Defoaming system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WOTA CORP
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-06
Smart Images
Figure JP2025037983_06082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Defoaming System
[0001] The present invention relates to a defoaming system.
[0002] Conventionally, as a kind of liquid treatment system for treating liquids, a liquid purification system that purifies sewage using microorganisms is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a circulation type flush toilet having a mechanism for purifying sewage discharged from a flush toilet and circulating it to the flush toilet.
[0003] The circulation type flush toilet of Patent Document 1 includes a biological treatment tank that decomposes organic substances in sewage and performs nitrification and denitrification treatment, a filtration tank that separates solid and liquid from the biologically treated water biologically treated in the biological treatment tank, and a decolorization tank that decolorizes the filtered water separated into solid and liquid in the filtration tank, and is configured to reuse the treated water decolorized in the decolorization tank as the washing water of the flush toilet.
[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-132037
[0005] However, in conventional liquid purification systems including the circulation type flush toilet of Patent Document 1, for example, when a large amount of surfactant is contained in the sewage, foaming is remarkable in processes such as aeration treatment in the biological treatment tank, and bubbles are mixed into the tanks after the biological treatment tank, and the surface of the sensor for monitoring the treatment process is easily soiled with bubbles containing sludge and cannot be accurately sensed, or it may cause deterioration and failure of the sensor, making stable process management and control of water treatment difficult.
[0006] The present invention relates to a defoaming system capable of efficiently removing or eliminating bubbles generated in a liquid to be treated.
[0007] A defoaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid storage tank capable of storing a liquid, a pipe provided such that one end is located inside the liquid storage tank and the other end is located outside the liquid storage tank, and a sensor provided in the liquid storage tank, the sensor being provided above the upper limit water level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank, and the pipe being provided such that the one end is located below the sensor.
[0008] In a foam removal system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the piping may be provided such that one end is located below the sensor and at the same level as or above the upper water level.
[0009] In a foam removal system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid storage tank has a bottom surface, a peripheral wall surface, and a top surface, the sensor is provided on the top surface, and the piping may be provided penetrating the top surface.
[0010] In a defoaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the piping may have at least one hole formed in the peripheral wall of the portion that penetrates the top surface and extends into the liquid storage tank.
[0011] A 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 for generating negative pressure in the liquid storage tank.
[0013] According to the foam removal system of the present invention, it becomes possible to efficiently remove or eliminate foam generated in the liquid to be treated.
[0014] This is a schematic diagram showing the liquid processing system according to this embodiment. This is a diagram showing a part of the defoaming system according to this embodiment. This is a diagram showing the defoaming tank according to this embodiment.
[0015] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as defined in each claim, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. Furthermore, in these embodiments, the scale and dimensions of each component may be exaggerated, and some components may be omitted.
[0016] [Overview of the defoaming system] The defoaming system according to this embodiment includes a liquid storage tank capable of storing liquid (for example, a water treatment tank 20 described later), a pipe (for example, a first pipe 102 described later) provided such that one end is located inside the liquid storage tank and the other end is located outside the liquid storage tank, and a sensor (for example, a second pressure measuring unit P2 described later) provided in the liquid storage tank.
[0017] In the foam removal system according to this embodiment, the sensor (for example, the second pressure measuring unit P2 described later) is located above the upper limit water level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank, and the piping (for example, the first piping 102 described later) is installed such that one end is located below the sensor.
[0018] By having such a configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment allows the liquid and foam inside the liquid storage tank to be appropriately discharged to the outside of the liquid storage tank via piping, thereby maintaining the liquid level inside the liquid storage tank appropriately and suppressing the excessive accumulation of foam on the liquid surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent the space above the liquid surface inside the liquid storage tank (e.g., the top surface) from becoming wet or contaminated by the liquid or solid matter contained in the liquid (e.g., sludge, etc.), so that sensors can be placed in the upper part of the liquid storage tank (e.g., inside or outside the top surface), and sensing accuracy can be ensured. For this reason, it is possible to prevent false detections, especially in sensors that are affected by liquid.
[0019] Furthermore, the defoaming system according to this embodiment further includes a receiving tank (for example, an upstream storage tank 40, described later) that receives liquid supplied from the liquid storage tank (for example, a water treatment tank 20, described later) via piping (for example, a second pipe 104, described later), and a defoaming tank (for example, a defoaming tank 60, described later) that liquefies the foam generated in the receiving tank. The defoaming tank is connected to the receiving tank via piping (for example, a defoaming pipe 32, described later), and the defoaming tank is configured to be in a negative pressure state by a negative pressure generating device (for example, a negative pressure generating device 70, described later), thereby drawing the foam generated in the receiving tank into the defoaming tank via the piping and liquefying it in the defoaming tank.
