VACUUM WASTEWATER DEVICE, VACUUM WASTEWATER DEVICE ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR REMOVING WASTEWATER FROM A WASTEWATER RESERVOIR USING AT LEAST ONE VACUUM WASTEWATER DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum wastewater device, a vacuum wastewater device arrangement as well as a method for removing wastewater from a wastewater reservoir. The vacuum wastewater device comprises a vacuum wastewater device inlet fluidically connectable to a wastewater reservoir, a vacuum wastewater device outlet configured to be supplied with vacuum from a vacuum unit, a valve unit arranged between the vacuum wastewater device inlet and the vacuum wastewater device outlet, an electronic control unit configured to control the valve unit, thereby controlling a fluid flow from the wastewater reservoir through the vacuum wastewater device, and a first sensor arrangement configured to detect a pressure inside the vacuum wastewater device as a first value. In addition, a second sensor arrangement is provided configured to detect a second value related to the vacuum wastewater device.

Claims

1. A vacuum wastewater device comprising: a vacuum wastewater device inlet fluidically connectable to a wastewater reservoir, a vacuum wastewater device outlet configured to be supplied with vacuum from a vacuum unit, a valve unit arranged between the vacuum wastewater device inlet and the vacuum wastewater device outlet, an electronic control unit configured to control the valve unit, thereby controlling a fluid flow from the wastewater reservoir through the vacuum wastewater device, and at least a first sensor arrangement configured to detect a pressure inside the vacuum wastewater device as a first value, characterized in that the vacuum wastewater device comprises at least a second sensor arrangement configured to detect at least a second value related to the vacuum wastewater device, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to adapt control of the valve unit based on the first value provided by the first sensor arrangement and/or the at least one second value provided by the second sensor arrangement.

2. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one second sensor arrangement is a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, an acoustic sensor, a position sensor, an acceleration sensor, a light sensor, a temperature sensor and/or a sensor detecting an induced voltage.

3. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one second sensor arrangement is configured to detect a vibration of the vacuum wastewater device as the second value.

4. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic control unit stores at least a first threshold value for the first value and at least a second threshold value for the second value, wherein a first threshold value and a corresponding second threshold value together provide a threshold value pair, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to adapt control of the valve unit as a function of the first value and the at least one second value relative to the at least one threshold value pair.

5. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic control unit is configured to determine at least a wastewater fluid flow through the vacuum wastewater device using a time-based evaluation of the first value and/or the at least one second value.

6. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 5, characterized in that the vacuum wastewater device comprises a signal generator, wherein the signal generator is configured to indicate a status of the vacuum wastewater device related to the wastewater fluid flow.

7. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum wastewater device is configured to be operated self-sufficient.

8. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum wastewater device comprises a power generation unit and a power storage unit configured to generate and store power used to operate the vacuum wastewater device.

9. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic control unit of the vacuum wastewater device is provided as a plug-in electronic control unit having one housing configured to be detached from a housing of the valve unit.

10. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum wastewater device comprises a communication module configured to communicate with a further communication module of a further vacuum wastewater device.

11. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum wastewater device comprises at least one third sensor arrangement, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to be activated based on a sensor signal from the at least one third sensor arrangement.

12. The vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit is configured to provide information about an amount of wastewater extracted from the wastewater reservoir based on the first value and the at least one second value.

13. A vacuum wastewater device arrangement having at least two vacuum wastewater devices according to claim 1, wherein at least a first vacuum wastewater device is fluidically connected to a first wastewater reservoir, wherein at least a second vacuum wastewater device is fluidically connected to a second wastewater reservoir, wherein the first vacuum wastewater device and the second vacuum wastewater device are each fluidically connected to a same vacuum unit, and wherein each vacuum wastewater device of the vacuum wastewater device arrangement comprises a communication module configured to communicate with another vacuum wastewater device of the vacuum wastewater device arrangement, characterized in that each vacuum wastewater device of the vacuum wastewater device arrangement is configured to control the respective valve unit of the respective vacuum wastewater device based on data communicated between the at least two vacuum wastewater devices.

