System for collecting, storing, treating and distributing rainwater

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ecologically sustainable system capable of collecting, storing, treating and distributing rainwater, and capable of separating the first millimetre of said water out of the flow line, for application in the field of civil engineering, specifically urban or rural eco-friendly water sanitation. The system comprises an interconnected ecologically sustainable system made up of three sub-systems, namely a treatment sub-system (10), an autonomous photovoltaic sub-system (13) and a pumping sub-system (32), with independent water connections upstream of a storage tank, which is thus capable of separating the first millimetre of rainwater out of the flow line. Said three sub-systems are supplied with power by a photovoltaic module (15) via an eco-friendly electrical conduit (14) and flexible cables (16), and supplied with water by means of eco-friendly ducts and connections. Said system receives rainwater by means of an input channel (1) coupled to a vertical-horizontal water pipe (3) that is connected to a cylindrical tank (31). Said vertical-horizontal water pipe (3), which has an overflow connection (2) on the vertical portion thereof, further has, on the horizontal mid-portion thereof, three connections (4) connected to a down-horizontal pipe (5) that is coupled to an underground tank (6), which communicates via a cold water pipe (7) with an upper tank (8) located adjacent to the aforementioned cylindrical tank (31). Said upper tank (8) further communicates with a horizontal-vertical pipe (9) that is connected to the treatment sub-system (10), the output of which is coupled to a vertical-horizontal outlet pipe (11) that supplies water in accordance with potability standards by means of a consumption point tap (12).

Description

Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System

[0001] The present invention patent refers to a “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System” or, more particularly, to an ecologically sustainable system capable of capturing, storing, treating and distributing rainwater, capable of separating the first millimeter of said water outside the flow line, for application in the civil engineering segment, specifically hydraulic ecological sanitation in urban or rural areas.

[0002] As experts in the field know, conventional rainwater harvesting methods involve channeling water intercepted in the catchment area directly to a reservoir through channels and pipes, without separating it to the first millimeter. This removes, along with the water, all impurities and contaminants from the atmosphere and the catchment area, including micro-pollutants that cannot be removed by conventional treatments. After storage, this water is disinfected, in most cases with chlorine, which imparts a characteristic odor and taste. Furthermore, as is well known in academia, excessive chlorine in the body can lead to thyroid-related problems, in addition to directly affecting the nervous system, liver, and kidneys.

[0003] The State of the Art presents patents that propose to solve problems of water collection, treatment, and distribution. Examples include patent MU8802214-5, which consists of a process for collecting usable water from residential properties, houses, and buildings; commercial properties, factories, and others. These buildings capture water used in showers, sinks and lavatories, tanks, and all types of wastewater runoff, except for sanitary water.This used water is discharged outside the buildings and will continue through a pipeline to the treatment plant, which, after purification to establish the property of potable water, returns through another pipeline to the buildings to be reused as water for general washing, cleaning and toilet flushing; patent PI 0714080-0, which deals with a device, a system and a method for water treatment, in which a water treatment agent is prepared and transferred to an untreated drinking water source in distinct and consecutive control volumes, allowing the untreated water in the untreated water supply to be treated, thus obtaining potable water; patent BR 112017014691-6, which presents a drinking water supply system comprising a receiving module (10) for receiving raw water and a filtration module (20) with filtration cassettes (30), capable of storing water.The filtration module has a filtration cassette containing filtration membranes with a minimum pore size of 15 nm. The filtration cassette is arranged horizontally within the filtration module, and there is an outlet for the expression of filtered drinking water. The filtration module is located below the receiver module. The position of the filtration module relative to the receiver module and the weight of the water stored within the filtration module allow water to be filtered through the filtration cassette using gravity alone to produce drinking water. This system is designed to maximize and utilize the force of gravity, which generates natural pressure, to force water through the filter, without the use of a pump. The filter pores are so small that they filter even the smallest waterborne viruses, such as polio.

[0004] In view of the drawbacks presented, as well as the State of the Art, and with the purpose of overcoming them, the present invention was developed. The objective is a system that has 3 (three) subsystems, namely, a pumping subsystem (32), a treatment subsystem (10), and an autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13), with independent hydraulic interconnections upstream of the storage reservoir. Thus, allowing the separation of the first millimeter of rainfall outside the flow line, upstream of the drinking water, promoting the elimination of floating material and coarse solids, in addition to reducing contamination from the catchment area and the atmosphere. Furthermore, by not using chemicals or ultraviolet radiation to disinfect the water, the proposed system utilizes the concept of treating water in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, through physical barriers, at the time of consumption.This eliminates the possibility of water suffering any type of contamination at the time of consumption, since, after being treated, the water travels through closed pipes to the point of consumption, without coming into contact with contaminating agents.

