Defoaming System

Abstract

To efficiently remove or eliminate bubbles generated in a liquid to be treated. [Solution] The device comprises a liquid storage tank capable of storing liquid, a pipe having one end located inside the liquid storage tank and the other end located outside the liquid storage tank, and a sensor provided in the liquid storage tank, wherein the sensor is provided above the upper limit level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank, and the pipe is provided so that one end is located below the sensor.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a defoaming system. [Background technology]

[0002] A liquid purification system that purifies wastewater using microorganisms has been known as a type of liquid treatment system for treating liquids. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a circulating flush toilet that is equipped with a mechanism for purifying wastewater discharged from a flush toilet and circulating the purified water back into the flush toilet bowl.

[0003] The circulating flush toilet of Patent Document 1 is equipped with a biological treatment tank that decomposes organic matter in wastewater and performs nitrification and denitrification treatments, a filtration tank that separates the biologically treated water that has been biologically treated in the biological treatment tank into solid and liquid, and a decolorization tank that decolorizes the filtrate that has been separated into solid and liquid in the filtration tank, and is configured so that the treated water that has been decolorized in the decolorization tank can be reused as flush water for the flush toilet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-132037 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional liquid purification systems including the circulating flush toilet of Patent Document 1, for example, if the wastewater contains a large amount of surfactants, significant foaming occurs during processes such as aeration in the biological treatment tank, and the foam gets mixed into tanks subsequent to the biological treatment tank.The surface of the sensor that monitors the treatment process is likely to become dirty with foam containing sludge, making accurate sensing impossible or causing the sensor to deteriorate and malfunction, which may make it difficult to manage and control the water treatment process in a stable manner.

[0006] The present invention relates to a defoaming system that can efficiently remove or eliminate bubbles that have formed in a liquid to be treated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A defoaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a liquid storage tank capable of storing liquid, a pipe having one end located inside the liquid storage tank and the other end located outside the liquid storage tank, and a sensor provided in the liquid storage tank, wherein the sensor is provided above the upper limit level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank, and the pipe is provided so that one end is located below the sensor.

[0008] In a bubble removing system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the piping may be arranged so that the one end is located below the sensor and at the same level as or above the upper water level.

[0009] In a bubble removal system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid storage tank has a bottom surface, a peripheral wall, and a top surface, the sensor is provided on the top surface, and the piping may be provided so as to penetrate the top surface.

[0010] In the bubble removing system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the piping may have at least one hole formed in a peripheral wall of a portion where the piping penetrates the top surface portion and extends into the liquid storage tank.

[0011] The defoaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a gas supply unit that supplies gas to the liquid storage tank.

[0012] A defoaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a first tank connected to the liquid storage tank via the piping, and a negative pressure generating device that generates negative pressure in the liquid storage tank. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the defoaming system of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently remove or eliminate bubbles that have formed in the liquid to be treated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a liquid processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a part of a defoaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a defoaming tank according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the inventions according to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. Furthermore, in the present embodiments, the scale and dimensions of each component may be exaggerated, and some components may be omitted.

[0016] [Outline of the defoaming system] The bubble removal system of this embodiment comprises a liquid storage tank (for example, the water treatment tank 20 described later) capable of storing liquid, a pipe (for example, the first pipe 102 described later) having one end located inside the liquid storage tank and the other end located outside the liquid storage tank, and a sensor (for example, the second pressure measurement unit P2 described later) provided in the liquid storage tank.

[0017] In the debubbling system of this embodiment, a sensor (for example, the second pressure measurement section P2 described later) is provided above the upper limit level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank, and a pipe (for example, the first pipe 102 described later) is provided so that one end is located below the sensor.

[0018] With this configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment appropriately discharges the liquid and bubbles inside the liquid storage tank to the outside of the liquid storage tank via piping, thereby maintaining the liquid level inside the liquid storage tank appropriately and preventing excessive bubbles from accumulating on the liquid surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent the space above the liquid level in the liquid storage tank (e.g., the top surface) from becoming wet or dirty with the liquid or solids contained in the liquid (e.g., sludge, etc.). This allows a sensor to be placed above the liquid storage tank (e.g., inside or outside the top surface), ensuring sensing accuracy. This makes it possible to prevent false detection, particularly in sensors that are affected by the liquid.

[0019] The defoaming system according to this embodiment further includes a water receiving tank (for example, the upstream storage tank 40 described later) that receives liquid delivered from the above-mentioned liquid storage tank (for example, the water treatment tank 20 described later) via a pipe (for example, the second pipe 104 described later), and a defoaming tank (for example, the defoaming tank 60 described later) that liquefies bubbles generated in the water receiving tank. The defoaming tank is connected to the water receiving tank via a pipe (for example, the defoaming pipe 32 described later), and is configured such that, by creating a negative pressure inside the defoaming tank with a negative pressure generator (for example, the negative pressure generator 70 described later), bubbles generated in the water receiving tank are sucked up into the defoaming tank via the pipe and liquefied in the defoaming tank.

[0020] The defoaming tank may be configured to liquefy bubbles generated in a liquid storage tank (for example, the water treatment tank 20 described later). That is, the defoaming tank may be provided on a pipe (for example, the first suction pipe 110 described later) connected to the liquid storage tank (for example, the water treatment tank 20 described later), and the inside of the defoaming tank may be made to be in a negative pressure state by a negative pressure generator (for example, the negative pressure generator 70 described later), thereby sucking up bubbles generated in the liquid storage tank (for example, the water treatment tank 20 described later) into the defoaming tank via the pipe (for example, the first suction pipe 110 described later) and liquefying them in the defoaming tank.

[0021] By having such a configuration, the defoaming system of this embodiment can reliably collect bubbles that have not been completely removed in the liquid storage tank and newly generated bubbles in the water receiving tank, and liquefy them in a defoaming tank separate from the water receiving tank, thereby ensuring the sensing accuracy of sensors installed in the water receiving tank and further downstream.

