KR20070001666A - Washing machine with water softener - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing machine with a water softener is disclosed. An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a water softener of a new method for converting hard water into soft water using hot water instead of brine, thereby achieving low cost, high efficiency, and user convenience. Washing machine according to the present invention for this purpose, the water softener for softening the water supplied to the washing machine using a hard water component adsorbent material; A heater for heating the water supplied to the washing machine via the water softener; The heated water is fed back into the water softener to regenerate the hard water component adsorbent material of the water softener.

Description

Washing machine with water softener {WASHING MACHINE HAVING WATER SOFTENER}

1 is a view showing a washing machine having a softening apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a washing machine using only hot water by heating itself to receive only cold water.

2 is a view showing a washing machine having a water softener according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a case of a washing machine that is supplied with both cold water and hot water.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

102: washing machine

104: detergent dissolving device

110: heater

122: regeneration water supply pipe

124: water softener

126: cold water supply pipe

118, 130, 132: flow path switching valve

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a water softener for converting hard water into soft water.

A softener is used to soften hard water, and the soft water adsorbent material inside the softener is not permanent and its regeneration is necessary after a certain period of time. Conventional water softeners are usually equipped with a brine (or salt) supply device as a regeneration device. That is, after the brine is generated in the brine supply apparatus to regenerate the hard water component adsorbent material, the brine is supplied into the softener to regenerate the hard water component adsorbent material. Most of the ion exchange resins use brine as a regeneration method, which absorbs the Na + component of the salt into the ion exchange resin so that the Ca2 + and Mg2 + components in the hard water pass through the exchange resin and exchange with Na + ions. This is how it is done.

After this soft water exchange performance, however, brine (NaCl) must be injected in the reverse or forward direction with the softened water flow to re-adsorb Na + to the resin to regenerate the resin. -Emit ions, Ca2 + and Mg2 + ions. The brine injection method can be divided into manual, semi-automatic and automatic methods. However, the brine injection method has the disadvantages of water quality problems, waste of resources, and hassle of regeneration.

In addition, in the case of water quality, administration of water containing Na + from soft water to plants may adversely affect plant growth, and patients who are on a diet are not advised to drink water containing Na +. to be.

In terms of resources, the cost of purchasing salt for making brine, the cost of materials consumed in the apparatus for storing the salt, and the cost of treating the recycled water after regeneration are generated.

In addition, the manual regeneration method is very cumbersome because the consumer's direct management has to be dealt with every few weeks to three months.In the case of the semi-automatic and automatic methods, the water softener can be reduced due to the performance degradation and the sensing cost due to the malfunction of the control unit. Is causing the price to rise.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a water softener of a new method for converting hard water into soft water using hot water instead of brine, thereby achieving low cost, high efficiency, and user convenience.

Washing machine according to the present invention for this purpose, the water softener for softening the water supplied to the washing machine using a hard water component adsorbent material; A heater for heating the water supplied to the washing machine via the water softener; The heated water is fed back into the water softener to regenerate the hard water component adsorbent material of the water softener.

In addition, the washing machine is configured to perform washing or rinsing stroke by receiving only cold water from the outside.

The washing machine further includes a fixing tank for storing the supplied water.

In addition, the washing machine is configured such that the heater heats the water stored in the fixed tank to be used for regeneration of the hard water component adsorbed material.

The washing machine further includes a sensor for detecting an amount of water stored in the fixing tank; The detection result of the sensor is made to determine whether the amount of water required for regeneration of the water softener is stored in the fixed bath.

The washing machine further includes: a drain pipe for draining the water inside the fixing tank; A flow path switching valve for supplying water drained through the drain pipe to either the water softener or the outside of the washing machine; During the regeneration of the hard water component adsorbent material, the heated water drained from the fixed tank is supplied to the water softener through the control of the flow path switching valve.

The washing machine further includes a bypass pipe provided between the drain pipe and the fixing tank so that water drained through the drain pipe can be supplied to the fixing tank again; The resupply of water through the bypass pipe is controlled by the flow path switching valve; Part of the water drained from the fixed tank is bypassed into the fixed tank to adjust the amount of water supplied to the water softener.

Another washing machine of the present invention according to the above object is a water softener for softening the water supplied to the washing machine using a hard water component adsorbent material; When the water softener is regenerated, hot water supplied from the outside of the washing machine to the washing machine is supplied to the softener to regenerate the hard water component adsorbent material of the softener.

