DE102022110697A1 - Encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge for drinking water supply device and associated drinking water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge (100) for a continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water supply device for water treatment in households, restaurants or the like. The multi-stage filter cartridge (100) has a reverse osmosis unit (RO) and a filtration unit (F) with at least one mechanical filter stage (F1, F2,...). The filtration unit (F) is fluidly connected upstream of the reverse osmosis unit (RO) via a filtrate line section (L-F). The reverse osmosis unit (RO) and the filtration unit (F) are encapsulated together by a housing capsule (50). A capsule connection unit (51) of the housing capsule (50) has as external connections a raw water inlet connection (61) for introducing water to the filtration unit (F) as well as a permeate outlet connection (62) and a retentate outlet connection (63 ) for water discharge from the reverse osmosis unit (RO). Furthermore, an associated drinking water supply device with the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to the disclosure is proposed.

Description

Technical area

The present disclosure relates to an encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge for a continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water supply device for water treatment using a reverse osmosis filter stage in households, restaurants or the like. Furthermore, an associated drinking water provision device with the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge according to the disclosure is disclosed.

background

The availability of clean, pure drinking water is a basic need for humans and other living beings. In many parts of the world, it is known that there is a lack of it even today. However, in the worst case, a hygienic impairment - which can occur in any drinking water system - can endanger not only health but also life. A large number of technical problems were, among other things, at the center of the specialist discussions in the course of the new version of the German Drinking Water Ordinance (BGBl. I p. 959), which was issued in an amended version on May 21, 2001 and contains definitions and protective regulations for drinking water.

Not least due to general global trends in the course of urban development, global population growth and/or a striving for self-sufficient living with extensive self-sufficiency of necessary food, there is an increasingly urgent need for technical solutions for the direct, local supply of pure drinking water for people daily needs of the individual on site.

State of the art

Many solutions for purifying water, especially tap water, are known in the prior art. In particular, devices or drinking water supply devices for use in households, in the catering industry or the like are already commercially available in many versions. These are mostly based on filter or separation technologies known from process engineering, with reverse osmosis in particular being used.

Reverse osmosis (household) devices or water treatment systems for tap water available on the market to provide drinking water are equipped with several separate, sequentially / series-connected / flow-through filter cartridges. The several filter cartridges must be changed individually according to a replacement interval recommended by the manufacturer, for example every 6 months.

Previously unpublished German patent application DE 10 2020 128968 The present applicant discloses a drinking water supply device with a drinking water purity control device and an associated method for controlling or automatically ensuring the drinking water purity during drinking water treatment in a continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water supply device with a reverse osmosis unit, for use in Households, restaurants or the like. The purified water has passed through a first water purification unit (for mechanical filtering of dispersed solid particles) and a subsequent second water purification unit (reverse osmosis unit, set up to generate a permeate stream that is further purified of dissolved solids) as the sequentially connected purification stages or filter processes.

However, show how schematically using the 1 the state of the art illustrates conventional drinking water supply devices as well as the aforementioned according to DE 10 2020 128968 separately designed / replaceable or arranged water purification units in the form of, on the one hand, a filtration exchange cartridge (see reference number 1 in 1 ) and on the other hand a reverse osmosis replacement cartridge (see reference number 2 in 1 ) on. These are in fluid connection, for example, via a distributor head, piping, etc.

A significant disadvantage is the previously high space requirement of the entire assembly consisting of several separate water purification units / filter stages / exchangeable cartridges. This directly entails the disadvantage of a correspondingly enlarged drinking water supply device. As a result, reduced The range of applications for these, i.e. many conventional drinking water supply devices, are simply too space-consuming and large for space-limited situations such as small kitchens, offices, campers. In particular, the high space requirement of the entire assembly, especially in household appliances, limits the possibility of doing without an under-table system unit. The latter is often undesirable on the consumer side and/or the space required for an under-sink installation may already be primarily used for other purposes, such as a water heater installed on the pipe network below a kitchen sink, etc. There is also a consumer desire for slim designs, especially for technical household appliances. Furthermore, the previously high space requirement of the entire assembly makes it difficult or inhibits suitable use as a mobile drinking water supply device, for example for field kitchens, etc.

A further disadvantage of the prior art's several separate interchangeable cartridges is their complex, time-consuming change/exchange. In this respect, each cartridge must be replaced individually at the replacement interval recommended by the manufacturer.

An even further disadvantage of the aforementioned existing systems is secure hygiene and sterility management. The necessary hygiene is not sufficiently taken into account in conventional drinking water supply devices. In this respect, it is difficult in the prior art to avoid germs and bacteria getting onto/into the entire (pipe/filter) system of the drinking water supply device when changing/replacing the several separate cartridges. For example, a single skin contact alone can lead to unwanted contamination of the system. As a result, a biofilm or undesirable, possibly even prohibitive or pathogenic, contamination of the drinking water supply device, especially the reverse osmosis unit, can quickly develop.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a space-saving, compact water purification filter system for a drinking water supply device with a reverse osmosis unit. At the same time, no technical compromises must be made with regard to the main function of water purification. In other words, an effective elimination of any contaminants from drinking water, especially from tap water, can still be achieved or ensured in a reliable manner. There is also the task of being able to continue to guarantee a sufficiently long service life or even improve it.

In particular, the water purification filter system should have such a compact / "slim" design in order to enable a purely table-top design of the drinking water supply device with a view to household water purification devices. This means that there is then the specific technical task of being able to dispense with a (conventional) under-sink system unit for the under-sink arrangement of the water purification filter system with the reverse osmosis unit.

Another technical task is to significantly simplify the exchange/change of the several water purification units/filter stages with regard to their handling, so that it can also be carried out independently of user influence.

Another technical task is to increase as much as possible the (effective) service life of the water purification units/filter stages or other system parts that are sensitive to contamination in order to keep repair, spare parts and consumable costs as low as possible. Insofar as the service life for certain types of filters, such as carbon filters, is legally limited to 6 months in accordance with the above-mentioned Drinking Water Ordinance, i.e. in some cases longer service times are therefore not permitted, the term, in particular the effective service life, refers to a service life / useful life without a significant drop in the service life Filter performance within the service life recommended by the manufacturer or permitted by law. In other words, the task relates to counteracting an undesirable drop in efficiency/separation over the entire service life/useful life of the water purification units/filter stages.

These aforementioned tasks are achieved according to a first aspect of the present disclosure by a multi-stage filter cartridge for a continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water supply device for water treatment in households, restaurants or the like with the features of claim 1 and according to a second aspect of the present Disclosure solved by a drinking water supply device having the multi-stage filter cartridge with the features of the independent claim. According to the disclosure, the following described above can thus be used parts from the prior art can be overcome. Advantageous embodiments, further developments or variants of the present disclosure are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

The multi-stage filter cartridge has a reverse osmosis unit and a filtration unit. The filtration unit has at least one mechanical filter stage. The filtration unit is connected upstream of the reverse osmosis unit. In other words, the filtration unit and (subsequently) the reverse osmosis unit are arranged in series/sequentially. In other words, the filtration unit and (downstream) the reverse osmosis unit are set up to be flowed through one after the other along a flow direction of a (volume) stream of water to be purified. The filtration unit is in fluid connection with the reverse osmosis unit via a filtrate line section.

Furthermore, according to the disclosure, the multi-stage filter cartridge has a housing capsule. The reverse osmosis unit and the filtration unit are encapsulated together by the housing capsule. In other words, both the reverse osmosis unit and the filtration unit are arranged in the common housing capsule or are encapsulated by it. So the reverse osmosis unit and the filtration unit together / in combination form an integral and externally encapsulated multi-stage unit. The housing capsule has a capsule connection unit. The capsule connection unit has a raw water input connection as well as a permeate output connection and a retentate output connection as external connections. The raw water inlet connection is designed and/or set up to introduce water to the filtration unit. The permeate outlet connection is designed and/or set up for water discharge from the reverse osmosis unit on the permeate side. The retentate outlet connection is designed and/or set up for water discharge from the reverse osmosis unit on the retentate side.

In particular, as described later, the capsule connection unit can be designed and/or set up for reception by/from or for connection to the drinking water supply device according to the second aspect of the present disclosure.