[0022] Hereinafter, as an example of equipment in which the defoaming system according to this embodiment is employed, a liquid treatment system that produces treated water by performing liquid treatment on raw water will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the defoaming system according to this embodiment can be employed in various equipment that uses liquid. In other words, the above-mentioned defoaming principle provided by the defoaming system according to this embodiment is a principle that can be employed in all equipment in which bubbles can be generated in a tank, and can also be employed in food and beverage-related equipment, for example.

[0023] [Liquid treatment system applications] The liquid treatment system according to this embodiment is a system that produces treated water by subjecting raw water to liquid treatment. Examples of liquid treatment performed in the liquid treatment system according to this embodiment include water purification treatment for purifying raw water. Specifically, the liquid treatment system according to this embodiment can be used to purify various types of raw water, such as domestic wastewater, sewage, rainwater, surface water, and groundwater discharged from consumers, and to regenerate the treated water into domestic water that can be used for flushing toilets, baths, showers, laundry, dishwashing, and the like, or as potable water.

[0024] The liquid treatment system according to this embodiment may be a system incorporated into a building or a mobile object. Examples of buildings include, but are not limited to, houses, vacation homes, mountain huts, temporary housing, and mobile homes built in mountainous areas where water supply and sewage systems are not available. Examples of mobile objects include, but are not limited to, automobiles, trains, ships, airplanes, and trailer homes.

[0025] Furthermore, the liquid treatment system according to the present embodiment may be a system independent of a building or a mobile object. For example, the liquid treatment system according to the present embodiment may be a portable system that can be transported and used at a predetermined location such as an outdoor event venue, a construction site, a campsite, or a disaster evacuation shelter.

[0026] [Overall configuration of liquid treatment system] As shown in Figure 1, the liquid treatment system 1 of this embodiment includes a raw water storage tank 10 for storing raw water, a water treatment tank 20 for performing water treatment on the raw water supplied from the raw water storage tank 10, and a treated water storage tank 30 for storing treated water supplied from the water treatment tank 20.

[0027] The raw water storage tank 10, the water treatment tank 20, and the treated water storage tank 30 are connected by a plurality of pipes so that raw water or treated water can be sent between these tanks. Specifically, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment includes a water supply pipe 100 for sending raw water from a raw water source (not shown) to the raw water storage tank 10, a first pipe 102 connecting the raw water storage tank 10 and the water treatment tank 20, a second pipe 104 connecting the water treatment tank 20 and the treated water storage tank 30, a third pipe 106 connecting an upstream storage tank 40 and a downstream storage tank 50 (described later) of the treated water storage tank 30, and a water supply pipe 108 for sending treated water further downstream from the treated water storage tank 30 (the downstream storage tank 50 in this embodiment).

[0028] Furthermore, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment is provided with sensors for measuring the physical properties of the flowing liquid at any location in one or more pipes. Specifically, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a first raw water sensor S1 provided in the water supply pipe 100, a second raw water sensor S2 provided in the first pipe 102, a first treated water sensor S3 provided in the second pipe 104, and a second treated water sensor S4 provided in the third pipe 106. However, the number and locations of the sensors are not limited to these, and any number of sensors can be installed at any location. Furthermore, each sensor may be provided in each tank.

[0029] Furthermore, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment includes a negative pressure generator 70 that generates negative pressure in at least one of the water treatment tank 20 and the treated water storage tank 30, and a control unit (not shown) that controls the entire system including the negative pressure generator 70. The negative pressure generator 70 is connected to the water treatment tank 20 via a first suction pipe 110, and is also connected to the treated water storage tank 30 (the defoaming tank 60 in this embodiment) via a second suction pipe 112.

[0030] The liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment is configured so that, when negative pressure is generated by the negative pressure generator 70, the raw water storage tank 10, the water treatment tank 20, and the treated water storage tank 30 form an enclosed space in communication with each other via a first pipe 102 and a second pipe 104. Specifically, in the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment, the raw water storage tank 10, the water treatment tank 20, and the treated water storage tank 30 are sealed except for the respective ports, and the raw water storage tank 10, the water treatment tank 20, and the treated water storage tank 30 are airtightly connected by the respective pipes, so that the region from the raw water storage tank 10 to the treated water storage tank 30 is an enclosed space. In particular, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment is configured so that, even if a water supply pipe 108 is provided to the treated water storage tank 30, the region from the raw water storage tank 10 to the treated water storage tank 30 can be an enclosed space because a check valve 56 (described later) is provided in the treated water storage tank 30. The specific configuration of each tank, etc., for forming such an enclosed space will be described later.

[0031] The liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment may further include a post-treatment system (not shown) that performs further liquid treatment on the treated water delivered via the water delivery pipe 108. In this case, the treated water stored in the treated water storage tank 30 is intermediate treated water before further liquid treatment by the post-treatment system. In other words, in this specification, "treated water" is not limited to final treated water that has undergone all liquid treatments, but also includes intermediate treated water that undergoes further liquid treatment by a post-treatment system provided downstream of the treated water storage tank 30.

[0032] The post-treatment system may be, for example, a liquid purification system that further purifies the treated water delivered from the treated water storage tank 30. For example, the post-treatment system may include a filter mechanism for reducing the impurity content of the treated water to a desired standard, a decolorization mechanism for decolorizing the treated water, and a disinfection mechanism for disinfecting the treated water by adding chemicals such as chlorine to the treated water. Examples of the filter mechanism that can be used include a reverse osmosis membrane (RO membrane), an ultrafiltration membrane (UF membrane), and a microfiltration membrane (MF membrane). Examples of the decolorization mechanism that can be used include an ozone generator and an activated carbon filter. However, the configuration of the post-treatment system is not limited to these and may be any configuration. Furthermore, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment may not include a post-treatment system, and the treated water stored in the treated water storage tank 30 may be used as the final treated water.