14. A method for extracting wastewater from a wastewater reservoir using at least one vacuum wastewater device according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: introducing a vacuum provided by the vacuum unit into the wastewater reservoir via a valve unit of the vacuum wastewater device fluidically connected to the wastewater reservoir; controlling the valve unit of the vacuum wastewater device based on a first value detected by a first sensor arrangement and/or at least a second value detected by a second sensor arrangement; determining whether extraction of wastewater from the wastewater reservoir is complete based on the first value and/or the at least one second value.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein at least two vacuum wastewater devices are used for extracting wastewater from the wastewater reservoir, characterized in that the step of controlling the valve unit of one of the at least two vacuum wastewater devices is performed based on data communicated between the at least two vacuum wastewater devices.

Description

[0052] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, wherein

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a first schematic arrangement of a vacuum wastewater device fluidically connected to a wastewater reservoir and a vacuum unit;

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a further schematic arrangement of a vacuum wastewater device fluidically connected to a wastewater reservoir and a vacuum unit and comprising further additional components such as a water valve and a power generation unit;

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a further schematic arrangement of a vacuum wastewater device fluidically connected to a wastewater reservoir and a vacuum unit; and

[0056] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary control operation process of a vacuum wastewater device.

[0057] In FIGS. 1 to 3 vacuum wastewater devices 1 are shown which are fluidically connected to a wastewater reservoir 2 and a vacuum unit 3, which may for example be a vacuum supply network.

[0058] In FIGS. 1 to 4 same elements, components and units, i.e. elements, components and units that perform a similar function or serve a similar purpose, may have the same reference numbers.

[0059] The vacuum wastewater devices 1 in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprise a vacuum wastewater device inlet 4 and a vacuum wastewater device outlet 5. The vacuum wastewater device 4 inlet is fluidically connected to the vacuum wastewater reservoir 2 and the vacuum wastewater device outlet 5 is fluidically connected to the vacuum unit 3. However, the vacuum wastewater device inlet 4 and the vacuum wastewater device outlet 5 do not necessarily be directly connected to the wastewater reservoir 2 or the vacuum unit 3 but may for example be connected to further lines, pipes or the like which may then be connected to the respective components.

[0060] Similarly, an electronic control unit 6, which is shown in FIG. 1 above a valve unit 7 of the vacuum wastewater device 1, is neither necessarily arranged at a distance from the valve unit 7 nor necessarily arranged above the valve unit 7, even if this is the case in the schematic illustration. Further, the electronic control unit 6 does not necessarily have to be connected to the valve unit 7 via a cable, as one might assume from for example shown in FIG. 1.

[0061] Consequently, all lines depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4 between the individual components, units and elements do not necessarily represent physical connections, but are rather intended to indicate functional connections, i.e. connections that indicate that an exchange of information, e.g. a control command which may also be transmitted wirelessly, or a physical exchange, for example, a medium, e.g. introduction of vacuum into the wastewater reservoir 2 via the vacuum wastewater device 1, may take place between the respective components, units and elements.

[0062] The electronic control unit 6 of the vacuum wastewater device 1 is configured to control the valve unit 7. More precisely, the control unit 7 is configured to control a pilot valve in order to control a piloted valve both of which form part of the valve unit 7. In other words, the electronic control unit 6 may be configured to control the pilot valve of the valve unit 7 and may thereby control a fluid flow through the vacuum wastewater device 1. When the vacuum wastewater device 1 is fluidically connected to the wastewater reservoir 2 and the vacuum unit 3, the vacuum wastewater device 1 may still be closed. Therefore, introduction of vacuum into the wastewater reservoir 2 and introduction of wastewater into the vacuum wastewater device 1 are prevented. This may be very useful, as the wastewater may be toxic or harmful to health. In addition, control of the valve unit 7 may allow to close the valve unit 7 when an undesirable pH value is reached, for example, or hazardous substances are detected.

