METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOSING A DISSOLVABLE CHEMICAL TO WATER

Abstract

A method of treating water includes directing a stream of water towards a lateral side of a water treatment substance body contained within a holder. The water stream serves to abrade the water treatment substance body, thereby to dose the water with the water treatment substance. Dosed water is thus formed. The dosed water is allowed to pass through at least one opening in the holder.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A method of treating water comprising: directing a jet of water towards a lateral side of a water treatment substance body, which comprises a bed of water treatment substance tablets contained within a holder, wherein the holder comprises: a cylindrical sleeve inside in which the bed of water treatment substance tablets is partly located; and a transverse trough at an operatively lower end of the sleeve, the trough providing a water treatment zone, and wherein the trough has: a water access opening provided at one end of the trough to direct water towards a lateral side of the water treatment substance body; and a plurality of dosed water openings provided in side walls of the trough; the water treatment substance body resting in the trough and extending up the sleeve such that the trough contains the lowermost water treatment substance tablets of the water treatment substance body; wherein the water jet enters the trough through the water access opening and directly and actively abrades the lowermost of the water treatment substance tablets in the water treatment zone such that the lowermost water treatment substance tablets are consumed cleanly, with exposed surfaces thereof being stripped off by direct hydrodynamic force and with the dosed water openings continually being blasted open by the water jet, and with water treatment substance thereby being released into the water such that dosed water is formed; and wherein the consumed water treatment substance tablets are replaced by fresh water treatment substance tablets that move downwardly into the trough; and allowing the dosed water to pass through the plurality of dosed water openings in the trough.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the directing of the jet of water towards the lateral side of the water treatment substance body is effected below the surface of a body of water, with the holder thus being immersed at least partly in the body of water such that at least the trough is immersed in the body of water, and with the dosed water that passes through the opening in the holder entering the body of water so that the body of water is thereby treated with the water treatment substance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the body of water is provided on a pan located below the holder, with dosed water that accumulates on the pan then passing through an outlet into another body of water, in a compartment below the pan.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising simultaneously directing jets of water towards a plurality of the holders, with the holders being arranged so that a swirling or rotational movement is thereby indirectly imparted to the body of water.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the direction of the water jet towards the water treatment substance body is horizontal.

21. A water treatment apparatus comprising: a water treatment vessel providing a water treatment zone; a holder for holding a water treatment substance body that comprises a bed of water treatment tablets, the holder comprising a sleeve having a transverse trough at an operatively lower end of the sleeve, the water treatment substance tablets, in use, being contained in the holder such that the water treatment substance body rests in the trough and extends up the sleeve such that the trough contains the lowermost water treatment substance tablets of the water treatment substance body, the trough having: a water access opening at one end thereof through which, in use, a water jet is directed into the trough; and a plurality of dosed water openings in side walls of the trough, through which dosed water can pass from the trough into the vessel; wherein the trough provides the water treatment zone; and a water jet generating means inside the vessel, for generating the jet of water and directing it into the trough through the water access opening in a direction transverse to a longitudinal or vertical axis of the holder and thus, in use, towards a lateral side of the water treatment substance body, thereby directly and actively to abrade the lowermost of the water treatment substance tablets such that the lowermost water treatment substance tablets are consumed cleanly, with exposed surfaces thereof being stripped off by direct hydrodynamic force and with the dosed water openings continually being blasted open by the water jet, with water treatment substance thereby being released into the water such that dosed water is formed, and with consumed water treatment substance tablets being replaced by fresh water treatment substance tablets that move downwardly into the trough.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the vessel includes a pan located below the holder, and an outlet in the pan through which dosed water which accumulates on the pan can pass into a lower compartment of the vessel.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the water jet generating means comprises a nozzle, with the nozzle being arranged such that, in use, it directs the jet of water in a horizontal direction.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a plurality of the holders is provided, with a water jet generating means being provided for each of the holders, and with the holders being arranged such that, in use, a swirling or rotational movement is imparted to a body of water in which they are located.

25. A water treatment installation comprising: a water treatment apparatus according to claim 21 with its holder containing a water treatment substance body; and a water conduit connected to the apparatus to feed water into the trough of the holder through the water access opening of the trough.

