WO2019146891A1

WO2019146891A1 - Filter for water treating apparatus and water treating apparatus including the same

Info

Publication number: WO2019146891A1
Application number: PCT/KR2018/013789
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jinhyun Lee; Sangduck Lee; Suchang CHO; Yuseung Choi
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2018-01-25
Filing date: 2018-11-13
Publication date: 2019-08-01
Also published as: KR102247227B1; KR20190090651A

Abstract

Provided are a filter for a water treating apparatus and a water treating apparatus including the same. The water treating apparatus includes a current collector, a plurality of activated carbon electrodes, each of which includes an activated carbon coating layer provided by applying activated carbon on the current collector, a spacer made of an insulation material and inserted between the activated carbon electrodes to prevent short circuit from occurring, a plurality of electrode parts, each of which is connected to one side or the other side of each of the plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes and of which at least a portion is disposed parallel to the activated carbon electrode to come into surface contact with the activated carbon electrode, and a power supply unit supplying current to the activated carbon electrodes through the electrode parts so that the activated carbon electrodes adjacent to each other alternately provide a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

Description

FILTER FOR WATER TREATING APPARATUS AND WATER TREATING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME

The present disclosure relates to a filter for a water treating apparatus and a water treating apparatus including the same.

In general, water treating apparatuses such as water purifiers for treating raw water to generate purified water have been disclosed in various forms. However, deionization manners such as electro deionization (EDI), continuous electro deionization (CEDI), capacitive deionization (CDI), and the like are have been recently popularized as a method applied to water treating apparatuses. The water treating apparatus using the CDI manner has received the most attention in recent years.

The CDI manner refers to a manner of removing ions (contaminants) in water by using a principle, in which ions are adsorbed onto and desorbed from a surface of an electrode through electric force.

Referring to Fig. 9, when water to be treated, which contains ions, passes between electrodes (a positive electrode and a negative electrode) while a voltage is applied to the electrodes, negative ions move to the positive electrode, and positive ions move to the negative electrode. That is, the adsorption occurs. As a result, the ions within the water to be treated may be removed through the adsorption.

However, if the adsorption continuously occurs, the electrodes do not adsorb the ions any longer. When such a state is reached, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the ions adsorbed on the electrodes are separated to regenerate the electrodes. Here, washing water containing the ions separated from the electrodes is discharged to the outside. The regeneration may be achieved by applying no voltage to the electrode or by applying a voltage as opposed to when adsorbing.

To commercially use such the CDI manner, it is common to laminate a very large number of electrodes (the positive electrode and the negative electrode). However, the deionization performance in the CDI manner is affected by a distance between the electrodes. That is, when the distance between the electrodes increases in the CDI manner, the deionization performance may be deteriorated. The first reason is because a capacitor decreases in capacitance when the distance between the electrodes increases. In general, the capacitance of the capacitor is inversely proportional to the distance between the electrodes. The second reason is because water to be treated quickly passes between the electrodes when the distance between the electrodes is large. When the water to be treated quickly passes, it is difficult to adsorb the ions in the water to be treated to the electrodes. Thus, it is very important to constantly maintain the distance between the electrodes even when a large number of electrodes are laminated.

According to the related art, there is a limitation that the voltage supplied to each of the electrodes is significantly low when compared to a voltage from the power source. Thus, ion removal rate may be reduced.

Also, the voltage may not be uniformly applied to each of the electrodes according to the distance from the power source, and the voltage difference between the laminated electrodes may increase so that the ion removing performance may not be uniformly secured.

In one embodiment, a filter for a water treating apparatus which is provided by stacking at least one or more activated carbon filter units and which absorbs ions in introduced water to remove the ions in the water and discharge the water from which the ions are removed includes: a plurality of activated carbon electrodes, each of which includes a current collector and activated carbon disposed on a surface of the current collector and has a plate shape; a spacer made of an insulation material and inserted between the activated carbon electrodes to prevent short circuit from occurring; a plurality of electrode parts, each of which is connected to one side or the other side of each of the plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes and of which at least a portion is disposed parallel to the activated carbon electrode to come into surface contact with the activated carbon electrode; and a power supply unit supplying current to the activated carbon electrodes through the electrode parts so that the activated carbon electrodes adjacent to each other alternately provide a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

The electrode parts may include a first electrode part and a second electrode part, which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other, and the activated carbon electrodes adjacent to each other may be disposed on the electrode parts different from each other, respectively.

A portion of each of the activated carbon electrodes, which is connected to each of the electrode parts, may protrude outward to provide an electrode connection part.

Each of the electrode parts may include: a vertical part disposed parallel to the stacked direction of the activated carbon electrodes; a plurality of horizontal parts disposed parallel to the activated carbon electrodes and connected to the vertical part.

A connection hole may be defined in a position at which each of the horizontal parts and each of the activated carbon electrodes correspond to each other, and a shaft member provided as a conductor may be inserted into the connection hole.

Each of the horizontal parts may have a coupling hole in an end of one side thereof, and the vertical part may be connected to the plurality of horizontal parts in a manner in which the vertical part passes through the coupling hole.

The vertical part may have a transverse cross-section having the same shape as that of the coupling hole.

Each of the horizontal parts may include a rounded curved part at a portion thereof, which comes into contact with the activated carbon electrode.

The power supply unit may supply current in one direction when the water to be treated is supplied to the activated carbon filter units to adsorb ions onto the activated carbon electrodes and remove the ions in the water.

