EA021746B1 - A water purification device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a water purification device and in particular relates to a water purification device that may be used as a gravity fed system or adapted to be connected to the main water supply. The present water purification device is capable of dosing a controlled level of a biocide to the water and has a filtration unit that functions as a filter-cum-biocide-scavenger. This water purification device provides several advantages over the prior art especially in terms of reducing the complexity of the device thus making it economical and reducing the number of replaceable parts without affecting the performance in terms of microbial safety or flow rate. Another advantage of the system is that it can be adapted for use with liquid biocides.

Description

The object of the present invention is a water purification device and method of water purification, which, in particular, can be used as a system with the supply of water under the action of gravity or can be connected to a main water supply system.

The present invention has been developed mainly for use in drinking water supply systems and will hereinafter be described with reference to this purpose. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to this particular field of application.

A large number of people in the world live in countries where there is an acute shortage of hygienic drinking water. People are forced to depend directly on sources of groundwater, such as wells, ponds and rivers. Often these water sources are contaminated with sewage, industrial wastewater and agricultural waste such as pesticide residues. To ensure the microbiological safety of water, WHO recommends a 6-fold removal of bacteria, 4-fold removal of viruses and 3-fold removal of cysts. While the removal of bacteria and viruses to the required extent is possible by chemical disinfection (e.g. by contact with halogen) or radiation-based disinfection (e.g. by ultraviolet radiation), these disinfection methods do not provide 3-fold removal of cysts.

Known devices with the supply of water under the action of gravity, in which a 6-fold removal of bacteria, 4-fold removal of viruses and 3-fold removal of cysts is possible by using filtration in combination with the action of bactericides. Devices with water supply under the action of gravity function in the absence of pressure and water flow.

In the international application νθ 2005095284 (IpLeueg, 2005), a water purification system with a gravity feed water is disclosed, comprising a filtration unit for separating particles and soluble materials from water, made in the form of a carbon block and usually including an additional non-woven fabric filter webs, a chemical metering device, so that the water flow exiting the filtration unit is controlled by a flow control means before the water comes into contact with the bactericide dosed stroystvom dosing chemical agent, after which the water is retained in the collecting tank for a predetermined period of time before exiting the water purification system through a cleaning means serving to separate distributed bactericides and their byproducts from the outgoing water. This device is very complex and has a large number of replaceable elements.

International application νθ 07000238 (IpLeueg, 2007) discloses a water purification device comprising upper and lower tanks, including output devices for collecting purified water and filter material to remove suspended particles and dissolved organic substances. The bactericidal system integrated in this device is a device that can release a single dose of the bactericide and water can enter the chamber where the bactericide is distributed. This system is intended only for solid bactericide and cannot be adapted to work with liquid bactericide. The disadvantage of solid bactericides is that they decompose under the influence of air.

International application νθ 08083896 (IpLeueg, 2008) discloses a water purification device with the supply of water under the action of gravity, which may include adjusting the dosage of liquid bactericide. The device includes a metering channel with a venturi, where the upper chamber is hydraulically connected to the lower chamber, and water can flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber. The water in this system must flow at a high flow rate, and the dosage depends on the flow of water. The dosage of the bactericide is due to the negative pressure (vacuum) at the outlet of the liquid bactericide feed channel created by the flow of water through the venturi, which is hermetically connected to the outlet end of the metering channel. The air pressure in the container containing the liquid bactericide, in this case is atmospheric, which is sucked out of the tank due to the negative pressure at the outlet end of the tube. In practice, a venturi-based dosing system is highly sensitive to physical dimensions and dosage control is difficult. This system requires a lot of material to create a structure, which makes it expensive.

EP 2184263 (IpLeueg) discloses a water purification device with a gravity-fed water supply, in which a reduction in the concentration of the bactericide or its by-products in the outlet water and a longer service life of the absorption material is achieved by combining the outlet and the height of the wall separating the container and the absorption device . This device contains a bactericidal block with a bactericide, hydraulically connected to the container, the wall is separated from the absorbing device with absorbing material, and the absorbing device is hydraulically connected to the distribution chamber by the output provided on the separation device separating the absorbing device from the distribution chamber. To ensure the operability of the device, it is imperative that at least 10 wt.% Of the aforementioned material (M) are below the lower exit level (O) and the wall (XV) rises above the upper level of the material and above the lower exit level. This document does not disclose how the dosage of the bactericide is carried out at once, and the dosage system of the liquid bactericide is not described. The authors of the present invention have developed a liquid bactericide dosing system, as well as a device for delaying the contact of water with a bactericide dissolved in it with a filtering bactericidal absorbing agent and introduced it into the design of a water purification device with the supply of water by gravity.