[0020] The defoaming tank may also be configured to liquefy foam generated in the liquid storage tank (for example, the water treatment tank 20 described later). That is, the defoaming tank may be installed 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 into a negative pressure state by a negative pressure generating device (for example, the negative pressure generating device 70 described later), thereby sucking up foam 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 it inside the defoaming tank.
[0021] By having such a configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment can reliably collect foam that could not be completely removed in the liquid storage tank and foam newly generated in the receiving tank, and liquefy it in a defoaming tank separate from the receiving tank, thereby ensuring the sensing accuracy of sensors installed in the receiving tank and downstream thereof.
[0022] In the following description, we will use a liquid treatment system that generates treated water by applying liquid treatment to raw water as an example of equipment in which the defoaming system according to this embodiment is employed. However, the system is not limited to this, and the defoaming system according to this embodiment can be used in various equipment that uses liquids. In other words, the defoaming principle of the defoaming system according to this embodiment described above is a principle that can be applied to any equipment in which foam may be generated in a tank, and can be applied to, for example, food and beverage-related equipment.
[0023] [Applications of the Liquid Treatment System] The liquid treatment system according to this embodiment is a system that produces treated water by applying liquid treatment to raw water. Examples of liquid treatment performed in the liquid treatment system according to this embodiment include water purification treatment to purify raw water. Specifically, the liquid treatment system according to this embodiment can be used for purposes such as purifying various raw waters such as domestic wastewater, sewage, rainwater, surface water, and groundwater discharged from consumers, and regenerating them into treated water that can be used for domestic purposes such as toilet flushing, bathing, showering, laundry, and dishwashing, or drinking water that is safe to drink.
[0024] The liquid processing system according to this embodiment may be a system incorporated into a building or a mobile vehicle. Examples of buildings include, but are not limited to, houses, villas, mountain cabins, temporary housing, and mobile housing built in mountainous areas where water supply and sewage facilities are not readily available. Examples of mobile vehicles include, but are not limited to, automobiles, trains, ships, aircraft, and trailer homes.
[0025] Furthermore, the liquid processing system according to this embodiment may be a system independent of buildings and mobile structures. For example, the liquid processing system according to this embodiment may be a portable system that can be transported and used in designated locations such as outdoor event venues, construction sites, campgrounds, and disaster shelters.
[0026] [Overall Configuration of the Liquid Treatment System] As shown in Figure 1, the liquid treatment system 1 according to 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 the 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 supplied between these tanks. Specifically, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment includes a water supply pipe 100 for supplying 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 the upstream storage tank 40 and the downstream storage tank 50 of the treated water storage tank 30 (described later), and a water supply pipe 108 for supplying 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 equipped with sensors for measuring the physical properties of the flowing liquid at any point in one or more pipes. Specifically, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment includes 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 location of sensors are not limited to these, and any number of sensors can be installed at any location. In addition, each sensor may be provided in each tank.
[0029] Furthermore, the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment includes a negative pressure generating device 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 performs control of the entire system including the negative pressure generating device 70. The negative pressure generating device 70 is connected to the water treatment tank 20 via a first suction pipe 110 and to the treated water storage tank 30 (defoaming tank 60 in this embodiment) via a second suction pipe 112.
[0030] In this embodiment, the liquid treatment system 1 is configured such 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 are connected to each other via the first pipe 102 and the second pipe 104 to form a sealed space. Specifically, in this embodiment, the liquid treatment system 1 is configured such that the raw water storage tank 10, the water treatment tank 20, and the treated water storage tank 30 are sealed except for their 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 their respective pipes, so that the area from the raw water storage tank 10 to the treated water storage tank 30 is a sealed space. In particular, in this embodiment, the liquid treatment system 1 is configured such that even when a water supply pipe 108 is provided in the treated water storage tank 30, the area from the raw water storage tank 10 to the treated water storage tank 30 can be made a sealed space because the treated water storage tank 30 is equipped with a check valve 56, which will be described later. The specific configurations of each tank and other components for creating such a sealed 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 supplied via the water supply piping 108. In this case, the treated water stored in the treated water storage tank 30 becomes intermediate treated water before further liquid treatment is performed by the post-treatment system. That is, in this specification, "treated water" is not limited to final treated water that has undergone all liquid treatment, but also includes intermediate treated water that is further treated by a post-treatment system located downstream of the treated water storage tank 30.
[0032] As a post-treatment system, for example, a liquid purification system can be employed to further purify the treated water supplied from the treated water storage tank 30. For example, the post-treatment system may include a filter mechanism to reduce the impurity content of the treated water to a desired standard, a decolorization mechanism to decolorize the treated water, and a disinfection mechanism to disinfect the treated water by adding chemicals such as chlorine. As a filter mechanism, for example, a reverse osmosis membrane (RO membrane), an ultrafiltration membrane (UF membrane), and a microfiltration membrane (MF membrane) can be used. As a decolorization mechanism, for example, an ozone generator and an activated carbon filter can be used. However, the configuration of the post-treatment system is not limited to these and can 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 final treated water.
