HK1175452B - Sustainable method and system for treating water bodies affected by bacteria and microalgae at low cost - Google Patents

Description

Sustainable method and system for treating water bodies affected by bacteria and microalgae at low cost

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sustainable method and system for treating and maintaining bodies of water at low cost for low density recreational use. Typically, a density of at most 0.05 bathers per cubic meter of water volume is used. Unlike conventional swimming pool filtration systems, in which all water volumes are filtered up to 6 times per day, the methods and systems disclosed herein filter only a small fraction of the total water volume, up to 200 times less per day than the flow rate filtered by conventional swimming pool filtration systems. The methods and systems disclosed herein use less chemicals, up to 100 times less than the amount used by conventional swimming pool water treatment systems. The method and system of the present invention can be used to treat recreational water bodies affected by bacteria and microalgae and provide water for producing bathing water that meets the bacteriological and physicochemical requirements of recreational water for full body contact as set forth by governmental regulatory agencies such as the united states national Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Background

The widely varying recreational water bodies are susceptible to contamination by the proliferation of bacteria and microalgae. In the case where the quality of water is important, for example, in the case of a swimming pool, high-quality water suitable for swimming is achieved by adding a large amount of chemical agent. In a swimming pool, for example, a chemical agent is added to the water in the pool to maintain a permanent concentration of chlorine agent in the water of at least 1.5 ppm. Such concentrations are required due to strict swimming pool regulations regarding the bacteriological and physicochemical properties of water, and are achieved by maintaining the permanent Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) of water at least 650mV on a continuous basis.

Many countries around the world have regulations on recreational water, and there are generally two regulations on recreational use of such bodies of water. The first regulation relates to swimming pools, which require that a high permanent chlorine buffer must be maintained to avoid contamination of the water when a new bather enters the swimming pool. The chlorine buffer neutralizes contaminants brought into the swimming pool water by the bather and kills microorganisms brought into the swimming pool water by the bather, thereby maintaining a high water quality suitable for recreational use.

The second regulation applies to lakes and oceans and is referred to as the standard for recreational water for whole body contact bathing. The regulation is based on the dilution capacity of water. When a new bather enters the water body, the contaminants are diluted in such a way that they do not remain in the water body at a concentration that would have a significant effect. Thus, in large bodies of water such as lakes or oceans, disinfectant buffers are not required due to the high dilution capacity of the large water volume.

The global trend is to develop systems that can coexist with the environment, are more sustainable and environmentally conscious in all aspects of life, and leave a minimum footprint for the afterpopulation. However, when treating recreational bodies of water, no substantial progress has been made in environmentally responsible methods and systems. The usual treatments for the proliferation of bacteria and microalgae in swimming pools require large amounts of chemicals and energy, which do not meet today's sustainable requirements.

In order to comply with the first regulations, the chlorine buffer in the swimming pool must be maintained on a continuous basis to neutralize contaminants brought into the pool by new bathers. Maintaining a permanent chlorine buffer in a conventional treatment of a swimming pool involves maintaining ORP levels of at least 650mV on a continuous basis. Once the requirements for chlorine disinfection have been met, the concentration of free chlorine remaining in the water, i.e. the remaining chlorine, acts as a buffer to provide disinfection when new organic matter or microorganisms enter the water body, for example when a new bather enters the water. The amount of chemicals used to permanently maintain ORP levels at least 650mV is very large, significantly increasing the operating costs of the cell, involving the use of chemicals in amounts that are environmentally unfriendly and capable of producing undesirable disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as chloramines.

In addition, a swimming pool of typical construction requires filtering of its entire volume of water, usually 1-6 times per day. This is achieved by using a centralized filtration unit of conventional construction. As a result, the filtration systems of conventional swimming pools consume a lot of energy and also impose high demands on installation, operation and maintenance costs.

In summary, conventional swimming pools rely on a large amount of chemicals to maintain a chlorine buffer in order to neutralize contaminants entering the water body, and also rely on a centralized filtration system to filter the entire volume of water, typically 1-6 times per day. Thus, conventional swimming pool technology has high operating and maintenance costs due to the necessity of continuously maintaining high disinfectant concentrations and the need for centralized filtration systems. There is a pressing need for a sustainable, low energy method and system to treat and maintain large water volumes for recreational use with small amounts of chemicals.

