Circulation system

Abstract

In a recycling system that recirculates and reuses water for various purposes, the reusability of the water is improved. [Solution] A circulation system Y is provided that uses water V for its intended purpose and also circulates and reuses the water V, comprising a use unit 1 for using the water V for its intended purpose and a circulation unit 2 for circulating and reusing the water V, wherein the water V is a buffer solution of bicarbonate ions and carbonate ions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the circulation of service water.

Background Art

[0002] A circulation system that circulates and reuses service water has been proposed.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a washing system including washing water supplied to a washing tub, rinsing water supplied to the washing tub, and filtering means for filtering the washing water and rinsing water discharged from the washing tub, wherein the washing water circulates between the washing tub and the filtering means, and the rinsing water circulates between the washing tub and the filtering means.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to improve the reusability of service water in a circulation system that circulates and reuses service water.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One means for solving the above problems according to the present disclosure is a circulation system that supplies service water to a use and circulates and reuses the service water, the circulation system including a use unit that supplies the service water to the use and a circulation unit that circulates and reuses the service water, wherein the service water is a buffer solution of hydrogen carbonate ions and carbonate ions.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] This disclosure makes it possible to improve the reusability of water used for various purposes by providing the above-mentioned means. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram of a circulation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic piping diagram of a circulation system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a schematic block diagram of a system control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] This disclosure provides a circulation system Y as an embodiment. The circulation system Y is illustrative to illustrate the technical idea of ​​the present invention and does not limit the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the circulation system Y, as well as the materials, shapes, dimensions, number, and arrangement of the components, can be modified within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the circulation system Y is a system that uses the water V for its intended purpose and also recycles and reuses the water V.

[0011] The circulation system Y includes an application section 1 that supplies the water V for its intended use. The application section 1 may be a laundry section that supplies the water V for washing, or a bathing section that supplies the water V for bathing facilities (swimming pool, bath, etc.).

[0012] When the application unit 1 is a washing unit, that is, when the application water V is wash water, the application unit 1 accepts the laundry in a load-removal manner and washes off the dirt from the laundry using the application water V. The application unit 1 may perform various cleaning methods (e.g., ultrasonic cleaning, steam cleaning, ozone cleaning) and various drying methods (e.g., heater drying, heat pump drying) on ​​the laundry. Generally, the application unit 1 is assumed to be a washing machine.

[0013] The circulation system Y includes a circulation unit 2 that circulates and reuses the water used for application V. The circulation unit 2 recovers the water used for application V discharged from the application unit 1 and supplies this water used for application V back to the application unit 1. The circulation unit 2 is envisioned to have components such as a storage unit (e.g., a tank) for temporarily storing the water used for application V, a transfer path (e.g., piping) for transporting the stored water used for application V, and a drive unit (e.g., a pump) for driving the water used for application V within the transfer path. The circulation unit 2 forms a closed-loop circulation of the water used for application V by connecting these components with the application unit 1. As a result, the circulation system Y can provide an environment for application without using water and sewage systems.

[0014] Water V is used for bicarbonate ions (HCO3). - ) and carbonate ions (CO3 2- It is a buffer solution of ). In particular, it is preferable that the water for use V is a mixture containing sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, NaHCO3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The water for use V contains bicarbonate ions (HCO3 - ) and carbonate ions (CO3 2- Due to its buffering effect, the water V used for applications is stably maintained at a slightly alkaline pH (8-10) even when it fluctuates between alkaline and acidic. This pH stability delays the deterioration of the water V used for applications, and as a result, the number of times the water V used for applications can be reused can be increased.

[0015] Furthermore, bicarbonate ions promote the emulsification of oils and fats, while carbonate ions ionize oils and proteins and disperse them in the water V used for application. Therefore, water V used for application has excellent cleaning power.

[0016] This disclosure further provides an example of a circulating system Y. This example is not intended to limit the scope of the technical concept of circulating system Y.

[0017] The circulation system Y is a laundry system that uses water V for washing and also recycles and reuses the water V.

[0018] Service water V is washing water such that rinsing of the laundry is unnecessary, and in particular, there is almost no surfactant residue on the laundry and there is little foaming. For example, service water V does not contain a surfactant. Thereby, the rinsing time in washing is reduced, and service water V can be discarded in an environmentally considerate form.