[0033] In the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment, if the raw water storage tank 10 is a pump-type storage tank, the water supply piping 100 may be omitted. Also, in the liquid treatment system 1 according to this embodiment, if the treated water storage tank 30 (downstream storage tank 50) is a pump-type storage tank, the water supply piping 108 and the post-treatment system may be omitted.
[0034] [Configuration of the Raw Water Storage Tank] The raw water storage tank 10 is configured to store raw water for liquid treatment by the liquid treatment system 1, and is, for example, a wastewater adjustment tank for adjusting the amount and flow of incoming wastewater. As shown in Figure 1, the raw water storage tank 10 has an inlet port 12 that can be connected to or through which the water supply pipe 100 can be inserted, and an outlet port 14 that can be connected to or through which the first pipe 102 can be inserted.
[0035] The inlet port 12 and outlet port 14 are airtightly connected to the water supply piping 100 or the first piping 102 to prevent gas and liquid leakage. The raw water storage tank 10 is sealed except for the inlet port 12 and outlet port 14. In other words, the raw water storage tank 10 is a sealed container having an inlet port 12 and an outlet port 14. In this embodiment, the inlet port 12 and outlet port 14 are provided on the lid of the raw water storage tank 10, but are not limited to this 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 capable of measuring 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 equipped with a pressure relief valve (not shown) that allows gas to flow out of the raw water storage tank 10 when the raw water storage tank 10 is under positive pressure, and restricts gas flow from the outside into the raw water storage tank 10 when the raw water storage tank 10 is under negative pressure. The pressure relief valve is configured to open when the raw water storage tank 10 becomes excessively positive pressure during the aeration treatment described later, thereby preventing backflow of raw water from the raw water storage tank 10 to the raw water source.
[0038] A strainer 16 is provided inside the raw water storage tank 10 to remove solid matter such as hair contained in the raw water. In this embodiment, the first pipe 102 enters the raw water storage tank 10 via 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] [Configuration of the water treatment tank] The water treatment tank 20 is configured to store raw water for liquid treatment and to produce treated water by applying liquid treatment to the stored raw water. The water treatment tank 20 has the function of a "liquid storage tank" in the defoaming system described above. In this embodiment, the water treatment tank 20 will be described as a biological treatment tank that purifies raw water using microorganisms, but it is not limited to this.
[0040] The water treatment tank 20 is configured to store a mixed liquid in which microorganisms are mixed with raw water supplied from the raw water storage tank 10. The type of microorganisms contained in the water treatment tank 20 is not particularly limited, as long as they are capable of purifying the raw water. For example, the microorganisms may be aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, or a combination of both. Furthermore, the water treatment tank 20 may be a tank that serves as both an aerobic and an anaerobic area, or it may be multiple tanks that separate aerobic and anaerobic areas.
[0041] As shown in Figure 2, the water treatment tank 20 has a bottom surface portion 20a, a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 20b extending upward from the periphery of the bottom surface portion 20a, and a top surface portion 20c that closes the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 20b. In this embodiment, the top surface portion 20c is a lid portion that can be attached to and detached from the peripheral wall portion 20b, but is not limited to this.
[0042] As shown in Figure 1, the water treatment tank 20 has an inlet port 22 that can be connected to or through which the first pipe 102 can be inserted, and an outlet port 24 that can be connected to or through which the second pipe 104 can be inserted. The water treatment tank 20 also has an exhaust port 26 that can be connected to or through which the first suction pipe 110 can be inserted, and an air supply port 28 that can be connected to or through which the air supply pipe 81 can be inserted.
[0043] The inflow port 22, the outflow port 24, the exhaust port 26, and the air supply port 28 are hermetically connected so that gas and liquid do not leak from the connection parts with the first pipe 102, the second pipe 104, the first suction pipe 110, or the air supply pipe 81. Further, the water treatment tank 20 is sealed except for the inflow port 22, the outflow port 24, the exhaust port 26, and the air supply port 28. That is, the water treatment tank 20 is a sealed container having the inflow port 22, the outflow port 24, the exhaust port 26, and the air supply port 28. In the present embodiment, the inflow port 22, the outflow port 24, the exhaust port 26, and the air supply port 28 are provided in the lid portion of the water treatment tank 20, but are not limited thereto, and may be provided at any location of the water treatment tank 20.
