DE10000874A1 - Emergency cross-flow water filter is contained within portable case and electrically powered by solar cells or wind generator - Google Patents

Abstract

A cross-flow water filter is installed in a portable case and is operated using electrical power from a solar cell panel, wind generator or other regenerative power source. Inside the case is a base-plate which provides physical support to the water pipes and purification system consisting of coarse filter, fine filter, cross-slow filter module, pump etc. The case further contains instruments which monitor water quality e.g. pH and sedimentary content of both raw and treated water.

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Extreme climatic balancing processes have increased in recent years possibly due to global warming due to global warming Greenhouse effect. These processes are expressed, for example, in Severe weather with storm and heavy rainfall, which often results in a row Flood disasters. Whole areas are included Mud water flooded. Because this water is polluted with earth mud and Bacteria, this results in a lack of drinking water for the people concerned.

It is state of the art that water can be Clean filtration techniques such as microfiltration, nanofiltration or reverse osmosis can. These methods are detailed in the publicly available literature mechanical process engineering described.

Such systems are found today in various forms. Size Crossflow filtration systems are installed stationary in buildings. Smaller system are also built into containers to make them light and compact, ready to connect To be able to transport shape. Mobility can be achieved by opening the container is provided to a truck.

Many variants have also been implemented for powering such systems. This are u. a. the connection to the local power grid, or the supply via your own Units such as diesel engines. But wind power and photovoltaics are also becoming Electricity generation used by container systems, usually in combination with one Diesel generator.

Small systems that are operated with emergency power generators are u. a. also for military operations available.

The disadvantage here is that the water cleaned with the help of the above systems is not directly available to the people concerned. It is also not by the Those affected who know their situation and their own needs better than external helpers, generated and distributed by us.  

So far, the water has either been piped directly to the point of use or it is filled into barrels and bottles, which are then filled with the help of Vehicles must be distributed.

However, this type of distribution is often difficult in disaster areas because for example, due to landslides, the roads are no longer passable. The Effort, both of a technical nature and in terms of personnel, for which in Emergency water supply in disaster areas is practiced at the moment quite high and consequently also expensive, time-consuming and sluggish.

Another disadvantage is the fact that today's power supply for Emergency supplies mainly with fossil fuels via internal combustion engines he follows. The excessive use of fossil fuels is high Probability is the cause of the increasing storms, which are becoming more and more common emerge in areas that were previously unheard of by these forces of nature.

The object of the invention is an easy-to-use case device for cleaning of water through membrane crossflow filtration which provides the the electricity required for this itself, for example with the help of solar or wind energy generated.

This object is achieved by the structure with the features of claim 1.

The advantage here is that the device for water purification and for it required power supply is completely housed in a case. Thereby disadvantages of the technology available today can be avoided.

The case is rustproof. This is essential for the intended use. Moreover it is robust and due to its cuboid shape it can be stacked densely, so that there is something available Transport volume can be used optimally. This reduces the number of Transport and therefore costs.

The advantage of its low weight is no less important. This means that Box device is easily portable by a human. Because of the robustness it is also not sensitive to its handling, for example if it comes from a helper Hands should fall.

This robust installation in a suitcase even allows, and this is a invaluable considering the condition of the disaster areas affected, a parachute drop from the air.

The device is easy to use in just a few steps. So that's it affected people can supply themselves with clean water on their own and distribute it according to the needs known to them. This sets Human resources at foreign aid organizations are free, while others are not can take on less important tasks. This does not make the relief efforts effective irrelevant and in turn reduces the time and costs.  

Prerequisite for the unrestricted independent use of the Case device according to claim 1 is a self-sufficient power supply. For this serve z. B. in Case transportable solar modules and / or a dismantled small wind turbine. This has the advantage that there is no additional supply of fuel, as usually required for emergency generators.

The use of regenerative energies for this device does not release CO ₂ , which has led to global climate change due to its excessive release in the industrialized countries over the past decades. Local climatic compensation processes that occur in the context of these global changes may lead to a more frequent occurrence of severe weather disasters, which force the above-mentioned relief actions. It should be considered if funds are used in rescue operations that, when they are used, release the substances that cause the disaster, even if they only make up a small part of the total emissions.