Description

[0044] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings

[0045] In the drawings,

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of water treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 in exploded view, with some details omitted;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows, schematically, the internal arrangement of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of one of the cartridges of FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of a bottom portion of the cartridge of FIG. 4;

[0051] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged side view of a bottom or lower portion of the cartridge of FIG. 4, with its nozzle attached to it;

[0052] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged side view, similar to that of FIG. 6, of a bottom portion of a cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged side view, similar to that of FIG. 6, of a bottom portion of a cartridge according to yet another embodiment of the invention;

[0054] FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the cartridge of FIG. 8;

[0055] FIG. 10 shows a tree-dimensional view of water treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0056] FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal sectional view through XI-XI in FIG. 10; and

[0057] FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of the water treatment apparatus of FIG. 10, with some detail omitted for clarity.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, reference numeral 10 generally indicates water treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0059] The water treatment apparatus 10 includes a vessel 11 having a circular roof 12 in the form of a lid which fits snugly over the upper end of a cylindrical wall 14 whose lower end is closed off with a base 16.

[0060] Four circular openings 18 are provided in the roof 12. The openings 18 are spaced equidistantly apart from one another and are also spaced the same distance from the perimeter of the roof 12. Three of the openings 18 accommodate a holder, generally indicated by reference numeral 20.

[0061] The wall 14 of the vessel 11 tapers downwardly from the roof 12 to the base 16. This facilitates transport of the vessel 11 since a number of the vessels 11 can then be stacked one within another for transport purposes.

[0062] Each holder 20 comprises a cylindrical sleeve, generally indicated by reference numeral 22. The sleeve 22 comprises an upper section 24 of constant diameter as well as a lower section 26 which tapers downwardly from the upper section 24 to a lower end portion 28. The upper end of each holder is closed off with a lid 25 which fits snugly over the upper end of the holder section 24.

[0063] Three lugs 30, spaced equidistantly apart, protrude from the upper cylindrical section 24, towards its lower end. The lugs 30 fit into recesses 32 in the roof 12. It will be appreciated that, by means of the lugs 30/recesses 22, each holder 20 is prevented from rotating relative to the vessel 11 when the lugs are engaged with the recesses. Furthermore, by means of the lugs 30/recesses 32, the depth to which the holders 20 protrude into the vessel 11 is fixed. It will also be appreciated that the holders 20 are thus removably mounted located in the roof 12 of the vessel, and can thus readily be removed and replaced as necessary.

[0064] The lower end portion 28 of each sleeve 22 is provided with a transverse trough 31. Each trough 31 comprises a pair of sides 32, 34 which taper towards each other from a broad trough end 36 to a narrower trough end 38. The trough 31 has a base 39 which slants downwardly from the trough end 36 to the trough end 38. At the trough end 36 is provided a water access opening/nozzle mounting opening 40, while towards the other end 38 are provided, in the trough side walls 32, 34, a plurality of dosed water outlet openings 42 sized and arranged as shown in FIG. 5.

[0065] A plurality of calcium hypochlorite pellets or prills (not shown) are provided inside each sleeve 22 and thus rest in the trough 31. The pellets or prills are thus in the form of a bed contained within the sleeve 22.

[0066] Preferably, the sleeves 22 of the holders are of natural or transparent plastic material, so that the levels of the beds of pellets within the sleeves can be monitored. Thus, this will facilitate knowing when all the pellets have been consumed so that the holders must be refilled with pellets.

[0067] Naturally, for a particular application, a greater or lesser number of holders 20, e.g. two or four, can be used, depending on the volume of water to be treated, the treatment levels required, etc. The apparatus 10 is thus versatile in this regard since the spare openings in the vessel roof can merely be closed off with one of the covers 64.

[0068] A water inlet 44 is provided in the vessel wall 14 with a water pipe 46 leading from the inlet 44 below each of the holders 20. The far end of the pipe 46 is closed off with an end piece 48, and bleeder valves 50, 52 are provided in the pipe 46 on either side of the furthest holder 20.

[0069] Below each holder 20, an L-shaped pipe 54 protrudes upwardly from the inlet pipe 46. Each pipe 54 thus includes an upwardly extending leg 56 and a leg 58 extending at right angles to it. At the free end of the pipe 58 is provided a nozzle 60, with the nozzle 60 being directed towards the water access opening 40 of the trough 31. However, in another version of the invention as shown in FIG. 6, the pipe leg 58 is fixed to the end 36 of the trough 31 by means of a nut 62 which thus engages threads on the pipe leg 58, with the nozzle 60 then located inside the trough 31. It will be appreciated that, in this version of the invention, when all the calcium hypochlorite pellets have been consumed, the holder 20 is not removed but instead is merely refilled by removing its cover 25.