A significant advantage of the multi-stage filter cartridge is that this solution achieves goals that would otherwise be difficult to agree on technically, namely conflicting goals, in particular the high water purification performance (in terms of volume flow, degree of deposition / degree of separation, service life) while at the same time being compact, space-saving and therefore user-friendly . This advantage is largely due to the combined arrangement of the filtration unit, which is used for effective water purification, especially (or simplified) in the micrometer range of coarse particles to be separated, with the reverse osmosis unit, which is used for effective water purification, especially (or simplified) in the nanometer range Fine particles to be separated are achieved in the (only) common housing capsule.

In other words, the space required for respective/separate interchangeable cartridges, as in the prior art, is eliminated. This means that the significantly smaller encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge can be integrated into a correspondingly smaller drinking water supply device. This means that even in a particularly preferred embodiment (which is the subject of a dependent claim disclosed further below), an under-table system unit can be omitted, i.e. a purely table-top design of the drinking water supply device becomes possible.

In addition, the material requirement for components is reduced due to the compact size and the elimination of components (such as a distribution pipe, etc.). The latter has a positive influence through lower manufacturing costs. This also significantly reduces the environmental impact. At the same time, according to the disclosure, the principle can be maintained of installing a mechanical filtration unit upstream of the reverse osmosis unit to protect it from contamination with (solid) particles / suspended matter suspended in the raw water to be purified. In other words, the proposed compact design of the construction does not lead to an impairment of the level of performance or service life of the central reverse osmosis unit.

Furthermore, compared to conventional drinking water supply devices, there is no need for space-consuming distribution heads etc. between the respective/separate interchangeable cartridges as well as a large number of associated respective/separate interchangeable cartridge receptacles. This not only saves additional material, but also reduces the distances flow through parts of the line. As a result, the pressure losses are across the entire water purification process, ie along the entire flow path through the filtration unit and then the reverse osmosis unit (in particular through Pipe friction losses) are significantly reduced overall. This particularly advantageously enables a small design of an associated feed pump. In particular, even in the case of a high transmembrane pressure loss in the reverse osmosis unit, embodiment variants are conceivable in which an optional additional feed pump to compensate for this transmembrane pressure loss can be completely dispensed with. This serves to further reduce the design of the drinking water supply device, which is to be constructed around the multi-stage filter cartridge as the core of the water purification.

Furthermore, exposure of these internal components with water purification function(s) in the housing capsule is avoided by their (external) encapsulation. Contamination is thus avoided, so that the greatest possible freedom from germs, especially sterility, is advantageously made possible. The (sterile) encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge can be changed easily and safely in one move.

Another advantage is the significant simplification of the logistical storage, ordering and delivery processes. In this respect, only one consumable instead of several needs to be changed regularly at the scheduled maintenance intervals. This concerns a simplification of other complexity that is beneficial for both the manufacturer and the consumer.

The filtration unit is set up / can flow through as a first water purification unit for filtration. The term (pre)filtration refers to the (basic process engineering operation) mechanical separation of solid particles dispersed or present in suspension in the input stream of (raw) water to form a (pre)filtered filtrate stream of water.

In particular, the filtration unit or the at least one mechanical filter stage (or its material) can be free of plasticizers and/or organic solvents and similar additives that are harmful to health. This prevents recontamination of the water.

The reverse osmosis unit is arranged as a second water purification unit downstream of the filtration unit and can be flowed through in order to separate the (pre)filtered filtrate stream of water. As a result, the separation or a split or a division into a partial stream of a permeate stream (drinking) water further purified from (at least one) dissolved solids and an associated other partial stream of a retentate stream (waste) water takes place. In other words, in the reverse osmosis unit, the filtrate stream of water is separated or split into two partial streams (continuously) to separate the (at least one) solid. As a result, on the one hand, a permeate stream that is further (finely) purified by means of reverse osmosis results (or flows out) as a partial stream. This one partial stream flows beyond or downstream of the reverse osmosis unit, especially a counter-pressure diffusion membrane, which is why it is referred to as the permeate stream of water. On the other hand, an associated corresponding retentate stream results (or flows out) as another partial stream. This other partial stream remains on this side or upstream of a counter-pressure diffusion membrane of the reverse osmosis unit, which is why it is referred to as the retentate stream of water.

In balance terms, it follows from the separation or split or the division into two partial streams that (virtually) the retentate stream of water is enriched in the at least one separated solid to the extent or by the amount (mass) by which the permeate stream is is depleted or further (finely) purified by means of diffusion through the reverse osmosis unit, in particular (counter-pressure diffusion) membrane. The retentate stream of water enriched with the at least one separated solid can in particular be discarded, for example, discharged to a drain, siphon for used water, or fed to another water use, for example as industrial/cleaning water.

For example, according to a manufacturer's information on a preferred counter-pressure diffusion membrane, in the (stationary) course of the reverse osmosis process in the reverse osmosis unit, the retentate stream of water can be approximately two thirds of the pre-filtered stream of water. Accordingly, approximately a third of the water in the pre-filtered stream of water is available as a permeate stream after passing through the counter-pressure diffusion membrane. The permeate stream is highly diluted in that it now consists almost entirely of water molecules.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the reverse osmosis unit can be designed in the form of a hollow fiber module. This variant increases the separation performance. As an alternative to the hollow fiber module, the reverse osmosis unit can preferably be designed in the form of a bulk-packed reverse osmosis filter. This variant reduces costs and increases robustness. This is disclosed in a patent document DE 69216718 or. EP 0529921 an example in that this is a semi-permeable membrane module in the form a spirally wound semi-permeable membrane cartridge is proposed, the membrane cartridge comprising a central permeate tube with a porous side wall and at least one elongated, generally flat tubular membrane shell, the interior of which contains a permeate passage material.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the reverse osmosis unit or the (counter-pressure diffusion) membrane (or its material) can be free of plasticizers and/or organic solvents and similar additives that are harmful to health. This prevents recontamination of the water.

In the present case, the (process of) osmosis refers to the directed flow of particles through a selectively permeable and/or semi-permeable separating layer or the reverse osmosis unit, in particular the (counter-pressure-diffusion) membrane. Through osmosis, a concentration of the at least one dissolved solid in the water (or solvent) equalizes over time through mass transport processes across the membrane. The driving force of spontaneous osmosis is the difference between the chemical potentials of the (at least one) dissolved solid in the phases of the water separated by the reverse osmosis unit, in particular by the (counter-pressure-diffusion) membrane. That (at least one) dissolved solid or those particles (atoms, molecules or ions) of the components to which the reverse osmosis unit, in particular the (counter-pressure diffusion) membrane, is permeable diffuses or diffuses in the direction their lower chemical potential.

The (process of) reverse osmosis is the reversal or reversion of the (process of) osmosis by means of (counter) pressure, preferably externally applied. A phase or a compartment (on the permeate flow side) of water (or solvent) , in which the concentration of (at least one) dissolved solid is to be reduced or depleted or (finely) cleaned, is through the selectively permeable and / or semi-permeable separating layer or through the reverse osmosis unit, in particular through the ( Counter-pressure diffusion) membrane, separated or . separated. The other phase or the other (retentate stream-side) compartment of the second water purification unit is exposed to a (counter) pressure or reverse osmosis pressure that must be higher than the osmosis pressure caused by the driving potential (of the process). Osmosis to balance concentration occurs naturally or physically. In other words, the mass transport process or diffusion across the reverse osmosis unit, in particular the (counter-pressure-diffusion) membrane, occurs when there is a (minimum) counter-pressure that exceeds the natural or physical osmosis pressure.

This allows the water molecules (the solvent molecules) to migrate or diffuse (trans-membrane) against their “natural” osmotic propagation or diffusion direction. In other words, the (process of) reverse osmosis pushes the water molecules into one phase or one (permeate flow-side) compartment in which the (at least one) dissolved solid or particles (atoms, molecules or ions) should be less concentrated (en). As a result, a dilution effect takes place in one phase or one compartment (on the permeate stream side), which causes an increase in the degree of purity of the water (or solvent) (on the permeate stream side).