Swimming pool

The consumption of nutrients in water by aerobic microorganisms results in the need for large amounts of oxygen. Therefore, the level of dissolved oxygen in the water is reduced, and thereby anaerobic microorganisms are developed. Further development of anaerobic microorganisms leads to accumulation of organic compounds. This chain of events results in the accumulation of nutrients in the water, which can act as a nutrient solution for a particular microorganism. Among the microorganisms that develop in these conditions, the most relevant to recreational water bodies are bacteria and microalgae.

Turbidity in recreational water bodies is mainly caused by the presence of microalgae in the water. These microorganisms grow in water with a defined concentration of nutrients. Depending on the availability of light sources and the concentration of nutrients, algae multiply in a process known as enrichment, where the algae live throughout a volume of water, making the entire body of water a large source of biomass and increasing the turbidity of the water. Various regulations state that values up to 50 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) are safe for human health. In British Columbia, for example, the turbidity of water for recreational waters, as determined by the environmental ministry of environmental sector, has an upper limit of 50 NTUs (British Columbia, Canada, 1981, second part 2(e) of the environmental regulatory act), whereas the upper limit is recognized by the southern Australian government as 25 NTUs. As dissolved nutrients needed to keep the microalgae depleted, the microalgae die and settle to the bottom of the body of water. The organic matter available in such a settled layer at the bottom of the body of water can again serve as a basis for the development of anaerobic microorganisms in the water, which often poses a health threat to humans. In artificial waters, water quality deteriorates with the growth of microalgae and bacteria. In a typical method or process for water treatment in swimming pools with high density bathers, a large amount of disinfectant, such as chlorine, is used and all volumes of water are filtered to control the proliferation of bacteria and microalgae. For example, if chlorine is used, it will react with organic materials as well as with reducing agents such as hydrogen sulfide, ferrous ions, manganese ions, and nitrite ions. The chlorine consumed in these reactions is defined as the chlorine demand. To meet the chlorine demand, the permanent ORP level in the water must be maintained at least 650 mV.

The reaction of chlorine with organic compounds present in water can form several toxic or disinfection by-products (DBP). For example, the reaction of chlorine with ammonia can produce chloramine as an undesirable by-product. Further reaction of chlorine or chloramines with organic substances can produce trihalomethanes, which are potentially carcinogenic substances. Furthermore, according to the disinfection method, new DBPs have been identified, such as with trihalomethaneiodide, haloacetonitrile, halonitromethane, haloacetaldehyde and nitrosamines. Furthermore, it has been thought that exposure of bathers to chlorine and organic substances helps to trigger respiratory problems including asthma and several other health problems.

The use of chemical agents also causes environmental problems associated with the accumulation and disposal of these chemicals and DBP in the environment. Therefore, it would be advantageous to reduce the use of such chemicals and reduce the DBP produced.

In addition to the high cost and health and environmental issues associated with chemical treatment, conventional filtration systems have high capital costs and energy consumption. Conventional treatment of standard size swimming pools requires filtering of all volumes of water, typically 1-6 times a day using a conventionally constructed centralized filtration unit. Such systems can create high demand for energy and increase capital costs associated with filtration systems such as piping, pumps, filters, and facilities.

State of the art

Us patent 5,143,623 describes a nutrient removal method in which falling particles are collected whilst a body of water is falling using a structure having a funnel-shaped collector, and which can have a1 acre (4,046 m)²) The size of (2). The structure must remain in place for a long period of time of at least "hours" to receive the descending particles, and moreover, the structure comprises a surface equivalent to that of the structure containing the body of water. The structure disclosed in us patent 5,143,623 is invasive in that it does not allow for the normal development of aquatic behavior and does not allow for cleaning of the bottom of the structure, whereby it does not provide the desired color performance. Moreover, the method does not include the use of a disinfectant or a filtration system.

Another document WO2009114206 describes a method for removing algae from eutrophic water by using a settling tank and adding different coagulants. This process requires the construction of at least one settling tank, preferably at least two settling tanks, and the amount of cationic coagulant used is up to 150 ppm. WO2009114206 requires the construction of more than one tank for its method to function properly, which requires more land and costs more. The method disclosed in WO2009114206 does not disclose the synergistic operation of the system and the application of large amounts of coagulant in an environmentally unfriendly manner.

FR2785898 describes a purification system for swimming pool water, which system comprises filtration, sterilization and pH control. The amount of chemical reagents and energy supplied to a conventionally constructed centralized filtration system and ionization process is similar to that used for standard swimming pool technology. FR2785898 uses a large amount of chemicals to maintain a continuous concentration of chemicals in water. The process in FR2785898 also involves filtration of all water volumes, thus requiring a large amount of energy and requiring expensive filtration equipment.