The power supply unit may supply current in the other direction when the water to be treated is supplied to the activated carbon filter units to discharge the ions adsorbed onto the activated carbon electrodes into the water and thereby to regenerate the activated carbon electrodes.

An activated carbon coating layer may be provided by applying a mixture, in which activated carbon particles, conductive polymer particles, and a binder are mixed, on a surface of the current collector.

The filter may further include a pre-carbon block filter supplying water to the activated carbon filter units after purifying the water introduced from the outside.

The filter may further include a post carbon block filter that receives water passing through the activated carbon filter units to purify the water and discharge the purified water.

The filter may further include a UF membrane filter that receives the water passing through the activated carbon filter units to purify the water and discharge the purified water.

The water passing through the activated carbon filter units may be discharged after successively passing through the UF membrane filter and the post carbon block filter, and the UF membrane filter and the post carbon block filter may be longitudinally arranged to be installed within one housing.

According to the embodiment, the water hardness may be reduced to soften the water.

According to the embodiment, the voltage applied to the activated carbon electrode may be uniformly distributed.

According to the embodiment, the difference between the voltage supplied from the power source and the voltage applied to the activated carbon electrode may be reduced.

According to the embodiment, the desalination efficiency in the electrode may increase without loss of energy.

According to the embodiment, the filtering force may be ensured in all regions regardless of the laminated positions of the electrodes.

According to the embodiment, the electrode may be prevented from partially deteriorated or damaged due to the uniform voltage application.

According to the embodiment, the voltage may be stably and uniformly distributed to each of the electrodes.

According to the embodiment, the ion removing performance may be improved.

According to the embodiment, since the lamination is free, the laminating height may be variously set according to the required treatment capacity and rate.

The embodiment may be immediately applied to the existing water treating apparatus without changing the shape and arrangement structure of the filter applied to the water treating apparatus.

According to the embodiment, the ions adsorbed onto the activated carbon electrode may be easily removed to uniformly maintain the ion removing performance of the activated carbon filter.

According to the embodiment, since the raw water undergoes several treating processes, foreign substances contained in the raw water may be more reliably removed, and the water hardness may be more surely reduced.

According to the embodiment, the particulate materials and the organic compounds, which are contained in the raw water, may be more reliably removed.

According to the embodiment, the foreign substances may be more reliably removed, and the water taste may be improved.

According to the embodiment, the viruses and bacteria in the water may be more reliably removed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a water treating apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a tube configuration of the water treating apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a conceptual view of a filter for the water treating apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a conceptual view illustrating a state in which water is purified through the filter for the water treating apparatus of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a conceptual view illustrating a state in which the filter for the water treating apparatus of Fig. 3 is regenerated.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the filter for the water treating apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a region A of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a horizontal part of an electrode part, which is a portion of components according to an embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a vertical part of an electrode part, which is a portion of components according to an embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a conceptual view of a filter for a water treating apparatus according to another embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a graph illustrating results obtained by measuring a voltage of an electrode in a filter for a water treating apparatus using a CDI manner according to the related art.

Fig. 12 is a graph illustrating results obtained by measuring a voltage of an electrode in a filter for a water treating apparatus using a CDI manner according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein, and a person of ordinary skill in the art, who understands the spirit of the present invention, may readily implement other embodiments included within the scope of the same concept by adding, changing, deleting, and adding components; rather, it will be understood that they are also included within the scope of the present invention.

The drawings attached to the following embodiments are embodiments of the scope of the invention, but to facilitate understanding within the scope of the present invention, in the description of the fine portions, the drawings may be expressed differently according to the drawings, and the specific portions may not be displayed according to the drawings, or may be exaggerated according to the drawings.

A water treating apparatus may be applied to various purification apparatuses such as a water purifier, a water softener, and the like. In addition, the water treating apparatus may be applied to purification units such as a washing machine, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, and the like.

Hereinafter, a water purifier is described as an example for the water treating apparatus, but is not limited thereto. For example, various embodiments may be applied to the water treating apparatus in the range of electro-adsorbing and discharging ions contained in raw water introduced from the outside.

Referring to Fig. 1, the water treating apparatus according to an embodiment may be provided as, for example, a water purifier.

The water purifier may be configured to purify water directly supplied from an external water source to cool or heat the water to be dispensed. For example, the water purifier may be a direct type hot and cold water purifier. Here, the direct type water purifier represents a water purifier in which water is dispensed when a user performs a water dispensing operation without having a water tank in which purified water is stored.

Also, an outer appearance of the water purifier 10 may be defined by coupling a plurality of panels to each other. In detail, the water purifier 10 may have an approximately hexahedral shape as a whole by coupling a front panel 11 defining an outer appearance of a front surface thereof, a side panel 12 defining an outer appearance of each of both side surfaces thereof, a rear panel defining an outer appearance of a rear surface thereof, a base panel defining an outer appearance of a bottom surface thereof, to each other. Also, a plurality of parts for purifying water are mounted in an inner space defining by coupling the panels to each other.

Also, a manipulation display unit 14 through which a user inputs an operation command of the water purifier 10, and also, an operation state of the water purifier 10 is displayed is disposed on the front panel 11.

The manipulation display unit 14 may be provided as the form of a plurality of buttons or a touch screen, and light may be irradiated onto each of the button. That is, when the user presses or touch the button of the manipulation display unit 14, light may be irradiated onto the selected button to allow the user to easily recognize the button and also to serve as a function of a display unit.

