Ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current

Abstract

A ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current comprising of a water flow meter, an electric water purifier, a multi-substance filtration set, a water tank and a water pump, discharging electric current through electrodes for activating redox reactions, resulting in suspended sediments in the water that are filtered by the multi-substance filtration set. As regards the ground water quality improvement, a filter press is added for confining the sediments from backwash. As for the waste water quality improvement, a hydrocyclone separator is added for separating heavy sediments before entering the multi-substance filtration set. Afterwards, the filtered water is stored in the water tank before being delivered to the water pump in order to pump and dispense the water for use. This water quality improvement system helps remove odours, colours and minerals that are dissolved in and contaminate water, and kills germs with no need for chemicals, minimising environmental impacts and helping in mounting space saving and construction budget saving when compared with traditional water treatment systems.

Description

[0001] GROUND WATER AND WASTE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM USING THREE-PHASE ALTERNATE CURRENT

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] Engineering relating to ground water and waste water quality improvement systems using three-phase alternate current

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Currently, issues relating to environmental problems are of interest and have become more severe. It has been found that consumption and use of resources more than are necessary are leading to resource depletion. In particular, agricultural areas tend to shrink because they are replaced by urbanised industrial system expansion. Also, problems of garbage and waste water that are overflowing cities are important issues in need of urgent solutions because agriculture, industry and community activities result in various types of waste. Waste water may severely affect the environment if released into natural water sources without proper treatment.

[0006] Encountering increased and continuous problems of waste water in urban communities has brought about impacts so severe that it has caused conflicts in the society. The King’s Royally Initiated Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research and Development Project has, however, suggested a solution to this problem through the treatment of waste water from human activities prior to release into natural water sources. The waste water treatment can be done through several means, depending on proper technology at each level.

[0007] Use of technology and principles favourable to the nature in waste water treatment is a method that corresponds with sustainable development principles. Waste water treatment means are divided into 4 systems, namely lagoon treatment, constructed wetland, grass filtration and mangrove filtration systems, which yield clean and safe water before returning to natural water sources. In particular, the lagoon treatment system requires continuous treatment efficiency check. One of assessment methods is pisciculture, which is not only a water quality indicator but also direct utilisation of waste water. This study has been a model of safe practices for villages and communities.

[0008] Waste water treatment to enable characteristics proper for the release into natural water sources should be a system in the form of aeration tank that is a system based on oxygenation of the water and requires aerator to disperse the water for air mixing to hasten microorganisms to decompose solution; that is, sufficient oxygenation of the water for microorganisms to use in decomposing organic matters in the waste water more quickly than natural decomposition does. This treatment means also shortens time necessary for treatment processes as compared with stabilisation pond treatment system. The waste water treatment system in the form of aeration tank enables entrepreneurs to treat waste water more efficiently than spending time in catalysis, several factors can be controlled, such as microorganism solution addition, aerator mounting adjustment and aerator operation time specification. Accordingly, this system can minimise contaminants in waste water efficiently but not sufficiently for recycling in manufacturing processes that require high raw water purity, a main reason being small amounts of solution contaminants, which need to go through additional process for complete elimination. In addition, certain areas cannot provide large spaces for building treatment ponds in constructed wetland, grass filtration or mangrove filtration systems, which are waste water treatment means that yield clean water prior to release into natural water sources.

[0009] Manufacturing process development in various types of industry currently relies on use of purified water as a key element in merchandise manufacture while water resources are increasingly rare and costly. Utilisation of treated waste water for recycling in purified water-producing processes is, therefore, deemed an option to reduce raw water costs and solve the water depletion problem in the future. In addition, it helps minimise environmental impacts efficiently, using filtration coupled with transformation of solutes in water, such as various types of metals, inorganic matters or organic matters dissolved in water, to stabilised sediments, using electrocoagulation process, which oxidises solutions to yield suspended sediments. This is then used in consumption water purifiers, which can efficiently filter the suspended sediments.