[0005] Before explaining the invention in detail, it should be understood that the terminology and vocabulary used are intended to describe one embodiment of the invention and should not be construed as limitations. Therefore, figures will be presented to better clarify the invention, where: Fig. 1

[0006] [Fig.1] Front orthogonal view of the system with its main components. Fig.2

[0007] [Fig.2] Left perspective view of the reservoir system. Fig. 3

[0008] [Fig.3] Orthogonal top view of the system. Fig.4

[0009] [Fig.4] Orthogonal lateral view in section AA of the treatment subsystem. Fig. 5

[0010] [Fig.5] Orthogonal side cross-sectional view of the autonomous photovoltaic subsystem. Fig.6

[0011] [Fig.6] Orthogonal side view showing sections of the treatment subsystem, the autonomous photovoltaic subsystem and the pumping subsystem. Fig. 7

[0012] [Fig.7] Orthogonal view of the system illustrating its application in the field.

[0013] In accordance with what is illustrated in the figures listed above, more particularly figures 1 to 7, the present Invention Patent, “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, with hydraulic, photovoltaic, electro-electronic and mechanical components capable of capturing, storing, treating and distributing rainwater in an ecologically sustainable manner.

[0014] The present invention is composed of three subsystems, namely: treatment, autonomous photovoltaic and pumping, which are interrelated in such a way as to comprise a single inventive concept.

[0015] The “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System” comprises an ecologically sustainable system interrelated through three subsystems, namely treatment subsystem (10), autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) and pumping subsystem (32), with independent hydraulic interconnections upstream of a cylindrical reservoir (31), thus capable of separating the first millimeter of rainwater outside the flow line, the three said subsystems are energetically supplied by a photovoltaic module (15) through an eco-conduit (14) and flexible cables (16), as well as hydraulically supplied through ecological ducts and connections, said System receives rainwater through an input channel (1) coupled to a vertical-horizontal hydraulic pipe (3) that connects to a cylindrical reservoir (31), and,furthermore said vertical-horizontal hydraulic pipe (3) has in its vertical portion an overflow connection (2), as well as presenting in its horizontal median strip three connections (4) interconnected to a descending-horizontal pipe (5) which is coupled to a buried reservoir (6), which communicates by means of a cold-water pipe (7) to an upper reservoir (8) located adjacent to said cylindrical reservoir (31), furthermore said upper reservoir (8) communicates to a horizontal-vertical pipe (9) which is interconnected to the treatment subsystem (10) which in its output is coupled to a vertical-horizontal outlet pipe (11) which supplies water within the potability standard by means of a tap at the consumption point (12).,

[0016] The buried reservoir (6) contains the pumping subsystem (32) which is composed of a submerged pump (30), which receives energy from the photovoltaic module (15), allowing the movement of water through the cold water pipe (7) to the upper reservoir (8), and, finally, to the horizontal-vertical pipe (9).

[0017] The autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) is composed of a solar charge controller (21) interconnected to a bipolar circuit breaker A (23) and a bipolar circuit breaker B (24) which connects to the poles of a stationary battery (28), which connects to an inverter (22) and to a surge protection device DPS (25) which is located adjacent to a bipolar general circuit breaker (26) which connects to a contactor (27) that communicates with the socket (29).

[0018] The treatment subsystem (10) has a washable filter (17) that filters rainwater that goes to a pressurizing pump (18) which pumps said fluid to a bacteriological membrane (19) that directs said water to an activated carbon filter (20).

[0019] The operation of the “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System” occurs as follows: after being intercepted in the collection area, these being coverings and roofs, where there is no circulation of people, vehicles or animals, the rainwater is conducted through an input channel (1) and a vertical-horizontal hydraulic pipe (3), which have nominal diameters in the range between 75 mm and 150 mm, with the optimized diameter being 100 mm, to a cylindrical reservoir (31) with a full section and hermetically sealed which is coupled to the upper reservoir (8) in the shape of a chalice with a full section.