In particular, alternatively or cumulatively, the reverse osmosis unit or the (counter-pressure diffusion) membrane can have an atomic lattice size corresponding to the size of the water molecule or approximately 0.275 nanometers. This advantageously means that all molecules of the (at least one) dissolved solid that are larger than a water molecule can be (almost) completely retained. More preferably, the reverse osmosis unit can be dimensioned/designed or set up so that in the reverse osmosis unit (finely) purified water, i.e. the permeate stream, an aqueous concentration of dissolved solids does not exceed 20 ppm of the (at least one) solid, in particular not more than 8-10 ppm [i.e. 8-10 foreign molecules of the (at least one) solid per 1 million water molecules].

The aqueous concentration of dissolved solids in the permeate stream of water indicates the sum or totality of the large number of (at least one) solids dissolved in the water (aqueous or hydrophilic). In particular, the term solid includes a salt, a mineral (sometimes referred to as a “mineral”) and/or a metal. In this respect, the aqueous concentration can be specified or measured or determined or specified as a (so-called) TDS value. The acronym TDS value stands for “Total Dissolved Solids”.

In the present case, the term (at least one) dissolved solid(s) in water, in particular tap water or drinking water, includes all substances relevant to the purity of the water, in particular traces or residues thereof. Accordingly, a solid to be purified or removed or separated from the water according to the disclosure includes in particular: a solid present due to an anthropogenic entry into the environment or into the water cycle, for example a medication and/or a pharmaceutical, such as an antibiotic and/or a hormone; and/or an agricultural substance, for example a fertilizer, a pesticide, an insecticide, etc.; and/or a (micro)plastic particle; and/or a substance immobilized from a shipment such as a landfill, such as a heavy metal ion and/or radioactive ion. Furthermore, the solid comprises a residue or ingredient of all kinds originating from a drinking water installation such as a pipeline at the point of consumption, for example a copper ion and the like, and/or an aqueous or hydrophilic substance (from) from a plastic hose or tank at the point of consumption. dissolved plastic particles, a monomer and/or a plasticizer. The solid further comprises a health-detrimental ingredient of biological origin, in particular a pathogenic germ, for example a bacterium such as legionella(s) and/or a bacterium that can be assigned to a multi-resistant strain, a virus, a mold spore or type of mold, a prion, a DNA fragment or the like. Correspondingly, the solid also includes a (molecular) fragment and/or degradation product or other modification of the examples or embodiments mentioned above for the solid. The above list is therefore not intended to be exhaustive.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the reverse osmosis unit and the filtration unit can be arranged spaced apart from one another in the housing capsule in order to form a filtrate lumen in the filtrate line section. This design feature serves to decouple the process engineering or balance between the filtration unit and the reverse osmosis unit, i.e. the process engineering degrees of freedom are increased. Furthermore, there are manufacturing advantages with regard to the assembly of the filtration unit and the reverse osmosis unit.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the raw water inlet connection can be fluidly connected to a raw water inlet side of the filtration unit via a raw water line section in the housing capsule. The raw water input connection is designed or set up to introduce an input stream of (raw) water into the housing capsule to the filtration unit. The raw water line section is designed or set up to direct the introduced input stream to the raw water inlet side of the filtration unit (or into it). This advantageously increases degrees of freedom with regard to a needs-based process engineering design, the specific construction and the manufacturing assembly.

The filtration unit is in fluid connection with the reverse osmosis unit via a filtrate line section.

In principle, the (total) stream entering from the filtration unit or via the filtrate line section into the reverse osmosis unit (during its operation), i.e. the filtrate stream of water, corresponds in balance to the sum of the two (partial) streams emerging from the reverse osmosis unit , i.e. the sum of a permeate stream of (drinking) water (i.e. a useful stream of purified drinking water) and a retentate stream of water.

The person skilled in the art understands that, especially when using the continuity equation (for an incompressible flow in the case of water) as well as other basic hydrodynamic equations, all pipe sections through which the flow passes as well as all filter surfaces/volumes passed through with regard to their specific dimensioning/design (especially with regard to the cross-sectional areas through which the flow flows). ), especially each other, have a respective balance sheet or functional connection. In particular, in an optional case in which a respective line section, in particular the filtrate line section, experiences a (steady or sudden) cross-sectional change along a flow path, the above must be taken into account.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the permeate outlet connection can be fluidly connected to a permeate outlet side of the reverse osmosis unit via a permeate line section in the housing capsule. In particular, the permeate outlet connection can be fluidly connected to an inner reverse osmosis permeate tube of the reverse osmosis unit via the permeate line section. The permeate output connection is designed or set up to lead the permeate stream (drinking) water emerging (during operation) from the reverse osmosis unit out of the housing capsule. The permeate line section or the reverse osmosis permeate tube is designed or set up to accommodate the permeate stream To direct (drinking) water from the permeate outlet side of the reverse osmosis unit to the permeate outlet connection or to drain it out of the housing capsule via the permeate outlet connection. This advantageously increases degrees of freedom with regard to a needs-based process engineering design, the specific construction and the manufacturing assembly.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the retentate outlet connection can be fluidly connected to a retentate outlet side of the reverse osmosis unit via a retentate line section in the housing capsule. The retentate output connection is designed or set up to lead the retentate stream (waste) water emerging (during operation) from the reverse osmosis unit out of the housing capsule. The retentate line section is designed or set up to direct the retentate stream (waste) water from the retentate outlet side of the reverse osmosis unit to the retentate outlet connection or to drain it out of the housing capsule via the retentate outlet connection. This advantageously increases degrees of freedom with regard to a needs-based process engineering design, the specific construction and the manufacturing assembly.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the filtration unit can have a plurality of series-connected mechanical filter stages. In other words, the filtration unit, as a first water purification unit for the mechanical separation/(pre)filtration of solid particles dispersed or present in suspension in the input stream of (raw) water to form a mechanically (pre)filtered filtrate stream of water, can in principle be divided into several suitable ones (Flow) filter stages can be divided. It is conceivable that the several filter stages are each designed as a surface filter or as a depth filter or as a cake filter. For example, a combination of a surface filter for pre-separation/screening out larger particles with (downstream) a (flow-through) depth filter for further separation of remaining particles may be preferred. It may also be preferred that the multiple filter stages are each designed on the basis of different (interfacial) physical and/or colloidal chemical and/or chromatographic separation principles, such as absorption and ion exchange mechanisms. This increases the spectrum or broad coverage of substances or particles that can be filtered out, especially toxins, as well as combinations of these. Furthermore, a tailor-made filter stage composition can be made or provided for individual types of raw water (e.g. calcareous, chlorinated, etc. city water, rainwater, water available in the wild, etc.).

For example, an electroadsorption filter can be an (alternatively or cumulatively) preferred embodiment for an (interfacial) physical separation principle or for the at least one mechanical filter stage. The electroadsorption filter includes an electroactive filter material. This is the electroactive filter material, which is strongly positively charged and is therefore designed to bind negatively charged particles, such as bacteria and protozoa, and remove them from the (raw) water to be cleaned/filtered. Since most pathogens in water are negatively charged due to their cell wall structure, there are (additive) advantages for the electroadsorption filter in terms of the effective separation of pathogenic germs.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the filtration unit can have at least a first mechanical filter stage. The (optional) at least one first mechanical filter stage is designed as a sediment pre-filter set up for the mechanical separation of sediment particles from the raw water. In particular, the sediment pre-filter can be designed in the form of a fleece bed, fiber bed and/or bulk bed. The sediment prefilter serves in particular to filter out visible and/or suspended (thermodynamically) suspended solids, which are present in particular in the order of (tenths of) a millimeter. In particular, the sediment pre-filter can have a separation cut at approximately 5 micrometers, preferably at approximately 2 micrometers, in particular at approximately 1 micrometer, or can achieve this in terms of filtration technology. This serves to increase technical requirements such as filter performance / degree of separation and service life, in particular the reverse osmosis unit, which is thus protected from blocking.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the filtration unit can have at least a second mechanical filter stage. The (optional) at least one second mechanical filter stage is connected downstream of the first mechanical filter stage or is arranged downstream along the flow direction. In particular, the at least one second mechanical filter stage can be granular or as a granulate/particle agglomerate and/or block-shaped or as a block filter. In particular, the at least one second mechanical filter stage can be designed as a carbon depth filter or activated carbon depth filter. The term (activated carbon) block filter denotes a compressed by means of a binder, esp. Press-compacted (activated carbon) filter particle composition. Preferably, the performance level of the activated carbon filter is approximately 80% filtering of dispersed solid particles. The carbon depth filter or activated carbon depth filter is used in particular to filter out microbiological substances or living substances, especially bacteria and viruses, which are present in particular in the order of micrometers. Olfactory components such as unpleasant-smelling hydrophobic substances or traces can also be effectively separated in this way. What is particularly advantageous about activated carbon is its health-neutral, ie physiologically harmless or even positive, well-tolerated material properties.

