Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02660467 2009-02-10
Process and Device for Treating Water
6
7 The invention relates to a method of and device for treating water by means
of an
8 electro-magnetic field, wherein, via a measured length of pipe, at each end
of same, by wound
9 induction coils, there is generated a respective magnetic field whose
intensity can be set by
controlling the frequency of pulses which are produced by a generator and
wherein the intensity
11 is controlled by a respective switch with an associated potentiometer for
the control of the water
12 throughput and by a second switch for monitoring the hardness, having an
associated
13 potentiometer for the voltage-current conversion, wherein the changing
frequency of the signal
14 from a ramp generator is added to the frequency of the signal from the
generator, with a
frequency-controlled signal being generated therefrom, which, in turn, is
added to the signal
16 from the voltage-current transformer to create a signal which constitutes a
cumulative
17 frequency, whereby the frequency from the generator in the low frequency
amplifier is fed via a
18 further frequency; this cumulative frequency is then transformed by the low
frequency amplifier;
19 and, via an output or a distributor, delimiting, action-rectified windings,
along the length of the
pipe measurement section, at both ends thereof, are supplied with the pulses
whose electro-
21 magnetic field changes the physical properties of the through-flowing
frequency as a function of
22 the switch setting, wherein the derivative of the generator is followed by
the derivative of the
23 hardness-related voltage-current converter and wherein said derivatives are
added to the
24 derivative from the ramp generator and from the subsequent generator to
form the frequency,
wherein the intensity of both generators are jointly fed via the low frequency
amplifier into the
26 output of the magnetic lines.
27
28 When treating drinking water which is frequently recovered in the form of
ground water
29 from deep layers of rock, particular attention has to be paid to calcium
hydrogen carbonate
which is known to cause limestone deposits and scaling on the pipe walls. The
total hardness of
31 the water is thus composed of the so-called carbonate hardness (sum of the
dissolved alkaline
32 earth hydrogen carbonates) and the non-carbonate hardness (further
dissolved alkaline earth
33 salts). In other words, the more lime there is dissolved in the water, the
harder the water is.
34 Associated lime segregations reduce the efficiency of heating systems,
reduce the pipe
diameter and, if the pipe diameters are reduced considerably, they result in a
pressure loss
36 which no longer allows reasonable use of the pipeline system. This results
in costs and an
37 increase in energy consumption.
38
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CA 02660467 2009-02-10
The lime stone deposit which forms can be prevented in different ways:
6
7 1. by ion exchangers in which the calcium ions and the hydrogen carbonate
are removed
8 from the water and replaced by sodium ions and chloride ions;
9 2. by the controlled addition of phosphate chemicals whose purpose it is to
prevent the
formation of hard deposits; the lime is to be kept in solution or,
respectively, together
11 with the chemicals, form a stable, chemically inert sludge which is
discharged by the
12 water flow;
13 3. by treating the water before it enters the system by means of electro-
magnetic fields,
14 i.e. in a physical way; the existing ions form micro-fine lime particles
with a long-term
stability and with a clearly changed morphology; they are balanced relative to
the
16 carbonic acid contained in the water and no longer have the inclination of
adhering to
17 the pipe walls.
18
19 When carrying out a comparison, it is found that the above-mentioned
methods 1) and 2)
make it necessary to regularly replace the ion exchanger which uses itself up,
and refill the
21 storage container with phosphate chemical, respectively. In addition, the
pipeline network has to
22 be provided with an aperture for inserting the ion exchangers or for adding
the chemicals, which
23 measure is accompanied by the additional risk of an increased amount of
germs.
24
Method 3) on the other hand manages without chemicals, does not require a
pipeline
26 system with an aperture and treats the water in a purely physical way. High
water temperatures
27 have hardly any influence on the effect of the method and existing scale is
additionally reduced
28 by the generated small quantities of carbonic acid in flowing water.
29
From EP-A-0 357 102 there is known a device for treating liquids which
operates in
31 accordance with method 3) and whose purpose it is to reduce the calcium
carbonate deposits
32 and similar constituents. The device consists of coils which are wound at a
certain distance from
33 one another around a pipe and which generate an electro-magnetic field,
and, as a function of
34 the flow speed in the pipe, there are generated pulses whose amplitude and
frequency are used
to control two magnetic fields. The magnetic field lines of the generated
magnetic fields are
36 oriented in opposite directions, the result being that, in the plane
separating the two fields, the
37 magnetic field lines are arranged perpendicularly relative to the direction
of flow of the liquid,
38 which is the reason why the coils influence each other's field.
