Smart water treatment system and method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/KR2025/002544
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-27
Smart Images

Figure KR2025002544_27082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Smart water treatment system and method
[0001] The present invention relates to a smart water treatment technology for treating fluids containing pollutants discharged from facilities.
[0002] The following description merely provides background information related to the present embodiment and does not constitute prior art.
[0003] Generally, a conventional water treatment system for a facility consists of a wastewater storage tank for storing wastewater generated from a facility, such as a factory; a sedimentation tank for settling wastewater supplied from the wastewater storage tank to remove settled sludge contained in the wastewater; a flotation tank for adding a coagulant to the wastewater supplied through the sedimentation tank to coagulate waste oil contained in the wastewater and cause it to float to the surface, and for removing such floating sludge; and a treatment tank (treated wastewater tank) for temporarily storing treated wastewater supplied from the flotation tank and discharging the stored treated water.
[0004] Recently, due to the issue of water pollution, the introduction of water treatment systems to purify and discharge wastewater has become essential for each facility; however, for small and medium-sized facilities, applying conventional water treatment systems is financially burdensome.
[0005] The present invention provides a smart water treatment system and method capable of removing contaminants from a contaminated fluid and discharging it as a reusable fluid by sequentially performing a plasma oxidation process, an electro-coagulation process, a sedimentation and dewatering process, a ceramic filter process, and an activated carbon filter process.
[0006] The purpose of the present invention is not limited to the purposes mentioned above, and other unmentioned purposes will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.
[0007] As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned technical problem, a smart water treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which each of a plurality of structures is modularized and sequentially connected, and discharges a purified fluid by removing contaminants from the fluid, wherein the plurality of structures comprises: a fluid storage structure having a storage tank for storing the incoming fluid, positioned at a location where the fluid is initially introduced; a first water treatment structure for removing harmful bacteria through a plasma oxidation process for the fluid introduced from the fluid storage structure; a second water treatment structure for performing water treatment by an electrocoagulation method for the fluid introduced from the first water treatment structure; a third water treatment structure for removing contaminants from the fluid introduced from the second water treatment structure using a ceramic membrane filter; a fourth water treatment structure for removing solid matter by applying a sedimentation and dewatering method to the fluid introduced from the third water treatment structure; and a fifth water treatment structure for discharging a purified fluid by applying an activated carbon filter to the fluid introduced from the fourth water treatment structure. It is possible.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of structures is provided with an outlet and an inlet, and may include at least one valve module, a pump module, a flow meter, and a water quality sensor.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of structures can be connected through a fitting connection between the outlet of a previously installed structure and the inlet section of a next-installed structure.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the smart water treatment system may include a device in which software is stored in an executable form that performs state management and control of the fluid storage structure and the first to fifth water treatment structures by automatically recognizing the process of the smart water treatment system using the main identifier and the sub identifier, and by transmitting and receiving process-related information and control information using the main identifier and the sub identifier.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device may be a computing device equipped with software, which is connected to a fluid storage structure and a first to fifth water treatment structure via wired or wireless connection.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the computing device can transmit data including the process progress status and control status of each structure constituting the smart water treatment system to the fluid storage structure based on the process-related information and display it through the display unit.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device may be connected to the first to fifth water treatment structures via wired or wireless connection and may be the main controller of the fluid storage structure equipped with the software.
[0014] As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned technical problem, a smart water treatment method according to an embodiment of the present invention, which treats contaminants in an incoming fluid, may include the steps of: storing the fluid containing contaminants as it flows into a fluid storage structure; removing harmful bacteria through a plasma oxidation process on the fluid discharged from the fluid storage structure and flowing into a first water treatment structure; performing water treatment by an electrocoagulation method on the fluid discharged from the first water treatment structure and flowing into a second water treatment structure; removing contaminants using a ceramic membrane filter on the fluid discharged from the second water treatment structure and flowing into a third water treatment structure; removing solid matter by applying a sedimentation and dewatering method to the fluid discharged from the third water treatment structure and flowing into a fourth water treatment structure; and generating and discharging purified fluid by applying an activated carbon filter to the fluid discharged from the fourth water treatment structure and flowing into a fifth water treatment structure.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a main identifier is set for the fluid storage structure and different sub-identifiers are set for the first to fifth water treatment structures, and the smart water treatment method may further include the step of automatically recognizing a process of a smart water treatment system using the main identifier and sub-identifiers, and the step of performing state management and control of the fluid storage structure and the first to fifth water treatment structures through the transmission and reception of process-related information and control information using the main identifier and sub-identifiers.
