Wastewater treatment device and wastewater treatment system

Abstract

To provide a wastewater treatment device and the like that can effectively utilize water resources by further using water discharged from equipment that uses water containing magnesium for other purposes.SOLUTION: A wastewater treatment device comprises a storage tank 24 for storing wastewater discharged from equipment that uses water containing magnesium, and a pump 25 for sending out the wastewater stored in the storage tank 24 so that it can be used as discharge water for discharging excrement from a toilet bowl 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wastewater treatment device and a wastewater treatment system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, water in which magnesium hydroxide has eluted has been used, for example, as washing water or as a fertilizer for plant cultivation.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a reuse device for a washing machine that provides a treatment tank for storing water used in the pre-rinse step among the water used in a commercial washing machine. This is provided with the following mechanisms. That is, an aluminum electrode unit for electrolyzing the water stored in the treatment tank is provided in the treatment tank. A microbubble discharge port is provided to generate microbubbles to promote the aggregation and precipitation of impurities. A water storage tank for storing the water after being treated in the treatment tank is provided. An ozone discharge port for decolorizing and deodorizing the stored water is provided in the water storage tank. Then, the water stored in the water storage tank is pumped out by a pump and supplied to the commercial washing machine through a return pipe. An electrolytic hypochlorite generator for sterilizing the water is provided in the return pipe.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a household wastewater reuse system. This household wastewater reuse system includes a hydraulic cylinder with a support plate externally fitted, a first connection plate connected to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder and provided with through holes at both ends, a guide bar with one end vertically provided on the support plate and inserted into each of the through holes of the first connection plate, a second connection plate fixedly connected to the other end of the guide bar, two pairs of pantagraph arms respectively hinge-connected to the first connection plate and the second connection plate, a support base with its bottom hinge-connected to the other ends of the first support arms and the second support arms of the two pairs of pantagraph arms, a water storage section with an inlet and an outlet provided at a distance from each other at the bottom, and a pump with one end connected to the outlet of the water storage tank through a water pipe and the other end connected to the toilet tank through a water pipe.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-328762 Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-27201 Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] For example, the water discharged from a facility that uses water containing magnesium, such as a washing machine, may still have detergency even after washing clothes or the like. From the perspective of effective utilization of water resources, it is desirable to use it for other purposes rather than discharging it directly into sewage or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a wastewater treatment apparatus capable of effectively utilizing water resources by using the water discharged from a facility that uses water containing magnesium for other purposes. Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a wastewater treatment apparatus including a storage means for storing the wastewater discharged from a facility that uses water containing magnesium, and a sending means for sending the wastewater stored by the storage means as discharge water for discharging excrement in a toilet.

[0008] Here, the wastewater can be assumed to be discharged from a cleaning device that cleans an object with water containing magnesium. Further, the object can be clothing, and the cleaning device can be a device for washing clothes. Furthermore, the apparatus further includes a switching means for further separating the water used for washing clothes and the water used for rinsing clothes, and the storage means can separately store the water used for washing clothes. Moreover, the apparatus can further include a filtering means for filtering the water used for washing clothes. And the wastewater can be discharged from a bathtub that uses water containing magnesium. Also, the wastewater can be made surfactant-free.

[0009] Further, according to the present invention, in a wastewater treatment system including a facility that uses magnesium and a facility that includes a toilet, there are provided a storage means for storing wastewater discharged from the facility that uses magnesium, and a sending means for sending the wastewater stored by the storage means to the toilet as discharge water for discharging excrement in the toilet.

[0010] Here, the wastewater can be obtained by selectively separating it from the facility that uses magnesium. Also, the wastewater can be further provided with a calculating means for calculating a fee. Furthermore, the calculating means can calculate the fee based on the amount of the wastewater and the concentration of magnesium contained in the wastewater.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wastewater treatment apparatus capable of effectively utilizing water resources by using the water discharged from a facility that uses water containing magnesium for other purposes.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments of the invention) will be described in detail. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist thereof. Also, the drawings used are for explaining the present embodiment and do not represent the actual size. Hereinafter, based on the drawings, magnesium hydroxide suspension and the like to which the present embodiment is applied will be described.

