Air conditioner condensate water recycling device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of air conditioner condensate water recycling devices, it is related to condensate water recycling technical field, including water collecting pool, the import of water collecting pool is connected with the drainage port of air conditioning unit via water collecting pipeline, the outlet of water collecting pool is connected with the water inlet of cooling tower via drive source;Filtering water tank for filtering impurities in its pipeline is arranged on the water collecting pipeline, filtering element is arranged in filtering water tank, so as to divide the tank cavity of filtering water tank into the front cavity connected with the water inlet of filtering water tank and the rear cavity connected with the water outlet of filtering water tank, and the rear cavity bottom height is lower than the front cavity bottom height.The water collecting pipeline in the utility model is directly connected with air conditioning unit and cooling tower, forms closed loop recycling path, ensures that condensate water is directionally transported;Filtering water tank is arranged in recycling path simultaneously, two-stage filtering element built-in filtering water tank is arranged in water flow direction in turn, realizes progressive interception of physical impurities, provides the water supply source of preliminary purification for cooling tower.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of condensate water recovery and utilization technology, specifically to an air conditioner condensate water recovery and utilization device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the use of air conditioning equipment is becoming increasingly widespread and frequent, which has directly led to a significant increase in the amount of condensate discharged from central air conditioning systems.

[0003] However, these condensates generally face a resource utilization dilemma: in most application scenarios, air conditioner users typically view condensate as a worthless byproduct. The long-standing traditional treatment method is simple and crude—directly discharging it into the outdoor environment, ditches, or municipal sewers, with very little recycling or reuse. While this approach solves the immediate discharge problem of condensate, it results in a serious double waste: on the one hand, precious water resources (condensate is essentially highly purified distilled water) are needlessly discarded; on the other hand, the considerable cooling capacity contained in the low-temperature condensate (usually 10-15°C lower than the ambient temperature) is dissipated without effective utilization.

[0004] Meanwhile, the cooling towers used in central air conditioning systems are huge water consumers: during the operation of the chiller units, the waste heat generated by the condensers is entirely carried away by the cooling tower through the evaporation of cooling water. The cooling water circulating in the cooling tower is constantly lost due to evaporation, dissipation, and sewage discharge. This loss is mainly maintained by replenishing fresh tap water to keep the system balanced and maintain water quality.

[0005] Of particular note is that this problem worsens dramatically under extreme summer weather conditions of high temperature and humidity: to cope with higher environmental heat loads, chiller units operate for significantly longer periods and at increased loads, leading to a surge in the heat that the condenser needs to dissipate. This directly requires cooling towers to evaporate a much larger amount of cooling water (usually requiring increased fan airflow to enhance evaporation) in order to maintain the condenser temperature within a safe and efficient operating range. The direct consequence is a significant increase in the cooling tower's evaporation loss rate, which in turn leads to a sharp increase in the amount of tap water needed to maintain the system's operation, placing greater pressure on urban water supply and user water costs.

[0006] Therefore, we propose an air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this utility model is to solve the problems in the prior art by proposing an air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device. The device connects the air conditioning unit and the cooling tower through a water collection pipe to form a condensate recovery path and a closed-loop system. The series-connected filter tank, combined with two-stage filter elements and the drop design of the tank bottom, realizes the physical filtration and progressive purification of the condensate.

[0008] To solve the above problems, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0009] An air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device includes a water collection tank for temporary storage of condensate. The inlet of the water collection tank is connected to the drain outlet of the air conditioning unit via a water collection pipe, and the outlet of the water collection tank is connected to the inlet of a cooling tower via a drive source. A filter water tank for filtering impurities in the water collection pipe is arranged on the water collection pipe. A filter element is arranged in the filter water tank, thereby dividing the tank cavity into a front cavity connected to the inlet of the filter water tank and a rear cavity connected to the outlet of the filter water tank. The bottom height of the rear cavity is lower than that of the front cavity.

[0010] As a further aspect of this utility model: the filter element has a plate-type structure, and its plate surface is perpendicular to the direction of condensate flow; the top of the filter element is lower than the top of the filter tank.

[0011] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the bottom of the filter tank is provided with a mounting groove, the length direction of the mounting groove is perpendicular to the length direction of the filter tank, and the bottom of the filter element is inserted into the mounting groove.

[0012] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the filter element has a double-layer structure, including a primary filter element and a secondary filter element arranged sequentially along the direction of condensate flow, and there is a gap between the primary filter element and the secondary filter element.

[0013] As a further embodiment of this invention: a detection plate for detecting whether water has overflowed is installed at the top of the secondary filter element.

