Method for remotely controlling a water softening installation, a control system and a softening installation
The remote control method for water softening installations addresses operational inefficiencies by monitoring and alerting on anomalies, ensuring effective and proactive management of water and salt levels, and drainage, enhancing responsiveness and operational efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2021002851
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-03-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-10
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-03-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing water softening installations struggle with responsiveness in the event of technical anomalies, leading to ineffective operation due to unmonitored components such as the water softener and salt tank.
A method and system for remotely controlling a water softening installation that includes acquiring parameter measurements, comparing them to setpoints, and sending alerts or initiating regeneration cycles based on parameters like salt and water levels, conductivity, and drainage status, with remote monitoring and communication via SMS, email, or internet.
Enhances responsiveness and operational efficiency by anticipating and correcting anomalies, ensuring balanced operation and timely intervention, thereby maintaining consistent water softening performance.
Smart Images
Figure 00000011_0000
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Method for remotely controlling a water softening installation, a control system and a softening installation Field of invention
[0001] The invention relates to a method for remotely controlling a water softening installation, a control system and a softening installation. State of the art
[0002] There are water softening installations for treating limescale in water. These installations use a softener in which the water is softened and a salt tank to regenerate the softener. However, if these components of the installation do not operate at the required level, the installation is unable to provide softened water.
[0003] There is therefore a need for a method and a system for controlling such an installation in order to improve responsiveness in the event of a technical anomaly in the installation. Presentation of the invention
[0004] The aim of the invention is to provide a method and a system for controlling a softening installation making it possible to improve responsiveness in the event of a technical anomaly in the installation.
[0005] For this purpose, the invention proposes a method for remotely controlling a water softening installation, the installation comprising a water softener and a salt tank for regenerating the water softener, the method comprising the steps of • Acquisition of parameter measurements reflecting the operating status of the installation; • Comparison of parameter measurements to instructions; • Sending an alert if at least one parameter measurement corresponds to a respective setpoint; • Remote monitoring of the operating status of the water softening system.
[0006] According to one embodiment, the parameters comprise at least one parameter relating to the water level in the salt tank, a parameter relating to the quantity of salt in the salt tank and a parameter relating to the permanent drainage of the installation.
[0007] According to one embodiment, the parameter relating to the water level comprises a parameter relating to the lack of water in the salt tank and / or a parameter relating to a high water level in the salt tank.
[0008] According to one embodiment, the parameter relating to the quantity of salt comprises a parameter relating to the lack of salt in the salt tank and / or a parameter relating to the reaching of a salt replenishment level of the salt tank.
[0009] According to one embodiment, the acquisition of the measurements comprises the measurement of the conductivity of a regeneration solution in the salt tank and / or the measurement of the water level in the salt tank.
[0010] According to one embodiment, • The acquisition step includes the acquisition of a parameter measurement relating to the volume of softened water consumed and a parameter measurement relating to the lack of water in the salt tank; • The comparison step includes comparing the parameter relating to the volume of softened water with a maximum volume setpoint of water to be softened and a comparison of the parameter relating to the lack of water in the salt tank with a low water level setpoint; • The step of sending an alert includes sending an alert if the maximum volume of water to be softened is reached and if the low water level is reached; • The control step includes determining that a regeneration cycle is to be initiated and that a regeneration solution is to be produced in the salt tank.
[0011] According to one embodiment, an alert is sent by SMS or by email.
[0012] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises, after the remote control step, a step of informing the owner of the installation.
[0013] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying the alert on a screen of a control unit of the installation.
[0014] The invention also relates to a system for controlling a water softening installation capable of implementing the method as described above.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the system comprises at least, in the salt tank, a detector for measuring parameters reflecting the operating state of the installation among a conductivity probe and a water level detector.
[0016] According to one embodiment, the parameters comprise at least one parameter relating to the water level in the salt tank, a parameter relating to the quantity of salt in the salt tank and a parameter relating to the permanent drainage of the installation.
[0017] According to one embodiment, the system comprises a wired or WIFI internet connection and / or a GSM connection.
[0018] The invention also relates to a water softening installation comprising the control system as described above, a water softener and a salt tank for regenerating the water softener. Brief description of the figures
[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended figure which shows:
[0020] [Fig.l], [Fig.l] is a view of an exemplary embodiment of a water softening installation implementing the invention.