Us patent 7,820,055 relates to obtaining large bodies of water for recreational use and describes a method for installing and maintaining large volumes or volumes of water for recreational use at low cost, such as lakes or artificial lakes with excellent color, high transparency and clarity similar to pools or tropical seas, especially in excess of 15000m³The water body of (2). US 7,820,055 defines structural features such as skimmers for oil removal, water collection systems, construction details, type and colour of lining, circulation systems and additive injection, requirements for supply water, pH measurement, addition of salt, use of coagulant, rate of change of fresh water, additive and oxidation processes, and suction vehicles driven by boats. US 7,820,055 describes an open system for water circulation without filtration or a synergistic method of applying an algorithm based on water temperature to maintain water quality according to its real needs.

WO2010/074770a1 describes an effective filtration method to maintain the entertainment and decorative properties of a body of water. WO2010/074770a1 requires the application of ultrasound to water and the application of a coagulant. WO2010/074770a1 does not disclose a synergistic means for coordinating the operation of the process, thus resulting in high energy requirements.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify required or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this summary intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The present invention provides a sustainable method and system for treating and maintaining large bodies of water for low density bathers for recreational use. The density of bathers in the body of water is at most 0.05 bathers per cubic meter or less, which is about 10 times lower than the density considered in the design of a conventional swimming pool. By reducing the density of the bather, the water's diluting ability can be used to maintain high quality water suitable for full-contact bathing without the need to maintain a permanent chlorine buffer as in conventional swimming pools. Thus, the method and system of the present invention breaks the size barrier of conventional swimming pools and provides an ecological pool of very large size similar to a high transparent lake having high water quality associated with conventional swimming pools. These ecological pools are not economically feasible using conventional swimming pool filtration techniques.

The methods and systems described herein do not use chlorine buffers used in conventional swimming pool filtration systems. Thus, the amount of chemicals used is very low compared to conventional swimming pool water treatment systems. Unlike current swimming pool water treatment, the method and system of the present invention does not require permanent maintenance of ORP levels. In the methods and systems described herein, the ORP level is maintained at least 500mV for a period of time determined by an algorithm that depends on the temperature of the water body. Thus, the present invention provides a method and system that can adjust the amount and dosage of chemicals based on environmental factors such as water temperature, reducing the amount of chemicals by up to 100 times compared to traditional treatment of swimming pools.

Additionally, the methods and systems disclosed herein include low cost filtration means that allow for filtration of only a small fraction of the total water volume, up to 200 times less than conventional swimming pools. The energy consumption and equipment costs of the present invention are up to 50 times less than conventionally constructed swimming pool filtration systems, since conventional centralized filtration units are not used.

Thus, the present invention may provide several advantages over conventional swimming pool filtration techniques. The present invention uses an algorithm for dosing and adjusting the dosing of disinfectant to a body of water to maintain the ORP level at least 500mV for a period of time that varies with water temperature, thereby reducing the amount of chemicals used by at least an order of magnitude compared to conventional swimming pool filtration systems. Advantages associated with reducing the amount of chemicals include reduced operating costs and reduced production of DBP, which is harmful to the environment and bathers. In addition, the use of a low cost filtration system that filters a small fraction of the total water volume reduces installation costs, operating costs, and energy consumption as compared to conventional swimming pool filtration systems.

The present invention is directed to solving various environmental problems caused in a method of treating water affected by bacteria and microalgae. Mr. Fernando Fischmann, a new technology disclosed herein, has made many new advances in water treatment technology that will be rapidly adopted throughout the world. In the short term, the inventor's technology related to entertaining crystal lakes has participated in over 180 projects on a global scale. The present inventors and their advances in water treatment technology have been the subject of more than 200 articles, which are presented inhttp://press.crystal-lagoons.com/Can be seen there. The present inventors have also received an important international reward for innovations and breakthroughs associated with these advances in water treatment technology, and have been the subject of interviews of the major media channels including CNN, BBC, FUJI and Bloomberg's Business.

Both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are not limiting. Further, features or variations may be provided in addition to those described herein. For example, particular embodiments may relate to various combinations and subcombinations of features described in the detailed description.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a process flow diagram showing a system for treating water in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a top view of a structure incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. While embodiments of the invention have been described, variations, modifications and other embodiments are possible. For example, substitutions, additions or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. Although the systems and methods are described in terms of "comprising" various devices or steps, the systems and methods can also be "substantially comprised" or "composed" of a variety of devices or steps, unless otherwise specified.

