U.S. patent application number 12/976272 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-23 for system for automatic water discharge management.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hellenbrand, Inc.. Invention is credited to John P. Fetzer, Jeffrey J. Hellenbrand, Edward T. Maas, Jill E. McDonald.
Application Number | 20110147282 12/976272 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44149409 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110147282 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hellenbrand; Jeffrey J. ; et
al. |
June 23, 2011 |
SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC WATER DISCHARGE MANAGEMENT
Abstract
A water discharge management system is provided. The water
discharge management system includes a water processing system, a
controller provided with an executable recapture protocol, and a
plurality of controllable multi-way valves which control and
implement a regeneration cycle of the water processing system based
upon the recapture protocol. Each controllable multi-way valve is
in operable communication with the controller through a signal
path. The controllable multi-way valves are responsive to a signal
exchanged with the controller through the signal path and operable
between a first position connecting an input from the water
processing system to a first output, and a second position
connecting the input from the water processing system to a second
output.
Inventors: |
Hellenbrand; Jeffrey J.;
(Prairie du Sac, WI) ; Maas; Edward T.; (Poynette,
WI) ; McDonald; Jill E.; (Madison, WI) ;
Fetzer; John P.; (Lake Mills, WI) |
Assignee: |
Hellenbrand, Inc.
Waunakee
WI
|
Family ID: |
44149409 |
Appl. No.: |
12/976272 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61288978 |
Dec 22, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 24/383 20130101;
C02F 1/008 20130101; C02F 2209/055 20130101; C02F 2209/11 20130101;
C02F 5/00 20130101; C02F 1/004 20130101; B01D 24/4853 20130101;
C02F 2001/425 20130101; C02F 1/66 20130101; C02F 2201/005 20130101;
B01D 15/203 20130101; B01D 24/4642 20130101; C02F 2303/16 20130101;
C02F 1/42 20130101; C02F 1/001 20130101; Y02W 10/37 20150501; C02F
1/283 20130101; C02F 1/006 20130101; B01D 24/46 20130101; Y10T
137/86493 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/85 |
International
Class: |
B01D 35/157 20060101
B01D035/157 |
Claims
1. A water discharge management system comprising: a water
processing system; a controller provided with an executable
recapture protocol; a plurality of controllable multi-way valves
which control and implement a regeneration cycle of the water
processing system based upon the recapture protocol, each
controllable multi-way valve being in operable communication with
the controller through a signal path, the controllable multi-way
valves being responsive to a signal exchanged with the controller
through the signal path and operable between a first position
connecting an input from the water processing system to a first
output, and a second position connecting the input from the water
processing system to a second output.
2. The water discharge management system of claim 1, wherein the
water processing system is selected from the group consisting of a
water conditioning system, an ion exchange system, and a filtration
system.
3. The water discharge management system of claim 1, wherein the
water processing system is selected from the group consisting of a
water conditioning unit, a cation exchange system, an anion
exchange system, a water filtration system, pH filter, acid
neutralizer, carbon filtration system, taste filter, odor filter,
multi-media filter, filter ag filter, birm filter, iron filter,
hydrogen sulfide filter, sand filter, and particulate filter.
4. The water discharge management system of claim 1, wherein the
controller is in communication with a timer that tracks the amount
of time between the multi-way valve being initiated and when the
multi-way valve reaches the second position.
5. The water discharge management system of claim 1, wherein the
controller is in communication with an optical counter that senses
when the multi-way valve reaches the second position.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller senses current
draw to execute the recapture protocol.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller uses a sensor to
detect a characteristic of the discharge water to execute the
recapture protocol.
8. The water discharge management system of claim 1, therein the
multi-way valves are motorized valves.
9. The water discharge management system of claim 1, further
comprising a plurality of signal paths.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/288,978, filed Dec. 22,
2009, entitled "Systems, Methods and Apparatus for Automatic Water
Management of Water Softener Discharge Water", the entire contents
of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to automatic water management.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is known to process or treat water thr a variety of
purposes. Common water processing mechanisms are known, examples of
which are ion exchange systems and filtration systems, or more
specifically, cation exchange systems and dealkalizers, as well as
carbon or chlorine filters and particulate filters. For instance,
in areas where water supplied from a well or a utility main line is
particularly hard (e.g., has a high quantity of hard water ions,
such as calcium or magnesium ions), it may be desirable to soften
the water by removing the hard water ions (e.g., calcium and
magnesium ions) and replacing them with soft water ions (e.g.,
sodium ions), often through the use of a cation exchange water
softener.
[0004] One type of traditional cation exchange water softener
utilizes resin beads that are saturated with soft water ions. The
hard water is passed over or around the resin beads, allowing the
soft water ions to replace the hard water ions in the water. That
is, the hard water ions will have become bound to the resin beads,
while the soft water ions have been released from the resin beads
and dispersed into the water. Eventually, the resin beads become
saturated with hard water ions, i.e., most of the soft water ions
associated with the resin beads have been exchanged for hard water
ions. As the number of soft water ions associated with the resin
beads decreases, with the resin beads becoming saturated with hard
water ions, the resin beads become less effective at removing
(e.g., stripping) the hard water ions from the water and replacing
them with soft water ions.
[0005] Similar analogies can be made to other ion exchange and
filtering devices for water. A regeneration process is periodically
applied to the resin beads to remove the accumulated hard water
ions from the resin beads and to resupply the resin beads with soft
water ions. During the regeneration process, the hard water ions
are stripped from the resin beads and soft water ions are again
bound to the resin beads. A known method of regenerating the resin
heads is to pass a saturated salt water (brine) solution (e.g.,
water that is saturated with soft water ions) over/around the resin
beads. The soft water ions in the brine solution displace the hard
water ions on the resin heads and become associated with the resin
beads. The freed hard water ions are then discharged with the
remaining salt water/brine solution from a drain outlet of the
water softener into the building's wastewater system.
[0006] The above-outlined examples of a regeneration cycle for a
cation exchange water softener, while necessary for the proper
maintenance and operation of the example cation exchange water
softener, may generate significant maintenance expenses for an end
user of the example cation exchange water softener. One such
expense is the periodic replacement of a source of soft water ions.
Typically, the end user will need to purchase sodium salt blocks,
solar salt and/or pellets that are used to generate the salt water
or brine solution used during the above-outlined regeneration
cycle. Similar expenses and cycles occur in other ion exchange and
filter systems.
[0007] Another cost associated with the above-outlined regeneration
cycle relates to the volume of water used by the example cation
exchange water softener during the regeneration cycle. Whether the
water used by the example cation exchange water softener comes from
a well, a utility main line, or any other source, there may be
inherent expenses associated with supplying and/or disposing of
that water. In the case of a well, there may be costs related to
operating a water pump to draw the water from the well. These costs
can include, for example, electricity used to operate the pump,
maintenance/replacement costs during the life span of the pump and
expenses associated with drilling the well to further depths to
reach a sustainable water table. In the case of water from a
utility main line, there may be utility costs based on the volume
of water supplied through the utility main line. Furthermore,
regardless of the source of the water, there may be costs
associated with disposing of that water, such as, for example,
sewer costs, septic tank costs and the like. Additionally, these
water expenses may be conditional on local, environmental issues,
such as droughts, water caps and water usage restrictions (e.g., by
volume or time of day).
[0008] Accordingly, systems, apparatus and methods are provided for
reclaiming water that has been discharged during a cycle of a water
processing system.
SUMMARY OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] A water discharge management system for a water processing
system is disclosed. The water processing system is connected to a
first solution supply and to a second solution supply. A first
multi-way valve is connected to a discharge outlet of the water
processing system. A second multi-way valve is connected to the
first multi-way valve and to a first water storage container. A
third multi-way valve is connected to the second multi-way valve
and to a second water storage container. The third multi-way valve
is also connected to the first water supply.
[0010] A water discharge management system for a water processing
system is also provided including a water processing system
connected to a first solution supply and to a second solution
supply. A multi-way valve is connected to a discharge outlet of the
water processing system arranged to convey discharge water to at
least one of a coupled storage container and the water processing
system.
[0011] A water discharge management system is further provided
having a plurality of interconnected multi-way valves. At least one
of the plurality of interconnected multi-way valves is coupled to a
discharge port of a water processing system. The multi-way valves
are controllable to selectively separate discharge water during a
water processing cycle into waste, grey water, potable water, and
regenerant solution such that discharge water is reclaimed by the
system.
[0012] A method of water discharge management in a water processing
system is also provided. The method includes providing a supply of
a first solution, providing a supply of a second solution, and
selectively supplying the first solution to a water processing
system and the second solution to the water processing system. The
method further includes controllably and selectively directing
discharge water formed in the water processing system through a
first multi-way valve to a waste outlet during a period in which
the discharge water satisfies a first selected criteria, and to a
second multi-way valve during a period in which the discharge water
satisfies a second selected criteria. The method also includes
controllably and selectively directing the discharge water through
the second multi-way valve to a first storage container connected
to the second multi-way valve during a period in which the
discharge water satisfies a third selected criteria, and to a third
multi-way valve during a period in which the discharge water
satisfies a fourth selected criteria. In addition, the method
includes controllably and selectively directing the discharge water
through the third multi-way valve to a second storage container
during a period in which the discharge water satisfies a fifth
selected criteria, and the discharge water as a solution to the
supply of first solution during a period in which the discharge
water satisfies a sixth selected criteria.