The manipulation display unit 14 is provided with buttons for selecting a type of water to be dispensed, i.e., button for selecting cold water, hot water, or purified water (room temperature water), a button for continuously dispensing water, a button for confirming whether power for hot water is applied, and a display part for displaying temperature of hot water and cold water.

Alternatively, the manipulation display unit 14 may further include a button for performing an additional function, and a portion of the buttons may be omitted.

A water chute 15 that is capable of allowing the user to manipulate so that the purified water is dispensed is disposed below the manipulation display unit 14. The water chute 15 is configured so that the user manipulates the water chute 15 to dispense the purified water. Since the water chute 15 opens and closes a water dispensing hole for dispensing purified water by the user, the water chute 15 may be expressed as a switching deice, a switching nozzle, and the like.

The water chute 15 may be configured to dispense purified water, cold water, or hot water according to a function of the water purifier 10 by the user’s manipulation. A tray for accommodating water dropping from the water chute 15 is disposed below the water chute 15, i.e., a lower end of the front surface of the front panel 11.

The tray has a hexahedral shape having a predetermined inner space, and a cover having a grill shape for filtering foreign substances is disposed on a top surface of the tray. The tray may be movable forward from the front panel 11, and thus, the user may have an advantage of containing the purified water in a water bottle having a height or a water container having a wide bottom surface.

Also, the tray further includes a buoy for confirming a level of water accommodated in the inner space thereof. Thus, the user may recognize a time, at which the water contained in the tray is emptied, by confirming the buoy, thereby improving convenience in use.

Although not shown, a plurality of components including a refrigerant cycle for cooling water, a cold water generating unit for generating cold water, and a hot water generating unit for heating water may be accommodated inside the panels defining the outer appearance of the water purifier 10.

In detail, the water purifier 10 may include at least a portion or the whole of a compressor comprising a refrigerant into a high-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant, a condenser condensing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor into a high-temperature high-pressure liquid refrigerant, and a condensation fan heat-exchanged with the condenser.

Also, the water purifier 10 may further include a filter assembly for filtering foreign substances contained in water supplied from the water supply source. The filter assembly may include a carbon filter.

Also, the water purifier 10 may further include an expansion valve for expanding the refrigerant discharged from the condenser into a low-temperature low-pressure two-phase refrigerant and an evaporator through which the low-temperature low-pressure two-phase refrigerant passing through the expansion valve flows.

Also, the water purifier 10 may further include a cold water generating unit including the evaporator and a cold water tube through which cold water flows.

Also, the water purifier 10 may further include a hot water heater for heating the supplied water at a set temperature.

Referring to Fig. 2, a water supply line L is provided from a water supply source S to the water chute 15 of the water purifier 10. Various kinds of valves and water purifying parts may be connected to the water supply line L.

In more detail, the water supply line is connected to the water supply source S, e.g., a faucet in the home, and a filter assembly 17 is disposed at any point of the water supply line to filter foreign substances contained in drinking water supplied from the water supply source S.

Also, a water supply valve 61 and a flow rate sensor 70 are successively disposed on the water supply line L connected to an outlet end of the filter assembly 17. Thus, when an amount of supplied water, which is detected by the flow rate sensor 70, reaches a set flow rate, the water supply valve 61 may be controlled to be closed.

Also, a water supply line L1 for supplying hot water, a water supply line L3 for supplying cold water, and a water supply line L2 for supplying cold water may be branched from any points of the water supply line L extending from the outlet end of the water flow sensor 70.

Also, a purified water dispensing valve 66 may be mounted on an end of the water supply line L extending from the outlet end of the flow rate sensor 70, and a hot water dispensing valve 64 may be mounted on an end of the water supply line L1 for supplying the hot water. Also, a cold water dispensing valve 65 may be mounted on an end of the water supply line L3 for supplying the cold water, and a cold water valve 63 may be mounted at any point of the water supply line L2 for supplying the cold water. The cold water valve 63 adjusts an amount of cold water to be supplied to the cold water generating unit 20.

Also, all the water supply lines extending from outlet ends of the hot water dispensing valve 64, the cold water dispensing valve 65, and the purified water dispensing valve 66 are connected to the water chute 15. Also, as illustrated in the drawing, the purified water, the cold water, and the hot water may be dispensed through a single dispensing hole. In some case, the purified water, the cold water, and the hot water may be dispensed through independent dispensing holes, respectively.

Hereinafter, a process of supplying cold water and hot water will be described.

First, in case of cold water, when the cold water valve 63 is opened to supply cold water to the cold water generating unit 20, water of the water supply line L3 for supplying cold water, which passes through the cold water generating unit 20, may be cooled by coolant to generate cold water.

Here, a refrigerant cycle for cooling the coolant my be provided in the water supply line L2 for supplying the cold water. The refrigerant cycle may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator.

Thereafter, when a cold water selection button of the manipulation display unit is pushed to open the cold water dispensing valve 65, the cold water may be dispensed through the water chute 15.

In case of hot water, water flowing along the water supply line L1 for supplying the hot water may be heated by the hot water heater 30 to generate the hot water. When the hot water selection button of the manipulation display unit is pushed to open the hot water dispensing valve 64, the hot water may be dispensed through the water chute 15.

The water treating apparatus including the water purifier having the above-described configuration according to an embodiment may include at least one filter for generating purified water from raw water. The filter will be described with reference to following description.