Definition of

According to the present invention, the following terms or phrases are to be understood to have the following meanings:

as used herein, the term "swimming pool regulations" refers to regulations relating to swimming pools that require maintenance of permanent chlorine buffer to avoid contamination of water when a new bather enters the swimming pool. The chlorine buffer neutralizes contaminants and kills microorganisms brought into the water of the swimming pool by bathers, thereby maintaining a high water quality suitable for recreational purposes. These types of regulations are typically established by government bodies or agencies.

The term "chlorine buffer" as used herein refers to the residual chlorine concentration in a swimming pool or any other body of water required by swimming pool regulations. When new microorganisms or organic matter enter the water, the amount of active chlorine exerts a buffering mechanism, thereby neutralizing the organic matter and killing the microorganisms so that the organic matter no longer acts as a nutrient consumed by other microorganisms. The chlorine buffer can be correlated to ORP levels in the water, which are controlled in accordance with the present invention. It will be appreciated that in order to maintain the required level of disinfectant, another disinfectant, such as bromine, may be used instead of chlorine.

The term "traditionally constructed centralized filtration system" as used herein, is to be understood as a centralized filtration unit or system having a capacity designed to filter the entire water volume of a swimming pool, typically 1-6 times per day, to comply with swimming pool regulations. The water delivered to the centralized filtration system is collected from various sources such as drains, skimmers, or by overflow, etc.

The term "vessel" or "containment device" is used herein generally to describe any kind of large artificial water body, including terms having large dimensions such as artificial lakes, artificial ponds, and the like.

The term "non-invasive cleaning system" as used herein includes a suction device that does not interfere with the normal development of aquatic recreational activities. Typically, the suction device is capable of moving through the bottom surface of the receptacle and suctioning settled material. For example, boats that pull suction trucks are non-invasive systems, provided that the permanence of such systems is temporary in the water body area. The self-driven suction vehicle is also non-invasive. Furthermore, systems requiring fixed installations or fixed piping are intrusive to the normal performance of water sports or other activities.

The term "coordinating device" is used generically herein to describe an automated system that is capable of receiving, processing, and making decisions based on information. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this is done by a human, but more preferably using a computer connected to the sensor.

"chemical application device" is generally used herein to describe a system for applying or dispersing a chemical to water.

The term "mobile suction device" is generally used herein to describe a suction device that is capable of moving through the bottom surface of the containment device and of suctioning settled material.

The term "drive" is used generically herein to describe a drive that provides motion by pushing or pulling another device.

The term "filtration device" is used generically herein to describe filtration systems that can include filters, strainers, separators, and the like.

As used herein, the term "fraction" in relation to the volume of water filtered refers to a flow rate up to 200 times less than the flow rate filtered in a conventionally configured swimming pool filtration system.

Detailed Description

Conventional swimming pool filtration methods and systems rely on the use of chlorine buffers to neutralize contaminants and kill microorganisms that enter the water body. These methods and systems require the use of large amounts of chemicals to maintain a permanent buffer regardless of the actual requirements of the water. Additionally, these methods and systems typically require a centralized filtration system of conventional construction to filter the entire volume of water, typically 1-6 times per day. Thus, conventional swimming pool technology uses a large amount of chemicals and has high capital and operating costs associated with centralized filtration systems.

The present invention relates to low cost, sustainable methods and systems for treating and maintaining bodies of water affected by bacteria and microalgae for low density recreational use. The density is at most 0.05 bathers per cubic meter. Unlike conventional swimming pool filtration systems, in which the total water volume is filtered one or more times per day, the methods and systems of the present invention filter only a small fraction of the total water volume, up to 200 times less per day than conventional filtration systems, and provide treated water that complies with biological and physicochemical regulations regarding recreational water in whole body contact.

The continuous method of water treatment can be carried out at low cost compared to conventional swimming pool water treatment systems due to the fact that the present invention uses less chemicals and consumes less energy compared to conventional swimming pool water treatment systems. The method and system of the present invention do not require that the ORP level be permanently maintained at least 650mV as in conventional swimming pool water treatment systems. In contrast to conventional filtration systems, the methods and systems described herein apply an algorithm that maintains ORP at least 500mV for a specific period of time that varies with water temperature. Thus, the system and method of the present invention greatly reduces the amount of chemicals, up to 100 times less than conventional swimming pool water treatment, thereby reducing operating and maintenance costs.