In particular, the second mechanical filter stage can rest on the first mechanical filter stage; i.e. a flow exit surface of the first mechanical filter stage is in direct contact with a flow inlet surface of the second mechanical filter stage. In the case of a plurality of the first or second filter stages, respective pairs of two adjacent or subsequent filter stages can, optionally preferably, be arranged at a distance or adjacently. In particular, the filtration unit can be designed in multiple layers to include the multiple filter stages. This results in manufacturing advantages.

More preferably, the first filter stage can be designed as the sediment pre-filter (preferably with a separation cut of approximately 5 micrometers, in particular at approximately 1 micrometer) and the second filter stage as the activated carbon depth filter, in particular as the activated carbon block filter . This provides a possible optimum in terms of a high degree of cleaning on the one hand and a long service life on the other. In particular, the activated carbon can optionally be of natural origin. For example, activated carbon baked from coconut shells has a much larger internal pore surface and number of active centers compared to standard activated carbon. This achieves an approximately 25% increase in yield or filter performance/degree of separation, which leads to a further improvement in water purification.

Optionally, the filtration unit and/or the at least one first mechanical filter stage and/or the at least one first mechanical filter stage and/or the reverse osmosis unit, respectively or in combined stages, can be comprised of a cage (grid) and/or a perforated ( e.g. stretched, laser-perforated, etc.) or permeable holding film, (e.g. woven, knitted, etc.) layer, etc., at least partially, surrounded or bordered on the outside. For example, the outer cage, etc. can be made of a thermoplastic. For example, in the case of a preferred embodiment for the sediment pre-filter, but not limited to, the outer cage, etc. may serve to hold together said fleece bed, fiber bed or bulk bed. This serves to increase dimensional stability both during the production assembly of the multi-stage filter cartridge and in the flow-through filtration operation.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, a preferred embodiment of a (substantially) cylindrical, in particular concentric, arrangement can be present in the multistage filter cartridge. The, in particular inner, reverse osmosis unit and the, in particular outer, filtration unit preferably form the cylindrical, in particular concentric, arrangement in a common outer, (essentially) cylindrical capsule body of the housing capsule. At this point it should be expressly pointed out that such optional features, which are disclosed without direct reference to this specifically preferred embodiment of the cylindrical arrangement, can optionally be combined with it and vice versa, insofar as no technical contradictions arise. The cylindrical, especially concentric, arrangement enables a particularly dimensionally stable, space-saving/compact design. In particular, there are advantages, on the one hand, with regard to the arrangement of the actual filter materials, and on the other hand, with regard to the arrangement of the water-carrying pipe sections, which concerns fluid-dynamic pressure conditions that need to be taken into account, required sizes (relations) of filter surfaces, etc. Furthermore, there are manufacturing advantages with regard to the assembly of the arrangement into the finished housing capsule. In addition, an (optional) centrally positioned connection of the capsule connection unit is supported.

In the said preferred cylindrical embodiment of the multi-stage filter cartridge, cumulatively or alternatively preferably, a cylindrical reverse osmosis outer peripheral surface of the inner reverse osmosis unit and a cylindrical filtration inner peripheral surface of the outer filtration unit spaced apart from each other can form the filtrate lumen in the filtrate pipe section. This design feature serves to decouple the process engineering or balance between the filtration unit and the reverse osmosis unit, i.e. the process engineering degrees of freedom are increased. Furthermore, there are manufacturing advantages with regard to the assembly of the filtration unit and the reverse osmosis unit.

In the said preferred cylindrical embodiment of the multi-stage filter cartridge, the filtrate line section can, cumulatively or alternatively preferably, be deflected in a section following the filtrate lumen in the flow direction (in such a way) in order to flow into a reverse osmosis inlet end face opposite the capsule connection unit the inner reverse osmosis unit. In particular, the deflection can involve a U-turn (ie around 180 degrees). This also serves to decouple the process engineering and balance of the filtration unit on the one hand and the reverse osmosis unit on the other. Furthermore, the flow of the filtrate water to the reverse osmosis inlet face is optimized.

In the said preferred cylindrical embodiment of the multi-stage filter cartridge, cumulatively or alternatively preferably, a cylindrical reverse osmosis inner peripheral surface of the inner reverse osmosis unit may form a central permeate tube. In particular, the permeate pipe can form an initial section of the permeate line section in the flow direction. This transition avoids unnecessary interfaces and enables a particularly compact arrangement/design.

In the said preferred cylindrical embodiment of the multistage filter cartridge, cumulatively or alternatively preferably, a retentate-side reverse osmosis outlet end face of the inner reverse osmosis unit, which is opposite the reverse osmosis inlet end face, opens into the retentate line section. This serves a particularly compact arrangement/design.

In the said preferred cylindrical embodiment of the multi-stage filter cartridge, cumulatively or alternatively preferably, a cylindrical filtration outer peripheral surface of the outer filtration unit and a cylindrical capsule body inner peripheral surface of the capsule body, spaced apart from one another, can form an annular gap-shaped, last section of the raw water pipe section in the direction of flow. In particular, the last section of the raw water pipe section can be set up to form a tangential flow (i.e. so-called cross-flow / cross-current) during operation along the cylindrical filtration outer peripheral surface, i.e. in a longitudinal direction (or parallel to a cylindrical axial axis). . With a cross-flow driving style, the negative effect of a possible build-up of a so-called filter cake is advantageously minimized, so that the efficiency of the filtration is optimized. This particularly improves the service life of the filtration unit.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the capsule connection unit can be set up as or with a quick-change fitting, such as a threaded closure, a bayonet closure or the like. This ensures that the multi-stage filter cartridge as a consumable can be changed easily, quickly and at the same time in a seal-proof manner (e.g. due to locking mechanisms) in accordance with the change intervals provided by the manufacturer. In particular, even a non-technically trained or particularly experienced consumer can easily replace a new multi-stage filter cartridge with a (used) one.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the housing capsule, in particular the capsule body, can consist essentially of a plastic, in particular thermoplastic and/or antibacterial or antibiotic-finished. For example, a (nano) silver finish, in particular coating and/or compounding, can be provided for this purpose. This has the advantage of attractive manufacturing costs compared to (still conceivable) cost-intensive stainless steel versions and simultaneous killing of pathogens on surfaces and/or in the water streams. In particular, the plastic, especially thermoplastic, can be free of plasticizers and/or organic solvents and similar additives that are harmful to health. This advantageously avoids undesirable recontamination of the water.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the multi-stage filter cartridge can be (re)packaged, in particular piece by piece/respectively, in a sterile outer packaging. As a result, germination is advantageously counteracted before use. This protects in particular against the risk of the development of resistant bacterial strains during a storage period before the actual use by the consumer. The compact design of at least two or more water purification units/components combined in a housing capsule that is to be repackaged makes it easier for the manufacturer to repackage it into a sterile product.

According to the aforementioned second aspect of the present disclosure, a drinking water supply device is used for continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water treatment in households, restaurants or the like, which has the multi-stage filter cartridge according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. The drinking water supply device also has a device connection unit, a feed pump, a storage container or drinking water tank and a drinking water dispensing unit such as. B. a fitting, a faucet, etc. The device connection unit is designed and set up to fit the capsule connection unit of the housing capsule.

In particular, the device connection unit can have a first device connection, a second device connection and/or a third device connection. The first device connection is preferably set up to fit the raw water input connection for introducing water to the filtration unit. The second device connection is preferably set up to fit the permeate output connection for water discharge from the reverse osmosis unit on the permeate side. The third device connection is preferably set up to fit the retentate output connection for water discharge from the reverse osmosis unit on the retentate side.