[0014] As a further embodiment of this utility model: a liquid temperature sensor is installed in the water collection tank, the liquid temperature sensor is electrically connected to the control system, the driving source is electrically connected to the control system and is controlled by the control system, and the detection plate is electrically connected to the control system.

[0015] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the device also includes a water collection tank connected in series in the water collection pipe. A partition is provided in the water collection tank to divide the inner cavity of the water collection tank into a water collection tank cavity and a diversion tank cavity. The upstream section of the water collection pipe is suspended above the water collection tank cavity and the diversion tank cavity. The upstream section is designed to be movable so that the outlet of the upstream section can be directed towards either the water collection tank cavity or the diversion tank cavity. The downstream section of the water collection pipe is connected to the water collection tank cavity.

[0016] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the upstream section suspended above the water collection trough and the diversion trough has a U-shaped structure.

[0017] As a further aspect of this invention, the device also includes a remote automatic control system for wireless communication with the control system.

[0018] As a further embodiment of this utility model: the primary filter element is a filter cotton layer, and the secondary filter element is an activated carbon layer.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. The water collection pipe directly connects the air conditioning unit and the cooling tower, forming a closed-loop recovery path to ensure directional delivery of condensate. Simultaneously, a filter tank is installed in the recovery path. Two-stage filters within the filter tank are arranged sequentially along the water flow direction to progressively intercept physical impurities, providing initial purified water for the cooling tower. Furthermore, by dividing the filter tank into a front and rear chamber, the design of the rear chamber bottom being lower than the front chamber bottom creates a drop. This drop guides the condensate flow towards the outlet, accelerating its flow within the filter tank and preventing a decrease in condensate flow rate due to the obstructive properties of the filters themselves.

[0021] 2. The bottom of the filter tank at the inlet is raised to create a height difference, which uses gravity to accelerate the water flow through the filtration area and effectively reduce the deposition of impurities. The two-stage filter elements are concentrated at the bottom of the raised tank, which enhances the interception of high concentrations of suspended solids. At the same time, the height difference structure naturally guides impurities to gather at lower levels, reducing the risk of clogging.

[0022] 3. The height of both the primary and secondary filter elements is lower than the depth of the water tank, leaving a buffer space to prevent overflow in case of blockage and ensure operational stability; the detection plate on the top of the secondary filter element can sense the liquid level in real time, providing a key signal source for subsequent automatic control.

[0023] 4. By introducing a diversion mechanism, the baffle divides the collection tank into a collection chamber and a diversion chamber, realizing the separation of clean water and sewage; the movable design of the suspended pipe can manually or automatically switch the water flow direction, so that sewage is temporarily stored in the diversion chamber, ensuring that impurities are isolated without stopping the machine, greatly improving the convenience of maintenance.

[0024] 5. By setting a U-shaped structure for a portion of the upstream section suspended above the water collection tank and the diversion tank, and ensuring that the water pressure generated by the height of the U-shaped structure is higher than the negative pressure inside the air conditioning unit, the smooth discharge of condensate is guaranteed.

[0025] 6. The water collection tank acts as a buffer container to balance the fluctuations between the amount of condensate produced and the demand of the cooling tower; the addition of a drive source can actively pressurize and deliver the water, solving the problem of water flow stagnation caused by insufficient pipeline drop and ensuring continuous water replenishment.

[0026] 7. The liquid temperature sensor monitors the water temperature and liquid level and feeds back to the control system. Both the sensor and the drive source are connected to the control system to realize the automatic linkage between blockage warning and water pump start and stop, forming a fully automatic management of "perception-decision-execution".

[0027] 8. The remote control system connects to the local control system via wireless communication, supporting remote monitoring of operating parameters (such as water temperature and blockage status), adjustment of drive source operating conditions, or switching of diversion modes, significantly reducing the frequency of on-site maintenance and improving the management efficiency of large systems. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the water collection tank of this utility model;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the filter tank of this utility model.

[0032] In the diagram: 1. Water collection pipe; 2. Filter tank; 3. Primary filter element; 4. Secondary filter element; 5. Collection tank; 501. Collection tank cavity; 502. Diversion tank cavity; 6. Baffle plate; 7. Detection plate; 8. Collection pool; 9. Drive source; 10. Liquid temperature sensor; 11. Control system; 12. Remote automatic control system; 13. Sewage pipe; a. Air conditioning unit; b. Cooling tower; c. Cooling tower fan; d. U-shaped structure. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0034] Large public buildings (such as airports, train stations, and shopping malls) typically use central air conditioning systems. These systems use water as the medium. During operation, the chilled water produced by the refrigeration unit is circulated to the surface cooler of the terminal air handling unit. The blower then delivers the hot and humid indoor air through the surface cooler back into the room, where a large amount of condensate is generated.