[0010] The electrocoagulation process improves water quality based on electric current in ridding the water of solutions or contaminants, operating by separating water molecules into ions of oxygen, hydrogen and hydroxide; that is, oxidation of the water. This stabilises metal solutions in the water and turn them into suspended sediments that can easily be filtered with no need for chemicals, and can destroy germs and microorganisms in the water.

[0011] The electrocoagulation process using electric power to drive the reaction in the form of alternate current, instead of direct current, as an option to minimise the need for switch mechanisms enables several natural reversals of electrodes per second, helping to minimise dregs accumulation on the electrode surface, but generally is less efficient when compared to use of direct current, hence higher energy costs and a gap for change and improvement of efficiency by use of three-phase alternate current, which increases voltages in discharging to electrodes and helps enable natural electrode polarisation and depolarisation to surpass single -phase alternate current.

[0012] After conducting Thai patent database searches, some prior inventions relating to ground water and waste water quality improvement systems using three-phase alternate current were found with the following details.

[0013] An invention patent with the application number 0601004144, with the invention title ‘Device for facilitating electric flocculation and process of use for waste water treatment” has mentioned use of flocculation and sedimentation using direct current at low voltage of 5-15 volts, comprising electrolyte cells from a plurality of spherical electrodes through which raw and waste water can flow as well as an electrode surface-activating unit for minimising non-reactive areas, that can remove all types of impurities, including suspended substances, small particles, minerals, heavy metals, oil, organic compounds and microorganisms by as much as 99.99 percent by transforming into water sediments and carbon dioxide gas.

[0014] Also, a petty patent with an application number 1803002459, with the invention title ‘Device for waste water treatment using electric power’ has mentioned application of alternate current to electrode- arranged blocks that can be removed and reinstalled to adjust the number of blocks as required for use and that is designed to enable specification of electric volts proper for different waste water qualities; each block is mounted with 1-6 electrodes with selectable mounting space between 3-30 millimetres.

[0015] Also, a petty patent with an application number 2103001578, with the invention title ‘Kit for waste water treatment and water quality improvement using high-voltage electric power with alternate current to separate solutions’ has mentioned a kit for waste water treatment and water quality improvement using high-voltage electric power with alternate current to separate solutions and with mounting of two electrode sets; each of which consists of an anode and a cathode, functioning to discharge high voltage of 380 volts or higher through 3 -phase electric current in order to generate high-voltage electricity. It can be seen that the prior inventions have claims as regards use of electric power for waste water treatment and water quality improvement with designs of electrodes and impurity removal with similar objectives to this invention.

[0016] The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to this invention, however, differs as regards the water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current that consists of a water flow meter, an electric water purifier, a multi-substance filtration set, a water tank and a water pump. In particular, there are use of a ground water pump as well as a ground water hose for delivering ground water into the ground water quality improvement system, use of coarse sediment and large impurity filtration using a filter-type pre-filtration system, and use of three-phase alternate current in discharging electric current through two electrodes for activating redox reactions, resulting in suspended sediments in the water. Afterwards, the water is transported to the multi-substance filtration set that uses activated carbon and sand for allowing single-step filtration of the suspended sediments from the water. In addition, an emergency pipe system for water use is provided that can be both manually and automatically activated for continuous use of water in the event of device maintenance.

[0017] Summary of the Invention

[0018] The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current consists of a water flow meter, an electric water purifier, a multi-substance filtration set, a water tank and a water pump, which is connected with a pre-filtration system for filtering coarse sediments and large impurities before the water is transported to the water flow meter, which adjusts flow rates of the passing water prior to entering the electric water purifier using electricity in discharging electric current through dual-pole electrodes that activates redox reactions, resulting in suspended sediments in the water that is transported to the multi-substance filtration set using activated carbon and sand to allow the single-step filtration of the suspended sediments from the water. Then the filtered water is stored in the water tank before being delivered to the water pump in order to pump and dispense the water for consumption.