The washing machine further includes a sensor for detecting an amount of water supplied to the water softener; When the water softener is regenerated, it is determined whether the amount of water required for regeneration of the softener is supplied to the softener through the detection result of the sensor.

In the present invention thus made, the softening of hard water and the regeneration principle of the hard water component adsorbing material can be explained as follows.

First, the softening principle of hard water using low temperature water (cold water) is represented as follows.

For calcium: 2 (R-H + R'-OH) + Ca (HCO3) 2 → (R2-Ca + 2R'-HCO3) + 2H2O

For magnesium: 2 (R-H + R'-OH) + Mg (HCO3) 2 → (R2-Mg + 2R'-HCO3) + 2H2O

In the above formula, R, R2, R ', 2R' is a porous material capable of adsorbing hard water components to organic materials, resins, and natural materials, H + is hydrogen ions, OH- is hydroxide ions, Ca is calcium, Mg Is magnesium, HCO3 is carbonic acid.

That is, at low temperature, Ca (HCO3) 2 and Mg (HCO3) 2, which are water components to be removed, are adsorbed and removed by 2 (R-H + R'-OH), which is an exchange adsorption material. do.

Next, the regeneration principle of the hard water component adsorption material using high temperature water (hot water) is represented as follows.

For calcium: (R2-Ca + 2R'-HCO3) + 2H2O → 2 (R-H + R'-OH) + Ca (HCO3) 2

For magnesium: (R2-Mg + 2R'-HCO3) + 2H2O → 2 (R-H + R'-OH) + Mg (HCO3) 2

That is, in the regeneration process, water molecules (2H2O) brought into high temperature are separated into H + and OH-, respectively, and resorbed to the ion exchange adsorbent, and at the same time, Ca (HCO3) 2 and Mg (HCO3) 2, which are previously adsorbed hard water It is then exported to the product, where it can be trained again.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 as a preferred embodiment of the present invention as follows. First, Figure 1 is a view showing a washing machine having a water softener according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it shows the case of a washing machine using only hot water by receiving only cold water to heat itself.

As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 102 includes a detergent dissolving apparatus 104 for dissolving detergent and a fixing tank 106 for receiving wash water (or rinsing water) supplied through the detergent dissolving apparatus 104. ), The rotating tub 108 is installed to be rotatable inside the fixing tub 106. As the rotating tub 108 rotates while the fixing tub 106 is fixed, a drop of laundry occurs, thereby washing the laundry.

A heater 110 for heating the washing water (or rinsing water) is installed between the fixing tank 106 and the rotating tank 108 (in particular, the lower part of the fixing tank 106), and the washing water (or rinsing water). Sensor unit 112 for detecting water quality such as the amount and the temperature, hardness, electrical conductivity, pH value is provided. The heater 110 may be installed at any position as long as it can heat the water supplied to the washing machine 102, but the conventional washing water (or rinsing water) is not heated for regeneration of the water softener 124. It is preferable to use what is to be used as it is.

In addition, the drain pump 116 is installed in the middle of the drain pipe 114 to discharge the remaining water to the outside of the washing machine 102 after the washing (or rinsing stroke) is completed. In the middle of the drain pipe 114 (the position past the drain pump 116 when viewed from the fixing tank 106 side), a flow path switching valve 118 for controlling the flow of water to be drained is provided, and this flow path switching valve ( 116 is selectively opened and closed such that the water drained from the fixing tank 106 is supplied back to the detergent dissolving device 104 through the bypass pipe 120 or to the water softener 124 through the regeneration water supply pipe 122. . The bypass pipe 120 is to adjust the amount of water supplied to the water softener 124 by bypassing a part of the water supplied through the regeneration water supply pipe 122. That is, when the amount of water supplied to the water softener 124 through the regeneration water supply pipe 122 is excessively larger than the amount required for the regeneration of the water softener 124, a part of the water drained from the washing machine 102 is used to clean the detergent dissolving device 104. The flow path switching valve 118 is controlled to be supplied back into the fixing tank 106 through the valve.

