JP2001205261A - Water softener, method for judging degree of deterioration of ion exchange resin in water softener and method for controlling water softener - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water softener capable of judging the degree of deterioration of an ion exchange resin to clear the replacing pieriod of the ion exchange resin, a method for judging the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin in the water softener and a method for controlling the water softener. SOLUTION: The water softener is equipped with an inlet hardness measuring means for measuring the hardness of water supplied to a resin cylinder filled with the ion exchange resin, a treated water quantity measuring means for measuring the flow rate of treated water after passed through the reins cylinder and a hardness lead detection means for measuring hardness after passage through the resin cylinder to detect a hardness leak.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water softener, a method for determining the degree of deterioration of an ion exchange resin in a water softener, and a method for controlling a water softener.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a water supply line to cooling and heating equipment such as a boiler, a water heater or a cooler is required to prevent scale adhesion in the cooling and heating equipment. Is connected to remove the
Above all, an automatic regeneration type water softener of a type in which a hardness component is removed using an ion exchange resin is widely used. This type of water softener uses a Na ⁺ type ion exchange resin, and replaces a metal cation such as Ca ²⁺ or Mg ²⁺ of a hardness component contained in water with Na ⁺ to remove the hardness component. When the ion exchange resin is replaced with cations and becomes saturated, and loses the ability to remove the hardness component, the resin is reacted with salt water to regenerate the ability.

[0003] Generally, ion-exchange resins are deteriorated depending on the age of use and water quality. Therefore, the hardness removal amount gradually decreases. In the conventional method, there was no means for accurately grasping the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin.Therefore, there is a possibility that the hardness of the resin may be frequently leaked. The resin must be replaced, and the replacement time may be delayed.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a water softening apparatus and a water softening apparatus which can determine the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin and clarify the replacement time of the ion exchange resin. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of judging the degree of deterioration of a water softener and a method of controlling a water softener.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 measures the hardness of water supplied to a resin cylinder filled with an ion exchange resin. Inlet hardness measuring means, a treated water amount measuring means for measuring the flow rate of treated water after passing through the resin cylinder, and a hardness leak detecting means for measuring hardness after passing the resin cylinder and detecting hardness leak. It is characterized by that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inlet hardness measuring means for measuring hardness of supply water to a resin cylinder filled with an ion exchange resin, and a treated water amount for measuring a flow rate of treated water after passing through the resin cylinder. A plurality of water softeners each having a measuring means and a hardness leak detecting means for measuring the hardness after passing through the resin cylinder and detecting the hardness leak are installed in parallel, and the water passing operation and the regenerating operation of each of the water softeners are installed. Are switchably connected.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the inlet hardness measuring means is provided upstream of a branch provided in the water supply line.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the treated water amount measuring means is provided downstream of the merging means provided in the treated water line.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the hardness leak detecting means is provided downstream of the merging means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inlet hardness measuring means for measuring the hardness of supply water to a resin cylinder filled with an ion exchange resin, and a treated water amount for measuring a flow rate of the treated water after passing through the resin cylinder. Measuring means, measuring the hardness after passing through the resin cylinder, a method for determining the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin in a water softener equipped with a hardness leak detection means for detecting the hardness leak, the inlet hardness and time. Measure the treated water amount, when the hardness leakage detecting means detects the hardness leakage, determine the integrated value of the hardness removal amount based on the inlet hardness and the treated water amount, based on the integrated value of the ion exchange resin It is characterized in that the degree of deterioration is determined.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inlet hardness measuring means for measuring hardness of supply water to a resin cylinder filled with an ion exchange resin, and a treated water amount for measuring a flow rate of treated water after passing through the resin cylinder. Measuring means, measure the hardness after passing through the resin cylinder, in a water softener equipped with a hardness leak detection means for detecting the hardness leak, when the hardness leak detection means detects the hardness leak, an alarm is issued. It is characterized in that it emits and immediately performs a regeneration operation.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is the control method for a water softener according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the leakage of hardness of the water softener during the passage of water is detected. At this time, a control is performed to switch the water softener during the water passage operation to the regeneration operation and to switch the water softener during the water passage standby to the water passage operation.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present invention provides an inlet hardness measuring means for measuring the hardness of supply water to a resin cylinder filled with ion exchange resin, a treated water amount measuring means for measuring a flow rate of treated water after passing through the resin cylinder, The present invention can be suitably implemented in a water softener provided with a hardness leak detecting means for measuring hardness later and detecting hardness leak.