[0021] The figure is not to scale. Similar elements are generally denoted by similar references in the figure. For the purposes of this document, identical or similar elements may bear the same references. Furthermore, the presence of reference numbers or letters in the figure cannot be considered as limiting, including when these numbers or letters are indicated in the claims.
[0022] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention
[0023] The invention proposes a method for remotely controlling a water softening installation, the installation comprising a water softener and a salt tank for regenerating the water softener. The method comprises the steps of acquiring parameter measurements reflecting the operating state of the installation, comparing the parameter measurements with setpoints, sending an alert if at least one parameter measurement corresponds to a respective setpoint, and remotely controlling the operating state of the water softening installation. The method makes it possible to simply improve responsiveness in the event of a technical anomaly in the installation and to benefit from operational equipment. The method also makes it possible to permanently and automatically monitor the proper functioning of the installation and in particular of the components of the installation, namely the softener and the salt tank. The method also makes it possible to anticipate technical anomalies.
[0024] [Fig.l] shows an example of a water softening installation 10 on which the control method can be applied. The installation 10 comprises a water softener 12 and a salt tank 14. The softener 12 comprises an ion exchange resin (not visible in [Fig.l]). The softener 12 is connected to a water supply 16, coming from the city and loaded with limestone, and intended to be softened. The water is diverted from the supply 16 by a by-pass 17 to a conduit 18 to be conveyed to the softener 12. Upon entering the softener 12, the water flows along the ion exchange resin and gets rid of its calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions. The water is charged with sodium ions (Na+) before being returned to pipe 22 for domestic or industrial use via pipe 20 and bypass 17.
[0025] When the ion exchange resin reaches saturation, that is to say once the resin has transmitted all its sodium ions (Na+) to the softened water and therefore no longer contains enough, a regeneration of the softener 12 is implemented. For this, and by way of example, a backfilling phase occurs during which water is sent into the resin in the opposite direction to the water softening direction to lift the resin (and backfill it). Then a resin regeneration solution is sent into the softener 12 followed by a slow rinse with clean water. Then a quick rinse can be implemented to evacuate the regeneration solution from the softener; this marks the end of the regeneration, the softener 12 is ready for use and the salt tank 14 is empty.Then, a regeneration solution production phase can be implemented (immediately after or later, for example shortly before a new regeneration of the softener) by introducing water into the salt tank 14 containing salt.
[0026] The salt tank 14 is connected by a conduit 24 to the softener 12 to discharge the regeneration solution therein. The solution flows along the resin to clean it of calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions and enrich it with sodium (Na+) ions. The conduit 24 also allows water to be sent into the salt tank 14.
[0027] A conduit 26 allows the softener 12 to be drained via a siphon 28, for example to get rid of the rinsing water and the regeneration solution used to regenerate the resin in the softener 12. The salt tank 14 is also connected to the drain via a conduit 30 and the siphon 28. This allows, for example, an overflow in the salt tank to be drained.
[0028] The salt tank 14 contains salt 34 - such as sodium chloride - and water 36 (shown in insufficient quantity in [Fig.l] as will be described later). The aqueous regeneration solution is saturated with sodium chloride for example, forming brine. The regeneration solution is discharged to the softener 12 via a brine rod 40. The salt 34 rests for example near the bottom of the salt tank 14 on a floor 38. The floor 38 prevents the salt 34 from resting at the bottom of the salt tank 14 and allows easier cleaning of the salt tank 14. An overflow (not visible in the figure) allows excess water, or even regeneration solution, to be emptied into the sewers via the conduit 30.
[0029] The invention proposes a control system 32 for implementing the control method. The system 32 may comprise a management unit 42 transmitting the alerts. The system has the advantage of being able to be mounted on a new installation or on an existing installation. The system 32 is described in more detail below.
[0030] The method for controlling the installation 10 according to the invention comprises a step of acquiring parameter measurements reflecting the operating state of the installation and then a step of comparing the parameter measurements with setpoints. If at least one parameter measurement corresponds to (or diverges from) a respective setpoint, the method comprises a step of sending an alert. The method then comprises a step of remote control of the operating state of the installation 10 during which a diagnosis of the operating state is made. This makes it possible to remotely monitor the installation - and this permanently.
