DE102007052520B4 - Measuring system and measuring method for controlling and / or controlling a water treatment, in particular in a swimming pool - Google Patents

Abstract

Measuring system for controlling and / or controlling a water treatment, in particular in a swimming pool (10), having - a particle counter (1), which is designed as Laserpartikelzählgerät and connected to a water treatment circuit, the particle counter (1) with a flow line (12a) and / or return line (12b) of a filter unit (12) present in the water treatment circuit, - with a person counting device (6) for detecting the personal load on the water to be treated, and - a data acquisition device (2) connected to the particle counting device (1) and the people counting device (6) coupled and connected to at least one flocculation measuring device, which is connected to the flow line (12a) of the filter unit.

Description

The invention relates to a measuring system and a measuring method for controlling and / or controlling a water treatment, in particular in a swimming pool.

For the treatment of bathing water in swimming pools systems with a water treatment circuit are known, the water treatment circuit includes a swimming pool, a splash tank, a filter system and a device for correcting chlorine content and pH. To monitor the filtrate quality of the filter system, the turbidity measurement is usually used. Increased turbidity values indicate that the treated water is not perfectly hygienic. The turbidity of the water is essentially caused by undissolved substances, which cause a deflection of light, which is passed through the water. The wavelength of the deflected light is of the order of the diameter of the particles. This so-called scattering is determined by the number of particles and their properties, such as size, shape and / or color.

In practice, the turbidity measurement has the advantage of very simple feasibility. It is also suitable for continuous monitoring, as the turbidity can be measured in the flow.

However, it has been shown that with the measurement of turbidity in the bath water treatment not necessarily a reliable statement about the quality of the filtration can be made. Although elevated readings indicate poor filtration, conversely, filtration does not work well at low levels because the measuring range of the meters is insufficient to map low values. These are so small between raw water and filtrate that they can no longer be dissolved. In addition, at the lower edge of the measuring range, the measurement inaccuracy becomes larger and larger, so that unwanted fluctuations are measured.

Measuring systems for controlling the water quality in swimming pools are for example out DE 10 2005 035 238 A1 . DE 31 03 126 C2 . DE 100 29 568 A1 . DE 44 37 708 A1 and DE 37 30 220 C1 known.

The invention has for its object to provide a measuring system and measuring method for controlling and / or controlling a water treatment, which allow an optimization of water treatment and minimize the energy and cost.

This object is achieved with regard to the measuring system by the subject-matter of patent claim 1 and with regard to the measuring method by the subject-matter of patent claim 12.

The invention is therefore based on the idea to provide a measuring system for controlling and / or controlling the water treatment, in particular in a swimming pool, with a particle counter, which is inventively designed as Laserpartikelzählgerät and connected to a water treatment circuit, with a people counting device, for detecting the personal burden of the water to be treated and a data acquisition device coupled to the particle counting device and the people counting device.

The invention has several advantages. In contrast to the known turbidity measurement, the use of a particle counter achieves a more exact detection of the contamination of the water with pollutants or particles since the particle counting also accurately detects even low substance concentrations and can be used in measuring ranges in which no usable values can be measured by turbidity measurement. The combination of the particle counting device with the people counting device has the advantage that in this way the number of persons is determined that cause the burden of the water to be treated, the number of these persons with the particle load of the water correlates, so that the data of the people counting together with the data of the particle counting device can be used to optimize the water treatment. A further advantage of the system according to the invention is that, for the purpose of utilizing the data of the particle counting device and the people counting device, a data acquisition device is coupled to the two counting devices, so that the recorded measured values can be used to control the water treatment. In this way, the water treatment in the water treatment circuit can be optimized depending on the number of particles and persons, whereby energy and cost are minimized.

According to the particle counting device is connected to a flow line and a return line of a arranged in the water treatment circuit filter unit. The particle counting thus takes place both before filtration and after filtration, so that a control of the filtration performance takes place. In addition, a review of the water quality of the treated water is achieved.

The particle counter may be connected to at least one flow meter. In this way, it is checked whether the particle meter water is supplied, so that a particle count can be done. Preferably, the flow meter is upstream of the particle counter.

Furthermore, the data acquisition device is connected to at least one flocculation measuring device. The detection of the flocculant dosage allows an exact assessment of the flocculation situation so that the flocculant consumption can be controllably and optimally controlled. The flocculant meter may include a scale adapted for the continuous transmission of measurement data. Such a so-called online balance allows a quick detection of a dosage error or failure, so that a short-term response is possible. According to the invention, the flocculation measuring device is connected to the supply line of the filter unit, so that the dosage of the flocculant is controllable such that a particle flocculation is achieved, which leads to an improved filtration result.