[0019] The service part 1 is a washing machine and is assumed to include a washing tub, a water supply port, a drain port, a washing control part, etc. The service part 1 is connected to the circulation part 2 via the water supply port and the drain port.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the circulation part 2 has a drain tank 21 that stores the service water V discharged from the drain port of the service part 1 and a water supply tank 22 that stores the service water V to be supplied again to the water supply port of the service part 1. The service part 1, the drain tank 21, and the water supply tank 22 are connected by pipes. Also, an automatic pump 23 that serves as the driving force for water supply is arranged between the water supply tank 22 and the service part 1.

[0021] The drain tank 21 is configured to be able to discharge the service water V to the outside. Also, the water supply tank 22 is configured to be able to supply the service water V (or water for producing the service water V) from the outside.

[0022] The circulation system Y includes an adjustment part 3 that adjusts the components of the service water V.

[0023] At least one of the adjustment parts 3 is a carbonate ion supply source 31 that supplies carbonate ions to the service water V. In particular, the carbonate ion supply source 31 is a solid substance containing calcium carbonate (for example, coral sand). The carbonate ion supply source 31 is arranged inside the drain tank 21 and / or the water supply tank 22.

[0024] At least one of the adjustment parts 3 is a hydrogen carbonate ion supply source 32 that supplies hydrogen carbonate ions to the service water V. In particular, the hydrogen carbonate ion supply source 32 is a means for adding baking soda to the service water V.

[0025] At least one of the adjustment units 3 is an electrolytic water supply source 33 that supplies electrolytic water (alkaline electrolytic water, acidic electrolytic water (e.g., hypochlorous acid water), and / or alkaline-acid mixed electrolytic water) to the water for use V. In particular, it is preferable that the electrolytic water supply source 33 supplies electrolytic water to the water for use V by supplying hypochlorous acid water to the water for use V. The connection location of the electrolytic water supply source 33 can be any location, such as the drainage tank 21, the water supply tank 22, or between the drainage tank 21 and the water supply tank 22, but here it is the drainage tank 21.

[0026] The electrolyzed water supply source 33 may also be an electrolytic device that electrolyzes the water V used for that purpose.

[0027] At least one of the adjustment units 3 is a hypochlorite ion supply source 34 that supplies hypochlorite ions (e.g., sodium hypochlorite) to the water for use V. The connection location of the electrolyzed water supply source 33 can be any location, such as the drainage tank 21, the water supply tank 22, or between the drainage tank 21 and the water supply tank 22, but here it is connected to the drainage tank 21.

[0028] At least one of the adjustment units 3 is an ozone supply source 35 that supplies ozone to the water V used. The connection location of the electrolyzed water supply source 33 can be any location, such as the wastewater tank 21, the water supply tank 22, or between the wastewater tank 21 and the water supply tank 22, but in this case, it is the wastewater tank 21.

[0029] Hypochlorous acid water, hypochlorite ions, and ozone can be used to disinfect and improve the quality of water (V) for various applications.

[0030] The circulation system Y includes a filtration unit 4 for filtering the water V used for application.

[0031] At least one of the filtration units 4 is a bag filter 41. The bag filter 41 is, for example, a mesh bag (for example, approximately 25 μm nominal). The bag filter 41 is placed at the connection point between the application unit 1 and the drain tank 21 and simply filters the application water V discharged from the drain port of the application unit 1.

[0032] At least one of the filtration units 4 is a filter media bag 42. The filter media bag 42 is constructed, for example, by filling a mesh bag (for example, about 5 mm nominal) with filter media. This filter media may include zeolite (adsorption of ammonia, metal ions, etc., and removal of turbidity), activated carbon (adsorption of odor components, pigments, chemical substances, etc.). In particular, it is preferable that this filter media contains a solid material containing calcium carbonate (carbonate ion supply source 31). That is, it is preferable that the filtration unit 4 uses a solid material containing calcium carbonate (carbonate ion supply source 31) as the filter media. The filter media bag 42 is placed inside the wastewater tank 21 and / or the water supply tank 22. In particular, it is preferable that the filter media bag 42 using zeolite as the filter media is placed inside the wastewater tank 21, and the filter media bag 42 using the carbonate ion supply source 31 as the filter media is placed inside the wastewater tank 21.

[0033] At least one of the filtration sections 4 is a filtration device 43. The filtration device 43 is, for example, a bag filter type filtration device. The filtration accuracy of the filtration device 43 is, for example, about 1 μm nominal or 5 μm nominal. It is preferable that the filtration devices 43 are arranged in multiple stages. The filtration device 43 is located between the wastewater tank 21 and the water supply tank 22 and filters the water for use V recovered from the wastewater tank 21 by the automatic pump 24. The filtered water for use V flows into either the wastewater tank 21 or the water supply tank 22 via a branch.