As a basic configuration of the water softener, a resin cylinder filled with an ion exchange resin and a control valve are provided. A water supply line for supplying water to the resin cylinder and a treated water line for supplying treated water to a soft water tank are connected to the control valve. A salt water tank is connected to the control valve via a salt water line, and a drain line is connected to the control valve. The water supply line is provided with inlet hardness measurement means as hardness detection means for measuring the hardness of supply water, and the treated water line is provided with treated water amount measurement means and hardness leakage detection means. ing. Further, the inlet hardness measuring means, the control valve, the treated water amount measuring means and the hardness leak detecting means are connected to a controller via signal lines, respectively.

In order to continuously supply treated water for 24 hours or more, there is a mode in which a plurality of water softeners are installed in parallel. As a basic configuration in this case, a plurality of water softeners each including the inlet hardness measuring means, the resin cylinder, the control valve, the treated water amount measuring means, and the like are provided in parallel with each other. Each of these water softeners is switchably connected so that a water passage operation, a regeneration operation, and the like can be independently performed. That is, between the water supply line and the treated water line, a plurality of water softeners each having a water softening treatment function independently are connected in parallel and switchable. Therefore, each of the water softeners can be switched to a water-passing state, a regeneration state, a standby state, and the like, and accordingly, a continuous supply of treated water for 24 hours or more can be achieved.

Further, in the form of a plurality of parallel units of each of the water softeners, devices that can be shared among the devices constituting each of the water softeners are connected so that they can be shared.

That is, first, in the inlet hardness measuring means, a branch means for supplying water to each of the water softeners is provided in the water supply line, and the inlet hardness measuring means is provided upstream of the branch means. The configuration is provided. Thereby, the inlet hardness of the supply water to each of the water softeners can be detected by one measuring means.

Further, in the treated water amount measuring means,
The treated water line is provided with a means for combining treated water from each of the water softeners, and the treatment water amount measuring means is provided downstream of the combined means. This makes it possible to individually detect the amount of treated water when the water is passed through each of the water softeners by one measuring means.

Further, in the embodiment in which a plurality of the water softeners are installed in parallel, a configuration may be employed in which hardness of the treated water is measured and a hardness leak detecting means for detecting the hardness leak is provided. In this case, the hardness leakage detecting means is provided separately in each of the treated water lines of each of the water softeners,
There is a configuration in which one is provided downstream of the merging unit. According to the latter configuration, it is possible to individually detect the leakage of the hardness of each of the water softeners at the time of passing water by one detecting means.

Now, a method of determining the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin in the water softener having the above-described configuration will be described.
The degree of deterioration determination method according to the present invention is based on the detection value of the inlet hardness measurement means provided in the water supply line and the integrated value of the amount of hardness removed from the detection value of the treated water amount detection means with time, to determine the hardness leakage. Upon detection, the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin is determined from the integrated value. This degree of deterioration is determined by the integrated value of the amount of hardness removed when a hardness leak occurs,
It is determined by the relationship with the exchangeable amount of the ion exchange resin. That is, the replacement time of the ion exchange resin can be determined from the degree of deterioration. That is, when the integrated value is large, the degree of deterioration is small, and when the integrated value is small, the degree of deterioration is large. Therefore, the replacement time of the ion exchange resin can be specified by obtaining the degree of deterioration.

When the processing limit is exceeded earlier than expected due to deterioration of the ion exchange resin, etc., and a leakage of hardness is detected,
The hardness leak detecting means notifies the controller and immediately starts the regeneration operation.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a water softener 1 according to the present invention comprises a resin tube 2 filled with an ion exchange resin (not shown).
And a control valve 3. A water supply line 4 for supplying water to the resin cylinder 2 and a treated water line 5 for supplying treated water from the resin cylinder 2 to a soft water tank (not shown) are connected to the control valve 3.
Further, a salt water tank 6 storing salt water for regenerating the ion exchange resin is connected to the control valve 3 via a salt water line 7. On the opposite side of the connection side of the salt water line 7, a drain line 8 for discharging regenerated wastewater during regeneration is connected.

