Patent Publication Number: US-2022220013-A1

Title: Fluid flow monitor for water treatment

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. CN201920524170.8, filed Apr. 17, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to water treatment devices for use in pools, in particular to a pool water treatment device having a water flow monitoring system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Water treatment devices used for treating pool water may be installed at an upstream end of the water inlet to disinfect the water before it enters the pool. In jetted pools, the water inlets are typically the water jets, and adding chemicals to pool water at the water jet ensures that the chemical will be dispersed efficiently into moving water. 
     A common pool disinfectant is chlorine. Existing water treatment devices usually have a chlorine electrode set along the fluid flow path. In order to put a pool water treatment chemical into the water, the electrodes need to be connected to a power supply and turned on. Once the chlorine electrode is energized, it chemically reacts with the salt solute in the water, thus creating chlorine to treat the water. 
     However, these electrodes are energy inefficient because they cannot operate unless they are in flowing water, they cannot operate unless they receive a flow of electricity, and they cannot determine whether there is water flow. The result is that the electrodes are always on. This wastes energy and also increases the risk of damaging expensive water treatment equipment. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a water treatment system which protects chlorine generator electrodes from running dry. The system includes a water detection electrode disposed above the chlorine generator electrode, and an outlet at a height similar to the water detection electrode. If enough water is displaced from the housing of the water treatment system by bubbles generated by the energized chlorine generator, the water detection electrode will cease to be bathed in water and will emit a signal indicative of this “dry” condition. The signal can be used to interrupt electrical power to the chlorine generator, thereby ensuring that the chlorine generator will not displace the water bathing it and therefore will not run dry. 
     In one form thereof, the present disclosure provides a water treatment device including: a housing defining a chamber, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet disposed below the inlet; a fluid flow monitor disposed within the housing below the inlet; and a treatment chemical electrode disposed below the fluid flow monitor. 
     In another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a water treatment device including: a housing including a chamber; an inlet; an outlet; wherein the inlet and the outlet define a flow path through the housing; a treatment chemical electrode configured to be activated to provide a water treatment chemical into the flow path; and a fluid flow monitor configured to monitor a flow of liquid along the flow path, and to activate the treatment chemical electrode in a presence of fluid flow and to deactivate the treatment chemical electrode in an absence of fluid flow and when a fluid level within the housing drops below the outlet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a water treatment device made in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation, cross-sectional view of the water treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another elevation, cross-sectional view of the water treatment device of  FIG. 1 , taken at a perpendicular to the view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the composite electrode group of the water treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation, cross-sectional view of the water treatment device of  FIG. 1  during operation and illustrating a flow of fluid. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a water treatment device  100  having a water flow detection system, such as for pools, spas or other bathing enclosures. As shown in  FIG. 1 , water treatment device  100  includes a device body or housing  1  having an inlet  11  and an outlet  12 , a composite electrolytic assembly  2 , and a water electrolytic assembly  3 . Each of these components will be discussed in turn below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , device body  1  defines a chamber  10  forming an enclosure on all sides. In the illustrated embodiment, body  1  includes a bowl-shaped bottom portion and a lid which sealing interfits with the open top of the bottom portion. As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lid portion of device body  1  also includes a composite electrode aperture  13  ( FIG. 2 ), a water electrode aperture  14  ( FIG. 2 ), an inlet  11 , and an outlet  12  ( FIG. 1 ). Composite electrode aperture  13  and water electrode aperture  14  are formed side-by-side in the lid portion of device body  1  and, in the illustrated embodiment, are substantially the same size. Composite electrode aperture  13  is sized and configured to receive and sealingly couple to composite electrolytic assembly  2 . Water electrode aperture  14  is sized and configured to receive and sealingly couple to water electrolytic assembly  3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , composite electrode aperture  13  and water electrode aperture  14  include threaded surfaces to sealingly couple to composite electrolytic assembly  2  and water electrolytic assembly  3 . Alternatively, they could include a snap-fit interface, or any other suitable sealed coupling method. 
     The device body  1  also includes water inlet  11  formed in the lid of body  1 , and water outlet  12  formed in the bottom portion of body  1 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 1 , water inlet  11  is located higher than water outlet  12  to facilitate the flow of water and allow water to at least partially drain from the chamber  10  via outlet  12  when the water flow to inlet  11  stops. As described in detail below, the positions of inlet  11  and outlet  12  are configured to provide for selective fluid flow and retention that protects and facilitates the function of composite electrolytic assembly  2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , composite electrolytic assembly  2  includes composite electrode plug  21  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ), composite electrode group  22  including electrical connector  221  having a positive connector  2211  and a negative connector  2212  ( FIG. 4 ), a water flow detection electrode  222  ( FIG. 4 ), and a chlorine electrode group  223 . Electrode groups  222 ,  223  of composite electrolytic assembly  2  are sized to be passed through composite electrode aperture  13 , such that they extend substantially to the bottom of chamber  10 . Electrical connector  221  extends above the top of device body  1 , and does not pass through aperture  13 . 
     Composite electrode plug  21  of composite electrolytic assembly  2  removably connects composite electrolytic assembly  2  to a source of electricity (not pictured) and optionally to a controller or other external electronic control device (not pictured). Composite electrode plug  21  is removably connected to composite electrolytic assembly  2  through electrical connector  221 . Electrical connector  221  includes positive connector  2211  and negative connector  2212 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  show composite electrode plug  21  connected to electrical connector  221  and  FIG. 4  shows composite electrode plug  21  disconnected from electrical connector  221 . Although composite electrode plug  21  can physically connect and disconnect from composite electrolytic assembly  2 , it is also configured to electrically disconnect from composite electrolytic assembly  2 . 