International application AO 04074182 Α (υηίΐενετ) discloses a flow control means for controlling the removal of a solid bactericide by controlling the flow of water entering the solid bactericide dosing device. It describes a means of controlling the flow rate, providing a constant flow rate through the chemical dosing device, so that the same amount of solid bactericide is carried out, and the pressure of the incoming water flow in the upper chamber does not affect. Dosing of the bactericide into the water occurs through the gradual erosion of the solid bactericide tablet in contact with water, the flow rate of which is controlled by the flow regulator, which, in turn, controls the erosion of the bactericide tablet. This application does not disclose how the dosage of liquid bactericide is carried out.

In the patent υδ 4093551 (ΙΡυΟ АВ) a device for water purification in small sewer systems is disclosed, which includes a means for automatically adding a chemically active liquid to the water passing through the device. This invention eliminates the need to use any moving parts through the use of two siphon tubes that control the flow of fluid. One of the siphon tubes flows around the water from the collector and the resulting vacuum creates a transfer of chemically active liquid through the second siphon tube. This discloses a system for dispensing a liquid disinfectant, in which the dispensing of liquid occurs due to suction or negative pressure created in the siphon when water flows through it. At the second siphon, one end is immersed in a container with a liquid bactericide, and the second (injection) end is placed in the first siphon. Thus, a liquid bactericide is sucked into the siphons when water passes through the first siphon. Therefore, both siphons used form a liquid dosing system. The creators of this invention have provided two siphons in order to provide a means of delaying the introduction of water containing the bactericide into the absorption section of the bactericide, and these two siphons do not control the dosage of the liquid bactericide. These two siphons are not physically connected, but simply provide the residence time of the bactericide to affect microorganisms, while the dosing of the liquid disinfectant is provided by the positive pressure created by the air pocket.

Thus, the creators of this invention have developed a new liquid dosing device controlled by the positive pressure generated by the hydrostatic pressure of the water, and the introduction of two siphons arranged in a specific way allowed for additional residence time to enhance the interaction of the bactericide with the water being purified.

Our simultaneously pending Indian Patent Application 2126 / ΜυΜ / 2009 describes a water purification device in which the required level of killing of microorganisms is achieved using a liquid bactericide dosing system. One of the essential distinguishing features of this device is a refillable tank, the filling of which allows the dosing system to introduce the required amount of bactericide into the water treatment chamber. This device cannot operate properly without a refillable tank. One of the disadvantages of the presence of a filled tank is the difficulty in reducing the size of the device.

The inventors of this device managed to create a new bactericide dosage system by using a pressure transfer tube in conjunction with a siphon discharge mechanism. The relative position of the siphon discharge mechanism relative to the pressure transfer tube ensures the correct operation of the water treatment device. In addition, the geometry of the tube, along with the length of its submerged part, controls the dosage of the bactericide. This device is made without a filling tank, which facilitates the reduction of its dimensions.

Based on the foregoing, the aim of the present invention is to eliminate or improve at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a water purification device that is less complex and thus more economical to manufacture.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a water treatment device capable of dispensing both solid and liquid bactericides.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a water purification device that could be used as a gravitational type device, also adapted for use in embedded systems.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a means of providing a residence time in a water treatment device, so that even the first drop of water leaving this device does not contain absolutely no harmful microorganisms.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water purification device comprising a water purification chamber comprising a bactericide dosage unit hydraulically connected to a bactericide storage section and a bactericide distribution channel in which a bactericide dosage unit is hydraulically connected to a pressure transfer pipe and a free end said pipe enters down into the water treatment chamber; the specified water treatment chamber is hydraulically connected to the filter chamber by an inlet siphon discharge mechanism made in the form of an I-shaped tube with sections of unequal length; in which the hole of a small section of the inlet siphon discharge mechanism is located above the bottom of the water treatment chamber, and the long section enters the filter chamber, and the upper part of the inverted I-shaped inlet siphon discharge mechanism is located above the free end of the pipe.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water purification device according to the present invention, in which the inlet siphon discharge mechanism is hydraulically connected to the filtration chamber through the treatment chamber and, in turn, to the outlet siphon discharge mechanism in which the outlet siphon discharge mechanism is located in the processing chamber.