The water supply line 4 is provided with an inlet hardness measuring means 9 for detecting the hardness of the supply water on the inlet side of the water softener 1. The treated water line 5 is provided with a treated water amount measuring means 10 and a hardness leakage detecting means 11. Further, the control valve 3, the inlet hardness measuring means 9, the treated water amount measuring means 10, and the hardness leak detecting means 11 are connected to a controller 13 via a signal line 12, respectively. The controller 13 includes an alarm device 14 for notifying the leakage of hardness to the outside.

Now, a method of determining the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin in the water softener 1 having the above configuration will be described. The method for determining the degree of deterioration in the present invention obtains the integrated value of the hardness removal amount over time from the detected value of the inlet hardness measuring means 9 provided in the water supply line 4 and the detected value of the treated water amount detecting means 10, and the hardness is also determined. When this is detected, the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin is determined from the integrated value. This degree of deterioration is determined from the relationship between the integrated value of the amount of hardness removed when a hardness leak occurs and the exchangeable amount of the ion exchange resin. That is, the replacement time of the ion exchange resin can be determined from the degree of deterioration. That is, when the integrated value is large, the degree of deterioration is small, and when the integrated value is small, the degree of deterioration is large. Therefore, the replacement time of the ion exchange resin can be specified by obtaining the degree of deterioration.

Further, by determining the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin, it is possible to determine the hardness removal ability of the ion exchange resin. Can be avoided.

The inlet hardness measuring means 9 is a hardness measuring device for accurately detecting the hardness contained in the supply water. For example, there is a method for judging the hardness by color development when a hardness measuring indicator is added. Used. In the method using the hardness measurement indicator, the hardness measurement indicator is added to a transparent container (not shown) containing a predetermined amount of supply water, and the change in the hue of the supply water due to the reaction of the hardness measurement indicator is specified. The hardness in the supply water is measured from the absorbance when the light of the wavelength is irradiated. Then, the measured hardness of the supply water is reported to the controller 13.

The hardness leak detecting means 11 is a backup control means when the supply water is being softened, and the hardness leak detecting means 11 notifies the controller 13 of the hardness leak. Then, the controller 13 determines that the ion-exchange resin is deteriorated, etc., issues an alarm from the alarm 14 to notify the hardness leak, and immediately shifts the water softener 1 to the regeneration operation.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2 showing the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 1 showing the first embodiment denote the same member names, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing treated water 2 by a water softener.
This is a mode for coping with a case where continuous supply over 4 hours or more is required, and is an explanatory diagram in a case where two resin cylinders 2 are installed in parallel. In FIG. 2, among the devices constituting the water softener 1, devices that can be shared are illustrated as being shared.

In FIG. 2, the first resin cylinder 20 and the second resin cylinder 21 are installed in parallel between the water supply line 4 and the treated water line 5, and are independently connected to each other in the water flowing state ( (A water softening operation) and a regeneration state.

First, the inlet side of the supply water in the two resin cylinders 20 and 21 will be described.
The water supply line 21 is connected to a water supply line 4 via a first water supply line 22 and a second water supply line 23 branched from the water supply line 4. The inlet hardness measuring means 9 is provided on the upstream side of the branching means 24 of the two water supply lines 22 and 23 (that is, the portion of the water supply line 4). Thereby, the inlet hardness measuring means 9
By providing only one, the inlet hardness of the supply water to the resin cylinders 20 and 21 can be detected. Of course, it is also preferable to provide the inlet hardness measuring means 9 in each of the two water supply lines 22 and 23 depending on the implementation.