Hereinafter, the filter for the water treating apparatus according to an embodiment will be described.

The filter for the water treating apparatus according to an embodiment may represent one filter or several filters.

Fig. 3 is a conceptual view of the filter for the water treating apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 3, the filter for the water treating apparatus may be provided as an activated carbon filter 100.

Here, the activated carbon filter 100 may be provided as one activated carbon filter unit 100a or provided by stacking a plurality of activated carbon filter units 100a.

For example, the activated carbon filter unit 100a includes a current collector 111, a plurality of activated carbon electrodes 110, each of which is provided as an activated carbon coating layer formed by applying activated carbon on one side or both sides of the current collector 111, a plurality of electrode parts 120, each of which is connected to one end or the other end of each of the plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes 110, a spacer 130 made of an insulation material, which is inserted between the activated carbon electrodes 110 to prevent electric short circuit from occurring, and a power supply unit 140 supplying current to the activated carbon electrodes 110 through the electrode parts 120 so that the adjacent activated carbon electrodes 110 alternately have positive polarity (+ polarity) and negative polarity (- polarity). Thus, the activated filter unit 100a adsorbs ions of introduced water to remove the ions in the water and discharge the water.

As described above, the activated carbon electrode includes the current collector 111 and the activated carbon coating layer 112.

For reference, various well-known embodiments may be applied to the activated carbon electrode 110 in the range of containing the activated carbon and forming the electrode.

The current collector 111 may have a thin film shape and be provided as an electric conductor. For example, the current collector 111 may be provided as a graphite foil. In addition, various kinds of conductors may be adopted for the current collector 111.

The activated carbon coating layer 112 is disposed on one surface or both surfaces of the current collector 111.

The activated carbon coating layer 112 includes the activated carbon. Thus, when impurities of the raw water are adsorbed onto the activated carbon coating layer 112 by electrostatic attraction, the adsorbed impurities move to be diffused into holes that are called micro pores of an activated carbon surface, and then, finally adsorbed and removed from meso pores or micro pores therein.

The activated carbon electrode 110 may be variously adjusted in stacked number according to a degree of the required hardness control. For example, 80 sheets to 100 sheets of activated carbon electrodes 110 may be stacked in one activated carbon filter unit 100a.

In this embodiment, the activated carbon coating layer 112 may be disposed on only one surface of the current collector 111. As described above, the activate carbon electrode 110 in which the activated carbon coating layer 112 is disposed on only the one surface of the current collector 111 may be disposed on the uppermost end and lowermost end of the activated carbon filter unit 100a.

Here, the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed on the uppermost end may be disposed so that the activated carbon coating layer 112 faces a lower side, and the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed on the lowermost end may be disposed so that the activated carbon coating layer 112 faces an upper side.

Also, the activated carbon coating layer 112 may be disposed on both the surfaces of the current collector 111. As described above, the activate carbon electrode 110 in which the activated carbon coating layer 112 is disposed on both the surfaces of the current collector 111 may be disposed on a central portion of the activated carbon filter unit 100a except for the uppermost end and lowermost end.

As described above, when the activated carbon coating layer 112 is disposed on both the surfaces of the current collector 111, impurities contained into the raw water may be adsorbed to improve an adsorption rate and adsorption performance of the impurities.

Also, since the activated carbon coating layer 112 is disposed on both the surfaces of one current collector 111, the number of current collectors 111 may be reduced. As a result, the activated carbon filter unit 100a may be reduced in thickness, the lightweight activated carbon filter unit 100a may be realized, and manufacturing costs of the activated carbon filter unit 100a may be reduced. Also, the stacked number of activated carbon electrodes 110 may be reduced.

The spacer 130 is disposed between the activated carbon electrodes 110. The spacer 130 may be disposed between the activated carbon electrodes 110 to prevent the short circuit from occurring between the activated carbon electrodes 110. Also, the raw water may be purified while passing between the activated carbon electrodes 110 through the spacer.

Thus, the spacer 130 may be an insulator and made of a water-permeable material to prevent the short circuit from occurring between activated carbon electrodes and provide a passage through which the raw water to be purified passes. For example, the spacer 130 may be made of a nylon material having a plurality of water passages.

The electrode part 120 may be provided in a pair, connected to one end or the other end of each of plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes 110, and provided as an electric conductor. For example, the electrode part 120 may be made of a copper (Cu) material.

Also, two or more electrode parts 120 may be provided.

According to an embodiment, the electrode part 120 and the activated carbon electrode 110 may stably come into contact with each other. For this, at least a portion of the electrode part 120 may be disposed parallel to the activated carbon electrodes 110 to come into surface contact with the activated carbon electrode 110.

That is, the activated carbon electrodes 110 may be stacked in parallel to each other, and a portion of the electrode part 120 may be inserted between the activated carbon electrodes 110 in parallel to the activated carbon electrodes 110. Thus, the electrode part 120 and the activated carbon electrode 110 may come into surface contact with each other.

Thus, a contact area between the activated carbon electrode 110 and the electrode part 120 may increase so that the current may be more reliably and stably supplied. Also, conductivity between the activated carbon electrodes 110 may be improved by the electrode part 120 that comes into surface contact with the activated carbon electrode 110. Thus, a voltage supplied from the power source to the activated carbon electrode 110 may be applied without loss. Also, the voltage supplied from the power source to each of the activated carbon electrodes 110 may be uniformly applied.