[0014] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wastewater treatment system 1 in the first embodiment. The illustrated wastewater treatment system 1 includes a washing unit 2 for washing clothes and the like, and a toilet unit 3 that uses the wastewater from the washing unit 2 as toilet water. The washing unit 2 is, for example, a coin laundry. It may also be a household or commercial washing machine. The washing unit 2 is an example of a wastewater treatment device. The washing unit 2 includes a water reforming device 21 for reforming tap water, a washing device 22 for washing clothes and the like, a filtering device 23 for filtering the wastewater discharged from the washing device 22, a storage tank 24 for storing the wastewater discharged from the washing device 22, and a pump 25 for sending out the wastewater from the storage tank 24. Also, in FIG. 1, although not shown, the washing unit 2 may also be provided with other devices such as lighting and a clothes dryer.

[0015] The toilet unit 3 includes a toilet 31. It is a device that flushes the human excrement discharged into the toilet 31 to the outside with water. Also, in FIG. 1, only the toilet is shown, but it may also be provided with other devices such as a sink for handwashing and lighting.

[0016] Then, the water reforming device 21, the washing device 22, the filtering device 23, the storage tank 24, the pump 25, and the toilet 31 are arranged in series and connected by pipes H11, H12, H13, H14, H15, H16, and H17 as shown in the figure.

[0017] The water reforming device 21 reforms the tap water supplied from the pipe H11 into water containing magnesium. In the present embodiment, "water containing magnesium" means a solution in which magnesium or a magnesium compound or their ions are dispersed in water. Therefore, hereinafter, the water containing magnesium may be referred to as "reformulated water". This reformulated water can be produced, for example, by a water reforming device 21 having the following structure.

[0018] FIG. 2(a) is an overall perspective view of the water reforming device 21. FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the water reforming device 21.

[0019] As shown in the figure, the water reforming device 21 includes a main body portion 21A that constitutes the main body, a storage portion 21B that is detachably configured by the user with respect to the main body portion 21A and stores water and magnesium particles 100, and a stirring portion 21C that stirs the magnesium particles 100.

[0020] In the present embodiment, as the magnesium particles 100, for example, particles containing 50% by mass or more of simple metal magnesium (Mg) can be used. In the magnesium particles 100, the higher the proportion of simple metal magnesium contained, the more preferable.

[0021] Then, the water reforming device 21 reacts magnesium with water by bringing water into contact with the magnesium particles 100. When magnesium reacts with water, the water in contact with the magnesium particles 100 contains hydrogen (H2) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2). In the present embodiment, the water in contact with the magnesium particles 100 is referred to as "reformulated water".

[0022] Also, as shown in Fig. 2(a), the storage part 21B of the present embodiment stores metal particles 200 made of a metal different from magnesium (Mg), such as silver (Ag), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu). The metal particles 200 are preferably included at a ratio of, for example, 1% or more and 10% or less with respect to the number of the plurality of magnesium particles 100 stored in the storage part 21B. And, for example, when silver (Ag) or copper (Cu) is used as the metal particles 200, the sterilizing action by metal ions can be imparted to the reformed water. Also, for example, when iron (Fe) is used as the metal particles 200, the reaction for eluting magnesium into water can be promoted.

[0023] The reformed water is alkaline with a pH of, for example, about 8 to 11, and has a cleaning action and a sterilizing action. Therefore, the reformed water can be used as washing water. Also, the reformed water contains hydrogen (H2) as fine bubbles (for example, bubbles with a diameter of 100 μm or less). Due to the effect of these fine bubbles, the cleaning action of the reformed water is further enhanced.

[0024] The main body part 21A has an inflow hose 211 and an inflow path part 212 that connects the inflow hose 211 and a flow path part 231 (described later). The inflow hose 211 allows water supplied from the outside to flow into the storage part 21B through the flow path part 231. Also, the main body part 21A has an outflow hose 213 and an outflow path part 214 that connects the outflow hose 213 and the storage part 21B. And the outflow hose 213 allows the water that has flowed into the storage part 21B from the flow path part 231 and has come into contact with the magnesium particles 100, that is, the reformed water, to flow out of the storage part 21B.

[0025] The storage part 21B is a member formed in a cylindrical shape. And the storage part 21B stores the magnesium particles 100, the metal particles 200, and water inside. The storage part 21B has a mesh member 221 that suppresses the magnesium particles 100 stored therein from flowing out of the storage part 21B. The mesh of the mesh member 221 is sized to allow the reformed water to pass through while restricting the passage of the magnesium particles 100. The storage part 21B has a support part 222 at the bottom inside the storage part 21B to support a flow path part 231 (described later) of the stirring part 21C. The flow path part 231 is inserted into the support part 222.

