System for recycling grey water

Abstract

System and method of recycling grey water, and more particularly a system and method to utilize grey water resulting from a cleaning activity such as a laundry or shower as an environmentally safe form of irrigation. In accordance with one embodiment of said system, pressure sensors and transmitters in various zones may be communicatively coupled to a system controller capable of regulating the use of at least one variable frequency drive with said system.

Claims

1. A system for recycling grey water comprising: at least one source of grey water; a grey water supply line for delivering said water from the at least one source to a tank; a pressure source for moving said grey water out of said tank; a variable frequency drive for controlling the rate at which said pressure source moves said grey water from said tank; at least one irrigation supply line for delivering said grey water from said tank to at least one emission device; at least one pressure sensor connected to said irrigation supply line collecting information about the pressure of said grey water in a particular zone, each zone defined by a geographic location corresponding to a particular portion of landscape subject to irrigation and each sensor and communicating said information to a centralized system controller; and said centralized system controller communicatively coupled to the variable frequency drive and pressure sensor; wherein the system controller is operative to automatically end delivery of grey water during an irrigation cycle, the cycle defined by the duration of delivery of grey water from said tank to the at least one emission device, when grey water within the tank falls to a predetermined level.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filtration means, said filtration means located on said grey water supply line.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a filtration means, said filtration means located on said grey water supply line.

4. A system for recycling grey water comprising: at least one source of grey water; a grey water supply line for delivering said water from the at least one source to a tank; a pressure source for moving said grey water out of said tank; a variable frequency drive for controlling the rate at which said pressure source moves said grey water from said tank; at least one irrigation supply line for delivering said grey water from said tank to at least one emission device; at least one pressure sensor connected to said irrigation supply line collecting information about the pressure of said grey water in a particular zone, each zone defined by a geographic location corresponding to a particular portion of landscape subject to irrigation, and each sensor further programming the required pump speed that said pump should operate for said zone; and a centralized system controller communicatively coupled to the variable frequency drive and pressure sensor; wherein the system controller is operative to automatically end delivery of grey water during an irrigation cycle, the cycle defined by the duration of delivery of grey water from said tank to the at least one emission device, when grey water within the tank falls to a predetermined level.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, reference numerals, and detailed description.

(2) The FIGURE is a schematic drawing grey water recycling system according to some embodiments of the present invention which can be applied to both residential, institutional, and commercial property embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and not for purposes of limiting the same. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of an enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

(4) With reference to The FIGURE, a block diagram is used to illustrate a system for recycling grey water 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. Said system 100 can be applied to both residential, institutional, and commercial property embodiments of the present invention. Although the FIGURE illustrates the primary elements of the system 100, the system 100 may also include any number and types of pipes, tubes, and/or connectors to connect the main elements of the system 100.

(5) The system 100 comprises a grey water source 10 and at least one holding tank 12 with at least one grey water inlet and at least one sewer outlet. The system in the FIGURE further comprises contaminated water 14, a pump(s) 16, a variable frequency drive (VFD) 18, a filtration means 20, pressurized clean water 22, landscape irrigation control valve 24, contaminated water treatment means 26 such as a public sewer or private black water treatment system, as well as landscape 28 which to irrigate and a system controller 30 for, among other things, regulating the on-off schedule of the system 100, the VFD 18 and the pump 16, as well as a pressure sensor and transmitter 32.

(6) The grey water 10 may be supplied from a number of sources including, but not limited to, the waste water generated from sinks, bath tubs, showers, and clothes washers. This water is stored in a holding tank 12 for use by the system 100 or to be ejected into the sewer (which may be public or private) or other contaminated water treatment system should grey water 10 levels surpass a preset point or otherwise can no longer be contained in the holding tank 12.

(7) In one embodiment of said tank 12, the tank 12 may further comprise an overflow drain. Said overflow drain operative to discharge excess grey water 10 to the sewer or black water treatment system.

(8) The size of the tank(s) 12 may vary depending upon the application. By way of example, and not limitation, a large commercial building or a residential apartment complex containing a relatively large number of grey water sources may require a larger tank or tanks than the size needed for a single-family home. The size of the landscape 28 to be irrigated also may affect the tank size. A smaller tank size may allow easier installation, especially where space for the tank is limited. However, a smaller tank may not allow optimization of the grey water to actual irrigation needs. The tank(s) 12 may be located inside or outside. If outside, the tank(s) 12 may be above ground, but preferably the tank is subsurface. Subsurface tanks avoid the need to replace plants or other usable landscape areas with a tank storage area that may require aesthetically-pleasing landscaping to disguise them. Subsurface tanks also may help avoid emission of unpleasant odors or noise that may be associated with storing and delivering the grey water 10.