The feed pump is designed to build up a feed pressure required for or in the reverse osmosis unit above the natural osmosis pressure (for drinking water at approx. 2 bar), in particular between 3 and 30 bar, to activate the reverse osmosis unit and furnished. Such a design serves to ensure the constant, trouble-free reliability of the (especially automatic) water purification operation, which not least meets the needs of non-technical consumers. For example, cumulatively or alternatively, the drinking water supply device or the multi-stage filter cartridge, in particular the reverse osmosis unit, can be used for a water supply of raw water / city water / tap water from the pipe network at a delivery pressure or flow pressure of approx. 4 to 8 bar, be designed or set up in particular for an input flow or filtrate flow of up to approx. 20 liters per hour or approx. 127 GPD (gallons per day).

The storage container for providing purified drinking water on the permeate side is fluidly connected or can be fluidly connected via a line piece to the second device connection.

For the second aspect of the present disclosure, the features, combinations of features and the advantages resulting from these arise in accordance with those which were previously explained in connection with the first aspect of the present disclosure, and possibly vice versa. In order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the previous definitions of terms.

In particular, there are synergistic advantages in the drinking water supply device with the multi-stage filter cartridge according to the disclosure. In this respect, the latter only enables a particularly small design of the drinking water supply device. In other words, without the largely compact or significantly smaller design of the multi-stage filter cartridge, as disclosed, the desired compact design of the drinking water supply device would not even be possible (or not while meaningfully maintaining a water purification performance that is appropriately high for typical consumer/household needs). In other words, the drinking water supply device can be “built around” the compact multi-stage filter cartridge in a very small space. In addition, this enables innovative, "slim" technical designs of the drinking water supply device without compromising its main technical function, namely that of water purification.

Insofar as the presently disclosed multi-stage filter cartridge is designed or set up for use in the continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water supply device, this means that the latter essentially or mainly cannot be operated in batches or per a single batch is or is to be operated. In particular, the term “continuous and/or semi-continuous” refers to the fact that water is literally purified as it flows out of the tap for a consumer. It is irrelevant to the functioning of the multi-stage filter cartridge or drinking water supply device according to the disclosure if the continuous operation can or is temporarily interrupted or switched off or suspended. In this respect, this is also expressed by the term “semi-continuous”. The suitability for use also implies to the person skilled in the art that the multi-stage filter cartridge is designed for start-up effects, for example with regard to (flow) pressure, in particular spontaneous pressure increases, and is designed to be sufficiently dimensionally stable, in particular with regard to the filtration unit as well as the reverse osmosis unit. These features reduce the susceptibility to malfunctions and contribute to robustness and freedom from maintenance outside of the intended/manufacturer-recommended filter change intervals.

The drinking water supply device preferably has a feed line connection for feeding in raw/city water, in particular set up for a house connection or a drinking water supply line, for example for a respective residential party. However, the feed line connection, particularly in the case of mobile drinking water supply devices, such as in the case of mobile canteens or small kitchens, preferably on board a camping car, an aircraft and / or a ship, can also provide a fluid connection to a larger storage tank Make water.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, water-carrying components of the drinking water supply device, such as in particular the line piece and/or the storage container or drinking water tank, can be made of and/or in contact with surfaces (exclusively) made of stainless steel. This advantageously avoids any new contamination, in particular from plastic abrasion and/or fouling, in particular from biological micro-fouling caused by bacterial colonization and/or algae colonization. In this respect, it should be noted here that in comparison to the multi-stage filter cartridge according to the disclosure in a preferred plastic version (but not limiting), a different consideration of technical benefits may have to be made from the point of view of a consumable/replaceable part.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, at least one sealing material such as an O-ring, preferably all sealing materials, insofar as they are in contact with water, can consist of a material that is inert to water, in particular long-term inert and/or non-water-swelling. This improves the sealing function and the service life of the seal(s).

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the drinking water supply device, in particular the line section, and/or the multi-stage filter cartridge, in particular the permeate line section, can have an after-filter connected downstream of the reverse osmosis unit. This can advantageously serve for further, especially taste-related, neutralization or drinking water treatment. In particular, any specific olfactory traces that may still be noticeable via a consumer's highly sensitive sense of smell can be completely eliminated in this way. This means that the drinking water is particularly reliably perceived as fresh.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the drinking water provision device can have an operating control device with an (interactive) human-machine interface, in particular with menu navigation, etc. This advantageously serves to ensure convenient operation by a user or the consumer and to make water purification transparent to them.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the drinking water supply device can have a drinking water purity control device with a control unit and at least one determining means, such as a conductivity sensor, designed to determine an aqueous concentration of dissolved solids. In particular, the drinking water supply device can be the drinking water purity control device according to the previously unpublished German patent application discussed in the introductory part and expressly incorporated by reference into the present disclosure DE 10 2020 128968 the present applicant. The drinking water purity control device has a means downstream of the second device connection for the permeate stream of water discharged from the reverse osmosis unit to flow through, in particular the line section, which has a first determination means, in particular a first conductivity sensor, set up to determine a first aqueous concentration of dissolved solids . The control unit is set up to: check whether a predetermined, in particular constant, first target value for the first aqueous concentration of dissolved solids in the permeate stream of water is reached, in particular undershot, and in the corresponding negative case, which is exceeded the first target value is based on the checked first aqueous concentration of dissolved solids, the permeate stream of water is to be discarded. The control unit can in particular be set up to reject the permeate stream of water from the drinking water supply device.

According to the above DE 10 2020 128968 an individual consumer such as a household and/or a catering establishment is advantageously provided with a drinking water supply device, in particular as a household appliance, which not only cleans the (drinking) water completely, but also sequentially cleans the purified water Switched cleaning stages or filter processes are automatically checked again for its quality or a suitable or desired, ie predetermined, degree of purity. Ie, only in the other case where the control determines that the level of purity falls below or is maintained at the predetermined level, the permeate stream of water is released to a consumer. This has the advantage that the consumer only verifies, especially trace-free, pure Drinking water is obtained from the drinking water supply device disclosed therein. Furthermore, this is done conveniently and almost as if straight from the tap.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the drinking water supply device can have a means for cooling, in particular the storage container. Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the drinking water supply device can have a carbonization unit for carbonization on the permeate side. This serves to further tailor the product to the consumer's individual wishes.

Cumulatively or alternatively preferably, the drinking water supply device can be designed as a small table-top system, in particular as a household table-top device, without an under-table system unit set up for water purification. For example, a standard niche size for fitted kitchens of 60 cm / 60 cm can be used in this way. In particular, due to its compactness, a mobile variant, for example for outdoor use, medical use, etc., may be conceivable. The expert understands that any city water piping, connection installation, electrical cable laying, etc. do not fall under the term under-table system unit set up for water purification. Such a design enables an expanded range of applications due to its small space requirement and multiple storage options in (mini) kitchens, behind counters, etc. In short, it is advantageous that such a preferred embodiment fits easily into almost any spatial situation / for a variety of structural conditions (living space, work space, etc.). This also eliminates the need for under-table installation, which many consumers find technically (too) complex.

As a result, the disclosure particularly supports the technical goal of making reliably purified drinking water available to more and more consumers and households, so to speak, directly from their own tap. This means that human health is protected from the adverse effects that result from possible contamination of drinking water from a pipe network by water purity that is (further) produced at the reference point itself, i.e. self-sufficiently. Furthermore, a serious benefit of the present disclosure is a contribution to better achieving climate protection goals through a corresponding reduction in transport logistics for (deposit) bottled mineral water.

In particular, but not as a limitation, the disclosure is aimed at a need for the segment of small systems within the meaning of the above-mentioned German Drinking Water Ordinance, according to which even large-scale water supply systems in single- and two-family houses do not count as large-scale systems for heating drinking water, Section 3 Number 12. However, the person skilled in the art understands without further ado, that many different areas of application of the disclosed multi-stage filter cartridge and consequently also a wide variety of sizes/dimensions for these are conceivable within the scope of the subject matter disclosed here.

