water intake pipe to drive the water intake pipe to rotate. The pipeline assembly is used to connect the seawater tank and the seawater generator. The seawater supply pump is located in the pipeline assembly to pump the seawater from the seawater tank to the seawater generator. The control assembly includes a controller and a flow direction sensor. The flow direction sensor is located at the end of the water intake pipe that extends into the seawater. The controller is connected to the rotating component and the flow direction sensor respectively. Specifically, the seawater tank is installed inside the floating platform hull. The tank is pre-sealed and secured. One end of the intake pipe extends into the seawater, the depth of which is adjusted according to the floating platform's draft and design requirements. The other end connects to the seawater tank. A flow direction sensor is installed at the inlet end of the intake pipe to monitor the seawater flow direction in real time. The controller, rotating parts, seawater supply pump, and other equipment are powered on and initialized, entering standby mode. The flow direction sensor continuously detects the real-time water flow direction at the intake pipe inlet, including flow angle and flow velocity, and transmits the signal to the controller. The controller receives the flow direction data and compares it with the preset optimal intake angle, typically with the intake pipe inlet directly facing the flow direction to minimize flow resistance. It then determines whether the current intake pipe direction matches the flow direction. If the current angle... If the angle is mismatched, the controller sends a command to the rotating component to drive the water intake pipe to rotate around the top rotating axis. It should be noted that the rotating axis is the central axis of the water intake pipe. The rotation continues until the inlet direction is consistent with the water flow direction, or the included angle is less than the preset threshold. After the water intake pipe angle is adjusted to the optimal value, the seawater flows naturally into the seawater tank under the thrust of the water flow and the movement of the platform itself. The seawater tank acts as an intermediate water storage device, initially buffering the incoming seawater and temporarily storing a certain amount of seawater. Its capacity is designed according to the hourly demand of the seawater generator. Then, the seawater supply pump is started to pump the seawater in the seawater tank into the pipeline assembly, and then transport it to the seawater generator through the pipeline to complete the water intake step. During the operation of the water intake device, the flow direction sensor continuously monitors the changes in the water flow direction and dynamically adjusts the angle of the water intake pipe to ensure that the water intake posture is always optimal. This invention utilizes a closed-loop control system with a flow direction sensor and a rotating component to ensure that the water intake pipe inlet always faces the direction of water flow, minimizing water flow resistance and increasing the effective water intake area. Compared to a fixed-direction water intake pipe, the water intake flow rate per unit time is significantly increased, thereby improving water intake efficiency. Furthermore, the water intake pipe follows the flow direction, avoiding vortices and turbulence caused by oblique water flow impacts and reducing the risk of inhaling impurities such as seabed sediments and floating debris. Attached Figure Description

[0018] 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 the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure of an embodiment of the water intake device provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the water intake device provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the water intake component provided by the present invention; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view at point A.

[0020] Explanation of icon numbers: 100. Water intake device; 1. Seawater tank; 11. Opening; 12. Sealing ring; 2. Water intake assembly; 21. Rotating component; 211. First drive motor; 212. Rotating shaft; 22. Water intake pipe; 221. First connecting section; 222. Second connecting section; 3. Piping assembly; 31. Filter; 32. Valve; 4. Seawater supply pump; 5. Control assembly; 51. Controller; 52. Flow direction sensor; 53. Seawater quality sensor; 6. Differential pressure transmitter; 7. Waterproof housing; 71. Sealing cavity; 8. Lifting component; 81. Second drive motor; 82. Lead screw; 83. Nut slider; 84. Slide rail; 85. Upper limit switch; 86. Lower limit switch; 101. Vent pipe; 102. Sampling pipe; 103. Sampling valve; 104. Sampling pump.

[0021] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 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.

[0023] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0024] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0025] With the development of marine resource development, ocean shipping, and island construction, the demand for freshwater from floating platforms is increasing daily. As the core equipment for desalinating seawater, the stable operation of a seawater maker directly depends on a continuous and efficient supply of seawater. Since floating platforms are far from land and cannot rely on shore-based water supply systems, the seawater intake system becomes the crucial link connecting the marine water source and the maker. Its intake efficiency, stability, and water quality directly affect the maker's water production capacity, energy consumption, and equipment lifespan.