[0070] The fourth opening 18 in the roof 12 of the vessel serves as an inspection opening and is normally covered with a cover 64.

[0071] The vessel 11 is also fitted with a water outlet (not shown) which is typically provided in the wall 14, as well as with water level control means (not shown). The water level control means is typically one of the control means as described in South African Patent No. 98/10329, which is hence incorporated herein by reference.

[0072] In use, the vessel 11 will contain a body of volume of water to be treated, with the level of the volume of water being controlled such that the surface of the water extends partway up the sides of the sleeves 22 of the holders 20. Thus, the dosed water outlet openings 42 will be covered by the body of water i.e. will be located within the body of water. It will be appreciated that, by means of the water inlet pipe 46 and nozzles 60, water will continuously be introduced into the vessel 11, while treated water will continuously exit the vessel through the water outlet.

[0073] Fresh water, i.e. water to be treated, is directed, by means of the nozzles 60, as jets against or onto lower lateral sides of the beds of pellets resting in the troughs 31 and extending up the sleeves 22. The water jets are thus directed horizontally onto the pellets in the lower portions of the beds. The water jets impinging against the pellets directly and actively abrade or erode the pellets, causing the calcium hypochlorite therein to be released and to dissolve so that dosed water is produced. The dosed water exits the troughs 31 through the dosed water openings 42 into the body of water inside the vessel 11, thereby treating the water.

[0074] In the apparatus 10, fresh water flow into and dosed water flow out of the holders 20 are not both linear, i.e. are not both in an axial direction relative to the holder or sleeve axis. Thus, in the apparatus 10, water flow into the holders is transversely to, and specifically orthogonally to, the axes of the holders with only water flow out of the holders being linear. The Applicant believes that this will substantially facilitate the dosed water openings remaining unclogged by solid residue from the pellets.

[0075] The bleeder valves 50, 52 provide an adjustment mechanism to slow down the flow rate of the water in the pipe 46 near the third cartridge 20, thereby providing a means for adjusting the water flow rate to the nozzle 60 of the third holder 20.

[0076] It will be appreciated that the apparatus 10 will normally be mounted on top of a main reservoir of water to be treated, with the vessel water outlet thus discharging dosed water into the main reservoir. The installation will then include a series of control valves and an in-line flow measurement device, e.g. a rotameter, to allow a user to monitor and adjust dosed water flow from the apparatus on demand. Instead, the apparatus 10 can be mounted to a base mixing reservoir in which dosed or treated water is collected before being pumped or withdrawn, e.g. by means of a venturi, into either a main water line or directly onto agricultural produce. In addition to then including control valves and a rotameter as described, the installation will then typically include a cistern valve inside the base reservoir to regulate the water level in the base reservoir, and, optionally, a pump for injecting dosed water into the main water line. If desired, electronic control and measurement mechanics can also be provided, for automatic control.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 7, reference numeral 100 generally indicates a holder according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0078] The holder 100 also includes a sleeve 22 having a lower tapering sleeve section 26 and a trough 31 at the lower end of the sleeve sections 26.

[0079] In the holder 100, instead of the trough 31 being provided with the dosed water openings 42, side wall portions 102 of the trough sides 32, 34, in proximity to the nozzle 60, are foraminous or mesh-like, providing a plurality of dosed water openings 104.

[0080] The holder 100 functions in exactly the same manner as the cartridge 20.

[0081] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, reference numeral 200 generally indicates a holder according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

[0082] The holder 200 is similar to the holder 10 and thus also includes a sleeve 22 having a tapering lower sleeve section 26. At the lower end 28 of the holder 200, a central circular opening, generally indicated by reference numeral 202, is provided.

[0083] The holder 200 also includes a basket, generally indicated by reference numeral 204.