Short description of the characters

• 1 ein Anlagenschema einer Trinkwasserbereitstellungs-Vorrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik mit sequentiell durchströmten separaten Wasserreinigungseinheiten in Form einer Filtrations-Wechselkartusche und einer Umkehrosmose-Wechselkartusche;
• 2 einen Querschnitt einer gekapselten Multistufen-Filterpatrone gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel nach der vorliegenden Offenbarung, welche für eine kontinuierlich und/oder semi-kontinuierlich betreibbare Trinkwasserbereitstellungs-Vorrichtung zur Wasseraufbereitung mittels einer Umkehrosmose-Filterstufe eingerichtet ist;
• 3 eine perspektivische Aufsicht auf einem Halbschnitt der gekapselten Multistufen-Filterpatrone aus 2 (zu dieser um 180° gedreht) gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel nach der vorliegenden Offenbarung; und
• 4 eine leicht perspektivische Seitenansicht (mit einem bereichsweisen Teilquerschnitt) einer zugehörigen Trinkwasserbereitstellungs-Vorrichtung (gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der offenbarungsgemäßen Trinkwasserbereitstellungs-Vorrichtung) mit der gekapselten Multistufen-Filterpatrone gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel nach der vorliegenden Offenbarung.

The present disclosure is described in more detail below using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a system diagram of a drinking water supply device according to the prior art with sequentially flowed through separate water purification units in the form of a filtration exchange cartridge and a reverse osmosis exchange cartridge;
• 2 a cross section of an encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure, which is set up for a continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water supply device for water treatment by means of a reverse osmosis filter stage;
• 3 a perspective view of a half section of the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 2 (rotated by 180° to this) according to the exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure; and
• 4 a slightly perspective side view (with a partial cross-section in some areas) of an associated drinking water supply device (according to an exemplary embodiment of the drinking water supply device according to the disclosure) with the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge according to the exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure.

Description of the exemplary embodiment

Below is an embodiment of the present disclosure based on the accompanying 2 until 4 described, where 1 schematically represents a state of the art. This results in further details, features and advantages of the disclosure. Identical or functionally equivalent features are provided with the same reference numbers in the individual figures.

1 shows a system diagram of a water treatment system 200' as a drinking water supply device according to the prior art. This includes sequentially flowed separate water purification units, which are in the form of (at least) a (conventional) separately replaceable filtration cartridge 1' (or a plurality of such to represent several filter stages) as a (conventional) reverse osmosis unit RO` and a (conventional) Separately replaceable reverse osmosis replacement cartridge 2' arranged downstream is shown as a (conventional) mechanical filtration unit F'. By passing through the filtration exchange cartridge 1, an externally provided input stream (raw/city) water V-1 becomes a filtrate stream water VF (pre-filtered) from coarse particles.

The filtrate stream water V-F then enters the reverse osmosis exchange cartridge 2` to pass through it, so that a permeate stream water V-P cleaned of the finest particles/finest impurities can be taken as a useful stream of drinking water (as a partial stream) (continuously). Furthermore, a retentate stream of water V-R (as another/remaining partial stream) emerges from the reverse osmosis exchange cartridge 2`, which is concentrated around the separated fine particles/fine impurities. The retentate stream (waste) water V-R drains off via a drain throttle 3', which serves to relax the reverse osmosis pressure applied to the reverse osmosis exchange cartridge 2' during operation, for example at 3 bar, to ambient pressure at approximately 1 bar.

The corresponding representations of the 2 and 3 is an encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 100 according to an exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure, which is used for a continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water supply device (cf. 4 ) is set up for water treatment using a reverse osmosis filter stage. This shows 2 a cross section of the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 100 and 3 a perspective view of a half section of the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 100. Only in 3 Small arrows are also shown purely to illustrate the basic functionality and theoretical flow directions that occur in a water purification operation. For the sake of completeness, however, it should be noted that the claimed object of the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 100 is also aimed in particular at a non-installed / dry state in the sense of a consumable.

The encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 100 has a reverse osmosis unit RO and a filtration unit F.

Furthermore, the multi-stage filter cartridge 100 has a housing capsule 50. The reverse osmosis unit RO and the filtration unit F are encapsulated together by the housing capsule 50. In other words, both the reverse osmosis unit RO and the filtration unit F are arranged in the common housing capsule 50 or are encapsulated (entirely/integrally) by it.

The housing capsule 50 has a capsule body 52, on which an outer capsule connection unit 51 (in particular for connection to the drinking water supply device) is arranged. For assembly purposes, the capsule body 52, especially on a side opposite the capsule connection unit 51, can be designed or closed with a capsule lid 53. This serves to easily introduce the reverse osmosis unit RO and the filtration unit F into the housing capsule 50.

The filtration unit F is connected upstream of the reverse osmosis unit RO. During operation, the filtration unit F and the reverse osmosis unit RO downstream of it can be flowed through one after the other along a flow direction of a (volume) stream of water to be purified. For this purpose, a filtrate line section L-F establishes a fluid connection from the filtration unit F to the reverse osmosis unit RO. In the filtrate line section L-F, a filtrate stream of water V-F pre-filtered from coarse particles can flow from the filtration unit F and enter the reverse osmosis unit RO.

The filtration unit F herein has a first mechanical filter stage F1 and a second mechanical filter stage F2 (and possibly a third, fourth, etc.): Preferably, the first filter stage F1 can be used as a Sediment pre-filter, for example like a sieve, can be designed. The first filter stage F1 is used to pre-filter sediments such as small suspended particles and/or microparticles from the input stream water V-1; and/or the removal of a large proportion of biological contaminants such as bacteria and viruses. The first filter stage F1 can, for example, filter up to a particle size of approximately 5 micrometers (5 µm) as a separating cut. The sediment filter captures rust, sand and/or other coarse particles, thereby protecting the second filter stage F2. The second filter stage F2 can preferably be designed as an activated carbon (block) filter. The second filter stage F2, preferably the activated carbon (block) filter, is set up downstream or downstream of smaller particles such as an asbestos fiber or dissolved solids such as chlorine and / or a pesticide and / or a part of a drug residue and / or a part to remove microplastics. An ozone filter can also be used cumulatively or alternatively.

In the housing capsule 50, the reverse osmosis unit RO and the filtration unit F are arranged at a distance from one another, whereby they form a filtrate lumen 45 in the filtrate line section LF.

In particular, the capsule connection unit 51 is used, as will be explained later with reference to 4 further clarified, for connection to a drinking water supply device 200 ( 4 ). For this purpose, the capsule connection unit 51, again with reference to 1 and 2 , as external connections a raw water input connection 61 as well as a permeate output connection 62 and a retentate output connection 63. The raw water input connection 61, the permeate output connection 62 and the retentate output connection 63 are (optionally) arranged in series in an axial direction; alternatively, the external connections can be offset from one another, in particular by angle segments around the axial axis A. The permeate output connection 62 is (optionally) arranged behind the two other external connections, ie raw water input connection 61, retentate output connection 63, when viewed from the direction of the capsule body 52.

An externally provided input stream of (raw) water V-1 is introduced into the housing capsule 50 via the raw water input connection 61. The input stream (raw) water V-1 flows via a raw water line section L-1 to a raw water inlet side of the filtration unit F or the first filter stage F1.

During operation of the reverse osmosis unit RO, on the one hand, a permeate stream of (drinking) water V-P, which corresponds to the useful stream of purified drinking water, and, on the other hand, a retentate stream (waste) water V-R emerge from it as two (part) separated by activated reverse osmosis pressure. streams out. For example, operation of the RO reverse osmosis unit can remove contaminants larger than about 0.1 nanometers, such as heavy metals, uranium, hormones, harmful chemicals, and organic and inorganic compounds.

On the one hand, the permeate stream (drinking) water VP is led out/drained from the housing capsule 50 by the reverse osmosis unit RO via the permeate output connection 62. The permeate stream (drinking) water VP flows via a permeate line section LP from a permeate outlet side of the reverse osmosis unit RO to the permeate outlet connection 62. According to the in the 2 and 3 In the specifically preferred cylindrical embodiment of the multi-stage filter cartridge 100 shown, a cylindrical reverse osmosis inner peripheral surface of the inner reverse osmosis unit RO forms a central permeate tube 32 as the permeate outlet side. The permeate pipe 32 coincides with an initial section of the permeate line section LP in the direction of flow. A final section of the permeate line section LP is (optionally) designed directly upstream of the permeate outlet connection 62 as a frontal calming zone in the form of a cylindrical disk section, which essentially corresponds to a diameter of the capsule connection unit.

