MISTING INSTALLATION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a misting installation (10) comprising: - a water supply circuit (12), - an air supply circuit (14) comprising an air compressor (40) capable of providing a supply air flow, - a misting circuit (16) comprising single-fluid spray nozzles (44) intended to be arranged in a mist diffusion zone (46), the installation (10) comprising an air-water mixing chamber (36) which is supplied by the water supply circuit (12) and by the air supply circuit (14), said air-water mixing chamber (36) being connected to the misting circuit (16) so as to produce a water mist via the spray nozzles (44). Figure for abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: MISTING INSTALLATION Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a misting installation for producing a water mist, for example in an urban environment, or an agricultural environment, or an industrial environment. Technical background

[0002] Misting installations are already known which make it possible to produce a water mist in an urban environment. Such installations are highly sought after, particularly due to the effects of global warming. Such installations also make it possible to achieve interesting visual effects when combined with lighting, for example by using spotlights with red, green, blue and white light-emitting diodes.

[0003] A disadvantage of existing installations is that they require relatively complex and expensive components, both in terms of the initial investment budget and in terms of the operating and maintenance budget. These installations often use energy-intensive pumps to produce the energy needed to form the water mist.

[0004] Furthermore, the obligations linked to health constraints, for example those imposed by the Regional Health Agency in France, and the constraints linked to the high demands on high-pressure pumps (50 to 100 bars of pressure) used in existing installations, further contribute to making this type of installation expensive and very difficult to maintain for the technical services of the communities which wish to install them. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention proposes a misting installation comprising: - a water supply circuit intended to be connected to a water distribution network supplying water at a specific pressure, - an air supply circuit designed to be supplied with atmospheric air and comprising an air compressor capable of providing a flow of supply air at a determined air supply pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, - a misting circuit comprising single-fluid spray nozzles intended to be arranged in a mist diffusion zone, the installation comprising an air-water mixing chamber which is supplied by the water supply circuit and by the air supply circuit, said air-water mixing chamber being connected to the misting circuit so as to produce a water mist through spray nozzles.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, the number of expensive and energy-consuming components is reduced to its strict minimum, which in fact leads to reduced maintenance costs. The installation according to the invention makes it possible to better meet health requirements since water from the public supply network (Drinking Water Supply, AEP) is used.

[0007] In particular, the installation according to the invention does not require a high pressure pump (pressure of several tens of bars) as in the prior art to supply the misting circuit.

[0008] According to other characteristics of the invention:

[0009] - the installation comprises an electronic control unit which controls a valve regulating valve for the air supply arranged in the air supply circuit and a regulating valve for the water supply arranged in the water supply circuit, and which is configured to regulate the supply of air and water into the air-water mixing chamber so as to produce an air-water mixture flow capable of creating the water mist;

[0010] - the water supply circuit comprises a tank which forms a water reservoir under determined pressure;

[0011] - the water supply circuit comprises at least one filter chosen from the list following: anti-limescale filter, activated carbon filter, ultra-fine filter, fine filter;

[0012] - the water supply circuit comprises an ultraviolet lamp configured to treat the water present in the water supply circuit;

[0013] - the mist diffusion zone may comprise at least one light source which is combined with at least one spray nozzle, the light source being controlled by the electronic control unit so as to produce a combined effect of water mist and lighting; the latter not being an obligation within the scope of this invention.

[0014] - the installation is convertible into a “solar” version and will include at least one electrical energy storage battery intended to power the electronic unit and the electrical components of the installation, the battery being connected to at least one photovoltaic panel allowing power supply by solar energy.

[0015] The invention also provides a method for producing a water mist in a mist diffusion zone, the method comprising the following steps: - production of a water supply flow under a determined pressure in a water supply circuit, - production of an air supply flow under a determined air supply pressure higher than atmospheric pressure by means of an air compressor in an air supply circuit, - production of a combined air-water flow injected into a misting circuit comprising single-fluid spray nozzles intended to be arranged in the mist diffusion zone, the production of the combined air-water flow comprising a step of mixing the water supply flow with the air supply flow in an air-water mixing chamber connected to the misting circuit.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of regulating the water supply flow and the air supply flow by means of an electronic control unit controlling the regulation valves. Brief description of the figure

[0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] is a diagram which illustrates a misting installation in accordance with the instructions information on the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0020] [Fig.l] illustrates a pressurized misting installation 10 comprising a water supply circuit 12, an air supply circuit 14, and a misting circuit 16.