[0084] The basket 204 includes a solid circular base 206 and a foraminous cylindrical side wall 208 protruding upwardly from the base 206. The foraminous side wall 208 thus provides a plurality of dosed water openings 212. An outwardly protruding peripheral flange 210 is provided around the upper edge of the wall 208, with the flange 210 serving to locate the basket 204 in position within the opening 202 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0085] In FIG. 8, the nozzle 60 is shown located outside the basket 204, with its nozzle opening 212 being of horizontal elongate shape, as shown most clearly in FIG. 9.

[0086] In use, the jet of water exiting the nozzle 60 thus impinges against the wall 208 of the basket 204 and hence against the calcium hypochlorite pellets held in the basket. Treated water exits through the mesh openings into the body of water in the vessel.

[0087] In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the apparatus 10 may include, adjacent (e.g. immediately below) its roof 12, a bulk container for holding a bulk supply, e.g. 50-100 kg, of the calcium hypochlorite pellets. The holders 20 will then depend from a base of the bulk container. It will be appreciated that the holders 20 will automatically be replenished, by means of gravity, with pellets from the bulk container as the pellets in the holders are consumed. It is envisaged that the apparatus according to this embodiment will be used for treating larger volumes of water. Typically, 2 to 5 of the holders 20 can then be provided.

[0088] The Applicant believes that the water treatment apparatus 10, provide significant advantages over existing water treatment apparatus of which it is aware, including the following: [0089] due to the arrangement of the holders 20, 100, 200 and the nozzles 60, a swirling or rotational movement is imparted to the body of water in the vessel 11, with this swirling or rotational water movement assisting in calcium hypochlorite dissolving evenly and consistently without clogging of dosage openings taking place; [0090] by means of the more-or-less horizontally directed jets of water impinging against or directed towards the sides of the beds of calcium hypochlorite pellets, coupled to the relatively small sizes of the pellets which are thus randomly orientated within the bed rather than being arranged in a specific orderly stacked fashion, consistent dosage of calcium hypochlorite into the water is achieved, e.g. bridging of tablets thereby preventing upper tablets entering the trough/basket does not readily occur; [0091] as a result of the water jets impinging directly and actively against the lateral sides of the beds, there is little or no clogging of the dosed water openings, since the outer layers (including inert residues) are stripped off by direct hydrodynamic force and scale cannot readily form in the dosed water openings since they are continually blasted open by the water jets; any sediment that forms ends up in the bottom of the trough/basket and does not impede either water flow through the dosed water openings or the action of the water jet on the calcium hypochlorite tablets in the bed; [0092] due to the force of the water from the jets, calcium hypochlorite is continually dissolved from the lowermost pellets, and as the lowermost pellets are consumed, new pellets readily pass from the upper regions of the bed to the lower portions thereof; [0093] the water jets impinge directly onto the tablets at the lower end of the bed of pellets, thereby ensuring consistent and accurate water dosage; [0094] the tapered bases 39 of the troughs 31 ensure that, when the apparatus is not in use, water can drain from the trough 31 through a drainage opening (not shown) provided at the lower end of the bases 39.

[0095] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, reference numeral 300 generally indicates water treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0096] Parts of the apparatus 300 which are the same or similar to those of the apparatus 10 hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, are indicated with the same reference numerals.

[0097] The vessel 11 of the apparatus 300 includes another cylindrical wall 302 below the cynlindrical wall 14 and being of slightly smaller diameter so that a peripheral inwardly extending shoulder 304 is defined between the lower end portion of the wall 14 and the upper end portion of the wall 302. The base 16 closes off the lower end of the wall 302.

[0098] The lid 12 of the apparatus 300 includes a central handle 306 to facilitate removing and replacing the lid. The lid 12 also includes a peripheral flange 308 which fits over the upper end of a cylindrical wall 310, the purpose of which is described in more detail hereunder.

[0099] The apparatus 300 includes six water treatment substance holders 312, arranged in two banks of 3 holders each. Each holder 312 includes a more-or-less triangular (when seen in plan view) funnel or chute 314, with all the funnels 314 protruding radially inwardly from a lower peripheral edge portion 315 of a filler arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 320. The filler arrangement 320 also includes a circumferential shoulder piece 322 flaring upwardly outwardly from the edge portion 316 to the cylindrical wall 310. The apices 324 of the funnels 314 meet at the vessel centre, i.e. at the vertical axis of the vessel, and the funnels 314 are arranged side by side so that they span the inside of the vessel 11. The shoulder piece 322 rests on an outwardly flowing shoulder 318 at the upper end of the wall 14.