[0033] In the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment, if the raw water storage tank 10 is a pump-and-store storage tank, the system may not be provided with the water supply pipe 100. In addition, in the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment, if the treated water storage tank 30 (downstream storage tank 50) is a pump-and-store storage tank, the system may not be provided with the water transport pipe 108 and the post-treatment system.

[0034] [Configuration of raw water storage tank] The raw water storage tank 10 is configured to be able to store raw water to be subjected to liquid treatment by the liquid treatment system 1, and is, for example, a wastewater adjustment tank for adjusting the amount and flow of inflowing wastewater, etc. As shown in Figure 1, the raw water storage tank 10 has an inlet port 12 that can be connected to a water supply pipe 100 or through which the water supply pipe 100 can be inserted, and an outlet port 14 that can be connected to a first pipe 102 or through which the first pipe 102 can be inserted.

[0035] The inlet port 12 and the outlet port 14 are airtightly connected to prevent leakage of gas and liquid from the connection portion with the water supply pipe 100 or the first pipe 102. Furthermore, the raw water storage tank 10 is sealed except for the inlet port 12 and the outlet port 14. In other words, the raw water storage tank 10 is a sealed container having the inlet port 12 and the outlet port 14. In this embodiment, the inlet port 12 and the outlet port 14 are provided on the lid of the raw water storage tank 10, but are not limited thereto and may be provided at any location on the raw water storage tank 10.

[0036] The raw water storage tank 10 is equipped with a first pressure measuring unit P1 that can measure the pressure (internal pressure) inside the raw water storage tank 10. The first pressure measuring unit P1 can be, for example, a pressure sensor. The first pressure measuring unit P1 is provided on the lid of the raw water storage tank 10, but is not limited to this and can be provided at any location.

[0037] The raw water storage tank 10 is provided with an air pressure relief valve (not shown) that allows gas to flow from the raw water storage tank 10 to the outside when the raw water storage tank 10 is under positive pressure and restricts gas to flow from the outside to the raw water storage tank 10 when the raw water storage tank 10 is under negative pressure. The air pressure relief valve is configured to open when the raw water storage tank 10 is under excessively positive pressure during aeration treatment, which will be described later, thereby preventing backflow of raw water from the raw water storage tank 10 to the raw water source.

[0038] A strainer 16 for removing solid matter such as hair contained in the raw water is provided inside the raw water storage tank 10. In this embodiment, the first pipe 102 enters the raw water storage tank 10 through the outlet port 14, and the strainer 16 is provided at the end of the first pipe 102 located inside the raw water storage tank 10.

[0039] [Water treatment tank configuration] The water treatment tank 20 is configured to store raw water to be subjected to liquid treatment and to produce treated water by subjecting the stored raw water to liquid treatment. The water treatment tank 20 functions as the "liquid storage tank" in the above-mentioned defoaming system. In the following, in this embodiment, the water treatment tank 20 will be described as a biological treatment tank that purifies raw water using microorganisms, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0040] Water treatment tank 20 is configured to be able to store a mixture of raw water delivered from raw water storage tank 10 and microorganisms. There are no particular restrictions on the type of microorganisms contained in water treatment tank 20, as long as they are capable of purifying raw water. For example, the microorganisms may be aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, or a combination of these. Water treatment tank 20 may also be a tank that combines aerobic and anaerobic areas, or a multi-tank tank with separate aerobic and anaerobic tanks.

[0041] 2, the water treatment tank 20 has a bottom surface 20a, a cylindrical peripheral wall 20b extending upward from the periphery of the bottom surface 20a, and a top surface 20c closing the upper end of the peripheral wall 20b. In this embodiment, the top surface 20c is a lid that can be attached to and detached from the peripheral wall 20b, but is not limited to this.

[0042] 1, the water treatment tank 20 has an inlet port 22 connectable to the first pipe 102 or through which the first pipe 102 can be inserted, and an outlet port 24 connectable to the second pipe 104 or through which the second pipe 104 can be inserted. The water treatment tank 20 also has an exhaust port 26 connectable to the first suction pipe 110 or through which the first suction pipe 110 can be inserted, and an air supply port 28 connectable to the air supply pipe 81 or through which the air supply pipe 81 can be inserted.

[0043] The inlet port 22, the outlet port 24, the exhaust port 26, and the air supply port 28 are airtightly connected to the first pipe 102, the second pipe 104, the first suction pipe 110, or the air supply pipe 81 so that gas and liquid do not leak from the connection portions. Furthermore, the water treatment tank 20 is sealed except for the inlet port 22, the outlet port 24, the exhaust port 26, and the air supply port 28. In other words, the water treatment tank 20 is a sealed container having the inlet port 22, the outlet port 24, the exhaust port 26, and the air supply port 28. In this embodiment, the inlet port 22, the outlet port 24, the exhaust port 26, and the air supply port 28 are provided in the lid of the water treatment tank 20, but are not limited to this and may be provided in any location in the water treatment tank 20.

[0044] In this embodiment, the first pipe 102 is provided such that one end 102a is located inside the water treatment tank 20 and the other end 102b is located outside the water treatment tank 20, specifically inside the raw water storage tank 10 (first tank). The inlet port 22 and the first pipe 102 are preferably located at the center of the top surface 20c. However, this is not limitative, and the inlet port 22 and the first pipe 102 may be provided at a location other than the center of the top surface 20c.

[0045] The water treatment tank 20 also includes a second pressure measurement unit P2 capable of measuring the pressure (internal pressure) within the water treatment tank 20. A pressure sensor, for example, can be used as the second pressure measurement unit P2. The second pressure measurement unit P2 functions as a "sensor" in the above-described bubble removal system. As shown in FIG. 2, the second pressure measurement unit P2 is provided above the upper limit water level of the liquid stored in the water treatment tank 20 and one end 102a of the first pipe 102. In this embodiment, the second pressure measurement unit P2 is provided on the top surface 20c (lid) of the water treatment tank 20.