[0035] Based on the condensate generated by air conditioning unit a, the device designed in this application aims to recycle it for use in cooling tower b. This recycling method has multiple advantages: First, the recycled condensate can replace tap water, effectively reducing the tap water consumption of cooling tower b. Second, the recycled condensate is evaporation water from the air, free of scale, effectively reducing the frequency of cleaning and maintenance of cooling tower b and increasing its heat dissipation efficiency. Third, the recycled condensate has a low temperature, which has a cooling effect on the water inside cooling tower b, effectively reducing the operating frequency and power of cooling tower fan c. Fourth, the recycling of cooling capacity improves the energy efficiency ratio of the refrigeration unit.

[0036] In hot and humid weather, the air humidity is high, and the cooling capacity of the refrigeration unit is carried away by a large amount of water vapor in the air. Furthermore, the cooling tower's cooling efficiency decreases as air humidity increases. The condensate temperature is 10 degrees Celsius, while the cooling tower evaporation temperature is generally 35 degrees Celsius, resulting in a temperature difference Δt = 25 degrees Celsius. Theoretically, one ton of condensate, under standard atmospheric pressure, can absorb 2.26 * 10⁶ KJ = 627 kW·h of latent heat and 29.17 kW·h of sensible heat. It can be calculated that raising the temperature of one ton of condensate to 35 degrees Celsius can replace the evaporation of 0.046 tons of cooling water. According to GB 50736—2012 "Code for Design of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning of Civil Buildings," a 1kW cooling load can produce 0.4–0.8 kg of condensate per hour. Therefore, the wet load accounts for 26%–52% of the air conditioning cooling load. The higher the wet load, the more condensate is produced, resulting in greater cooling capacity loss, which directly translates to a decrease in air conditioning performance. High humidity weather allows for the recycling of more condensate and its delivery to the cooling tower, effectively offsetting the negative effects of high humidity on the refrigeration system.

[0037] Example 1:

[0038] The following describes the components and methods involved in the process of recovering condensate from air conditioning unit a to cooling tower b. Figure 1 As shown, it specifically includes:

[0039] (1) Water collection pipe 1 is wrapped with rubber and plastic insulation material for protection. The two ends of water collection pipe 1 are connected to the drain outlet of air conditioning unit a and the inlet of cooling tower b, respectively. The existence of water collection pipe 1 forms a passage for the condensate from air conditioning unit a to cooling tower b.

[0040] (2) Filter tank 2 is connected in series to the water collection pipe 1. Specifically, the water collection pipe 1 is divided into an upstream section and a downstream section. The inlet of the filter tank 2 is connected to the upstream section, and the outlet is connected to the downstream section. The inlet of the filter tank 2 is located higher than the outlet. A primary filter element 3 and a secondary filter element 4 are sequentially installed in the filter tank 2 along the water flow direction. When the condensate generated by the air conditioning unit a flows through the filter tank 2, it passes through the primary filter element 3 and the secondary filter element 4 sequentially before entering the cooling tower b. During this process, the primary filter element 3 and the secondary filter element 4 perform step-by-step filtration of the condensate to ensure the cleanliness of the condensate flowing into the cooling tower b.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown in the diagram, the arrows indicate the flow direction of the condensate. The condensate passes through the primary filter element 3 and the secondary filter element 4 in sequence before flowing out from the outlet of the filter tank 2. The primary filter element 3 and the secondary filter element 4 can be any component with filtration characteristics available in the prior art. Preferably, the primary filter element 3 can be a filter cotton layer made of filter cotton material, used to remove large particulate pollutants and floating matter from the water, and the secondary filter element 4 can be an activated carbon layer made of activated carbon, used to remove bacteria and other pollutants from the water.

[0042] To ensure smooth flow of condensate within the filter tank 2, and given that the inlet of the filter tank 2 is higher than its outlet, this application further protrudes a certain height from the bottom of the filter tank 2 near the inlet towards the outlet to create a height difference with the bottom of the filter tank near the outlet. Figure 3 As shown, the bottom of the filter tank 2 is divided into left and right parts. The bottom of the left part protrudes a certain height along the tank opening, creating a height difference between the left and right parts. This height difference is arranged from the inlet to the outlet, and this design can accelerate the flow rate of condensate in the filter tank 2. At this time, both the primary filter element 3 and the secondary filter element 4 are located at the protruding bottom position.