In a further preferred embodiment of the measuring system according to the invention, the data acquisition device is connected to at least one measuring device for detecting hygiene parameters, in particular chlorine content, pH value and / or redox potential. In water treatment, the change of a single process parameter due to the circulation also affects other parameters. Due to the chemical equilibrium and correlations of the reactions, the change of a single parameter, such as the pH value, can lead to changes in other parameters. These include, among others, the acid capacity, the flocculant's effect, the consumption of the pH correcting device and the disinfecting effect. By recording these hygiene parameters, improved water treatment is achieved at low energy and cost. Furthermore, a control of the bathroom's own measuring technology is made possible, so that an optimal quality of the purified water is ensured.

Furthermore, the data acquisition device can be connected to a measuring device for recording process parameters. The measuring device preferably has at least one volumetric flow meter for detecting process parameters. As a result, the volume flow of the water to be treated in the water treatment circuit, the fresh water supply and the rinse water consumption is determined. By transmitting this data to the data acquisition device, it is possible to adapt and optimize the process control of the water treatment to the current conditions in the process.

Furthermore, the measuring device for detecting process parameters can be at least one timer, which is adapted to detect transit times, in particular filter run times, purging intervals and / or program run times. In this way, the water treatment can be further optimized based on the measured time values. In particular, by the detection of the backwash program a perfect function of the water treatment and prevention of filter contamination are guaranteed.

Preferably, the measuring device for measuring process parameters comprises a photometer, which is adapted for the measurement of chemical constituents, in particular chlorine, aluminum, ammonium, nitrate, iron and others. In this way, on the one hand, a control measurement of the measurements usually carried out by personnel and, on the other hand, a check of the effectiveness and metered amount of the flocculant, in particular by measuring the aluminum content in the water. A high aluminum content indicates, for example, an overdose of the flocculant.

In a further preferred embodiment of the measuring system according to the invention, the data acquisition device is connected to at least one remote data transmission device. Remote data transmission enables evaluation of the measured data and control of the water treatment circuit remotely, for example from an office or control room. In this way, a quick reaction to changes in the measuring system can take place. Advantageously, the remote data transmission device comprises a UMTS modem router, so that a control and control via a mobile phone is possible. As a result, measured data can be evaluated directly and promptly and reacted to measurement results, whereby maximum mobility of the responsible personnel is ensured, so that the personnel deployment is improved when operating a water treatment plant.

The invention is further based on the idea of specifying a measuring method for controlling and / or controlling a water treatment, in particular in a swimming pool, in which the particles are counted in a water treatment circuit with a particle counter, which is designed as a laser particle counter, and in which persons , which cause a load of the water to be treated, are counted by a people counting device, in particular a laser-assisted people counting device, wherein the data from the particle counting device and the people counting device are transmitted to a data acquisition device.

The advantages mentioned for the measuring system for controlling and / or controlling the water treatment apply equally to the measuring method.

The invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment with respect to the attached, schematic drawing explained in more detail. Therein, the single figure shows a process diagram of a measuring system for controlling and / or controlling a water treatment, especially in a swimming pool.

The single figure shows a water treatment circuit of a swimming pool with a swimming pool 10 which a splash tank 11 is downstream of a filter system 12 that the splash tank 11 is downstream, and a device for the correction of chlorine content and pH 13 between the filter system 12 and the swimming pool 10 is arranged. The filter system 12 has a flow line 12a and a return line 12b on, with the wires 12a . 12b one branch each 3a . 3b to a flow meter 3 exhibit. The flow meter 3 is a particle counter 1 upstream, with a measuring PC 2 for data acquisition via a particle counting data line 1a connected is. The measuring PC 2 is also through a consumption data line 4a with an online balance 4 connected to the measurement of flocculant consumption. The online scale 4 is through a sample water pipe 4b with the flow line 12a connected. A measuring device for recording hygiene parameters 5 is on the one hand by a hygiene management 5b with the swimming pool 10 and on the other hand with a hygiene parameter data line 5a with the measuring PC 2 connected. Besides, the swimming pool is 10 a people counter 6 associated with the measurement data via a people count data line 6a also to the measuring PC 2 passes. Furthermore, a measuring device for the determination of process parameters 7 through a process data line 7a and a UMTS router 8th through a network data line 8a with the measuring PC 2 connected.