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6 On the other hand, from EP 0 460 248 B1 there is known a method of treating
water by
7 means of an electro-magnetic field wherein, along the measured length of a
pipe, at both ends
8 of same, induction coils generate a respective magnetic field each of which
is orientated in the
9 direction of flow and whose intensity can be set by controlling the
frequency of pulses which are
generated by a generator. In this case, the generated fields are intensified.
The effectiveness of
11 this method was examined by the government testing authority OVGW in
accordance with test
12 directive W 35 and confirmed by an expert opinion. The efficiency is in
excess of 90%.
13
14 The intensity is controlled by a respective switch, each with an associated
potentiometer,
as a function of the water throughput rate and the water hardness. The
changing frequency of
16 the signal from a ramp generator is added to the frequency of the signal
from a generator, which
17 cumulative signal is used to generate a frequency-controlled signal which
is added to the signal
18 from a voltage-current converter to form an end signal which constitutes a
cumulative
19 frequency. The cumulative frequency is converted by the low frequency
amplifier and, via an
output or distributor, is passed on via the length of the distance measured,
at both ends, to
21 delimiting action-rectified windings, so that the electro-magnetic field of
same changes the
22 through-flowing water as a function of the settings of the above-mentioned
switches.
23
24 However, the degree of hardness of water depends on the origin of the water
and,
depending on the supply methods, can vary. The consumption, too, frequently
fluctuates
26 considerably. This is the reason why systems of this type have to be
operated with an increased
27 capacity to be able to accommodate water hardness fluctuations and short-
term load peaks. As
28 an alterative, such a system has to be provided with complicated and
expensive closed-loop
29 control electronics and ion-selective sensors to be able to accurately
determine the temporary
water hardness and to adapt the performance of the system.
31
32 It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose a method and
device
33 (hereafter also referred to as Calc Tech device) for treating water by
means of electro-magnetic
34 fields, which device achieves the desired effect, with the energy
consumption being adapted to
and dependent on the respective situation and without requiring complicated
and expensive
36 measuring and closed-loop control electronics.
37
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In accordance with the invention, the objective is achieved by the
characteristics listed in
6 Claim 1. Further advantages of the inventive device can be gathered from the
dependent claims
7 and from the examples of embodiments as referred to in the following
description.
8
9 When treating tap water with the help of pulsed induction coils, very
different factors
have to be taken into account: a) the momentary consumption, b) the degree of
hardness of the
11 water, c) additional impurities in the water, d) the number of pulses, and
e) the pulse
12 characteristics. Whereas the momentary water consumption can easily be
determined by a flow
13 meter, the degree of hardness of the water and the concentration of further
impurities such as
14 manganese or iron are subject to considerable fluctuations. The number of
pulses per unit of
time is proportional to the intensity of the treatment or the field and allows
the overall
16 performance to be monitored. In the past, the latter, to be on the safe
side, had to be set so as
17 to be siightiy higher to be able to accommodate fluctuations in the water
quality with reference
18 to points b) and c).
19
Comprehensive long-term tests led to the following surprising result: the
efficiency of the
21 system is greatly influenced by e), i.e. the type of pulses generated,
mainly by the voltage
22 gradient of the signal passed on to the induction coils via the
connections, as a function of time.
23 Whereas sinusoidal changes in voltage with frequencies in the Hertz range
effected hardly any
24 change in the water, there occurred an abrupt increase in the concentration
of micro-fine lime
particles if the time domain of the voltage pulse was within the range of
micro-seconds. At a low
26 speed of flow, changes in the water quality could already be identified at
a pulse frequency of 70
27 Hz and a gradient around 20 Volts up to 300 Volts per micro-second. Good up
to very good
28 results were achieved with 80 Volts to 232 Volts per second. As a good
recommended standard
29 value, it was possible to identify a voltage difference of 90 Volts to 110
Volts per micro-second.
When only varying the pulse frequency as a function of the water throughput
rate, pulses with
31 said pulse characteristics achieved a constant efficiency accompanied by a
reduced energy
32 consumption, in spite of a fluctuating water hardness.