[0046] The first pipe 102 is provided to penetrate the top surface 20c (lid) of the water treatment tank 20 so that one end 102a is located below the second pressure measurement part P2. Specifically, the first pipe 102 is provided so that one end 102a is located below the second pressure measurement part P2 and at the same level as or above the upper limit water level of the liquid stored in the water treatment tank 20.

[0047] 2, the first pipe 102 has at least one hole 103 formed in the peripheral wall of the portion that penetrates the top surface 20c (lid) of the water treatment tank 20 and extends into the water treatment tank 20. In this embodiment, a plurality of holes 103 (e.g., 18 holes) are formed along at least one of the extending direction and the circumferential direction of the first pipe 102. The uppermost hole 103 is preferably located below the second pressure measurement unit P2. With this configuration, the first pipe 102 can collect liquid and bubbles from the water treatment tank 20 not only from the one end 102a but also from one or more holes 103.

[0048] The water treatment tank 20 also includes an aeration mechanism that aerates the mixed liquid in the water treatment tank 20 by supplying gas thereto, and a filter 86 that prevents microorganisms from flowing out of the water treatment tank 20.

[0049] The aeration mechanism includes, for example, a gas supply unit 80 that supplies gas to the water treatment tank 20, an air supply pipe 81 that introduces the gas sent out from the gas supply unit 80 into the water treatment tank 20, a gas release unit 82 that releases the gas flowing through the air supply pipe 81 into the water treatment tank 20, an inner cylinder 83 provided in the water treatment tank 20, a lower swirling flow generating unit 84 provided below the inner cylinder 83, and an upper swirling flow generating unit 85 provided above the inner cylinder 83.

[0050] The gas supply unit 80 is, for example, a fan or a blower. The gas supplied by the gas supply unit 80 is, for example, air, and contains oxygen. The gas supply unit 80 is configured to be able to automatically start or stop the supply of gas under the control of the control unit. In this case, the gas supply unit 80 may supply gas continuously or intermittently. Furthermore, the gas supply unit 80 may have a switch that starts or stops the supply of gas, and may be configured to be able to start or stop the supply of gas manually.

[0051] The gas release section 82 is configured to release gas into the inside of the inner cylinder 83, thereby generating an upward flow containing air bubbles inside the inner cylinder 83. The inner cylinder 83 is formed in a cylindrical shape with open upper and lower ends, and is configured to form a circulation flow path in which air flows out from the upper end of the inner cylinder 83 to the outside of the inner cylinder 83, flows down outside the inner cylinder 83, and flows back into the inside of the inner cylinder 83 from the lower end of the inner cylinder 83. Note that the gas release section 82 may be configured to release gas outside the inner cylinder 83. In this case, an upward flow containing air bubbles is generated outside the inner cylinder 83, and a downward flow containing air bubbles is generated inside the inner cylinder 83.

[0052] The lower swirl flow generating unit 84 and the upper swirl flow generating unit 85 are configured to be able to respectively turn the upward flow and downward flow in the circulation flow path within the water treatment tank 20 into swirling flows. That is, when an upward flow is generated inside the inner cylinder 83, the lower swirl flow generating unit 84 is configured to be able to turn the upward flow generated inside the inner cylinder 83 into a swirling flow, and when a downward flow is generated inside the inner cylinder 83, the lower swirl flow generating unit 84 is configured to be able to turn the upward flow generated outside the inner cylinder 83 into a swirling flow. Furthermore, the upper swirl flow generating unit 85 is configured to be able to turn the downward flow generated outside the inner cylinder 83 into a swirling flow when an upward flow is generated inside the inner cylinder 83, and when an upward flow is generated outside the inner cylinder 83, the upper swirl flow generating unit 85 is configured to be able to turn the downward flow generated inside the inner cylinder 83 into a swirling flow.

[0053] Specifically, the lower swirl flow generating section 84 and the upper swirl flow generating section 85 each include a plurality of (e.g., seven) blades provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder 83. Each blade extends along the radial direction of the inner cylinder 83 and has a shape that is curved in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder 83. That is, the blades are arc-shaped wall portions that stand in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 83, and a plurality of blades are provided radially around the axis of the inner cylinder 83. The blades are fixed so as not to rotate within the water treatment tank 20. The blades of the lower swirl flow generating section 84 and the blades of the upper swirl flow generating section 85 may be curved in the same direction or in different directions.

[0054] With this configuration, the lower swirl flow generating unit 84 and the upper swirl flow generating unit 85 can generate a spiral swirl flow simply by flowing the mixed liquid, which is raw water mixed with microorganisms, between the blades. Generating a spiral swirl flow in this manner increases the circulation path of the mixed liquid (contact distance between the liquid and air bubbles). Furthermore, the curved shape of the blades increases the number of spiral swirls, further lengthening the circulation path of the mixed liquid, thereby promoting agitation of the mixed liquid and improving the microbial treatment efficiency. Furthermore, because the swirl flow can be generated without rotating the blades, it is possible to reduce the cost of installing a motor, the power cost of the blades, and the cost of replacing parts. Furthermore, even if foreign matter (solids) such as hair is present in the raw water, the blades can break down and break down the foreign matter, further improving the microbial treatment efficiency. The swirl flow can also be used to clean the filter 86.

[0055] The filter 86 is disposed inside the inner cylinder 83 and is configured to separate the microorganisms contained in the mixed liquid after biological treatment from the treated water after biological treatment, and to recover only the treated water. As the filter 86, for example, a water treatment membrane that inhibits the penetration of substances not dissolved in water, such as microparticles of 0.1 μm to 1 μm and microorganisms, can be used, and in particular, a microfiltration membrane (MF membrane) or the like can be used, but is not limited to this.

[0056] [Configuration of treated water storage tank] The treated water storage tank 30 includes an upstream storage tank 40 that receives treated water transported from the water treatment tank 20 via the second pipe 104, a downstream storage tank 50 that stores treated water discharged from the upstream storage tank 40, and a defoaming tank 60 that liquefies bubbles generated in the upstream storage tank 40.