(9) Connected to the tank 12 is a first reservoir inlet conduit which is used for inputting grey water 10 from sources within dwelling into the tank 12. Particularly, said inlet conduit is interfaced via lines and to the drains of household devices such as bathtubs, sinks, dishwasher, and clothes washers.

(10) The tank(s) 12 may also contain a sewer outlet. If the grey water 10 ever completely fills the tank(s) 12, but no irrigation is needed, the grey water 10 flows out of the tank(s) 12 via the sewer outlet into a sewage line. The sewage line may drain into the local sewer system, a septic system, or another subsurface-type passive irrigation system. The sewage line also may have an optional check valve or other back-flow prevention device to prevent sewage from flowing into and contaminating the contents of the tank(s) 12.

(11) The system for recycling grey water 100 further comprises a pump(s) 16, sometimes referred to as a sewage ejector(s), which is communicatively coupled to a system controller 30. Said system controller 30 comprises information about the irrigation needs of the landscape surrounding the system 100 and regulates the systems 100 activity to effectuate those needs most efficiently. This information may include, but is not limited to, information about required pressure or required pump frequency the pump needs to deliver the required flow and pressure at each zone.

(12) In another embodiment, the pressure sensor/transmitter 32, pump 16, VFD 18 with a pump controller that modulates the VFD speed to maintain constant specified pump discharge pressure to be one system. And the system controller 30 may be programmed to provide the required pump discharge pressure for each zone to the pump controller. The require pressure at the pump discharge for each zone will be based on calculating what the required pressure at pump discharge has to be (taking into account the elevation differences and piping pressure losses etc.) in order to maintain desired pressure at zone valve.

(13) In practice, it is possible that the grey water available, the storage capacity for the grey water, and the landscape watering requirements may not exactly match. To account for such variances, a system controller 30 is provided that may monitor the water level of single or multiple tanks and may make decisions about which water source to use for irrigation needs. In one embodiment, a separate controller may be used. Additionally, the system controller 30 may make irrigation and water source decisions based on external factors, such as economic tariffs or credits imposed or applied by a water purveyor and provide information regarding the pressure at zone valve(s) to the variable frequency drive for the pump to operate very efficiently.

(14) The aforementioned pump 16 moves the grey water 10 from the tank 12 via a grey water outlet (not shown) into an irrigation supply line. In one embodiment of the present invention, the grey water supply line (not shown) near the grey water outlet may optionally have a check valve for preventing back-flow of clean pressurized water into the tank. In one embodiment, a grey water flow meter 33 may also be included in order to measure the amount of grey diverted from the public or private sewer system. The irrigation supply line delivers the grey water to one or more irrigation zones covering the landscape 28. The system controller 30 may direct which irrigation control valves 24 are to be opened and when to close them. The aforementioned may help reduce the sewer fees charged by the utility company. In one embodiment, the zone valve may contain a pressure sensor.

(15) The system controller 30 activates a zone by opening a zone control valve for that particular zone. A landscape may be divided into multiple zones to optimize water use such that each zone receives the amount of water that is best suited for the plants and conditions in it or to ensure that there is sufficient pressure to effectively run the watering devices of the activated zone.

(16) The pump 16 is activated whenever there is a call for grey water 10 from the system controller 30 requesting grey water 10 to irrigate the landscape on or around the system 100. The pump 16 may further comprise a start stop functionality to be controlled by said system controller 30. The time period and frequency during which each landscape irrigation control valves(s) 24 is open and active, rain/moisture sensor, time clock features, programmed time period for backwash cycle, which solenoid valves are opened and closed, and the required pump speed (RPM) for each zone to operate properly may also be regulated by system controller 30.

(17) The pump 16 may further comprise a motor and means of regulating the same. In one embodiment said means may be a variable frequency drive (VFD) 18. The VFD 18 is operative to control the speed of the pump's motor. The VFD 18 may vary the speed of the motor and thereby vary the pump flow rate and discharge pressure to maintain the desired pressure at the zone valve(s).