[0013] A further water discharge management system is provided. The
water discharge management system includes a water processing
system, a controller provided with an executable recapture
protocol, and a plurality of controllable multi-way valves which
control and implement a regeneration cycle of the water processing
system based upon the recapture protocol. Each controllable
multi-way valve is in operable communication with the controller
through a signal path. The controllable multi-way valves are
responsive to a signal exchanged with the controller through the
signal path and operable between a first position connecting an
input from the water processing system to a first output, and a
second position connecting the input from the water processing
system to a second output.
[0014] In various examples of embodiments, a controller of a water
discharge management system selectively and/or controllably
connects a discharge line or tube of a cation exchange water
softener, during a regeneration cycle, to a waste water drain line
or to the water discharge management system. The water discharge
management system reclaims the discharged water to be used for one
or more future purposes. In various examples of embodiments, the
water discharge management system returns at least a portion of the
discharged water to a brine tank or other regenerant solution
storage tank used by the cation exchange water softener of the
water discharge management system. In various other examples of
embodiments, the water discharge management system directs one or
more other portions of the discharged water to a storage tank for
later use, such as, for example, use as grey water or as potable
water.
[0015] In various examples of embodiments, a water discharge
management system that includes a water softener, such as, for
example, a cation exchange water softener, reclaims water
discharged during a regeneration cycle of the water softener if
that water has secondary uses, such as, for example, use as brine
or another regenerant solution, grey water and/or potable water. In
various ones of these examples of embodiments, a controller for the
water softener also controls one or more motorized valves of the
water discharge management system. The motorized valves are usable
to direct the discharged water to a drain or waste line if the
discharged water has no secondary uses and to one or more storage
containers of the water discharge management system if that
discharged water has a secondary use. In various ones of these
examples of embodiments, the controller of the water discharge
management system controls at least one motorized three-way valve
to selectively discard or reclaim the water discharged from the
water softener.
[0016] In various examples of embodiments, a water discharge
management system controllably operates a water softener, one or
more controllable motorized valves and one or more storage tanks to
reclaim discharged water released during a regeneration cycle of
the water softener if that water has a secondary use, such as, for
example, as a source of brine, as a source of grey water, etc.
[0017] These and other features and advantages of various examples
of embodiments of systems and methods are described in, or are
apparent from, the following detailed descriptions of various
examples of embodiments of various devices, structures and/or
methods of the water discharge management system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] Various examples of embodiments of the systems and methods
disclosed herein will be described in detail, with reference to the
following figures, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cation exchange water
softener in a first state of use, such as but not limited to after
regeneration;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the cation exchange water
softener of FIG. 1 in a second state of use, where hard water ions
in the water are replaced with soft water ions;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the cation exchange water
softener of FIG. 1 in a third state of use, where regeneration is
desirable;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the cation exchange water
softener of FIG. 1 in a fourth state of use, during a backwash
stage of the regeneration cycle;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the cation exchange water
softener of FIG. 1 in a fifth state of use, as a regenerant
solution stage begins;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the cation exchange water
softener of FIG. 1 in a sixth state of use, as the regenerant
solution stage nears completion;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the cation exchange water
softener of FIG. 1 in a seventh state of use, during an initial
portion of the slow rinse stage where the regenerant solution is
recapturable and/or reclaimable;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the cation exchange water
softener of FIG. 1 in an eighth state of use, during an
intermediate and/or latter portion of the slow rinse stage of the
regeneration cycle, where reclaiming the discharge water as the
regenerant solution is no longer desirable, but where the discharge
water is not yet desirably recaptured for use as grey water;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the cation exchange water
softener of FIG. 1 in a ninth state of use, during a final portion
of the slow rinse stage and/or during a fast rinse stage of the
regeneration cycle where the discharge water may be recaptured for
use as grey water;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a graph outlining the relative soft water ion
concentration of water exiting a cation exchange water softener
over time during various stages of the regeneration cycle, along
with indications of various time periods where reclaiming the
discharge water as reclaimed regenerate solution and/or recaptured
grey water is appropriate;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a flowchart outlining one or more examples of
embodiments of a method for reclaiming various types of water
and/or regenerant solution during the regeneration cycle of a
cation exchange water softener according to this invention; and
[0030] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of one or more
examples of embodiments of a water discharge management system that
is usable to reclaim or recapture various types of water and/or
regenerant solution during the regeneration cycle of a cation
exchange water softener.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The discussion herein describes various examples of a water
softener system. The use of a water softener system is for purposes
of example only. While a water softener system and a cation
exchange used therewith are specifically described herein to
illustrate the examples, one of skill in the art would understand
that the discussion herein may be applied to any suitable ion
exchange system where some or all of the regeneration water may be
desirable to be reclaimed, such as, but not limited to, a
dealkalizer, as well as to a filtration system, such as but not
limited to a carbon filter or particulate filter. For example the
water processing system herein may be or include a water
conditioning unit, an ion exchange system including cation and
anion exchange systems (cation exchange systems may include but are
not limited to water softening systems, and radium removal systems;
anion exchange systems include but are not limited to dealkalizers,
tannin removal systems, nitrate removal systems, arsenic removal
systems), a water filtration system including but not limited to pH
filters, acid neutralizers, carbon filtration systems, taste and
odor filters, multi-media filters, filter ag filters, birm filters,
iron filters, hydrogen sulfide filters, sand filters, and
particulate filters.
[0032] As outlined above, cation exchange water softeners and other
ion exchange systems require periodic regeneration for example to
remove hard water ions from the water softener and replace those
hard water ions with soft water ions. Over the course of a
regeneration cycle, soft water ions in a regenerant solution, such
as, for example, a brine solution, initially replace many of the
hard water ions that were previously associated with the resin
beads, leaving soft water ions associated with the resin beads and
the hard water ions dispersed in the discharge water. Those hard
water ions are removed from the cation exchange water softener as
the discharge water is discharged. As such, there is an initial
time period, during a backwash stage and/or at the beginning of a
regenerant solution stage of the regeneration cycle, during which
the discharge water being discharged from the cation exchange water
softener contains a very high concentration of hard water ions
(referred to in the following description as highly alkaline water)
and/or a low concentration of soft water ions, and may contain
various particulates and/or precipitates. Conventionally, this very
hard, highly alkaline discharge water is treated, in most
instances, as waste water and is not reclaimed or captured for use
as grey water.
[0033] As the regenerant solution stage of the regeneration cycle
continues, the resin beads will continue to capture most of the
soft water ions from the regenerant solution and release more of
the hard water ions into the regenerant solution, turning the
regenerant solution into the discharge water. However, as the
regeneration cycle proceeds, this exchange continues at a
decreasing rate. That is, fewer exchanges will happen in a given
period of time as the regenerant stage of the regeneration cycle
continues, such that increasing amounts of the soft water ions
remain in the regenerant solution/discharge water as it exits the
bed of resin beads, while decreasing amounts of the hard water ions
are released into the regenerant solution/discharge water.
Eventually, the resin beads will have captured as many soft water
ions as they can hold and will have released all or most of the
hard water ions into the discharge water. That is, from this point
on in the regeneration cycle, relatively few hard salt ions will be
stripped from the resin beads, allowing relatively few soft water
ions to associate with the resin beads, resulting in a high
concentration of soft water ions, and a low or zero concentration
of hard water ions, in the discharge water.
[0034] Finally, during one or more rinsing stages, the remaining
regenerant solution left in the water softener is rinsed from the
cation exchange water softener with water from a raw water supply,
such as, for example from a well or a utility main line. The one or
more rinsing stages result in a steep decline in the concentration
of soft water ions in the discharge water, as soft water ions are
no longer being introduced into the cation exchange water softener
and decreasing amounts of soft water ions remain to be rinsed
out.
[0035] There are thus one or more time periods during which the
water being discharged from the cation exchange water softener will
have a sufficiently high concentration of soft water ions. This
high-soft-water-ion-concentration discharge water (which may be
referred to as sweet brine) can be reclaimed and used as a source
of regenerant solution for future regeneration cycles, or even
reused during the same regeneration cycle, resulting in a savings
of resources (e.g., salt and water), and thus money, to the
user.
[0036] Likewise, there is at least one time period during
regeneration when the discharge water being discharged from the
water softener will have a sufficiently low concentration of soft
water ions. The discharge water during these time periods can be
reclaimed and used as a grey water source. That is, this discharge
water can be used as grey water to water plants, operate toilets
and/or can be used in other non-potable situations.
[0037] It should be appreciated that there may be other portions of
the discharge water that may be desirably reclaimed or recaptured
for secondary use. For example, there may be periods during the
regeneration cycle when the discharge water being discharged from
the water softener can be collected and used as a potable water
source. In general, it may be desirable to reclaim the discharge
water being discharged from the water softener whenever that
discharge water has any desired secondary use. It should also be
appreciated that the reclaimed or recaptured discharge water may be
treated or otherwise altered before becoming useful for a secondary
purpose. In various examples of embodiments, it may be desirable to
recapture and/or reclaim all of the discharge water discharged
during the regeneration cycle and to subsequently treat and/or use
that discharge water for a variety of different purposes. Moreover,
different portions of the discharge water can be reclaimed and/or
recaptured, and stored into different storage tanks or containers,
such as the regenerant solution tank and/or one or more separate
storage tanks. While specific tanks or containers are provided
herein for examples, one or multiple storage tanks or containers
both upstream and downstream of the water processing system may be
used. One or more of the separately stored reclaimed and/or
recaptured portions of the discharge water can then be subjected to
different treatments. It is also noted that in certain systems
regeneration and/or regenerant solution may not be required, such
as for example in a water filtration system, such as but not
limited to a carbon filter or a particulate filter.