The used term containing is not intended to limit the content to any of the elements listed below, but to cover unspecified elements of primary or secondary functional importance. In other words, the listed steps, elements or options are not necessarily exhaustive. Whenever expressions including or having are used, it is understood that they are equivalent to the aforementioned term comprising.

In FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a water treatment device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2 shows yet another preferred embodiment of a water treatment device according to the present invention with a treatment time device.

In FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment of a water treatment device according to the present invention, in which a bactericide dosage unit is located in a housing inside the water treatment chamber.

The present invention provides a water treatment device including a water treatment chamber comprising a bactericide dosing unit, hydraulically connected to a bactericide storage section and a bactericide distribution channel, in which a bactericide dosing unit is hydraulically connected to a pressure transfer pipe, and the free end of said pipe enters downward into the water treatment chamber ; the specified water treatment chamber is hydraulically connected to the filter chamber by an inlet siphon discharge mechanism made in the form of an I-shaped tube with sections of unequal length; in which the hole of a small section of the inlet siphon discharge mechanism is located above the bottom of the water treatment chamber, and the long section enters the filter chamber, and the upper part of the inverted I-shaped inlet siphon discharge mechanism is located above the free end of the pipe.

The tube may be of various shapes and sizes and may have different cross sections. The cross section of the pipe may be rectangular, round, polygonal, elliptical, or may have various other geometric shapes. The pipe can be made tapering in any direction in whole or in part. The device in accordance with the present invention may have various capacities and sizes, for example 1, 2, 3, 5 l or more.

The bactericide can be used both in solid and in liquid form. When using a bactericide in solid form, the device dissolves the desired amount of solid bactericide and sends the required amount of dissolved liquid bactericide to the dosage unit of the bactericide. As the bactericide, any halogen-releasing chemical compounds and preferably chlorine-oxidizing bactericides, including trisodium phosphate chloride, sodium, potassium or calcium hypochlorite, various known Ν-chloride compounds releasing active chlorine oxides, such as sodium or potassium dichloroisocyanurate, trichlorocyanuric acid, are preferably used. , monochloramine, dichloramine, (monotrichloro) -tetra (monokaliidichloro) pentaisocyanurate, 1,3-dichloro-5,5dimethylidanotone, chloramine-T, p-toluene-sulfodichloramine, trichlo omelamine, Ν-chloroamine, Ν chlorosuccinimide, Ν, Ν'-dichlorazodicarbonamide, Ν-chloroacetyl-urea, Ν, Ν'-dichloroazodicarbonamide, Ν-chloroacetyl-urea, Ν, Ν-dichlorobiuryl, hydrochloride, hydrochloride or hydrochloride acetyl.

Suitable liquid bactericides that can be used in this device include aqueous solutions of sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, iodine, quaternary ammonium compounds or glutaraldehyde. The most preferred liquid bactericide is an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite. When sodium hypochlorite is used as a liquid bactericide, it is added to the bactericide storage section in the form of an aqueous solution in a concentration in the range from 0.01 to 50 wt.%, More preferably in the range from 1 to 20 wt.%. By using the device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a concentration of the bactericide in the water treatment chamber in the range of 0.5 to 100 ppm by weight, more preferably in the range of 1 to 50 ppm by weight in water.

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According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter can be combined with a bactericidal scavenger. The bactericide filter absorber is preferably an activated carbon filter unit. The activated carbon filtration unit includes powdered activated carbon (PAC) and a binder, well mixed and turned into a unit by pressure treatment and heat treatment. Powdered activated carbon is preferably selected from bituminous coal, charcoal or coal from coconut shells, tar. Preferably, the particle size uniformity coefficient of the used activated carbon powder is less than 2, more preferably less than 1.5, the number of carbon tetrachloride is above 50%, more preferably above 60%.

Further, the filter-absorber of the bactericide is also equipped with a filter for the absorption of particles of papOi1a1c. which is a single or multilayer non-woven fabric filter with a corrugated outer layer. Alternatively, this filter may be a combination of corrugated and spiral wound layers.