[0063] However, in order to securely open the valve unit 7 of the vacuum wastewater device 1, a third sensor arrangement 8 may for example be used in this regard. Here the third sensor arrangement 8 may for example be a position sensor, which may be used to detect location of the vacuum wastewater device 1 and may activate the vacuum wastewater device 1, when the vacuum wastewater device 1 is correctly positioned.

[0064] Further, a communication module 9 may be used to transmit, for example wirelessly, a corresponding signal referring to the position detected by the third sensor arrangement 8 to a control station (not shown), and wherein a corresponding control command referring to a control operation to the electronic control unit 6 of the vacuum wastewater device 1 may be transmitted to the electronic control unit 6 by the control station.

[0065] The communication module 9 may also be used to communicate with further vacuum wastewater devices, for example, to improve balancing between the devices during an extraction process as aforementioned. In this regard, a first vacuum wastewater device 1 may be fluidically connected to a first wastewater reservoir 2 and a second vacuum wastewater device 1 is fluidically connected to a second wastewater reservoir 2. Further, the first vacuum wastewater device 1 and the second vacuum wastewater device 1 are each fluidically connected to a same vacuum unit 3, i.e. to a single vacuum unit. Furthermore, each vacuum wastewater device 1 of the vacuum wastewater device arrangement comprises the communication module 9 configured to communicate with another vacuum wastewater device 1 of the vacuum wastewater device arrangement. In addition, for example, each vacuum wastewater device 1 of the vacuum wastewater device arrangement is configured to control the respective valve unit 7 of the respective vacuum wastewater device 1 based on data communicated between the at least two vacuum wastewater devices 1.

[0066] Operation of the vacuum wastewater devices 1 may thus be balanced, wherein for example the vacuum wastewater devices 1 are started, i.e. the valve unit 7 may be opened, before other vacuum wastewater devices 1. Until a second vacuum wastewater devices 1 is started, the vacuum wastewater device 1 already opened may operate with more power, i.e. more negative pressure. This effect may not only be used at the beginning of an extraction process but also during the extraction process. For example, if one vacuum wastewater device 1 of a vacuum wastewater device arrangement is blocked during the extraction process, i.e. when the wastewater fluid flow though one vacuum wastewater device 1 is blocked, the vacuum wastewater device 1 as part of a vacuum wastewater device arrangement comprising at least two vacuum wastewater devices 1 may also send a control command to other vacuum wastewater device(s) as part of the arrangement in order to close the valve unit of at least some of the other vacuum wastewater device(s) temporarily, thereby increasing the vacuum, i.e. decrease the pressure, at the vacuum wastewater device 1 having problems to extract the wastewater from the wastewater reservoir 2 for the time the other vacuum wastewater device(s) 1 are closed. The increase in suction pressure may cause, for example, a solid that previously caused the blockage to come loose. Further, communication between the respective vacuum wastewater devices 1 and/or a control station, a portable device or the like may be performed as aforementioned.

[0067] The coordinated opening and closing of certain vacuum wastewater devices 1 in the vacuum wastewater device arrangement may therefore influence and control the respective negative pressure applied to another vacuum wastewater device 1 of the arrangement. The entire arrangement comprising several vacuum wastewater devices 1 can thus be balanced.

[0068] Further, a power generation unit 10, which may for example be a solar module, may be used to generate power. The power may for example be stored in a power storage unit (not shown). The power may be used to perform the control operations, data transmission, sensor detection and so on.