[0044] In the present embodiment, one end portion 102a of the first pipe 102 is located inside the water treatment tank 20, and the other end portion 102b is located outside the water treatment tank 20, specifically, inside the raw water storage tank 10 (the first tank). The inflow port 22 and the first pipe 102 are preferably located at the center of the top surface portion 20c. However, it is not limited thereto, and the inflow port 22 and the first pipe 102 may be provided at a location other than the center of the top surface portion 20c.
[0045] Further, the water treatment tank 20 includes a second pressure measurement unit P2 capable of measuring the pressure (internal pressure) inside the water treatment tank 20. The second pressure measurement unit P2 can employ, for example, a pressure sensor. The second pressure measurement unit P2 has a function as a "sensor" in the defoaming system described above. 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 above the one end portion 102a of the first pipe 102. In the present embodiment, the second pressure measurement unit P2 is provided in the top surface portion 20c (lid portion) of the water treatment tank 20.
[0046] The first pipe 102 is provided to penetrate the top surface portion 20c (lid portion) of the water treatment tank 20 such that one end portion 102a is located below the second pressure measurement unit P2. Specifically, the first pipe 102 is provided such that one end portion 102a is below the second pressure measurement unit P2 and is at or above the upper limit water level of the liquid stored in the water treatment tank 20.
[0047] Further, as shown in FIG. 2, at least one hole 103 is formed in the peripheral wall of the portion where the first pipe 102 penetrates the top surface portion 20c (lid portion) of the water treatment tank 20 and extends into the water treatment tank 20. In the present embodiment, a plurality (for example, 18) of holes 103 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 such a configuration, the first pipe 102 can collect the liquid and bubbles in the water treatment tank 20 not only from the one end portion 102a but also from the one or more holes 103.
[0048] Further, the water treatment tank 20 includes an aeration mechanism for aerating by supplying gas to the mixed liquid in the water treatment tank 20, and a filter 86 for preventing the outflow of microorganisms from 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 generation unit 84 provided below the inner cylinder 83, and an upper swirling flow generation 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. Further, the gas supply unit 80 may have a switch for starting or stopping the supply of gas and may be configured to be able to manually start or stop the supply of gas.
[0051] The gas release section 82 is configured to generate an upward flow containing bubbles inside the inner cylinder 83 by releasing gas into the inner cylinder 83. The inner cylinder 83 is formed in a cylindrical shape with its upper and lower ends open. The upward flow generated inside the inner cylinder 83 forms a circulation channel in which the gas flows out from the upper end of the inner cylinder 83 to the outside, descends along the outside of the inner cylinder 83, and flows back into the inner cylinder 83 from the lower end. The gas release section 82 may also be configured to release gas to the outside of the inner cylinder 83. In this case, an upward flow containing bubbles will be generated on the outside of the inner cylinder 83, and a downward flow containing bubbles will be generated inside the inner cylinder 83.
[0052] The lower swirling flow generation unit 84 and the upper swirling flow generation unit 85 are configured to convert the upward flow and downward flow in the circulation channel within the water treatment tank 20 into swirling flows, respectively. Specifically, the lower swirling flow generation unit 84 is configured to convert the upward flow generated inside the inner cylinder 83 into a swirling flow when an upward flow is generated inside the inner cylinder 83, and to convert the upward flow generated outside the inner cylinder 83 into a swirling flow when a downward flow is generated inside the inner cylinder 83. Similarly, the upper swirling flow generation unit 85 is configured to convert 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 to convert the downward flow generated inside the inner cylinder 83 into a swirling flow when an upward flow is generated outside the inner cylinder 83.
[0053] Specifically, the lower swirling flow generation unit 84 and the upper swirling flow generation unit 85 each have a plurality (for example, seven) of 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 curved shape in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder 83. That is, the blades are arc-shaped wall portions erected in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 83, and a plurality of them are provided radially around the axis of the inner cylinder 83. The blades are fixed in the water treatment tank 20 so as not to rotate. The blades of the lower swirling flow generation unit 84 and the blades of the upper swirling flow generation unit 85 may or may not have the same curvature direction.
[0054] With this configuration, the lower swirling flow generation unit 84 and the upper swirling flow generation unit 85 can generate a spiral swirling flow simply by allowing the mixed liquid, in which microorganisms are mixed with raw water, to flow between the respective blades. By generating a spiral swirling flow in this way, the circulation path of the mixed liquid (the contact distance between the liquid and bubbles) is lengthened, and because the blades have a curved shape, the number of rotations due to the spiral increases, further lengthening the circulation path of the mixed liquid. This promotes agitation of the mixed liquid and improves the efficiency of microorganism treatment. Furthermore, since the swirling flow can be generated without rotating the blades, it is possible to reduce the cost of introducing the motor, the power cost of the blades, and the cost of replacing parts. In addition, even if foreign matter (solid matter) such as hair is mixed in with the raw water, the blades can break up and subdivide the foreign matter, further improving the efficiency of microorganism treatment. Moreover, the filter 86 can also be cleaned by the swirling flow.