Next, the outlet side of the treated water in the two resin cylinders 20 and 21 will be described.
The first treated water line 25 and the second treated water line 26 of the second resin cylinder 21 are joined via a joining means 27 such as a three-way valve, and the joining means 27 and the treated water line 5 are joined together. And are connected. By the switching operation of the merging means 27, one of the two treated water lines 25 and 26 and the treated water line 5 communicate with each other. And the merging means 27
On the downstream side of (i.e., the portion of the treated water line 5), the treated water amount measuring means 10 is provided. Thus, only by providing one of the treated water amount measuring means 10, it is possible to individually detect the treated water amount when the two resin cylinders 20 and 21 pass water. Of course, like the inlet hardness measuring means 9, the treated water amount measuring means 1
It is also preferable to provide 0 in each of the two treated water lines 25 and 26 depending on the implementation.

Further, the salt water line 7 of the salt water tank 6
Is connected to the first salt water line 2 through a switching means 28 such as a three-way valve.
9 and a second salt water line 30, the first salt water line 29 is connected to the control valve 3 of the first resin cylinder 20, and the second salt water line 30 is a control valve of the second resin cylinder 21. 3 is connected. Therefore, the salt water in the salt water tank 6 is supplied to one of the resin cylinders 20 and 21 by the switching operation of the switching means 28.

Now, a method of determining the degree of deterioration of the ion-exchange resin in the water softener having the above configuration will be described. As in the first embodiment, the deterioration degree determination method in the second embodiment is also based on the detection value of the inlet hardness measurement means 9 provided in the water supply line 4 and the detection value of the treated water amount detection means 10 to determine the hardness removal amount. The integrated value is obtained over time, and when the leakage of hardness is detected, the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin is determined from the integrated value. That is, it is possible to determine the degree of deterioration of the ion-exchange resin in any of the resin tubes that have been in the water-flowing state.

The replacement time of each ion exchange resin in the two resin tubes 20 and 21 is determined from the degree of deterioration. This degree of deterioration is determined from the relationship between the integrated value of the amount of hardness removed when a hardness leak occurs and the exchangeable amount of the ion exchange resin. That is, when the integrated value is large, the degree of deterioration is small, and when the integrated value is small, the degree of deterioration is large. Therefore, the replacement time of the ion exchange resin can be specified by obtaining the degree of deterioration. As a result, the two resin cylinders 20,
For each of the 21 ion exchange resins, the exchange time can be specified.

Further, by determining the degree of deterioration of the both ion exchange resins, it is possible to obtain the hardness removal capabilities of the both ion exchange resins, respectively. Hardness leakage can be prevented.

Here, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. First, in the individual control of the two resin cylinders 20, 21, the integrated value of one of the resin cylinders in the water-passing state is obtained with time, similarly to the control of the first embodiment, and the hardness leaks. Is detected, the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin is determined from the integrated value.

The second embodiment will be described with respect to a case where the first resin cylinder 20 is in a water-flowing state and the second resin cylinder 21 is in a standby state in which the regenerating operation is completed. The first resin tube 20 communicates with the water supply line 4 via the first water supply line 22 and communicates with the treated water line 5 via the first treated water line 25. In addition, the first resin cylinder 2
Numeral 0 communicates with the salt water tank 6 via the salt water line 7 and the first salt water line 29. on the other hand,
The second resin cylinder 21 communicates with the water supply line 4 via the second water supply line 23,
The communication between the treated water line 5 and the salt water line 7 is interrupted by the action of the switching means 7 and the switching means 28.

When the first resin cylinder 20 continues its water-flowing operation, the controller 13 sets the above-mentioned value based on the detection values from the inlet hardness measuring means 9 and the treated water amount measuring means 10. The integrated value of the hardness removal amount of the first resin cylinder 20 is calculated over time. And when the hardness leak is detected,
The controller 13 is calculated based on the integrated value of the first resin cylinder 20.
Stops the water flow operation of the first resin cylinder 20 and starts the regeneration operation. At the same time, the merging means 27 is switched to make the second treated water line 26 of the second resin cylinder 21 communicate with the treated water line 5.
Thereby, the communication between the first treated water line 25 of the first resin cylinder 20 and the treated water line 5 is interrupted. Therefore, the first resin cylinder 20 is in a regeneration operation state, and the second resin cylinder 21 is in a water-flow operation state.