On the other hand, a retentate stream (waste) water V-R is led out/drained from the housing capsule 50 by the reverse osmosis unit RO via the retentate output connection 63. The retentate stream (waste) water V-R flows via a retentate line section L-R from a retentate outlet side of the reverse osmosis unit RO to the retentate outlet connection 63.

In principle, the (total) flow entering from the filtration unit F or via the filtrate line section L-F into the reverse osmosis unit RO during its operation, i.e. the filtrate flow water V-F, corresponds in balance to the sum of the two emerging from the reverse osmosis unit RO ( Partial flows, i.e. the sum of the permeate stream (drinking) water V-P (emerging from the reverse osmosis inner peripheral surface into the permeate tube 32), which corresponds to the useful stream of purified drinking water, and the retentate stream (waste) water V-R. The (balance-wise complementary) retentate stream water V-R can, for example, be used for other purposes as unclean process water.

In the area of the capsule connection unit 51, the raw water line section L-1, the permeate line section LP and the retentate line section LR are (optionally) connected to one another in the radial direction by means of respective first O-rings 58, which are centered around the axial axis A each written against each other.

According to the in the 2 and 3 In the specifically preferred embodiment of the multi-stage filter cartridge shown with the (essentially) cylindrical, concentric arrangement, this is first formed in the center in the form of the inner cylindrical reverse osmosis unit RO (with the inner permeate tube 32) around a central axial axis A of the multi-stage filter cartridge 100 or designed constructively. The reverse osmosis unit RO can be surrounded on one of its cylindrical reverse osmosis outer peripheral surface 31 by a permeable/porous holding film or a permeable (e.g. woven, knitted, etc.) layer, etc., from the outside or in the form of an outer cylindrical lateral surface be overturned.

The reverse osmosis unit RO is (optionally) mounted on the housing capsule 50 in the axial axis A via the permeate tube 32. For this purpose, the permeate tube 32 is mounted at the ends on two opposite (reverse osmosis) bearing sections 37 on the housing capsule 50.

An outer cylindrical layer in the form of the filtration unit F surrounds an inner cylindrical core in the form of the reverse osmosis unit RO. Here, the filtration unit F exemplarily contains two as the at least one/more filter stages F1, F2 in the form of cylindrical layers. The first filter stage F1 forms the outer of the cylindrical layers and the second filter stage F2 forms the inner of the cylindrical layers. Accordingly, the cylindrical arrangement is set up to effect (during operation) a (substantially, in the main direction) radial fluid passage through the filtration unit F from the outside to the inside.

Insofar as the filtration unit F or the respective filter stages F1, F2 is/are formed here around the central axial axis A of the multi-stage filter cartridge 100, these are/are arranged concentrically to the reverse osmosis unit RO or to the permeate tube 32. This supports in particular the (optional) centrally positioned connection of the capsule connection unit 51, which is also aligned longitudinally to the central axial axis A. Like that 2 and 3 As can be seen, in the transition region shown here from the housing body 50 to the capsule connection unit 51, the permeate tube 32 merges around the axial axis A in a straight line into the adjoining further permeate line section LP.

Here, the inner reverse osmosis unit RO and the outer filtration unit F are radially spaced from one another, which defines the filtrate lumen 45 in the shape of an annular gap. The annular gap of the filtrate lumen 45 is formed in the filtrate line section LF with a gap width which is defined between the cylindrical reverse osmosis outer peripheral surface 31 of the inner reverse osmosis unit RO and a cylindrical filtration inner peripheral surface 21 of the outer filtration unit F.

The filtrate stream water V-F or the filtrate line section L-F is deflected by a U-turn (i.e. by 180 degrees) in a section that is downstream from the filtrate lumen 45. The filtrate line section L-F opens into a reverse osmosis inlet end face 33 of the inner reverse osmosis unit RO, which is opposite the capsule connection unit 51. For this purpose, the filtrate line section LF passes in the flow direction from the annular gap-shaped filtrate lumen 45 into a cylindrical disk-shaped prelumen centered around the axial axis A. This preliminary lumen is directly adjacent to the reverse osmosis inlet face 33.

A retentate-side reverse osmosis outlet end face 34 of the inner reverse osmosis unit RO, which is opposite the reverse osmosis inlet end face 33, opens into the retentate line section LR. As shown by the theoretical streamlines in the 2 and 3 As can be seen, in the transition region shown here from the housing body 50 to the capsule connection unit 51, the retentate line section LR runs in a first (retentate) semicircle segment around the axial axis A in a straight line from the reverse osmosis outlet end face 34 to the bend of 90 Angle degrees into the retentate output connection 63. A second (raw water) semicircle segment, which is complementary to the first (retentate) semicircle segment, forms an axial (essentially initial in the input flow direction) section of the raw water line section in the area of the capsule connection unit 51 L-1 out. In or around the storage section 37 arranged on the side of the Caspel connection unit 51 (for storing the permat tube 32), the permeate line section LP is connected to the retentate line section LR adjoining the reverse osmosis outlet end face 34 by means of a second (reverse osmosis) Unit) O-ring 39 sealed.

A cylindrical filtration outer circumferential surface of the outer filtration unit F and a cylindrical capsule body inner circumferential surface of the capsule body 52 form an annular gap-shaped, last section of the raw water line section L-1 in the flow direction. This forms an annular gap-shaped filter entry zone lumen 15. In particular, during operation, a cross-flow flow occurs in the annular gap-shaped filter entry zone lumen 15 (as indicated by the arrows) along the cylindrical filtration outer peripheral surface.

The housing capsule 50 has a cylindrical capsule body 52, which tapers (step-like) in the shoulder-shaped transition region to the capsule connection unit 51 as a neck section of the housing capsule. The capsule connection unit 51 generally defines a portion of a connection fitting. The essentially cylindrical capsule connection unit 51 (optionally) has a circumferential collar.

For example, the one in the 2 /3 or 4 shown multistage filter cartridge advantageously have the following dimensions (of the order of magnitude). - a housing capsule outer diameter D-1: 100mm; - a capsule connection unit height H-0: 40mm; - a capsule body height H-1: 200mm; (i.e. a total case capsule height of 240mm).

In particular, the internal components can have the following dimensions (of the order of magnitude): - a reverse osmosis unit outside diameter D-4: 45mm; - a reverse osmosis unit height H-4: 150mm; - a filtration unit outside diameter D-2: 90mm; - a filtration unit inner diameter D-3: 50mm; - a filtration unit height H-2: 170mm.

4 shows the associated drinking water supply device 200, in or on which the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 100 from the 2 and 3 is inserted or connected, based on a slightly perspective side view (with a partial cross-section in areas at the top right of the figure, as outlined by the free wavy line, which reveals the outer cylindrical capsule body 52). As per the 4 visualized, the drinking water provision device 200 shown as an example relates to a compact household appliance in a "slim" table-top design, ie on the order of, for example, a coffee machine, a water soda maker, a universal kitchen appliance, a microwave, etc. In this respect, the examples mentioned above allow Compared to the prior art, dimensions of the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 100 are comparatively small, their integration into the drinking water supply device 200 without peripherals / under-table system unit.

The drinking water supply device 200 carries out the drinking water purification according to the disclosure by connecting to a water supply of raw water / city water / tap water from the mains network, for example from a standard household tap (not shown).

For this purpose, the drinking water supply device 200 has a device connection unit 210, a feed pump (not shown), a drinking water tank 230 as a storage container and a faucet 280 as a drinking water dispensing unit. A consumer can, for example, place a drinking water glass under the tap 280 in order to enjoy drinking water that has been purified according to the disclosure.