[0055] The filter 86 is located 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, allowing only the treated water to be recovered. As the filter 86, for example, a water treatment membrane that inhibits the penetration of insoluble substances such as fine particles of 0.1 μm to 1 μm or microorganisms can be used, and in particular, a microfiltration membrane (MF membrane) can be used, but is not limited to this.
[0056] [Configuration of the treated water storage tank] The treated water storage tank 30 includes an upstream storage tank 40 that receives treated water supplied 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 foam generated in the upstream storage tank 40.
[0057] The downstream storage tank 50 is located 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 located 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 has a narrow section 107 where the flow path cross-sectional area is locally reduced, and the defoaming tank 60 is connected to the narrow section 107 of the third pipe 106 by a return pipe 34. The treated water storage tank 30, with this piping structure, is capable of allowing treated water to flow from the upstream storage tank 40 to the downstream storage tank 50 by gravity, and also allows treated water in the defoaming tank 60 to be drawn in by the Venturi effect generated in the narrow section 107 of the third pipe 106. Therefore, it is configured to discharge the treated water from the upstream storage tank 40 and the defoaming tank 60 to 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 or through which the second pipe 104 can be inserted, an outlet port 44 that can be connected to or through which the third pipe 106 can be inserted, and a foam discharge port 46 that can be connected to or through which the defoaming pipe 32 can be inserted.
[0059] The inlet port 42, outlet port 44, and foam discharge port 46 are airtightly connected to the second pipe 104, third pipe 106, or defoaming pipe 32 to prevent gas and liquid leakage. The upstream storage tank 40 is sealed except for the inlet port 42, outlet port 44, and foam discharge port 46. In other words, the upstream storage tank 40 is a sealed container having an inlet port 42, an outlet port 44, and a foam discharge port 46. In this embodiment, the inlet port 42 and foam discharge port 46 are provided on the lid of the upstream storage tank 40, and the outlet port 44 is provided on the bottom of the upstream storage tank 40, but it is not limited to this and may be provided at any location on the upstream storage tank 40.
[0060] The upstream storage tank 40 is equipped with a third pressure measuring unit P3 capable of measuring the pressure (internal pressure) inside the upstream storage tank 40. The third pressure measuring unit P3 can be, for example, a pressure sensor. The third pressure measuring 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 it may be provided on the defoaming pipe 32.
[0061] Furthermore, the upstream storage tank 40 is equipped with a float 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 level. In addition, the upstream storage tank 40 is equipped with a liquid purification mechanism 48 that further purifies the treated water stored in the upstream storage tank 40. As the liquid purification mechanism 48, for example, an ozone generator that generates ozone gas to disinfect and decolorize the treated water can be used. Furthermore, as the method of generating ozone gas by the ozone generator, for example, an electrical discharge method (silent discharge method), an electrolysis method (water electrolysis cell method), an ultraviolet method (mercury UV lamp method / mercury-free UV lamp (excimer lamp) method), etc. can be used. However, it is not limited to these, and various arbitrary liquid purification mechanisms can be used, and the upstream storage tank 40 does not have to be equipped with a liquid purification mechanism 48.
[0062] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the defoaming tank 60 has an inlet port 62 that can be connected to or through which the defoaming pipe 32 can be inserted, and an outlet port 64 that can be connected to or through which the recirculation pipe 34 can be inserted. The defoaming tank 60 also has an exhaust port 66 that can be connected to or through which the second suction pipe 112 can be inserted.
[0063] The inlet port 62, outlet port 64, and exhaust port 66 are airtightly connected to the defoaming pipe 32, the recirculation pipe 34, or the second suction pipe 112 to prevent gas and liquid leakage. The defoaming tank 60 is sealed except for the inlet port 62, the outlet port 64, and the exhaust port 66. In other words, the defoaming tank 60 is a sealed container having an inlet port 62, an outlet port 64, and an 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 on the lid of the defoaming tank 60, but it is not limited to this and may be provided at any location on the defoaming tank 60.
[0064] As shown in Figure 2, the defoaming tank 60 has a cylindrical partition wall 68 extending downward from its top surface. The defoaming pipe 32 is positioned such that its upper end 32a is located radially inward of the partition wall 68. In other words, the partition wall 68 is formed to surround the upper end 32a of the defoaming pipe 32. The exhaust port 66 of the defoaming tank 60 is located radially outward of the partition wall 68, and the outflow port 64 of the defoaming tank 60 is located below the upper end 32a of the defoaming pipe 32.
