Freshwater utilization system

Abstract

To provide a freshwater utilization system that can reduce the amount of freshwater used, regardless of the flow rate. [Solution] According to one embodiment, a freshwater utilization system 1 installed on a ship includes a freshwater tank 21 for storing freshwater and freshwater utilization equipment 4 connected to the freshwater tank 21 by a freshwater supply line 3. Furthermore, the freshwater utilization system 1 includes a purification device 6 that purifies wastewater from the freshwater utilization equipment 4 to produce recycled water, and a recycled water tank 24 connected to the freshwater supply line 3 by a recycled water supply line 73 for storing the recycled water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fresh water utilization system mounted on a ship.

Background Art

[0002] A ship in which people live on board is equipped with a fresh water utilization system for people to use fresh water. Generally, the fresh water utilization system includes a fresh water tank for storing fresh water and fresh water usage facilities connected to the fresh water tank by a fresh water supply line. The fresh water usage facilities are, for example, washbasins, bathrooms, shower rooms, kitchens, etc.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a desire to suppress the amount of fresh water used in a ship equipped with a fresh water utilization system. For example, since Patent Document 1 discloses a circulation type filtration system for a washbasin, it is conceivable to replace a part of the fresh water utilization system with a circulation type filtration system.

[0005] However, since the circulation type filtration system of Patent Document 1 targets fresh water usage facilities with a small usage flow rate such as washbasins, it is difficult to use it for fresh water usage facilities with a large usage flow rate.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a fresh water utilization system capable of suppressing the amount of fresh water used regardless of the usage flow rate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] This disclosure provides a freshwater utilization system for installation on a ship, comprising: a freshwater tank for storing freshwater; freshwater utilization equipment connected to the freshwater tank by a freshwater supply line; a purification device for purifying wastewater from the freshwater utilization equipment to produce reusable water; and a reusable water tank connected to the freshwater supply line by a reusable water supply line for storing the reusable water. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, a freshwater utilization system is provided that can reduce the amount of freshwater used regardless of the flow rate. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a freshwater utilization system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a modified freshwater utilization system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Figure 1 shows a freshwater utilization system 1 according to one embodiment. The freshwater utilization system 1 is installed on a ship in which people live. The ship may be a surface ship that sails on the water, or a submersible that sails underwater.

[0011] Specifically, the freshwater utilization system 1 includes a freshwater tank 21 for storing freshwater and freshwater utilization equipment 4 for people to use freshwater. In the illustrated example, the freshwater utilization equipment 4 is a shower room, but the freshwater utilization equipment 4 may also be a washbasin, bathroom, kitchen, etc.

[0012] For example, fresh water may be supplied to the fresh water tank 21 from land-based facilities while the ship is docked in port. If a desalination plant is installed on the ship to desalinate seawater, fresh water may also be supplied to the fresh water tank 21 from the desalination plant.

[0013] The freshwater supply equipment 4 is connected to the freshwater tank 21 by a freshwater supply line 3. In this embodiment, the downstream portion of the freshwater supply line 3 branches into a cold water line 31 and a hot water line 32, and a heater 33 is provided in the hot water line 32. This configuration is useful when the freshwater supply equipment 4 is a bathroom or shower room.

[0014] The freshwater supply equipment 4 is connected to the wastewater tank 22 by a first wastewater line 51. The wastewater tank 22 stores the wastewater from the freshwater supply equipment 4. The first wastewater line 51 is equipped with a replaceable debris trap 52 to remove coarse debris from the wastewater. The replaceable debris trap 52 is optional.

[0015] Furthermore, the freshwater utilization system 1 includes a purification device 6 that purifies wastewater from the freshwater utilization equipment 4 to produce reusable water. In this embodiment, the purification device 6 includes a surfactant removal unit 61, a pretreatment unit 62, and a main treatment unit 64. However, the configuration of the purification device 6 is not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate.