[0069] The vacuum wastewater device 1 comprises a first sensor arrangement 11, which is a pressure sensor, and configured to detect a pressure inside the vacuum wastewater device 1 as a first value. Here, the first sensor arrangement 11 is arranged closer to the vacuum wastewater device outlet 5 and may, for example, detect sensor information on the outlet side of the vacuum wastewater device 1 even when the valve unit 7 is closed. However, the first sensor arrangement 11 could also be arranged on the inlet side of the valve unit 7. Depending on the scanning rate, the detected first value is transmitted to the electronic control unit 6.

[0070] Further, in FIGS. 1 to 3, two second sensor arrangements 12 are provided as part of the vacuum wastewater device 1. However, the vacuum wastewater device 1 could also only comprise one second sensor arrangements 12 or more than two second sensor arrangements 12.

[0071] In FIG. 1, the second sensor arrangement 12, which is located on the vacuum wastewater device inlet 4 and depicted by a circle, may for example be a pressure sensor and the second sensor arrangement 12, which is located on the vacuum wastewater device inlet 4 and depicted by a pentagon, may for example be a vibration sensor. Both second sensor arrangements 12 are configured to detect second values, one of which refers to a pressure inside the vacuum wastewater device 1 and one of which refers to a vibration detected at the vacuum wastewater device 1. The second values of the second sensor arrangements 12 are transmitted to the electronic control unit 6.

[0072] The electronic control unit 6 is configured to adapt control of the valve unit 7 based on an evaluation of the first value and the second values. A corresponding, exemplary control operation process is shown in FIG. 4.

[0073] In this exemplary control operation process, in a first step S1 the first value and the at least one second value are detected and transmitted to the electronic control unit 6 to be further processed. In a second step S2, a control operation may be determined based on the first value and the at least one second value. The control operation may be based on predefined threshold value pairs. Depending on the current valve position of the valve unit 7, it may then be assessed in step S3 whether a control operation is required to close or open the valve unit 7 and thus whether the control unit 6 needs to control the valve unit 7.

[0074] For example, it may be determined in the third step S3 that the valve unit 7 should be opened. In this case (Yes), the control operation is carried out in the fourth step S4, for example by sending a corresponding control command to the valve unit 7, for example to a pilot valve in order to operate the piloted valve. When the piloted valve is opened, the valve unit 7 may be considered open according to the control command. Then, the process may start again with newly detected first and second values, which is indicated by a dashed line that leads back to step S1. Nevertheless, even during a first control operation process, first and second values can be continuously detected and evaluated and, for example, corresponding control operation processes can run in parallel with a minimal time delay. Still, in one aspect, the control operation process may not be repeated immediately and it may be advantageous to wait a period of time between repeating the process with further first and second values. During this period of time, no such evaluation takes place.

[0075] Alternatively, if no control operation was required (No), the process may immediately start again with the newly detected first and second values in step S1. In this case, evaluation may preferably be performed continuously.

[0076] If the sensor arrangements 11 and 12 as shown in FIG. 1 and as aforementioned are used, the pressure sensors may allow to determine whether there is sufficient negative pressure and whether the valve unit 7 may be blocked, i.e. the piloted valve may be closed. In addition, although not necessarily required, the vibration sensor may support to determine whether a wastewater fluid flow takes place as this would lead to vibrations. The sensor arrangements may thus allow that the vacuum wastewater device 1 is operated self-sufficient as it is aware of conditions in the vacuum wastewater device 1. In other words, the vacuum wastewater device 1 is not only turned on and off, for example by a button, but is able to react on a change of conditions throughout a wastewater extraction process from a wastewater reservoir 2. In this regard, the vacuum wastewater device 1 and especially the electronic control unit 6 is configured to adapt control of the vacuum wastewater device 1 depending on changes that affect the vacuum wastewater device 1. The vacuum wastewater device 1 may thus be operated fully automatic or may allow an operator to intervene only when necessary.

[0077] In this regard, the vacuum wastewater device 1 may additionally comprise a signal generator 13. The signal generator 13 may generate an acoustic, a visual, and/or a tactile signal. For example, the signal generator 13 may be a LED, a speaker or may vibrate, if a certain status of the vacuum wastewater device 1 is determined. Depending on the signal, an operator may intervene a fully automatic control process of the vacuum wastewater device 1.