[0057] The downstream storage tank 50 is disposed below the upstream storage tank 40, and is connected to the upstream storage tank 40 by a third pipe 106. The defoaming tank 60 is disposed above the upstream storage tank 40, and is connected to the upstream storage tank 40 by a defoaming pipe 32. The third pipe 106 connecting the upstream storage tank 40 and the downstream storage tank 50 is formed with a narrowed section 107 in which the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path is locally reduced, and the defoaming tank 60 is connected to the narrowed section 107 of the third pipe 106 by a return pipe 34. By having such a piping structure, the treated water storage tank 30 is able to cause the treated water to flow under its own weight from the upstream storage tank 40 toward the downstream storage tank 50, and is also able to suck in the treated water from the defoaming tank 60 by the Venturi effect generated in the narrow section 107 of the third piping 106, so that the treated water from the upstream storage tank 40 and the defoaming tank 60 can be discharged into the downstream storage tank 50 without using power such as a pump.

[0058] As shown in Figure 1, the upstream storage tank 40 has an inlet port 42 that can be connected to the second pipe 104 or through which the second pipe 104 can be inserted, an outlet port 44 that can be connected to the third pipe 106 or through which the third pipe 106 can be inserted, and a foam discharge port 46 that can be connected to the defoaming pipe 32 or through which the defoaming pipe 32 can be inserted.

[0059] The inlet port 42, the outlet port 44, and the foam drain port 46 are airtightly connected to the second pipe 104, the third pipe 106, or the defoaming pipe 32 so that gas and liquid do not leak from the connection portions. Furthermore, the upstream storage tank 40 is sealed except for the inlet port 42, the outlet port 44, and the foam drain port 46. That is, the upstream storage tank 40 is a sealed container having the inlet port 42, the outlet port 44, and the foam drain port 46. In this embodiment, the inlet port 42 and the foam drain port 46 are provided in the lid of the upstream storage tank 40, and the outlet port 44 is provided in the bottom of the upstream storage tank 40, but this is not limited thereto and the outlet port 44 may be provided in any position in the upstream storage tank 40.

[0060] The upstream storage tank 40 is equipped with a third pressure measurement unit P3 that can measure the pressure (internal pressure) inside the upstream storage tank 40. The third pressure measurement unit P3 can be, for example, a pressure sensor. The third pressure measurement unit P3 is provided on the lid of the treated water storage tank 30, but is not limited to this and may be provided at any location inside the treated water storage tank 30, or may be provided on the defoaming piping 32.

[0061] The upstream storage tank 40 is also equipped with a floater valve 47 that stops the water supply from the second pipe 104 when the treated water in the upstream storage tank 40 reaches a predetermined water level. The upstream storage tank 40 is also equipped with a liquid purification mechanism 48 that further purifies the treated water stored in the upstream storage tank 40. The liquid purification mechanism 48 may be, for example, an ozone generator that generates ozone gas to disinfect and decolorize the treated water. The ozone generator may generate ozone gas using, for example, a discharge method (silent discharge method), an electrolysis method (water electrolysis cell method), or an ultraviolet method (mercury UV lamp method or mercury-free UV lamp (excimer lamp) method). However, the present invention is not limited to these methods, and various other liquid purification mechanisms may be employed. Furthermore, the upstream storage tank 40 does not necessarily have to be equipped with the liquid purification mechanism 48.

[0062] 1 and 2, the defoaming tank 60 has an inlet port 62 connectable to the defoaming piping 32 or through which the defoaming piping 32 can be inserted, and an outlet port 64 connectable to the reflux piping 34 or through which the reflux piping 34 can be inserted. The defoaming tank 60 also has an exhaust port 66 connectable to the second suction piping 112 or through which the second suction piping 112 can be inserted.

[0063] The inlet port 62, the outlet port 64, and the exhaust port 66 are airtightly connected to the defoaming pipe 32, the reflux pipe 34, or the second suction pipe 112 so that gas and liquid do not leak from their connection parts. The defoaming tank 60 is sealed except for the inlet port 62, the outlet port 64, and the exhaust port 66. That is, the defoaming tank 60 is a sealed container having the inlet port 62, the outlet port 64, and the exhaust port 66. In this embodiment, the inlet port 62 and the outlet port 64 are provided at the bottom of the defoaming tank 60, and the exhaust port 66 is provided at the lid of the defoaming tank 60, but the present invention is not limited to this and the port may be provided at any position in the defoaming tank 60.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 2, the defoaming tank 60 has a cylindrical partition wall 68 extending downward from its top surface. The defoaming piping 32 is disposed so that its upper end 32a is located radially inside the partition wall 68. In other words, the partition wall 68 is formed so as to surround the periphery of the upper end 32a of the defoaming piping 32. The exhaust port 66 of the defoaming tank 60 is disposed radially outside the partition wall 68, and the outlet port 64 of the defoaming tank 60 is disposed below the upper end 32a of the defoaming piping 32.

[0065] 2, the defoaming tank 60 is configured such that, when a negative pressure is created inside the defoaming tank 60 by the negative pressure generator 70, bubbles generated in the upstream storage tank 40 are sucked up into the defoaming tank 60 via the defoaming piping 32 and liquefied in the defoaming tank 60, and the liquefied treated water is then discharged into the downstream storage tank 50 via the return piping 34 and the third piping 106. The defoaming tank 60 is also configured such that, by separating the exhaust port 66 and the upper end 32a of the defoaming piping 32 by a partition wall 68, bubbles introduced into the defoaming tank 60 are prevented from being discharged from the exhaust port 66.

[0066] The downstream storage tank 50 has an inlet port 52 that can be connected to the third pipe 106 or through which the third pipe 106 can be inserted, and an outlet port 54 that can be connected to the water supply pipe 108 or through which the water supply pipe 108 can be inserted.