[0026] Currently, most seawater generators on floating platforms use fixed-direction water intake pipes for water intake.

[0027] However, since the direction of ocean currents is dynamically changing due to factors such as tides, ocean currents, and monsoons, a water intake pipe with a fixed direction cannot be adjusted to follow the direction of the current. If the angle between the water intake pipe inlet and the direction of the current is too large, the resistance to the current will increase, resulting in a decrease in the water intake flow rate.

[0028] To improve water intake efficiency, the applicant attempted to set up a rotating structure to manually rotate the water intake pipe so that the inlet of the water intake pipe was opposite to the seawater flow direction, thereby interfering with and improving water intake efficiency. However, the applicant found that this manual operation method could not accurately adjust the orientation of the water intake pipe and could not effectively improve water intake efficiency. Therefore, the applicant researched a water intake device that can accurately adjust the orientation of the water intake pipe to improve water intake efficiency.

[0029] To achieve the above objectives, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2This invention proposes a water intake device 100, including a seawater tank 1, a water intake assembly 2, a pipeline assembly 3, a seawater supply pump 4, and a control assembly 5. The seawater tank 1 is installed inside the cabin of a floating platform. The water intake assembly 2 includes a rotating component 21 and a water intake pipe 22. One end of the water intake pipe 22 is located in the seawater tank 1, and the other end of the water intake pipe 22 is used to extend into seawater. The rotating component 21 is connected to the top of the water intake pipe 22 to drive the water intake pipe 22 to rotate. The pipeline assembly 3 is used to connect the seawater tank 1 and a seawater generator. The seawater supply pump 4 is located in the pipeline assembly 3 to pump the seawater in the seawater tank 1 to the seawater generator. The control assembly 5 includes a controller 51 and a flow direction sensor 52. The flow direction sensor 52 is located at the end of the water intake pipe 22 that extends into the seawater. The controller 51 is connected to the rotating component 21 and the flow direction sensor 52 respectively. Specifically, the seawater tank 1 is installed inside the floating platform cabin. The seawater tank 1 is pre-sealed and fixed. One end of the water intake pipe 22 extends into the seawater, and the depth of insertion is adjusted according to the draft and design requirements of the floating platform. The other end is connected to the seawater tank 1. A flow direction sensor 52 is installed at the inlet end of the water intake pipe 22 where it enters the seawater to monitor the seawater flow direction in real time. The controller 51, rotating component 21, seawater supply pump 4, and other equipment are powered on and initialized, entering standby mode. The flow direction sensor 52 continuously detects the real-time water flow direction at the inlet of the water intake pipe 22, including data such as flow direction angle and water flow velocity, and transmits the signal to the controller 51. After receiving the water flow direction data, the controller 51 compares it with the preset optimal water intake angle, which is usually set so that the inlet of the water intake pipe 22 is directly facing the water flow direction to minimize water flow resistance. It determines whether the current direction of the water intake pipe 22 matches the water flow direction. If the current angle does not match the water flow direction, the controller will take action accordingly. In the matching process, the controller 51 sends a command to the rotating component 21 to drive the water intake pipe 22 to rotate around the top rotating shaft 212. It should be noted that the rotating shaft 212 is the central axis of the water intake pipe 22. The water intake pipe 22 is adjusted to the optimal angle until the inlet direction is consistent with the water flow direction or the included angle is less than the preset threshold. After the angle of the water intake pipe 22 is adjusted to the optimal angle, the seawater flows naturally into the seawater tank 1 under the action of water flow thrust and platform movement. The seawater tank 1 acts as an intermediate water storage device to initially buffer the incoming seawater and temporarily store a certain amount of seawater. Its capacity is designed according to the hourly demand of the seawater generator. Then the seawater supply pump 4 is started to pump the seawater in the seawater tank 1 into the pipeline assembly 3, and then transport it to the seawater generator through the pipeline to complete the water intake step. During the operation of the water intake device 100, the flow direction sensor 52 continuously monitors the change of water flow direction and dynamically adjusts the angle of the water intake pipe 22 to ensure that the water intake posture is always optimal. This invention uses a closed-loop control system of flow direction sensor 52 and rotating component 21 to ensure that the inlet of water intake pipe 22 is always directly facing the direction of water flow, minimizing water flow resistance and increasing the effective water intake area. Compared with water intake pipe 22 in a fixed direction, the water intake flow rate per unit time is greatly increased, thereby improving water intake efficiency. Water intake pipe 22 follows the flow direction to avoid vortices and turbulence caused by oblique water flow impact, reducing the risk of inhalation of impurities such as seabed sediments and floating objects on the water surface.