In particular, preferred embodiments of the activated carbon filtration unit may be those indicated in patent CB 2390987; more preferred are 320 / MPM / 2004 disclosed in our simultaneously pending patent application. The patent application cited above simultaneously describes an activated carbon filter block for use in gravity-fed filters containing (powdered activated carbon) with a particle size that allows 95% by weight of particles to pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 50 mesh and no more than 12% of particles with a size of 200 mesh, as well as a binder with a melt flow rate (MRA) of less than 5. Further, a preferred activated carbon filter block has from 55 to 80 wt.% powder particles activated carbon with a particle size in the range from 100 to 200 mesh in the lower 50% by volume of the activated carbon filter block.

A crane or a manual diaphragm pump described below can be used as a feed mechanism.

Further, the present invention will be illustrated with the aid of FIG. 1-3 specific non-limiting example of a water purification device made in accordance with the present invention.

In FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a water treatment device according to the present invention. This device comprises a water treatment chamber 1 provided with a lid 6, upon opening which an inlet opening opens, allowing the user to pour water into the water treatment chamber. The water treatment chamber includes a bactericide dosing unit 3 in communication with a bactericide storage section 5 and a bactericide distribution channel 4. The bactericide dosing unit is connected to a pressure transfer tube 2 extending down into the water treatment chamber. This tube communicates with the dosage unit of the bactericide. The water treatment chamber is hydraulically connected to the filtration chamber 10 with the filter-absorber of the bactericide 7 inlet siphon discharge mechanism 13, made in the form of an I-shaped tube. The hole of a small section of the inlet siphon discharge mechanism is located above the bottom of the water treatment chamber. The filter is mounted on a dividing wall separating the water treatment chamber from the outlet water collector. The inlet siphon discharge mechanism is designed for the functional connection of the water treatment chamber with the filter chamber, so that water from the water treatment chamber can enter the filter chamber only through the inlet siphon discharge mechanism. The air outlet 12 provided in the filtration chamber allows the inlet siphon discharge mechanism to operate, allowing an upward flow of air to exit the filtration chamber. Water leaves the filter chamber through a bactericide filter-absorber, and water enters the filter chamber through an inlet siphon discharge mechanism. The upper part of the inlet siphon discharge mechanism in the form of an inverted letter And is located above the free end of the pipe, which is done so that water could not pass through the siphon discharge mechanism without adding the required amount of bactericide. The sealed cover 11 of the filter chamber allows water to enter the filter chamber only through the inlet siphon discharge mechanism. When the water treatment chamber 1 is filled with water to the top of the inlet siphon discharge mechanism, the inlet siphon discharge mechanism begins to discharge water into the filter chamber. When water with a bactericide fills the filtration chamber, it begins to flow through a bactericide filter-absorber, which removes colloidal impurities, as well as bactericide residues from the water and sends it to the outlet sump 8; drainage of clean, bactericide-free water from the outlet of the sump is carried out using a drainage device, such as a tap 9.

When water is poured into the water treatment chamber through the inlet, it is filled; increasing the water level in the water treatment chamber creates an increased pressure in the tube and ensures the release of the bactericide from the dosage unit of the bactericide into the water treatment chamber along the distribution channel of the bactericide.

In FIG. 2 shows yet another possible embodiment of a water purification device according to the present invention with a device for providing a processing time. In FIG. 2 shows a water treatment chamber 1, in the lower part of which there is a filtration chamber 10, inside which a bactericide filter absorber 7 is located. The filter chamber is equipped with a sealed cover 11 and an air outlet 12. The dosage unit of the bactericide 3, the distribution channel of the bactericide 4, the storage section of the bactericide 5 and the pipe 2 are located at their respective locations as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 shows a treatment chamber 14 with an output siphon discharge mechanism 15. An output siphon discharge mechanism is located inside the processing chamber. There is an air outlet 16 in the treatment chamber 16. The air outlet 12 provided in the treatment chamber allows the output siphon discharge mechanism to work, allowing an upward flow of air to exit the treatment chamber. The input siphon discharge mechanism 13 is operatively connected to the processing chamber. The inlet siphon discharge mechanism is hydraulically connected to the filtration chamber through the processing chamber and, in turn, with the outlet siphon discharge mechanism. Presented in FIG. 2, by doubling the time of the water treatment, the device ensures that even the first drop of water leaving the outlet of the sump does not contain harmful microorganisms.

