Liquid purification or separation – Constituent mixture variation responsive
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-25
2004-08-31
Cecil, Terry K. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Constituent mixture variation responsive
C210S143000, C210S198100, C210S253000, C700S271000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06783666
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water softening device for softening raw water containing hardness components by ion exchange, and to a method for regeneration control thereof.
As generally known, feedwater lines to heating and cooling apparatuses such as boilers, water heaters, or radiators are connected to devices for removing hardness components contained in feedwater for preventing scaling in the heating and cooling apparatuses, among which an automatic regenerative water softener for removing hardness components with use of ion exchange resin is widely adopted. This type of water softer uses Na
+
type ion exchange resin to replace metal cation such as Ca
2+
and Mg
2+
, i.e., hardness components contained in water, with Na
+
for removing the hardness components. When the ion exchange resin is replaced with cation and saturated, and thereby exhausted capability of removing the hardness components, the ion exchange resin is reacted with brine for performing regenerating operation for regenerating the capability.
Generally, effective regenerating operation is preferably conducted by detecting a saturation degree of the ion exchange resin, feeding a required minimum amount of regenerative brine according to respective conditions, and performing regeneration control at the proper time in conformity with the saturation degree. As a conventional control method, there is a metered regeneration method, in which in installing the water softener, the hardness of feedwater in the installation site is measured in advance, the quantity of treatable water by a specified amount of the ion exchange resin (i.e., the quantity of water that the ion exchange resin can soften till regenerating operation is put into operation) is calculated based on the measured value, and regenerating operation is carried out when flow volume of feedwater reaches the calculated quantity of treatable water.
In the metered regeneration method, the hardness of feedwater fed to raw water lines is determined by detecting the hardness of feedwater (underground water, tap water, etc.) in advance at the time of installing the water softener, and calculating the quantity of treatable water based on the detected value. However, the hardness of the feedwater, especially in the case of underground water fluctuates by seasonal factors. Therefore, in order to prevent the ion exchange resin from reaching a breakthrough point (hardness leakage), the quantity of treatable water is reduced from the calculated value to be a fail-safe quantity. Eventually, even when the ion exchange resin has a softening ability (so called a remaining ability), regenerating operation may be carried out, which wastes brine for regenerating operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above stated problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a water softening device and a method for regeneration control thereof, in which the hardness of feedwater to be softened is detected with the lapse of time and regeneration timing is controlled based on the detected value.
The present invention has been invented to solve the above-stated problem. An invention according to a first aspect is composed of inlet hardness measurement means for measuring hardness of feedwater to a water softener, treated water quantity measurement means for measuring a flow rate of treated water after passing through the water softener, brine concentration detection means for detecting concentration of brine in regenerating operation, and brine consumption detection means for detecting consumption of brine in regenerating operation.
An invention according to a second aspect is composed of hardness leakage detection means for measuring hardness of treated water after passing through the water softener and detecting hardness leakage.
An invention according to a third aspect is composed of a plurality of water softening devices disposed and connected in parallel with water flowing operation and regenerating operation of each water softening device switchable, the water softening device composed of inlet hardness measurement means for measuring hardness of feedwater to a water softener, treated water quantity measurement means for measuring a flow rate of treated water after passing through the water softener, brine concentration detection means for detecting concentration of brine in regenerating operation, and brine consumption detection means for detecting consumption of brine in regenerating operation.
An invention according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that a branching portion for branching feedwater to each of the water softeners is provided on a feedwater line to each of the water softeners, and joint means for joining treated water from each of the water softeners is provided, the joint means being connected to a treated water line.
An invention according to a fifth aspect is characterized in that the inlet hardness measurement means is provided upstream to the branching portion and the treated water quantity measurement means is provided downstream from the joint means.
An invention according to a sixth aspect is characterized in that the hardness leakage detection mean for measuring hardness of treated water after passing through the water softener and detecting hardness leakage is provided downstream from the joint means.
An invention according to a seventh aspect includes a singularity of brine tank, the brine tank being connected to each of the water softeners in a switchable way via switching means provided on a brine line, the brine concentration detection means being provided upstream to the switching means.
An invention according to an eighth aspect is characterized in that the brine consumption detection means is provided on the brine tank.
An invention according to a ninth aspect is composed of the steps of setting in advance a setting value of a hardness removal amount till a next regenerating operation based on brine concentration in regenerating operation and brine consumption in regenerating operation; obtaining an integrated value of a hardness removal amount with lapse of time based on inlet hardness and a quantity of treated water, and commencing regenerating operation when the integrated value reaches the setting value.
An invention according to a tenth aspect is characterized in that when hardness of treated water after passing through the water softener is measured and hardness leakage is detected, regenerating operation is commenced immediately.
Description will now be given of the embodiment of the present invention. The invention is applicable to a water softening device composed of a means for measuring the hardness of feedwater to a water softener on an inlet side of the water softener, a means for measuring the flow rate of treated water after passing through the water softener, a means for detecting the concentration of brine in regenerating operation, a means for detecting the consumption of brine in regenerating operation, and a control unit for controlling regenerating operation of the water softener based on the detected value by the inlet hardness measurement means, the flow rate of treated water, the brine concentration in regenerating operation, and the brine consumption in regenerating operation.
The water softening device is basically made up of a resin tank filled with ion exchange resin and a control valve. The control valve is connected to a feedwater line to feed water to the resin tank and a treated water line to feed softened water to a soft water tank. The control valve is connected to a brine tank via a brine line as well as to a drain line. The feedwater line is provided with an inlet hardness measurement means as a hardness detection means for measuring the hardness of feedwater, the treated water line is provided with a treated water quantity measurement means and a hardness leakage detection means, the brine line is provided with a brine concentration detection means, and the brine tank is provided with the brine consumption detection means. Further,
Asamura Hitoshi
Takeda Hiroyuki
Cecil Terry K.
Miura Co., Ltd.
LandOfFree
Water softening device and method for regeneration control... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Water softening device and method for regeneration control..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Water softening device and method for regeneration control... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3343665