WO2009000047A1

WO2009000047A1 - Fluid processing system

Info

Publication number: WO2009000047A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000945
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Morgan; Jon Robert Scott; Andrew Anthony Richards
Original assignee: Black Adda Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-27
Filing date: 2008-06-27
Publication date: 2008-12-31

Abstract

A fluid processing system (25, 25A, 25B, 25C) which includes a housing (10, 10A, 70, 84) for containing a fluid, the housing (10, 10A, 70, 84) having a fluid conduit (14, 51, 66, 81, 88, 88A) extending therethrough for transporting the fluid from a primary location to a secondary location or alternatively for detecting a fault resulting in wastage of fluid from the fluid conduit (14, 51, 66, 81, 88, 88A) wherein the conduit (14, 51, 66, 81, 88, 88A) is provided with one or more diverter passages or apertures (15, 16, 17, 40, 40A, 87) for diverting fluid from the conduit (14, 51, 66, 81, 88, 88A) into the housing (10, 10A, 70, 84) and there is further provided a hollow air line (46, 68, 95, 102) in fluid communication with an interior of the housing (10, 10A, 70, 84) and a pressure sensor (47, 60, 96, 103) operatively connected to the air line (46, 68, 95, 102).

Description

FLUID PROCESSING SYSTEM

This invention relates to a fluid processing system which may be used for transporting fluid from a primary location to a secondary location. Thus for example this may be applied to clearing or draining a fluid from a particular location after the fluid has reached excess levels in the location. Alternatively the fluid processing system may be used for detecting a fault in a flow conduit resulting in wastage of fluids. The invention is particularly applied to disposal of water and in particular greywater.

In relation to disposal of greywater it is commonplace to store grey water in a holding tank after such greywater has been transferred to the holding tank in conduits in fluid communication with service facilities or domestic appliances that result in production of greywater such as washing machines, showers, hand basins or laundry tubs. Normally in the holding tank when it is full of greywater a pump may then be actuated to transfer the greywater to selected locations in a garden or park. Usually the pump was actuated by a float operated valve. However a particular disadvantage of this conventional greywater processing system was the essential requirement of a large storage facility such as a holding tank which meant that processing greywater was expensive in relation to installation of the tank and ongoing maintenance.

Reference may be made to US Patent 3,776,661 which describes a water level controlled pump system for draining water from a bilge of a boat having a pump, a power source for operating the pump and sensing means for connecting the pump with the power source. The sensing means is pressure actuated and has a housing having an open lower end and a pressure conduit connecting the housing with a pressure responsive switch. The pressure responsive switch operates the pump through a dampening heating element. The pressure response switch is operated by air driven from the housing by water located in the bilge. However this pump system was of specialised nature being for installation on a boat. It also was of a complicated structure requiring a battery, master switch, switch assembly having a microswitch, heater element and bimetallic element and other components. US Patent 3,916,130 operates on a similar principle to US Patent

3,776,661 wherein a sump may be emptied by a sump pump which is actuated by a pressure switch which is in fluid communication with an air bell having an open bottom submerged by liquid in the sump. As the air bell interior is filled with water air driven from the air bell activates the pressure switch to operate the pump to empty the sump. Reference also may be made to US Patent 3,992,130 which describes similar subject matter.

Reference may also be made to GB 2361102 and US 4,087,204 which refers to pressure switches operated by air driven from a sump by rising water by actuate a pump to empty the sump. However, in summary of the prior art discussed above, they are generally concerned with draining of water from a relatively large storage space including for example a holding tank or sump or bilge of a boat. Such conventional systems could not be utilised in the present invention which is essentially concerned with draining of fluids from a fluid conduit. In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fluid processing system which includes a housing for containing a fluid, the housing having a fluid conduit extending therethrough for transporting the fluid from a primary location to a secondary location wherein the conduit is provided with one or more diverter passages or apertures for diverting fluid from the conduit into the housing and there is further provided a hollow air line in fluid communication with an interior of the housing and a pressure sensor operatively connected to the air line.

In a first embodiment there may be provided a pump means in electrical communication with the pressure sensor whereby as the volume of fluid in the housing reaches a substantial level air is driven from the housing by said fluid to actuate the pump means which in turn pumps fluid from the housing.

One example of a liquid fluid being processed by the invention is water and this may include for example greywater or bilge water. Another example of a gaseous fluid being processed by the present invention includes smoke or gases or vapours.