[0016] According to the embodiments of the present invention described above, by sequentially performing a plasma oxidation process, an electro-coagulation process, a sedimentation and dewatering process, a ceramic filter process, and an activated carbon filter process to remove contaminants from a contaminated fluid and discharge it as a reusable fluid, it is possible to implement an optimized smart water treatment system.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a smart water treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining the connection relationship between structures according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the detailed configuration of a fluid storage structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating the detailed configuration of a water treatment structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a smart water treatment process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following detailed description is provided to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the methods, devices, and / or systems described herein. However, this is merely illustrative and the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0023] In describing the embodiments of the present invention, detailed descriptions of known technologies related to the present invention are omitted if it is determined that such detailed descriptions may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined in consideration of their functions within the present invention, and these may vary depending on the intentions or practices of the user or operator. Therefore, such definitions should be based on the content throughout this specification. Terms used in the detailed description are intended merely to describe the embodiments of the present invention and should not be limiting in any way. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, expressions in the singular form include the meaning of the plural form. In this description, expressions such as “include” or “compose” are intended to refer to certain characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, elements, parts thereof, or combinations thereof, and should not be interpreted to exclude the existence or possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, elements, parts thereof, or combinations thereof other than those described.
[0024] Hereinafter, a smart water treatment system and method through modularization according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating the overall configuration of a smart water treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating the connection relationship between structures according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the detailed configuration of a fluid storage structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating the detailed configuration of a water treatment structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the smart water treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention is designed to remove contaminants from an incoming fluid to provide reusable water, i.e., purified fluid. To this end, a plurality of process treatment structures (10 to 15) each have a structure in which they are modularized and sequentially connected, and can produce purified fluid by removing contaminants from the fluid.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of process treatment structures (10 to 15) may include a fluid storage structure (10) having a storage tank (102) in which the incoming fluid is stored and which is positioned at the location where the fluid is first introduced, and five water treatment structures (11 to 15) connected in series to each other to remove contaminants from the incoming fluid through different water treatment methods to produce purified fluid.
[0028] The fluid storage structure (10) may be equipped with a storage tank (102) into which a fluid requiring water treatment is introduced and stored. That is, the fluid storage structure (100) can store fluid according to the capacity of the storage tank (102) as fluid is introduced, and then, when a certain capacity or more is stored, pump the fluid stored in the storage tank (102) through the control of the pump module (140) and the valve module (130) and supply it to the connected water treatment structure (11).
[0029] Additionally, the fluid storage structure (100) can provide a water quality measurement value to the main controller (190) that senses the initial fluid quality state of the fluid initially introduced, i.e., the fluid stored in the storage tank (102), through the water quality sensor (160), or transmit it to the computing device (200) through the communication module (170).
[0030] Additionally, the fluid storage structure (100) may further be equipped with a communication module (170) for communication with a computing device (200) and a display unit (180) for displaying various information.
[0031] Such a fluid storage structure (100) may be equipped with an inlet (110), an outlet (120), a valve module (130), a pump module (140), a power module (150) installed on piping connected to the inlet (110) and the outlet (120), and a main controller (190) that performs overall control.
[0032] Each of the five water treatment structures (11 to 15) may include an inlet (110), an outlet (120), a valve module (130) installed on a pipe connected to the inlet (110) and the outlet (120), a pump module (140), a process treatment unit (145) for treating a fluid containing pollutants, such as wastewater or sewage, that is introduced by the pump module (140), a power module (150), a plurality of water quality sensors (160), a communication module (170), a connection module (172) for wired or wireless connection with the fluid storage structure (10), and a sub-controller (192) for performing various controls, etc. through communication with the main controller (190).
[0033] An identifier (hereinafter referred to as the 'main identifier') that can identify itself may be set in the fluid storage structure (10).
[0034] Each of the water treatment structures (11 to 15) may be set with an identifier (hereinafter referred to as a ‘sub-identifier’) for identifying itself.
[0035] As described above, the smart water treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention is composed of one fluid storage structure (10) and five water treatment structures (11 to 15) sequentially connected, and may include a device in which software is stored in an executable form that automatically recognizes the process of the smart water treatment system using a main identifier and a sub identifier, and performs state management and control of the fluid storage structure (10) and each water treatment structure (11 to 115) through the transmission and reception of process-related information and control information using the main identifier and the sub identifier.