The water softener 124 is for softening the water supplied to the washing machine 102, and is installed in the middle of the cold water supply pipe 126 for supplying cold water to the washing machine 102. For reference, it is also possible to additionally install a bypass pipe (not shown) to be supplied directly to the detergent supply device 104 without passing the cold water softener 124. The pre-filter 134 is installed in the cold water supply pipe 126 to help soften the water softener 124 by filtering foreign substances contained in the cold water. The water supplied through the cold water supply pipe 126 is subjected to a softening process in the water softener 124 before reaching the detergent dissolving device 104 of the washing machine 102. In addition to the cold water supply pipe 126, the water softener 124 is connected to the regeneration water supply pipe 122 described above. The regeneration water supply pipe 122 allows the hot water drained after being heated in the washing machine 102 to be supplied to the water softener 124 to allow regeneration of the hard water component adsorption material in the water softener 124 by the hot water. Hot water used for regeneration of the hard water component adsorbing material in 124 is discharged to the outside of the water hardening device 124 through the regeneration water drain pipe 122a and discarded.

The water softener 124 is provided with a sensor unit 128 for detecting water quality such as the amount of water supplied to the softener 124 and the temperature, hardness, electrical conductivity, pH value. In addition, two flow path switching valves 130 and 132 are installed at both ends of the water softener 124. The flow path switching valve 130 may include any one of cold water supply to the water softener 124 and hot water drainage from the water softener 124. Is selectively opened and closed, and another flow path switching valve 132 may include either cold water (softened) feed water from the water softener 124 to the washing machine 102 or hot water feed water from the washing machine 102 to the water softener 124. It is selectively opened and closed to make. If the flow path switching valve 130 is a state in which cold water is supplied to the water softener 124, another flow path switching device 132 is supplied with cold water from the water softener 132 to the washing machine 102, and the detergent dissolving device 104 is disposed. When the state of the flow path switching valve 132 is in a state that the hot water drained from the washing machine 102 to the water softener 124 is supplied to the water softener 124, the other flow path switching valve 130 is supplied to the water softener 124. The opened hot water is opened and closed to be discharged to the outside through the regeneration water drain pipe 122a.

In Fig. 1, the supply path of cold water for washing (or rinsing) is indicated by the solid arrows, and the path of the hot water used for the regeneration of the hard water component adsorbent material is indicated by the broken arrows. That is, the cold water supplied through the cold water supply pipe 126 is softened in the water softener 124 and then supplied to the washing machine 102 to be used for washing (or rinsing) stroke. If the water softener 124 needs to be regenerated, the washing machine The water supplied to the 102 is heated and supplied to the water softener 124 to regenerate the hard water component adsorbent material inside the water softener 124.

2 is a view showing a washing machine having a water softener according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which shows a case of a washing machine that receives and uses both cold water and hot water. Of the components shown in FIG. 2, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 2, the washing machine 102 includes a detergent dissolving device 104 for dissolving detergent and a fixing tank 106 for receiving wash water (or rinsing water) supplied through the detergent dissolving device 104. ), The rotating tub 108 is installed to be rotatable inside the fixing tub 106. As the rotating tub 108 rotates while the fixing tub 106 is fixed, a drop of laundry occurs, thereby washing the laundry.

A heater 110 for heating the washing water (or rinsing water) is installed between the fixing tank 106 and the rotating tank 108 (in particular, the lower part of the fixing tank 106), and the washing water (or rinsing water). Sensor unit 112 for detecting water quality such as the amount and the temperature, hardness, electrical conductivity, pH value is provided. The heater 110 may be installed at any position as long as it can heat the water supplied to the washing machine 102, but the conventional washing water (or rinsing water) is not heated for regeneration of the water softener 124. It is preferable to use what is to be used as it is.

In addition, the drain pump 116 is installed in the middle of the drain pipe 114 to discharge the remaining water to the outside of the washing machine 102 after the washing (or rinsing stroke) is completed.

The water softener 124 is for softening the water supplied to the washing machine 102, and is installed in the middle of the cold water supply pipe 126 for supplying cold water to the washing machine 102. For reference, it is also possible to additionally install a bypass pipe (not shown) to be supplied directly to the detergent supply device 104 without passing the cold water softener 124. The pre-filter 134 is installed in the cold water supply pipe 126 to help soften the water softener 124 by filtering foreign substances contained in the cold water. The water supplied through the cold water supply pipe 126 is subjected to a softening process in the water softener 124 before reaching the detergent dissolving device 104 of the washing machine 102.

In addition to the cold water supply pipe 126, the hot water supply pipe 202 is connected to the detergent dissolving device 104 of the washing machine 102, and the hot water supply pipe 202 has hot water generated from a separate hot water generator (not shown). It is a water supply pipe to be supplied into the holding tank 106 through the device 104. The pre-filter 134 is installed in the hot water supply pipe 202 to filter the foreign substances contained in the cold water, thereby helping to soften the water softener 124. The regeneration water supply pipe 208 is installed between the hot water supply pipe 202 and the water softener 124 so that some or all of the hot water supplied through the hot water supply pipe 202 may be supplied to the water softener 124.