[0038] In the following description of various examples of
embodiments, the regenerant solution enters the top of the tank or
container, flows down through the resin beads, and then out the
internal discharge tube. This flow pattern is commonly called
"downflow" brining. It is also acceptable to reverse the flow
direction, i.e., performing "upflow" brining. This simply requires
introducing the regenerant solution into the tank so that it flows
down through the internal discharge tube, up through the resin
beads and out through the top of the tank. It should be appreciated
that systems, methods and devices described herein, including the
following examples of embodiments operate equally regardless of
whether upflow or downflow brining is used.
[0039] FIGS. 1-9 show schematic views of a water processing system
100 in various states of use, including various stages or phases of
a regeneration cycle. The water processing system may be suitable
to treat water or solution and or a certain criteria or
characteristic thereof. To this end, the water processing system
may be or include a water conditioning unit, an ion exchange system
including cation and anion exchange systems (cation exchange
systems may include but are not limited to water softening systems,
and radium removal systems; anion exchange systems include but are
not limited to dealkalizers, tannin removal systems, nitrate
removal systems, arsenic removal systems), a water filtration
system including but not limited to pH filters, acid neutralizers,
carbon filtration systems, taste and odor filters, multi-media
filters, filter ag filters, birm filters, iron filters, hydrogen
sulfide filters, sand filters and particulate filters. While
specific examples are provided, one of skill in the art would
understand that any water processing or treatment system suitable
for the purposes provided may be substituted in place of the
examples herein. The example water processing system provided
herein, shown in FIGS. 1-9, is a cation exchange water softener
100. The water softener 100 includes a tank 102, a first flow
passage that admits fluids into a top region 104 of the tank, an
internal discharge tube 108 extending from a bottom region 106
through the top region 104 of the tank 102 and that defines a
second flow passage by extending through the first flow passage,
and a bed of resin beads 120 located in a middle region 105 of the
tank 102. In FIGS. 1-9, the hard water ions 130 are shown as solid
black circles, while the soft water ions 132 are shown as hollow
circles or rings.
[0040] FIGS. 1-9 also show one or more examples of embodiments of a
water conditioning controller that controllably connects various
inlet and outlet tubes or pipes or distribution channels or
passages to the first and second flow passages described above. As
shown in FIGS. 1-9, this example water conditioning controller has
a raw water inlet port 101 that is connected to a raw water supply,
a regenerant solution inlet tube 103 that is connected to a
regenerant solution storage tank, a soft water outlet port 107 that
is connected to the building's soft water supply pipes, and an
external discharge tube 109 that is connected to a waste line. It
should be appreciated that FIGS. 1-9 show instantaneous moments of
use.
[0041] As shown in various ones of FIGS. 1-9, at different times,
the cation exchange water softener 100 can be supplied with a
solution, such as but not limited to hard raw water 110 from the
raw water supply via the raw water inlet port 101 or a solution,
such as but not limited to a regenerant solution 112 from the
regenerant solution storage tank via the regenerant solution inlet
tube 103, can supply or output softened water 111 or 113 to the
soft water supply pipes via the soft water outlet port 107, and can
discharge brackish water, highly alkaline water, other generally
unreclaimable water and the like, including as waste water 115,
reclaimable portions 114 of the regenerant solution 112 and/or
reclaimable water 116 via the external discharge tube 109. In
practice, the raw water 110 and/or the regenerant solution 112
supplied into the cation exchange water softener 100 typically
moves continuously through the bed of resin beads 120. The hard
water ions 130 and the soft water ions 132 are present in various
concentrations, and are present either as ions associated with the
resin beads 120, or as dissolved or free ions in the raw water 110,
the regenerant solution 112, the softened water 111 and 113, the
waste water 115, the reclaimable regenerant solution portions 114
and/or the reclaimable water 116.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1-9, the raw water 110 contains a large
concentration of dissolved hard water ions 130. This may be
representative of an initial source of water (e.g., from a well or
a utility main line) in an area with particularly hard water. It
should be appreciated that the hard water ions 130 may also include
other contaminants, including but not limited to ionic contaminants
or dissolved particles that are desirably removed from the raw
water 110. The terms "hard water ions" and "soft water ions" are
used for clarity reasons, but it should be appreciated that the
contaminants or ions in the water may not be typically referred to
as hard or soft. In various examples of embodiments, the hard water
ions 130 include one or more of iron, manganese, calcium and/or
magnesium ions, and can include any other ions (i.e., ionic
elements, chemicals, compounds or the like) that can be captured
by, attached to or associated with those resin beads 120 having
available soft water ions. Likewise, the soft water ions 132 may be
any ion that can be used to desirably replace the hard water ions
130 that are present in the raw water 110. In various examples of
embodiments, the majority of soft water ions 132 are sodium ions,
but they may also be potassium ions or any other known or later
developed ionic chemicals, compounds or the like useable to replace
the hard water ions 132 in the raw water 110 using the cation
exchange water softener 100 or other ion exchange system.
[0043] FIGS. 1-3 show the cation exchange water softener 100 during
a water softening phase or cycle. During this water softening phase
or cycle, the water conditioning controller is in a first state,
where it connects the first flow passage to the raw water port 101
and the second flow passage to the soft water outlet port 107. As a
result, the hard raw water 110 flows into the top portion 104
through the raw water inlet port 101, while softened water 111
flows out of the internal discharge tube 108, through the water
conditioning controller and into the soft water outlet port
107.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, in an initial portion of the water
softening phase or cycle, such as, for example, immediately after a
regeneration cycle has been completed, the raw water 110 includes a
high concentration of hard water ions 130, while the resin beads
120 include a high concentration of soft water ions 132. The
condition shown in FIG. 1 is consistent with a source of hard raw
water 110 being supplied to the cation exchange water softener 100
to be softened, and the cation exchange water softener 100 being in
a condition suitable to soften the raw water 110.
[0045] Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the raw water 110 entering the
cation exchange water softener 100 through the first flow passage
into the top region 104 above the bed of resin beads 120 contains
primarily hard water ions (black circles) 130. The hard raw water
110 flows downwardly into and through the bed of resin beads 120,
which, in this state, hold primarily soft water ions (rings) 132.
In contrast to the input hard raw water 110, the softened water 111
flowing out of the bottom of the bed of resin beads 120 into the
bottom region 106 and traveling upwardly through the internal
discharge tube 108 contains primarily soft water ions (rings)
132.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, during an example water softening phase
or cycle, the soft water ions 132 replace the hard water ions 130
in the raw water 110, leaving the hard water ions 130 attached to
the resin beads 120. As the water softening phase or cycle
continues, the hard water ions 130 collect on the resin beads 120,
while the soft water ions 132 are removed from the resin beads 120
as the raw water 110 is converted into the softened water 111
discharged from the cation exchange water softener 100. Moreover,
during a water softening phase or cycle, the resin beads 120 in the
cation exchange water softener 100 are gradually depleted of their
soft water ions 132 as they become saturated with the hard water
ions 130. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the resin beads 120 in
this water softening phase hold increasing amounts of the hard
water ions 130, as well as significant but decreasing amounts of
the soft water ions 132.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the resin beads 120 ultimately become
saturated with the hard water ions 130, having lost most or all of
the soft water ions 132 previously associated with or attached to
the resin beads 120. At some point, the resin beads 120 will no
longer be able to replace a sufficient number of hard water ions
130 present in the raw water 110 with soft water ions 132 to
sufficiently soften the raw water 110, resulting in imperfectly
softened water 113. Eventually, rather than supplying the softened
water 111, or even the imperfectly softened water 113, the raw
water 110 merely passes through the resin beads and is output from
the cation exchange water softener 100. Of course, it should be
appreciated that the regeneration cycle can be initiated before
this occurs, or even before the cation exchange water softener 100
begins outputting the imperfectly softened water 113.
[0048] In order to continue using the cation exchange water
softener 100 to soften the raw water 110, the resin beads 120 need
to be regenerated to remove the hard water ions 130 and resupply
the resin beads 120 with soft water ions 132. That is, as shown in
FIG. 3, while the imperfectly softened water 113 flowing out of the
bed of resin beads 120 contains primarily soft water ions (rings)
132, increasing amounts of the hard water ions (black circles) 130
remain in the water 113 flowing out of the bed of resin beads 120
and upwardly through the discharge tube. In contrast to FIG. 1, the
resin beads 120 in this state primarily hold hard water ions 130,
although insignificant and decreasing amounts of the soft water
ions 132 may remain associated with the resin beads 120.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows an initial phase of a regeneration cycle of the
cation exchange water softener 100. This initial phase or stage of
the regeneration cycle is typically a backwash phase or stage.
During this backwash phase or stage, the water conditioning
controller moves from the first state, to a second state it
connects the second flow passage to the raw water port 101 and the
first flow passage to the external discharge tube 109. The external
discharge tube 109 is connected either to a waste water drain or to
a brine reclaim tank.
[0050] It should be appreciated that the downstream soft water
distribution system is not completely cut off from the raw water
supply during the regeneration cycle. Rather, in this second
position, as well as in the third, fourth and fifth positions
discussed below with respect to FIGS. 5-9, the water conditioning
controller uses a bypass passage to connect the raw water port 101
directly to the downstream soft water outlet port 107. In FIGS.