[0021] The water supply circuit 12 is intended to be connected to a water distribution network, for example the public network of a city, supplying water at a determined pressure, for example of the order of 3 to 4 bars. The connection to the water distribution network is illustrated here by a water supply valve 18.

[0022] The water supply circuit 12 here comprises a series of filters 20, 22, 24, 26 arranged after the water supply valve 18 so as to ensure an appropriate quality of the water in the water supply circuit 12 and so as to adjust its characteristics. This series of filters comprises for example: an anti-scale filter 20, an activated carbon filter 22, an ultrafine filter 24, a fine filter 26. The ultrafine 24 and fine 26 filters are configured to limit the quantity of impurities that can enter the water supply circuit 12. The ultrafine filter 24 is for example designed to retain impurities with dimensions between 1 and 10 μm, and the fine filter 26 is for example designed to retain impurities with dimensions between 10 and 50 μm. These are, for example, so-called cartridge filters, comprising a filter coil or superimposed filter elements.

[0023] Advantageously, the water supply circuit 12 is provided with a tank 30 which forms a water reservoir under a determined pressure, for example of the order of 3 to 4.5 bars.

[0024] Optionally, a metering pump 32 is arranged upstream of the tank 30, after the filters, so as to be able to sanitize the feed water before it enters said tank 30. Advantageously, the metering pump 32 does not require electrical energy. It is designed to inject a sanitizing product, for example hydrogen peroxide, to sanitize the water which is injected into the tank 30. This sanitizing product makes it possible to prevent the water, which will stagnate in the tank 30 for a determined period, from becoming contaminated.

[0025] Optionally, an ultraviolet lamp 28 is inserted in the water supply circuit 12, preferably downstream of the tank 30, so as to be able to apply an appropriate treatment to the water when this is required by regulations.

[0026] The water supply circuit 12 advantageously comprises regulating valves 34, for example between the metering pump 32 and the tank 30, and downstream of the tank 30, upstream of an air-water mixing chamber 36.

[0027] The water supply circuit 12 thus produces a water supply flow which is injected into the air-water mixing chamber 36.

[0028] Preferably, the misting installation 10 comprises an electronic control unit 38 which is configured to control several components such as the water supply valve 18, the ultraviolet lamp 28, the air compressor, the control valves 34.

[0029] The air supply circuit 14 is designed to be supplied with atmospheric air. It comprises an air compressor 40 capable of providing an air supply flow at a determined air supply pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The air compressor 40 is here connected to the atmospheric air by an air supply valve 42. The air supply flow coming from the outlet of the air compressor 40 is injected into the air-water mixing chamber 36.

[0030] Advantageously, the air sucked in by the air compressor 40 is treated by a plasma process in order to prevent any bacterial or viral contamination of the air flow.

[0031] The air supply circuit 14 comprises a regulating valve 34 interposed between the air compressor 40 and the air-water mixing chamber 36.

[0032] The electronic control unit 38 is configured to regulate the supply of air and water in the air-water mixing chamber 36 in particular by means of the regulation valves 34 so as to inject into the misting circuit 16 a flow of air-water mixture capable of producing a water mist.

[0033] The misting circuit 16 comprises single-fluid spray nozzles 44 intended to be arranged in a mist diffusion zone 46.

[0034] It is noted that the method is based on a two-fluid mixture, the air-water mixing chamber 36 making it possible to combine a flow of water with a flow of air. However, the mixture air-water which is injected into the misting circuit reconstitutes a single fluid which directly feeds each spray nozzle 44. The spray nozzles 44 do not need a double inlet (one for air, one for water), as in the installations of the prior art (bi-fluid paint nozzles in the automotive industry for example).

[0035] The misting circuit 16 is supplied with an air-water mixture under pressure by the air-water mixing chamber 36 which is connected to the misting circuit 16, upstream of the spray nozzles 44.

[0036] Advantageously, the misting circuit 16 comprises several spray nozzles 44, the number of which depends on the size of the mist diffusion zone 46 and / or the size and shape desired for the water mist.

[0037] Advantageously, the mist diffusion zone 46 may comprise at least one light source 48 which is combined with at least one spray nozzle 44, the light source 48 being controlled by the electronic control unit 38 so as to produce a combined water mist and lighting effect. Other light sources 48 may be arranged near the spray nozzles 44 or at a distance from them while being controlled by the same electronic control unit 38.