[0019] As regards the ground water quality improvement, a press is added to the quality improvement system for releasing sediments from backwash of the multi-substance filtration set, preventing the separated suspended sediments from contaminating the water obtained from the backwash. In addition, there is the emergency pipe system for continuous water use during device maintenance. As for the waste water quality improvement, a hydrocyclone separator is added to the quality improvement system for separating heavy sediments obtained from the electric water purifier prior to transportation to the multi-substance filtration set.

[0020] This invention aims to enhance the operation performance by simplifying the steps in the ground water quality improvement and the waste water treatment. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current further helps in removal of odours, colours and minerals that are dissolved in and contaminate water; kills germs and bacteria in water with no need for chemicals, resulting in minimisation of carbon footprints from transportation of environmentally harmful chemicals; and helps in mounting space saving and construction budget saving when compared with traditional water treatment systems.

[0021] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the ground water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current.

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates one embodiment of the waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current.

[0024] Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment inside an electric current-discharging chamber of the ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current.

[0025] Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of dual-pole electrode fixing for electric current discharge through electrodes inside an electric current-discharging chamber.

[0026] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0027] According to Figure 1, it illustrates one embodiment of the ground water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current, and according to Figure 2, it illustrates one embodiment of the waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current, the ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current consists of a water flow meter (1), an electric water purifier (2), a multi-substance filtration set (3), a water tank (4) and a water pump (5).

[0028] The ground water quality improvement is composed of a ground water pump (6) with a ground water hose for delivering the water into the ground water quality improvement system by connection with electric ground water quality improvement system through a filter-type pre- filtration system (7) to filter coarse sediments and large impurities from the water. Afterwards, the water that has passed through the filter-type pre-filtration system (7) enters the water flow meter (1) for adjusting the passing water flow rates before entering the electric water purifier (2) using the electricity in discharging electric current through dual -pole electrodes, which activate redox reactions yielding suspended sediments in the water and activate hydroxyl group reaction that kills germs in the water. Afterwards, the water is transported to the multi-substance filtration set (3) using activated charcoal and sand for allowing the single-step filtration of colours, odours, residual organic matters and suspended sediments from the water. Part of the water exiting the multisubstance filtration set (3) is further transported to a filter press (8) that deals with sediments exiting the backwash of the multi-substance filtration set (3) in order to prevent the separated suspended sediments from contaminating the water from the backwash. Another part of the water exiting the multi-substance filtration set (3) is transported to the water tank (4), which is used in storing quality-improved water, and pumped and dispensed to the water pump (5) for further use of the water in consumption.

[0029] The ground water pump (6) is connected with the filter-type pre-filtration system (7) for filtering coarse sediments and large impurities from water. However, if a problem arises in the event of sediment occlusion inside the filter-type pre-filtration system (7), an emergency pipe system (9) is provided for water use that is both manually and automatically controlled; afterwards, the water is directly transported into the water tank (4), without bypassing the multi-substance filtration set (3) for continuous water use in the event of maintenance of devices of the electric water purifier (2).

[0030] The emergency pipe system (9) begins operation only when the filter-type pre-filtration system (7) encounters sediment occlusion, which results in increased system pressure that, in turn, makes the system stop the operation of the electric water purifier (2) and the multi-substance filtration set (3) temporarily by the pressure instructing an automatic valve to open the emergency pipe system (9) so that the water pump (5) delivers raw water into the water tank (4) for continuous water use. At the same time, the system alerts through sound or flashes for correction of the filtertype pre-filtration system (7). Afterwards, the system will return to the normal operation mode.