[0067] The inlet port 52 and the outlet port 54 are airtightly connected to prevent leakage of gas and liquid from the connection portion with the third pipe 106 or the water supply pipe 108. Furthermore, the downstream storage tank 50 is sealed except for the inlet port 52 and the outlet port 54. In other words, the downstream storage tank 50 is a sealed container having the inlet port 52 and the outlet port 54. In this embodiment, the inlet port 52 is provided in the lid of the downstream storage tank 50, and the outlet port 54 is provided in the peripheral wall near the bottom of the downstream storage tank 50, but the present invention is not limited to this and the outlet port 54 may be provided at any location in the downstream storage tank 50.

[0068] The downstream storage tank 50 is also provided with a check valve 56 that allows the flow of fluid from the third pipe 106 toward the inside of the downstream storage tank 50 and restricts the flow of fluid from the inside of the downstream storage tank 50 toward the third pipe 106. The check valve 56 is configured to close due to the negative pressure in the third pipe 106 when the upstream storage tank 40 is placed in a negative pressure state by the negative pressure generator 70, and to open due to the weight of the treated water flowing out of the upstream storage tank 40 via the third pipe 106 when the negative pressure state of the upstream storage tank 40 is released.

[0069] [Configuration of negative pressure generator] As shown in Figure 1, the negative pressure generator 70 includes a suction blower 72 capable of generating negative pressure, and a switching valve 74 provided between the suction blower 72 and the defoaming tank 60 of the water treatment tank 20 and the treated water storage tank 30.

[0070] The switching valve 74 has a first intake port 76 connected to the water treatment tank 20 via a first suction pipe 110, a second intake port 77 connected to the defoaming tank 60 of the treated water storage tank 30 via a second suction pipe 112, and an atmosphere port 78 that opens the first suction pipe 110 and the second suction pipe 112 to the atmosphere. As the switching valve 74, for example, a solenoid valve can be used, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0071] The switching valve 74 is configured to be switchable, under the control of the control unit, between at least a first valve state in which the suction blower 72 is in communication with the water treatment tank 20 and is in a non-communicative state with the treated water storage tank 30, and a second valve state in which the suction blower 72 is in a non-communicative state with the water treatment tank 20 and is in communication with the treated water storage tank 30. The switching valve 74 is also configured to be further switchable, under the control of the control unit, to a third valve state in which the water treatment tank 20 and the treated water storage tank 30 are open to the atmosphere.

[0072] In this embodiment, the negative pressure generator 70 is described as being equipped with the switching valve 74, but this is not limited to this. For example, if a suction blower 72 is provided for each of the water treatment tank 20 and the treated water storage tank 30, there is no need to use the switching valve 74. Also, various valves such as check valves can be used instead of the switching valve.

[0073] [Sensor configuration] The first raw water sensor S1, the second raw water sensor S2, the first treated water sensor S3, and the second treated water sensor S4 are each configured to be able to measure the physical properties of a flowing liquid. The liquid treatment system 1 also includes a memory unit (not shown) that stores information measured by each sensor, and is configured to update each piece of information in real time and feed it back to the control unit.

[0074] The first raw water sensor S1, the second raw water sensor S2, the first treated water sensor S3, and the second treated water sensor S4 may be, for example, an electrical conductivity measuring sensor (EC sensor) capable of measuring the electrical conductivity (EC value) of a flowing liquid. Furthermore, the first raw water sensor S1, the second raw water sensor S2, the first treated water sensor S3, and the second treated water sensor S4 may be the same type of sensor or different types of sensors.

[0075] In addition, the first raw water sensor S1, the second raw water sensor S2, the first treated water sensor S3 and the second treated water sensor S4 are not limited to EC sensors and may be, for example, sensors that sense at least one of the elements listed below. (1) pH, oxidation-reduction potential, alkalinity, ion concentration, hardness (2) Turbidity, color, opacity, viscosity, dissolved oxygen (3) Odor, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, total nitrogen, residual chlorine, total phosphorus, total organic carbon, total inorganic carbon, total trihalomethanes (4) Detection results of microbial sensors, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, (5) Cyanide, mercury, oil, surfactants (6) Detection results of optical sensors and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) sensors (7) Mass spectrometry results, fine particles, zeta potential, surface potential (8) Sound

[0076] [Controller configuration]

[0077] The control unit is configured to control the switching of the switching valve 74 and the operation of the suction blower 72 based on a pre-registered liquid treatment program. The control by the control unit may be performed by time control, or may be performed based on the measurement results of various sensors such as water level sensors provided in each tank, pipe, etc.

[0078] Specifically, the control unit is configured to be able to perform raw water transfer control, which transfers raw water from the raw water storage tank 10 to the water treatment tank 20, aeration control, which performs aeration treatment in the water treatment tank 20, and treated water transfer control, which transfers treated water from the water treatment tank 20 to the treated water storage tank 30.

[0079] In the raw water transfer control, the control unit sets the switching valve 74 to the first valve state and creates a negative pressure inside the water treatment tank 20 using the negative pressure generator 70, thereby making the internal pressure of the water treatment tank 20 lower than the internal pressure of the raw water storage tank 10. This internal pressure difference between the water treatment tank 20 and the raw water storage tank 10 causes the raw water in the raw water storage tank 10 to be transferred to the water treatment tank 20 via the first piping 102. Furthermore, as the raw water is transferred from the raw water storage tank 10 to the water treatment tank 20, the pressure inside the raw water storage tank 10 decreases, so raw water is replenished from the raw water source to the raw water storage tank 10 via the water supply piping 100. In this raw water transfer control, the control unit monitors the fluid movement direction and physical properties of the fluid using various sensors and performs various feedback controls based on the results.