[0065] With this configuration, as shown in Figure 2, the defoaming tank 60 is configured such that the inside of the defoaming tank 60 is kept under negative pressure by the negative pressure generator 70, thereby drawing up foam generated in the upstream storage tank 40 into the defoaming tank 60 via the defoaming pipe 32, liquefying the foam inside the defoaming tank 60, and then discharging the liquefied treated water to the downstream storage tank 50 via the return pipe 34 and the third pipe 106. Furthermore, the defoaming tank 60 is configured to prevent foam introduced into the defoaming tank 60 from being discharged from the exhaust port 66 by separating the exhaust port 66 and the upper end 32a of the defoaming pipe 32 with a partition wall 68.
[0066] The downstream storage tank 50 has an inlet port 52 that can be connected to or through which the third pipe 106 can be inserted, and an outlet port 54 that can be connected to or through which the water supply pipe 108 can be inserted.
[0067] The inlet port 52 and outlet port 54 are airtightly connected to the third pipe 106 or the water supply pipe 108 to prevent gas and liquid leakage. The downstream storage tank 50 is sealed except for the inlet port 52 and outlet port 54. In other words, the downstream storage tank 50 is a sealed container having an inlet port 52 and an outlet port 54. In this embodiment, the inlet port 52 is provided on the lid of the downstream storage tank 50, and the outlet port 54 is provided on the peripheral wall near the bottom of the downstream storage tank 50, but it is not limited to this and may be provided at any location on the downstream storage tank 50.
[0068] Furthermore, the downstream storage tank 50 is equipped with a check valve 56 that allows fluid to flow from the third pipe 106 towards the interior of the downstream storage tank 50 and restricts fluid flow from the interior of the downstream storage tank 50 towards 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 subjected to negative pressure 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 in the upstream storage tank 40 is released.
[0069] [Configuration of the negative pressure generating device] As shown in Figure 1, the negative pressure generating device 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 atmospheric port 78 that opens the first suction pipe 110 and the second suction pipe 112 to the atmosphere. For example, a solenoid valve can be used as the switching valve 74, but it is not limited to this.
[0071] The switching valve 74 is configured to be switchable by the control unit to at least two valve states: a first valve state in which the suction blower 72 and the water treatment tank 20 are in communication and the suction blower 72 and the treated water storage tank 30 are not in communication; and a second valve state in which the suction blower 72 and the water treatment tank 20 are not in communication and the suction blower 72 and the treated water storage tank 30 are in communication. Furthermore, the switching valve 74 is configured to be further switchable by the control unit to a third valve state in which the water treatment tank 20 and the treated water storage tank 30 are opened to the atmosphere.
[0072] In this embodiment, the negative pressure generating device 70 has been described as being equipped with a switching valve 74, but it is not limited to this. For example, if suction blowers 72 are provided for the water treatment tank 20 and the treated water storage tank 30, respectively, it is not necessary to use a switching valve 74. Furthermore, various valves such as check valves can be used instead of a 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 measure the physical properties of a flowing liquid. The liquid processing system 1 also includes a storage unit (not shown) that stores the information measured by each sensor, and is configured to update the 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 can, for example, be electrical conductivity measuring sensors (EC sensors) 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 of the same type or of different types.
[0075] 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, but may be sensors that sense at least one of the following elements: (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 from microbial sensors, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand (5) Cyanide, mercury, oil content, surfactants (6) Detection results from optical sensors, detection results from TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) sensors (7) Mass spectrometry results, particulate matter, zeta potential, surface potential (8) Sound
[0076] [Control Unit 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 processing program. The control by the control unit may be performed by time control, or it may be performed based on the measurement results of various sensors, such as water level sensors, installed in each tank and piping.
[0078] Specifically, the control unit is configured to perform raw water transfer control for transferring raw water from the raw water storage tank 10 to the water treatment tank 20, aeration control for performing aeration treatment in the water treatment tank 20, and treated water transfer control for transferring treated water from the water treatment tank 20 to the treated water storage tank 30.
[0079] In raw water transfer control, the control unit sets the switching valve 74 to the first valve state and creates a negative pressure state inside the water treatment tank 20 using the negative pressure generator 70, thereby lowering the internal pressure of the water treatment tank 20 to a lower pressure than the internal pressure of the raw water storage tank 10. This 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 pipe 102. Furthermore, as 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 pipe 100. In this raw water transfer control, 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.