[0036] The above device may be a fluid storage structure (10) within the smart water treatment system of the present invention, or a computing device (200) connected via wired or wireless communication to the fluid storage structure (10) and the water treatment structure (101) of the smart water treatment system. In this case, each of the fluid storage structure (10) and the water treatment structures (11 to 15) may transmit a main identifier and a sub identifier to the computing device (200) connected via wired or wireless communication. Here, the transmission of identifiers may occur when the power of each of the structures (10 to 15) is turned on and operated, or when it is recognized that the inlet of the structure installed at the next stage is connected to the outlet of the structure installed at the front stage. That is, as it is recognized that the inlet of the first water treatment structure (11) is connected to the outlet of the fluid storage structure (10), the first water treatment structure (11) may transmit its sub identifier to the computing device (200) connected via wired or wireless communication.
[0037] Additionally, the software of the computing device (200) can generate data including the process progress status and control status of each structure (10-15) constituting the smart water treatment system based on water treatment status data including process-related information, and then transmit this to the fluid storage structure (10) to display it through the display unit (180).
[0038] When the device is a fluid storage structure (10), the software executed by the main controller (190) of the fluid storage structure (10) can receive a sub-identifier through communication with the water treatment structures (11-15) connected via wired or wireless connection as each of the fourth water treatment structures (11-15) is connected.
[0039] In order to be connected via such wired or wireless communication, the communication module (170) of the fluid storage structure (10) and the water treatment structure (11-15) according to an embodiment of the present invention may support connection via a serial method (e.g., RS-232, RS-484, etc.) or support short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth Le, Wi-Fi, or infrared.
[0040] The connection between the fluid storage structure (10) having such a structure and the five water treatment structures (11 to 15) can be connected in series through the fitting of each outlet and inlet section.
[0041] The five water treatment structures (11-15) include a first water treatment structure (11) that removes harmful bacteria through plasma oxidation on fluid discharged and introduced from a fluid storage structure (10), a second water treatment structure (12) that performs water treatment through electron-coagulation on fluid discharged and introduced from the outlet of the first water treatment structure (12), a third water treatment structure (13) that removes contaminants using a ceramic membrane filter on fluid discharged and introduced from the second water treatment structure (12), a fourth water treatment structure (14) that removes solid matter by applying sedimentation and dewatering to fluid discharged and introduced from the third water treatment structure (13), and an activated carbon filter applied to fluid discharged and introduced from the fourth water treatment structure (14). It may include a fifth water treatment structure (15) that generates and discharges purified fluid.
[0042] The water treatment method applied to the first to fifth water treatment structures (11 to 15) can be applied to the process treatment unit (145).
[0043] First, the process treatment section (145) of the first water treatment structure (11) can remove harmful bacteria in the incoming fluid by forming a low-temperature plasma reaction space within the space into which the fluid is introduced using a plasma oxidation method, that is, by using electrons (e) containing activated quantum energy (E=hv) to activate / generate hypochlorous acid, OH radicals, etc. in the molecular structure of contaminants in the fluid, such as various bacteria, viruses, and harmful substances, thereby sterilizing and decomposing them in real time.
[0044] The process treatment unit (145) of the second water treatment structure (12) can remove heavy metals by an electro-coagulation method, that is, by flowing a low current into the fluid introduced into the process treatment unit (145). For example, the process treatment unit (145) of the second water treatment structure (12) can remove tannins, metal ions, dyes, suspended solid substances, etc. from the fluid introduced.
[0045] The process treatment section (145) of the third water treatment structure (13) is equipped with a ceramic membrane filter, and the incoming fluid can be treated using the ceramic membrane filter to remove contaminants from the fluid.
[0046] The process treatment section (145) of the fourth water treatment structure (14) can remove sludge in the fluid by settling or eroding the sludge in the fluid using a coagulant and then dewatering it.
[0047] The process treatment unit (145) of the fifth water treatment structure (15) can discharge a reusable fluid, such as purified fluid, by blocking pollutants suspended in the fluid using an activated carbon filter.
[0048] The computing device (200) collects process-related information, such as water quality measurements sensed by a water quality sensor (160), control values of valves and pumps, power consumption values, operating time, and the amount of fluid inflow and outflow measured by (162), through communication with each communication module (170) of a plurality of structures (10 to 15). Based on the collected process-related information, the device can select at least one structure among each structure (10 to 15) that requires control and then transmit control information for controlling the selected structure.
[0049] A controller (190, 192) within a structure requiring control can perform control based on control information.
