WO2009127034A1

WO2009127034A1 - Water purification system

Info

Publication number: WO2009127034A1
Application number: PCT/CA2008/000730
Authority: WO
Inventors: Earl M. Switenky
Original assignee: Switenky Earl M
Priority date: 2008-04-18
Filing date: 2008-04-18
Publication date: 2009-10-22

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel water purification system. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel water purification system which has minimal moving parts, minimizes disposal of waste water and can be installed in any household that uses domestic water. A water processing system comprising: (a) a first electric valve which is connected to and between a water supply line and a water line which delivers water to a first pressure booster pump; (b) a first pressure booster pump; (c) a reverse osmosis water processor which is connected to the first pressure booster pump; (d) a purified water collection tank connected to a purified water side of the reverse osmosis water processor; (e) a check valve which is located between the reverse osmosis water processor and the purified water collection tank; (f) a concentrate water line which is connected to a non-purified water side of the reverse osmosis processor and through a check valve transmits concentrate water to a concentrate water collection tank; and (g) a concentrate water line connected from the concentrate water collection tank to a second electric valve and a venturi to the water supply line.

Description

WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a novel water purification system. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel water purification system which has minimal moving parts, minimizes disposal of waste water and can be installed in any household or environment that uses domestic water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] For many years, an abundant supply of potable water in countries such as

Canada and the United States has been taken for granted. However, within increased pollution, industrialization and the generation of disposable waste, contaminants are leaching into conventional water supplies. There is therefore a strong need for a ready and inexpensive system for supplying reliable potable fresh water for domestic use, while at the same time minimizing disposal of waste water.

[0003] US Patent No. 5,639,374, issued 17 June 1997, Monroe et al., and US Patent No. 5,879,558, issued 9 March 1999, both in the name of Monroe et al., disclose a reverse osmosis water purification system in which the concentrate water which is normally produced by the process is not disposed of by routing it to a drain line or otherwise, but is redirected to the main water supply. The system includes well-known components of a reverse osmosis membrane, pre-filters which are installed upstream of the reverse osmosis membrane, and an appropriate tank to store the purified water. In addition, the system includes a pump and associated pressure sensor for increasing the pressure of the incoming non-processed water to the reverse osmosis unit, means for directing the concentrate water from the reverse osmosis unit to the incoming main water supply (cold), or to a hot water line. Additionally included is a one-way check valve in the concentrate water line, and a sensor sensing the pressure of water in the storage tank and turning off the pump whenever the pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined value.

[0004] US Patent No. 5,520,816, issued 28 May 1996, Kuepper, discloses a booster pump upstream of a reverse osmosis element, and a flow regulator to recycle waste water to a recirculation tank. Also disclosed is a desalinization system comprising a service water line for connection to a first service water inlet, a water treatment unit containing a housing and a water treatment element dividing the system into a first compartment for receiving feed water and a second compartment for receiving desalinated product water. A water inlet and a waste water outlet are connected to the first compartment. A desalinated product water outlet is connected to the second compartment. The system includes a recirculation tank having a first service water inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet. Water is directed from the tank through a loop such that a portion of the water from the tank entering the first compartment flows through the water treatment unit while leaving a portion of its salt and mineral content in the first compartment to form high salinity waste water. The waste water enters the tank, mixes with water in the tank and is diluted. Service water enters the recirculation tank through the first inlet and mixes with and dilutes the waste water in the tank to form utilization water.

[0005] Patent Publication No. US 2005/0087492 Al, published 28 April 2005, Schmitt, discloses a method of retrofitting a reverse osmosis system and includes rerouting concentrate water received from a membrane from a drain to a water source. The method also includes restricting a flow of the concentrate water to the water source.

[0006] US Patent No. 5,160,608, issued 3 November 1992, Norton, discloses a system for treating a portion of water passing through a pressurized main water conduit. Water treatment means is provided, being typically a reverse osmosis apparatus having a water inlet and two water outlets, a product water outlet and a waste water outlet. An upstream branch line is provided for communication between the pressurized water conduit and the water inlet of the water treatment means. Another branch line is provided for connection between the waste water outlet and the pressurized water conduit at a location downstream from the location of the connection between the upstream branch line and the pressurized water conduit. The product water outlet conducts treated water to a faucet or storage tank. Flow restrictor means are provided, to be positioned in the pressurized main water conduit between the conduit connection locations of the respective branch lines, to create the pressure drop required to cause flow through the branch lines to reintroduce the waste stream to the main water conduit.

[0007] US Patent No. 6,524,483 Bl, issued 25 February 2003, and US Patent No. 6,524,472 B2, issued 25 February 2003, both in the name of Monroe, disclose a method for diverting waste water from a reverse osmosis system, pressurized in a first step by the cold water supply pump, to the home hot water tank supply by means of check valves.

[0008] US Patent No. 2006/0091048 Al, published 4 May 2006, Healey, discloses a water purification system whereby some waste water is recycled back to the reverse osmosis purification process. The system comprises a pre-treatment stage for filtering untreated water to form pre-treated water; a three-way valve having an outlet and first and second inlets, a main treatment stage for treating pre-treated water by reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration to form treated water at a treated pressure, and a storage stage for storing treated water in a storage vessel at a storage pressure which increases as the storage vessel is filled.