[0031] The parameters reflecting the operating state of the installation preferably comprise at least one parameter relating to the water level in the salt tank 14, a parameter relating to the quantity of salt in the salt tank 14 and a parameter relating to the permanent drainage of the installation. These are the main operating parameters of the installation which the method ensures control of. Anticipating, or even correcting, the malfunction of these parameters in particular ensures a balance between a number of alerts which is not excessive and efficient operation of the installation 10.
[0032] The parameter relating to the water level in the salt tank 14 may comprise a parameter relating to the lack of water in the salt tank 14 and / or a parameter relating to a high water level in the salt tank 14. When the measurement of the water level 36 corresponds to a low water level setpoint (too low a level), the method then detects that there is a lack of water 36 (as can be seen in [Fig.l] in which the water level is below the floor 38). Conversely, when the measurement of the water level 36 corresponds to a high water level setpoint (too high a level), the method detects that the water level is high in the salt tank 14. In the case of a water level that is really too high, the overflow 40 allows the water and the regeneration solution to be discharged into the sewers.
[0033] The parameter relating to the quantity of salt 34 in the salt tank 14 may comprise a parameter relating to the lack of salt in the salt tank 14 and / or a parameter relating to the reaching of a salt replenishment level of the salt tank 14. When the measurement of a quantity of salt 34 corresponds to a minimum salt quantity setpoint, the method detects that there is a lack of salt - or even no more salt - in the salt tank 14. When the measurement of a quantity of salt 34 corresponds to a recommended salt setpoint 34, the method detects that it is time to replenish the salt tank 14, the latter being still able to operate; however this makes it possible to anticipate the replenishment of salt in the salt tank 14 and to contact a salt tank 34 replenishment service - or to replenish it yourself.
[0034] The parameters relating to the lack of water, the absence of salt and the supply of salt, can be measured by a detector in the salt tank such as a probe 37 of the control system 32. This is for example a conductivity probe. The probe 37 can be inserted into a sealed probe holder 39 and placed in the brine tank 14. The probe holder 39 is for example a PVC tube with an orifice at its lower end to allow the probe 37 to pass through and detect the conductivity. In addition, the probe holder 39 makes it possible to avoid flooding the probe 37. The probe holder 39 can be positioned in the brine tank using a collar 41, holding the probe holder 39 along the brine rod 40 - substantially in the center of the brine tank 14.The conductivity probe 37 makes it possible to measure in a simple and effective manner the concentration of dissolved ions in the water contained in the salt tank 14; when there is a lack of water, the probe 37 no longer measures conductivity or measures a conductivity corresponding to a very low setpoint, when there is an absence of salt, the conductivity corresponds to a low setpoint and when the salt supply must occur, the conductivity corresponds to a certain setpoint value. Analog cards 44 in the upper part of the probe holder 39 are connected by sealed connections 46 to the management member 42 of the system 32. The parameter relating to a high water level can be detected by a water level detector, placed for example at the level of the cards 44, and / or a flood detector of the room in which the installation is located.
[0035] When there is a lack of water in the salt tank, the conductivity corresponds to a conductivity setpoint between 0 and 19 mV, for example. When there is no more salt 34 in the salt tank 14 (and therefore the water in the salt tank is at the conductivity of city water), the conductivity corresponds to a conductivity setpoint between 20 and 60 mV, for example. When a salt supply must be made, the conductivity corresponds to a conductivity setpoint of less than 1000 mV, for example. The conductivity measured to detect the supply is generally progressive according to the salinity level; the conductivity value varies between that of city water and that of a saturated regeneration solution. A presence of salt in a sufficient quantity in the tank corresponds to a conductivity setpoint greater than 2000 mV, for example.When a regeneration solution (such as brine) is saturated, the conductivity corresponds to a conductivity setpoint greater than 3400 mV, for example.
[0036] The parameter relating to the permanent draining of the installation 10 corresponds to the detection that the softener 12 discharges water or liquids into the drains without reason. For example, during the regeneration of the softener, it is normal for the rinsing water and the regeneration solution used to be discharged into the drains; however, after such a regeneration, if a measurement relating to the draining corresponds to a draining instruction, the method detects that an anomaly occurs in the draining of the installation. To measure the parameter relating to the permanent draining, the control system 32 may comprise a flow detector 48 on the conduit 26 connected by a connection 49 to the management member 42. It may This may be a Hall effect turbine. If the turbine generates a Hall effect, this means that it is in action and that the softener 12 is discharging water or liquids into the sewers for no reason.