     As mentioned above, composite electrolytic assembly  2  includes electrical connector  221  at a top potion, water flow detection electrode  222  at a middle portion, and chlorine electrode group  223  at a bottom portion. Water flow detection electrode  222  and chlorine electrode group  223  are both mounted upon and electrically connected to the electrical connector  221 . Water flow detection electrode  222  is located vertically above chlorine electrode group  223 . Chlorine electrode group  223  includes at least two titanium plates  2231 A,  2231 B ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) whose surfaces are coated with a coating configured to produce a water disinfectant in the presence of an electrical charge. For example, in one embodiment, the coating is for producing hypochlorite disinfectant when exposed to salt water and energized via an electrode. As the coating is exposed to salt water and energized, the coating begins to dissolve, and the resulting solution is hypochlorite. The chemical reaction with salt water also produces hydrogen gas which bubbles up through the water, as shown in  FIG. 5  and further discussed below. Titanium plates  2231 A,  2231 B are fixed to chlorine electrode group  223  by a support frame  225 . 
     Electrical connector  221  is provided with positive connector  2211  and negative connector  2212 . Positive connector  2211  and negative connector  2212  are both connected to water flow detection electrode  222 . Electrical connector  221  is configured to apply a low voltage to water flow detection electrode  222  through positive connector  2211  and negative connector  2212 . Water flow detection electrode  222  is configured to react to an increase in water flow by increasing this voltage. Electrical connector  221  is configured to detect this voltage change to determine whether there is water flow in the vicinity of water flow detecting electrode  222 . Chlorine electrode group  223  is electrically connected to the composite electrode plug  21 . 
     Turning again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , water electrolytic assembly  3  includes water electrolytic plug  31  and water electrode group  32 . Water electrode group  32  is connected to water electrolytic plug  31 . Water electrolytic plug  31  may be structured the same as, and may function similar to composite electrolytic plug  21 . Similar to plates water electrode group  32  includes at least two titanium plates, supported by a support frame, whose surfaces are coated with a coating configured to electrolyze water to generate hydroxyl groups when the titanium plates are energized and in contact with water. Hydroxyl groups are known in the art to be a secondary pool water disinfectant. For example, during use, as water flows across the titanium plates hydroxyl groups will be produced between the plates to help disinfect the water.  FIG. 2  shows water electrode group  32  schematically, it being understood that the arrangement of plates supported by a frame may be the same as plates  2231 A,  2231 B and support frame  225  of chlorine electrode group  223  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the working principle of the invention is as follows. Water flow enters from inlet  11  and flows out from outlet  12 , such that the water in chamber  10  has constant flow therethrough. While the water is flowing, composite electrolytic assembly  2  and water electrolytic assembly  3  are energized. As water flows through chlorine electrode group  223 , it generates bubbles  4  and a water disinfectant solution during electrolysis, as noted above. These bubbles  4  flow out of the chamber  10  together with the disinfectant solution as the water flows through outlet  12 . If the water flow stops due to a ceasing of incoming water at inlet  11 , a flow of fresh water to the part of chamber  10  containing the electrode groups  32 ,  222 , and  223  no longer flows, though the electrodes may remain energized. In this configuration, the bubbles  4  generated by the chlorine electrode during electrolysis will gather and rise. Because outlet  12  is lower than inlet  11 , bubbles  4  will displace water within chamber  10 . Because outlet  12  is lower than inlet  11 , it represents the path of least resistance such that the displaced water is routed through outlet  12 . As the water level drops and bubbles  4  rise, water will be displaced from the vicinity of water flow detecting electrode  222 . 
     When the water in the vicinity of the water flow detecting electrode  222  drops below a predetermined threshold level, electrode  222  produces a signal indicative of the lack of water. This signal may be a change in voltage or amperage, such as a drop to zero, or another predetermined minimum, or another signal. This signal is carried by the electrical connector  221  to a controller. The controller may be programmed to energize or otherwise activate electrodes  222  and  223  upon receipt of a signal that water treatment is desired, such as by an operator input or an automated indication of a need for water treatment. The controller is also programmed to de-energize or otherwise deactivate electrodes  222  and  223  by disconnecting the electrical connection between the power source and the composite electrolytic assembly  2  upon receipt of a signal that indicates water treatment is no longer needed, or that indicates water flow has stopped as further described herein. The controller may also activate and deactivate electrode  32  in a similar manner. This ceases the disinfection operation of the water treatment device  100 . 
     Because water flow detection electrode  222  is disposed physically above the chlorine electrode group  223 , and because electrical connector  221  detects and monitors the voltage of the water flow detection electrode  222  in real time, water treatment device  100  itself can monitor the state of the water flow in real-time with low cost. If electrode  222  registers a “dry” or low-water condition, it can de-energize electrode  223  (either directly or via the controller) before it would ever have a chance to be partially or entirely dry. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller may be programmed to allow activation of chlorine electrode group  223  when water flow detection electrode  222  signals the presence of water, subject to other conditions (e.g., a call for water treatment from a user or an automated controller logic function). The controller may also be programmed to prevent activation of chlorine electrode group  223  when water flow detection electrode  222  signals the absence of water, regardless of whether a call for water treatment is being issued. 
     This, in turn ensures that electrode  223  will always be fully submerged at any time that it is receiving electrical energy. This extends the life of pool water treatment device  100  by not allowing the composite electrolytic assembly  2  to continually run without water flow through housing  1 . 
     While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.