[0030] Furthermore, during the operation of the water intake device 100, the flow direction sensor 52 continuously monitors the change in water flow direction, and the controller 51 repeats the water intake pipe 22 rotation step at preset intervals or when the change in water flow direction exceeds a threshold.

[0031] Furthermore, a liquid level sensor is installed inside the seawater tank 1, and the liquid level sensor is connected to the controller 51. The water intake pipe 22 is equipped with a switch valve, and the switch valve is connected to the controller 51. The water level in the seawater tank 1 is fed back to the controller 51 in real time through the liquid level sensor. When the water level is lower than the lower limit, the controller 51 can appropriately increase the adjustment frequency of the rotating part 21 to further optimize the water intake efficiency and avoid the seawater tank 1 being empty. When the water level is higher than the upper limit, the liquid level sensor transmits a signal to the controller 51, and the controller 51 controls the switch valve to close, which can stop the water intake pipe 22 from receiving water and prevent the seawater in the seawater tank 1 from overflowing.

[0032] Furthermore, a filter 31 is installed on the pipeline assembly 3, and the water intake device 100 also includes a differential pressure transmitter 6 (PDT). The differential pressure transmitter 6 is an industrial device used to measure the pressure difference between two pressure points. The two measuring ports of the differential pressure transmitter 6 are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet pipes of the filter 31, forming a connection with the filter 31, for real-time monitoring of the pressure difference before and after the filter 31. The filter 31 is used to remove impurities such as silt and suspended solids from seawater. The differential pressure transmitter 6 monitors the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the filter 31 to determine whether the filter 31 is blocked, thus preventing substandard water quality or pipe blockage due to decreased filtration efficiency.

[0033] Furthermore, multiple valves 32 are installed on the pipeline assembly 3. All pipeline assemblies 3 connected to the inlet and outlet of the seawater supply pump 4 are equipped with valves 32. All pipeline assemblies 3 connected to the inlet and outlet of the filter 31 are equipped with valves 32. When the seawater supply pump 4 needs maintenance, the inlet valve can be closed to cut off the seawater source and the outlet valve can be closed to isolate the pump from the downstream pipeline, preventing the seawater from flowing back into or emptying the system. The pump can be disassembled, repaired or replaced without stopping the entire water intake system, which greatly shortens the maintenance downtime.

[0034] The filter 31 has inlet and outlet valves 32. The filter 31 needs to be cleaned regularly or its filter element needs to be replaced. Closing its inlet and outlet valves can completely isolate the filter 31 from the main pipeline. At this time, the drain port of the filter 31 can be safely opened or the filter element can be removed to prevent seawater leakage or impurities from entering downstream equipment, thus achieving online maintenance without affecting the continuous water intake of the system.

[0035] The inlet valve 32 of filter 31 can adjust the seawater flow rate into filter 31 to avoid excessive flow causing filter element overload and damage, or insufficient flow affecting filtration efficiency; the outlet valve 32 of filter 31 can stabilize downstream pressure and, together with differential pressure transmitter 6, more accurately monitor the clogging status of filter 31.