A housing for use in the invention is only of relatively small dimensions when compared to a holding tank or rainwater tank for example and thus may have an internal volume of 0.5 to 100 litres for example. The housing may be of any suitable shape and can be cuboidal, spherical, conical or form a box having a polygonal cross section. A box having a cuboidal shape is preferred. Preferably the box has a lower body and an upper body or cover releasably attached to the lower body by fasteners. A fluid conduit may be provided which preferably extends transversely through the housing optimally in a lower part of the housing. The conduit may occupy from 15 to 50% of an internal volume of the housing.

In a second embodiment there may be provided a pressure sensor and valve means operatively associated with the pressure sensor and which is mounted to the flow conduit for allowing fluid flow through the conduit wherein as fluid drains from the housing due to a fault in the flow conduit and air occupies the housing the valve means is caused to shut off fluid flow after being activated by the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is actuated by the pressure differential between the housing and the fluid conduit.

The one or more diversion passages or apertures from the fluid conduit to the interior of the housing may comprise an offset or angled pipe having one or a plurality of flow apertures for transfer of the fluid from the fluid conduit to the hollow interior of the housing. Alternatively there may be provided a diverter pipe which forms an elbow or angled shape having an open outlet end or being in the shape of a T having a pair of open ended outlets at each end of the head of the T. In a further arrangement the diverter passage or aperture is provided by a single aperture located in a wall of the fluid conduit within the housing. The hollow air line preferably is of relatively narrow bore being from

0.5 to 10.0 mm and more preferably 3.0mm and may be formed from flexible material such as rubber. However an air line formed from rigid material such as plastics material inclusive of polyethylene, polycarbonate or polypropylene may be utilised. The pressure sensor that may be used in the invention may be of any suitable type such as those that incorporate a flexible diaphragm or having a strain gauge. An example of a pressure sensor using a flexible diaphragm is that disclosed in US Patent 3,776,661. Alternatively pressure switches may be used of any suitable conventional type.

The pump means used in the first embodiment when the fluid is a liquid may be a centrifugal pump having a rotatable impeller. Alternatively a positive displacement pump may be used if required. When the fluid is a gas the pump means may be a suction or extraction fan or an air blower. There is also provided a second aspect of the invention which is a method of processing fluids which includes the steps of: (i) passing a fluid through a fluid conduit; (ii) diverting fluid from the fluid conduit into a housing or hollow space surrounding the conduit so that air is driven from the housing or hollow space;

(iii) transporting said driven air to a pressure sensor or switch in fluid communication with the housing or space wherein said pressure sensor or switch is electrically connected to a pump to actuate the pump to pump fluid from said housing or space when said housing or space is substantially full of fluid.

In relation to both the first and second aspects of the invention and when the fluid is liquid there may be provided a non return valve in a conduit interconnecting the pump and the housing or space wherein when the pump is inactive the pump is kept primed by liquid retained in the conduct by the non return valve. The non return valve may be of any suitable type and include a flap valve or any conventional check valve.

In a third aspect of the invention there may be provided a method of detecting a fault in a fluid conduit which includes the steps of: (i) passing a fluid through a fluid conduit;

(ii) diverting fluid from the fluid conduit into a housing or hollow space surrounding the conduit so that air is driven from the housing or hollow space and the housing or hollow space is substantially full of fluid; and (iii) in the event of a fault in the fluid conduit causing draining of fluid from the fluid conduit a pressure differential will occur between the fluid conduit and the housing or hollow space causing initiation of valve means to close the fluid conduit to passage of fluid. Reference may be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein:

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a housing assembly for use in the fluid processing system in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG 2 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the fluid processing system of the invention connected to household source of greywater;

FIG 3 is a view of the processing system of FIG 2 in an initial stage of operation;

FIG 4 is a similar view to FIG 3 showing the processing system of FIG 2 in a subsequent stage of operation;

FIG 5 is a sectional view showing an alternative arrangement of the first embodiment of the fluid processing system of the invention for use with other fluids such as gases in an initial stage; FIG 5A is a similar view to FIG 5 showing the fluid processing system in a subsequent stage of operation.

FIGS 6 to 7 are schematic first and second stages of the second embodiment of the fluid processing system of the invention.

FIG 8 refers to an alternative housing assembly to that shown in FIG 1 constructed in accordance with the first embodiment.