In addition, the method and system of the present invention filters only a small fraction of the total water volume, up to 200 times less per day than conventional swimming pools, which require a centralized filtration unit that typically filters the total water volume 1-6 times per day. The filter unit of the method and system of the invention comprises a smaller filter unit than the centralized filter unit and takes a shorter operating time, so that the energy consumption and equipment investment is up to 50 times lower than in conventional swimming pool systems.

The system of the present invention generally comprises at least one containment device, at least one cooperating device, at least one chemical application device, at least one mobile suction device, and at least one filtration device. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the system of the present invention. The system includes a containment device (12). There are no particular limitations on the size of the containment device, however, in many embodiments, the containment device can have at least 15000m³Or at least 50000m³The volume of (a). It is contemplated that the container or containment device can have a 1000000m³、50000000m³、500000000m³Or a larger volume.

The containment device (12) has a bottom capable of receiving bacteria, algae, suspended solids, metals, and other particles that settle out of the water. In an embodiment, the containment device (12) comprises a receiving device (2) to receive settled particles or material from water being treated. The receiving device (2) is fixed to the bottom of the containing device (12), preferably constructed of a non-porous material that can be cleaned. The bottom of the containment device (12) is typically covered with a non-porous material so that the non-invasive mobile suction device (3) is able to move across the entire bottom surface of the containment device (12) and suck settled particles produced by any of the methods disclosed herein. The non-porous material can be a membrane, geomembrane, geotextile membrane, plastic liner, concrete, coated concrete, or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the container (12) is covered with a plastic liner. The housing means (12) can comprise an inlet line (13) for supplying water to the housing means (12). The inlet line (13) allows replenishing the containment device (12) with water to prevent evaporation and other loss of water.

The system comprises at least one cooperative apparatus (1) capable of controlling the necessary processes according to the system needs, such as water quality. Such a process can involve activation of a non-invasive mobile suction device (3). The synergic means (1) are able to receive information (8) about the water quality parameters to be controlled and to activate the necessary processes in due time to adjust the water quality parameters within their respective limits. The information (8) received by the coordinating device (1) can be obtained using visual observations, empirical methods, experience-based algorithms, using electronic detectors, or a combination thereof. The coordinating device (1) can comprise one or more persons, electronic devices, or any device capable of receiving information, processing the information, and activating other processes, and combinations thereof. One example of a collaborative device is a computing device such as a personal computer. The coordination means (1) further comprises a sensor for receiving information (8) about a water quality parameter.

The process is activated in time by the synergic means (1) to adjust the controlled parameters within their limits. Activating the process according to the needs of the system allows filtering a fraction of the total water volume per day, thereby replacing the filtering system of a conventional swimming pool which filters the total water volume up to 6 times per day. The process is responsive to the timely activation (9) of the mobile suction device (3), which will simultaneously activate the filtering device (7) to filter the flow of water sucked by the mobile suction device, filtering only a fraction of the total water volume, up to 200 times less than conventional swimming pool filtering systems.

The chemical application device (6) applies or disperses a chemical into water. Chemical application devices (6) include, but are not limited to, syringes, sprinklers, manual applicators, gravity-driven dispensers, pipes, and combinations thereof.

A non-invasive moving suction device (3) moves along the bottom of the containment device (12) to draw water containing settled particles and material produced by any of the methods disclosed herein. The drive means (4) is connected to the mobile suction means (3) by means of a connecting means (5) so that the mobile suction means (3) moves through the bottom of the containing means (12). The connecting means (5) can be flexible or rigid. Examples of connection means include, but are not limited to, a rope, cord, wire, cable, wire, rod, bar, rod, shaft, and combinations thereof.

The mobile suction device should not affect or alter the normal performance of aquatic recreational activities such as swimming or water sports. Preferably, the durability of the suction device is temporary in the water body area. Thus, systems requiring fixed installations or fixed piping are invasive to the launch of water sports or other activities. The moving suction device moves through the bottom of the container, completely sucking the water flow with settled particles and making the color of the bottom visible. The driving means (4) drives the mobile suction device (3) by using a system such as a rail system, a cable system, a self-driven system, a manual drive system, a robotic system, a remote control system, a boat with an engine or a floating device with an engine, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive means is a boat having an engine.