[0036] Furthermore, all valves 32 can be solenoid valves, which are connected to the controller 51 via signals. This enables automatic disconnection, eliminates the need for manual valve closing, and reduces the risk of manual operation.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the water intake device 100 further includes a waterproof shell 7, which is disposed inside the seawater tank 1 and forms a sealed cavity 71 with the seawater tank 1. A rotating component 21 is disposed in the sealed cavity 71. The waterproof shell 7 is installed inside the seawater tank 1 and forms an independent sealed cavity 71 with the inner wall of the seawater tank 1 through flanges, sealing rings, or welding. The sealed cavity 71 can be filled with dry air or inert gas, such as nitrogen, to further isolate moisture. The rotating component 21 is integrated into the sealed cavity 71, and its output shaft penetrates the waterproof shell 7 through a dynamic sealing structure, such as a mechanical seal and a magnetic coupling, and is driven to the top of the water intake pipe 22. After receiving the water flow direction signal from the flow direction sensor 52, the controller 51 sends an action command to the rotating component 21 in the sealed cavity 71. The signal is transmitted through a waterproof cable penetrating the tank to avoid signal interference and seawater erosion. The rotating component 21 is activated in the sealed cavity 71, and the output shaft of the rotating component 21 drives the water intake pipe 22 to rotate through the dynamic sealing structure to complete the angle adjustment. During this process, the waterproof shell 7 always prevents seawater in the seawater tank 1 from entering the sealed cavity 71, ensuring that the rotating part 21 is in a dry environment, thereby extending the service life of the water intake device 100.

[0038] Furthermore, a pressure sensor or leakage detection module is installed inside the sealed cavity 71. Both the pressure sensor and leakage detection module are connected to the controller 51. Before water is drawn, the pressure sensor or leakage detection module first confirms that the waterproof shell 7 is in good sealing condition. Both the pressure sensor and the leakage detection module are used to detect whether the air pressure inside the sealed cavity 71 is maintained within a preset range. When it is maintained within the preset range, it means that no seawater has seeped in. If the air pressure does not meet the preset range, the pressure sensor or leakage detection module will transmit a signal to the controller 51. The controller 51 will not drive the rotating part 21 to run and will issue an alarm, thereby preventing the rotating part 21 from contacting seawater during operation.

[0039] Furthermore, the waterproof shell 7 can be designed with an inspection port with a sealed cover. During maintenance, there is no need to drain the seawater in the seawater tank 1. The rotating parts 21 in the sealed cavity 71 can be inspected simply by opening the inspection port, which greatly shortens the maintenance downtime.

[0040] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4 In one embodiment, the rotating component 21 includes a first drive motor 211 and a rotating shaft 212. The first drive motor 211 is connected to the rotating shaft 212 via a coupling. The first drive motor 211 is placed in the sealed cavity 71. The rotating shaft 212 extends out of the waterproof shell 7 and is fixedly connected to the water intake pipe 22. The controller 51 is connected to the first drive motor 211 via a signal connection. The first drive motor 211 can be a servo motor, which has high-precision speed and angle control capabilities. It is installed in the sealed cavity 71 of the waterproof shell 7 and is rigidly connected to the rotating shaft 212 via a coupling. The rotating shaft 212 extends out through the dynamic sealing structure of the waterproof shell 7 and is connected to the water intake pipe 22 to realize the rotational movement of the water intake pipe 22. The first drive motor 211 is directly and rigidly connected to the rotating shaft 212 via a coupling, without any intermediate conversion mechanism. The water intake pipe 22 is fixed to the rotating shaft 212 as one unit. The rotation of the drive motor directly drives the water intake pipe 22 to rotate around the shaft, reducing intermediate parts and eliminating wear and tear. Furthermore, since the volume of the sealing cavity 71 of the waterproof shell 7 is limited by the size of the seawater tank 1, it needs to be compactly laid out. The drive motor and the rotating shaft 212 are connected in series axially, which can flexibly adapt to different specifications of seawater tanks 1, making the installation more compatible.