That being said, it is a huge advantage that electricity generation for the Water purification can be secured anywhere, regardless of a working one Power grid. Often enough it can be said that in the event of a flood disaster associated with storm damage, the public power grid in the affected regions has collapsed.

In summary, it can be said that the case device according to claim 1 Maximum freedom for relief missions in emergency water supply situations guaranteed.  

Example description

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are in following described in more detail.

Figure 1 shows what a box-type device looks like and how you can imagine using it.

Figure 2 shows how it works based on a possible process scheme.

Figure 3 shows the assignment of the mounting plate on the bottom of the case

Figure 4 shows the functional principle of crossflow filtration

Photovoltaics and / or a are examples of regenerative electricity generation small wind turbine generator that can be dismantled.

The functionality of the case device can best be seen from the process diagram that is drawn in Figure 2.

The following parts are essentially required to set up a sample case with photovoltaics:

• - Bag for filling the dirty water
• - Funnel and filter cloths for filling the dirty water into the bag
• - Beaker for filling the funnel
• - Coarse filter and fine filter for pre-filtration in front of the crossflow filter module
• - Manual shut-off valves for the filter module
• - Inlet pressure manometer to the filter module
• - Water pump to generate the required filtration pressure
• - Crossflow filter module / microfiltration module, 0.2 µm pore size
• - Filtration pressure manometer after the filter module
• - Manual shut-off valve, throttle valve for generating the filtration pressure
• - waste water drainage pipe
• - Water meter for the clean water obtained
• - Manual shut-off valve, drinking water pipe
• - Drinking water filler neck
• - Bags as drinking water collection containers  
• - Solar module for converting solar energy into electricity
• - Charge controller and battery for energy storage
• - Pipes and plastic hoses
• - Wiring the electrical components
• - Aluminum case, light and does not rust
• - Mounting plate for fastening the pipes
• - Fastening devices for charge controller, battery etc. in the case
• - Storage compartment for the solar module for transport in a case
• - Water analysis set / small water laboratory
• - Cleaning agents for the filter module and the water pipes
• - waterproof instruction manual

The case could be built as follows, for example:

It is made of aluminum and has a hinged lid. It is 78 cm long, 38 cm wide and 38 cm deep. It has two snap fasteners at the front and two handles on both sides (similar to Figure 1). The lid is on a rubber seal.

On the outside on the left side of the case is the connection for the to cleaning water and on the right the neck for the drinkable water as well concentrated dirty water.

On the bottom of the case there is a mounting plate ( picture 3) that stands on rubber knobs (door stops). All water-carrying parts are fastened to the mounting plate with pipe clamps.

The battery and charge controller can be attached to the inside walls of the case become. They are to be installed so far above the floor that the electrical parts are not can come into contact with water.

For the solar module, a horizontal storage device should be attached to the case Be mounted inside walls on which the module can be placed. For protection should still a foam mat or a polystyrene plate can be placed on the solar module.

The dirty water and drinking water bag with the associated hoses for Connections to the outside fittings are placed in the case. As well the filling funnel and the filter cloths.

A water analysis set is attached to the front inside of the case. The Cleaning agents for the filter module can be placed in plastic bottles on the bottom of the case be put.  

The operating instructions are protected under the case lid in a plastic film Adhesive tape stuck. If you fold up the case lid, you can see the instructions read comfortably.

The solar module must be set up so that the sun is as good as possible can shine (on the case or next to it).

The bag for the dirty water template should be hung up slightly higher for example on a branch of a tree. Then a filter funnel is placed on the filling opening set and covered with filter cloth.

The dirty water is filled into the bag through this filter. Thereby most of the sludge is already separated. The filter cloth can easily always be rinsed off again.

If the bag is filled, the bag must contain the drinking water to be produced connected and also hung up. Of course, the bags can too just be held up.

To drain the concentrated dirty water, you have to have one Connect the drain hose to the case.