[0050] In particular, the computing device (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention analyzes the degree of change in water quality by comparing water quality measurements received from each structure (10 to 15), and determines whether there is an abnormality in the water treatment method based on the analyzed degree of change in water quality, and then performs control on the structure to which the abnormal water treatment method is applied. Here, the degree of change in water quality may be analyzed through a time-series method that compares the previous water quality measurement value and the current water quality measurement value for each of the water treatment structures (11 to 15), or through a relational analysis method that compares the water quality measurement value measured in the previous structure with the water quality measurement value of the fluid flowing into and discharged from the structure connected to the previous structure.
[0051] Data collection and analysis by such computing device (200) can be performed by software (not shown) that executes the information by at least one processor.
[0052] The software is a program executed by a computing device (200) and includes autonomous operation for each process, recognition of each process, collection of learning data for each process, standardization of process objects, communication standards, etc., and may include an artificial intelligence-based SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) that detects and controls each process.
[0053] In an embodiment of the present invention, control information may include power control values, valve control values, pump control values, etc. for each structure (10 to 15).
[0054] The process of operation of a smart water treatment system having the configuration described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 5.
[0055] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a smart water treatment process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 5, each structure (10-15) is connected to implement a smart water treatment system, and then a step (S300) of recognizing a process can be performed.
[0057] The process recognition step can be performed by software executed by the main controller (190) of the fluid storage structure (10), and the software executed by the main controller (190) can be performed by receiving the water treatment method and sub-identifier of each water treatment structure (11-15) through a wired or wireless connection via the communication module (170) of each water treatment structure (11-15).
[0058] Additionally, the process recognition step may be performed by software executed by a computing device (200), and the software may be performed by receiving the main identifier of the fluid storage structure (10) and the water treatment method and sub-identifier of the first to fourth water treatment structures (11 to 15).
[0059] Afterwards, contaminated fluid flows into the fluid storage structure (10) and is stored in the storage tank (102) (S302).
[0060] As fluid is stored in the storage tank (102) in a preset amount, the main controller (190) transfers the fluid stored in the storage tank (102) to the first water treatment structure (11) through the control of the valve module (130) and the pump module (140) to perform a sterilization process (S304). Specifically, a low-temperature plasma reaction space is formed inside the space into which fluid is introduced within the process treatment unit (145) so that electrons (e) containing activated quantum energy (E=hv) activate / generate hypochlorous acid, OH radicals, etc. in the molecular structure of contaminants in the fluid, such as various bacteria, viruses, and harmful substances, thereby performing a sterilization process to remove harmful bacteria in the introduced fluid by sterilizing and decomposing them in real time.
[0061] Then, the sub-controller (192) of the first water treatment structure (11) transfers the fluid that has undergone the sterilization process to the second water treatment structure (12) through the control of the valve module (130) and the pump module (140) to remove metal ions, dyes, suspended solid substances, etc. through the electro-coagulation process (S306). Specifically, a low current can be applied to the fluid introduced into the process treatment unit (145) to remove tannins, metal ions, dyes, suspended solid substances, etc.
[0062] Subsequently, the sub-controller (192) of the second water treatment structure (12) transfers the fluid that has undergone the electro-coagulation process to the third water treatment structure (13) through the control of the valve module (130) and the pump module (140), and removes solids in the fluid through the ceramic filter process (S308). Specifically, contaminants in the fluid can be removed using a ceramic membrane filter in the process treatment section (145) of the third water treatment structure (13).
[0063] Then, the sub-controller (192) of the third water treatment structure (13) transfers the fluid that has passed through the ceramic filter process to the fourth water treatment structure (14) through the control of the valve module (130) and the pump module (140) to remove sludge in the fluid through the sludge removal process (S310). Specifically, the sludge in the fluid introduced into the process treatment unit (145) can be settled or eroded using a coagulant, and then the sludge in the fluid can be removed through dewatering.
[0064] Then, the sub-controller (192) of the third water treatment structure (14) can transfer the fluid that has undergone the sludge removal process to the fifth water treatment structure (15) through the control of the valve module (130) and the pump module (140), and discharge the final reusable fluid, i.e., purified fluid, through the activated carbon filter process (S312). Specifically, by blocking pollutants suspended in the fluid using an activated carbon filter, reusable fluid, such as purified fluid, can be discharged.
[0065] Meanwhile, combinations of each block of the attached block diagram and each step of the flowchart may be executed by computer program instructions. Since these computer program instructions can be loaded into the processor of a general-purpose computer, a specialized computer, or other programmable data processing equipment, the instructions executed through the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment create a means to perform the functions described in each block of the block diagram.