[0031] As for the waste water quality improvement, it is composed of a waste water treatment pump (10) for a suspended sediment sump, which is used for separating heavy sediments from waste water that has passed through a waste water treatment system. The water is then transported into a sand filter tank-type pre-filtration system (11) for filtering coarse sediments and large impurities from the water. Afterwards, the water that has passed through the sand filter tank-type pre-filtration system (11) enters the water flow meter (1) for adjusting the passing water flow rates before entering the electric water purifier (2) using the electricity in discharging electric current through dual-pole electrodes, which activate redox reactions yielding suspended sediments in the water and activate hydroxyl group reaction that kills germs in the water. The water is then transported into the hydrocyclone separator (12) for separating heavy sediments obtained from the electric water purifier (2) before being transported into the multi-substance filtration set (3) using activated charcoal combined with sand to allow the single-step filtration of colours, odours, residual organic matters and suspended sediments from the water. The water exiting the multisubstance filtration set (3) is further transported to the water tank (4), which is used for storing quality-improved water; part of which is pumped and dispensed to the water pump (5) for further use of the water in consumption. Another part of the water exiting the water tank (4) is transported to backwash of the multi-substance filtration set (3) and the sand filter tank-type pre-filtration system (11).

[0032] According to Figure 3, it illustrates one embodiment inside an electric current-discharging chamber of the ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current, and according to Figure 4 showing one embodiment of dual-pole electrode fixing for electric current discharge through electrodes inside an electric current-discharging chamber; the electric water purifier (2) is provided with an inlet water-pipe (14) transporting the water into an electric current-discharging chamber (16), and the water is transported to an outlet water-pipe (15), the material of the inlet water-pipe (14) and the outlet water-pipe (15) being made from insulation plastic.

[0033] In addition, the electric water purifier (2) consists of the electric current-discharging chamber (16) with material made from insulation plastic. The electric current-discharging chamber (16) contains a first electrode set (17), a second electrode set (18), a third electrode set (19) and an electrode-fixing device (20).

[0034] The first electrode set (17), the second electrode set (18) and the third electrode set (19) are made from metal. The three electrode sets support alternate current in the form of dual-pole electrodes being both the anode and the cathode and are allowed to rotate and switch in the front no less than 2 times for adjustment of space caused by wear and tear, and the space among the electrodes is set at a range of 5 to 25 millimetres according to the wear and tear from use. Finally, the electrode-fixing device (20) is made from an insulation material, located at the front area of the electric current-discharging chamber (16) for adjusting the rotation of the space of the first electrode set (17), the second electrode set (18) and the third electrode set (19) that are in the form of dual-pole electrodes for convenience in the electrode space-adjusting rotation. Any modifications according to this invention may be clearly understood and doable by those skilled in the art. These may fall under the scope and intention of this invention as presented in the appended claims.