When the leakage of hardness is detected in the second resin cylinder 21 in the water-permeable state, the water-permeable operation of the second resin cylinder 21 is stopped and the regeneration operation is started as described above. On the other hand, the water supply operation of the first resin cylinder 20 which is in the standby state after the regenerating operation ends is started. Hereinafter, such control is repeated, and the two resin cylinders 20 and 21 are alternately shifted to a water passing operation and a regeneration operation, thereby enabling a continuous supply of treated water for 24 hours or more.

The regenerating operation of the two resin cylinders 20 and 21 will be briefly described. The regenerating operation includes a backwashing step, a salt water regenerating step, a water washing step, a water replenishing step and the like, similarly to a normal regenerating operation. These steps are individually performed under the control of the control valves 3 of the resin cylinders 20 and 21.

Therefore, in the second embodiment,
At the end of each of the steps, the controller 13 switches the switching means 28 to connect the control valve 3 of the resin cylinder in the water-flowing state to the salt water line 7. In other words, the resin cylinder in the water-flow operation is in a state of being cut off from the salt water line 7 in the initial stage of the water-flow, but is in communication with the other resin cylinder at the end of the respective steps. State. Then, the other resin cylinder enters a standby state in preparation for the next water flow operation.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
By judging the degree of deterioration of both ion-exchange resins, and performing water passage according to the degree of deterioration, it is possible to continuously supply treated water for 24 hours or more.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3 showing the third embodiment, the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the first embodiment and the second embodiment denote the same member names. Description is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the treated water 2 by the water softener.
This is a mode for coping with a case where continuous supply over 4 hours or more is required, and is an explanatory diagram in a case where three resin cylinders 2 are installed in parallel. In FIG. 3, among the devices constituting the water softening device 1, devices that can be shared are illustrated as being shared.

In FIG. 3, a third resin cylinder 40, a fourth resin cylinder 41, and a fifth resin cylinder 42 are installed in parallel between the water supply line 4 and the treated water line 5, and are independent of each other. It is connected so that it can be brought into a water passing state (soft water treatment operation) and a regeneration state.

First, the inlet side of the supply water in each of the resin cylinders 40, 41 and 42 will be described. Each of the resin cylinders 40, 41 and 42 and the water supply line 4 They are connected via a water supply line 43, a fourth water supply line 44, and a fifth water supply line 45, respectively. And the branching means 46 of these water supply lines
Upstream (that is, the portion of the water supply line 4)
The inlet hardness measuring means 9 is provided. Thus, the inlet hardness of the supply water to each of the resin cylinders 40, 41, 42 can be detected only by providing one inlet hardness measuring means 9. Of course, the inlet hardness measuring means 9
It is also suitable to provide the water supply lines 43, 44, 45 in the respective water supply lines 43, 44, 45 depending on the implementation.

Next, the outlet side of the treated water in each of the resin tubes 40, 41 and 42 will be described. The third treated water line 47 of the third resin tube 40 and the fourth resin tube 41
The fourth treated water line 48 and the fifth treated water line 49 of the fifth resin cylinder 42 are joined via a joining means 50 such as a four-way valve, and the joining means 50 and the treated water line 5 are connected. Connected. By the switching operation of the merging means 50, one of the treated water lines 47, 48, and 49 and the treated water line 5 are communicated. The treated water amount measuring means 10 is provided on the downstream side of the merging means 50 (that is, the portion of the treated water line 5). Thus, only by providing one treated water amount measuring means 10, it is possible to individually detect the treated water amount when each of the resin cylinders 40, 41, 42 flows.
Needless to say, similarly to the inlet hardness measuring means 9, the treated water amount measuring means 10 is connected to each of the treated water lines 47, 48, 49.
It is also preferable to provide each of them according to the implementation.

Further, the salt water line 7 of the salt water tank 6
Is connected to the third salt water line 5 through a switching means 51 such as a four-way valve.
2, a fourth salt water line 53 and a fifth salt water line 54 are branched, the third salt water line 52 is connected to the control valve 3 of the third resin cylinder 40, and the fourth salt water line 53 is connected to the fourth resin The fifth salt water line 54 is connected to the control valve 3 of the fifth resin cylinder 42. Therefore, the salt water in the salt water tank 6 is supplied to any of the resin cylinders 40, 41, and 42 by the switching operation of the switching means 51.