[0038] According to an advantageous embodiment, the misting installation 10 comprises at least one electrical energy storage battery 50 intended to power the electronic control unit 38 and the electrical components of the installation 10. The battery 50 can be connected to at least one photovoltaic panel 52 which allows an electrical power supply by solar energy.

[0039] It is noted that the invention makes it possible to use components consuming little energy, which can make it possible to power the entire misting installation 10 with a single photovoltaic panel 52; the battery 50 makes it possible to store the solar energy stored throughout the day to use it day and night in electrical form.

[0040] A method for producing a water mist in a mist diffusion zone is now described. This method implements the installation described previously.

[0041] This method comprises the following steps: - production of a water supply flow under a determined pressure in the water supply circuit, - production of an air supply flow under a determined air supply pressure higher than atmospheric pressure by means of the air compressor in the air supply circuit, - production of a combined air-water flow injected into the misting circuit comprising the single-fluid spray nozzles arranged in the mist diffusion zone, the production of the combined air-water flow comprising a step of mixing the water supply flow to the air supply flow in the air-water mixing chamber connected to the misting circuit.

[0042] During a regulation step, the water supply flow and the air supply flow are adjusted by the electronic control unit which controls the regulation valves 34 so as to obtain a combined air-water flow of sufficient pressure and proportions to produce the water mist.

[0043] LEGEND

[0044] 10: misting installation 12: water supply circuit 14: air supply circuit 16: misting circuit 18: water supply valve 20: anti-scale filter 22: activated carbon filter 24: ultrafine filter 26: fine filter 28: ultraviolet lamp 30: balloon 32: dosing pump 34: regulating valve 36: air-water mixing chamber 38: electronic control unit 40: air compressor 42: air supply valve 44: spray nozzle 46: mist diffusion zone 48: light source 50: battery 52: photovoltaic panel

Claims

Claims

1. Misting installation (10) comprising: - a water supply circuit (12) intended to be connected to a water distribution network supplying water at a determined pressure, - an air supply circuit (14) intended to be supplied by atmospheric air and comprising an air compressor (40) capable of supplying a flow of supply air at a determined air supply pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, - a misting circuit (16) comprising single-fluid spray nozzles (44) intended to be arranged in a mist diffusion zone (46), the installation (10) comprising an air-water mixing chamber (36) which is supplied by the water supply circuit (12) and by the air supply circuit (14), said air-water mixing chamber (36) being connected to the misting circuit (16) so as to produce a water mist via the spray nozzles (44).

2. Installation (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an electronic control unit (38) which controls a regulating valve (34) for the air supply arranged in the air supply circuit (14) and a regulating valve (34) for the water supply arranged in the water supply circuit (12), and which is configured to regulate the supply of air and water in the air-water mixing chamber (36) so as to produce a flow of air-water mixture capable of producing the water mist.

3. Installation (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water supply circuit (12) comprises a tank (30) which forms a water reservoir under a determined pressure.

4. Installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water supply circuit (12) comprises at least one filter (20, 22, 24, 26) chosen from the following list: anti-limescale filter, activated carbon filter, ultra-fine filter, fine filter.

5. Installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water supply circuit (12) comprises an ultraviolet lamp (28) configured to treat the water present in the water supply circuit (12).

6. Installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the mist diffusion zone (46) comprises at least one light source (48) which is combined with at least one spray nozzle (44), the light source (48) being controlled by the electronic control unit (38) so as to produce a combined water mist and lighting effect.

7. Installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one battery (50) for storing electrical energy intended to power the electronic unit (38) and the electrical components of the installation (10), the battery (50) being connected to at least one photovoltaic panel (52) allowing a power supply by solar energy.

8. A method for producing a water mist in a mist diffusion zone (46), the method comprising the following steps: - producing a water supply flow under a determined pressure in a water supply circuit (12), - producing an air supply flow under a determined air supply pressure higher than atmospheric pressure by means of an air compressor (40) in an air supply circuit (14), - producing a combined air-water flow injected into a misting circuit (16) comprising single-fluid spray nozzles (44) intended to be arranged in the mist diffusion zone (46), the production of the combined air-water flow comprising a step of mixing the water supply flow with the air supply flow in an air-water mixing chamber (36) connected to the misting circuit (16).

9. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a step of regulating the water supply flow and the air supply flow by means of an electronic control unit (38) controlling regulation valves (34).

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