The device connection unit 210 is suitable, ie as a counterpart and with regard to positioning(s), on the capsule connection unit 51 of the housing capsule 50 [cf. 2 /3.] trained and set up. For this purpose, the device connection unit 210 has a first, second and third device connection. The first device connection fits onto the raw water inlet connection [with reference number 61; the capsule connection unit 51 of the housing capsule 50; see. 2 /3.]. The second device connection fits onto the permeate outlet connection [with reference number 62; the capsule connection unit 51 of the housing capsule 50; see. 2 /3.]. The third device connection fits the retentate output port [reference numeral 63; the capsule connection unit 51 of the housing capsule 50; see. 2 /3.]. The multi-stage filter cartridge 100 (optional) can be inserted into the drinking water supply device 200 with the capsule connection unit facing upwards. This is to prevent leakage when changing/replacing the multi-stage filter cartridge 100.

The storage container 230 receives permeate-side, ie purified, drinking water via a line piece 220 via the second device connection from the encapsulated multi-stage filter cartridge 100, more precisely via the permeate outlet connection [with reference number 62; the capsule connection unit 51 of the housing capsule 50; see. 2 /3.].

Reference symbol list

1`

Filtration replacement cartridge (state of the art)

2'

Reverse osmosis replacement cartridge (state of the art)

3'

Outlet throttle (state of the art)

15

Filter entry zone lumens

21

Filtration inner peripheral surface

31

Reverse osmosis outer peripheral surface

32

permeate tube

34

Reverse osmosis exit face

37

Storage section (reverse osmosis unit)

39

second O-ring (reverse osmosis unit)

45

Filtrate lumens

50

Housing capsule

51

Capsule connection unit

52

Capsule body

53

Capsule lid

58

first O-ring (capsule connection unit)

61

Raw water input connection

62

Permeate output connection

63

Retentate output port

100

Multistage filter cartridge

200

Drinking water supply device

200`

Drinking water supply device (state of the art)

210

Device connection unit

220

pipe section

230

(Drinking water) storage container

280

Drinking water dispensing unit

A

Axial axis

F

mechanical filtration unit

F'

mechanical filtration unit (state of the art)

F1

first filter stage

F2

second filter stage

L-1

Raw water pipe section

LF

Filtrate line section

L-P

Permeate line section

L-R

Retentate line section

RO

Reverse osmosis unit

RO`

Reverse osmosis unit (state of the art)

V-1

Input stream (raw) water

V-F

Filtrate stream water

V-P

Permeate stream water

V-R

Retentate stream water

D-1

Housing capsule outside diameter

D-2

Filtration unit outside diameter

D-3

Filtration unit inner diameter

D-4

Reverse osmosis unit outside diameter

H-0

Capsule connection unit height

H-1

Capsule body height

H-2

Filtration unit height

H-4

Reverse osmosis unit height

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102020128968 [0006, 0007, 0073, 0074]
• DE 69216718 [0030]
• EP 0529921 [0030]

Claims (16)

Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) for a continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water supply device (200) for water treatment in households, restaurants or the like with: - a reverse osmosis unit (RO) and - a filtration unit (F) with at least one mechanical filter stage, wherein the filtration unit (F) upstream of the reverse osmosis unit (RO) is fluidly connected to it via a filtrate line section (LF), characterized in that the reverse osmosis unit (RO) and the filtration unit (F) are connected by one Housing capsule (50) are encapsulated together, with a capsule connection unit (51) of the housing capsule (50) as external connections, a raw water input connection (61) for introducing water to the filtration unit (F) and a permeate output connection (62) and has a retentate outlet connection (63) for discharging water from the reverse osmosis unit (RO). Multi-stage filter cartridge (100). Claim 1 , wherein the reverse osmosis unit (RO) and the filtration unit (F) are arranged spaced apart from one another in the housing capsule (50) in order to form a filtrate lumen (45) in the filtrate line section (LF). Multi-stage filter cartridge (100). Claim 1 or 2 , wherein: - the raw water inlet connection (61) is fluidly connected to a raw water inlet side of the filtration unit (F) via a raw water line section (L-1) in the housing capsule (50); and/or - the permeate output connection (62) via a permeate line section (LP) in the housing capsule (50) with a permeate outlet side of the reverse osmosis unit (RO), in particular with an inner reverse osmosis permeate tube (32) the reverse osmosis unit (RO), is fluidly connected; and/or - the retentate output connection (63) is fluidly connected to a retentate outlet side (34) of the reverse osmosis unit (RO) via a retentate line section (LR) in the housing capsule (50). Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the filtration unit (F) comprises: - a variety of series-connected mechanical filter stages; and or - at least one first mechanical filter stage (F1), which is designed as a sediment pre-filter designed for the mechanical separation of sediment particles from the raw water, in particular in the form of a fleece bed, fiber bed and/or bed of bed; and or - At least one second mechanical filter stage (F2), which is connected downstream of the first mechanical filter stage (F1), in particular adjacent, and is designed as a, in particular granular and / or block-shaped, carbon depth filter or activated carbon depth filter. Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the, in particular inner, reverse osmosis unit (RO) and the, in particular outer, filtration unit (F) have a substantially cylindrical, in particular concentric, arrangement in a common outer, essentially form a cylindrical capsule body (52) of the housing capsule (50). Multi-stage filter cartridge (100). Claim 5 , wherein a cylindrical reverse osmosis outer peripheral surface (31) of the inner reverse osmosis unit (RO) and a cylindrical filtration inner peripheral surface (21) of the outer filtration unit (F) spaced apart form the filtrate lumen (45) in the filtrate line section (LF) form. Multi-stage filter cartridge (100). Claim 5 or 6 , wherein the filtrate line section (LF) is deflected in a section following the filtrate lumen (45) in the direction of flow in order to flow into a reverse osmosis inlet end face (33) of the inner reverse osmosis unit (RO) opposite the capsule connection unit (51). to merge. Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to one of the Claims 5 until 7 , wherein a cylindrical reverse osmosis inner peripheral surface of the inner reverse osmosis unit (RO) forms a central permeate tube (32), in particular to form an initial section of the permeate line section (LP) in the flow direction. Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to one of the Claims 5 until 8th , wherein a retentate-side reverse osmosis outlet end face (34) of the inner reverse osmosis unit (RO), which is opposite the reverse osmosis inlet end face (33), opens into the retentate line section (LR). Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to one of the Claims 5 until 9 , wherein a cylindrical filtration outer peripheral surface of the outer filtration unit (F) and a cylindrical capsule body inner peripheral surface of the capsule body (52) spaced from one another form an annular gap-shaped, last section of the raw water line section (L-1) in the flow direction, in particular to create a cross flow during operation -Form flow along the cylindrical filtration outer peripheral surface. Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the capsule connection unit (51) is set up as a or with a quick-change fitting, such as a bayonet lock or the like. Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing capsule (50), in particular the capsule body (52), consists essentially of a plastic, in particular thermoplastic and/or antibacterial. Multi-stage filter cartridge (100) according to one of the preceding claims in a sterile outer packaging. Drinking water supply device (200) for continuously and/or semi-continuously operable drinking water treatment in households, restaurants or the like with the multi-stage filter cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, further with: - a device connection unit (210), which is designed and set up to fit the capsule connection unit (51) of the housing capsule (50), in particular comprising: a first device connection which is set up to fit the raw water inlet connection (61) for introducing water to the filtration unit (F), a second device connection which is adapted to fit the permeate outlet connection (62) for the permeate side water discharge from the reverse osmosis unit (RO), and a third device port adapted to fit the retentate outlet port (63) for retentate-side water discharge from the reverse osmosis unit (RO); - a feed pump, which is designed and set up to build up a feed pressure required for or in the reverse osmosis unit (RO) above the natural osmosis pressure to activate the reverse osmosis unit (RO); - a storage container (230) for providing purified drinking water on the permeate side, which is fluidly connected or fluidly connectable to the second device connection via a line piece (220); and - a drinking water dispensing unit (280). Drinking water supply device (200). Claim 14 , further comprising: - an operational control device with a human-machine interface; and/or - a drinking water purity control device (1) with a control unit and at least one determining means set up to determine an aqueous concentration of dissolved solids, such as a conductivity sensor; and/or - a means for cooling, in particular the storage container (230); and/or - a carbonization unit for carbonization on the permeate side. Drinking water supply device (200). Claim 14 or 15 , which is designed as a small table-top system, in particular as a household table-top device, without an under-table system unit set up for water purification.

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