The water sucked by the mobile suction device (3) is conveyed to the filtering device (7). The filter device (7) receives the flow of water sucked by the mobile suction device (3) and filters the sucked water containing settled particles and material, thereby eliminating the need to filter the entire water volume (e.g. only a small portion). The filtration device (7) includes, but is not limited to, cartridge filters, sand filters, micro filters, nano filters, ultra filters, and combinations thereof. The water sucked can be conveyed to the filtering means (7) by means of a collecting line (10) connected to the mobile suction means (3). The collection line (10) is selected from the group consisting of flexible hose, rigid hose, tubing of any material, and combinations thereof. The system can comprise a return line (11) from the filtering device (7) back to the containing device (12) to return the filtered water.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the system of the present invention. The containment device (12) can contain a feed piping system (13) that allows for replenishment of the containment device (12) to prevent evaporation or other loss of water from the containment device (12). The containment device (12) can also include a syringe (14) disposed along a perimeter of the containment device (12) to apply or disperse the chemical into the water. The containment device (12) also contains a skimmer (15) to remove surface oil and particles.

In embodiments, the system of the present invention comprises the following elements:

-at least one inlet line (13) for supplying water into at least one containing means (12);

-at least one containing device (12) comprising a receiving device (2) for settled particles produced by the process of the method, the receiving device (2) being fixed to the bottom of the containing device;

-at least one cooperative device (1), wherein said cooperative device activates the necessary processes in time to adjust the parameters within its limits;

-at least one chemical application device (6) allowing the addition of a disinfectant to the water;

-at least one non-invasive mobile suction device (3) moving through the bottom of said at least one containing device, sucking a flow of water containing settled particles produced by the process of said method:

-at least one driving means (4) providing movement for said at least one non-invasive moving suction means enabling it to move through the bottom of said at least one containing means;

-at least one connection means (5) connecting said at least one driving means and said at least one suction means;

-at least one filtering device (7) for filtering the water flow containing settled particles;

-at least one collection line (10) connected between said at least one mobile suction device and said at least one filtering device; and

-at least one return line (11) from said at least one filtering means to said at least one containing means.

The method of the present invention uses less chemicals and consumes less energy than conventional swimming pool treatment methods, and therefore can be implemented at lower cost than conventional treatment methods. In one aspect, the method of the invention uses much less chemicals as it applies an algorithm, allowing the ORP to be maintained at least 500mV for a specific period of time that varies with water temperature. Thus, the amount of chemicals is significantly reduced, up to 100 times less than conventional swimming pool water treatment systems, thereby reducing operating and maintenance costs.

In another aspect, the method of the present invention filters only a small fraction of the total water volume within a particular time frame, as compared to conventional swimming pool filtration systems that filter a much larger volume of water within the same time frame. In embodiments, a small portion of the total water volume is up to 200 times less than the flow rate handled in a conventionally configured centralized filtration system that filters the total water volume up to 6 times per day. The filtering device in the method and system of the present invention operates in a shorter period of time due to the instructions received from the coordinating device. Thus, the filtration device in the method and system of the present invention has a very small capacity, up to 50 times less capital cost and energy consumption than the centralized filtration units used in conventional swimming pool filtration systems.

In an embodiment, the method comprises the following stages:

a. collecting water having a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentration of up to 50,000 ppm;

b. storing the water in at least one containment device (12), wherein the containment device has a bottom that can be thoroughly cleaned by a non-invasive mobile suction device;

c. limiting the bather density to at most 0.05 bathers per cubic meter of water volume contained in the containment device;

d. maintaining the ORP of the water at least 500mV for a period of at least 1 hour per degree celsius water temperature by adding a disinfectant to the water for a period of 7 days for a water temperature of at most 45 ℃;

e. activating by means of a synergic device (1) the following process, wherein said process purifies the water and eliminates suspended solids by filtering only a fraction of the total water volume:

i. -pumping the water flow containing the settled particles, generated by the above process, by means of a non-invasive mobile pumping device (3) to prevent the thickness of the settled particles from exceeding on average 3 mm;

filtering the water flow sucked by the mobile suction device by means of at least one filtering device (7); and

returning said filtered water to said at least one containment device, thereby avoiding filtering the entire water volume and only filtering the water stream containing settled particles.