The hot water supply to the water softener 124 and the detergent dissolving device 104 and the flow rate thereof are controlled through the opening and closing of the flow path switching device 204. When the hot water supplied through the hot water supply pipe 202 is supplied to the water softener 124 through the regeneration water supply pipe 208, the water softener 124 regenerates the hard water component adsorbing material by the hot water, and the softener 124. The hot water used for the regeneration of the hard water component adsorbent material is discharged to the outside of the water hardening device 124 through the regeneration water drain pipe 208a and discarded.

The water softener 124 is provided with a sensor unit 128 for detecting water quality such as the amount of water supplied to the softener 124 and the temperature, hardness, electrical conductivity, pH value. In addition, two flow path switching valves 130 and 132 are installed at both ends of the water softener 124. The flow path switching valve 130 may include any one of cold water supply to the water softener 124 and hot water drainage from the water softener 124. Is selectively opened and closed, and another flow path switching valve 132 is selectively opened and closed so that any one of the cold water (softened) water supply from the water softener 124 to the washing machine 102 and the hot water water supply to the water softener 124 are made. do. If the flow path switching valve 130 is a state in which cold water is supplied to the water softener 124, another flow path switching device 132 is supplied with cold water from the water softener 132 to the washing machine 102, and the detergent dissolving device 104 is disposed. If the state of the flow path switching valve 132 is a state that the hot water is supplied to the water softener 124, the other flow path switching valve 130 is the hot water supplied to the water softener 124 is a regeneration water drain pipe (208a) It is opened and closed so that it can be discharged to the outside through).

In FIG. 2, the supply path of cold water for washing (or rinsing) is indicated by a solid arrow, and the path of hot water used for regeneration of the hard water component adsorbent material is indicated by a broken arrow. That is, the cold water supplied through the cold water supply pipe 126 is supplied to the washing machine 102 after being softened in the water softener 124 and used for washing (or rinsing) stroke. If necessary, the hot water supplied from the washing machine 102 is supplied to the water softener 124 to regenerate the hard water component adsorption material inside the water softener 124.

The present invention provides a washing machine having a new water softener for converting hard water into soft water using hot water instead of brine, thereby eliminating the need for a separate salt water (or salt) supply device, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing costs. In addition, since the maintenance of the product is easy and the maintenance cost is low, it is possible to secure a great competitive edge in terms of price, performance, and user's favor than a washing machine employing a water softener using conventional brine.

Claims (8)

A water softener for softening the water supplied to the washing machine by using the hard water component adsorbing material; A heater for heating the water supplied to the washing machine via the water softener; And reheat the heated water to the water softener to regenerate the hard water component adsorbent material of the water softener. According to claim 1, The washing machine, A washing machine configured to perform washing or rinsing strokes by receiving only cold water from the outside. The method of claim 1, A fixing tank for storing the supplied water; And a heater configured to heat the water stored in the fixed tank to use the regenerated water-absorbing material. The method of claim 3, wherein And a sensor for detecting an amount of water stored in the holding tank; The washing machine is configured to determine whether the amount of water required for regeneration of the water softener is stored in the holding tank through the detection result of the sensor. The method of claim 3, wherein A drain pipe for draining the water inside the fixing tank; A flow path switching valve for supplying water drained through the drain pipe to one of the water softener and the outside of the washing machine; And the heated water drained from the fixed tank is supplied to the water softener through the control of the flow path switching valve when the hard water component adsorbing material is regenerated. The method of claim 5, A bypass pipe provided between the drain pipe and the fixing tank so that water drained through the drain pipe can be supplied to the fixing tank again; Resupply of water through the bypass pipe is controlled by the flow path switching valve; Washing machine made to adjust the amount of water supplied to the water softener by bypassing a portion of the water drained from the fixing tank into the fixing tank. A water softener for softening the water supplied to the washing machine by using the hard water component adsorbing material; And a hot water supplied to the washing machine from the outside of the washing machine to the water softener to regenerate the hard water component adsorbent material of the water softener when the water softener is regenerated. The method of claim 7, wherein A sensor for detecting an amount of water supplied to the water softener; The washing machine is configured to determine whether the amount of water required for regeneration of the water softener is supplied to the water softener based on the detection result of the sensor when the water softener is regenerated.

Images