[0041] Please see Figures 2 to 4 In one embodiment, the water intake device 100 further includes a seawater quality sensor 53 and a lifting component 8. The lifting component 8 is connected to the rotating component 21 to drive the water intake pipe 22 to move vertically. The lifting component 8 is disposed in the sealed cavity 71. The seawater quality sensor 53 is used to detect the quality of seawater. The controller 51 is connected to the seawater quality sensor 53 and the lifting component 8 respectively. The seawater quality sensor 53 is a multi-parameter integrated sensor, including a turbidity sensor, a salinity sensor, a temperature sensor, a dissolved oxygen sensor, and a pH monitoring sensor. It is installed at the inlet end of the water intake pipe 22 that extends into the seawater and detects key water quality parameters such as turbidity, salinity, temperature, and pH value of the seawater at the water intake point in real time. The data is transmitted to the controller 51 through a waterproof cable. The lifting component 8 and the rotating component 21 are integrated together in the sealed cavity 71 of the waterproof shell 7.

[0042] After the water intake device 100 is started, the controller 51 controls the lifting component 8 to drive the water intake pipe 22 to slowly rise and fall within a preset depth range. At the same time, the seawater quality sensor 53 continuously collects water quality data at different depths. After receiving water quality data from multiple depths, the controller 51 selects the optimal water intake depth through a built-in algorithm. The controller 51 sends a command to the lifting component 8 to drive the water intake pipe 22 to move precisely to the optimal water intake depth. Then, the flow sensor 52 detects the water flow direction at the current depth. The controller 51 drives the rotating component 21 to adjust the horizontal angle of the water intake pipe 22. During operation, the seawater quality sensor 53 measures the water quality data at the current depth at preset intervals. If an abnormality occurs, the controller 51 restarts the lifting component 8, drives the water intake pipe 22 to rise and fall, and rescans to find a new optimal water quality depth. Simultaneously, the rotating component 21 adjusts the angle of the water flow direction at the new depth. Seawater forms vertical stratification due to factors such as temperature, salinity, and ocean currents, and the quality of seawater varies in each layer. Compared to traditional fixed-depth water intake, this embodiment can adjust the water intake depth in real time and dynamically track the optimal water quality depth to maintain high water quality in the seawater entering the seawater tank 1.

[0043] Furthermore, if the full-depth scan fails to find water quality that meets the requirements, the controller 51 triggers a protection mechanism. The controller 51 controls the reduction of the pumping power of the seawater supply pump 4, reduces the flow rate of seawater pumped to the seawater generator, and alleviates the processing load of the seawater generator. At the same time, the controller 51 sends a water quality abnormality alarm, prompting the operator to intervene manually, start the backup water intake point or add flocculant.

[0044] Please see Figures 3 to 4 In one embodiment, the lifting component 8 includes a second drive motor 81, a lead screw 82, a nut slider 83, and a slide rail 84. The slide rail 84 is vertically mounted on the seawater tank 1. The second drive motor 81 is signal-connected to the controller 51. The output shaft of the second drive motor 81 is driven by the lead screw 82 via a coupling. The nut slider 83 is fixedly connected to the rotating component 21, and the nut slider 83 slides with the slide rail 84. The nut slider 83 is threadedly connected to the lead screw 82. The second drive motor 81 is a servo motor with an encoder, installed inside the sealed cavity 71 of the waterproof shell 7 or inside the cabin of the floating platform. The output shaft is coaxially connected to the lead screw 82 via a rigid coupling, or the output shaft extends into the sealed cavity 71 and is coaxially connected to the lead screw 82 via a rigid coupling, providing lifting power and providing real-time feedback of rotation speed and angle through the encoder.