[0080] Furthermore, in the aeration control, the control unit performs aeration by stopping suction by suction blower 72 and activating gas supply unit 80 of the aeration mechanism to supply gas into water treatment tank 20. This aeration may cause bubbles to form in water treatment tank 20, but because the pressure inside water treatment tank 20 is slightly higher than atmospheric pressure due to the gas supply into water treatment tank 20, the bubbles inside water treatment tank 20 are discharged to the outside of water treatment tank 20 (specifically, into raw water storage tank 10) via first piping 102. In other words, first piping 102 not only functions to transfer raw water from raw water storage tank 10 to water treatment tank 20, but also functions as a release pipe that discharges bubbles and the like from water treatment tank 20 to raw water storage tank 10. In addition, the first pipe 102 also serves the function of adjusting the water level within the water treatment tank 20, thereby preventing the water level within the water treatment tank 20 from exceeding a threshold value and making it easier for the generated bubbles to flow out of the water treatment tank 20 from the first pipe 102 along with the flow of gas caused by aeration.

[0081] During the aeration treatment, the control unit monitors the movement of bubbles in the direction from the water treatment tank 20 toward the raw water storage tank 10 and the physical properties of the bubbles flowing through the pipes (whether they are bubbles or not, etc.) based on the change in pressure inside the tank measured by the pressure sensors (first pressure measurement unit P1 and second pressure measurement unit P2) and the electrical conductivity of bubbles flowing through each pipe measured by the electrical conductivity measurement sensors (first raw water sensor S1 and second raw water sensor S2), and performs various feedback controls based on the results.

[0082] Furthermore, in the treated water transfer control, the control unit sets the switching valve 74 to the second valve state and creates a negative pressure in the defoaming tank 60 and the upstream storage tank 40 using the negative pressure generator 70, thereby making the internal pressure of the upstream storage tank 40 lower than the internal pressure of the water treatment tank 20, and due to this internal pressure difference between the upstream storage tank 40 and the water treatment tank 20, the treated water in the water treatment tank 20 is transferred to the upstream storage tank 40 via the second piping 104. At this time, the third piping 106 is under low pressure and the check valve 56 of the downstream storage tank 50 is closed, so the treated water does not flow into the downstream storage tank 50 and is gradually stored in the upstream storage tank 40. Furthermore, as treated water from the water treatment tank 20 is transferred to the upstream storage tank 40, the water treatment tank 20 is placed under negative pressure, and the difference in internal pressure between the tanks causes raw water from the raw water storage tank 10 to be transferred to the water treatment tank 20 via the first pipe 102. In conjunction with this, the raw water storage tank 10 is placed under negative pressure, and raw water is replenished from the raw water source to the raw water storage tank 10 via the water supply pipe 100. In this treated water transfer control as well, the control unit monitors the direction of fluid movement and the physical properties of the fluid using various sensors, and performs various feedback controls based on the results.

[0083] The control unit is also configured to be able to execute a purification process in which, after the upstream storage tank 40 is filled with treated water, the treated water is further purified by the liquid purification mechanism 48. This purification process may cause bubbles to form in the upstream storage tank 40 or may contain bubbles in the treated water transferred from the water treatment tank 20. However, the bubbles in the upstream storage tank 40 are sucked up into the defoaming tank 60 via the defoaming piping 32 and liquefied in the defoaming tank 60.

[0084] Furthermore, the control unit is configured to be able to execute drainage control for transferring treated water from the upstream storage tank 40 to the downstream storage tank 50. Specifically, the control unit sets the switching valve 74 to the third valve state to set the pressure inside the defoaming tank 60 and the upstream storage tank 40 to atmospheric pressure, and transfers the treated water in the upstream storage tank 40 to the downstream storage tank 50 via the third piping 106 under its own weight. At this time, the Venturi effect generated in the narrow section 107 of the third piping 106 causes the treated water in the defoaming tank 60 to be transferred to the downstream storage tank 50. Thereafter, the control unit, as necessary, transfers the water from the downstream storage tank 50 to a treated water supply destination such as a consumer via the water transfer piping 108, a post-treatment system, etc.

[0085] [Advantages of the defoaming system according to this embodiment] The bubble removal system of this embodiment comprises a water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) capable of storing liquid, a first pipe 102 (piping) arranged so that one end 102a is located inside the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) and the other end 102b is located outside the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) (raw water storage tank 10), and a second pressure measurement unit P2 (sensor) arranged in the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank), the second pressure measurement unit P2 (sensor) being arranged above the upper limit water level of the liquid stored in the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank), and the first pipe 102 (piping) being arranged so that one end 102a is located below the second pressure measurement unit P2 (sensor).

[0086] By having such a configuration, the defoaming system of this embodiment, as described above, allows the liquid and bubbles inside the water treatment tank 20 to be appropriately discharged to the outside of the water treatment tank 20 via the first piping 102, thereby appropriately maintaining the liquid level inside the water treatment tank 20 and preventing excessive bubbles from remaining on the liquid surface, thereby having the advantage of preventing the second pressure measurement unit P2 from getting wet or dirty and ensuring sensing accuracy.

[0087] Furthermore, in the bubble removing system according to this embodiment, the first pipe 102 (piping) is provided so that one end 102a is located below the second pressure measurement unit P2 (sensor) and at the same level as or above the upper limit water level of the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank). By having such a configuration, the bubble removing system according to this embodiment can remove bubbles more effectively because one end 102a of the first pipe 102 is not completely immersed in the liquid in the water treatment tank 20.

[0088] Furthermore, in the defoaming system according to this embodiment, the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) has a bottom surface 20a, a peripheral wall 20b, and a top surface 20c, the second pressure measurement unit P2 (sensor) is provided on the top surface 20c, and the first piping 102 (piping) is provided so as to penetrate the top surface 20c. By having such a configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment can prevent the sensor from becoming dirty due to non-contact sensing, and can also easily replace the sensor when it deteriorates over time.

[0089] Furthermore, in the defoaming system according to this embodiment, the first piping 102 (piping) has at least one hole 103 formed in the peripheral wall of the portion that penetrates the top surface 20c of the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) and extends into the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank). By having such a configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment can release bubbles outside the water treatment tank 20 before they reach near the top surface 20c, thereby more efficiently removing bubbles.