Detailed description with respect to the connection between the electrode part 120 and the activated carbon electrode 110 will be described with reference to

power supply units

140 and 150 that will be described later.

The

power supply units

140 and 150 may include a power source 140 and an electric wire 150.

The power source 140 may apply a voltage in the range in which ions are adsorbed without decomposing the raw water. For example, the power source 140 may apply a voltage of about 1.5 V or less.

The electrode part 120 may have positive polarity or negative polarity according to a direction of the current flowing through the

power supply units

140 and 150.

In this embodiment, the electrode part 120 may include a first electrode part 121 and a second electrode part 122, which are spaced apart from each other.

For example, as illustrated in Fig. 3, when the first electrode part 121 disposed at a right side in the drawing has the positive polarity (+), the second electrode part 122 disposed at a left side in the drawing may have the negative polarity (-).

On the other hand, when the first electrode part 121 disposed at the right side in the drawing has the negative polarity (-), the second electrode part 122 disposed at the left side in the drawing may have the positive polarity (+).

As described above, the first electrode part 121 and the second electrode part 122, which are disposed on both sides of the activated carbon electrode 110, may have the positive polarity and the negative polarity according to the flow direction of the current.

Here, the electrode part 120 having the positive polarity may be called a positive electrode, and the electrode part having the negative polarity may be called a negative electrode.

In the plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes 110, the activated carbon electrodes adjacent to each other have to be alternately disposed on the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Here, that “the activated carbon electrodes are adjacent to each other” represents that the activated carbon electrodes approach the spacer 130 with the spacer 130 therebetween. That is, the activated carob electrode 110 disposed on the uppermost end in the drawing may be adjacent to the second activated carbon electrode 110 disposed just below the uppermost activated carbon electrode with the spacer 130 therebetween.

As described above, in order to allow the adjacent activated carbon electrodes 110 to be alternately disposed on the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the positive electrode and the negative electrode have to alternately disposed on both sides of the activated carbon electrode 110, and the plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes adjacent to each other have to be alternately connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

For example, as illustrated in Fig. 3, when the right side in the drawing is the positive electrode, and the left side in the drawing is the negative electrode, the first activated carbon electrode 110 disposed on the uppermost end in the drawing may be connected to the right positive electrode, and the second activated carbon electrode 110 disposed below the first activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the left negative electrode. Also, the third activated carbon electrode 110 disposed below the second activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the right positive electrode, and the fourth activated carbon electrode 110 disposed below the third activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the left negative electrode.

Here, the activated carbon electrode 110 connected to the positive electrode may be electrically separated from the negative electrode, and the activated carbon electrode 110 connected to the negative electrode may be electrically separated from the positive electrode.

Also, even though the right side in the drawing is the positive electrode, and the left side in the drawing is the negative electrode, the uppermost activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the left negative electrode, and the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed below the uppermost activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the right positive electrode.

For another example, when the right side in the drawing is the negative electrode, and the left side in the drawing is the positive electrode, the uppermost activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the left positive electrode, and the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed below the uppermost activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the right negative electrode.

Also, even though the right side in the drawing is the negative electrode, and the left side in the drawing is the positive electrode, the uppermost activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the right negative electrode, and the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed below the uppermost activated carbon electrode 110 may be connected to the left positive electrode.

Similarly, the activated carbon electrode 110 connected to the positive electrode may be electrically separated from the negative electrode, and the activated carbon electrode 110 connected to the negative electrode may be electrically separated from the positive electrode.

For example, the negative electrode may be disposed to be spaced apart from the activated carbon electrode 110 connected to the positive electrode, and the positive electrode may be disposed to be spaced apart from the activated carbon electrode 110 connected to the negative electrode so that the activated carbon electrode 110 connected to the positive electrode is electrically separated from the negative electrode.

Fig. 4 is a conceptual view illustrating a state in which water is purified through the filter for the water treating apparatus of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a conceptual view illustrating a state in which the filter for the water treating apparatus of Fig. 3 is regenerated.

First, referring to Fig. 4, in a state in which the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed at the left side in the drawing is charged into the positive polarity, and the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed at the right side in the drawing is charged into the negative polarity, when raw water passes between the activated carbon electrodes 110, negative ions (-) contained in the raw water are adsorbed onto the left activated carbon electrode 110 that is charged into the positive polarity, and positive ions (+) contained in the raw water are adsorbed onto the right activated carbon electrode 110 that is charged into the negative polarity.

When the negative ions (-) and the positive ions (+), which are contained in the raw water, are adsorbed and removed through the above-described process, the raw water may be purified.

On the other hand, in a state in which the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed at the right side in the drawing is charged into the positive polarity, and the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed at the left side in the drawing is charged into the negative polarity, when raw water passes between the activated carbon electrodes 110, negative ions (-) contained in the raw water are adsorbed onto the right activated carbon electrode 110 that is charged into the positive polarity, and positive ions (+) contained in the raw water are adsorbed onto the left activated carbon electrode 110 that is charged into the negative polarity.

Here, the raw water may easily pass between the activated carbon electrodes 110 through the water-permeable spacer 130 that is disposed to prevent the short circuit from occurring between the activated carbon electrodes 110 and secure the passage.

However, when the above-described adsorption is continuously performed, an amount of ions adsorbed onto the activated carbon electrode 110 increases. Thus, it is difficult to more adsorb the ions onto the activated carbon electrode 110, or the ion adsorption may be significantly deteriorated.

