AU2021106161A4

AU2021106161A4 - 5 in 1 Water Purifier

Info

Publication number: AU2021106161A4
Application number: AU2021106161A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Schultz
Original assignee: Thirsty Nomad Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Thirsty Nomad Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-20
Filing date: 2021-08-20
Publication date: 2021-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-20

Abstract

) The 5 in 1 water purifier contains five specifically ordered and measured water filtration technologies that condition contaminated water to be purified. The 5 in 1 water purifier is a compact, light weight unit that purifies water without chemicals or power. The 5 water treatment technologies, enable water to be sequentially treated, to reduce turbidity, which enables the purification media, Quantum DisinfectionTM to disinfect the water. The five water technologies, in their order of sequence are 1. heavy metal removal, 2. antibacterial nano silver, copper, titanium nano-fibre cloth, 3. Five-micron carbon fibre block, 4. a 0.01 micron ultrafiltration hollow fibre tubes, and 5.the Quantum DisinfectionTM media. To create optimal water flow, the filter components have been tested under various water pressures to ensure that at, varying water pressures, water flow through the filter unit remains at optimal water contact times in order to achieve consistent water disinfection performance. 1 of 1 Water flow direction 2 3 4 5 Figure 1.

Description

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Water flow direction

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Figure 1.

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

for

INNOVATION PATENT

5 in 1 WATER PURIFIER

Applicant: The Thirsty Nomad Pty Ltd ABN 49 640 452 848

Inventor: Mr Robert Schultz

Address for Service:

The Thirsty Nomad Pty Ltd 615 Upper Brookfield Road Upper Brookfield Brisbane Queensland 4069 AUSTRALIA

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

TITLE OF INVENTION

in 1 Water Purifier

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved water filter such as one for disinfecting/purifying contaminated water.

BACKGROUND

[0001] For many years Point Of Use (POU) water filters have been simple granular activated carbon filters that only remove colour, taste and odour. These filters are not suitable to remove microbiologically unsafe contaminants such as bacteria and viruses to Australian Drinking Water Standards, which require the E-Coli count to be zero. Traditional point ofuse methods of disinfection of water (elimination of bacteria and viruses to safe drinking water standards) has been through the application of traditional technologies such as chlorination, ozone, ultraviolet light, chloramines, potassium permanganate, photocatalytic disinfection, nanofiltration, and chlorine dioxide.

[0002] This invention has developed a multi staged water filtration process technology which has resulted in an improved, low cost, high efficiently POU water purifier that provides disinfection, meaning it kills harmful bacteria and viruses from a contaminated water supply, without the requirement for chemicals or power. The purifier combines a carefully selected sequence and quantity, of complimentary water treatment technologies together, into one compact water treatment unit. The sequence of water filtration technologies has been intentionally selected so as to provide the final stage, the disinfection media, with clear, pre-conditioned water enabling the Quantum DisinfectionTM media to destroy 99.9999% of bacteria and viruses, at the cellular level, within 0.1/second.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] This water purifier is the first 5 in 1 point ofuse water purifier that combines these 5 specifically chosen water treatment technologies in one unit. The unit is essentially a water treatment plant contained within a portable cylinder that is able to be fitted into an existing water inlet pipe or drinking water hose, and deliver purified water that is free from 99.9999% of bacteria and viruses to the end user without the requirement for chemicals or power.

[0004] The purifier sequentially and purposefully arranges 5 existing technologies in a specific order into one filter housing unit such that the water is conditioned throughout a staged flow. Advantageously, this permits the water to be conditioned and prepared to a clarity level that enables the optimal performance of a purification media, called Quantum DisinfectionTM to disinfect the water so that bacteria and viruses are killed within 0.1/second. The key to the purification process has been to develop the pre-treatment process for the incoming water before it reaches its final stage of filtration/purification, which is the Quantum DisinfectionTM media. This media meets the Protocol requirements of the National Sanitation Federation's (NSF) Protocol 231, which means that it acts as a microbiological purifier.

[0005] The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustration of the 5 embodiments of the invention which are outlined in Figure 1. The 5 in 1 water purifier shown in Figure 1 is a horizontal view of the water filter showing the flow of water from left to right. The filter can be mounted either horizontally or vertically; orientation will not affect purification performance or efficacy. The water treatment process is a series of staged treatments that will be explained in the order of the process that has been carefully sized and positioned for optimal disinfection performance of the final stage, being the Quantum DisinfectionTM media.

1.

[0006] Metsorb@ HMRG (Heavy Metal Removal Granules) is a highly effective, low cost adsorbent media for the reduction of Arsenic III & V and a wide variety of heavy metals. Features and benefits of this media are: removal of heavy metals to meet drinking water standards, high adsorbent capacity requiring less frequent replacement, fast kinetics to work effectively at high flow rates, nonhazardous disposal of solid waste.