[0026] The stirring part 21C has a flow path part 231 that forms a flow path for water, and a jetting part 232 that jets water from the flow path part 231. The flow path part 231 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Also, the flow path part 231 of the present embodiment can be configured by a material mainly composed of iron such as stainless steel. And the flow path part 231 is provided along the axial direction of the storage part 21B inside the radial direction of the storage part 21B. And the flow path part 231 forms a path through which water flows from the upper side to the lower side of the storage part 21B. The jetting part 232 has a plurality (for example, three) of slits 232S. The plurality of slits 232S are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the flow path part 231. The slit 232S is formed obliquely with respect to the axial direction. And the slit 232S jets water from the inner side in the radial direction of the flow path part 231 toward the outer side in the radial direction.

[0027] By supplying water to the inflow hose 211, water flows into the storage part 21B from the inflow path part 212 through the flow path part 231. And the water jets from the jetting part 232 provided below the flow path part 231. And by stirring the plurality of magnesium particles 100 by the flow of the jetted water, the magnesium particles 100 are made more likely to come into contact with water, or the magnesium particles 100 are made to collide with each other to make it easier to elute magnesium. The reformed water obtained by stirring the plurality of magnesium particles 100 in the storage part 21B passes through the mesh member 221 and flows into the outflow path part 214. Further, the reformed water flows out of the storage part 21B from the outflow hose 213 through the outflow path part 214.

[0028] The washing device 22 is a so-called washing machine. And it performs washing of clothes and the like using the reformed water created by the water reforming device 21. The washing device 22 performs washing of clothing and the like by stirring the clothing and the like to bring them into contact with each other, thereby removing dirt adhering to the clothing and the like. The washing device 22 performs washing of clothing and the like through a washing process of removing dirt adhering to the clothing and the like by stirring the clothing and the like, a rinsing process of rinsing the clothing and the like after the washing process, and a dehydration process of removing water contained in the clothing and the like. Note that, usually, dehydration is performed between the washing process and the rinsing process to remove water containing dirt detached from the clothing and the like. In the present embodiment, reformed water is used in both the washing process and the rinsing process. This makes it easier to exhibit the bactericidal effect of the reformed water. For example, when drying the clothing and the like after washing, odors and the like are less likely to occur. The washing device 22 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of washing clothing and the like. The washing device 22 is, for example, a vertical washing machine or a drum washing machine. Further, it may be provided with a drying function for drying clothing and the like.

[0029] The filtration device 23 is an example of a filtration means for filtering the water used when washing clothing and the like. The filtration device 23 removes impurities such as fibers detached from the clothing and the like from the drainage discharged from the washing device 22. The filtration device 23 is, for example, a filter. The filter is not particularly limited as long as it is a wet filter. Further, the filter may be of a replaceable type so that it can be replaced when a predetermined flow rate or period has elapsed.

[0030] The storage tank 24 is an example of a storage means, and stores the drainage discharged from a facility that uses water containing magnesium. This drainage is discharged from a washing device that washes an object with water containing magnesium. In this case, the object is clothing and the like. That is, the storage tank 24 stores the drainage discharged from the washing device 22. This drainage is the drainage discharged from the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydration process. That is, it is preferable to collect all the drainage discharged from the washing device 22 and store it in the storage tank 24. The preferred installation location of the storage tank 24 is under the floor or in the ground, but is not limited thereto. Since the standard drainage volume discharged from the washing device 22 in one washing is 40 L, the capacity of the storage tank 24 is preferably 50 L or more and 400 L or less, particularly preferably 100 L or more and 300 L or less, and still more preferably 150 L or more and 250 L or less. When the drainage discharged from the washing device 22 exceeds the capacity of the storage tank 24, it is preferably discharged to the sewage (not shown) by overflowing from the storage tank 24.

[0031] The pump 25 is an example of a sending means, and sends the drainage stored in the storage tank 24 to the toilet unit 3.

[0032] The toilet unit 3 is a unit that treats human excrement and includes a toilet bowl 31. The toilet bowl 31 flushes out the excrement excreted by a person with water and discharges it to the outside using the pipe H17. In the present embodiment, the drainage sent from the pump 25 via the pipe H16 is used as the drainage water for discharging the excrement in the toilet bowl 31. This can also be said to use the drainage after washing with the reformed water using the washing device 22 as the drainage water for discharging the excrement in the toilet bowl 31.

