USRE18967E - Water purification - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 10, 1933. M. BRANDT HATER PURIFICATION a1 Filed larch 29 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ngm Oct. 10, 1933.

M. BRANDT WATER PURIFICATION Original Filed March 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 flzllardfirandi,

Rested Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PAFEN oar-ion Original no. 1,181,314, ems November 11, 19:0,

Serial No. 98,385,1Iarch 29, 1926.

for reissue 633,007

Application September 13, 1932. Serial No.

5 Claims. (01 210-82)- My invention relates to the art of pin-using water, and it has particular reference to a method of and apparatus for purifying water with the aid of activated carbon. 7

Water purification, or the removal from natural waters of various impurities harmful to health, is now recognized as a civic necessity. In many instances, purification is effected by filtering the water through a bed of sand, by treating with chlorine, or like methods. It has also been proposed to purify water by means of activated carbonaceous material, but such proposals, while particularly desirable, have not been received with favor, due to the mechanical difliculties encountered.

It is the object of this invention to provide means for the purification of water with activated carbon in a metal container without the attendant disadvantages which heretofore prevented the successful accomplishment of such an operation.

This object is realized by filtering water through a bed of activated carbon, which, it has been found by exhaustive experiments and observations, is highly efiective in removing color, odor, taste, bacteria, and other impurities from water which render it unfit, in its natural condition, for domestic or industrial use. v It is much more effective for this purpose than anyother form of carbon. Such carbon, however, being a good conductor of electricity and electr'o-negative to most metals, in the presence of water forms a galvanic couple with metals, developing electric currents which cause rapid corrosionor disintegration of metals and untimely failure of the installation. To overcome this difilculty, I maintain the carbon out of contact with the metal walls of the container and preferably space the filtering bed of activated carbon from accessory metal elements by means ofsomething other than metal. This removes the major difiiculty which has heretofore prevented the exploitation of filters oi this character.

I find it best to use as a purifying material firm coarse grains of activated carbon about 85 per cent of which will be retained on a 100 mesh sieve, Bureau of Standards specifications. Other grain sizes may be employed, if desired, but the specification given provides a filtering material through which water may rapidly percolate,

while, however, contacting for a sufiicient time and with sufiicient contact area to insure the proper removal of impurities. As stated, this bed of carbon in the present invention dam not contact with the metal walls of the container or with accessory metal eleme'nts'to'cause galvanic actions. To relieve the purifying material from extra duty, I usually provide beds 7 of filtering sand at opposite sides, which not only remove some dirt, color, etc., but also facilitate the SD80? ing of the activated carbon in practical installations.

Aacompared with other forms of amorphous carbon, activated carboniis a good conductor for the electrical current. iMost commercial activated carbons are excellent conductors. Those coarse grades of activated carbon which I have so far prepared for the present apparatus share this property. Where the activated carbon is charged directlyinto a metal container composed of, for example, iron or steel, and water is passed through the carbon, the metal container is rapidly disintegrated. Also, the activated carbon is contaminated, probably with oxidation products of the metal container, and the special activity of the carbon for the purpose of purifying water is'materially lessened. In addition to the contamination of the carbon, it is possible that the 1 loss of activity is at least in part-due to the removal of adsorbed oxygen. Apparently where the carbon is in conductive relation to the metal walls of the container, hydrogen is evolved by reason of an electrolytic reaction and acts as a depolarizer keeping the carbon stripped of adsorbed oxygen. Even in the case of filtration of non-oxygen-containing aqueous liquids, such as deep well water through activated carbon contained in a metal filter, disintegration of the metal container and contamination of the water occur. In addition to these disadvantages, if the metal container is not separated fromthe carbon by an insulating material, the filtrate is contaminated in'aninidesirable manner.

In accordance with my inventionthe activated carbon is maintained isolated or separated from metallic conductors with which it can form a. galvanic couple. Incommercial use metallic containers are highly advantageous, due to their resistance to the pressure under which the filter is desirably operated. The iron or steel or other metallic containers which are used in accordance with my invention are interiorly insulated with a water-proof, permanent dielectric, such as rubber, bakelite or other phenol condensation products, or a good grade of enamel.

