Device for Throughfeed of Greywater to a Water User, Greywater System Provided Therewith and Method for Applying Same
The invention relates to a device for throughfeed of greywater to a water user, including a housing for receiving therein greywater supplied via a greywater feed, a first flush pipe extending downward from the housing and connected directly to a sewer outlet, and a second flush pipe extending downward from the housing and connected to a water user. The invention further includes a greywater system provided with such a device and method for applying same.
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The present invention relates to a device for throughfeed of greywater to a water user, more particularly for immediate use thereof by the water user, in addition to a greywater system provided therewith and method for applying same.
One method of making efficient use of energy and environment is to reuse lightly contaminated water. Instead of mains water, which is treated with considerable effort and at a great cost in wastewater purification plants, less clean non-potable water can be used for some applications, such as for instance flushing the toilet. It is thus possible to envisage the use of collected rainwater and the reuse of lightly contaminated bath and shower water, as well as water that has been used by dishwashers and washing machines. Such lightly contaminated water is also referred to as greywater. The saving of water resulting from the reuse of water furthermore results in a proportional reduction in the stress on the sewage system.
There is a continuing need for greywater systems which are easy to assemble.
An object of the present invention is to at least partially obviate at least one or more drawbacks of the prior art.
The stated objective is achieved with the device for throughfeed of greywater to a water user according to the present invention, comprising:
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- a housing for receiving therein greywater supplied via a greywater feed;
- a first flush pipe extending downward from the housing and connected directly to a sewer outlet; and
- a second flush pipe extending downward from the housing and connected to a water user.
Such a device has the advantage that a cistern of the water user becomes unnecessary.
According to a preferred embodiment, these parts together form a modular unit which can be arranged on a water storage unit. Because the modular unit comprises substantially all moving parts of the greywater system, the greywater system comprises, in addition to this modular unit, only several basic elements such as a frame, a water storage unit, a front wall and a control system. The modular unit hereby reduces a greywater system to a system which can be assembled relatively easily from basic elements.
According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the flush pipes is controlled by a solenoid, wherein the core of the solenoid is connected to a spring.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the solenoid is further provided with a permanent magnet, preferably a shock-resistant supermagnet manufactured from NdFeB. A permanent magnet has the advantage that it can be controlled by means of pulses and that no energy is used during rest—both in an attracted and repelled rest state. A supermagnet in N45 (1.37 Tesla) has been found suitable.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the permanent magnet is arranged in the core of the solenoid. Although it is possible to envisage the permanent magnet being arranged in the coil of the solenoid, arranging the permanent magnet in the core has the advantage that the play of forces is more advantageous than when the magnet is arranged in the coil. Placing a magnet in the core runs counter to the prejudice that magnets lose their magnetism under shock load.
The invention also relates to a system for reusing greywater, comprising:
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- a collecting reservoir for collecting therein greywater supplied via a water feed;
- a storage tank for storing water;
- siphoning means for siphoning water from the collecting reservoir to the storage tank; and
- a device as described in the foregoing for discharging stored water to a water user therewith.
In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a control system (ECU) for thereby controlling inter alfa actuators present in the system.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the siphoning means comprise:
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- a siphon connection for siphoning water collected in the collecting reservoir from the collecting reservoir to the storage tank;
- pressure regulating means for thereby regulating the pressure in the storage tank, with which possible overpressure in the storage tank can be relieved so that siphoning of water from the collecting reservoir to the storage tank can take place; and
- wherein the siphon connection is arranged substantially in a middle zone B of the collecting reservoir which is arranged substantially upright.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the collecting reservoir and the storage tank form part of an integrally manufactured water storage unit.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the greywater system further comprises:
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- a water user, particularly a toilet, not having its own water reservoir; and
- wherein the device specified in the foregoing is adapted to thereby discharge stored water to the water user for immediate use thereof without interposing of a water reservoir of the water user.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the greywater system further comprises:
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- determining means for determining the quantity of water stored in the system; and
- influencing means for thereby influencing the quantity of water flowing from the storage tank to a water user.
In contrast to a standard cistern of a toilet, the outflow characteristic of which is known and is moreover substantially constant—since it will generally be (almost) completely full when flushed—the use of a relatively large storage tank from which water is discharged directly to a water user—so not via a cistern—has the drawback that the outflow characteristic can vary greatly according to the quantity of water stored in the storage tank, which variation can lie typically in the range of 10-100 litres. About 6 litres is used as a minimum volume, while a storage tank can for instance store up to as much as 100 litres of greywater. The volume flow, or the flow rate, of the water flowing from the storage tank to a water user depends on the water level in the storage tank, the outflow opening and the time.