[0080] Furthermore, in aeration control, the control unit stops the suction by the suction blower 72 and activates the gas supply unit 80 of the aeration mechanism to supply gas into the water treatment tank 20, thereby performing aeration treatment. Although bubbles may be generated in the water treatment tank 20 due to this aeration treatment, the pressure inside the water treatment tank 20 is slightly higher than atmospheric pressure due to the supply of gas into the water treatment tank 20, so the bubbles inside the water treatment tank 20 are discharged to the outside of the water treatment tank 20 (specifically into the raw water storage tank 10) via the first pipe 102. In other words, the first pipe 102 not only has the function of transferring raw water from the raw water storage tank 10 to the water treatment tank 20, but also functions as a release pipe that discharges bubbles and the like from the water treatment tank 20 to the raw water storage tank 10. In addition, the first pipe 102 also serves to adjust the water level in the water treatment tank 20, thereby preventing the water level in the water treatment tank 20 from exceeding a threshold, and making it easier for the generated bubbles to flow out of the water treatment tank 20 from the first pipe 102 on the gas flow caused by aeration.
[0081] During aeration, the control unit monitors the movement of foam from the water treatment tank 20 toward the raw water storage tank 10 and the physical properties of the foam flowing through the pipes (whether it is foam or not, etc.) based on the changes in pressure inside the tank measured by pressure sensors (first pressure measuring unit P1 and second pressure measuring unit P2) and the electrical conductivity of foam flowing through each pipe measured by electrical conductivity measuring 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 state inside the defoaming tank 60 and the upstream storage tank 40 using the negative pressure generator 70. This lowers the internal pressure of the upstream storage tank 40 to that of the water treatment tank 20. This pressure difference between the upstream storage tank 40 and the water treatment tank 20 causes the treated water in the water treatment tank 20 to be transferred to the upstream storage tank 40 via the second pipe 104. At this time, the pressure inside the third pipe 106 is low, and the check valve 56 of the downstream storage tank 50 is closed. As a result, the treated water does not flow into the downstream storage tank 50 but is gradually stored in the upstream storage tank 40. Furthermore, as the treated water from the water treatment tank 20 is transferred to the upstream storage tank 40, a negative pressure state is created inside the water treatment tank 20. Due to the internal pressure difference between the tanks, the raw water in the raw water storage tank 10 is transferred to the water treatment tank 20 via the first pipe 102. In conjunction with this, a negative pressure state is created inside the raw water storage tank 10, 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, 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] Furthermore, the control unit is configured to perform a purification process in which the treated water is further purified by the liquid purification mechanism 48 after the treated water has been stored in the upstream storage tank 40 to full capacity. In the event that foam is generated in the upstream storage tank 40 or foam is present in the treated water transferred from the water treatment tank 20 as a result of this purification process, the foam in the upstream storage tank 40 is drawn up into the defoaming tank 60 via the defoaming pipe 32 and liquefied in the defoaming tank 60.
[0084] Furthermore, the control unit is configured to perform drainage control to transfer 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, thereby creating atmospheric pressure inside the defoaming tank 60 and the upstream storage tank 40, and transferring the treated water in the upstream storage tank 40 to the downstream storage tank 50 via the third pipe 106 by its own weight. At this time, the treated water in the defoaming tank 60 is also transferred to the downstream storage tank 50 due to the Venturi effect that occurs in the narrow section 107 of the third pipe 106. Subsequently, the control unit sends the treated water from the downstream storage tank 50 to the treated water supply destination, such as a consumer, via the water supply pipe 108 or a post-treatment system, as needed.
[0085] [Advantages of the defoaming system according to this embodiment] The defoaming system according to this embodiment comprises a water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) capable of storing liquid, a first pipe 102 (pipe) provided such 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 measuring unit P2 (sensor) provided in the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank), wherein the second pressure measuring unit P2 (sensor) is provided above the upper limit water level of the liquid stored in the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank), and the first pipe 102 (pipe) is provided such that one end 102a is located below the second pressure measuring unit P2 (sensor).
[0086] By having such a configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment has the advantage that, as described above, the liquid and foam inside the water treatment tank 20 are appropriately discharged to the outside of the water treatment tank 20 via the first pipe 102, the water level inside the water treatment tank 20 is appropriately maintained, and excessive foam accumulation on the liquid surface is suppressed, thereby preventing the second pressure measuring unit P2 from getting wet or dirty and ensuring sensing accuracy.
[0087] Furthermore, in the defoaming system according to this embodiment, the first pipe 102 (pipe) is installed such that one end 102a is located below the second pressure measuring 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). With this configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment can defoam more effectively because one end 102a of the first pipe 102 is not completely submerged in the liquid in the water treatment tank 20.
[0088] Furthermore, the defoaming system according to this embodiment has a water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) having a bottom portion 20a, a peripheral wall portion 20b, and a top portion 20c, a second pressure measuring unit P2 (sensor) provided on the top portion 20c, and a first pipe 102 (piping) provided penetrating the top portion 20c. By having such a configuration, the defoaming system according to this embodiment can avoid contamination of the sensor by 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 pipe 102 (pipe) 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 foam to the outside of the water treatment tank 20 before the foam reaches near the top surface 20c, thereby enabling more efficient foam removal.