Disinfectant is applied to the water by a chemical application device (6) to maintain ORP levels at least 500mV and for a minimum period of time, varying with water temperature, once in a 7 day period. Such disinfectants include, but are not limited to, ozone, biguanide products, algaecides, and antibacterial agents such as copper products; a ferric salt; an alcohol; chlorine and chlorine compounds; a peroxide; a phenolic compound; an iodophor; common quaternary amines (polyquats) such as benzalkonium chloride and s-triazine; peroxyacetic acid; a halogen-based compound; bromine-based compounds, chlorine-based compounds; and combinations thereof. Preferred disinfectants comprise chlorine-based compounds, ozone, biguanide products, bromine-based compounds, halogen-based compounds or combinations thereof.

Bacteria and microalgae in a body of water are controlled by a chemical application device that applies a disinfectant to the body of water. The amount of disinfectant used in the present invention is at least an order of magnitude lower than the usual amount required in conventional swimming pool technology. The disinfectant is applied, causing bacteria and other microorganisms to die, which collect or settle in the water layer along the bottom of the containment device. Unlike conventional swimming pool technology, the disinfectant of the present invention is applied without the need to maintain a permanent concentration in the water volume. The persistence method uses an algorithm that allows maintenance of ORP levels only for a certain period of time as determined by water temperature. If the water temperature is up to 45 ℃, the ORP level of at least 500mV is maintained for a period of minimum 1 hour per degree Celsius water temperature. For example, if the water temperature is 25 ℃, the ORP level of at least 500mV is maintained for a minimum period of 25 hours, which can be distributed over a period of 7 days. Water having a temperature in excess of 45 c is not suitable for recreational use in the present invention because such temperatures can jeopardize the safety of bathers.

The co-operating device (1) is able to receive information (8) relating to water quality parameters within its respective limits. The information received by the cooperating means can be obtained by empirical methods. The coordinating device (1) is also capable of receiving information, processing the information, and activating the necessary processes, including combinations thereof, based on the information. An example of a coordinating device is a computing device, such as a personal computer, connected to sensors for measuring parameters and activating a process based on such information.

The mobile suction device is designed to thoroughly clean the surface of the receiving means so that the surface of the receiving means is visible in color, thereby providing a body of water with an attractive color. The coordinating device (1) provides information (9) to the mobile suction device (3) to activate the mobile suction device. Simultaneously activating the filtering means (7) to filter the flow of water sucked by the mobile suction means (3), filtering only a fraction of the total water volume. The filtered water is then returned to the containing means (12) through a return line (11). Activating (9) said mobile suction means (3) by means of a synergic means (1) to prevent the thickness of the settled material from exceeding on average 3 mm. The filtering means (7) and the mobile suction means (3) are operated only as required to keep the parameters of the water within their limits, for example only a few hours per day, as opposed to a conventional filtering system operating continuously each day.

Water treated using the method of the present invention can be provided from natural sources such as ocean, groundwater, lakes, rivers, treated water, or combinations thereof. The collected water can have a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentration of up to 50,000 ppm. When the TDS concentration is less than or equal to 10,000ppm, the Langerier (Langelier) saturation index of the water should be less than 3. With the present invention, the langelier saturation index can be controlled below 2 by adjusting the pH, adding an anti-scaling agent or by a water softening process. When the TDS concentration is higher than 10,000ppm, the Steve and Davis (Stiff & Davis) saturation index of the water should be less than 3. With the present invention, the Steve and Davis saturation indices can be maintained as high as 2 by adjusting the pH, adding anti-scaling agents or by a water softening process. Antiscalants that can be used to keep the langelier or steve and davis saturation indices below 2 include, but are not limited to, phosphonic acid based compounds such as phosphonic acid, PBTC (phosphobutane-tricarboxylic acid), chromates, zinc polyphosphate, nitrites, silicates, organic substances, caustic soda, malic acid based polymers, sodium polyacrylate, sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, corrosion inhibitors such as benzotriazole, and combinations thereof.

Examples

With respect to the following examples, singular terms encompass multiple alternatives (at least one). The disclosed information is exemplary and other embodiments exist and are within the scope of the present invention.

Example 1

The following table summarizes the amounts of chemicals used, energy consumed, and associated costs in a) the system according to the present invention and B) the conventional swimming pool configuration, taking into account the density of bathers up to 0.05 bathers per cubic meter. The volume of water in both A) and B) was 90,000m³。

	Case A	Case B
			Total volume (m)3)	90,000	90,000
Flow filtered in 24 hours (m)3)	2.7	540
			Chemical reagent (kg)	1.5	135
Monthly filter energy used (U.S. dollars)	$ 806 $	$ 43000

As shown in the table, the operating cost of a pool constructed using the system of the present invention is at least an order of magnitude lower than that of the conventional construction.

