MISTING SYSTEM INSTALLATION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a misting system (10) comprising: - a water supply circuit (12), - an air supply circuit (14) including an air compressor (40) capable of providing a supply airflow, - a misting circuit (16) including single-fluid spray nozzles (44) arranged in a mist diffusion zone (46), the system (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 the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: MISTING SYSTEM 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 systems that produce a water mist in urban environments are already known. Such systems are highly sought after, particularly due to the effects of climate change. Furthermore, such systems can create interesting visual effects when combined with lighting, for example, by using red, green, blue, and white LED spotlights.

[0003] One drawback 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 placed on the 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 system comprising: - a water supply circuit designed to be connected to a water distribution network providing water at a predetermined pressure, - an air supply circuit designed to be supplied by atmospheric air and comprising an air compressor capable of providing a supply air flow at a predetermined air supply pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, - a misting system comprising single-fluid spray nozzles designed 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 via spray nozzles.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, the number of costly and energy-intensive components is reduced to an absolute minimum, thereby resulting in lower maintenance costs. The installation according to the invention better meets health requirements since it uses water from the public water supply network (Drinking Water Supply, DWS).

[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 features of the invention:

[0009] - the installation includes an electronic control unit that controls a valve regulation for the air supply arranged in the air supply circuit and a regulation valve for the water supply arranged in the water supply circuit, and which is configured to regulate the air and water supply in the air-water mixing chamber so as to produce an air-water mixing flow suitable for creating the water mist;

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

[0011] - the water supply circuit includes at least one filter chosen from the list next: anti-limescale filter, activated carbon filter, ultrafine filter, fine filter;

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

[0013] - the mist diffusion zone may include 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 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 proposes 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 area, the production of the combined air-water flow comprising a mixing stage of 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 process includes a step of regulating the water supply flow and the air supply flow by means of an electronic control unit controlling the regulating valves. Brief description of the figure

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows, for an understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] is a diagram illustrating a misting system conforming to the instructions elements of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] In the description that follows, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numerals.

[0020] Fig. 1 illustrates a pressurized misting system 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, a city's public network, supplying water at a predetermined pressure, for example, in the range of 3 to 4 bar. The connection to the water distribution network is illustrated here by a water supply valve 18.

[0022] The water supply circuit 12 here includes a series of filters 20, 22, 24, 26 arranged after the water supply valve 18 so as to ensure appropriate water quality in the water supply circuit 12 and to adjust its characteristics. This series of filters includes, for example: a limescale filter 20, an activated carbon filter 22, an ultrafine filter 24, and a fine filter 26. The ultrafine filters 24 and 26 are configured to limit the amount 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 include, for example, so-called cartridge filters, comprising a filter coil or superimposed filtering elements.

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

[0024] Optionally, a dosing pump 32 is arranged upstream of the tank 30, after the filters, so as to purify the feed water before it enters said tank 30. Advantageously, the dosing pump 32 does not require electrical power. It is designed to inject a sanitizing agent, for example hydrogen peroxide, to purify the water that is injected into the tank 30. This sanitizing agent prevents the water, which will remain in the tank 30 for a specified 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 appropriate treatment to the water when required by regulations.

[0026] The water supply circuit 12 advantageously includes regulating valves 34, for example between the dosing 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 system 10 includes 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 regulating valves 34.

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

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

[0031] The air supply circuit 14 includes 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 control 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 includes single-fluid spray nozzles 44 intended to be arranged in a mist diffusion zone 46.

[0034] It should be noted that the process is based on a two-fluid mixture, the air-water mixing chamber 36 allowing a water flow to be combined with an air flow. However, the mixture The air-water mixture injected into the misting circuit reconstitutes a single fluid which directly feeds each spray nozzle 44. The spray nozzles 44 do not require a double inlet (one for air, one for water), as in prior art installations (e.g., bi-fluid paint nozzles in the automotive industry).

[0035] The misting circuit 16 is supplied with pressurized air-water mixture 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 includes several spray nozzles 44, the number of which depends on the size of the mist diffusion area 46 and / or the desired size and shape for the water mist.

[0037] Advantageously, the mist diffusion zone 46 may include 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 or at a distance from the spray nozzles 44 while being controlled by the same electronic control unit 38.

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

[0039] It is noted that the invention allows the use of low energy consumption components which can allow the entire misting system 10 to be powered by a single photovoltaic panel 52; the battery 50 allowing the solar energy stored throughout the day to be used day and night in electrical form.

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

[0041] This process 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 including the single-fluid spray nozzles arranged in the mist diffusion zone, the production of the combined air-water flow comprising a mixing stage of 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 control 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 system installation 12: Water supply circuit 14: Air supply circuit 16: misting circuit 18: Water supply valve 20: Anti-limescale filter 22: Activated carbon filter 24: ultra-thin filter 26: fine filter 28: ultraviolet lamp 30: balloon 32: Dosing pump 34: control 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

Demands

1. A misting system (10) comprising: - a water supply circuit (12) intended to be connected to a water distribution network supplying water at a specified pressure, - an air supply circuit (14) intended to be supplied with atmospheric air and comprising an air compressor (40) capable of providing a supply air flow at a specified air supply pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, - a misting circuit (16) comprising single-fluid spray nozzles (44) intended to be arranged in a mist diffusion zone (46), the system (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 air and water supply in the air-water mixing chamber (36) so as to produce an air-water mixing flow suitable for producing the water mist.

3. Installation (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water supply circuit (12) includes 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) selected from the following list: limescale filter, activated carbon filter, ultrafine filter, fine filter.

5. Installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water supply circuit (12) includes 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 effect of water mist and lighting.

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 electrical energy storage battery (50) 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) enabling supply by solar energy.

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

9. A 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 regulating valves (34).

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