33
34 Provided the pulse characteristics are suitably set, there is no need for
complicated
closed loop control means for monitoring and controlling the water hardness.
By integrating the
36 remaining components required for generating the signals into an integrated
circuit, i.e. an IC 2,
37 it is possible to provide a simplified device which is less interference-
prone, has a higher
38 efficiency and requires less space.
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6 Said inventive device, the Calc Tech device, thus achieves the desired
effect while
7 consuming less energy and having a simplified design which is less
susceptible to failure. The
8 Calc Tech device influences the lime molecules contained in the water and
attacks the scale
9 building up in hot water tanks, heating boilers, washing machines and
dishwashers, coffee
machines, pipelines, fittings, etc. Furthermore, the water treated by the Calc
Tech device is
11 stabilised and rinses the separating pieces of scale out along with the
water flow, without
12 changing the quality of the water. This is achieved by automatically
controlling the intensity of
13 the cycle signals for lime water treatment. In contrast to a chemical
treatment, the water is not
14 softened, no minerals are extracted and no chemicals are added; the quality
and the hardness
of the water are maintained. In the case of untreated water, the lime crystals
(calcium carbonate
16 CaCO3) have a size of approx. 150 pm and a needle-like structure. As a
result of their needle-
17 like structure, said crystals have a high adhesive power (felting). The
lime crystals which occur
18 after the treatment in accordance with the invention have a micro-fine
powdery structure with
19 particle sizes around 20 pm and less. They can no longer cling to one
another and therefore no
longer adhere to the surfaces of pipes, heating bars, etc. The micro-fine lime
crystals remain as
21 a valuable component and are discharged by flowing water.
22
23 To explain the different, non-limiting examples of embodiments of the
inventive device,
24 see the diagrams shown in Figures 1 to 6 wherein
26 Figure 1 shows the setting of the VD value for constant water throughput
rates.
27 Figure 2 is a block diagram of the inventive design of a switching
mechanism generating a
28 magnetic field with a changing frequency and polarity.
29 Figure 3 is an example of an assembled boiler heating system with an island
solution.
Figure 4 is an example of an assembled central heating system with boiler.
31 Figure 5 shows a cooling circuit with cold water treatment.
32 Figure 6 shows a cooling circuit with cold/hot water treatment.
33
34 In the case of water supply systems with a constantly low consumption of
water such as
drinking water fountains, it is possible to use a very simple embodiment of
the Calc Tech device
36 with one coil which provides for only one fixed pulse frequency. This
embodiment, too, allows
37 further adaptation to the conditions at the consumer end with the help of a
potentiometer 7 (so-
38 called VD value). The diagram explaining the setting is shown in Figure 1.
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6 VD setting:
7
8 Determining the value to be set:
9 - Determine water consumption.
- Determine pipe diameter.
11 - Draw a vertical line from the consumption scale to the diagonal line
corresponding to the
12 pipe diameter.
13 - From the point of intersection, now draw a horizontal line on the VD
scale.
14 - This point of intersection is the VD value to be set.
16 The VD value thus represents a control parameter which takes into account
the pipe
17 diameter, the mean water consumption and the number of windings of the
induction coils on the
18 water-conducting pipe. This allows the device to be individually set to
different pipe and pipeline
19 systems.
21 The field line extension can be varied by the number of coils arranged
along the
22 measured length of the pipe (15). Thus most of the Calc Tech devices
operate with two, but also
23 with four induction coils and in larger pipeline systems with longer pipe
lengths even with six to
24 eight induction coils.
26 The device in accordance with the invention can be explained in greater
detail by
27 referring to the enclosed block diagram according to Figure 2. The
integrated circuit (IC) 2 is
28 connected to a 12 V direct voltage source. The (IC) 2 comprises a voltage-
dependent generator
29 3, a ramp generator 4 as well as a scanner 6 for specifying the frequency.
The frequency range
of the scanner is optionally varied by a potentiometer 7 with a fixed setting
or by a flow meter 8
31 attached to the pipeline system. The frequency-controlled accumulative
signal from the
32 generator and from the ramp generator, while controlling the number of
pulses, is converted via
33 a counter module 5 with the help of a transistor bridge switch into a push-
pull signal, and via a
34 current-voltage converter 11 with a connected power unit 12 into an
alternating current signal.