[0034] At least one of the filtration units 4 is an activated carbon filter 44. The activated carbon filter 44 is located between the water supply tank 22 and the application unit 1 and filters the application water V recovered from the water supply tank 22 by the automatic pump 23. The filtered application water V flows into either the water supply tank 22 or the application unit 1 via a branching stream.

[0035] The circulation system Y includes a sterilization unit 5 that kills bacteria and microorganisms in the water V used for application.

[0036] At least one of the sterilization units 5 is a sterilization device 51. The sterilization device 51 is, for example, an ultraviolet sterilization device. The sterilization device 51 is located between the drainage tank 21 and the water supply tank 22 and sterilizes the water for use V recovered from the drainage tank 21 by the automatic pump 24. The sterilized water for use V branches off and flows into either the drainage tank 21 or the water supply tank 22. The sterilization device 51 is connected to the filtration device 43 and is located downstream of the filtration device 43.

[0037] The circulation system Y includes a heating unit 6 that heats the water V used for application. The heating unit 6 heats the water V used for application to approximately 45 degrees Celsius (for example, 40 to 55 degrees Celsius) to suppress changes in the pH of the water V used for application.

[0038] At least one of the heating elements 6 is a heater 61. The heater 61 is, for example, an immersion heater. The heater 61 is located inside the drain tank 21 and / or the water supply tank 22.

[0039] The circulation system Y is equipped with a measuring unit 7 that measures parameters indicating the quality of the water used V. Parameters indicating the quality of the water used V include pH, temperature, hypochlorite concentration, turbidity, suspended solids (SS), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The measuring unit 7 can be located in any location, such as the wastewater tank 21, the water supply tank 22, or the electrolyzed water supply source 33, but in this case, it is located in the wastewater tank 21.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, the circulating system Y includes a system control unit 8. The system control unit 8 performs various processes using a processor (e.g., CPU) and various storage operations using memory (e.g., main memory, storage). The system control unit 8 also communicates data with external devices using communication means.

[0041] The system control unit 8 controls the amount of usable water V flowing from the filtration device 43 and / or sterilization device 51 into the water supply tank 22 based on the amount of usable water V in the water supply tank 22. In particular, when the amount of usable water V in the water supply tank 22 falls below a predetermined threshold, the system control unit 8 either allows usable water V to flow from the filtration device 43 and / or sterilization device 51 into the water supply tank 22, or increases the amount of usable water V flowing in.

[0042] Furthermore, the system control unit 8 controls each part of the circulation system Y based on the parameters measured by the measurement unit 7.

[0043] For example, the system control unit 8 controls the adjustment unit 3 based on the pH and / or ORP measured by the measurement unit 7. In particular, when the pH falls below a predetermined threshold, the system control unit 8 adds sodium bicarbonate to the water for use V using a means for adding sodium bicarbonate (bicarbonate ion supply source 32), or increases the amount of sodium bicarbonate added. Also, in particular, when the pH, hypochlorite concentration and / or ORP fall outside a predetermined range (for example, pH 8 to 10, hypochlorite concentration 1 to 3 ppm), the system control unit 8 supplies electrolyzed water to the water for use V using an electrolyzed water supply source 33, or increases the amount of electrolyzed water supplied, or supplies hypochlorite ions to the water for use V using a hypochlorite ion supply source 34, or increases the amount of hypochlorite ions supplied, or supplies ozone to the water for use V using an ozone supply source 35, or increases the amount of ozone supplied.

[0044] For example, the system control unit 8 controls the filtration unit 4 and / or sterilization unit 5 based on the turbidity, SS, and / or COD measured by the measurement unit 7. In particular, the system control unit 8 increases the output of the automatic pump 24 when the turbidity, SS, and / or COD exceed a predetermined threshold.

[0045] For example, the system control unit 8 controls the heating unit 6 based on the temperature measured by the measuring unit 7. In particular, if the temperature falls outside a predetermined range (for example, 40 to 55 degrees), the system control unit 8 heats the application water V with the heater 61, stops heating the application water V, or adjusts the amount of heating.

[0046] The system control unit 8 may evaluate the quality of the water used V based on the parameters measured by the measurement unit 7, and control each part of the circulation system Y based on that evaluation. An estimation model that correlates parameters with quality may be used to evaluate the quality of the water used V. This estimation model may be a conventional estimation model or a trained model obtained through machine learning.

[0047] The circulation system Y includes a user interface 9. The user interface 9 is configured as an input interface and / or an output interface. The user interface 9 receives operations from the user and inputs them to the system control unit 8. The user interface 9 also presents the user with the output from the system control unit 8.