In use, filling the water purification chamber with water creates air pressure in the pipe, which is transmitted to the bactericide dosage unit, causing the bactericide to flow through the bactericide distribution channel. After the water level in the water treatment chamber reaches the maximum level of the inlet siphon discharge mechanism, the water mixed with the bactericide begins to enter the treatment chamber by the inlet siphon discharge mechanism. After the water enters the treatment chamber, its filling with water begins. After the water level in the treatment chamber reaches the maximum level of the outlet siphon discharge mechanism, the water mixed with the bactericide begins to enter the filter chamber through the outlet siphon discharge mechanism, thus providing a double residence time for the water in the device. After removing the bactericide residues and filtering the water in the filter chamber, clean water can be drained from the outlet by opening the tap.

In FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment of a water treatment device according to the present invention. All the distinguishing features and characteristics of the device in FIG. 3 are the same as those of the device in FIG. 1. The only difference between the options shown in FIG. 1 and 3, is that for the device shown in FIG. 3, the storage section of the bactericide 5, the dosage unit of the bactericide 3 and the distribution channel of the bactericide 4 are located inside the water treatment chamber.

Examples

The influence of the geometry of the pipe and the height of the immersed part of the pipe on the dosage of liquid bactericide.

In this example, the term height of the immersed part of the pipe means the length of the part of the pipe immersed in water in the water treatment chamber, i.e. distance from the highest water level in the water treatment chamber to the lower point of the pressure transfer pipe. The parameters b1 and b2 in the table. 1 means the length of two different sides of the rectangle or the length of the side of the square.

The table below 1 illustrates the effect of the geometry of a pressure transfer pipe and the height of its submerged part on the dosage of a bactericide.

Table 1

Pipe Cross Section Shape E1 mm B2 mm The height of the immersed part of the pipe, mm The dosed volume, ml Rectangle 28 14 4 4 Square thirteen thirteen 5 3.5 Square 10 10 6 3.5

From the data given in table. 1, it is obvious that when the geometry of the pipe and the height of the immersed part of the pipe change, the dosed volume of the bactericide changes. Thus, it is possible to regulate the precisely dosed volume of the bactericide depending on the capacity of the water treatment device.

The effect of the treatment chamber on increasing the contact time of the bactericide with untreated (incoming) water.

When using devices whose design corresponds to the options shown in FIG. 1-3, the time required for the passage of water containing a bactericide obtained from the dosage unit of the bactericide to exit the filter is called the contact time. This contact time is the time during which the bactericide acts on the microbes contained in the incoming water.

In the table. 2 shows data on the contact time when using the device with and without a processing camera.

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table 2

Various embodiments of a water treatment device in accordance with the present invention The time required for incoming water to touch the filter chamber FIG. one Less than 1 minute FIG. 2 5 minutes or more FIG. 3 Less than 1 minute

From the data presented in table. 2, it is obvious that the introduction of the processing chamber in accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, contact time can be increased. It has been found that this distinguishing feature of the present invention ensures that even the first drop of water coming from the water treatment device will not contain harmful microorganisms.

Claims (9)

CLAIM 1. A water treatment device including a water treatment chamber (1) with a bactericide dosing unit (3) hydraulically connected to a bactericide storage section (5) and a bactericide distribution channel (4), wherein the bactericide dosing unit (3) is hydraulically connected to the pipe (2) pressure transfer, and the free end of the pipe enters down into the water treatment chamber (1), which is hydraulically connected to the filter chamber (10) by an inlet siphon discharge mechanism (13), made in the form of a ϋ-shaped tube with sections of equal length so that the hole of a small portion of the inlet siphon discharge mechanism is located above the bottom of the water treatment chamber (1), and the long section enters the filter chamber (10), ensuring the location of the upper part of the inverted ϋ-shaped inlet siphon discharge mechanism (13) above the free end pipes. 2. A water treatment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet siphon discharge mechanism is hydraulically connected to the filtration chamber through the processing chamber (14) and with the outlet siphon discharge mechanism (15) located in the processing chamber. 3. Water treatment device according to claim 2, characterized in that an air outlet (16) is located in the processing chamber. 4. The water treatment device according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the water treatment chamber is provided with an inlet intended for receiving incoming water into the water treatment chamber. 5. A water purification device according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the dosage of the bactericide is carried out using the dosage unit of the bactericide in liquid form. 6. A water purification device according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the filter (7) is located inside the filter chamber containing an air outlet (12). 7. A water purification device according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the filter includes an activated carbon filter unit. 8. A water purification device according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the filter includes one or more layers of pleated or non-pleated filter fabric of non-woven polymeric material. 9. The water treatment device according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the filter is made integral and contains two layers of non-woven material and an element of bonded activated carbon.