[0045] After the water intake device 100 is started, the controller 51 sends a reset command to the second drive motor 81. The second drive motor 81 starts, driving the lead screw 82 to rotate. The nut slider 83 moves upward along the slide rail 84 to the top of the lead screw 82. During the reset process, the controller 51 judges the engagement status between the slide rail 84 and the slider through the current feedback of the second drive motor 81. If the current is stable when the slider moves along the slide rail 84, it indicates that there is no jamming. If the current suddenly increases, it indicates that there is a foreign object or jamming between the slider and the slide rail 84. At this time, the controller 51 immediately stops the second drive motor 81 and issues an alarm to avoid overload damage to the lead screw 82 or the second drive motor 81. Then the second drive motor 81 rotates in the opposite direction, and the nut slider 83 descends at a constant speed along the slide rail 84. The water intake pipe 22 enters the seawater synchronously with the slider. During the descent... The seawater quality sensor 53 collects data in real time and transmits it to the controller 51. The encoder of the second drive motor 81 records the current depth in real time. Upon reaching the maximum depth, the second drive motor 81 drives the nut slider 83 to rise along the slide rail 84 to the zero position, completing a full-range depth scan. After receiving water quality data from multiple depths, the controller 51 selects the optimal water intake depth and calculates the number of rotations required for the lead screw 82 based on the zero-position coordinates. The second drive motor 81 rotates according to the calculated number of rotations, driving the lead screw 82 to rotate. The nut slider 83 descends along the slide rail 84. When the descent depth matches the optimal water intake depth, the second drive motor 81 stops. At this point, the lead screw 82 self-locks via its thread, and the helix angle of the trapezoidal thread is less than the equivalent friction angle, locking the nut slider 83 in its position, and the water intake pipe 22 remains stably at that depth. During operation, if the seawater quality sensor 53 detects deterioration in the water quality at the current depth, the controller 51 immediately initiates a second scan, repeating the above steps to re-drive the water intake pipe 22 to rise and fall to the latest optimal depth. In this embodiment, the water intake pipe 22 is raised and lowered by the cooperation of the lead screw 82, nut slider 83 and slide rail 84, which restricts its movement to only the vertical direction. The raising and lowering process of the water intake pipe 22 is smooth and avoids the risk of collision.

[0046] If the water intake pipe 22 encounters an obstacle during its lifting or lowering, the nut slider 83 will be obstructed, the current of the second drive motor 81 will surge, the controller 51 will immediately stop the machine and record the current depth coordinates, so that maintenance personnel can locate the obstacle.

[0047] The lead screw 82 and the nut slider 83 need to be replenished with grease regularly. The controller 51 triggers a reminder by accumulating the running time of the second drive motor 81. During maintenance, only special grease needs to be injected through the inspection port of the waterproof shell 7.

[0048] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4In one embodiment, the lifting component 8 further includes an upper limit switch 85 and a lower limit switch 86, which are respectively disposed at the top and bottom of the slide rail 84, and both are signal-connected to the controller 51. The upper limit switch 85 and lower limit switch 86 can be mechanical contact limit sensors, respectively installed at the top and bottom of the slide rail 84, and signal-connected to the controller 51 via a waterproof cable. Their core function is to detect in real time whether the nut slider 83 has reached the mechanical limit position of the lifting range, and send a stop signal to the controller 51 to forcibly terminate the operation of the second drive motor 81, preventing overtravel.

[0049] After the water intake device 100 is started, the controller 51 sends a reset command to the second drive motor 81. The second drive motor 81 drives the lead screw 82 to rotate, and the nut slider 83 moves upward along the slide rail 84. When the top of the nut slider 83 touches the upper limit switch 85, the upper limit switch 85 sends an upper limit signal to the controller 51. The controller 51 immediately cuts off the power to the second drive motor 81, and the motor stops. At this time, the controller 51 records this position as the mechanical zero position, which serves as the physical reference for subsequent depth adjustment. The controller 51 calculates the target depth based on the water quality sensor data and drives the second drive motor 81 to rotate. The nut slider 83 descends along the slide rail 84. If the target depth is within the preset safety range, the nut slider 83 moves smoothly to the target position, and the lower limit switch 86 is not triggered. When the nut slider 83 descends to touch the lower limit switch 86, the lower limit switch 86 sends a lower limit signal to the controller 51, and the controller 51 immediately cuts off the motor power, forcibly stopping the descent. At this time, the water intake pipe 22 stops at the maximum safe depth to prevent the nut slider 83 from exceeding the stroke of the lead screw 82 or hitting the bottom of the slide rail 84.