[0020] The cylindrical reservoir (31) with full section has the volumetric capacity necessary to separate at least the first millimeter of rain in volume, which is sufficient to retain most of the impurities and atmospheric micro-pollutants that are not removed by conventional water treatment, originating from washing the atmosphere, collection surface and / or accessories such as gutters and ducts. When the cylindrical reservoir (31) for separating the first millimeter reaches its maximum capacity, the water flows into a buried reservoir (6) with a hermetically sealed cylindrical shape with an access cover for installing a submerged pump (30) and a supply control float from the conventional system, resistant to positive pressures when full and negative pressures when empty.Thus, the System presented here has a series of connections (4) in the tube between the input channel (1) and the cylindrical reservoir (31) capable of separating the first millimeter of rainwater, which, based on the principles of water closure and communicating vessels, allows only the best quality water, free of floating materials, to flow into the buried reservoir (6), through a horizontal descending tube (5) made of polyvinyl chloride with a nominal diameter ranging from 75 mm to 150 mm, with the diameter optimized at 100 mm.

[0021] Furthermore, within the buried reservoir (6) there is a pumping subsystem (32) consisting of a submersible pump (30) with an automatic float and a cold water pipe (7), made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which transfer water practically free of impurities to the upper reservoir (8) in the shape of a full cross-section cup. Then, the excess rainwater from each precipitation event is overflowed through an overflow connection (2), which is placed in the vertical-horizontal hydraulic pipe (3), and has its generator above the generator of the connections (4) that pour the water into the buried reservoir (6). The buried reservoir (6) has a water inlet from the conventional system, the inlet of which is controlled by a level float. Thus, the presented system operates in a complementary manner with rainwater during rainy periods or with water from the conventional supply system during dry periods.

[0022] Upon leaving the upper reservoir (8) and before reaching the consumption point tap (12), the water is conducted to a treatment subsystem (10) having, through the horizontal-vertical pipe (9), PVC hydraulic connections used for cold water located upstream of said treatment subsystem (10). The treatment subsystem (10) consists of a hydraulic circuit that conducts the water through a washable filter (17), which is used to retain coarse solids, a pressurizing pump (18) with a flow switch or pressure switch sensor, a bacteriological membrane (19) with an opening between 0.01 microns and 0.02 microns and an activated carbon filter (20). Said treatment subsystem (10) allows for the improvement in the physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics of the water, bringing it within potability standards, without using chemicals for disinfection.The treated water is conveyed to the tap at the point of consumption (12) through a vertical-horizontal PVC outlet pipe (11) used for cold water located downstream of the aforementioned treatment subsystem (10).

[0023] Both the submersible pump (30) coupled to the buried reservoir (6) and the pressurizing pump (18) are powered by an autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) which is powered by a photovoltaic module (15) preferably with a minimum power of 150W for isolated off-grid energy generation. Furthermore, the autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) comprises the following electrical elements: bipolar circuit breaker A (23), preferably 16 A, bipolar circuit breaker B (24) preferably 63 A, bipolar general circuit breaker (26), preferably 6 A, solar charge controller (21), surge protection device DPS (25), contactor (27), stationary battery (28) and inverter (22) which are responsible for transforming the energy generated in direct current to alternating current.The energy generated by this autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) is directed to a socket (29), preferably of 10 A, placed on the outside of said autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) and directed by flexible cables (16) to the pumps that make up the pumping subsystem (32) and the treatment subsystem (10).

[0024] In short, from a perspective of means plus functions, the “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System” comprises photovoltaic, hydraulic, electromechanical and mechanical means so that at least one operator can capture, store, treat and distribute rainwater in a sustainable manner.

[0025] Therefore, from everything that has been described, it is clear that the present invention “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System” falls within the rules governing the Invention Patent, and should fill an important gap in the market, deserving, for what has been exposed, and as a consequence, the respective privilege of being covered by the requested patent.