In this state, as illustrated in Fig. 5, a process of separating the ions adsorbed onto the activated carbon electrode 110 to regenerate the activated carbon electrode 110 is necessary.

As described above, as a method for regenerating the activated carbon electrode 110, there are a method of interrupting current supply and a method of allowing current to flow in an opposite direction when compared with the adsorption of the ions.

For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4, in the state in which the negative ions (-) contained in the raw water are adsorbed onto the left activated carbon electrode 110 that is charged into the positive polarity, and the positive ions (+) contained in the raw water are adsorbed onto the right activated carbon electrode 110 that is charged into the negative polarity, in order to regenerate the activated carbon electrode 110, the flow direction of the current may be changed so that the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed at the left side in the drawing is charged into the negative polarity, and the activated carbon electrode 110 disposed at the right side in the drawing is charged into the positive polarity.

Thus, the negative ions (-) adsorbed onto the left activated carbon electrode 110 are separated from the left activated carbon electrode 110, which is charged into the negative polarity, during the water purification, and the positive ions (+) adsorbed onto the right activated carbon electrode 110 are separated from the right activated carbon electrode 110, which is charged into the positive polarity, during the water purification.

As described above, the positive ions (+) and the negative ions (-) separated from both the activated carbon electrodes 110 are discharged to the outside together with washing water.

When the ions adsorbed onto the activated carbon electrode 110 are removed through the washing process of the activated carbon electrode 110 as described above, the ion removing performance of the activated carbon filter unit 100a may be regenerated to constantly maintain the ion removing performance.

The activated carbon filter unit 100a having the above-described configuration may be constitute the activated carbon filter 100 as a single body, or a plurality of activated carbon filter units 100a may be stacked to constitute the activated carbon filter 100.

When the activated carbon filter 100 is used, the ions contained in water may be quickly removed to reduce hardness of the water, thereby softening the water.

Also, although not shown, an ion exchange membrane may be provided to more increase the ion removal rate of the activated carbon filter 100 as necessary. When the ion exchange membrane is used as described above, the ion exchange membrane may be disposed between the spacer 130 and the activated carbon electrode 110.

Hereinafter, a structure of the electrode part that is a portion of the components and a connection structure between the electrode part and the activated carbon electrode will be described in detail.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the filter for the water treating apparatus according to an embodiment. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a region A of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a structure in which the adjacent activated carbon electrodes 110 of the plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes 110 are alternately connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode will be described.

The activated carbon electrode 110 may protrude outward from a portion connected to the electrode part 120 to form electrode connection parts 113 and 113’.

For example, when the electrodes are provided on one side and the other side of the activated carbon electrode 110, the first activated carbon electrode 110 disposed on the uppermost end may form the electrode connection part 113, which protrudes to one side, on one end thereof, and the second activated carbon electrode 110 disposed below the first activated carbon electrode 110 may form the electrode connection part 113’, which protrudes to the other side, on an end of the other side thereof. Hereinafter, each of the odd-numbered activated carbon electrodes 110 may form the electrode connection part 113 protruding to one side at one end thereof, and each of the even-numbered activated carbon electrodes 110 may form the electrode connection part 113 'protruding to the other side at the other end thereof.

In this state, the electrode disposed on the one side may be connected to the electrode connection part 113 of the odd-numbered activated carbon electrode 110 protruding to one side thereof, and the electrode disposed on the other side may be connected to the electrode connection part 113' of the even-numbered activated carbon electrode 110 protruding the other side thereof.

Here, the one side and the other side may represent opposite directions facing each other or directions perpendicular to each other. Also, the one side and the other side may represent front and rear directions.

For another example, when the electrodes are provided on the front of one side and the rear of one side of the activated carbon electrode 110, the first activated carbon electrode 110 disposed on the uppermost end may form the electrode connection part 113, which protrudes to one side, at the front of the one side thereof, and the second activated carbon electrode 110 disposed below the first activated carbon electrode 110 may form the electrode connection part 113’, which protrudes to one side, at the rear of the one side thereof. Hereinafter, each of the odd-numbered activated carbon electrodes 110 may form the electrode connection part 113 protruding to one side at the front of one side thereof, and each of the even-numbered activated carbon electrodes 110 may form the electrode connection part 113 'protruding to one side at the rear of one side thereof.

In this state, the electrode disposed at the front of the one side may be connected to all the electrode connection parts 113 of the odd-numbered activated carbon electrodes 110, which protrude to one side from the front of the one side thereof, and the electrode disposed at the rear of the one side may be connected to all the electrode connection parts 113’ of the even-numbered activated carbon electrode 110, which protrude to one side from the rear of the one side thereof.

In addition, the structure in which the adjacent activated carbon electrodes 110 of the plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes 110 are alternately connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode may be embodied through various embodiments.

When the positive electrode and the negative electrode are alternately disposed on the activated carbon electrodes 110 adjacent to each other, ions such as heavy metals contained in the raw water passing between the activated carbon electrodes spaced apart from each other by the spacer 130 may be adsorbed and removed.

Also, the electrode part 120 may include a first electrode part 121 and a second electrode part 122, which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other, and the activated carbon electrodes 110 adjacent to each other may be connected to the

electrode parts

121 and 122, which are different from each other.

For example, the electrode connection part 113 of the odd-numbered activated carbon electrode 110 protruding from the front of one side to the one side thereof may be connected to the first electrode part 121, and the electrode connection part 113’ of the even-numbered activated carbon electrode 110 protruding from the rear of one side to the one side thereof may be connected to the second electrode part 122.