[0048] The system control unit 8 presents information to the user via the user interface 9 based on the parameters measured by the measurement unit 7. For example, the system control unit 8 presents the user with the parameters measured by the measurement unit 7. The system control unit 8 also notifies the user of warnings when, for example, the pH falls below a predetermined threshold, when the pH, hypochlorite concentration and / or ORP fall outside a predetermined range, when the turbidity, SS and / or COD exceed a predetermined threshold, or when the temperature falls outside a predetermined range (e.g., 40-55 degrees Celsius).

[0049] The system control unit 8 uses data communication to present information to the user via the user interface 9. In other words, the user can remotely monitor the parameters measured by the measurement unit 7 and control various parts of the circulation system Y.

[0050] Based on the foregoing, this disclosure provides circulating systems [1] to [7]. The circulating systems [1] to [7] are illustrative to illustrate the technical concept of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0051] The circulation system [1] is a circulation system that provides water for use and also circulates and reuses the water for use, comprising a use section that provides the water for use and a circulation section that circulates and reuses the water for use, wherein the water for use is a buffer solution of bicarbonate ions and carbonate ions.

[0052] The circulation system [2] is the circulation system [1] wherein the water used is a mixture containing sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate.

[0053] The circulation system [3] is a circulation system [1] or [2] wherein the water used does not contain a surfactant.

[0054] The circulation system [4] is one of the circulation systems [1] to [3], and includes an adjustment unit for adjusting the composition of the water for use, wherein at least one of the adjustment units is a carbonate ion source for supplying carbonate ions to the water for use.

[0055] The circulation system [5] is a circulation system [4] comprising a filtration unit for filtering the water to be used, wherein the filtration unit uses the carbonate ion supply source as the filter material.

[0056] The circulation system [6] is one of the circulation systems [1] to [5] and includes a heating unit for heating the water for use, wherein the heating unit heats the water for use to 40 to 55 degrees Celsius.

[0057] The circulation system [7] is one of the circulation systems [4] to [6] and comprises a measuring unit for measuring parameters indicating the quality of the water used, and a system control unit, wherein the system control unit controls the adjustment unit based on the parameters measured by the measuring unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] Y: Circulation system 1: Application section 2: Circulation section 21: Drainage tank 22: Water tank 23: Automatic pump 24: Automatic pump 3: Adjustment section 31: Carbonate ion source 32: Bicarbonate ion source 33: Electrolyzed water supply source 34: Hypochlorite ion supply source 35: Ozone supply source 4:Filtration section 41: Bag filter 42: Bag containing filter media 43:Filtration device 44: Activated carbon filter 5: Sterilization section 51: Sterilizer 6: Heating part 61: Heater 7: Measuring part 8: System Control Unit 9: User Interface V: Application water

Claims

1. A recycling system that uses water for its intended purpose and also recycles and reuses the said water. That is, The system comprises: an application unit for supplying the water for use; a circulation unit for circulating and reusing the water for use; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the composition of the water for use. The aforementioned application unit is a washing unit that supplies the aforementioned application water for washing, The aforementioned water for use is a buffer solution of bicarbonate ions and carbonate ions. At least one of the adjustment units is a carbonate ion source that supplies carbonate ions to the water for use, The carbonate ion source is a solid containing calcium carbonate. A circulating system.

2. A recycling system that uses water for its intended purpose and also recycles and reuses the said water. That is, The system comprises: an application unit for supplying the water for use; a circulation unit for circulating and reusing the water for use; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the composition of the water for use. The aforementioned application section is a bathing section that supplies the aforementioned application water to the bathing area. The aforementioned water for use is a buffer solution of bicarbonate ions and carbonate ions. At least one of the adjustment units is a carbonate ion source that supplies carbonate ions to the water for use, The carbonate ion source is a solid containing calcium carbonate. A circulating system.

3. The aforementioned water for use is a mixture containing sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. The circulation system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned water for use does not contain surfactants. The circulation system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. It includes a filtration unit for filtering the aforementioned water for use, The filtration unit uses the carbonate ion supply source as the filter material. The circulation system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. It is equipped with a heating unit that heats the aforementioned water for use, The heating unit heats the water to be used to 40 to 55 degrees Celsius. The circulation system according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The system includes a measuring unit for measuring parameters indicating the quality of the water used, and a system control unit. 、 The system control unit controls the adjustment unit based on the parameters measured by the measurement unit. To control, The circulation system according to claim 1 or 2.

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