The determining means can particularly be adapted to determine the height of the water level in the water storage unit, for instance by means of a float, such as the float present in the greywater device according to the invention which activates the emergency replenishment. In the case of a fixed form of the water storage unit the volume can however also be determined in other manner, after which it is known which outflow characteristic will occur during the outflow to the water user.
Depending on the outflow characteristic expected on the basis of the quantity of water present in the storage tank, the outflow opening or the time is then adapted such that a desired quantity of water is flushed from the storage tank to the water user.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the collecting reservoir of the greywater system comprises a volume of at least 10 litres so that sufficient greywater for at least two successive flushes can be stored therein. The collecting reservoir is hereby distinguished from a conventional cistern of a toilet, which can only store sufficient water for a single flush. A flush amount for flushing the toilet generally lies in the range of 4-6 litres of water. The collecting reservoir, which comprises at least 10 litres of volume, is therefore able to store sufficient greywater for at least two successive flushes. The toilet can thus be flushed at least twice with a usual flushing volume of about 5 litres without interim feed of (grey)water to the collecting reservoir.
Applying large volumes for the collecting reservoir does however have the drawback that the outflow characteristic can vary greatly with the quantity of water stored in the storage tank, for which the present invention compensates.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the influencing means comprise a throttle or pinch valve controlled by a control system of the greywater system.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the influencing means, controlled by a control system of the greywater system, adjust the period of time for which the flush opening is open.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the greywater system further comprises:
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- a conduit system between the storage tank and a water user located at some distance; and
- a pump for thereby pumping water out of the storage tank to the water user. The advantage hereof is that a cistern is also unnecessary for further water users, such as a toilet which is located at some distance and which can even be situated on a higher floor.
A water conduit with monitoring of unauthorized addition of branches is preferably applied. Such a water conduit is the subject of Netherlands patent NL 1031270 of applicant.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the basic volume of water present in the storage tank is increased for each additional water user connected to the system.
The storage tank is always kept filled with a determined quantity of water for at least one flush of a toilet, for instance 6 litres. If there is no supply of greywater, the storage tank is replenished with mains water via the emergency replenishment until the desired basic volume of 6 litres of water is reached.
Since all water users, such as toilets, can theoretically consume water simultaneously when these toilets are flushed simultaneously, the minimum basic volume of water present in the storage tank is increased when a plurality of toilets are connected. The likelihood of simultaneous flushing will of course decrease as the number of toilets increases, whereby a smaller extra quantity of basic volume need be reserved each time for each additional toilet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, at least 10 litres of water is adhered to as basic volume for two water users.
The invention further relates to a method for throughfeed of water to a water user as described in the foregoing description and/or shown in the accompanying figures.
The invention further relates to a method for reusing greywater as described in the foregoing description and/or shown in the accompanying figures.
In the following description preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:
Running from housing 38 of the modular unit is a bypass conduit 10 through which light contaminants—in a manner as will be elucidated hereinbelow—will be discharged to the sewer outlet.
Situated on the underside of water storage unit 5 is a conduit 30 from a drainage opening 24 to a connecting point 31 for the feed of (grey)water to a water user (not shown) such as a toilet.
Water storage unit 5 also comprises a drainage opening 26 to which a conduit 32 is connected for discharging water from water storage unit 5 to sewer outlet 34.
The greywater system shown in
In the cut-away cross-sectional view of
When greywater is supplied via opening 43 (not visible in
In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the emergency replenishment 54 is activated electronically on the basis of a sensor arranged in collecting reservoir 2 for measuring the volume of greywater present therein, such as for instance using a height detector which determines on the basis of pressure the height of the water level.
An air bridge is also arranged in housing 56 of emergency replenishment 54, which will be further elucidated below with reference to
Further situated in cover 40 of housing 38 of the modular unit is an opening 41 through which the pressure regulating means 18, which are formed by a tube 22 and an air valve 20, can influence the air pressure level in storage tank 4 as required by optionally opening air valve 20.
Housing 38 of the modular unit is arranged watertightly on the underside onto collecting reservoir 2 by means of a seal 52.
When use is made of shower and bath, the mains water used for this purpose will become contaminated. Instead of allowing this water to disappear directly into the sewer, it is collected via a feed 14 in collecting reservoir 2, which will thereby be filled with greywater. Drainage openings 30, 32 and pressure regulating means 18 are closed, whereby the water level in collecting reservoir 2 will rise when greywater is delivered via feed 14.