The electrode part 120 may include a vertical part 123 disposed in parallel to the stacked direction of the activated carbon electrodes 110 and a plurality of horizontal parts 124 disposed in parallel to the activated carbon electrodes 110 and connected to the vertical part 123.

Each of the vertical part 123 and the horizontal part 124 may be provided as a conductor.

Also, the vertical part 123 connects the horizontal parts 124 to each other.

Also, each of the horizontal part 124 is inserted between the activated carbon electrodes 110 to come into surface contact with the activated carbon electrode 110 so as to be electrically connected to each other.

For example, the horizontal part 124 may be inserted between the odd-numbered activated carbon electrodes 111 to come into surface contact with each other. For example, the horizontal part 124 may be inserted between the even-numbered activated carbon electrodes 111 to come into surface contact with each other.

Also,

connection holes

113a and 124a are defined in positions corresponding to the horizontal part 124 and the electrode connection part 113 of the activated carbon electrode 110, and a shaft member 125 provided as a conductor is inserted into the

connection holes

113a and 124a.

Thus, the horizontal part 124 and the activated carbon electrode 110 may be electrically connected to each other through the shaft member 125 that is the conductor.

For example, the shaft member 125 may be provided as a bolt.

Also, each of both ends 126 of the shaft member 125 may be coupled through a nut 126. Thus, coupling force between the horizontal part 124 and the electrode connection part 113 may be secured.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the horizontal part of an electrode part, which is a portion of components according to an embodiment. Also, Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the vertical part of an electrode part, which is a portion of components according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the horizontal part 124 a coupling hole 124b or a coupling groove may be defined on an end of one side of the horizontal part 124, and the vertical part 123 is connected to the plurality of horizontal parts 124 through the coupling hole 124b or in a through-coupling manner.

Here, a transverse cross-section of the vertical part 123 may have the same shape as the coupling hole 124b.

Also, a protrusion part 123c may be disposed on each of both sides of the vertical part 123, and a groove part 124c into which the protrusion part 123c is accommodated may be defined in the coupling hole 124b.

Thus, when the vertical part 123 is inserted into the coupling hole 124b, the protrusion part 123c may be inserted into the groove part 124c to more improve the coupling force between the vertical part 123 and the horizontal part 124, and thus, the coupled state between the vertical part 123 and the horizontal part 124 may be maintained without being separated from each other.

Also, the horizontal part 124 may have a curved part 124d that is rounded at a portion coming into contact with the electrode connection part 113 of the activated carbon electrode 110.

Thus, the electrode connection part 113 coming into contact with the horizontal part 124 may be prevented from being damaged.

For example, the horizontal part 124 may have a semicircular shape.

Referring to Fig. 10, the filter for the water treating apparatus may further include pre-carbon block filter for supplying purified water to the activated carbon filter 100 after water introduced from the outside is purified.

That is, raw water introduced from the outside may be primarily filtered while passing through the pre-carbon block filter 200 before being supplied to the activated carbon filter 110 and then be filtered while passing through the activated carbon filter 100.

When the pre-carbon block filter 200 is provided as described above, particulate materials and organic compounds contained in the raw water may be more reliably removed.

Also, the filter for the water treating apparatus may further include a post carbon block filter 400 that receives water passing through the activated carbon filter 100 to purify the water and thereby to discharge the purified water.

That is, the water passing through the activated carbon filter 100 may not be directly supplied to the user, but be supplied to the user after being additionally filtered while passing through the post carbon block filter 400.

When the post carbon block filter 400 is provided as described above, the foreign substances may be reliably removed to improve water taste.

Also, the filter may further include a UF membrane filter 300 that receives water passing through the activated carbon filter 100 to purify the water and thereby to discharge the purified water.

That is, the water passing through the activated carbon filter 100 may not be directly supplied to the user, but be supplied to the user after being additionally filtered while passing through the UF membrane filter 300.

When the UF membrane filter 300 is provided as described above, viruses and bacteria in the water may be more reliably removed.

In this embodiment, the water passing through the activated carbon filter 100 may be discharged after successively passing through the UF membrane filter 300 and the post carbon block filter 400, and the UF membrane filter 300 and the post carbon block filter 400 may be longitudinally arranged to be installed within one filter housing.

As described above, when the UF membrane filter 300 and the post carbon block filter 400 are arranged in a line within one filter housing, filtering efficiency may be improved, and the water flow rate may be maintained.

Also, it is not necessary to expand the filter installation space defined in the water treating apparatus, and also the filter may be just applied by simply replacing the existing filter.

Also, the filter may be reduced in volume to improve space utilization, and also, slimming of the water treating apparatus may be achieved.

Although not shown, the filter for the water treating apparatus may include a plurality of activated carbon filters 100.

When the plurality of activated carbon filters 100 are provided as described above, raw water may pass several through the activated carbon filters 100, and thus, various ions contained in the raw water may be more reliably adsorbed onto and removed from the activated carbon electrode 110.

Thus, the number of activated carbon filters 100 may freely increase or decrease according to the state of the raw water and the required water purification performance.

Hereinafter, a process of purifying raw water introduced from the outside by using a filter for a water treating apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be described.