Now, a method of determining the degree of deterioration of the ion-exchange resin in the water softener having the above configuration will be described. The method of determining the degree of deterioration in the present invention is also the same as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Therefore, although a detailed description thereof is omitted, also in the third embodiment, it is possible to determine the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin in any of the resin cylinders that have been in a water-permeable state. Then, the replacement time can be specified for each ion exchange resin of each of the resin cylinders 40, 41, 42. The inlet hardness measuring means 9 provided in the water supply line 4
And the integrated value of the hardness removal amount is determined over time from the detected value of the above and the detected value of the treated water amount detecting means 10, and when the hardness leakage is detected, the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin is determined from the integrated value. It is.

Further, by determining the degree of deterioration of each of the ion exchange resins, the hardness removal ability of each of the ion exchange resins can be obtained. Hardness leakage can be prevented.

Here, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. First, the individual control of each of the resin cylinders 41, 41, and 42 is performed in the same manner as in the control of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin is determined from the integrated value when the hardness is detected over time and the hardness leakage is detected.

The third embodiment will be described, for example, in a case where the third resin cylinder 40 is in a water-flowing state, the fourth resin cylinder 41 is in a regeneration state, and the fifth resin cylinder 42 is in a standby state. Then, in this state, the third resin cylinder 40 communicates with the water supply line 4 via the third water supply line 43, and communicates with the treated water line 5 via the third treated water line 47. Communicating. Further, the third resin tube 40 communicates with the salt water tank 6 via the salt water line 7 and the third salt water line 52. Further, the fourth resin cylinder 41 communicates with the water supply line 4 via the fourth water supply line 44, but the communication with the treated water line 5 is cut off by the operation of the merging means 50. I have. Further, the fifth resin cylinder 42 is in communication with the water supply line 4 via the fifth water supply line 45, but by the action of the merging means 50 and the switching means 51, the treated water line 5 and the Communication with the salt water line 7 is interrupted.

When the third resin cylinder 40 continues the water-flowing operation, the controller 13 determines the above based on the detection values from the inlet hardness measuring means 9 and the treated water amount measuring means 10. The integrated value of the hardness removal amount of the third resin cylinder 40 is calculated over time. And when the hardness leak is detected,
From the integrated value of the third resin cylinder 40, the controller 13
Stops the water flow operation of the third resin cylinder 40 and starts the regeneration operation. At the same time, the merging means 50 is switched to make the fifth treated water line 49 of the fifth resin cylinder 42 communicate with the treated water line 5.
Thereby, the communication between the third treated water line 47 of the third resin cylinder 40 and the treated water line 5 is cut off. Therefore, the third resin cylinder 40 enters a regeneration operation state, the fifth resin cylinder 42 enters a water-flow operation state, and the fourth resin cylinder 41 enters a standby state.

When the fifth resin cylinder 42 reaches a state of hardness leakage, the water-flow operation of the fifth resin cylinder 42 is stopped and the regeneration operation is started, as described above. In addition, the water passing operation of the fourth resin cylinder 41 in the standby state is started. At this point, the regeneration operation of the third resin cylinder 40 has been completed, and the third resin cylinder 40 is in a standby state. Hereinafter, such control is repeated, and the resin cylinders 40, 41, and 42 are rotated to shift to the water-passing operation state, the regeneration operation state, and the standby state, thereby enabling a continuous supply of the treated water for 24 hours or more. And

Incidentally, each of the resin cylinders 40, 41, 42
Briefly describing the regeneration operation, this regeneration operation includes a backwashing step, a salt water regeneration step, a water washing step, a water refilling step, and the like, similarly to the description of the second embodiment. In each of these steps,
The control is performed individually by controlling the control valves 3 of the resin cylinders 40, 41, and 42, respectively.

Therefore, in the third embodiment,
At the time when each of the steps is completed, the controller 13 switches the switching means 51 to connect the control valve 3 of the resin cylinder in the water-flowing state to the salt water line 7. In other words, the resin cylinder in the water-flow operation is in a state of being cut off from the salt water line 7 in the initial stage of the water-flow, but the above-described steps of the resin cylinder in the regeneration operation have been completed. At this point, the communication state is established. Then, the resin cylinder that has completed the regeneration operation is in a standby state in preparation for the next water flow operation.