[0050] Please see Figures 1 to 3 In one embodiment, the seawater tank 1 has an opening 11 for communicating with seawater. The water intake device 100 also includes a sealing ring 12. The outer periphery of the sealing ring 12 is sealed and fitted to the opening 11, and the inner periphery of the sealing ring 12 is sealed and fitted to the water intake pipe 22. The outer periphery of the sealing ring 12 is rigidly fitted to the opening 11 of the seawater tank 1 by interference fit or sealant, and the inner periphery is in close contact with the outer wall of the water intake pipe 22 by elastic material, forming a gapless seal throughout the circumference, preventing seawater from entering the tank and protecting the safe operation of the equipment inside the tank.

[0051] Please see Figures 1 to 3In one embodiment, the water intake pipe 22 includes a first connecting section 221 and a second connecting section 222 that are interconnected. The inner circumference of the sealing ring 12 is sealed and fitted to the outer circumference of the first connecting section 221. The second connecting section 222 is used to be placed in seawater, and its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the opening 11. The outer diameter of the second connecting section 222 is larger than the inner diameter of the opening 11 of the seawater tank 1, forming a stepped structure. When the water intake pipe 22 rises to its limit position, the top end face of the second connecting section 222 will rigidly contact the edge of the opening 11 of the seawater tank 1 and be stuck by the opening 11, preventing it from moving further upward. Mechanical hard limiting is achieved through the physical size difference, which can prevent the water intake pipe 22 from coming off. The outer diameter of the first connecting section 221 is precisely matched with the inner circumference of the sealing ring 12 to ensure a dynamic sealing effect with the inner circumference of the sealing ring 12; its length only covers the lifting stroke of the water intake pipe 22 and the width of the sealing ring 12 to avoid ineffective contact. The outer diameter of the second connecting section 222 is larger than the inner diameter of the opening 11. Its top end face forms an annular shielding structure with the edge of the opening 11 of the seawater tank 1, which can prevent impurities in the seawater from entering the seawater tank 1 and reduce the impact of foreign objects on the normal operation of the seawater generator. At the same time, when the water intake pipe 22 rises, only the first connecting section 221 contacts the sealing ring 12, and the second connecting section 222 does not pass through the sealing ring 12, avoiding additional wear on the sealing ring 12 and extending the life of the sealing ring 12.

[0052] Please see Figure 2 In one embodiment, the water intake device 100 further includes a vent pipe 101, which is connected to the seawater tank 1. When seawater enters the seawater tank 1 through the water intake pipe 22, if the air inside the seawater tank 1 cannot be discharged, a closed air cavity will form at the top. As seawater continues to be injected, the air cavity is compressed, and the pressure increases. According to Boyle's law, the decrease in volume leads to an increase in pressure, which will inversely hinder the inflow of seawater. When the pressure of the air cavity is balanced with the inlet pressure of the seawater, the seawater stops flowing in, causing the water level in the seawater tank 1 to be unable to rise. In this embodiment, a vent pipe 101 is provided. One end of the vent pipe 101 is connected to the top of the seawater tank 1, and the other end is connected to the atmosphere or a safe area inside the platform compartment. When seawater is injected, the air inside the seawater tank 1 is naturally discharged through the vent pipe 101, and the air cavity cannot be formed. Seawater can continuously and steadily fill the seawater tank 1 under the action of gravity or water flow thrust, and the water intake flow rate is stable, avoiding water intake interruption or fluctuation due to air blockage. The vent pipe 101 removes air, and the seawater in the seawater tank 1 is a single-phase flow. The supply pump draws in stable pure seawater, which can completely avoid the risks of cavitation and air binding, and extend the service life of the seawater supply pump 4.