[0066] Since these computer program instructions may be stored in a computer-available or computer-readable recording medium (or memory), etc., which can be directed toward a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement a function in a specific way, the instructions stored in the computer-available or computer-readable recording medium (or memory) may also be used to produce a manufactured item containing instruction means that perform the function described in each block of the block diagram.
[0067] And, since computer program instructions can be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, instructions that perform a series of operation steps on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a process executed by a computer and perform the computer or other programmable data processing equipment may also provide steps for executing the functions described in each block of the block diagram.
[0068] Additionally, each block may represent a module, segment, or part of code containing at least one executable instruction for executing a specified logical function(s). Also, it should be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions mentioned in the blocks may occur out of order. For example, two blocks shown in succession may actually be executed substantially simultaneously, or the blocks may be executed in reverse order according to the corresponding function.
Claims
1. In a smart water treatment system for treating pollutants in an incoming fluid, The smart water treatment system described above has a structure in which each of a plurality of structures is modularized and sequentially connected, and removes contaminants from the fluid to discharge purified fluid, and The above plurality of structures are, A fluid storage structure having a storage tank disposed at the location where the fluid first flows in and storing the inflowed fluid, and A first water treatment structure that removes harmful bacteria through a plasma oxidation process for the fluid discharged and introduced from the above-mentioned fluid storage structure, and A second water treatment structure that performs water treatment by an electrocoagulation method on a fluid discharged and introduced from the first water treatment structure, and A third water treatment structure that removes contaminants from the fluid discharged and introduced from the above-mentioned second water treatment structure using a ceramic membrane filter, and A fourth water treatment structure that removes solids by applying a sedimentation and dewatering method to the fluid discharged and introduced from the third water treatment structure, and A smart water treatment system characterized by including a fifth water treatment structure that applies an activated carbon filter to a fluid discharged from and introduced from the fourth water treatment structure and discharges a purified fluid.
2. In Paragraph 1, Each of the above plurality of structures is, A smart water treatment system characterized by having an outlet and an inlet, and including at least one valve module, a pump module, a flow meter, and a water quality sensor.
3. In Paragraph 2, The above plurality of structures are, A smart water treatment system characterized by being connected through a snap-fit connection between the outlet of a previously installed structure and the inlet section of a next-installed structure.
4. In Paragraph 1, The above smart water treatment system is, A smart water treatment system characterized by including a device in which software is stored in an executable form that performs state management and control of the fluid storage structure and the first to fifth water treatment structures by automatically recognizing the process of the smart water treatment system using the main identifier and the sub identifier, and transmitting and receiving process-related information and control information using the main identifier and the sub identifier.
5. In Paragraph 4, The above device is, A smart water treatment system characterized by being connected to a fluid storage structure and a first to fifth water treatment structure via wired or wireless means, and being a computing device equipped with the software.
6. In Paragraph 5, The above computing device is, A smart water treatment system characterized by transmitting data including the process progress status and control status of each structure constituting the smart water treatment system to the fluid storage structure based on the above process-related information and displaying it through a display unit.
7. In Paragraph 4, The above device is, A smart water treatment system characterized by being connected to the first to fifth water treatment structures via wired or wireless connection, and being the main controller of the fluid storage structure equipped with the software.
8. In a smart water treatment method for treating pollutants in an incoming fluid, A step of storing a fluid containing contaminants as it flows into a fluid storage structure, and A step of removing harmful bacteria through a plasma oxidation process on the fluid discharged from and introduced from the fluid storage structure in the first water treatment structure, and A step of performing water treatment in a second water treatment structure using an electrocoagulation method for the fluid discharged and introduced from the first water treatment structure, and A step of removing contaminants from the fluid discharged and introduced from the second water treatment structure in the third water treatment structure using a ceramic membrane filter, and A step of removing solids by applying a sedimentation and dewatering method to the fluid discharged from the third water treatment structure and introduced into the fourth water treatment structure, and A smart water treatment method characterized by including the step of applying an activated carbon filter to a fluid discharged from and introduced from a fourth water treatment structure in a fifth water treatment structure to produce and discharge a purified fluid.
9. In Paragraph 8, In the case of the fluid storage structure above, a main identifier is set, and in the case of the first to fifth water treatment structures above, different sub-identifiers are set, and The above smart water treatment method is, A step of automatically recognizing the process of a smart water treatment system using the above main identifier and sub identifier, and A smart water treatment method characterized by further including the step of performing state management and control of the fluid storage structure and the first to fifth water treatment structures through the transmission and reception of process-related information and control information using the main identifier and sub-identifier.