[0043] To ensure that the operation of the primary filter element 3 and / or the secondary filter element 4 can be monitored by technicians, even though both the primary filter element 3 and the secondary filter element 4 are located at the bottom of the tank with a protruding design, their height must be lower than the top of the water tank 2. Simultaneously, a detection plate 7 is installed on the top of the secondary filter element 4, and the detection plate 7 is electrically connected to the external control system 11. The control system 11 is also electrically connected to an alarm (not shown in the figure). When the primary filter element 3 and / or the secondary filter element 4 become clogged, the flow rate of condensate in the water tank 2 will decrease. With the inflow rate remaining constant, the liquid level in the water tank 2 will rise until it reaches the height of the detection plate 7. The detection plate 7 will then transmit this condition as an input signal to the control system 11. The control system 11 will process this input signal and send feedback to the alarm, which will then activate, reminding technicians to clean the primary filter element 3 and the secondary filter element 4.

[0044] It should be noted that the detection element 7, the alarm, and the control system 11 are all conventional components in the prior art. For example, the alarm can be a buzzer and / or an alarm light. The control system 11 can be any applicable computing device, such as a personal computer, server, PLC controller, microcontroller, etc., or it can be an integration of computer devices. The control system 11 has functions such as receiving information and sending control commands. The control system 11 can control each component to perform corresponding actions through wired or wireless communication. This application preferably uses wireless communication.

[0045] Example 2:

[0046] In the design of the water collection pipe 1 connected in series with the filter tank 2, this application also connects in series with the collection tank 5, which is located upstream of the filter tank 2. The specific connection method is as follows: the water collection pipe 1 is divided into an upstream section and a downstream section containing the filter tank 2. The inlet of the collection tank 5 is connected to the upstream section, and the outlet is connected to the downstream section. For the collection tank 5, a partition 6 is provided on it. The height of the partition 6 is lower than the depth of the collection tank 5. The partition 6 divides the inner cavity of the collection tank 5 into a collection tank cavity 501 and a diversion tank cavity 502. Based on this cavity design of the collection tank 5, the conventional connection between the upstream section and the inlet of the collection tank 5 can be changed to a position where the upstream section is suspended above its opening, and the downstream section is directly connected to the collection tank cavity 501 (a layer of primary filter cotton can be provided at the end of the downstream section to remove large particles of impurities and prevent clogging). At the same time, the upstream section is set to be movable, so that the outlet of the upstream section can be selectively directed towards the collection tank cavity 501 or the diversion tank cavity 502. Furthermore, during normal recycling operations, the outlet of the upstream section faces the water collection tank 501, allowing the condensate from air conditioning unit a to flow into the water collection tank 501 via this upstream section. Additionally, if the water collection tank 501 becomes clogged, the design of the baffle 6, which is lower than the depth of the collection tank 5, allows the condensate to overflow into the adjacent diversion tank 502, preventing flooding in the machine room. When the water collection tank 501 becomes clogged or when cleaning the unit's water collection pan and pipes, the outlet of the upstream section can be directed towards the diversion tank 502, and the bottom of the diversion tank 502 is connected to a drain pipe 13 for discharging wastewater.

[0047] Because the air conditioning unit a generates negative pressure during operation, the conventional straight pipe design of the upstream section may prevent condensate from draining. Therefore, this application designs a portion of the upstream section suspended above the water collection chamber 501 and the diversion chamber 502 with a U-shaped structure. This U-shaped structure can be constructed by… Figure 2 The 'd' in the figure represents this. It is worth noting that the water pressure generated by the height of the U-shaped structure must be higher than the negative pressure inside the air conditioning unit 'a' to ensure that the condensate can be discharged smoothly.

[0048] Furthermore, this paper's discussion of water supply for cooling tower b is not limited to the installation of a single air conditioning unit a, such as... Figure 1 As shown, two sets of air conditioning units a can also be set up to simultaneously supply water to cooling tower b, with the two sets of air conditioning units a connected in parallel to the water collection pipe 1. Although Figure 1 The diagram only shows the method of two sets of air conditioning units a supplying water to cooling tower b. However, in actual use, the number of air conditioning units a can be arbitrary, and can be determined based on factors such as the number of air conditioning units a present in the building and the ease of grid connection.