[0078] Further, in FIG. 2 the vacuum wastewater device 1 comprises a power generation module 10. A charging status of for example a power storage unit may permanently monitored, and a direct message may be sent when a critical battery status is reached. The power generation module 10, for example the solar module, could also be used for activation of the vacuum wastewater device 1. The solar module may thus for example activate the vacuum wastewater device when a cell of the solar module is covered. The activation of the vacuum wastewater device 1 may then open the valve unit 7. If the power storage unit is empty or almost empty, the power generation unit 10 may also be configured to activated power generation.

[0079] In addition, the electronic control unit 6 shown in FIG. 2 is configured to control a water valve 14. The water valve 14 may for example be used to supply water into the wastewater reservoir 2. A further water valve 14 is shown in FIG. 3, here the water valve 14 comprises an electric water valve actuator 15, for example a solenoid valve, i.e. a first pilot valve. Furthermore, the valve unit 7 is shown with an electric valve unit actuator 16, i.e. a second pilot valve, configured to operate the piloted valve of the valve unit 7. The electric water valve actuator 15 and the electric valve unit actuator 16 may be linear actuator configured to open and close the corresponding pilot valves or may be solenoid valves for example. In other words, the valve unit 7 and the water valve 14 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be operated by the respective electric water valve actuator 15 and the electric valve unit actuator 16.

[0080] In general, the depicted sensor arrangements and arrangements of components may also be different from the schematics shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this regard, the schematic arrangement of FIG. 1 may be used for trains or sewer systems. The schematic shown in FIG. 2 may be used in building construction, for example with a toilet as wastewater reservoir 2, wherein the electronic control unit 6 not only opens the valve unit 7 to supply vacuum to the wastewater reservoir 2, but also the water valve 14, e.g. for flushing the wastewater reservoir 2. Finally in FIG. 3 a vacuum wastewater device 1 is shown which may also be used in building construction, for example with a toilet as wastewater reservoir 2, wherein however the vacuum wastewater device 1 comprises two separate actuators 16 and 17 each configured to operate respective valves, i.e. the water valve 14 and the piloted valve of the valve unit 7. The electronic control unit 6 may thus be configured to operate the two actuators 15 and 16 separately.

[0081] As previously mentioned, for example, several vacuum wastewater devices 1 with several water reservoirs 2, which are placed in trains as wastewater tanks, for example, may be arranged as a vacuum wastewater device arrangement and may be used with a single vacuum unit 3. The single vacuum unit 3 may then be used to provide the vacuum for the extraction of wastewater from all wastewater reservoirs 2. Communication between the electronic control units 6 of the vacuum wastewater devices 1 and/or between a control station in which all data comes together, may be advantageous.

[0082] Due to the integrated sensors, i.e. the at least two sensor arrangements 11 and 12 and the corresponding evaluation and control based on the sensor data, the vacuum wastewater device 1 is able to work autonomously and fully automatically. In particular, the vacuum wastewater device 1 may not only determine the success of the extraction process but also carry out corrective measures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0083] 1 vacuum wastewater device [0084] 2 wastewater reservoir [0085] 3 vacuum unit [0086] 4 vacuum wastewater device inlet [0087] 5 vacuum wastewater device outlet [0088] 6 electronic control unit [0089] 7 valve unit [0090] 8 third sensor arrangement (position sensor) [0091] 9 communication module [0092] 10 power generation unit [0093] 11 first sensor arrangement (pressure sensor) [0094] 12 second sensor arrangement [0095] 13 signal generator [0096] 14 water valve [0097] 15 electric water valve actuator [0098] 16 electric valve unit actuator [0099] S1 first step [0100] S2 second step [0101] S3 third step [0102] S4 fourth step