[0100] At the lower end of each funnel 314 is provided a circular wall or cylinder 324 which tapers inwardly to one of the troughs 31. Each wall 324 , together with its associated trough 31, thus defines a water treatment substance contact chamber.

[0101] For each of the troughs 31, there is also provided an L-shaped pipe 54 (having limbs 56, 58) leading from the inlet pipe 46, and ending in one of the nozzles 60. The nozzles 60 are fixed to the trough ends 36 so that they are not visible i.e. they protrude through the nozzle mounting openings of the troughs.

[0102] The apparatus 300 also includes a circular interstitial pan 330 located between the wall 14 and the wall 302 and spanning the inside of the vessel 11. The pan 330 includes a concentric floor 332 from the outer edge of which protrude upwardly outwardly a flange 334 which rests on the shoulder 304. A circular central portion 336 protrudes from the inner periphery of the floor 332. Thus, a concentric trough or recess 333 is defined around the raised central portion 336, with the floor 332 defining the floor of the trough or recess. A pipe 337, providing a water discharge opening 340, is adjustably mounted in an opening provided in an off centre cylindrical weir 338. Water can thus pass from an upper compartment 342 defined by the wall 14 to a lower compartment 344 defined by the wall 302, by means of the pipe 337. The water discharge opening 340 of the pipe 337 is typically located at the level of the bottoms of the troughs 31.

[0103] The apparatus 300 functions in similar fashion to the apparatus 10. The funnels 314 and contact chambers are filled with calcium hypochlorite pellets or prills which rest in the troughs 31. The pellets are abraded or eroded by means of water jets from the nozzles as in the case of the apparatus 10. Dosed water exits the troughs through the openings 42 and accumulates on the pan 330, typically up to a level above the uppermost openings 42 so that the lower end portions of the holders 312 are submerged in the body of water on the pan 330. The dosed water then flows through the pipe opening or outlet 340, into the lower compartment 344 from where it can be dosed (not shown) into a main water supply or the like.

[0104] It will be appreciated that the funnels 314 and contact chambers can readily be replenished with pellets simply by removing the lid 16 and filling the funnels 314.

[0105] It will also be appreciated that, in the apparatus 300, the troughs 31 are located above the body of dosed water located in the compartment 342 i.e. on the pan 330.

[0106] The pan 330 serves to prevent or inhibit dosed water exiting the openings 42 in the troughs 31 from cascading non-uniformly into the storage vessel or compartment 344. Such cascading could readily result in significant chlorine losses to atmosphere over time, and a higher likelihood of particulate insoluble matter (inherently present in calcium hypochlorite pellets) from being sucked directly into an outlet pipe (not shown) for withdrawing dosed water from the vessel 11 (which could be problematic in applications where such particles can accrue and clog up apertures elsewhere in a water system which is treated with the dosed water).

[0107] Thus, the interstitial pan 330 has the following features and functions: [0108] it allows a body of water to form, with the body of water covering the contact chambers or troughs as well as the opening 42, when the apparatus is in use thereby permitting dosed, i.e. chlorinated, water and particulate matter exiting the contact chambers to join a swirling stream of water on the pan rather than cascading directly into the compartment 344; [0109] the floor 332 of the pan 330 provides a “sacrificial” surface or which unwanted inerts and insoluble residues can accumulate rather than passing into the compartment 344—those residues can then be removed when the apparatus is cleaned.

[0110] if desired, at least one concentric V-shaped furrow 340 can be provided in the floor 332 of the pan 330 as shown in broken line in FIG. 11. The furrow 340 will then have a steeper inner side 342, e.g. a vertical inner side 342, and a more gently sloping outer side 344. Combined with the centrifugal outward swirl of the body of water in the compartment 342 (resulting, amongst others, from the two banks of troughs 31 being so arranged so that water exiting their openings 42 impart the swirling motion), the furrow will prevent or inhibit particulate matter from flowing directly into the weir opening or outlet 340 and hence into the compartment 344. Such particles thus accumulate in the furrow 340 where they hence have a larger residence time to promote dissolution thereof and from where, i.e. finally undissolved particles, can hence ultimately be removed when the apparatus is cleaned. A plurality of the furrows, e.g. 2 to 3, may be provided.