As described above, according to the third embodiment,
The degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin is determined, and water is supplied in accordance with each degree of deterioration, whereby continuous supply of treated water for 24 hours or more becomes possible. Also,
When the regeneration operation cannot be performed in time for the water supply operation, unlike the case where there are two resin cylinders, there is a resin cylinder in a standby state. Therefore, it is possible to reliably supply the treated water for 24 hours or more without stopping the water supply. it can.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, the degree of deterioration of the ion-exchange resin is determined, and water is passed in accordance with the degree of deterioration, so that the treated water does not leak for 24 hours or more. Can be continuously supplied. Further, the time for replacing the ion exchange resin can be specified by the deterioration degree determination.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Soft water apparatus 2 Resin cylinder 4 Water supply line 5 Treated water line 9 Inlet hardness measuring means 10 Treated water amount measuring means 11 Hardness leak detecting means 24 Branching means 27 Merging means 46 Branching means 50 Merging means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hitoshi Asamura 7th Horie-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime Miura Kogyo Co., Ltd. Reference) 4D025 AA02 AB19 BA07 BB07 BB10 BB19 CA02 CA05 CA06 CA10

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An inlet hardness measuring means 9 for measuring the hardness of supply water to a resin cylinder 2 filled with an ion exchange resin, and a treated water amount measuring means 10 for measuring a flow rate of treated water after passing through the resin cylinder 2. And a hardness leak detecting means 11 for measuring the hardness after passing through the resin cylinder 2 and detecting the hardness leak. 2. An inlet hardness measuring means 9 for measuring the hardness of the supply water to the resin cylinder 2 filled with the ion exchange resin, and a treated water amount measuring means 10 for measuring the flow rate of the treated water after passing through the resin cylinder 2. A plurality of water softeners 1 each having a hardness leak detecting means 11 for measuring the hardness after passing through the resin cylinder 2 and detecting the hardness leak are installed in parallel, and the water passing operation and regeneration of each of the water softeners 1 are performed. A water softener characterized in that the operation is switchably connected. 3. An inlet hardness measuring means 9 is connected to a water supply line 4.
The water softening device according to claim 2, wherein the water softening device is provided on the upstream side of the branching means 24, 46 provided for the water softening device. 4. The water softening apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the treated water amount measuring means is provided downstream of the converging means provided in the treated water line. 5. The water softening device according to claim 2, wherein said leakage detecting means is provided downstream of said merging means. 6. An inlet hardness measuring means 9 for measuring hardness of supply water to the resin cylinder 2 filled with the ion exchange resin, and a treated water amount measuring means 10 for measuring a flow rate of treated water after passing through the resin cylinder 2. A water softening device 1 provided with hardness leak detecting means 11 for measuring hardness after passing through the resin cylinder 2 and detecting hardness leak.
In the method for determining the degree of deterioration of the ion exchange resin in,
The hardness of the inlet and the amount of treated water are measured over time, and when the hardness leak detecting means 11 detects the hardness leak, an integrated value of the hardness removal amount is obtained based on the inlet hardness and the amount of treated water, and the integrated value is calculated. A method for determining the degree of deterioration of an ion-exchange resin in a water softener, wherein the degree of deterioration of the ion-exchange resin is determined on the basis of the following. 7. An inlet hardness measuring means 9 for measuring the hardness of the supply water to the resin tube 2 filled with the ion exchange resin, and a treated water amount measuring means 10 for measuring the flow rate of the treated water after passing through the resin tube 2. In a water softener provided with a hardness leak detecting means 11 for measuring the hardness after passing through the resin cylinder 2 and detecting the hardness leak, an alarm is issued when the hardness leak detecting means 11 detects the hardness leak. A method for controlling a water softener, wherein the control is performed and a regeneration operation is performed immediately. 8. The method of controlling the water softener 1 according to claim 2, wherein the water softener 1 is in operation during water passage.
Control of switching the water softener 1 during the water flow operation to the regeneration operation and switching the water softener 1 during the water flow standby to the water flow operation when detecting the hardness leak of the water softener. Method.