[0049] Example 3:

[0050] In the design of the aforementioned water collection pipe 1 connected in series with the filter tank 2 and the collection tank 5, this application also includes a water collection pool 8 connected in series. The water collection pool 8 is located downstream of the filter tank 2. Specifically, the water collection pipe 1 is divided into an upstream section and a downstream section, which include the collection tank 5 and the filter tank 2. The inlet of the water collection pool 8 is connected to the upstream section, and the outlet is connected to the downstream section. Preferably, the upstream section is inserted into the top inlet of the water collection pool 8 from top to bottom, and the downstream section penetrates into the water collection pool 8 and is connected to the drive source (water pump, etc.) 9 inside the water collection pool 8. Figure 1 Although the example shows a scenario with three sets of driver sources 9, in actual applications, the number of driver sources 9 is determined based on the actual usage.

[0051] To monitor the water temperature and level in the water collection tank 8, a liquid temperature sensor 10 is installed inside the tank. The liquid temperature sensor 10 is electrically connected to the control system 11, and the drive source 9 is also electrically connected to and controlled by the control system 11. When the water temperature and level reach a specified threshold, the liquid temperature sensor 10 transmits a corresponding signal to the control system 11. The control system 11 then activates the drive source 9, which pumps water from the water collection tank 8 into the cooling tower b, completing the entire transportation process.

[0052] Of course, the design of the liquid temperature sensor 10 mentioned above can also be replaced by a conventional liquid level sensor and temperature sensor, both of which are electrically connected to the control system 11. To avoid cumbersome writing, this article will not elaborate further.

[0053] Example 4:

[0054] Furthermore, this application may also set up a remote automatic control system 12 that communicates wirelessly with the control system 11. The control system 11 and the remote automatic control system 12 adopt an Internet of Things communication module to realize 4G wireless communication. The remote automatic control system 12 reads the signal of the control system 11, monitors the status of the water collection tank 8 and the filter in real time, and remotely controls the start and stop of the drive source 9.

[0055] The above description provides a detailed account of one embodiment of the present invention. However, this description is merely a preferred embodiment and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. All equivalent variations and improvements made within the scope of the claims of the present invention should still fall within the patent coverage of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air conditioner condensate water recycling device, characterized by, It includes a water collection tank (8) for temporarily storing condensate. The inlet of the water collection tank (8) is connected to the drain outlet of the air conditioning unit (a) via a water collection pipe (1), and the outlet of the water collection tank (8) is connected to the inlet of the cooling tower (b) via a drive source (9). A filter water tank (2) for filtering impurities in the pipe is arranged on the water collection pipe (1). A filter element is arranged in the filter water tank (2), thereby dividing the cavity of the filter water tank (2) into a front cavity connected to the inlet of the filter water tank (2) and a rear cavity connected to the outlet of the filter water tank (2), and the bottom height of the rear cavity is lower than the bottom height of the front cavity.

2. The air conditioner condensate water recycling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter element is a plate-type structure, and its plate surface is perpendicular to the direction of condensate flow; the top of the filter element is lower than the top of the filter tank (2).

3. An air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the filter tank (2) is recessed with an installation slot, the length direction of the installation slot is perpendicular to the length direction of the filter tank (2), and the bottom of the filter element is inserted into the installation slot.

4. An air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The filter element has a double-layer structure, including a primary filter element (3) and a secondary filter element (4) arranged sequentially along the direction of condensate flow, and there is a gap between the primary filter element (3) and the secondary filter element (4).

5. The air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The top of the secondary filter element (4) is equipped with a detection plate (7) for detecting whether water has overflowed.

6. The air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device according to claim 5, characterized in that, A liquid temperature sensor (10) is installed in the water collection tank (8). The liquid temperature sensor (10) is electrically connected to the control system (11). The drive source (9) is electrically connected to the control system (11) and controlled by the control system (11). The detection plate (7) is electrically connected to the control system (11).

7. An air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The device also includes a water collection tank (5) connected in series in the water collection pipe (1). A partition (6) is provided in the water collection tank (5) to divide the inner cavity of the water collection tank (5) into a water collection tank cavity (501) and a diversion tank cavity (502). The upstream section of the water collection pipe (1) is suspended above the water collection tank cavity (501) and the diversion tank cavity (502). The upstream section is designed to be movable so that the outlet of the upstream section can be directed towards either the water collection tank cavity (501) or the diversion tank cavity (502). The downstream section of the water collection pipe (1) is connected to the water collection tank cavity (501).

8. The air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The upstream section, which is suspended above the water collection trough (501) and the diversion trough (502), has a U-shaped structure.

9. The air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The device also includes a remote automatic control system (12) for wireless communication with the control system (11).

10. An air conditioning condensate recovery and utilization device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The primary filter element (3) is a filter cotton layer, and the secondary filter element (4) is an activated carbon layer.

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