Referring to Fig. 10, water to be treated, which is introduced from the outside, passes through a pre-carbon block filter 200. In this process, particulate materials and organic compounds contained in the water to be treated may be removed to perform first purification for the water to be treated. Thereafter, the treated water on which the first purification is completed passes through an activated carbon filter 100. In this process, positive ions, negative ions, and charged particles, which are contained in the water to be treated, are adsorbed onto and removed from the activated carbon filter 100 to perform second purification for the water to be treated. Thereafter, the treated water on which the second purification is completed passes through a UF membrane filter 300. In this process, viruses and bacteria contained in the water to be treated may be removed to perform third purification for the water to be treated. Thereafter, the treated water on which the third purification is completed passes through a post carbon block filter 400. In this process, foreign substances contained in the water to be treated may be removed to perform fourth purification for the water to be treated.

As described above, the water to be treated may pass through the filter constituted by the pre-carbon block filter 200, the activated carbon filter 100, the UF membrane filter 300, and the post carbon block filter 400 to reduce the hardness of the water, thereby reliably removing the foreign substances such as microorganisms in the water and improving the water taste.

Fig. 11 is a graph illustrating results obtained by measuring a voltage of an electrode in a filter for a water treating apparatus using a CDI manner according to the related art. Fig. 12 is a graph illustrating results obtained by measuring a voltage of an electrode in a filter for a water treating apparatus using a CDI manner according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, when compared with the related art, it is confirmed that a difference between a supplied voltage outputted from a power source and a voltage detected in an electrode is reduced. That is, when compared with the related art, it is confirmed that a voltage similar to the supplied voltage is applied to each of the activated carbon electrodes 110. Therefore, energy efficiency may be improved, and also, ion adsorption may be improved.

Also, when compared with the related art, it is confirmed that a difference between the electrodes is reduced. That is, it is confirmed that the uniform voltage is applied to the activated carbon electrodes 110 regardless to the stacked positions of the activated carbon electrodes 110 (or regardless of a distance from the power source). Therefore, the ion adsorption may be uniformly distributed to secure the desalinization efficiency in all regions within the electrode.

Claims

A filter for a water treating apparatus which is provided by stacking at least one or more activated carbon filter units and which absorbs ions in introduced water to remove the ions in the water and discharge the water from which the ions are removed, the filter comprising:

a plurality of activated carbon electrodes, each of which comprises a current collector and activated carbon disposed on a surface of the current collector and has a plate shape;

a spacer made of an insulation material and inserted between the activated carbon electrodes to prevent short circuit from occurring;

a plurality of electrode parts, each of which is connected to one side or the other side of each of the plurality of stacked activated carbon electrodes and of which at least a portion is disposed parallel to the activated carbon electrode to come into surface contact with the activated carbon electrode; and

a power supply unit supplying current to the activated carbon electrodes through the electrode parts so that the activated carbon electrodes adjacent to each other alternately provide a positive electrode and a negative electrode.
The filter according to claim 1, wherein the electrode parts comprise a first electrode part and a second electrode part, which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other, and

the activated carbon electrodes adjacent to each other are disposed on the electrode parts different from each other, respectively.
The filter according to claim 1, wherein a portion of each of the activated carbon electrodes, which is connected to each of the electrode parts, protrudes outward to provide an electrode connection part.
The filter according to claim 1, wherein each of the electrode parts comprises:

a vertical part disposed parallel to the stacked direction of the activated carbon electrodes;

a plurality of horizontal parts disposed parallel to the activated carbon electrodes and connected to the vertical part.
The filter according to claim 4, wherein a connection hole is defined in a position at which each of the horizontal parts and each of the activated carbon electrodes correspond to each other, and a shaft member provided as a conductor is inserted into the connection hole.
The filter according to claim 4, wherein each of the horizontal parts has a coupling hole in an end of one side thereof, and

the vertical part is connected to the plurality of horizontal parts in a manner in which the vertical part passes through the coupling hole.
The filter according to claim 6, wherein the vertical part has a transverse cross-section having the same shape as that of the coupling hole.
The filter according to claim 4, wherein each of the horizontal parts comprises a rounded curved part at a portion thereof, which comes into contact with the activated carbon electrode.
The filter according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit supplies current in one direction when the water to be treated is supplied to the activated carbon filter units to adsorb ions onto the activated carbon electrodes and remove the ions in the water.
The filter according to claim 9, wherein the power supply unit supplies current in the other direction when the water to be treated is supplied to the activated carbon filter units to discharge the ions adsorbed onto the activated carbon electrodes into the water and thereby to regenerate the activated carbon electrodes.
The filter according to claim 1, wherein the activated carbon electrodes is provided by applying a mixture, in which activated carbon particles, conductive polymer particles, and a binder are mixed, on a surface of the current collector.
The filter according to claim 1, further comprising a pre-carbon block filter supplying water to the activated carbon filter units after purifying the water introduced from the outside.
The filter according to claim 1, further comprising a post carbon block filter that receives water passing through the activated carbon filter units to purify the water and discharge the purified water.
The filter according to claim 13, further comprising a UF membrane filter that receives the water passing through the activated carbon filter units to purify the water and discharge the purified water.
The filter according to claim 14, wherein the water passing through the activated carbon filter units is discharged after successively passing through the UF membrane filter and the post carbon block filter, and the UF membrane filter and the post carbon block filter are longitudinally arranged to be installed within one housing.
A water treating apparatus in which a filter is installed to remove foreign substances contained in introduced raw water,

wherein the filter is provided as the filter according to any one of claims 1 to 15.