4-9, the bypass hard water flowing through the soft water outlet
port 107 is omitted.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, in this initial backwash phase, the
direction of flow is reversed from that shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-9,
with the raw hard water 110 flowing downwardly out of the bottom of
the internal discharge tube 108 and then upwardly through the
bottom portion 106 of the tank 102 and through the resin beads 120.
This reverse flow lifts the resin beads 120 upwardly towards the
top of the tank 104, allowing the reversely flowing hard raw water
110 to flush the tank 102 of turbidity and debris that may have
been filtered out by the resin beads 120 from the raw water 110
during the water softening cycle shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
[0052] That is, the discharge water flowing out the first flow
passage, through the water conditioning controller and into the
external discharge tube 109 is waste water 115 that is carrying the
turbidity and debris flushed from the tank 102. This portion of the
waste water 115 is occasionally unsuitable for any secondary uses.
However, in many cases, after an initial portion of this backwash
phase or stage, rather than the waste water 115, the discharged
water is relatively clear raw hard water 110 that is suitable for
recapture as reclaimable water 116. This reclaimable water 116 is
output from the external discharge tube 109 for the remainder of
this phase of the regeneration cycle as well as a beginning portion
of the next, regenerant, phase of the regeneration cycle.
[0053] FIG. 5 shows initial portions of the regenerant solution
phase of the regeneration cycle of the cation exchange water
softener 100, while FIG. 6 shows a final portion of the regenerant
solution phase. During this regenerant solution phase or stage, the
water conditioning controller moves from its second position (or
first position if the backwash phase is omitted), to a third
position, where the first flow passage is connected to the
regenerant solution inlet tube 103, which is connected to a
regenerant solution tank (not shown) containing a regenerant
solution, while the second flow passage is again connected to the
internal discharge tube 108 and to the external discharge tube 109.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, during this regenerant solution phase,
the regenerant solution 112, which has a high concentration of soft
water ions 132, is supplied to the cation exchange water softener
100. The regenerant solution 112 is a saturated or nearly saturated
solution of soft water ions 132 (e.g., sodium ions) in water. In
various examples of embodiments, the regenerant solution 112 is a
brine solution. The regenerant solution 112 thus supplies a high
concentration of soft water ions 132 to the cation exchange water
softener 100 and the resin beads 120. The soft water ions 132
present in the regenerant solution 112 will then replace the hard
water ions 130 currently associated with the resin beads 120.
[0054] Initially, as shown in FIG. 5, during a first portion of the
regenerant solution phase of the regeneration cycle, an abundance
of hard water ions 130 are associated with the resin beads 120 and
an abundance of soft water ions 132 are dissolved in the regenerant
solution 112. As such, the soft water ions 132 easily dislodge or
disassociate the hard water ions 130 from the resin beads 120 and
become captured by, attached to or associated with the resin beads
120. As shown in FIG. 5, this waste water 115 discharged from the
cation exchange water softener 100 initially contains a high
concentration of hard water ions 130 (jettisoned or dislodged from
the resin beads 120 by the soft water ions 132) and a relatively
low concentration of the soft water ions 132.
[0055] That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the regenerant
solution phase or stage of the regeneration cycle, in place of the
hard raw water 110, the regenerant solution 112 is introduced into
the cation exchange water softener 100 in the top region 104 above
the bed of resin beads 120. The resin beads 120 initially extract a
substantial proportion of the soft water ions 132 from the water
solution 112, driving an initially high concentration of hard water
ions 130 into the regenerant solution 112, turning it into the
waste water 115. Consequently, in contrast to the softened water
111 shown in FIG. 1, in FIG. 5, waste water 115 flows out of the
bottom of the bed of resin beads 120, into the bottom portion 106
of the tank 102 and upwardly through the internal discharge tube
108.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, during the initial portions of the
regenerant solution phase, the resin beads 120 continue to hold
primarily hard water ions 130, while increasing amounts of the soft
water ions 132 become associated with the resin beads 120. In
intermediate portions of the regenerant solution phase (not shown),
the resin beads 120 hold significant but decreasing amounts of the
hard water ions 130, while holding significant and increasing
amounts of the soft water ions 132. Additionally, in intermediate
portions of the regenerant solution phase, small but increasing
amounts of the soft water ions 132 pass through the bed of resin
beads 120 and thus are present in the discharge water.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 6, in later or final portions of the
regenerant solution phase, the resin beads 120 become saturated
with soft water ions 132, while the regenerant solution 112
continues to have a high concentration of the soft water ions 132.
That is, the supplied regenerant solution 112, which has a high
concentration of soft water ions 132, will retain the majority of
its soft water ions 132, rather than exchanging them for hard water
ions 130 attached to the resin beads 120. At this stage in the
regeneration cycle, the regenerant solution 112 effectively passes
through the bed of resin beads 120 into the bottom portion 106 of
the tank 102. Accordingly, in these intermediate to later portions
of the regenerant phase, the cation exchange water softener 100,
rather than discharging the waste water 115 through the external
discharge tube 109, now discharges reclaimable regenerant solution
114. That is, the fluid discharged from the cation exchange water
softener 100 in these intermediate to later portions of the
regenerant phase has a high concentration of soft water ions 132,
and thus may be appropriately be reclaimed, stored into the
regenerant solution tank and reused in subsequent regeneration
cycles.
[0058] FIGS. 7 and 8 show initial portions of a slow rinse phase of
the regeneration cycle of the cation exchange water softener 100.
During these initial portions of this slow rinse phase, the flow of
regenerant solution through the regenerant solution inlet tube 103
is stopped or cut off, while the second flow passage remains
connected to the external discharge tube 109. This can be
accomplished, for example, by using an aircheck in the regenerant
solution tank (not shown), which checks the flow of regenerant
solution into the regenerant solution inlet tube 103. As shown in
FIG. 8, in the initial portions of this slow rinse phase, the
discharged water contains lower and decreasing concentrations of
soft water ions 132. As a result, the discharged water is no longer
reclaimable regenerant solution 114. Moreover, the discharged water
has a very low concentration of hard water ions 130. Thus, the
discharged water is now reclaimable water 116 that is suitable for
recapture and storage as a grey water source. The reclaimed
reclaimable water 116 may be used in situations that do not require
potable water, such as, for example, operating toilets, watering
plants and the like.
[0059] FIG. 9 shows a fast rinse phase of the regeneration cycle of
the cation exchange water softener 100. During this fast rinse
phase, the water conditioning controller moves from its second
position to a third position, where the first flow passage is
connected to the raw water inlet port 101, while the second flow
passage remains connected to the external discharge tube 109. As
shown in FIG. 9, the flow rate of the hard raw water from the raw
water inlet port 101 through the inlet tube and into the tank 102
increases substantially, repacking the resin beads 120 that were
loosened during the backwash phase. The discharged water exiting
the tank 102 through the second flow passage and the water
conditioning controller and into the external discharge tube 109 is
now reclaimable water 116 that may be suitable for recapture and
storage as a grey water source.
[0060] Thus, reclaiming the discharged water during specific time
intervals of the regeneration cycle may result in reclaiming
reclaimable regenerant solution 114 that retains a high
concentration of soft water ions 132. This reclaimed regenerant
solution 114 may be useable as a source of soft water ions 132 for
the current and/or future regeneration cycles. Likewise, reclaiming
the discharged water during other specific time intervals of the
regeneration cycle may result in recapturing the reclaimable water
116 at a time when it has a sufficiently low concentration of soft
water ions 132. This portion of reclaimed water 116 may be useable
as a grey water source for water needs that do not require potable
or softened water (e.g., operating toilets, watering plants, etc.)
Additionally, sensors may be used to determine the actual or
expected concentrations of hard water ions 130 and/or soft water
ions 132 present in the discharged water, as a factor in
determining whether it is desirable to reclaim various portions of
the discharged water for one or more secondary uses.
[0061] It should be appreciated that, in various other examples of
embodiments, the waste water 115 may be recaptured, rather than
being discharged into a drain or sewer line as waste water. In some
such examples of embodiments, the recaptured waste water 115 may be
treated and/or may be combined with either and/or both of some or
all of the reclaimable water 116 and/or some or all of the
reclaimed regenerant solution 114 to form an additional amount of
grey water. Finally, if portions of the reclaimable water 116 meets
certain standards and/or can be treated to meet those standards,
those portions of the reclaimable water 116 can be stored as a
source of potable water.
[0062] FIG. 10 shows a graph representing the relative
concentration of soft water ions 132 (and thus the corresponding
concentration of hard water ions 130) present in the discharged
water output through the external discharge tube 109 at various
times during a regeneration cycle. As shown in FIG. 10, during
latter portions of the backwash phase and initial portions of the
regenerant solution phase, the discharged water has a low
concentration of soft water ions 132 and a high concentration of
hard water ions 130 due to the raw water 110 used during the
backwash phase and due to a substantial portion of the soft water
ions 132 in the regenerant solution 112 replacing or changing
places with the hard water ions 130 initially associated with the
resin beads 120.
[0063] As the regenerant solution phase continues, the
concentration of soft water ions 132 in the discharged water
increases and the concentration of hard water ions 130 decreases as
there are fewer hard water ions 130 associated with the resin beads
120 for the soft water ions 132 to trade places with, and thus
fewer soft water ions 132 replacing hard water ions 130 associated
with the resin beads 120. At some point during the regenerant
solution phase, the concentration of soft water ions 132 in the
discharged water levels off, and remains generally at that level
during the final portions of the regenerant solution phase and/or
during initial portions of the slow rinse phase. Then, during
latter portions of the slow rinse phase and/or during the fast
rinse phase, the concentration of soft water ions 132 in the
discharged water decreases substantially.