[0037] After sending an alert to the installation control center and then remotely monitoring the operating status of the installation, the method may include a step of informing the owner about the operating status of the installation - by email for example. This allows the latter to take appropriate measures or to plan the intervention of a specialist and to optimize the intervention time of a technician.
[0038] The alerts are transmitted via an internet connection 43 (wired or WIFI) or telephone. The alerts can be transmitted by SMS, for example by an M2M solution (acronym for “machine to machine”), or by email to the control center (or supplier server) which manages the control of the installation and the communications of faults and operating status to the owner (individual customers or operators) in charge of the technical intervention on the site of the installation. Transmission by SMS is preferred for an industrial owner and transmission via the internet is preferred for a private owner. In addition, home automation management software of the JEEDOM type can be implemented by the control system 32.
[0039] The management organ 42 of the control system 32 can be a processor of the ATM 328 P / 8266 / esp32 type or an equivalent. It allows the remote management reading every 4 hours after the regeneration cycle. It can be associated with an 800L GSM SIM card or an internet box or similar.
[0040] A signal offset is appropriate for certain installations, because they are placed for example in a basement or cellar of a building that does not allow a good internet or telephone connection for sending alerts. It is then necessary to offset the sending of the signal by moving the communication antenna. It is also possible to be able to read the installation faults on a wall-mounted control box for the installation.
[0041] [Fig.l] also shows power supplies 54 of the installation 10 and 56 of the system 32.
[0042] The method may further comprise the management of a regeneration cycle in the softener 12. For this, the acquisition step of the method comprises the acquisition of a parameter measurement relating to the volume of softened water consumed and a parameter measurement relating to the lack of water in the salt tank 14. The measurement of the achievement of a volume of softened water at the outlet of the softener 12 is made for example through a water meter 50 of the system 32, on the softened water pipe 22 connected by a connection 52 to the management member 42 of the system 32. Then the comparison step of the process includes comparing the parameter relating to the volume of softened water with a maximum volume setpoint of water to be softened and a comparison of the parameter relating to the lack of water in the brine tank with a low water level setpoint. The step of sending an alert includes sending an alert if the maximum volume setpoint of water to be softened is reached and if the low water level setpoint is reached. This means that a regeneration cycle is to be carried out imminently and that the volume of regeneration solution is not available. The process control step can then include determining that a regeneration cycle is to be launched and that a regeneration solution is to be produced in the brine tank 14. The owner of the installation is informed and these operations can be launched remotely. The advantage is to detect a fault or anticipate a fault in the installation and to gain in reactivity in the event of a technical anomaly.
Claims
Claims
1. A method for remotely controlling a water softening installation (10), the installation comprising a water softener (12) and a salt tank (14) for regenerating the water softener (12), the method comprising the steps of • Acquiring measurements of parameters reflecting the operating state of the installation (10), the parameters comprising at least • a parameter relating to the water level in the salt tank (14), comprising a parameter relating to the lack of water in the salt tank (14);• a parameter relating to the quantity of salt in the salt tank (14), comprising a parameter relating to the lack of salt in the salt tank (14) and / or a parameter relating to the reaching of a salt replenishment level of the salt tank (14) and • a parameter relating to the permanent draining of the installation, the parameters relating to the lack of water and to the quantity of salt in the salt tank (14) being measured by a conductivity probe (37); • Comparison of the parameter measurements with setpoints; • Sending an alert if at least one parameter measurement corresponds to a respective setpoint; • Remote control of the operating status of the water softening installation.;
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the water level parameter further comprises a parameter relating to a high water level in the salt tank (14).
3. The method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the acquisition of the measurements further comprises the measurement of the water level in the salt tank (14).
4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
5.
6.
7. • The acquisition step includes the acquisition of a parameter measurement relating to the volume of softened water consumed; • The comparison step includes comparing the parameter relating to the volume of softened water with a maximum volume setpoint of water to be softened and a comparison of the parameter relating to the lack of water in the salt tank with a low water level setpoint; • The step of sending an alert includes sending an alert if the maximum volume of water to be softened is reached and if the low water level is reached; • The control step includes determining that a regeneration cycle is to be initiated and that a regeneration solution is to be produced in the salt tank (14). The method according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which an alert is sent by SMS or by email. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising, after the remote control step, a step of informing the owner of the installation. The method according to one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising displaying the alert on a screen of a control unit of the installation (10).