2.

[0007] A GE Techno Co., Limited high quality wet moulded advanced 5-micron carbon fibre block filter. This carbon fibre block is a quantum leap forward in the adsorptive and desorptive capabilities when compared to conventional granular activated carbon filters or other similar carbon block filters.

3.

[0008] Nano fibre cloth wrapped around carbon fibre block. Nano-fibre cloth manufactured by the Vacuum Sputtering Coating method. Nano-coatings of Ag (Silver) Cu (Copper), and Ti (Titanium). The spun-bond, nonwoven base material becomes a durable, washable antiseptic cloth that acts as a bacteriostatic barrier to inhibit bacterial growth on the carbon fibre block.

4.

[0009] Hollow Fibre Ultrafiltration, filters down to 0.01pm nominal. Hollow fibre filters have 2 - 3 times the membrane area of usual filters and a high filtration accuracy. The advantages of using hollow fibre ultrafiltration is, reliability in challenging water types: as the hollow fibres serve as a sieve, straining out the contaminants physically, they are operative in clear and turbid water types. Other contaminants in the water do not hinder their ability for stopping the microbes. Differences in salts, colour, pH levels, and temperature do not impede its effectiveness.

[0010] In hollow fibre ultrafiltration, the surface area-to-weight proportion is unmatched. The more surface area the faster the flow rate will be. It also indicates that the filter will have a longer lifespan. The hollow fibre indicates when their ife is at an end - a good, built-in measure of safety. When the filter becomes too encumbered with microbes and debris to pass water, and backflushing will not restore its flow, the filter will become clogged and will stop working, which is an effective safety feature.

5.

[0011] Quantum Disinfection T M (QD) media. QD media is a new generation of nano-composite materials with activated surfaces that kills pathogens like bacteria (E.coli,Staphylococcus, Legionella, etc), viruses (mS2) and protozoa (Cryptosporidium) from water, with no power, no chemicals and no maintenance. Away from the classical disinfection methods (chlorine, alcohol, bromide, ozone or UV), Quantum DisinfectionTM uses a discharged surface (positive quantum field) that attracts electrons. Water simply has to contact the Quantum DisinfectionTM ceramic media and the microorganisms (negatively charged) are instantly killed.

[0012] The filter housing is a food grade UV resistant transparent polycarbonate filter housing that can withstand 150 Psi water pressure. Between water treatment Stage 1 and water treatment

Stage 2 there is a spacer disc to assist in the dispersion of water flow - these discs are fitted with a cover of the vacuum sputter coated nano cloth with coatings of Ag, Cu and Ti which are antibacterial.

The installation of the purifier will now be described.

[0013] The purifier has been designed so that it can be easily and readily installed under the sink of a home, caravan, tiny house, RV, motorhome or camper trailer with minimal ease. The ends of the water purifier come supplied with 1/4" to 12" lead free brass connectors that screw into either end of the water purifier housing. This enables the end user to attach fittings and fixtures to the purifier which will then plumb into standard water pluming lines.

[0014] The inventors of this water purifier have designed the size and quantity of each of the internal components specifically to achieve an optimal water contact time, even at various water pressures. The inventors have purposely arranged the components in the filter housing so that every stage of the filtration process receives optimal water contact time in order to perform at their optimal filtration performance. The inventors of this water purifier have tested the purifier's water flow rate at the following water pressure; 551kPa, 413kPa, 275kPa and 137kPa. At each water pressure test, a variable water flow resulted. The variable water flow rates that were

achieved as a result of the various inlet water pressures did not significantly diminish the performance of the filter in purifying water.

Claims

1 of 1 CLAIMS The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. The 5 in 1 point of use water purifier is a compact cylindrical water purifier that pre treats and conditions contaminated water, to ensure the disinfection process of the Quantum DisinfectionTM media can be effectively achieved.

2. The 5 in 1 water purifier achieves Claim 1, by the placement, in a carefully defined sequence, of 4 water treatment technologies: Metsorb®HMRG media; Ag, Cu, Ti anti-bacterial nano-coated cloth wrapping; wet moulded 5-micron carbon fibre block; and 0.01 micron ultrafiltration hollow fibre membrane filter.

3. The water purifier as claimed in claim 2 has a specifically measured and placed selection of quantity, size, placement, and sequence of the filter technologies in the filter housing in order to facilitate the purification of the water by the Quantum Disinfection TM media.

4. To maintain the optimal filtration performance of all the technologies, the water flow rate is controlled by inlet pressures into the filter housing.

5. The water purifier as claimed in claim 4 has been tested under various water pressures to ensure that the water flow rate through the filter does not impede the optimal water contact time for each component, and therefore ultimately the water disinfection performance.

2021106161 1 of 1

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