[0009] US Patent No. 4,626,346, issued 2 December 1986, Hall, discloses a system whereby waste water is returned to the supply tank after cycling through the reverse osmosis unit.

[0010] US Patent No. 6,461,514 Bl, issued 8 October 2002, Al-Samadi, discloses a process whereby softened, suspended solids free, concentrate is recycled at a sufficient rate and blended with the high-hardness influent water to provide further purification.

[0011] US Patent No. 6,190,558 Bl, issued 20 February 2001, Robbins, discloses a system whereby product water stream is recirculated to a mixing unit where it is blended with a major part of the concentrate stream that is being recycled and with make-up fresh water to create a composite feed stream.

[0012] US Patent No. 4,801,375, issued 31 January 1989, Padilla, discloses a module-pump means whereby the percent of concentrate from the module which is recycled back to the module is predetermined, and wherein only one pressure regulator valve is used to effect said predetermined percent of concentrate recycle.

[0013] US Patent No. 6,074,551, issued 13 June 2000, Jones et al., discloses a self contained water purification process system which uses a self cleaning, self sanitizing reverse osmosis unit for reliably producing purified water, storing the water, and distributing it to a central supply piping system while maintaining the integrity of the purified water. Make-up water is prepared for reverse osmosis purification by means of staged conventional filtration and chlorine removal. The prepared make-up water is then fed into one or more reverse osmosis modules by a pump at a high velocity and pressure. About 85 percent of the make-up water exits the module as purified water. All of the water not passing through the reverse osmosis membranes is returned to the suction end of the pump where it is blended with incoming make-up water except for a small portion that is discharged to a waste drain.

[0014] French Patent No. 2822151, published 20 September 2002, Lefebvre, discloses a means of recovering reject water from an osmosis unit. This recycling circuit comprises a first counter of reject water to be recycled; at least one reservoir in parallel in the circuit which is pressurized for the accumulation of reject under pressure to minimize the starting of the osmosis unit; to two pressure gauges in parallel in the circuit where one starts the osmosis unit when the reservoir(s) reach a preset pressure and the other operates a safety valve to a drain connected to a second counter and improve the operation of the osmosis unit. A manometer connected to the pressure gauges; a non-return valve and a pressure regulator are also in series in the circuit.

[0015] US Patent No. 6,863,822, issued 8 March 2005, Pipes, and US 7,077,962, issued 18 July 2006, Pipes, disclose a method and apparatus for parallel desalting. The apparatus for membrane softening of potable water comprises a reverse osmosis membrane for softening and demineralizing potable water. The reverse osmosis membrane producing a permeate and a concentrate. A microfiltration membrane receives the concentrate and produces a permeate and a concentrate. Hydraulic pathways are provided for recycling the permeate to the potable water for return to the reverse osmosis membrane at a pH level suitable for suppressing deposition of solids on the reverse osmosis membrane. A pressurized concentrate storage ,tank including initially disposed seed crystals, is in fluid communication between the reverse osmosis membrane and the microfiltration membrane for receiving concentrate at a pH that is conducive to metastable precipitation of calcium carbonate on the seed crystals.

[0016] Other prior patents disclose systems through which part of the waste stream is recycled back to the reverse osmosis unit, and some claim use of the waste stream for grey water applications such as toilet flushing. US 2005/0040087 Al, published 24 February 2005, Jacuzzi, discloses a system by which concentrate water is cycled to the toilet water supply system. A low-waste or no-waste reverse osmosis water supply system includes a pressurized permeate storage tank connected to the permeate outlet of one or more membrane elements with a valve operable by a user for tapping water on demand from the permeate storage tank. A pressurized waste storage tank is connected to the waste outlet of the element. The waste water from the waste storage, instead of being wasted is supplied on demand to a toilet tank for supplying flush water to a toilet.

[0017] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

[0019] The invention is directed to a water processing system comprising: (a) a first electric valve which is connected to and between a water supply line and a water line which delivers water to a first pressure booster pump; (b) a first pressure booster pump; (c) a reverse osmosis water processor which is connected to the first pressure booster pump; (d) a purified water collection tank connected to a purified water side of the reverse osmosis water processor; (e) a check valve which is located between the reverse osmosis water processor and the purified water collection tank; (f) a concentrate water line which is connected to a non-purified water side of the reverse osmosis processor and through a check valve transmits concentrate water to a concentrate water collection tank; and (g) a concentrate water line connected from the concentrate water collection tank to a second electric valve and a venturi to the water supply line.

[0020] The water processing system can include a second booster pump located between the reverse osmosis water processor and the concentrate water collection tank. The second booster pump may have about one-half the capacity of the first booster pump.

[0021] The processor can include a recycle line and a recycle valve which on command can recycle concentrate water from the reverse osmosis water processor to the water inlet of the first booster pump or from the second booster pump to the water inlet of the first booster pump.