Greywater collected directly from bath and shower contains contaminants such as sand, soap suds, grease, flakes of skin and hair, thereby making a form of separation or filtering desirable. A separating principle is applied by the shown greywater system based on a difference in density or specific weight between the water and the contaminants present in the water.
Arranged at the top of collecting reservoir 2 is an overflow 6 where greywater flows away to the sewer via a bypass conduit 10 and a sewer outlet 34. Contaminants with a density lower than that of water (ρcontaminant<ρwater), such as for instance soap suds, will float and therefore be drained together with the greywater via overflow 6 and bypass conduit 10 in the direction of the sewer. In order to prevent contaminants continuing to float on the top, a skimmer 8 is arranged for skimming off these contaminants in the direction of bypass conduit 10.
The relatively heavy contaminants, such as for instance sand particles, with a density which is greater than that of water (ρcontaminant>ρwater), will be collected due to settling at the bottom of collecting reservoir 2. Because light contaminants will float and heavy contaminants will sink, the cleanest water will be situated substantially in a middle zone B, i.e. between the top and bottom of collecting reservoir 2.
Three zones are thus formed, respectively a lower zone A where relatively heavy particles have settled, an upper zone C in which a cloud of relatively light, floating contaminants will form, and therebetween a middle zone B in which relatively clean water is located.
Since heavy particles such as sand settle relatively quickly, at least generally sink much more quickly than light particles rise, lower zone A will be smaller than upper zone C as seen in height direction. Furthermore, supplied greywater generally contains more ‘light’ contaminants than ‘heavy’ contaminants. Middle zone B is situated between zones A and C and, due to the small height of bottom zone A in height direction of collecting reservoir 2, generally extends further downward than upward.
In the shown embodiment collecting reservoir 2 and storage tank 4 form part of an integrally injection-moulded water storage unit 5, but can of course also comprise physically separated volume tanks.
The operation of the separating principle applied in greywater system 1, which is the subject of the Netherlands patent NL 1030110 of applicant, will be described with reference to
The system shown in
When greywater is supplied via the schematically shown water feed 14, collecting reservoir 2 will be filled with this supplied greywater and the water level in storage tank 4 will only rise slightly because pressure regulating means 18 are still in a closed position (
The light contaminants with a density lower than that of water will float and flow away via overflow 6 at the top of collecting reservoir 2, assisted by a skimmer (not shown) if desired. A cloud with light contaminants will form in zone C at the top of collecting reservoir 2. Conversely, heavy particles will sink, whereby a contaminated zone (zone A) is also formed at the bottom of collecting reservoir 2. Relatively clean greywater is located in the middle zone B between lower zone A and upper zone C. Siphon connection 12 is also situated in this clean middle zone B (
With continuous inflow of greywater via greywater feed 14 the collecting reservoir 2 remains filled, whereby light contaminants are discharged to the sewer close to overflow 6. With preferably pulse-wise opening of pressure regulating means 18, which in the shown preferred embodiment comprise an air valve 20, the overpressure formed in storage tank 4 can escape and the water level in storage tank 4 will rise because water is siphoned from the relatively clean zone B of collecting reservoir 2 via siphon connection 12 to storage tank 4. Opening the one or more air valves 20 in pulsating manner ensures that collecting reservoir 2 remains fully filled during feed of greywater 14, whereby the contaminated zone C with light contaminants will remain located at the top of collecting reservoir 2.
Because the system is at rest, the cloud with contaminants with a density lower than that of water has risen to some extent, whereby the contaminated zone C has become smaller, as seen in height direction, than in the situation shown in
It is noted that the contaminated zone C with substantially light contaminants has also fallen slightly together with the water level in collecting reservoir 2, but that siphon connection 12 between collecting reservoir 2 and collecting reservoir 4 is still situated in the relatively clean middle zone B (
Emergency replenishment 54 comprises a mains water feed 58 and, on the side wall of housing 56, an opening 68 which functions as air bridge and which will be further elucidated with reference to
Further shown in
The cross-sectional view shown in
Since heavy contaminants sink and are preferably carried away via drainage opening 26 and conduit 32 to sewer outlet 34—instead of being carried away via drainage opening 24 and conduit 30 to a water user—the drainage opening 26 to the sewer is situated in the embodiment shown in
The top side of flush pipes 48, 50 is higher than the top side of collecting reservoir 2.
In a possible further embodiment (not shown) flush pipes 48, 50 have the same length, although around flush pipe 48 which closes the drainage opening 24 to a water user a strainer body is arranged on the underside which functions as a screen for the settled contaminants, which thus remain in collecting reservoir 2 when drainage opening 24 is opened and can be discharged via drainage opening 26 to sewer 34 during a subsequent flush.