[0016] The wastewater tank 22 is connected to the surfactant removal unit 61 by a second wastewater line 53. The second wastewater line 53 is equipped with a pump 54 that supplies wastewater from the wastewater tank 22 to the surfactant removal unit 61. The surfactant removal unit 61 removes surfactants such as detergents from the wastewater by methods such as decomposition, adsorption, and binding.

[0017] The wastewater from which surfactants have been removed by the surfactant removal unit 61 is sent to the pretreatment unit 62. The pretreatment unit 62 has a filter 63 that removes foreign matter from the wastewater. The portion of the pretreatment unit 62 upstream of the filter 63 is connected to the wastewater tank 23 by a wastewater line 56. In other words, the wastewater that could not pass through the filter 63 is discharged from the pretreatment unit 62 as wastewater through the wastewater line 56 and stored in the wastewater tank 23.

[0018] The wastewater from which foreign matters have been removed by the pretreatment unit 62 is sent to the main treatment unit 64. The main treatment unit 64 has a reverse osmosis membrane 65 that allows only water molecules to permeate. The upstream portion of the reverse osmosis membrane 65 in the main treatment unit 64 is connected to the wastewater tank 22 by the reflux line 55. That is, the wastewater that could not permeate through the reverse osmosis membrane 65 is returned to the wastewater tank 22.

[0019] The downstream portion of the reverse osmosis membrane 65 in the main treatment unit is connected to the reused water tank 24 by the reused water line 71. The reused water tank 24 stores pure water composed of water molecules that have permeated through the reverse osmosis membrane 65, that is, the reused water generated by the purification device 6. In the present embodiment, a pump 72 for supplying the reused water from the main treatment unit 64 to the reused water tank 24 is provided in the reused water line 71, but the pump 72 can be omitted.

[0020] The reused water tank 24 is connected to the fresh water supply line 3 by the reused water supply line 73. The fresh water supply line 3 branches into the cold water line 31 and the hot water line 32 downstream of the connection point of the reused water supply line 73.

[0021] In the present embodiment, a three-way valve 8 is provided at the connection point of the reused water supply line 73 in the fresh water supply line 3. Therefore, fresh water and reused water can be easily used separately. However, instead of the three-way valve 8, on-off valves or flow control valves may be provided respectively in the reused water supply line 73 and the portion between the connection point of the reused water supply line 73 in the fresh water supply line 3 and the fresh water tank 21.

[0022] Also, in the present embodiment, the fresh water tank 21 and the reused water tank 24 are connected to the pressurized air supply machine 9 by the pressurized air supply line 91. The pressurized air supply machine 9 pressurizes the fresh water tank 21 and the reused water tank 24 by supplying pressurized air. For example, the pressurized air supply machine 9 may include a compressor and a pressure vessel for storing the air pressurized by the compressor.

[0023] As described above, in the fresh water utilization system 1 of the present embodiment, the reused water purified from the drainage of the fresh water usage equipment 4 can be used in the fresh water usage equipment 4 in place of or mixed with fresh water, so the amount of fresh water used can be suppressed.

[0024] Also, in the present embodiment, since the pressurized air supply machine 9 pressurizes both the fresh water tank 21 and the reused water tank 24, when there is a pressurized air supply machine 9 for the fresh water tank 21 on the ship, the reused water tank 24 can be pressurized using the pressurized air supply machine 9. Therefore, it is not necessary to add a device for sending out the reused water from the reused water tank 24.

[0025] <Modification Example> The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0026] For example, the drainage tank 22 can be omitted. However, if the drainage tank 22 is adopted as in the above embodiment, the drainage is stored in the drainage tank 22, so the purification amount is not limited by the processing speed of the purification device 6. Also, since it is not necessary to constantly operate the purification device 6, the power consumption of the purification device 6 can be reduced.

[0027] Also, the sewage tank 23 can be omitted. However, if the sewage tank 23 is adopted as in the above embodiment, the replacement frequency of the filter 63 of the pretreatment unit 62 can be reduced.

[0028] Furthermore, as in the fresh water utilization system 1A of the modification example shown in FIG. 2, instead of connecting the reused water tank 24 to the pressurized air supply machine 9, a pump 74 may be provided in the reused water supply line 73.

