Blended Water Hardness Control via Conductivity Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water softening methods face inaccuracies in adjusting the hardness of blended water due to sensor maintenance issues and assumptions about untreated water conductivity, leading to fluctuations in blending accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using two conductivity sensors, one in the softened water and one in the blended water, to measure conductivities and calculate the untreated water conductivity precisely, allowing for accurate determination and adjustment of the proportions of partial flows without assumptions about the untreated water's composition or softening process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conductivity sensor is arranged in the untreated water to determine hardness, then the hardness determination is direct, but the sensor electrodes easily fur up causing inaccurate measurements and high maintenance outlay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces softened water as an intermediary medium to transfer the measurement function from untreated water to blended water. By measuring conductivity in the blended water (which contains softened water as a known reference), the system indirectly determines untreated water hardness without exposing sensors to harsh untreated water conditions that cause fouling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a measurement copy by measuring conductivity in blended water instead of directly in untreated water. The blended water serves as a proxy that contains information about untreated water hardness while being less harmful to the sensor, allowing indirect but accurate determination through mathematical relationships.
2Reliability
If the conductivity sensor is arranged in the soft or blended water to prevent fouling, then maintenance is reduced, but the untreated water conductivity must be inferred with assumptions about the relationship between soft and untreated water conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a feedback control system where the measured blended water conductivity is continuously used to calculate and adjust the proportion of softened water needed. The system monitors the actual blended water conductivity and adjusts the blending ratio to maintain the desired hardness, creating a closed-loop control that compensates for variations in untreated water composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct untreated water conductivity to blended water conductivity, which can be measured without fouling. By measuring a different parameter (blended water conductivity instead of untreated water conductivity) and using mathematical relationships, the system achieves both reliable measurement and accurate determination of untreated water hardness.
3Device complexity
If assumptions are made about the relationship between soft water conductivity and untreated water conductivity, then the calculation is simplified, but accuracy decreases when there are fluctuations in untreated water composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment system where the proportion of softened water is continuously adjusted based on real-time measurements of blended water conductivity. Instead of using fixed assumptions, the system adapts to changing conditions by continuously calculating and adjusting the blending ratio, maintaining accuracy even when untreated water composition fluctuates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures reliable and accurate adjustment of blended water hardness, minimizing sensor maintenance and inaccuracies, and maintaining high blending accuracy even with fluctuations in untreated water composition.
Implementation Method 1
the conductivity of the untreated water Conduntreated being derived from the conductivity of the untreated water Conduntreated
Implementation Method 2
In water softening, softening devices are used which usually operate according to the ion exchange method. In the process, the hardeners (calcium ions and magnesium ions) contained in the water are exchanged for sodium ions in an ion exchange resin.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a water softening plant includes an automatic blending device, an incoming flow of untreated water being divided into a first partial flow which is softened and a second partial flow which is not softened and then combined into a flow of blended water. The proportions of the two partial flows are adjusted by the automatic blending device such that a desired hardness DV results in the flow of blended water. The conductivity of the softened water and blended water are measured by conductivity sensors in their respective flows. The conductivity of the untreated water is calculated from the measured conductivity of the soft water, from the measured conductivity of the blended water and from the determined proportions of the partial flows. It is possible for the hardness of the blended water to be adjusted very reliably and with improved accuracy.