Water treatment control system

• US 20030220717A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Hicks, Fred R. Underwood
• Original Assignee: Charles Hicks, Fred R. Underwood
• Inventors: Hicks, Charles, Underwood, Fred R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,319,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/03 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/11 Turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/16 Regeneration of sorbents, filters
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0641 using a plurality of throttling means G05D7/067 takes precedence

Abstract

A water filter system comprising a control system, communication means, piping, actuators, sensors and valves. The control system utilizes a communication bus for controlling and monitoring water flow through the piping via control of the actuators and valves. The communication bus comprises a two-wire network in a loop configuration coupling the various actuators and valves to the control system. The control system includes a display and programmable control logic for monitoring and controlling the actuators and valves. In one embodiment, the communication bus adheres to a Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) standard. The control system is further coupled to other control systems in a water treatment plant and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) network.

Claims

1. A water treatment system, comprising:

a control subsystem;

a water treatment filter, including;

a filter bed;

a plurality of valves coupled to the filter bed via a plurality of pipes;

a plurality of actuators coupled to the plurality of valves, said actuators having an electronic interface and controls and monitors states of the valves and actuators; and

a communication bus coupling the control subsystem and the electronic interface of the plurality of actuators and forming a communication network, whereby the controller controls and monitors the plurality of actuators via the communication bus.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes programmable control logic and a display.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication bus adheres to an Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) standard.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic interface of the plurality of actuators adhere to an AS-I standard.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication bus adheres to an Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) standard.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the communication network is a loop configured communication network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the states of the valves is an open or a closed state.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the states of the actuators is a normal or a malfunction state.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further coupled to a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system via a communication link.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication link is an IEEE 802.3 link.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of actuators are vane-type actuators.

12. A method for controlling water flow in a water treatment system, comprising the steps of:

sending commands to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system via a communication bus;

changing states of the plurality of valves via the commands; and

changing the water flow by changing the states of the plurality of valves.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the commands and the communication bus adhere to the Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) standard.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication bus is configured in a loop configuration.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the states of the plurality of valves are an open state or a close state.

16. A method of treating water in a water treatment system, comprising the step of:

sending commands to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system via a communication bus, said valves allow pre-treated water to flow into a filter bed and exit out of the system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the commands and communication bus adhere to the Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) standard.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

sending second commands to a second plurality of valves in the water treatment system via a communication bus, said second valves allow treated water to be washed into the filter bed to clean said filter bed.

19. A method of testing valves in a water treatment system, comprising the steps of:

sending commands to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system via a communication bus; and

transmitting test results from the plurality of valves in the water treatment system via the communication bus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the commands and the communication bus adhere to the Actuator Sensor Interface (AS-I) standards.

21. A control system for a water treatment system, the control system comprising:

a programmable logic controller;

the programmable logic controller coupled to a display and a bus interface; and

a bus, whereby the programmable logic controller controls and monitors a plurality of actuators and sensors in the water treatment system.

22. The control system of claim 21, wherein the bus is an Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) bus.

23. The control system of claim 22, wherein the actuators are vane-type actuators.

24. A water filter system for use in a water treatment plant, comprising:

a control subsystem;

a filter bed;

a plurality of valves coupled to the filter bed via piping for transport of water, each valve including an actuator and an electronic interface; and

a bus extending from the control subsystem to the plurality of valves and providing low voltage electrical power to the valves, wherein the control subsystem and the plurality of valves are constructed and arranged for digital communications over the bus such that no separate power line for the plurality of valves must be wired upon installation of the system.

25. The water filter system of claim 24, wherein the control subsystem comprises a programmable logic controller and an interface with the programmable logic controller to monitor multiple operating parameters of the system.

26. The water filter system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of valves further comprises a switch in electronic communications with the control subsystem, the switch being operable to turn the valves off and on in response to commands from the control subsystem.

27. The water filter system of claim 24, wherein one operating parameter is an alarm indicative of whether the valve is operating in a manner which could damage the water filter system.

28. The water filter system of claim 24, wherein the one operating parameter is a control parameter indicative of flow capacity produced in the piping.

29. The water filter system of claim 24, wherein the one operating parameter is turbidity of the water.

30. The water filter system of claim 24, wherein the one operating parameter is a water level in the filter bed.

31. The water filter system of claim 24, wherein the programmable logic controller is operable to communicate digital data regarding the operating parameters to the plurality of valves.

32. A water filter control kit for use in a water treatment system, comprising:

a control subsystem;

a plurality of actuators and electronic interfaces designed to be coupled to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system; and

wherein a bus may be extended from the control subsystem to the plurality of valves and providing low voltage electrical power to the valves, wherein the control subsystem and the plurality of valves may be constructed and arranged for digital communications over the bus such that no separate power line for the plurality of valves must be wired upon installation of the kit.

33. The water filter control kit of claim 32, wherein the electronic interfaces and the bus adhere to the Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) standard.

34. The water filter control kit of claim 33, wherein the digital communications include commands to change states of the valve.

35. The water filter control kit of claim 34, wherein the states of the valve is an open state or a closed state.

36. The water filter control kit of claim 33, wherein the digital communications include commands to determine whether one of the plurality of valves is faulty.

37. The water filter control kit of claim 33, wherein the actuators are vane-type actuators.

38. The water filter control kit of claim 32, wherein the control subsystem, actuators and wiring have been factory pretested.

39. A method of treating water in a water treatment system, comprising the step of:

providing a menu driven control system, wherein each step in a water filter control process maybe controlled from the control system; and

sending a command to a control device in the water treatment system via a communication bus.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the control system includes programmable control logic and a display.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the communication bus adheres to an Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) standard.

42. The system of claim 39, further comprising the step of providing a communication network wherein the communication network is a loop configured communication network.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the control system is further coupled to a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system via a communication link.

44. The system of claim 42, further comprising the step of providing a communication link wherein the communication link is an IEEE 802.3 link.