It is noted that closing of drainage opening 24, 26 at different heights requires flush pipes 48, 50 of different lengths.
Each solenoid 44, 46 is arranged in a housing 82, wherein this housing 82 comprises an external screw thread 84 over a part of its outer wall. This external screw thread 84 engages on an internal screw thread of a rotating part 86, whereby housing 82 with solenoid 70 can be adjusted in the height relative to cover 40 of housing 38. The solenoid comprises a coil 70 and a metal core 72, which in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is divided into a conical part 74 and cylindrical part 76, between which is situated a connecting part 78 in the form of a shaft around which a permanent magnet, preferably a supermagnet, is arranged. This magnet is preferably a shock-resistant magnet manufactured from NdFeB (in N45 1.37 Tesla). Although there is a prejudice that magnets are unsuitable for applications where shocks are applied to the magnet because this would cause them to lose their magnetism, applicant has applied said magnets manufactured from NdFeB in the core of the solenoid and has found, surprisingly, that the play of forces is more advantageous than in an embodiment where a permanent magnet is arranged in coil 70. In the case of a magnet in coil 70, the play of forces will after all only become manifest in the final millimetres of the path travelled by the core in coil 70.
Owing to its magnetic force the permanent magnet 80 will hold core 72 drawn into coil 70 of solenoid 44, 46 even when no energy is being provided to the electromagnet. Only when the current is carried in reverse direction through the electromagnet (solenoid 44, 46) will the resultant magnetic force of electromagnet 44, 46 and permanent magnet 80 together be able to equal zero, whereby flush pipe 48, 50 will repel and the discharge of water from storage unit 5 through drainage opening 24, 26 will be stopped. When the number of Ampere Windings (AW) is increased, the downward directed magnetic force generated by electromagnet 44, 46 will be greater than the upward directed magnetic force of permanent magnet 80. This results in a resultant magnetic force in downward direction which brings about ejection of the core.
Since a solenoid 44, 46 develops a relatively low force in the situation shown in
It is noted that the precise lift heights and associated forces depend on the dimensions of the system, including the dimensions of the outflow opening and the water level, and are only mentioned as such with reference to the accompanying Figure in order to provide insight into the physical events therein, but may not be interpreted as being limitative.
Arranged according to the present invention on metal core 72 is a rod 88 which comprises on its outer end a stop constructed from a stop plate 94 and a nut 96. A compression spring 90 is situated between stop plate 94 and housing 82.
This construction of core 72, rod 88, compression spring 90 and stop 94 makes it possible using relatively small solenoids to generate the force required to lift a flush pipe 48, 50, as is shown in
In
A greywater discharge valve (flush pipe 48, 50) driven by an electromagnet (solenoid 44, 46) with spiral spring 90 and permanent magnet 80 will now be elucidated with reference to
An electromagnet with movable core of soft iron, such as solenoid 44, 46, has the property in the extended state (on the left in
It is however precisely in the extended state that a greywater discharge valve, such as flush pipe 48, 50, requires the greatest pulling force, while less pulling force is required in the retracted state—see
In the art the electromagnet is therefore briefly overloaded to several times the nominal energy, the force in the extended state will therefore be this many times greater—see
When the electromagnet is connected to a large capacitor the voltage on the electromagnet, and thereby the energy of the electromagnet, will briefly be high but then decrease rapidly due to the discharge of the capacitor, and the electromagnet will then not be overloaded here.
As can be seen, the force exerted by the electromagnet using a determined capacitor will still not be sufficient.
In order to be able to achieve a smaller force in the extended state, according to the invention a pull or push spring 90 is connected in series to discharge valve 48, 50. In non-tensioned situation spring 90 exerts zero pulling force, while the pulling force increases linearly during extending. The overall movement of electromagnet core 72 is then however greater—see
In this
According to the invention a system is provided which consumes no energy when at rest, as elucidated in the following.
By incorporating into electromagnet 44, 46 a permanent magnet 80 which holds core 72 in the retracted position the electromagnet 44, 46 is able to hold discharge valve 48, 50 open in the attracted state.
In the case discharge valve 48, 50 must be closed, electromagnet 44, 46 is connected in reverse direction. This also reverses the force field and, when electromagnet 44, 46 is energized with the correct energy and for the correct period of time, the force field of electromagnet 44, 46 will compensate the field of permanent magnet 80. Owing to this compensation of force fields the core will repel due to gravitational force (or push spring 90).
The force exerted by permanent magnet 80 (
The construction of an application of a permanent magnet 80 in core 72 is based on unconventional thinking and varies from the general trend—when a permanent magnet 80 is combined with an electromagnet 44, 46—of arranging this permanent magnet 80 in the anchor, outside the core. An attempt is thus made to prevent a permanent magnet 80 losing its magnetism under shock load.