The water to be treated from the swimming pool 10 gets in the splash tank 11 collected and cached. The removal of water from the pool 10 takes place mainly by overflow channels on the edge of the pool. The collected splash water is in the next step on the flow line 12a to the filter system 12 passed, wherein a part of the water, so-called sample water, branched off and through a branch line 3a to a flow meter 3 directed. The filtered water continues to flow in the treatment loop to a device for correcting chlorine content and pH 13 and back to the pool 10 ,

The measuring system according to the exemplary embodiment of the single figure comprises a plurality of components, which are explained in more detail below. In this case, the measuring system itself, d. H. disclosed only with the measuring components, as well as together with the swimming pool system, in particular with the system parts described above and shown in the single figure.

With the particle counter 1 For example, the particles present in the water at different measuring points in the processing cycle according to different sizes, in particular from 1 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m, staggered. The measurements are made in the measuring PC 2 evaluated and used for optimization measures. The results of the measures taken are again with the particle counter 1 controlled. The water to be measured is taken from existing sampling taps in the treatment plant or other access points and via hoses to the particle counter 1 directed. The measurements are preferably made at intervals of 3 to 15 minutes, but other periods are also possible. For the measurement, a laser particle counter is used which has a measuring cell (capillary) through which sample water flows. A laser beam penetrates the liquid and then encounters a photodiode whose signal is amplified and detected. If a particle passes the laser beam, the voltage of the diode changes. This voltage pulse is proportional to the shadowing caused by a particle, the degree of shadowing depending on the size of a particle. The amplitudes of the voltage pulses and their number are determined by the measuring PC 2 evaluated electronically, so that the particle concentrations are displayed depending on the size. This representation generally takes place in cumulative (cumulative) distribution curves in a measuring range of 1 to 100 μm.

The examination with the particle counter 1 allows a very differentiated presentation of the load situation. Not only is the total number of particles recorded, but also their size. Not only can one make a statement that particles are in the water, but the size of the particles also allows one to assess what type of particles it might be. The type of particles then decides on the measures to be initiated. If predominantly very small particles, in particular smaller than 5 μm, are found in the water, the dosage of the flocculant is set essentially too low. The small particles do not clump together enough and due to their small size they can filter the filter unit 12 happen. On the other hand, if the particles are larger, then filter material may be flushed out or the filter 12 lets big particles pass. The presence of large particles in the return line 12b means that the flocculation works and the small particles aggregate too much, but there is no separation of the particles in the filter. With a turbidity measurement, these differences could not be determined with the particle counter 1 if this is possible.

The particle counter 1 is over the data line 1a to the measuring PC 2 connected. Here, the data is displayed and archived for further evaluation. The data is online, ie continuously to the PC 2 forwarded. Preferably, the measuring PC 2 configured so that the measurement can be carried out without interruption for several weeks without having to read data in the meantime. Preferably, the particle counter 1 an internal data storage on, so that the device self-sufficient for several days without connection to the PC 1 can measure. The measurement is thus in case of failure of the measuring computer 2 not interrupted, the flow of the sample water pipes 3a . 3b is controlled for example by means of floating bodies. This ensures that there is water in the unit at the time of the measurement that has just been taken from the water treatment circuit. Flow measurement in the flow meter 3 Thus, stagnant water prevents the sedimentation of particles in the sample water pipe 3a . 3b can lead, falsified in the lines the measurement result.

The flocculant consumption is continuously by means of a PC 2 connected balance 4 detected. The signals of the balance 4 are sent to the PC at specified time intervals 2 transmitted and evaluated. The flocculant dosage is controlled automatically. A check by hand, whether enough, too much or too little flocculant is dosed, is no longer necessary. Similarly, a loss of dosage can be quickly detected and corrected.

An additional measuring unit is used to control the data from the measurement technology available in the swimming pool system 5 , Here, hygiene parameters, in particular free chlorine, bound chlorine, pH value and redox potential are determined. The measuring unit 5 is via a network connection to the PC 2 connected.

By means of a laser counting system 6 the persons are detected who enter and leave a pool or a facility. By two successive laser curtains people can be detected, counted and their direction of movement can be determined. It is conceivable other people counting devices 6 use.