FIG 9 is a perspective view of the housing assembly of FIG 8;

FIG 10 is a similar view to FIG 8 showing a modified housing assembly.

FIG 11 is a perspective view of the fluid processing system of the invention in using the housing assemblies of FIGS 8, 9 or 10; and

FIG 12 shows a similar view to FIG 11 but directed at processing gaseous fluids such as smoke.

In the drawings in FIG 1 there is shown a housing 10 for use in the processing system of the invention having a lower body 11 having a cuboidal shape with opposed side walls 12 and 13 and angled corners 14. There is provided a pipe 14 which extends through lower body 11 as shown for passage of greywater or gaseous fluids. There is also provided an offset diverter pipe 15 which telescopically engages with a larger pipe 16 having a fluid access aperture 17. There is also provided an upper cover 18 of similar shape to lower body 11 having a peripheral flange 19 which is attached to peripheral edge 20 of lower body 11 by fasteners 21 extending through attachment apertures 22 in each top corner surface 23 of the lower body 11. Flange 19 also has a peripheral seal (not shown) that sealingly engages with peripheral edge 20 of lower body 11 to pressurise the hollow interior of housing 10.

In FIG 2 there is shown processing system 25 having conduits 26, 27 and 28 being in fluid communication with hand basin 29, shower 30 and laundry tub 31. Each of conduits 26, 27 and 28 are connected to manifold conduit 32 which is in fluid communication with conduit 33 which includes at least in part pipe 14. There is also shown housing 10, pump 34, and conduit 35 for disposal of grey water processed by the system 25 which may be passed through a sprinkler 36 for watering the garden.

FIGS 3 to 4 show processing system 25 in greater detail and also in operation wherein conduit 14 is connected to adjacent conduits 37 and 38 for transfer of grey water 39. It will be noted that in FIG 3 in an initial stage grey water is transferred from flow conduit 14 to housing 10 through diverter passage 40 which is in flow communication with hollow interior 41 of housing 10. FIG 3 shows that grey water 39 has reached a level "A" as shown and thus housing 10 is only partially filled with grey water. FIG 3 also shows that non return flap valve 42 is shut keeping conduit 38 and conduit 43 in fluid communication with pump 44 filled with grey water 39 as so to keep pump 44 primed at all times.

In FIG 4 a subsequent stage of the operation of processing system 25 is shown wherein grey water 39 has now reached level "B" within housing 10 which is a substantial level of water in housing 10 for example being about 0.75 of the internal volume of housing 10 so that air has now been expelled from housing 10 and flows through airline 46 to reach pressure sensor 47 as shown by the arrow in full outline. This causes pressure sensor 47 to actuate pump 44 as pressure sensor 47 is electrically connected to pump 44 through conductor 48. Conductor 48 is connected to relay box 49 electrically connected to the electric motor (not shown) of pump 44. The pressure generated within housing 10 and also in conduit 14 also causes opening of non return flap valve 42 as shown allowing grey water to be pumped by pump 44 through conduit 39 and subsequently through pump outlet 50 as shown by the arrows.

In FIGS 3 to 4 it will be noted that diverter pipe 40 is different in form to access aperture 17 shown in FIG 1 and thus constitutes a different form of diversion means between conduit 14 and housing 10.

In FIGS 5-5A there is shown a different embodiment of the fluid processing system 25A of the invention wherein a flow of smoke 52 is shown in conduit 51 which has a venturi at location 45 so as to cause a build up in pressure within conduit 51. This in turn causes smoke 52 to flow into housing 10A through diverter pipe 40A which in turn actuates pressure sensor 47 due to air being forced through airline 46 by the build up of smoke 52. This in turn causes actuation of extraction fan or air blower 53 in fluid communication with conduit 51 (not shown) to cause flow of air through conduit 51 as shown by the arrows 51 A in full outline to clear smoke 52 from conduit 51. It will also be appreciated that processing system 25A could be used for clearing noxious fumes from a building or for clearing gas leaking from a gas appliance. FIG 5A shows that smoke has been removed by the action of air blower 53 which is then shut off due to the decrease in pressure in air line 46.

In relation to the embodiment of FIGS 1 to 4 it will also be appreciated that instead of grey water being removed from household appliances or service facilities that processing system 25 could be utilised for draining water from bilges of ships or draining sumps or gulleys if required. Processing system 25 could also be utilised for transferring surface run off water or rainwater in catchment areas to a holding tank.