[0033] The drainage discharged from the washing device 22 does not contain a surfactant. Therefore, since a detergent or the like containing a surfactant is not used and reformed water is used, it does not contain a surfactant. Therefore, even when used as drainage water in the toilet bowl 31, foaming due to the surfactant hardly occurs. If it contains a surfactant, foaming may occur and the drainage water may overflow from the toilet bowl 31.

[0034] [Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the drainage treatment system 1 in the second embodiment. The illustrated wastewater treatment system 1 includes, as in the first embodiment, a washing unit 2 for washing clothes and the like, and a toilet unit 3 that uses the wastewater from the washing unit 2 as toilet water. However, compared to the first embodiment, a pipe H21 for supplying tap water to the washing device 22 is provided. Further, a pipe H22 for discharging water from the washing device 22 to the outside is provided. Also, a switching valve B21 and a switching valve B12 are provided in the middle of the pipe H21 and in the middle of the pipe H12. Further, a switching valve B22 and a switching valve B13 are provided in the middle of the pipe H22 and in the middle of the pipe H13.

[0035] In the second embodiment, in the washing device 22, in the washing process, reformed water is used, but in the rinsing process, tap water is used instead of reformed water. In this case, in the washing process, the switching valve B21 of the pipe H21 is closed and the switching valve B12 of the pipe H12 is opened. Thereby, in the washing process, reformed water is supplied from the pipe H12, and washing is performed with the reformed water. On the other hand, in the rinsing process, the switching valve B21 of the pipe H21 is opened and the switching valve B12 of the pipe H12 is closed. Thereby, in the rinsing process, tap water is supplied from the pipe H21, and rinsing is performed with the tap water.

[0036] Also, in the washing process, the switching valve B22 of the pipe H22 is closed and the switching valve B13 of the pipe H13 is opened. Thereby, in the washing process, the wastewater discharged from the washing device 22 is sent to the filtration device 23 and the storage tank 24 via the pipe H13. On the other hand, in the rinsing process, the switching valve B22 of the pipe H22 is opened and the switching valve B13 of the pipe H13 is closed. Thereby, in the rinsing process, the wastewater discharged from the washing device 22 is sent to the outside via the pipe H22 and discarded.

[0037] That is, in the washing process, since the reformed water is used, the wastewater discharged after washing with this water is sent to the storage tank 24 and used in the same manner as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, in the rinsing process, since tap water is used instead of the reformed water, the wastewater discharged after washing with this water is discarded. In this case, switching valves B13 and B22 are further provided as switching means for further separating the water used for washing clothes and the water used for rinsing clothes. It can also be said that the storage tank 24 separates and stores the water used for washing clothes. As a result, the wastewater using the reformed water is not diluted by the wastewater using tap water, and the detergency and bactericidal power are less likely to decrease. In the second embodiment, since the reformed water is not used in the rinsing process, the bactericidal effect on clothes and the like may be lower than in the first embodiment. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the cost required for the water used is lower compared to the first embodiment.

[0038] [Third Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the wastewater treatment system 1 in the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the washing unit 2 and the toilet unit 3 are not adjacent to each other but are in separate locations. And the wastewater from the washing unit 2 is collected, for example, by a recycling company and sold. That is, the administrator of the washing unit 2 sells the wastewater, and the administrator of the toilet unit 3 buys the wastewater.

[0039] The recycling company goes to the location where the washing unit 2 is installed, for example, regularly (for example, every week), with the vacuum truck 50. Then, the wastewater is sucked from the storage tank 24 by the pump 25, and the wastewater is collected. At this time, the amount and concentration of the collected washing wastewater are measured by the measuring device 51. In the illustrated example, the measuring device 51 is provided on the hose of the vacuum truck 50, but the position of the measuring device 51 is not limited. For example, the measuring device 51 may be provided at the rear part of the vacuum truck 50 or on the side surface of the vacuum truck 50. Then, the recovered wastewater is transported to the water storage warehouse 60 by the vacuum truck 50 and stored in the water storage warehouse 60. In this way, the recovery of washing wastewater is carried out. Furthermore, the wastewater stored in the water storage warehouse 60 is transported to the toilet unit 3 by the vacuum truck 50 as needed and stored in the wastewater tank 32. Then, this wastewater is sent by the pump 33 through the pipe H18 to the toilet 31 and used as discharged water in the toilet 31.