[0064] As outlined above, it may be desirable to reclaim or
recapture the discharged water from the cation exchange water
softener 100 during one or more specific time periods of the
regeneration cycle when the discharged water may be usable for one
or more secondary uses. FIG. 11 illustrates one or more examples of
embodiments of a recapture/reclaim protocol useable to control one
or more controllable valves of a water discharge management system
according to this invention that is connected to between the
external discharge tube 109 and the drain or sewer line. At least
one of the one or more controllable valves is provided between the
external discharge tube 109 and the drain or sewer line to divert
reclaimable or recapturable discharge water from the drain or sewer
line. These controllable valves allow the discharged water supplied
from the water conditioning controller to the external discharge
tube 109 to be redirected to one or more grey water storage
tank(s), one or more regenerant solution tank(s), one or more
treatment storage tank(s) or one or more potable water storage
tank(s) or the like.
[0065] As shown in FIGS. 10-12, in this example of one or more
embodiments of the regeneration cycle, the backwash phase of the
cation exchange water softener 100 began at some time t1. As
discussed above, during an initial portion of the backwash phase,
between times t1 and t2, the discharge water may be unsuitable for
recapturing or reclaiming. However, by time t2, the discharge water
has cleared sufficiently that it can be recaptured for a particular
use, such as for use as grey water. Accordingly, as shown in FIG.
10, beginning at time t2, for a first grey water recapture period
.DELTA.t1, the water discharge management system connected to the
external discharge tube 109 controls one or more of the
controllable valves to direct the recaptured water from the
discharge tube to a grey water storage tank. The backwash phase of
the cation exchange water softener 100 continues to time t3, at
which point the backwash phase ends and the regenerant solution
phase or brine phase of the cation exchange water softener 100
begins.
[0066] However, in the example embodiment shown in FIG. 10,
recapturing the discharge water as grey water continues beyond time
t2 for the entire first grey water recapture period .DELTA.t1,
although it can stop prior to that point in time. That is, in the
example embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the first grey water recapture
period .DELTA.t1 extends beyond time t2 and continues until a time
t3 and thus covers an initial portion of the regenerant solution
phase. That is, as discussed above, during an initial portion of
the regenerant solution phase, the discharge water remains
recapturable as grey water. However, in the example embodiment
shown in FIG. 10, at time t3, the soft water ion concentration in
the discharge water has risen sufficiently that the discharge water
is no longer suitable for use as grey water. It should be
appreciated that time t3 does not represent a fixed point along the
time line shown in FIG. 10, but may vary depending on the
percentage of soft water ions in the discharged water, the maximum
amount of soft water ions permitted in the reclaimable water, and
any other known or later developed factor or criteria or
characteristic.
[0067] Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, beginning at time t3, for a first
waste water period .DELTA.t2, the water discharge management system
connected to the external discharge tube 109 controls one or more
of the controllable valves to direct the discharge water, which is
now waste water, from the external discharge tube 109 to the drain
or sewer line. The regenerant solution phase or brine phase of the
cation exchange water softener 100 continues to time t4, at which
point the regenerant solution phase or brine phase ends and the
slow rinse phase of the cation exchange water softener 100
begins.
[0068] At some time after time t3, the soft water ion concentration
in the discharge water reaches a maximum value. Subsequently, at
time t4, not only does the regenerant solution phase or brine phase
end, but the first waste water period .DELTA.t2 also ends, and a
first regenerant solution reclaim period .DELTA.t3 begins.
Consequently, as shown in FIG. 10, beginning at time t4, for the
first regenerant solution reclaim period .DELTA.t3, the water
discharge management system connected to the external discharge
tube 109 controls one or more of the controllable valves to direct
the reclaimable regenerant solution from the discharge tube to a
regenerant solution generating tank, to a regenerant solution
storage tank and/or back to the cation exchange water softener 100.
The regenerant solution generating tank contains a supply of a
dissolvable chemical compound that will dissolve in the water
supplied into that tank to generate the saturated regenerant
solution to be used during the regenerant solution phase. Of
course, it is understood that a pre-mixed or other unmixed solution
may be used as a regenerant solution.
[0069] It should be appreciated that the first waste water period
.DELTA.t2 can end, and thus the first regenerant solution reclaim
period .DELTA.t3 can begin, at any suitable time after the soft
water ion concentration in the discharge water reaches a maximum
value. Thus, the first regenerant solution reclaim period .DELTA.t3
can begin during the regenerant solution or brine phase. However,
once the first regenerant solution reclaim period .DELTA.t3 begins,
it may be desirable to reclaim as much of the regenerant solution
as possible, and thus it is uncommon to end the first regenerant
solution reclaim period .DELTA.t3 before time 15.
[0070] As outlined above, in the example embodiment shown in FIG.
10, the first regenerant solution reclaim period .DELTA.t3 extends
over an initial portion of the slow rinse phase, between times t4
and t5. At time t5 during the slow rinse phase, the soft water ion
concentration in the discharge water begins to decline. Thus, at
time t5, the first regenerant solution reclaim period .DELTA.t3
ends. However, the soft water ion concentration in the discharge
water is still high, and thus the discharge water may not be
suitable for reclaiming or recapturing. Accordingly, a second waste
water period .DELTA.t4 begins at time t5 and extends until time t6,
which is also during the slow rinse phase. During the second waste
water period .DELTA.t4, the water discharge management system
connected to the external discharge tube 109 again controls one or
more of the controllable valves to direct the waste water from the
external discharge tube 109 to the drain or sewer line.
[0071] Of course, it should be appreciated that, in other
embodiments, the point of time along the time line where the
discharge water becomes unsuitable for reclaiming or recapturing,
i.e., point t5, can vary depending on the percentage of soft water
ions in the discharged water, the maximum amount of soft water ions
permitted in the reclaimable water, and any other known or later
developed factor. Likewise, in other embodiments, the point of time
along the time line where the discharge water again becomes
suitable for reclaiming or recapturing, i.e., point t6, can vary
based on the same or similar factors or criteria or
characteristics.
[0072] It should be appreciated that the second waste water period
.DELTA.t4 does not have to begin at time t5, but can begin at some
other time after (or possibly before) time t5. Delaying the start
of the second waste water period .DELTA.t4, and thus the end of the
first regenerant solution reclaim period .DELTA.t3, would allow
additional portions of the discharge water to be recaptured as
reclaimed regenerant solution 114. Likewise, it should be
appreciated that the second waste water period .DELTA.t4 does not
have to end at time t6, but can end at some other time before (or
possibly before) time t6. Moving up the end of the second waste
water period .DELTA.t4, and thus the beginning of the next period
.DELTA.t5, would allow additional portions of the discharge water
to be recaptured as well.
[0073] At time t6, the second waste water period .DELTA.t4 ends and
a second grey water recapture period .DELTA.t5 begins. As shown in
FIG. 10, in this example embodiment, the second grey water period
.DELTA.t5 encompasses a final portion of the slow rinse phase,
between times t6 and t7, and between times t7 and t8, which is
essentially all of a fast rinse phase. As in the first grey water
recapture period .DELTA.t1, during the second grey water recapture
period .DELTA.t5, the water discharge management system connected
to the external discharge tube 109 controls one or more of the
controllable valves to direct the recaptured water from the
external discharge tube 109 to a grey water storage tank. It should
be appreciated that this can be the same grey water storage tank or
a separate grey water storage tank. At time t8, the regeneration
cycle, and thus the flow of discharge water from the external
discharge tube 109, ends.
[0074] As discussed above, the concentration of soft water ions 132
present in the discharged water solution 112 reaches a maximum
after the second time period .DELTA.t2. After the third, fourth and
fifth time periods .DELTA.t3, .DELTA.t4 and .DELTA.t5, the
concentration of hard water ions 130 in the discharged water
solution 112 begins to decrease, as water from the well or main
line is used to rinse remaining brine from the cation exchange
water softener 100.
[0075] It should be appreciated that the concentration of soft
water ions 132 may need to reach a sufficient concentration before
the soft water ions 132 can sufficiently replace the hard water
ions 130 on the resin beads 120. As such, there may be a portion of
time (such as, for example, during second and/or third time periods
.DELTA.t2 and/or .DELTA.t3, and/or during portions of one or both
of these time periods) where the concentration of soft water ions
132 increases, while the amount of hard water ions 130 in the
discharged water remains approximately steady.
[0076] It should be appreciated that the various fluids reclaimed
or recaptured from the discharged water are not necessarily limited
to being reclaimed and/or recaptured as in the embodiment outlined
above with respect to FIG. 10. For example, it may be desirable to
reclaim the discharged water as the reclaimed regenerant solution
114 during portions of the time periods .DELTA.t2, .DELTA.t3 and/or
.DELTA.t4, which can then be used as a current or future source of
the regenerant solution 112. Likewise, it may be desirable to
reclaim the discharged water as reclaimable water 116 during other
time periods when the discharged water being released has a
desirable or usable concentration of soft water ions 132 and/or a
desirable or usable concentration of hard water ions 130 for a
particular use. For example, it may be desirable to reclaim the
discharged reclaimable water 116 during at least some portions of
the time periods .DELTA.t1, .DELTA.t2, .DELTA.t4 and/or .DELTA.t5
for later use as a grey water source, or even as a potable water
source. In such cases, the discharged water is directed to a
storage tank rather than into the drain/waste line.