Reference may be made to another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS 6 to 7 wherein in FIG 6 reference is made to a fluid processing system 25B which has a pressure switch or sensor 60, sluice valve 61 having a movable gate 62 which is mounted on a hollow support post 63 and movable within a housing 64 which has a flow aperture 65. Sluice valve 61 is mounted to fluid conduit 66 by a mounting structure 67. There is also shown air conduit 68, diverter passage 40 formed by angle pipe 69, and housing 70 having a hollow interior 71. In FIG 6 it is evident that water flows through flow conduit 66 and through aperture 65 as shown by the arrows in full outline and water also fills housing 70 through diverter passage 40. There is no air within housing 70 and thus flow of water occurs through fluid conduit 66 in the normal fashion.

However in this particular embodiment the fluid processing system 25B may also function as an alarm system if damage occurs to flow conduit 66. It will also be appreciated from both FIGS 6 and 7 that fluid processing system 25B may be mounted to fluid conduit 66 along spaced intervals thereof and thus reference is made to multiple fluid processing systems 25B. In FIG 7 however a fracture of fluid conduit 66 occurs at 72 and thus water 73 leaks from fluid conduit 66 as shown. The level of water starts to fall in fluid conduit 66 and drains from housing 70 through diverter passage 40. The presence of air in housing 70 causes a pressure drop or differential between fluid conduit 66 and housing 70 whereby the pressure drop is then detected by pressure sensor 60 through air conduit 68. This in turn causes sluice gate 62 to partially drop as shown in fluid processing system 25B(A) and fully drop to close off flow aperture 65 as shown in fluid processing system 25B(C). This means water flow through sluice valve 61 is stopped and water wastage is substantially prevented until engineers can fix fault 72. The actuation of sluice gate 62 may be caused by an electric motor (not shown) or other suitable drive means which is activated by pressure sensor 60.

In relation to the above described second embodiment it will be appreciated that any suitable flow valve can be used for shutting off flow of fluid in the fluid conduit such as a sluice valve, gate valve, spool valve or any valve that uses a movable valve member to shut off flow of fluid through the conduit.

In another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS 8-11 there is provided a fluid processing system 25C having a housing assembly 75 which has inlet 76 screw-threadedly connected at 77 to a source of grey water from a conduit (not shown) similar to conduit 37 shown in FIGS 3-4. There is also provided outlet 77A which may be releasably connected to pump 78 shown in FIG 11 preferably by screw threaded engagement as at 79. The housing assembly 75 as shown in FIGS 8-11 has a central recess 80 shown in FIG 9 and an arcuate flow passage for water travelling from inlet 76 to outlet 77A. Such flow passage 81 is bounded by an inner arcuate wall 82 and outer arcuate wall 83. There is also provided base 92. Located in recess 80 is an air housing 84 screw threaded Iy attached to tubular mounting spigot 85 at 86. There is also shown diversion aperture 87 between bottom flow passage 88 and hollow interior 89 of mounting spigot 85. It will be noted that as water flows from inlet 76 to outlet 77A and through passages 81 and 88 it will force air into air housing 84 through aperture 87 and via hollow interior 89 and flow opening 90 to upper compartment or hollow interior 91 of air housing 84. Air housing 84 also includes a round top wall 93 and reinforcing ribs 100 which surround a hollow air spigot 94 which is connected to air line 95 shown in FIG 11 which is connected to sensor 96 which is electronically connected to wall mounting socket 97 and also has conductor 98 connected to pump 99 as shown in FIG 11. In a variation of what is shown in FIG 9 FIG 10 shows flour passage 88A in the form of a cavity or blind hole having adjacent wall 88B.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that operation of fluid processing system 25C is caused by connection of fluid processing system 25C to a source of greywater which is caused to flow into inlet 76 and thus fill up flow chambers 81 and 88 or 88A to maximum volume. This in turn will cause water to enter hollow interior or lower compartment 88 through aperture 87 and thus fill up compartment 91 to therefore force flow of air from chambers 89 and 91 to actuate air sensor 94 which actuates pump 78 to drain grey water from chambers 91 and 89 and flour passages 81 and 88 or 88A. This in turn will allow air to enter chamber 91 and thus pump 78 will be shut off by the decrease in pressure.