The people count is used to accurately record the load of a pool or an entire plant. Thus, already in the adaptation of the treatment to the actual number of visitors a savings potential of the system. For example, the circulation capacity of the water treatment circuit can be adapted to the load. With the particle counter 1 In turn, it can be checked whether the adjustment affects the cleaning performance of the treatment plant.

Further parameters relevant to the reprocessing process are additionally recorded by a measuring device for recording process parameters. These include the measurement of chlorine, aluminum, ammonium, nitrate, iron, etc. by means of a photometer. Furthermore, volume flow, fresh water supply and rinse water consumption as well as filter running times, rinsing intervals, expiry of the rinsing program are recorded or read out.

To remotely control and control the entire measuring system is the PC 2 For example, switched to the company network via the UMTS network. This allows the system and measurement results to be viewed from the office, allowing a quick response to changes. The data can be evaluated directly and promptly.

The measuring system enables the treatment of contaminated water, in particular with the aid of flocculation filtration. Continuous measurement data acquisition ensures quick and easy adjustment and optimization of flocculation filtration. This is especially true with respect to compliance with the threshold values of the purified water parameters such as the bound chlorine or pH values. Furthermore, the optimization of the saving of operating costs, in particular by reducing the amount of chemicals used, an extension of the filter life and the associated lower water consumption.

However, the measuring system is not restricted to use in swimming pools or for bathing water treatment. In general, the use of the system for all types of water treatment is conceivable in which the pollution of the water by persons or animals takes place.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Particle

1a

Partikelzähldatenleitung

2

Measuring PC

3

Flowmeter

4

WiFi scale

4a

Consumption data line

4b

Sample water line

5

Measuring device for recording hygiene parameters

5a

Hygiene parameter data line

5b

Hygiene test lead

6

Personenzählgerät

6a

Personenzähldatenleitung

7

Measuring device for recording process parameters

7a

Process data line

8th

UMTS router

8a

Network data line

10

swimming pool

11

Splash container

12

filter system

12a

supply line

12b

Return line

13

Device for correction of chlorine content and pH

Claims (12)

Measuring system for controlling and / or controlling a water treatment, in particular in a swimming pool ( 10 ), with - a particle counter ( 1 ), which is designed as a laser particle counter and connected to a water treatment circuit, wherein the particle counter ( 1 ) with a flow line ( 12a ) and / or return line ( 12b ) a filter unit present in the water treatment circuit ( 12 ), - with a people counting device ( 6 ) to record the personal exposure of the water to be treated and - a data collection device ( 2 ) with the particle counter ( 1 ) and the people counter ( 6 ) and connected to at least one flocculation measuring device, which is connected to the flow line ( 12a ) of the filter unit is connected. Measuring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the particle counter ( 1 ) with at least one flow meter ( 3 ) connected is. Measuring system according to claim 2, characterized in that the flowmeter ( 3 ) the particle counter ( 1 ) is arranged upstream. Measuring system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flocculation measuring device is a balance ( 4 ) adapted for the continuous transmission of measurement data. Measuring system according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data acquisition device ( 2 ) with at least one measuring device for recording hygiene parameters ( 5 ), in particular chlorine content, pH value and / or redox potential. Measuring system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the data acquisition device ( 2 ) with a measuring device for recording process parameters ( 7 ) connected is. Measuring system according to claim 6, characterized in that the measuring device for detecting process parameters ( 7 ) comprises at least one volumetric flow meter. Measuring system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the measuring device for detecting process parameters ( 7 ) comprises at least one timer, which is adapted to detect transit times, in particular filter run times, purging intervals and / or program run times. Measuring system according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the measuring device for detecting process parameters ( 7 ) comprises a photometer adapted for the measurement of chemical constituents, in particular chlorine, aluminum, ammonium, nitrate, iron and others. Measuring system according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the data acquisition device ( 2 ) is connected to at least one remote data transmission device. Measurement system according to claim 10, characterized in that the remote data transmission device is a UMTS modem router ( 8th ). Measuring method for controlling and / or controlling water treatment, in particular in a swimming pool ( 10 ), in which a measuring system according to one of the preceding claims is used, wherein - particles are counted in a water treatment circuit with the Laserpartikelzählgerät, and - persons who cause a load of the water to be treated, by a people counting device ( 6 ), in particular a laser-assisted people counter ( 6 ), the data from the particle counter ( 1 ) and the people counter ( 6 ) the data acquisition device ( 2 ).

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