(18) In a preferred embodiment the VFD 18 is communicatively coupled to the system controller 30. The system controller collects data from pressure sensors and transmitters which may be used to cause the VFD 18 to output an optimum frequency that causes the motor to operate at substantially the lowest usage of energy to pump grey water from the holding tank(s) 12 to the landscape 28. The system controller may also contain information about the required pump speed for operation of each zone.

(19) On it's way to be used as landscape 28 for irrigation the grey water 10 may first pass through at least one landscape irrigation control valve 24 sometimes referred to as a irrigation solenoid zone valve. Each valve 24 or series of valves, in a particular geographic location, makes up a pressure zone. Such zones may be comprised of valves 24 at similar elevations or similar distances away from the pump 16.

(20) In one embodiment of the system for recycling grey water 100, said system 100 may comprise at least one manifold that directs grey water 10 from the pump 16 towards at least two landscape irrigation control valves 24.

(21) At least one pressure sensor and transmitter 32 shall be installed as part of the system 100. Said sensor/transmitter 32 to be located at each pressure zone (determined either by elevation changes and distance of zone valves from the pump) just before the grey water landscape irrigation control valve or at the manifold that feed's several grey water landscape irrigation solenoid control valves. Such a sensor/transmitter 32 shall be capable of taking readings of water pressure at a particular zone.

(22) In the embodiments where manifolds are used to direct grey water 10 to the landscape irrigation control valves 24, said pressure sensor and transmitter 32 may be installed after the pump 16, just before the manifold, in order to most effectively take and report pressure readings in a given geographic location or zone.

(23) The signal transmitted from each pressure sensor 32 is relayed back to the system controller 32 which may modulate the speed at which the pump 16 is operating via the VFD 18 in order to achieve a desired pressure at a given sensor location, manifold, or zone. The desired pressure may be input into the system controller 30 by a user based on his or her desired irrigation schedule or zone pressure requirement.

(24) The set pressure shall be adjusted so that the pressure at the irrigation solenoid control valves does not exceed the pressure allowed by local plumbing or grey water code (generally around 20 PSI). This will considerably reduce that energy usage of grey water pump 16.

(25) In another embodiment, the system 100 may further comprise rain and/or moisture sensor (not shown). Said rain/moisture sensors collect data which may be relayed to the control panel. Once the data is collected and stored, a user may input desired system activation schedules based on said information.

(26) It is further envisioned that the system controller 30 may be used to input desired backwash cycle period and purge cycle period. A purge cycle can be understood as the periodic introduction of pressurized clean water downstream of water filtration means 20 to purge or clean the system piping and/or emitters. In one embodiment, the system controller 30 may also control selective bypass of certain grey water sources when the tank(s) 12 is full, but no irrigation is required.

(27) FIG. 1 further illustrates how the grey water recycling system 100 may further comprise a filtration means 20. In this embodiment, the grey water 10 discharged from the aforementioned pump 16 may pass through the filtration means 20 in order to remove unwanted contaminants that could plug the lines and/or emitters and/or be harmful to the landscape 28. A variety of different filters may be used to further this objective. The filtration means 20 may be any known in the art that is capable of removing debris typically found in grey water (lint, hair, paper scraps, large detergent particles, etc.) to ensure that the irrigation system does not clog. The filter also may be easily cleaned and/or replaced. In one embodiment of the filtration means 20 said filter may be a sand filter with automatic back wash capability.

(28) The system 100 may periodically run a purge cycle. During this process, pressurized clean water 22 is introduced downstream of the filtration means 20 to purge or clean the system piping and/or the emitters and use pressurized clean water to irrigate the landscape 28 when grey water is not available (such as when the tank is empty).

(29) Grey water discharged from the irrigation control solenoid valves discharges to supply water landscape irrigation field thru distribution tubing and grey water emitters Said emitters shall be suitable for use for grey water system 100.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

(30) While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the system may be comprised of one zone with a single pressure sensor and transmitter even though the inventor contemplates the possibility that the system may comprise a plurality of zones with multiple sensors/transmitters or multiple pumps. Accordingly, is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

(31) The teachings provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

(32) Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the system for recycling grey water with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the system for recycling grey water to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed system. The above description of embodiments of the system for recycling grey water is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the system are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

(33) While certain aspects of the system for recycling grey water are presented below in particular claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the system in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the system for recycling grey water.