Then you can open the valves on the mounting plate and the water pump turn on. Immediately afterwards, the sewage shut-off valve is almost closed until only little waste water flows off and sufficient drinking water is produced. The one in The pressure that builds up the filter module can then be read on the discharge manometer. The Pressure should not exceed the maximum allowed for the module, otherwise the Burst filter elements in the module.

When the water flows, it flows over the pre-cleaned tank the coarse and fine filter using the pump through the filter module. There the residual dirt and bacteria accumulated.

If the filter performance drops noticeably, you can briefly open the shut-off valve in the sewage pipe. Then the water flows freely through the capillaries and can flush out the dirt. Then you can close the valve again and continue filtering. Figure 3 illustrates how crossflow filtration works. The name comes from the fact that the water is filtered across the current. This leaves the filter area almost free.

In the description above, also consider the flow diagram in Figure 2.

To further clarify the water purification process with such a case device, here is an example operating manual:

• - put the suitcase in a dry place with sufficient sunlight
• - get the bags and the tubes out of the case and connect them
• - hang up the bags as high as possible
• - get the funnel, the beaker and the filter cloth from the case
• - place the solar module in the direction of the sun, on the case or next to it  
• - put the funnel with filter cloth on the dirty water tank ◊ Use the beaker to fill dirty water into the funnel until the bag is full
• - open all valves
• - As soon as the pump is filled with water, switch on the pump
• - wait a few seconds
• - close the waste water valve until the pressure gauge in front of it indicates approx. 0.9 bar
• - if clean water is now produced, everything is fine
• - If the waste water tank is almost empty, switch off the pump
• - Close valves, empty drinking water bags if necessary
• - go to ◊ until there is enough clean water to drink
• - Finally unscrew the dirty water hose
• - instead, connect the bag with the clean water
• - open dirty water inlet and outlet valve
• - Switch on the pump
• - when the pipes have been rinsed clean, switch off the pump and close the valves
• - empty both bags
• - The process is finished, put everything back in the case

The example versions above assume a power supply with photovoltaic Modules. Alternatively, a small wind turbine that can be dismantled comparable electrical power can be accommodated in the case, the on-site can be assembled.

In order to be able to provide electricity for day and night operation, this is an option also the possibility of using both energy supplies alternatively or simultaneously to connect. Energy balance with a battery is required as the offer can currently fluctuate in solar radiation or wind strength.

In principle, other regenerative electricity generation are also conceivable, which in the sense of Claim 1 should not be excluded here. For example, this could be a Be fuel cell that is operated with regeneratively produced fuel. In such and comparable cases, a must be available for the expected deployment time on site sufficient amount of fuel must be included in the case.

Claims (7)

1. box device for cleaning water with the help of regeneratively generated electricity ( Figure 1), characterized in that a crossflow filtration ( Figure 4) is installed in a case and this with the help of solar power or electricity via a small wind turbine or both or both Similar regenerative power generation principles are operated. 2. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that a system according to the principle on the process diagram ( Figure 2) is completely packed in a case that allows self-sufficient use for water purification. There is a mounting plate on the floor inside the case to hold the water-carrying system components ( Fig. 3). 3. Mounting plate according to claim 1, characterized in that it carries the elements coarse filter, fine filter, crossflow filter module, pump, etc. and these are in principle arranged according to the arrangement in Figure 3, according to the principle of the method ( Figure 2). 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical components by Fastening devices are attached to the inside of the case, and / or that own storage space for horizontal storage such as for Photovoltaic modules are attached. 5. Accessories according to claim 1, characterized in that an operation of the system similar to Figure 1 according to the scheme ( Figure 2) is made possible, such as water bags, filter funnels, filter cloths, etc. This is portable in the case. 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the required water connections through the Case side walls are guided so that the water supply and drainage Connections are accessible from the outside. 7. Accessories according to claim 1, characterized in that a water quality analysis of both the Dirty water as well as the purified water and the concentrated Sewage is possible. This water analysis kit should be used for both determination chemical and physical properties such as pH values and Sediment content, etc. may be suitable.