I-Corps: Water Hardness Sensor

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将导致采用低成本，准确的水硬度传感器，这将大大减少释放到市政下水道系统中的盐量，并减少水浪费。软化剂用氯化钠盐水再生，氯化钠盐水通常被丢弃到下水道中，导致河流中的盐度过高。由于这种盐水排放，一些社区已经限制或禁止使用软水器。在软水器上安装硬度传感器？的处理出口将允许水软化剂的完全利用？的能力。另外，传感器将提供软水器性能的视觉指示。该传感器比专利或技术文献中报道的任何其他硬度传感器都更坚固，更简单，更便宜。I-Corps的这个项目将通过提供一种精确检测盐再生软水器何时需要再生的方法，来推进水软化技术的发展。硬度传感器通过检测与水接触的细长阳离子交换材料（膜或纤维）的电阻变化来检测硬度离子（例如钙）。第一个传感器在两个板之间使用膜。较新的传感器使用阳离子交换纤维，提供更快的响应。与市场上现有的硬度探头相比，新的硬度传感器具有很大的优势。该传感器将能够优化软化器的操作，这将确保提供软水，同时最大限度地减少对环境的影响。虽然硬度传感器的即时影响是检测软水器何时需要再生的一种新方法，但预计传感器设计的应用范围将超出硬度监测。例如，传感器可以被修改以用于硝酸盐去除系统。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project will lead to the adoption of a low cost, accurate, water hardness sensor that will drive a substantial reduction in the amount of salt released into municipal sewer systems as well as reducing water waste. Softeners are regenerated with sodium chloride brine, which is usually discarded into the sewer and causes excess salinity in rivers. Some communities have restricted or banned water softeners because of this brine discharge. The incorporation of a hardness sensor on the water softener?s treated outlet would allow for complete utilization of the water softener?s capacity. Additionally, the sensor would provide a visual indication of the water softener performance. The sensor is more robust, less complex and less expensive than any other hardness sensor reported in the patent or technical literature.This I-Corps project will advance the state of the art of water softening by providing a means of detecting precisely when a salt-regenerated water softener needs regeneration. The hardness sensor detects hardness ions (e.g. calcium) by detection of a change in electrical resistance of an elongated cation-exchange material (membrane or fiber), in contact with water. The first sensors used a membrane between two plates. The newer sensors use cation exchange fibers, which provide substantially faster response. The new hardness sensor offers major advantages over the existing hardness probes available in the market. The sensor will be able to optimize softener operation, which will ensure soft water is being provided while also minimizing the environmental impact. While the immediate impact of the hardness sensor is a novel way of detecting when a water softener needs regeneration, the sensor design is expected to have applications beyond hardness monitoring. For example, the sensor can be modified to be employed in nitrate removal systems.