[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 aeration treatment on the water treatment tank 20, and even if foam is generated due to the aeration treatment, it is possible to discharge the foam 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 pipe 102 by utilizing the pressure from the gas supply into the water treatment tank 20.
[0091] Furthermore, 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 (piping), and a negative pressure generating device 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 generating device 70. In other words, with a defoaming system having such a configuration, the first pipe 102 can have 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 foam etc. 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] [Modifications] The defoaming system according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical concept of the present invention.
[0093] In the embodiments described above, the defoaming system was explained as being used in a liquid treatment system 1 comprising a raw water storage tank 10, a water treatment tank 20, and a treated water storage tank 30. However, the purpose and number of each tank are not limited to these, and any configuration having at least one tank capable of storing liquid is acceptable.
[0094] In the above-described embodiment, the second pressure measuring unit P2 (pressure sensor) was used as an example of a sensor provided in the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank), but the invention is not limited to this, and various sensors, such as a water level sensor, can be used.
[0095] In the embodiments described above, the gas supply unit 80 that supplies gas to the water treatment tank 20 (liquid storage tank) was described as being configured for aeration treatment, but it is not limited to this. Furthermore, the defoaming system may be configured without a gas supply unit.
[0096] In the embodiment described above, the negative pressure generator 70 was described as being connected to the water treatment tank 20 via the first suction pipe 110 and to the treated water storage tank 30 (defoaming tank 60) via the second suction pipe 112. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration, and the first suction pipe 110 may not be provided, and the system may be connected only to the treated water storage tank 30 (defoaming tank 60) via the second suction pipe 112. Furthermore, the defoaming system may not include the negative pressure generator 70.
[0097] In the embodiments described above, the defoaming tank 60 was described as being provided on the second suction pipe 112, but it is not limited to this. 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 it may not be provided on the second suction pipe 112 but only on the first suction pipe 110, or it may not be provided on either the first suction pipe 110 or the second suction pipe 112. In the case where 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 piping 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. Furthermore, the return piping 34 of the defoaming tank 60 located on the first suction piping 110 may be provided with a check valve to allow fluid flow in the direction of discharge from the defoaming tank 60 and prevent fluid flow in the direction toward the defoaming tank 60 (i.e., backflow).
[0098] In the embodiments described above, the inflow port 22 and the first pipe 102 were described as being located at the center of the top surface 20c, but the invention is not limited to this, and they may be located at positions other than the center of the top surface 20c.
[0099] It is clear from the claims that the above-described modifications are included within the scope of the present invention.
[0100] 1: Liquid treatment system 10: Raw water storage tank 12: Inlet port 14: Outlet port 16: Strainer 20: Water treatment tank 20a: Bottom section 20b: Peripheral wall section 20c: Top section 22: Inlet port 24: Outlet port 26: Exhaust port 28: Air supply port 30: Treated water storage tank 32: Defoaming piping 32a: Upper end section 34: Recirculation piping 40: Upstream storage tank 42: Inlet port 44: Outlet port 46: Foaming port 47: Floater valve 48: Liquid purification mechanism 50: Downstream storage tank 52: Inlet port 54: Outlet port 56: Check valve 60: Defoaming tank 62: Inlet port 64: Outlet port 66 : Exhaust port 68 : Partition wall 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 supply pipe 82 : Gas opening section 83 : Inner cylinder 84 : Lower swirling flow generation section 85 : Upper swirling 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 section 108 : Water supply piping 110 : First suction piping 112 : Second suction piping P1 : First pressure measuring section P2 : Second pressure measuring unit P3 : Third pressure measuring unit S1 : First raw water sensor S2 : Second raw water sensor S3 : First treated water sensor S4 : Second treated water sensor
Claims
1. A defoaming system comprising: a liquid storage tank capable of storing liquid; piping provided such that one end is located inside the liquid storage tank and the other end is located outside the liquid storage tank; and a sensor provided in the liquid storage tank, wherein the liquid storage tank has a bottom surface, a peripheral wall surface and a top surface; the sensor is provided in the top surface; the piping is provided penetrating the top surface, and holes are formed in the peripheral wall of the portion of the piping that penetrates the top surface and extends vertically into the liquid storage tank, and a plurality of holes are formed along at least one of the extending direction and the circumferential direction of the piping.
2. The defoaming system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of holes are formed along the extending direction of the piping.
3. The defoaming system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the piping is provided such that 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.
4. The defoaming system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a gas supply unit for supplying gas to the liquid storage tank.
5. The defoaming system according to claim 4, further comprising a first tank connected to the liquid storage tank via the piping, and a negative pressure generating device for generating negative pressure in the liquid storage tank.