[0035] Best Mode of the Invention

[0036] As described in the Detailed Description of the Invention section

Claims

Claims1. A ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current, comprising a water flow meter (1), an electric water purifier (2), a multi-substance filtration set (3), a water tank (4) and a water pump (5), wherein it is characterised in that the ground water quality improvement comprising a ground water pump (6) with a ground water hose for delivering the water into the ground water quality improvement system by connection with electric ground water quality improvement system through a filter-type pre-filtration system (7) to filter coarse sediments and large impurities from the water; afterwards, the water that has passed through the filter-type pre-filtration system (7) enters the water flow meter (1) for adjusting the passing water flow rates before entering the electric water purifier (2) using the electricity in discharging electric current through dual-pole electrodes, which activate redox reactions yielding suspended sediments in the water and activate hydroxyl group reaction that kills germs in the water; afterwards, the water is transported to the multisubstance filtration set (3) using activated charcoal and sand for allowing single-step filtration of colours, odours, residual organic matters and suspended sediments from the water; part of the water exiting the multi-substance filtration set (3) is further transported to a filter press (8) that deals with sediments exiting the backwash of the multi-substance filtration set (3) in order to prevent the separated suspended sediments from contaminating the water from the backwash; another part of the water exiting the multi-substance filtration set (3) is transported to the water tank (4), which is used in storing quality-improved water, and pumped and dispensed to the water pump (5) for further use of the water in consumption; as for the waste water quality improvement, it comprising a waste water treatment pump (10) for a suspended sediment sump, which is used for separating heavy sediments from waste water that has passed through a waste water treatment system; the water is then transported into a sand filter tank-type pre-filtration system (11) for filtering coarse sediments and large impurities from the water; afterwards, the water that has passed through the sand filter tank-type pre-filtration system (11) enters the water flow meter (1) for adjusting the passing water flow rates before entering the electric water purifier (2) using the electricity in discharging electric current through dual-pole electrodes, which activate redox reactions yielding suspended sediments in the water and activate hydroxylgroup reaction that kills germs in the water; the water is then transported into a hydrocyclone separator (12) for separating heavy sediments obtained from the electric water purifier (2) before being transported into the multi-substance filtration set (3) using activated charcoal combined with sand to allow single-step filtration of colours, odours, residual organic matters and suspended sediments from the water; the water exiting the multi-substance filtration set (3) is further transported to the water tank (4), which is used for storing quality-improved water; part of which is pumped and dispensed to the water pump (5) for further use of the water in consumption; another part of the water exiting the water tank (4) is transported to backwash of the multi-substance filtration set (3) and the sand filter tank-type pre-filtration system (11).

2. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to claim 1, wherein the ground water pump (6) is connected with the filter-type pre-filtration system (7) for filtering coarse sediments and large impurities from water, however, if a problem arises in the event of sediment occlusion inside the filter-type pre-filtration system (7), an emergency pipe system (9) is provided for water use that is both manually and automatically controlled; afterwards, water is directly transported into the water tank (4), bypassing the multi-substance filtration set (3) for continuous water use in the event of maintenance of devices of the electric water purifier (2).

3. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to claim 2, wherein the emergency pipe system (9) begins operation only when the filter-type pre-filtration system (7) encounters sediment occlusion, which results in increased system pressure that, in turn, makes the system stop the operation of the electric water purifier (2) and the multi-substance filtration set (3) temporarily by the pressure instructing an automatic valve to open the emergency pipe system (9) so that the water pump (5) delivers raw water into the water tank (4) for continuous water use, at the same time, the system alerts through sound or flashes for correction of the filter-type pre- filtration system (7); afterwards, the system will return to the normal operation mode.

4. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to claim 1, wherein the electric water purifier (2) is provided with an inlet water-pipe (14) transporting the water into an electric current-discharging chamber (16), and the water is transported to an outlet water-pipe (15), the material of the inlet water-pipe (14) and the outlet water-pipe (15) being made from insulation plastic.

5. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to any of claims 1 or 3, wherein the electric water purifier (2) comprisingthe electric current-discharging chamber (16) of which material is made from insulation plastic.

6. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to claim 5, wherein the electric current-discharging chamber (16) comprising a first electrode set (17), a second electrode set (18), a third electrode set (19) and an electrode-fixing device (20).

7. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to claim 6, wherein the first electrode set (17), the second electrode set (18) and the third electrode set (19) are made from metal and support alternate current in the form of dual-pole electrodes that are both the anode and the cathode.

8. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to claim 7, wherein the first electrode set (17), the second electrode set (18) and the third electrode set (19) are allowed to rotate and switch in the front no less than 2 times for adjustment of space caused by wear and tear.

9. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to claim 7, wherein space among the first electrode set (17), the second electrode set (18) and the third electrode set (19) is set at a range of 5 to 25 millimetres according to wear and tear from use.

10. The ground water and waste water quality improvement system using three-phase alternate current according to claim 6, wherein the electrode-fixing device (20) is made from an insulation material, located at the front area of the electric current-discharging chamber (16) for adjusting the rotation of space of the first electrode set (17), the second electrode set (18) and the third electrode set (19) that are in the form of dual-pole electrodes

Images