[0029] <Summary> In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a freshwater utilization system for installation on a ship, comprising: a freshwater tank for storing freshwater; freshwater utilization equipment connected to the freshwater tank by a freshwater supply line; a purification device for purifying wastewater from the freshwater utilization equipment to produce reusable water; and a reusable water tank for storing the reusable water, connected to the freshwater supply line by a reusable water supply line.

[0030] According to the above configuration, purified wastewater from freshwater-using facilities can be used in place of freshwater, or mixed with freshwater, in freshwater-using facilities, thereby reducing the amount of freshwater used.

[0031] In a second embodiment, the freshwater utilization system in the first embodiment may further include a wastewater tank for storing wastewater from the freshwater utilization equipment, and the wastewater may be supplied to the purification device from the wastewater tank. With this configuration, since the wastewater is stored in the wastewater tank, the amount of purification is not limited by the processing speed of the purification device. In addition, since it is not necessary to operate the purification device at all times, the power consumption of the purification device can be reduced.

[0032] In a third embodiment, in the first or second embodiment, the freshwater utilization system may further include a pressurized air supply unit that pressurizes the freshwater tank and the recycled water tank by supplying pressurized air. With this configuration, if the ship has a pressurized air supply unit for the freshwater tank, the recycled water tank can be pressurized using the pressurized air supply unit. Therefore, there is no need to add a device for sending recycled water from the recycled water tank.

[0033] In a fourth embodiment, in any of the first to third embodiments, a three-way valve may be provided at the connection point of the recycled water supply line in the fresh water supply line. With this configuration, fresh water and recycled water can be easily used separately.

[0034] In a fifth embodiment, in any of the first to fourth embodiments, the purification device includes a pretreatment unit having a filter for removing foreign matter and a main treatment unit having a reverse osmosis membrane, and the freshwater utilization system may further include a wastewater tank for storing wastewater discharged from the pretreatment unit. This configuration reduces the frequency of replacing the filter in the pretreatment unit.

[0035] In a sixth embodiment, in any of the first to fifth embodiments, the fresh water supply line branches into a cold water line and a hot water line downstream of the connection point of the recycled water supply line, and a heater may be provided in the hot water line. This configuration is useful when the fresh water usage facility is a bathroom or shower room. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1.1A Freshwater Utilization System 21 Freshwater tank 22 Drainage tank 23. Sewage tank 24 Reusable water tanks 3. Freshwater supply line 31 Cold water line 32 Hot water lines 33 Heater 4 Fresh water equipment 6. Purification device 61 Surfactant removal unit 62 Pre-processing Unit 63 Filters 64 main processing units 65 Reverse osmosis membrane 8. Three-way valve 9. Pressurized air supply unit

Claims

1. A freshwater utilization system installed on a ship, A freshwater tank for storing fresh water, A freshwater usage facility connected to the freshwater tank by a freshwater supply line, A purification device that purifies wastewater from the aforementioned freshwater-using equipment to produce reusable water, A reused water tank for storing the reused water is connected to the fresh water supply line by a reused water supply line, A freshwater utilization system equipped with [specific features / equipment].

2. The facility further includes a drainage tank for storing wastewater from the aforementioned freshwater usage equipment, The freshwater utilization system according to claim 1, wherein wastewater is supplied to the purification device from the wastewater tank.

3. The fresh water utilization system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a pressurized air supply machine for pressurizing the fresh water tank and the recycled water tank by supplying pressurized air.

4. The freshwater utilization system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a three-way valve is provided at the connection point of the recycled water supply line in the freshwater supply line.

5. The purification apparatus includes a pre-treatment unit having a filter for removing foreign matter, and a main treatment unit having a reverse osmosis membrane. The freshwater utilization system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a wastewater tank for storing wastewater discharged from the pretreatment unit.

6. The fresh water utilization system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fresh water supply line branches into a cold water line and a hot water line downstream of the connection point of the recycled water supply line, and a heater is provided in the hot water line.

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