[0090] Furthermore, the defoaming system according to this embodiment further includes a gas supply unit 80 that supplies gas to the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank). With this configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment can perform an aeration treatment on the water treatment tank 20, and even if bubbles are generated by the aeration treatment, it is possible to use the pressure caused by the gas supply into the water treatment tank 20 to discharge the bubbles inside the water treatment tank 20 to the outside of the water treatment tank 20 (into the raw water storage tank 10) via the first piping 102.

[0091] The defoaming system according to this embodiment further includes a raw water storage tank 10 (first tank) connected to the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) via a first pipe 102 (pipe), and a negative pressure generator 70 that generates negative pressure in the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank). With this configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment can transfer liquid from the raw water storage tank 10 to the water treatment tank 20 via the first pipe 102 due to the internal pressure difference between the water treatment tank 20 and the raw water storage tank 10 generated by the negative pressure generator 70. In other words, with the defoaming system having this configuration, the first pipe 102 can be given not only the function of transferring liquid from the raw water storage tank 10 to the water treatment tank 20 but also the function of a release pipe that discharges bubbles and the like from the water treatment tank 20 to the raw water storage tank 10, making it possible to realize a defoaming mechanism at low cost.

[0092] [Variations] The defoaming system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0093] In the above-described embodiment, the defoaming system has been described as being used in a liquid treatment system 1 having a raw water storage tank 10, a water treatment tank 20, and a treated water storage tank 30, but the purpose and number of each tank are not limited to this, and any configuration having at least one tank capable of storing liquid is sufficient.

[0094] In the above-described embodiment, the second pressure measurement unit P2 (pressure sensor) was used as an example of a sensor to be installed in the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank), but this is not limited to this and various sensors, such as a water level sensor, can be used.

[0095] In the above-described embodiment, the gas supply unit 80 that supplies gas to the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) has been described as being configured to perform aeration treatment, but this is not limitative. The defoaming system may also be configured without including a gas supply unit.

[0096] In the above-described embodiment, the negative pressure generator 70 is described as being connected to the water treatment tank 20 via the first suction pipe 110 and to the treated water storage tank 30 (antifoaming tank 60) via the second suction pipe 112, but this is not limiting, and the first suction pipe 110 may not be provided, and the system may be connected only to the treated water storage tank 30 (antifoaming tank 60) via the second suction pipe 112. Furthermore, the defoaming system may not be provided with the negative pressure generator 70.

[0097] In the above-described embodiment, the defoaming tank 60 is described as being provided on the second suction pipe 112, but this is not limiting. For example, the defoaming tank 60 may be provided not only on the second suction pipe 112 but also on the first suction pipe 110, or may be provided only on the first suction pipe 110 without being provided on the second suction pipe 112, or may not be provided on either the first suction pipe 110 or the second suction pipe 112. When the defoaming tank 60 is provided on the first suction pipe 110, the return pipe 34 of the defoaming tank 60 provided on the first suction pipe 110 may be connected to a pipe such as the water supply pipe 100 or the first pipe 102, or to a tank such as the raw water storage tank 10 or the water treatment tank 20. In addition, the return pipe 34 of the defoaming tank 60 provided on the first suction pipe 110 may be provided with a check valve to allow the flow of fluid in the direction discharged from the defoaming tank 60 and to prevent the flow of fluid in the direction toward the defoaming tank 60 (i.e., backflow).

[0098] It is clear from the claims that the above-mentioned modifications are included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 1: Liquid handling system 10: Raw water storage tank 12: Inlet port 14: Outlet port 16: Strainer 20: Water treatment tank 20a: Bottom part 20b: Peripheral wall part 20c: Top part 22: Inlet port 24: Outlet port 26: Exhaust port 28: Air supply port 30: Treated water storage tank 32: Defoaming piping 32a: Upper end 34: Reflux piping 40: Upstream storage tank 42: Inlet port 44: Outlet port 46: Foam discharge port 47: Float valve 48: Liquid purification mechanism 50: Downstream storage tank 52: Inlet port 54: Outlet port 56: Check valve 60: Antifoam tank 62: Inlet port 64: Outlet port 66: Exhaust port 68: Partition wall part 70: Negative pressure generator 72: Suction blower 74: Switching valve 76: First intake port 77: Second intake port 78: Atmospheric port 80: Gas supply section 81: Air pipe 82: Gas release section 83: Inner cylinder 84: Lower swirl flow generation section 85: Upper swirl flow generation section 86: Filter 100: Water supply piping 102: First piping 102a: One end 102b: Other end 103 :hole 104: Second piping 106: Third piping 107: Narrow part 108: Water supply piping 110: 1st suction pipe 112:Second suction pipe P1: First pressure measurement section P2: Second pressure measurement section P3: Third pressure measurement section S1: First raw water sensor S2: Second raw water sensor S3: First treated water sensor S4: Second treated water sensor

Claims

1. a liquid storage tank capable of storing a liquid; a pipe having one end located inside the liquid storage tank and the other end located outside the liquid storage tank; a sensor provided in the liquid storage tank; Equipped with the liquid storage tank has a bottom surface, a peripheral wall, and a top surface; the sensor is provided on the top surface, the piping is provided so as to penetrate the top surface portion, and a hole is formed in a peripheral wall of a portion of the piping that penetrates the top surface portion and extends vertically into the liquid storage tank, The holes are formed in a plurality of directions along at least one of the extending direction and the circumferential direction of the pipe. Defoaming system.

2. The holes are formed in a plurality along the extension direction of the pipe.

10. The defoaming system of claim 1.

3. The pipe is provided so that the one end is located below the sensor and at the same level as or above the upper limit water level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank.

3. The defoaming system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a gas supply unit that supplies gas to the liquid storage tank; 3. The defoaming system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. a first tank connected to the liquid storage tank via the piping; a negative pressure generating device that generates negative pressure in the liquid storage tank; Further provided with 5. The defoaming system of claim 4.

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