Multi-way Valve Decouples Soft Water Hardness Cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring and regenerating soft water hardness measuring cells require manual intervention, which is cumbersome and time-consuming, and often result in regeneration agents entering the water circuit during the switching process.
Innovation Solution
A multi-way valve with positions for normal operation, regeneration, and rinsing, remotely controlled by a drive, ensures that side flow lines can be quickly decoupled from the main flow, preventing regeneration agents from entering the water circuit, and includes a water jet pump and flow regulator for automated regeneration and flushing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual regeneration of the hardness measuring cell is performed, then the regeneration process can be completed, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic regeneration of the hardness measuring cell through a multi-way valve controlled by a controller. The valve automatically switches between monitoring mode and regeneration mode, allowing the system to regenerate itself without manual intervention. This eliminates the cumbersome manual operation while maintaining effective regeneration capability.
2Productivity
If the multi-way valve is switched during regeneration, then the hardness measuring cell can be regenerated, but regeneration agents may enter the water circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-way valve with distinct ports for the water circuit and regeneration agent circuit. This segmentation allows independent control of water flow and regeneration agent flow, ensuring that when the valve switches to regeneration mode, the water circuit is isolated from the regeneration agent, preventing contamination while enabling effective regeneration.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-way valve acts as an intermediary device that mediates between the water circuit and the regeneration agent. It provides a controlled transition path, ensuring that regeneration agents are directed to the hardness measuring cell without entering the main water circuit, thus preventing contamination while enabling regeneration.
3Loss of time
If the hardness measuring cell is regenerated quickly, then productivity is improved, but manual intervention is required which increases operation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves automatic operation through a controller that automatically controls the multi-way valve to switch between monitoring mode and regeneration mode. This self-service capability eliminates manual intervention entirely, allowing quick regeneration to be performed automatically without increasing operation complexity, thus reducing time loss while maintaining high automation level.
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
The system operates automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention and preventing regeneration agents from entering the water circuit, allowing for efficient and quick regeneration of the hardness measuring cell without contaminating the main flow.
Implementation Method 1
a water jet pump is additionally connected to the multi-way valve. Two ports of the multi-way valve are connected to the pressure port and the suction port of the water jet pump
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The device for monitoring soft water guided into a water pipe, comprises a hardness measuring cell (30) switched parallel to a main flow (16), a first secondary flow line (20) branching-off from the main flow and guiding for hardness measuring cell, a second secondary flow line (26) guiding away from the hardness measuring cell and leading into the main flow, and a through-flow regulator (22) provided in the main flow and between the secondary flow lines. The secondary flow lines and the hardness measuring cell are connected to a multiway valve, which is a 7/3 valve with seven connectors. The device for monitoring soft water guided into a water pipe, comprises a hardness measuring cell (30) switched parallel to a main flow (16), a first secondary flow line (20) branching-off from the main flow and guiding for hardness measuring cell, a second secondary flow line (26) guiding away from the hardness measuring cell and leading into the main flow, and a through-flow regulator (22) provided in the main flow and between the secondary flow lines. The secondary flow lines and the hardness measuring cell are connected to a multiway valve, which is a 7/3 valve with seven connectors and three switch points. A water jet pump is connected to the multiway valve. An outlet of the water jet pump is connected with a wastewater pipeline. The multiway valve is connected with a brine tank. The hardness measuring cell is connected with a control, by which the multiway valve is controlled. The control drives a drive controlling the multiway valve.