The construction according to the invention recognizes the fact that modern supermagnets, made for instance of NdFeB(N45), are so shock-resistant that they can also be applied in the core. In addition, this is a structurally simpler solution, which is moreover less expensive.
The method of operation of an electromagnet with permanent magnet in the core does however differ in one respect from the method wherein the permanent magnet is arranged in the anchor outside the core: when the field of the electromagnet is reversed, the core will be ejected from the electromagnet with force because equal poles repel each other.
The amount of energy and the period of time are not critical as they are in the method in which the permanent magnet is arranged in the anchor outside the core.
As can be seen in
The characteristic of the valve only shows that between 0 and 1.5 millimetres of lift height a threshold force of about 0.7 kg must be overcome before an upward trend is continued to a lift height of 5 millimetres and a force of 1.4 kg. The upward trend between 1.5 millimetres and 5 millimetres lift height occurs due to suction caused by water running out of water storage unit 5.
The curve of solenoid with supermagnet is simply the sum of the forces of the solenoid and supermagnet individually, these curves also being shown in
The shown embodiment further shows a sleeve 98 with a plug 100 which encloses rod 88, compression spring 90 and stop 94 in order to enable possible lubrication.
In order to also allow flushing of a toilet in the case of a possible power failure—in which case the solenoids will of course not work—in a preferred embodiment at least a mechanical control is provided with which the flush pipe 48 to the water user can be operated. This mechanical control can for instance comprise a cable or rod (not shown).
Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended only to illustrate the present invention and not to limit the specification of the invention in any way. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.
Claims
1. A device for throughfeed of greywater to a water user, comprising:
- a housing for receiving therein greywater supplied via a greywater feed;
- a first flush pipe extending downward from the housing and connected directly to a sewer outlet; and
- a second flush pipe extending downward from the housing and connected to a water user.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, together forming a modular unit which can be arranged on a water storage unit.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the flush pipes is controlled by a solenoid, wherein the core of the solenoid is connected to a spring.
4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the solenoid is further provided with a permanent magnet.
5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the permanent magnet is arranged in the core of the solenoid.
6. A system for reusing greywater, comprising:
- a collecting reservoir for collecting therein greywater supplied via a water feed;
- a storage tank for storing water;
- siphoning means for siphoning water from the collecting reservoir to the storage tank; and
- a device for discharging stored water to a water user therewith comprising:
- a housing for receiving therein greywater supplied via a greywater feed;
- a first flush pipe extending downward from the housing and connected directly to a sewer outlet; and
- a second flush pipe extending downward from the housing and connected to a water user.
7. The greywater system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the siphoning means comprise:
- a siphon connection for siphoning water collected in the collecting reservoir from the collecting reservoir to the storage tank;
- pressure regulating means for thereby regulating the pressure in the storage tank, with which possible overpressure in the storage tank can be relieved so that siphoning of water from the collecting reservoir to the storage tank can take place; and
- wherein the siphon connection is arranged substantially in a middle zone B of the collecting reservoir which is arranged substantially upright.
8. The greywater system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the collecting reservoir and the storage tank form part of an integrally manufactured water storage unit.
9. The greywater system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
- a water user, particularly a toilet, not having its own water reservoir; and
- wherein the device for discharging stored water is adapted to thereby discharge stored water to the water user for immediate use thereof without interposing of a water reservoir of the water user.
10. The greywater system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
- determining means for determining the quantity of water stored in the system; and
- influencing means for thereby influencing the quantity of water flowing from the storage tank to a water user.
11. The greywater system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the collecting reservoir comprises a volume of at least 10 litres so that sufficient greywater for at least two successive flushes can be stored therein.
12. The greywater system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the influencing means comprise a throttle or pinch valve controlled by a control system of the greywater system.
13. The greywater system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the influencing means, controlled by a control system of the greywater system, adjust the period of time for which the flush opening is open.
14. The greywater system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
- a conduit system between the storage tank and a water user located at some distance; and
- a pump for thereby pumping water out of the storage tank to the water user.
15. The greywater system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the basic volume of water present in the storage tank is increased for each additional water user connected to the system.
16. The greywater system as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least 10 litres of water is adhered to as basic volume for two water users.
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 26, 2011
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2012
Applicant: Ecoplay International B.V. (Muiderberg)
Inventor: Johannes Donaes Jacobus Platteel (AS Muiden)
Application Number: 13/522,596
International Classification: E03C 1/12 (20060101);