Example 2

Using the method and system according to the invention for 125,000m³The water body is treated. The average depth of the water body is 3.125 m. The system has spaced apart injectors at the boundary of the swimming pool and the bottom of the structure as chemical application devices. The cleaning system is operated in a cyclic manner at a given water body size. The ORP level is determined as follows: with respect to water temperatures up to 45 ℃, ORP levels of at least 500mV are maintained for a period of minimum 1 hour per degree celsius water temperature. At a water temperature of 20 ℃, ORP levels were maintained at least 500mV during a period of 20 hours within a week. On the first day of treatment, the chemical application device injected chlorine from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm to maintain the chlorine concentration at 0.15ppm, thereby completing 10 hours of the first day. On the fourth day of treatment, the same procedure was repeated from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, thereby completing the 20 hours required for the treatment cycle on 7 days.

Before the average thickness of the layer of settled material exceeds 3mm, suction of settled dead micro-algae and micro-organisms is started using a boat with an engine as a drive to move the suction device along the bottom of the structure in the region of the structure. Subsequently, other areas were activated to complete the removal of dead microalgae and microorganisms within a 4 hour period.

The pumped water stream was delivered to a small cartridge filter because the volume filtered was a very small percentage (2.5%) of the total water volume per day. The filter cartridge is located outside the pool and returns filtered water to the pool through a flexible hose.

The energy consumed during the 1 week period using this configuration was 2,436 kW. In a conventional pond configuration, the calculated energy consumption over one week is 124,306 kW. Thus, the present invention consumes only 2% of the energy and utilizes up to 100 times lower amounts of chemical agents than equivalent swimming pools utilizing conventional water treatment technology.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. In addition, the steps or phases of all disclosed methods may be altered in any manner, including by reordering steps and/or inserting or deleting steps, without departing from the invention. Although the specification concludes with detailed description and the associated drawings, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims. Furthermore, although the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as exemplary aspects and embodiments of the invention. Various other aspects, embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description herein, may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Claims (15)

1. A sustainable method for treating and maintaining a body of water affected by bacteria and microalgae at low cost by filtering a small portion of the total volume of water, said method comprising:

a. collecting water having a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentration of up to 50,000 ppm;

b. storing the water in at least one containment device, wherein the containment device has a bottom surface that can be thoroughly cleaned by a non-invasive mobile suction device;

c. limiting a bather density to at most 0.05 bathers per cubic meter of the water contained in the containment device;

d. maintaining the ORP of the water at least 500mV for a period of at least 1 hour per degree celsius water temperature by adding a disinfectant to the water over a period of 7 days and for a water temperature of at most 45 ℃;

e. activating by a synergistic device the following process, wherein said process purifies the water and eliminates suspended solids by filtering only a small fraction of the total water volume:

i. pumping a portion of said water containing settled particles produced by the above process with a moving pumping device to prevent the thickness of settled material from exceeding 3mm on average;

filtering the portion of water drawn by the mobile suction device; and

returning the filtered water to the at least one containment device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a. if the water collected in stage a) has a total dissolved solids concentration of less than or equal to 10,000ppm, the langelier saturation index must be less than 3; or

b. If the water collected in stage a) has a total dissolved solids concentration above 10,000ppm, the Steve and Davis saturation indices must be less than 3.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the langelier saturation index is maintained below 2 by a process selected from adjusting pH, adding an anti-scaling agent, or a water softening process.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the steve and davis saturation indices are maintained below 2 by a process selected from the group consisting of adjusting pH, adding an anti-scale agent, or a water softening process.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the anti-scalant is selected from chromate, nitrite, silicate, organic matter, caustic soda, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the anti-scale agent is a phosphonic acid-based compound.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the anti-scale agent is a phosphonic acid.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the anti-scalant is selected from chromate, nitrite, silicate, organic matter, caustic soda, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the anti-scale agent is a phosphonic acid-based compound.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the anti-scale agent is a phosphonic acid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinating device receives information about the parameter being controlled and activates the process of step e) in time to adjust the parameter within its limits.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information received by the collaborative device is obtained through empirical methods.

13. The method of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the disinfectant is selected from the group consisting of ozone; a biguanide product; a halogen-based compound; or a combination thereof.

14. The method of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the mobile suction device moves through the bottom of the containment device and sucks a portion of the water containing the settled particles.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the disinfectant is applied without maintaining a permanent concentration in the volume of water.