[0040] In this embodiment, the water quality of the wastewater may be inspected before recovering the wastewater. In other words, as the amount of wastewater recovered from the washing unit 2, the amount of wastewater after the water quality inspection may be grasped. The water quality inspection is, for example, an inspection of impurities and nutrients contained in the washing wastewater. For example, if the water quality of the washing wastewater meets the predetermined conditions by the inspection, it is regarded as unqualified and the washing wastewater is not recovered. In this case, the suction by the vacuum truck 50 is not performed. Also, for example, by setting conditions different from the aforementioned predetermined conditions, if the water quality of the wastewater meets this condition by the inspection, it is regarded as qualified and the washing wastewater may be recovered. Here, the impurities are, for example, the concentration of the surfactant.

[0041] And the charge for the wastewater is determined, for example, by the amount of the wastewater, the concentration of magnesium contained in the wastewater, and the concentration of impurities contained in the wastewater. Accordingly, the charge paid to the administrator of the washing unit 2 and the charge paid by the administrator of the toilet unit 3 are determined. The charge for the wastewater is calculated, for example, by a computer device that calculates the charge for the wastewater based on the amount of the wastewater, the concentration of magnesium contained in the wastewater, the concentration of impurities contained in the wastewater, etc. Therefore, this computer device functions as a calculating means for calculating the charge for the wastewater.

[0042] [Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the wastewater treatment system 1 in the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, wastewater is discharged from a dishwasher 70 and a bathtub 80 of a water treatment unit 4 in a general household, company, office, etc. Then, the wastewater is stored in a storage tank 24 via a filtration device 23. In this case, the water treatment unit 4 is an example of a wastewater treatment device. More specifically, a pipe H12 bifurcates and supplies reformed water to the dishwasher 70 and the bathtub 80, respectively. Since the reformed water has a cleaning effect, it is effective for cleaning tableware in the dishwasher 70. Also, since the reformed water has a skin-beautifying effect, it can be suitably used as bathwater for the bathtub. Then, the wastewater discharged from the dishwasher 70 and the bathtub 80 is collected by a pipe H13 and sent to the storage tank 24. Since these wastewaters also contain magnesium, they can be used as drainage water for discharging excrement in the toilet 31.

[0043] In the wastewater treatment system 1, the washing unit 2, and the water treatment unit 4 described in detail above, by further using the water discharged from a facility that uses water containing magnesium for other purposes, effective utilization of water resources can be achieved.

[0044] Also, in the wastewater treatment system 1 described above, tap water is used to create reformed water, but it is not limited to this, and for example, well water may also be used. Furthermore, the washing unit 2 described above is not limited to the case where only a washing device 22 that uses reformed water is provided, and a washing device that uses detergent may also exist. In this case, it is necessary to separate the wastewater from the washing device 22 that uses reformed water and the wastewater from the washing device that uses detergent. That is, it is necessary that the wastewater sent to the toilet unit 3 is obtained by selectively separating it from a facility that uses magnesium.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 1… Drainage treatment system, 2… Washing unit, 3… Toilet unit, 4… Water treatment unit, 21… Water reforming device, 22… Washing device, 23… Filter device, 24… Storage tank, 25, 33… Pumps, 31… Toilet bowl, 50… Vacuum cleaner, 60… Water storage warehouse, 70… Dishwasher, 80… Bathtub

Claims

1. Storage means for storing the wastewater discharged from a facility that uses water containing magnesium, Delivery means for delivering the wastewater stored by the storage means as discharge water for discharging excrement in a toilet, A wastewater treatment apparatus comprising the above.

2. The wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wastewater is discharged from a cleaning apparatus that cleans an object with water containing magnesium.

3. The wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object is clothing, and the cleaning apparatus is an apparatus for washing the clothing.

4. Further comprising switching means for further separating the water used for washing clothes and the water used for rinsing clothes, The wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the storage means separately stores the water used for washing clothes.

5. The wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising filtering means for filtering the water used for washing clothes.

6. The wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wastewater is discharged from a bathtub that uses water containing magnesium.

7. The wastewater treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wastewater does not contain a surfactant.

8. In a wastewater treatment system comprising a facility that uses magnesium and a facility that includes a toilet, Storage means for storing the wastewater discharged from the facility that uses magnesium, Delivery means for delivering the wastewater stored by the storage means to the toilet as discharge water for discharging excrement in the toilet, A wastewater treatment system comprising the above.

9. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 8, wherein the wastewater is obtained by selectively separating from a facility that uses magnesium.

10. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 8, further comprising calculating means for calculating a fee for the wastewater.

11. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 10, wherein the calculating means calculates a fee based on the amount of the wastewater and the concentration of magnesium contained in the wastewater.

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