In the accompanying drawings. illustrating typical installations of filter apparatus incorporating the principles of my invention, 7

Fig. 1 shows in elevation what may be termed a bucket type filter; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the filter shown in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a broken away view of the bottom of the filter shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a pressure type filter made of metal; a

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the filter shown in Fig. '4; and

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary view, partly in section, showing in detailthe lower portion of the filter shown in Fig. 4 and taking it-at right angles to the view in Fig. 4.

In the constructionillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the container for theactivated carbon is a metal bucket or pail-like structure 1, which may be of either enameled iron or other type of metal bucket having a lining or coating 1 of an insulating material such as bakelite, rubber or enamel. In a modification which has proven satisfactory in practice, ordinary enameled iron is employed as the container. The bucket or container 1 is open at its top and depends upon gravity for percolation of the water through the filter medium. At the base of the container is a perforated supporting means or false bottom 2 which acts to support the filter bed above the bottom 3. The bottom is provided with a valved outlet 4 through which the filtrate is drawn for consumption. Within the container and positioned on the perforated supporting means 2 is a bottom layer 5 of sand. Above the sand is provided a layer or strata 8 of coarse grain activated carbon. It willbe seen that the carbon completely fills a horizontal section of the container, the insulating coating 1 determining the peripheral limits of the activated carbon bed and separating the same from the metal walls of the container. An upper layer 7 of sand is positioned above the bed of carbon and is maintained in position by a perforated diaphragm 8 of any convenient material. As the sand layers 5 and I insulate the activated carbon bed from the support 2 and the perforated diaphragm 8, re-

. spectively, the nature of these latter elements is immaterial for presentpurposes. The structure isprovidedwithabailQandasupportingfram work 10. I

The modification shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is intended for field and household use where a large volume and rapid rate of fioware not essential factors. In Figs. 4, 5 and Bis illustrated a filter apparatus of larger type which is adapted for use in connection with a pressure system. This latter modification comprises a cylindrical container which is preferably made of iron, steel or other metal which will withstand the pressure of the.

water. The inner side of the metal container,

is coated or lined with a layer 26 of bakelite, hard rubber or other material withstanding long contact with water and of insulating properties. Within the container 25 is a perforated supporting member'or false bottom 2'7; below which is a water chamber 28 and an outlet conduit 29. The metal container screws into a bottom casting 30 which serves as a support for the whole apparatus. Above the.peri'orated support 27 is a layer of sand or gravel 31. An upper layer 33 of sand is placed above the activated'carbon bed and if desirable held in place by an upper perforated diaphragm or grating 34. A water chamber 35 is provided above the grating 35. A flange 36 is screwed to the top of the metal container and a cover 37 is secured to the flange by means of suitable bolts or other fastening devices. Water is introduced into the filter from the pressure line 38 which communicates with the top 37.

'The activated carbon completely fills a relatively deep horizontal strata within the metal container and forms a pervious bed which con- -,stltutes the path of how for water passing through The lining 26 of insulating material 1 forms. the peripheral limits of the activated carthe filter.

carbon and the aqueous medium, whatever be the nature of the chemical reaction involved in such disintegration, is prevented and the container is suitable for almost unlimited service in supporting the activated carbon.

The various modifications coming within the spirit of my invention are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for the purification of water with activated carbon, a metal container, a pervious bed of electrically conductive activated carbon disposed in said metal container, and an electrically insulating material in said metal container and separating said bed of activated carbon from said metal container, thereby preventing the activated carbon from forming a galvanic couple with the metal of the container, whereby disintegration of the metal container, and contamination of the activated carbon and water are prevented.

2. In an apparatus for the purification of water with activated carbon,sa metal container, a

pervious bed of electrically conductive, oxygenadsorbing activated carbon disposed in said container, and an electrically insulating mateniu in said metal container and separating said bed of activated carbon from said metal container, thereby preventing the carbon from forming a galvanic couple with oxidizable metals when the apparatus is in use and thus to make oxygen ad- I sorbed by the carbon available for reaction with impurities in the water.

3. In an apparatus for the purification-oi water, a metal container having a coating of an tact with the metal container,la perforated supporting means for said bed, and a layer oi sand between said supporting means and said bed of activated carbon. I

5. In an apparatus for the purification of water, a metal container having inlet and outlet conduits communicating therewith, a pervious bed of activated carbon in said container and forming the path oi flow for the water passing

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