[0077] It should be appreciated that various ones of the time
periods .DELTA.t1, .DELTA.t2, .DELTA.t3, .DELTA.t4 and .DELTA.t5
may be actual time periods controlled by a timer or may be
subjective time periods based on conditions or criteria or
characteristics of the water discharge management system. For
example, sensors may be provided that are usable to determine the
actual or expected concentrations of hard water ions 130 and/or
soft water ions 132 present in the discharged water. As such, the
time period .DELTA.t2 may be a fixed, variable or determined time
period between the beginning of the regeneration cycle or the
regenerant solution phase and the point at which the concentration
of soft water ions 132 reaches or is expected to reach a maximum.
Likewise, the time period .DELTA.t3 may be a fixed, variable or
determined delay to assure that the concentration of soft water
ions 132 remains high and the time period .DELTA.t4 may be a fixed,
variable or determined time period between the time at which the
discharged water is first collected and a time at which the
concentration of soft water ions 132 falls or is expected to have
fallen below a minimum threshold.
[0078] FIG. 11 is a flowchart that outlines one or more examples of
embodiments of a method of water reclamation according to this
invention. The example method of water reclamation shown in FIG. 11
may be particularly useful to reclaim discharge water that has a
high concentration of soft water ions as a current and/or future
brine source. As shown in FIG. 11, the example method of water
reclamation begins in step S100, and continues to step S110, where
the cation exchange water softener starts a first or next portion
or phase of the regeneration cycle. Operation then continues to
step S120.
[0079] In a regeneration cycle, the cation exchange water softener
is provided with raw hard water during a backwash phase, during a
slow rinse phase and/or during a fast rinse phase, and is provided
with a regenerant solution during a regenerant solution phase. The
raw hard water and the regenerant solution pass over and/or around
the resin beads and are discharged. As outlined above, at certain
times within the regeneration cycle, such as during portions of the
backwash phase and/or during initial portions of the regenerant
solution phase, the discharged water has a relatively high
concentration of hard water ions and/or is otherwise unsuitable for
reclaiming or recapturing. At other times within the regeneration
cycle, the discharged water has a relatively high concentration of
soft water ions and/or is otherwise suitable for reclaiming or
recapturing.
[0080] Accordingly, in step S120, a determination is made whether
it is desirable to begin reclaiming the discharged water, such as
for current and/or later secondary uses, such as, for example, use
as a brine source. If it is not yet desirable for the discharged
water to be reclaimed, operation jumps to step S140, where the
discharged water is directed to the drain or sewer line. Operation
then continues from step S140 to step S150. Otherwise, operation
continues to step S130.
[0081] In step S130, the discharged water is recaptured as grey
water or the like, is reclaimed as reclaimable regenerant solution,
or is recaptured for some other appropriate use or purpose. That
is, the discharged water is redirected toward one of a variety of
storage tanks or containers and the like. The storage tank may be
the original regenerant solution generating tank or may be a
secondary storage tank for storing the regenerant solution, grey
water or any other type of recaptured or reclaimed discharged
water. Alternatively, the reclaimable regenerant solution may be
cycled back (directly or indirectly') to the cation exchange water
softener, in place of fresh or unused regenerant solution. In any
case, the discharged water may be reclaimed for a current and/or
later use. Operation then jumps from step S130 to step S150.
[0082] In step S150, a determination is made whether the current
phase of the regeneration cycle has finished. If so, operation
continues to step S160. Otherwise, operation jumps back to step
S120. In step S160, a determination is made whether the current
phase of the regeneration cycle is the last phase. If so, operation
continues to step S170. Otherwise, operation jumps back to step
S110, where the next phase of the regeneration cycle is initiated.
In step S170, since the last phase of the regeneration cycle has
finished, meaning that the regeneration cycle itself has finished,
the water conditioner controller sets the valves between the raw
hard water supply tube, the regenerant supply tube, the discharge
tube and the soft water distribution tube into position to supply
softened water to the soft water distribution system. Operation
then continues to step S180, where operation of the method
ends.
[0083] It should be appreciated that the determination made in step
S120 may be made by any suitable known or later-developed method
and may be different depending on the desired current or future use
of the water solution. In various examples of embodiments, a timer
indicates how long the regeneration cycle or the current phase of
the regeneration cycle has been running or how much time the
regeneration cycle or the current phase has remaining. In such
examples of embodiments, after a given amount of time, it may be
assumed that the quality of the discharged water is such that it is
appropriate to reclaim or recapture the discharged water, such as
when the discharge water has a suitably high concentration of soft
water ions and thus is desirably reclaimed as a current or future
source of regenerant solution.
[0084] In various other examples of embodiments, one or more
sensors may be provided that determine the actual quality of the
discharged water, such as its clarity, the concentration of soft
water ions in the discharged water, the concentration of hard water
ions in the discharged water, and/or any other appropriate
parameter or criteria or characteristic. For example, when the
actual concentration of soft water ions reaches a defined or
selected threshold, it is desirable to reclaim or recapture the
discharged water as a future source of regenerant solution. In
general, any suitable known or later-developed method or device
that is usable to determine the relative, actual or expected
concentration of soft water ions, the relative, actual or expected
concentration of hard water ions, the relative, actual or expected
ratio of soft water ions to hard water ions in, and/or the
turbidity, the clarity or any other quality of the discharged water
may be usable to determine whether it is desirable to collect that
discharged water for a particular purpose.
[0085] It should be appreciated that the determination made in step
S140 may be made by any suitable known or later-developed method.
In various examples of embodiments, a timer indicates how long the
discharged water has been directed to the storage tank. In such
examples of embodiments, after a given time period, it may be
assumed that the discharged water no longer has a suitably high
concentration of soft water ions for the discharged water to be
reclaimed for current and/or later use as a source of regenerant
solution. In various other examples of embodiments, one or more
sensors may be provided that determine the actual quality of the
discharged water, such as its clarity, the concentration of soft
water ions in the discharged water, the concentration of hard water
ions in the discharged water, and/or any other appropriate
parameter or criteria or characteristic. When the actual
concentration of soft water ions falls below a defined or selected
threshold, it is no longer desirable to collect the discharged
water as reclaimed regenerant solution. In general, any suitable
known or later-developed method or device that is usable to
determine the relative, actual or expected concentration of soft
water ions, the relative, actual or expected concentration of hard
water ions, the relative, actual or expected ratio of soft water
ions to hard water ions in, and/or the turbidity, the clarity or
any other quality of, the discharged water may be usable to
determine whether it is still desirable to collect that discharged
water.
[0086] It should be appreciated that the above-outlined method may
be changed slightly depending on the type of water desirably
reclaimed (e.g., depending on the intended secondary use of the
reclaimed water). For example, if the secondary use of the
reclaimed water is a grey water use, the discharged water may be
reclaimed when soft water ion concentration is relatively low and
may be directed to the drain or sewer line during other portions of
the regeneration cycle, such as when the hard water ion
concentration is relatively high. Again, this determination may be
determined by any known or later-developed method or device.
Likewise, the method may be altered to allow for grey water,
regenerant solution and/or other water reclamation during different
desirable time periods of the same regeneration cycle.
[0087] FIG. 12 shows one or more examples of embodiments of a water
discharge management system 200 usable to reclaim one or more types
of water and/or portions of the regenerant solution during a
typical regeneration cycle of a cation exchange water softener 220.
As shown in FIG. 12, the water discharge management system 200
includes a regenerant solution supply or generating tank or
container 210, the cation exchange water softener 220, a first
three-way valve 230, a second three-way valve 240, a potable water
storage tank or container 250, a third three-way valve 260, a grey
water storage tank or container 270 and a reclaimed regenerant
solution tube 264 that connects the third three-way valve 260 to
the regenerant solution supply or generating tank 210. The
regenerant solution supply or generating tank or container 210
stores a regenerant solution that is saturated with soft water
ions. A regenerant solution supply tube 212 connects an outlet of
the regenerant solution supply or generating tank 210 and an inlet
of the cation exchange water softener 220. A discharge tube 226
connects the discharge outlet of the cation exchange water softener
220 and an inlet of the first three way valve 230.
[0088] During various portions of the example regeneration cycle,
raw hard water and the regenerant solution from the regenerant
solution supply tank 210 are variously provided to the cation
exchange water softener 220 through a raw water supply tube 222 and
the regenerant solution supply tube 212. The discharge water
discharged from the cation exchange water softener 220 is then
provided to the first three-way valve 230 via the discharge tube
226. The first three-way valve 230 controllably and selectively
directs the discharge water either to a waste tube 232 or to a
first reclaim tube 234. The waste tube 232 conveys the discharge
water to a drain or sewer line or the like. In contrast, the first
reclaim tube 234 directs the discharge water to the second
three-way valve 240. The first three-way valve 230 may be used to
direct the discharge water to the waste tube 232 during periods in
which the discharge water has an undesirable or unusable
concentration of soft water ions and/or an undesirable or unusable
concentration of hard water ions. Likewise, the first three-way
valve 230 may be used to direct the discharge water to the reclaim
tube 234 during periods in which the discharge water has a
desirable or usable concentration of soft water ions and/or a
desirable or usable concentration of hard water ions.