[0022] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. [0024] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the water purification system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the components which make up the water purification system according to the invention. All of the components comprising the system are readily available from various manufacturers. The electric valves, for instance, are available from Honeywell and other valve manufacturers. The water pumps are available from pump manufacturers such as Devilbis, MaxTool, La Verne, California. A reverse osmosis processor can be obtained from APEC (Advanced Purification Engineering Corporation), City of Industry, California.

[0027] As schematically illustrated in Figure 1, the system according to the invention is connected to a conventional water supply line that extends from a water supply main to a domestic residence, such as a house. Water from the water supply line 2 is passed through a first electric valve 4 and then by water line 6 to a first pressure booster pump 8. The pumped water is then transmitted through line 10 to a reverse osmosis processor 12. The reverse osmosis processor 12 processes the water into two parts. Purified water (permeate) is passed through water line 14 and one-way check valve 16 to purified water collection tank 18. Purified water as required is withdrawn from purified water collection tank 18 via water line 19 for in-house potable water use.

[0028] Concentrate (non-permeate) obtained from the reverse osmosis processor 12 is directed through water line 20 to second pressure booster pump 22. It should be noted that pressure booster pump 8 has double the displacement of pressure booster pump 22. Pressure booster pump 8 has to handle more volume of water than pressure booster pump 22. The pressure booster pump 22 is optional, for instance, if the water pressure is above about 60 psi. If the water pressure is below that, then the booster pump 22 is necessary. [0029] The pressurized water from pressure booster pump 22 can pass through alternative channels. In one channel, the water from pressurized booster pump 22 is transmitted through water line 24 and is recycled through water line 28, recycle valve 30 and water line 32 to water line 6 which is connected to booster pump 8. In an alternative channel, the water from pressure booster pump 22 can be transmitted through water line 24 and check valve 26 into concentrate water precharged collection tank 34. From there, concentrate water is transmitted through check valve 36 and second electric valve 38, waste water line 40, and venturi 42.

[0030] When purified water is required in-house from purified water collection tank 18 via water line 19, a pressure sensitive switch is activated. At that time, electric valve 4 opens, electric valve 38 closes and both pressure booster pump 8 and pressure booster pump 22 are engaged. As the reverse osmosis processor 12 processes purified water and directs it to purified water collection tank 18, concentrate water (non-permeate) is expelled from reverse osmosis processor 12 and directed through concentrate water line 20 and pressure booster pump 22 into concentrate water precharge collection tank 34.

[0031] When purified water collection tank 18 is full, a pressure sensitive switch opens, electric valve 4 closes, electric valve 38 opens and normal household water use causes the venturi 42 to create a negative pressure in the concentrate water discharge line 37. A certain amount of concentrate water from the concentrate water precharge collection tank 34 is then withdrawn via venturi 42. The concentrate water that is withdrawn from the concentrate water precharge collection tank 34 is used for non- drinking water situations in the house, such as in dishwashers, flushing toilets, washing machines and the like. The water system in the house is set up to separate the drinking water from the non-drinking water.

[0032] The water (non-permeate) that is rejected by the reverse osmosis unit 12 is technically referred to as "concentrate". This is an accurate description because the non-permeate water has a "concentrated" amount of total dissolved solids (commonly referred to as "TDS"). Because the water from the main line 2 is considered potable and has been processed through prefilters, the water does not have any offensive odors, or colors to the naked eye, or present any health risk. It has the appearance of tap water. The concentration of TDS in the concentrate does not affect its worthiness in normal household water use as drinking water. Users of a reverse osmosis unit 12 make it a standard practice to drink water only from the reverse osmosis unit 12 (collection tank 18). The venturi 42 allows the concentrate water from tank 34 to be mixed at low concentration into the household water over time and this is unnoticeable. However, when applicable, the venturi is connected to a waterline that is used for household purposes other than drinking water.

[0033] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A water processing system comprising:

(a) a first electric valve which is connected to and between a water supply line and a water line which delivers water to a first pressure booster pump; (b) a first pressure booster pump;

(c) a reverse osmosis water processor which is connected to the first pressure booster pump;

(d) a purified water collection tank connected to a purified water side of the reverse osmosis water processor; (e) a check valve which is located between the reverse osmosis water processor and the purified water collection tank;

(f) a concentrate water line which is connected to a non-purified water side of the reverse osmosis processor and through a check valve transmits concentrate water to a concentrate water collection tank; and (g) a concentrate water line connected from the concentrate water collection tank to a second electric valve and a venturi to the water supply line.

2. A processing system as claimed in claim 1 including a second booster pump located between the reverse osmosis water processor and the concentrate water collection tank.

3. A processing system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second booster pump has about one-half the capacity of the first booster pump.

4. A processor as claimed in claim 1 including a recycle line and a recycle valve which on command recycles concentrate water from the reverse osmosis water processor to the water inlet of the first booster pump.

5. A processor as claimed in claim 1 including a recycle line and a recycle valve which on command recycles concentrate water from the second booster pump to the water inlet of the first booster pump.