Claims

“Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, with hydraulic, photovoltaic, electro-electronic and mechanical components capable of capturing, storing, treating and distributing rainwater; characterized by the fact that it comprises an ecologically sustainable System interrelated through three subsystems, namely treatment subsystem (10), autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) and pumping subsystem (32), with independent hydraulic interconnections upstream of a cylindrical reservoir (31), thus capable of separating the first millimeter of rainwater outside the flow line, the three referred subsystems are energetically supplied by a photovoltaic module (15) by means of an eco-conduit (14) and flexible cables (16), as well as hydraulically supplied through ecological ducts and connections,the said System receives rainwater through an input channel (1) coupled to a vertical-horizontal hydraulic pipe (3) that connects to the said cylindrical reservoir (31), and, furthermore, the said vertical-horizontal hydraulic pipe (3) has in its vertical portion an overflow connection (2), as well as presenting in its horizontal median strip three connections (4) interconnected to a descending-horizontal pipe (5) which is coupled to a buried reservoir (6), which communicates through a cold-water pipe (7) to an upper reservoir (8) located adjacent to the said cylindrical reservoir (31), furthermore, the said upper reservoir (8) communicates to a horizontal-vertical pipe (9) which is interconnected to the treatment subsystem (10) which in its output is coupled to a vertical-horizontal outlet pipe (11) which supplies water within the potability standard through a tap at the consumption point (12)., “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1; characterized by the fact that the buried reservoir (6) contains the pumping subsystem (32) inside, which is composed of a submerged pump (30), which receives energy from the photovoltaic module (15), allowing the movement of water through the cold water pipe (7) to the upper reservoir (8), and, finally, to the horizontal-vertical pipe (9). “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1; characterized in that the autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) is composed of a solar charge controller (21) interconnected to a bipolar circuit breaker A (23) and a bipolar circuit breaker B (24) which is connected to the poles of a stationary battery (28), which is connected to an inverter (22) and to a surge protection device DPS (25) which is adjacent to a bipolar general circuit breaker (26) which is connected to a contactor (27) that communicates with the socket (29). “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1; characterized in that the treatment subsystem (10) has a washable filter (17) that filters rainwater that goes to a pressurizing pump (18) which pumps said fluid to a bacteriological membrane (19) that directs said water to an activated carbon filter (20). “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the vertical-horizontal hydraulic pipe (3) has nominal diameters in the range between 75 mm and 150 mm, with the optimized diameter being 100 mm. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the cylindrical reservoir (31) is of full cross-section and hermetically sealed, which is coupled to the upper reservoir (8) in the shape of a chalice with full cross-section. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the buried reservoir (6) has a hermetically sealed cylindrical shape with an access cover for installing a submerged pump (30) and a supply control float coming from the conventional system, resistant to positive pressures when full and negative pressures when empty. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the connections (4) in the tube between the input channel (1) and the cylindrical reservoir (31) are capable of separating the first millimeter of rainwater. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal descending pipe (5) has a nominal diameter in the range between 75 mm and 150 mm, with the optimized diameter being 100 mm. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the overflow connection (2) is placed in the vertical-horizontal hydraulic pipe (3), with its generator above the generator of the connections (4). “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the buried reservoir (6) has a water inlet coming from the conventional system whose inlet is controlled by a level float. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the treatment subsystem (10) has, through the horizontal-vertical pipe (9), PVC hydraulic connections used for cold water located upstream of said treatment subsystem (10). “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the pressurizing pump (18) has a flow switch or pressure switch sensor. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized in that the bacteriological membrane (19) has an opening between 0.01 microns and 0.02 microns. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the treatment subsystem (10) enables improvements in the physical-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of the water, bringing it within potability standards, without using chemical products for disinfection. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the submerged pump (30), coupled to the buried reservoir (6), and the pressurizing pump (18) are powered by an autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) which is powered by a photovoltaic module (15) preferably with a minimum power of 150W for isolated off-grid energy generation. “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) has the following electrical elements: bipolar circuit breaker A (23), preferably 16 A, bipolar circuit breaker B (24) preferably 63 A, bipolar general circuit breaker (26), preferably 6A, solar charge controller (21), surge protection device DPS (25), contactor (27), stationary battery (28) and inverter (22). “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) directs the energy generated by it to a socket (29), preferably of 10 A, placed outside of said autonomous photovoltaic subsystem (13) and directed by flexible cables (16) to the pumps that make up the pumping subsystem (32) and the treatment subsystem (10). “Rainwater Collection, Storage, Treatment and Distribution System”, characterized by the fact that it includes photovoltaic, hydraulic, electromechanical and mechanical means so that at least one operator can capture, store, treat and distribute rainwater in a sustainable manner.

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