[0089] The first reclaim tube 234 is connected to an inlet of the
second three-way valve 240. The second three-way valve 240 may be
usable to controllably and selectively direct the reclaimable
discharge water either to a potable water storage tank 250 or to a
third three-way valve 260. The second three-way valve 240 connects
the first reclaim tube 234 to the potable water storage tank 250
through a tube 242 whenever a determination is made that the
reclaimed discharge water may be appropriately useable as a source
of potable water. In contrast, the second three-way valve 240
connects the first reclaim tube 234 to the third three-way valve
260 through a second reclaim tube 244. The third three-way valve
260 may be usable to controllably and selectively direct either the
reclaimable discharge water 116 to a grey water storage tank or
container 270, via a tube 262, or the reclaimed regenerant solution
114 to the regenerant solution supply or generating tank 210, via a
third reclaim tube 264. That is, the third three-way valve 260
connects the second reclaim tube 244 either to the grey water
storage tank 270 through the grey water tube 262 or to the
regenerant solution supply or generating tank 210 through the third
reclaim tube 264. The third three-way valve 260 directs the
discharged and reclaimed discharge water 116 to the grey water tank
270 when the discharged water has a suitable concentration of soft
water ions and/or hard water ions for grey water use (e.g., a low
concentration of soft water ions and/or a high concentration of
hard water ions). The third three-way valve 260 directs the
discharged and reclaimed regenerant solution 114 to the regenerant
solution supply or generating tank 210 when the reclaimed
regenerant solution 114 has a suitable concentration of soft water
ions and/or hard water ions (e.g., a high concentration of soft
water ions and/or a low concentration of hard water ions).
[0090] It should be appreciated that the discharge water 116 that
has been directed to, and stored in, the grey water storage tank
270 and/or the potable water storage tank 250 can be (optionally)
treated, pressurized and reused for potable and/or non-potable uses
(such as, for example, flushing toilets, watering plants and lawns,
etc.). It should also be appreciated that, in various other
examples of embodiments that the third reclaim tube 264, rather
than connecting third three-way valve 260 to the regenerant
solution supply or generating tank 210, instead conveys the
reclaimed regenerant solution 114 to a secondary regenerant
solution storage tank or container for storage and/or later use. In
such examples of embodiments, the fresh, original or unused
regenerant solution 112 stored in the regenerant solution supply or
generating tank 210 does not mix with the reclaimed regenerant
solution 114, which could dilute, contaminate or otherwise alter
the fresh, original or unused regenerant solution 112 stored in the
regenerant solution supply or generating tank 210.
[0091] It should further be appreciated that, in various other
examples of embodiments, rather than connecting the third three-way
valve 260 directly to the brine source tank 210 via the third
reclaim tube 264, the outlet from the third three-way valve 260 is
connected to a resupply tube 280 (shown in shadow in FIG. 12) that
conveys the discharged and reclaimed regenerant solution 114
directly back to the regenerant solution source tube 212, such that
the reclaimed regenerant solution 114 flows into the cation
exchange water softener 220 in place of original, unused or fresh
regenerant solution 112 from the regenerant solution supply or
generating tank 210. Furthermore, in some examples of embodiments,
a fourth three-way (not shown) could be used to controllably or
selectively connect the outlet from the third three-way valve 260
to the tubes 264 and 280.
[0092] In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 12, three distinct
types of discharged water are recaptured or reclaimed. It should be
appreciated that if only one or two types of discharged water are
desirably reclaimed (such as, for example, if only the regenerant
solution 114 and/or only portions of discharged grey water 116 is
desired for reclamation), then the second and/or third three-way
valves 240 and/or 260 may be omitted. For example, in many
installations, it may be too expensive to use recaptured portions
of the discharge water as potable water due to such factors as any
required post-capture treatments, the volume of the portions that
can ultimately be usable as potable water, return on the additional
investment in the three-way valve 240, the additional storage
tank(s), the additional plumbing and the like. In such
installations, the second three-way valve 240, the storage tank 250
and the connecting tube 242 may be omitted, with the tube 234
instead connected directly to the third three-way valve 260.
[0093] In other installations, both the second and third three-way
valves 240 and 260, and their attendant storage tanks 250 and 270,
may be omitted along with the various one of the tubes 242, 244,
262 and/or 280. In such installations, the tube 234 conveys the
reclaimed discharge water to the desired storage tank or back to
the cation exchange water softener 220 for re-use, depending on the
type of discharge water that is recaptured or reclaimed.
[0094] It should be appreciated that, in various examples of
embodiments, the water discharge management system 200 may be used
to reclaim or recapture all of the discharge water discharged
during the regeneration cycle and/or to separate the discharge
water into more than the 4 types (waste, grey and potable water and
regenerant solution) discussed above. In such examples of
embodiments, three, four or more motorized three-way valves may be
connected in a series configuration (as shown in FIG. 12) or in a
tree configuration. It should additionally be appreciated that, as
discussed above with respect to FIG. 10, in various examples of
embodiments, the discharged water may be captured or reclaimed for
each of one or more different uses over one or more different
portions of the regeneration cycle. In such examples of
embodiments, each implemented three-way valve, such as the
first-third three-way valves 230, 240 and 260, may be configured
and controllably operated to direct the discharged water to a first
tank for one use during one or more different time periods and to a
second tank for another use during the remaining time periods, to a
first tank for one use during one or more time periods and another
three-way valve during the remaining time periods or to one
three-way valve during one or more time periods and another
three-way valve during the remaining time periods.
[0095] Thus, as discussed above, it should be appreciated that any
number or type of three-way valves may be provided in the water
discharge management system 200 and can be connected in any
appropriate configuration, such as in a cascaded manner or in a
tree structure, to direct the discharged water to any number of
storage tanks. Further, while three-way valves are specifically
described for the examples of embodiments discussed herein, any
multi-way valve would be acceptable for the purposes provided. For
example, it should also be appreciated that any two three-way
valves may be replaced with a single suitable four-way valve that
controllably and selectively connects the input tube to three
output tubes. Furthermore, all of the three- or more-way valves may
be replaced with a single controllably operable manifold having a
suitable number of ports that can be controllably opened and shut
as desired. For example, in the example embodiment shown in FIG.
12, the second and third three-way valves 240 and 260 could be
replaced with a single 4-way valve connected between the tube 234
and the tubes 242, 262 and 264 (and/or 280) or all three three-way
valves could be replaced with a manifold connected between the tube
226 and the tubes 232, 242, 262 and 264 (and/or 280). Additionally,
any one three-way valve may be replaced with a pair of two-way
valves.
[0096] It should be appreciated that the various types of
controllably operable two-way valves, 3-, 4- and more-way valves
and/or manifolds, such as the first-third three-way valves 230, 240
and 260, may be implemented using any suitable known or
later-developed valve type or structure. Likewise, the valves may
be any suitable valve, including but not limited to, motorized,
solenoid valves, flapper valves, ball valves, and the like.
[0097] In various examples of embodiments, the first-third
three-way valves 230, 240 and 260 are desirably implemented using
three-way motorized alternating valves (MAVs), such as that
available from Clack Corporation of Windsor, Wis. In various
examples of embodiments, a single controller can be used to control
one, two or even all three of the first-third three-way valves 230,
240 and 260, as well as to control and implement the regeneration
cycle of the cation exchange water softener 220. While a particular
example of a controller is described herein, any suitable
controller adapted to accomplish the purposes provided may be
acceptable for use with the water discharge management system.
[0098] The motorized alternating valves are especially useful in
low-cost residential and light-commercial water softening systems,
as they omit relays and other high cost electronics, which
significantly reduces their cost and simplifies their connection to
the controller. In particular, the motorized alternating valves are
each connected to the controller using a single pair of wires or
signal paths. That is, in contrast to conventional controllable
valves, which use mechanical relays, electronic power transistors
or the like, to control the direction the valve is operated in, the
motorized alternating valves operate based on the polarity of the
drive signal provided to that pair of wires by the controller.
Thus, to drive a motorized alternating valve first in one direction
and then in the opposite direction, the controller merely first
connects a first one of the pair of wires to ground and places the
drive signal on the second wire, and then connects the second wire
to ground and places the drive signal on the first wire.
[0099] Similarly, in contrast to conventional controllable valves,
which use limit switches or the like to detect when the valve has
reached its end of travel and thus no longer needs to be driven,
the motorized alternating valve merely provides a substantially
increased load when the valve reaches one end of its travel. This
substantially increased load results in the motorized alternating
valve drawing a substantially increased amount of current, which
can be sensed or detected by appropriate circuitry added to the
controller. Thus, when the controller detects or senses that the
amount of current drawn by a particular motorized alternating valve
over the single pair of wires has increased, the controller merely
removes the drive signal from that pair of wires to de-energize
that motorized alternating valve.
[0100] It should also be appreciated that, rather than physically
wiring the motorized alternating valves to the controller, in some
examples of embodiments, the controller outputs one or more
wireless signals to one or more of the motorized alternating
valves. Wireless on-board controllers that receive those signals
then place the appropriate drive signals having the appropriate
polarity on those one or more motorized alternating valves. Each of
those wireless on-board controllers also takes over sensing when
the current drawn by the corresponding motorized alternating valve
increases and removing the drive signal from that corresponding
motorized alternating valve in response.
[0101] In operation, when the motorized alternating valve is to be
altered from its first position, where it connects the input line
in a first output line, such as the tubes 232, 242 or 262, to its
second position, where it connects the input line to a second
output line, such as the tubes 234, 244 or 264, the controller
connects the appropriate one of the pair of wires or signal lines
for that valve to the drive signal and connects the other one of
the pair of wires or signal lines for that valve to ground. As a
result, the motorized alternating valve rotates away from the first
position and toward the second position.