Via an amplifier stage 13 and a distributor stage 14, said alternating signal
is passed on to the
36 induction coils 16 which, at both ends of the measured distance, generate
at the pipe 15 a field
37 orientated in the same direction as the direction of flow of the water. The
voltage curve 17 as a
38 function of time is shown as a trapezoidal voltage, and, with the help of
the control logic of the
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IC, the gradient a in the total amount, while interacting with the VD setting
and the signal of the
6 potentiometer 7 or flow meter 8, is always kept within the inventive range.
Furthermore, the
7 control logic of the Calc Tech device comprises an internal and external
error identification
8 facility.
9
In a simplified embodiment for pipeline systems with a low, constant water
through flow,
11 the IC 2 can be firmly wired to a potentiometer 7, with the signal and
pulse changes of modules
12 10 to 13 being eliminated. In this case, the signal is converted via the
transistor bridge switch 9
13 into an alternating voltage with steep edges in accordance with the
invention. If the water
14 consumption is somewhat higher, a power unit 12 for the output driver is
inserted in the form of
direct voltage.
16 Alternatively, according to a further embodiment of the inventive device,
it is possible, in
17 the transistor bridge switch 9, to generate directly a push-pull signal
from a direct voltage.
18 In a more versatile embodiment, the Calc Tech device comprises a plurality
of
19 synchronously controllable assemblies for signal intensification purposes
(11, 12 and 13). This
allows the total performance to be adapted quickly to pipeline systems with
greatly fluctuating
21 requirements, as for example in technical applications. Performance values
from 2 watts to
22 several kilo watts can thus be provided in stages (this corresponds to
continuous alternating
23 currents of 0.1 A via 10 A up to several hundred ampere).
24
All switches have in common that they generate pulses whose voltage changes,
in the
26 total amount, as a function of time, range from at least around 20 Volts
per micro-second up to 1
27 kVolt per micro-second. The type of signal and the voltage curve as a
function of time are
28 determined by the individual assemblies (e.g. rectangular voltage, saw-
tooth voltage,
29 trapezoidal voltage with steep edge and with or without overdrive signals
by switching-over or
higher harmonic frequencies, etc.).
31
32 In a further versatile embodiment, the inventive device comprises digitally
controllable
33 alternating and frequency converters combined with frequency filters. This
permits the controlled
34 setting of the voltage curve, as a function of time, of the amplitude of
the pulse, of the current-
voltage characteristics as well as the cleaning up of the signal in order to
avoid performance-
36 reducing inductions and higher harmonic vibrations and interaction with
fields acting from the
37 outside. Thus, current peaks of 200 A up to several kA, which are due to
switching, can be
38 filtered out or excluded by control measures.
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6 Further assembly examples of the inventive device are shown in Figures 3 and
4.
7 Whereas Figure 3 shows the flow chart of several consumers (of which one
consumer,
8 separately, uses a boiler) which are all supplied with water treated in
accordance with the
9 invention. Figure 4 shows a larger pipeline network with an integrated
boiler and with a Calc
Tech device operating additionally and separately for the boiler. The
operating principle of the
11 Calc Tech device connected to a flow meter is the same, with an A.C. signal
being applied to
12 the induction coils. The generators integrated into the control electronics
generate the inventive
13 pulse and continuously vary the output frequency in such a way that, in
each sweep cycle, twice
14 the frequency corresponding to the respective water flow speed is applied
to the inductors. The
signal of the generator can be folded into individual members and, as a
result, the projection of
16 the members on the folded length can supply a feedback control range to
achieve the desired
17 effect. With the help of narrower or wider folds, this design permits
adaptation to the required
18 frequency. The performance of the generators and the performance of the
voltage systems are
19 combined in such a way that the intensities of the generators, jointly via
a driver, lead to the
output and to the coils provided at both ends, with the magnetic lines being
rectified.
21
22 Furthermore, it is proposed that an alternating current modified as a
function of the water
23 throughput and having a frequency ranging from 0 to 10 kHz, preferably 10
Hz to 6 kHz, flows
24 through the coils arranged at both ends. Thus, with a flow speed of 0.1 m/s
in a standard
domestic water pipe (diameter 2.54 cm) good results were achieved with only 50
pulses.