In the embodiment shown in FIG 12 there is shown air housing 84 having air line 102 connected to sensor 103 so that air housing 84 is in fluid communication with sensor 103. Sensor 103 is also connected to standard electrical power switch 104. Air housing 84 is also connected to air blower or extractor fan 105 by conduit 108. Fan 105 is connected to smoke detector 106 by electrical conductor 109. Upon detection of smoke by detector 106 then this will force air from housing 84 into conduit air line 102 which is electrically connected to air blower or extractor fan 105 by cable 107. Upon actuation of fan 105, smoke can therefore be removed from a room (not shown) by fan 105 until the room is clear of smoke. This embodiment operates in a similar fashion to the embodiment of FIGS 5 and 5A. It will also be appreciated that smoke detector 106 could be replaced by any suitable detector which can detect minute quantities of toxic gas in parts per million or even hydrocarbons used as a fuel for barbecues and the like. The smoke detector 106 could also be a temperature sensor or particle detector.

It therefore will be appreciated from the foregoing that the fluid processing system of the invention is versatile having regard to the first and second embodiments. It also is simple in structure and is efficient in operation when compared to the prior art.

Claims

1. A fluid processing system which includes a housing for containing a fluid, the housing having a fluid conduit extending therethrough for transporting the fluid from a primary location to a secondary location or alternatively for detecting a fault resulting in wastage of fluid from the fluid conduit wherein the conduit is provided with one or more diverter passages or apertures for diverting fluid from the conduit into the housing and there is further provided a hollow air line in fluid communication with an interior of the housing and a pressure sensor operatively connected to the air line.

2. A fluid processing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided a pump in electrical communication with the pressure sensor and also in fluid communication with the conduit whereby as the volume of fluid in the housing reaches a substantial level air is driven from the housing by said fluid to actuate the pump.

3. A fluid processing system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fluid is water.

4. A fluid processing system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fluid is smoke or gases or vapours. 5. A fluid processing system wherein the housing is of relatively small dimensions having an internal volume of 0.

5 to 100 litres.

6. A fluid processing system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fluid conduit extends transversely through the housing in a lower part of the housing.

7. A fluid processing system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the fluid conduit occupies from 15 - 50% of an internal volume of the housing.

8. A fluid processing system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fluid conduit has an inlet and an outlet.

9. A fluid processing system as claimed in claim 8 wherein there is provided a supply conduit releasably attached to the inlet.

10. A fluid processing system as claimed in claim 8 wherein there is provided an outlet pipe releasably attached to the outlet.

11. A fluid processing system as claimed in any preceding claim when used for transporting a fluid from a primary location to a secondary location after the fluid has reached excess levels in the primary location.

12. A fluid processing system as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 when used for detecting a fault in a flow conduit resulting in a wastage of fluid from the flow conduit.

13. A fluid processing system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the pressure sensor has a valve operatively associated with the pressure sensor and which is mounted to the fluid conduit for allowing fluid flow therethrough wherein when fluid drains from the flow conduit due to a fault in the fluid conduit and air occupies the housing the valve is caused to shut off fluid flow after being actuated by the pressure sensor.

14. A fluid processing system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the diversion passage(s) or aperture(s) constitute an offset or angled pipe between the fluid conduit and the interior of the housing.

15. A fluid processing system as claimed in any one of claims 1-13 wherein the diversion passage(s) or aperture(s) constitute a single aperture in a wall of the fluid conduit with the housing.

16. A fluid processing system as claimed in any one of claims 1-15 wherein the air line has a narrow bore being from 0.5 - 10.0mm.

17. A fluid processing system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the air line has a bore of 3.0mm.

18. A method of processing fluids which includes the steps of: (i) passing a fluid through a fluid conduit;

(ii) diverting fluid from the fluid conduit into a housing or hollow space surrounding the conduit so that air is driven from the housing or hollow space;

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the fluid is liquid and there is provided a non return valve in a conduit interconnecting the pump and the housing or space wherein when the pump is inactive the pump is kept primed by liquid retained in the conduit by the non return valve.

20. A method of detecting a fault in a fluid conduit which includes the steps of:

(i) passing a fluid through a fluid conduit;

(ii) diverting fluid from the fluid conduit into a housing or hollow space surrounding the conduit so that air is driven from the housing or hollow space and the housing or hollow space is substantially full of fluid; and

(iii) in the event of a fault in the fluid conduit causing draining of fluid from the housing or hollow space air gains access to the housing of hollow space causing initiation of a valve as a result of an ensuing pressure drop to close the fluid conduit to passage of fluid.