[0102] At the same time, the controller monitors the current drawn
by that motorized alternating valve. When the motorized alternating
valve reaches the second position, a stop prevents it from rotating
further. The motor of the motorized alternating valve sees this as
an increased load, and thus draws additional current. This
additional current drawn by that motorized alternating valve is
sensed by the controller, which interprets the increase in the
current draw as indicating the motorized alternating valve is now
in the second position. Accordingly, the controller removes the
drive signal from the appropriate one of the pair of wires or drive
signal lines.
[0103] To reverse the motorized alternating valve and move it from
the second position to the first position, the controller places
the drive signal on the other one of the pair of wires or signal
lines and the ground signal on the first one of the pair of wires
or signal lines and waits for the current drawn by the motorized
alternating valve to again increase.
[0104] In various examples of embodiments, each of the three-way
valves is connected to the controller, which controls the operation
of the three-way valves based on how the discharge water currently
being output from the cation exchange water softener 220 is to be
handled. It should be appreciated that the three-way valve can be
connected to the controller using any known or later developed
communication protocol. For example, in various examples of
embodiments, the pair or wires or signal lines from each three-way
valves is connected to a separate port on the controller. The
controller operates the motor of a given three-way valve by
providing the drive and ground signals to the corresponding port in
the appropriate polarity to move the motor of that three-way valve
in the desired direction. In various other examples of embodiments,
a single bus (such as, for example, a parallel or serial bus)
connects the pairs of wires or signal lines for all of the
three-way valves to the controller. In such examples of
embodiments, each three-way valve responds to a different signal on
the bus (e.g., through identification signals or separate
communications lines on the bus). In yet other examples of
embodiments, each three-way valve communicates with the controller
using a wireless communications protocol.
[0105] Thus, as outlined above, the first-third three-way valves
230, 240 and 260 do not use or require switches to determine the
present position of the valve (e.g., open, closed, or in between).
The controller controlling the first-third three-way valves 230,
240 and 260 monitors the amounts of electrical current drawn by the
first-third three-way valves 230, 240 and 260. When the motor for a
given valve has reached an end of travel, such that that valve has
fully moved to the first or second position and thus should be
stopped, the amount of current drawn by that valve increases
sharply. The controller, which monitors the amount of current drawn
by that valve, senses or detects the increased amount of current
drawn by that valve, which it treats as the signal to de-energize
that valve. Additionally, in various examples of embodiments, the
controller includes a timer that tracks the amount of time between
the motor being initiated and when it reaches an end of travel.
This timing feature can be used to detect errors or faults in the
value, as it indicates if the motor takes too much time to reach
the expected end of travel. The excess amount of time and the
direction the valve was traveling in may provide information that
allows the faulty valve to be diagnosed.
[0106] It should be appreciated that, in various other examples of
embodiments, rather than sensing the current draw, the three-way
valves may each include an optical counter to determine when the
three-way valve has reached the end of its travel in a particular
direction. This is similar to the techniques used on the control
valve, and allows the controller to operate the three-way valves
independently and without having to be limited to sensing the
current draw.
[0107] It should be appreciated that the water discharge management
system 200 may additionally include one or more three-way valves
upstream of the cation exchange water softener 220. For example,
the water discharge management system 200 may include a three-way
valve on the raw water supply tube 222 between the raw hard water
supply and the cation exchange water softener 220. This additional
three-way valve can be used to controllably and selectively connect
the inlet of the cation exchange water softener 220 to the raw hard
water supply (e.g., a well or a utility main line) or a secondary
source of water used for regeneration purposes only (such as, for
example, a supply of previously softened water that is used in
place of the raw hard water during the backwash and slow and fast
rinse phases).
[0108] Likewise, two water discharge management systems 200, or two
cation exchange water softeners 220, may be connected in parallel,
series or alternating controllably and selectively connected to the
downstream soft water distribution system by yet another three-way
valve. In such examples of embodiments, one water discharge
management system 200 or one cation exchange water softener 220 may
be active while the other water discharge management system 200 or
other cation exchange water softener 220 is in a stand-by mode or
undergoing a regeneration cycle. In another example, the water
discharge management systems 200 may be connected in parallel
operating as a demand recall system and/or stage by flow. In such
examples, all units may be in service at the same time, or may
bring additional unit(s) on line as the gpm flow rate increases and
consequently drop unit(s) off line as the flow rate decreases. In
any of the foregoing examples of embodiments, any additional
three-way valves upstream of the cation exchange water softener 220
may be controlled by the same controller as the regeneration cycle
of the cation exchange water softener 220 and/or by the same
controller as any three-way valves that are downstream of the
cation exchange water softener 220 (e.g., the first-third three-way
valves 230, 240 and 260).
[0109] While specific examples are provided herein, one of skill in
the art would understand the water management system herein may be
used to reclaim some or all of the waste water from various
filtration systems. For example, some or all of the waste stream
from a carbon filter system used to remove chlorine from the water
supply could be reclaimed and used for example as a water supply
source for certain applications. It is understood that various
other types of filters and various other types of reclaim purpose
may be substituted in place of the systems described.
[0110] The water discharge management systems and methods described
herein provide various advantages over existing devices. For
example, the system and method permit a reduction in the volume of
the salt water or brine solution used during the regeneration cycle
will result in a corresponding reduction in the amount of sodium
salt purchased by the end user. Likewise, a reduction in the volume
of the salt water or brine solution used in the regeneration cycle
will result in a reduction in the amount of sodium salt released
into the local environment. Reducing the amount of sodium salt
released into the local environment may have significant positive
environmental implications.
[0111] In locations and/or times of particular water scarcity, it
may be desirable to conserve as much water as possible. As such, it
may be desirable to reclaim any water that is discharged from the
cation exchange water softener when that water has additional
usability. That is, if the water discharged from the cation
exchange water softener, at any point during the regeneration
cycle, can be used for other purposes (e.g., as a salt water or
brine solution, as grey (e.g., non-potable) water, as potable
water, etc), that discharged water may be reclaimed for current or
future use. The disclosed water discharge management system
advantageously provides systems, methods and/or apparatuses that
are usable to reduce the amount of water and/or salt used during a
regeneration cycle of a cation exchange water softener. One or more
examples of embodiments of systems, methods and/or apparatus
according to this invention may be usable to reclaim water that has
been discharged during the regeneration cycle of the cation
exchange water softener when the discharged water has a high
concentration of soft water ions (e.g., so called "sweet brine").
This reclaimed water, with its high concentration of soft water
ions, can be used during the same and/or subsequent regeneration
cycles, as a source of soft water ions.
[0112] The disclosed water discharge management system also
advantageously limits the amount of water waste by reclaiming water
that can be used for one or more other purposes. One or more
examples of embodiments of systems, methods and/or apparatus
according to this invention may be usable to reclaim water
discharged during the regeneration cycle which water can be used
for current and/or future purposes (e.g., grey water usable in
non-potable situations, etc.).
[0113] This water discharge management system described herein
separately provides one or more three-way valves for alternatively
directing water that has been discharged during a regeneration
cycle to either a waste line or one or more reclamation lines. This
system also separately provides systems, apparatus and methods that
return water that has been discharged during a regeneration cycle
of a cation exchange water softener to a salt water/brine solution
source tank when the discharged water has a sufficiently high
concentration of dissolved soft water ions. This system separately
provides systems, apparatus and methods that return water that has
been discharged during a regeneration cycle of a cation exchange
water softener to a grey water source tank when the discharged
water has a sufficiently low concentration of dissolved soft water
ions. This system separately provides systems, apparatus and
methods for determining whether water being discharged during a
regeneration cycle of a cation exchange water softener should be
reclaimed or discarded. This system separately provides control
devices usable to determine whether water being discharged during a
regeneration cycle of a cation exchange water softener should be
reclaimed or discarded. This system separately provides systems,
apparatus and methods for reclaiming water that has been discharged
during desirable and/or selected time periods of a regeneration
cycle of a cation exchange water softener and discarding water that
has been discharged during undesirable and/or unselected time
periods of the regeneration cycle.
[0114] As utilized herein, the terms "approximately," "about,"
"substantially," and similar terms are intended to have abroad
meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of
ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this
disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in
the art that these terms are intended to allow a description of
certain features described and claimed without restricting the
scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided.
Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that
insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of
the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be
within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended
claims.
[0115] It should be noted that references to relative positions
e.g., "top", "bottom", "side", "left", "right") in this description
are merely used to identify various elements as are oriented in the
Figures. It should be recognized that the orientation of particular
components may vary greatly depending on the application in which
they are used.
[0116] For the purpose of this disclosure, the term "coupled" and
the term "connected" mean the joining of two members directly or
indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature
or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two
members or the two members and any additional intermediate members
being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another
or with the two members or the two members and any additional
intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining
may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in
nature.
[0117] It is important to note that the construction and
arrangement of the water softener system and the water discharge
management system as shown in the various examples of embodiments
is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been
described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art
who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many
modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,
structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values
of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,
orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel
teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For
example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of
multiple parts or elements show as multiple parts may be integrally
formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or
otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or
members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied,
the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the
elements may be varied (e.g., by variations in the number of
engagement slots or size of the engagement slots or type of
engagement). The order or sequence of any process or method steps
may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.
Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be
made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the
various examples of embodiments without departing from the spirit
or scope of the present invention.
* * * * *