26 Independently of the water hardness, the performance optimum relative to
the energy
27 consumption was achieved as from approximately 70 pulses. Higher
intensities such as 100 to
28 150 pulses per second increase the efficiency only insubstantially. The
automatic control
29 electronics in the Calc Tech device, optionally connected to flow meters,
ensure that, in the
case of different water flow speeds, the treatment of the water is adapted to
the water
31 throughput.
32
33 Furthermore, the inventive Calc Tech device is also suitable for treating
cooling water.
34 Two embodiments are shown in Figures 5 and 6.
36 The following Calc Tech devices designed in accordance with the invention
are
37 incorporated into the cooling water circuits:
38
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Condenser circuit: Condenser power 1700 kW
6 Water quantity 140m/h
7 Required: 1 Calc Tech device
8 (35 W power, 1 Hz to 10 kHz, potentiometer)
9 Oil cooler circuit: Oil cooler power 255 kW
Water quantity 33 m/h
11 Required: 1 Calc Tech device
12 (10 W power, 0 Hz to 6 kHz, potentiometer)
13 Fresh water circuit: Drinking water/industrial water well
14 Water quantity 5 m/h (several outlets)
Required: 1 Calc Tech device
16 (5 W power, 0 Hz to 6 kHz, potentiometer)
17 The pulse frequency limits are determined via the potentiometer settings.
As the quantities
18 supplied are constant, there is no need for a flow meter.
19
By using the optimised Calc Tech device featuring a low energy consumption and
a
21 simple design, lime is prevented from being deposited at the hot pipe
surfaces of the
22 evaporation condensers and at the oil coolers of the screw-type
compressors; such lime
23 deposits would lead to a reduction in performance.
24
In view of the design of the water circuit, the lime is deposited in the
intermediate water
26 container and can be discharged via a drain valve.
27
28 The inventive method and the Calc Tech device operating in accordance with
the
29 invention, while comprising a low energy consumption and a simple design
which is less prone
to failure, generates in the water alternating electro-magnetic fields with a
varying frequency
31 which cause the formation of micro-fine crystals, as a result of which the
occurrence of larger
32 lime crystals is prevented. The micro-fine crystals have no adhesive
ability; they are flushed out
33 by the water. The Calc Tech device adapts itself continuously to the
pulses, so that even with
34 slowly flowing water an optimum effect is achieved.
36 To summarise: the present invention relates to a method of and device for
treating water
37 by means of a pulsed, electro-magnetic field wherein, via a length of the
water-conducting pipe
38 15, at both ends of same, via induction coils 16, there is generated a
magnetic field whose
21854091.1 9
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intensity can be set by controlling the frequency of pulses which are
generated in an integrated
6 circuit IC 2. The intensity is automatically controlled by limiting the
frequency by means of a flow
7 meter 8 as a function of the water throughput rate, or via a fixedly
settable potentiometer 7 as a
8 function of the mean water consumption and the pipe diameter, wherein the
changing frequency
9 of the cumulative signal formed in the IC 2 and generated from the signal of
a ramp generator 4
whose frequency is varied by a scanner 6 via a counter module 5 and from the
signal of a
11 voltage-dependent generator 3, constitutes a frequency-controlled first
signal which is converted
12 via a transistor bridge switch 9 and a push-pull amplifier 10 and
subsequently added, in turn, to
13 a signal from the voltage-current converter 11 with a connected power unit
12. The signal
14 obtained in this way is passed on to the input of an amplifier stage 13 and
from there, in the
form of an alternating voltage used here as "push-pull" voltage, applied to
the action-rectified
16 windings of the induction coils 16 whose electro-magnetic field changes
with the physical
17 properties of the through-flowing frequency, wherein the change in terms of
time of the voltage,
18 per pulse, amounts to at least 20 Volts per micro-second. The purpose of
the term "push-pull
19 voltage" is to express that a change in polarity of the sign (as in the
case of alternating voltage)
takes place.
21
22 List of reference numbers:
23
24 1 12 V power supply unit
2 IC with control logic
26 3 voltage-controlled generator
27 4 ramp generator
28 5 counter module
29 6 scanner
7 potentiometer
31 8 flow meter
32 9 transistor bridge switch
33 10 push-pull amplifier
34 11 voltage current converter
12 power unit
36 13 amplifier stage
37 14 distributor stage for the inductors
38 15 pipe
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16 induction coils
6 17 U-t diagram with parameter a
7
21854091.1 11