[0053] Please see Figure 2In one embodiment, the water intake device 100 further includes a sampling pipe 102, a sampling valve 103, and a sampling pump 104. The two ends of the sampling pipe 102 are connected to the sampling pump 104 and the seawater tank 1, respectively. The sampling valve 103 is located on the sampling pipe 102 to connect or disconnect it. The seawater tank 1 is a buffer storage device for seawater before it enters the water maker. The seawater inside has already undergone preliminary filtration through the water intake pipe 22, making it closer to the actual influent water quality processed by the seawater maker. When the sampling pump 104 is started, the sampling valve 103 is opened, and the seawater in the seawater tank 1 is pumped from the sampling pipe 102 to extract a sample. The sample accurately reflects the seawater quality of the water maker, ensuring that the analysis results are consistent with the actual operating conditions of the seawater maker.

[0054] Furthermore, both the sampling valve 103 and the sampling pump 104 are connected to the controller 51 via signal. Both the sampling valve 103 and the sampling pump 104 are operated automatically by the controller 51, and sampling can be started as needed to avoid sample waste caused by continuous sampling.

[0055] The above are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water intake device for use in a seawater generator, characterized in that, include: Seawater tank, the seawater tank being installed inside the cabin of a floating platform; A water intake assembly, comprising a rotating component and a water intake pipe, wherein one end of the water intake pipe is disposed in the seawater tank and the other end of the water intake pipe is used to extend into seawater, and the rotating component is connected to the top of the water intake pipe for driving the water intake pipe to rotate. Piping assembly for connecting the seawater tank and the seawater generator; A seawater supply pump is installed in the pipeline assembly to pump seawater from the seawater tank to the seawater generator. The control component includes a controller and a flow direction sensor. The flow direction sensor is installed at the end of the water intake pipe that extends into the seawater. The controller is signal-connected to both the rotating component and the flow direction sensor.

2. The water intake device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water intake device also includes a waterproof shell, which is disposed inside the seawater tank and forms a sealed cavity with the seawater tank. The rotating component is disposed in the sealed cavity.

3. The water intake device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The rotating component includes a first drive motor and a rotating shaft. The first drive motor is connected to the rotating shaft via a coupling. The first drive motor is placed in the sealed cavity. The rotating shaft extends out of the waterproof shell and is fixedly connected to the water intake pipe. The controller is connected to the first drive motor via a signal connection.

4. The water intake device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The water intake device also includes a seawater quality sensor and a lifting component. The lifting component is connected to the rotating component to drive the water intake pipe to move up and down in the vertical direction. The lifting component is located in the sealed cavity. The seawater quality sensor is used to detect the quality of seawater. The controller is connected to the seawater quality sensor and the lifting component for signal transmission.

5. The water intake device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The lifting component includes a second drive motor, a lead screw, a nut slider, and a slide rail. The slide rail is vertically mounted on the seawater tank. The second drive motor is signal-connected to the controller. The output shaft of the second drive motor is driven by the lead screw through a coupling. The nut slider is fixedly connected to the rotating component. The nut slider slides in cooperation with the slide rail. The nut slider is threadedly connected to the lead screw.

6. The water intake device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The lifting component also includes an upper limit switch and a lower limit switch, which are respectively disposed at the top and bottom of the slide rail, and both the upper limit switch and the lower limit switch are connected to the controller signal.

7. The water intake device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The seawater tank has an opening for communicating with seawater. The water intake device also includes a sealing ring, the outer circumference of which is sealed and fitted with the opening, and the inner circumference of which is sealed and fitted with the water intake pipe.

8. The water intake device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The water intake pipe includes a first connecting section and a second connecting section that are interconnected. The inner circumference of the sealing ring is sealed and fitted to the outer circumference of the first connecting section. The second connecting section is used to be placed in seawater, and the outer diameter of the second connecting section is larger than the inner diameter of the opening.

9. The water intake device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The water intake device also includes a vent pipe, which is connected to the seawater tank.

10. The water intake device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The water intake device also includes a sampling pipe, a sampling valve, and a sampling pump. The two ends of the sampling pipe are respectively connected to the sampling pump and the seawater tank. The sampling valve is installed on the sampling pipe to connect or disconnect the sampling pipe.

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