Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Chemical treatment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-08-14
Popovics, Robert J. (Department: 1763)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Chemical treatment
C210S765000, C210S774000, C210S805000, C210S167050, C210S167150, C210S205000, C210S206000, C210S195100, C210S416200, C210S501000, C210S505000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06274054
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fluid treatment, and in particular to a control system for treating biological and algae contaminants normally found in industrial, commercial and recreation water.
United States industries use substantial amounts of water for its various processes. Approximately 70% of the water used goes into cooling systems. As the United States economy continues to expand water use will also expand. Because of water resource constraints, industry's use of recirculated water will expand at an ever greater rate.
Recycled water generally has impurities and bacteria build up. In open cooling towers, the addition of bacteria and particulate matter is unavoidable due to the cooling tower being exposed to the open atmosphere. Non-treatment of recycled water leads to malfunctioning of the water system, costing industry billions of dollars annually in lost production, wasted energy and premature replacement of equipment, as well as creating a regional hazardous environment about the cooling towers.
In order to control the build up of toxic bacteria, such as Legionella, traditional water treatments systems employ biocides which, while effective, are difficult to handle due to their toxicity to humans. In addition, biocide use must be monitored either manually or with automatic instrumentation. Prior art treatment systems are also costly.
Not only do United States industries use substantial amounts of water for its various processes, this country's population also uses substantial amounts of water in recreation use. One of the biggest recreational uses of water is in swimming pools and spas. Swimming pools and spas will generally use a combination of filters and chlorination as a means of controlling bacteria in water. While the biocial properties of chlorination are effective to kill bacteria, the chlorine itself may be deliterious to other equipment as well as being uncomfortable for users in the swimming pools and spas. In addition excess chlorine in the water often imparts an undesirable taste and odor to the water. Effluent chlorinated water has also been deemed harmful to the environment by the EPA.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and filtration system which removes particulate matter, algae and bacteria in water. Applicant first devised techniques for reconditioning water soluble coolants in machine tools. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,141, “Coolant Reconditioning System”, issued Nov. 16, 1999 to Applicant (“'141 patent”). Through experimentation, Applicant has found the principles of the '141 patent to also be effective in controlling a broad spectrum of algae, bacteria and fungi occurring in open recirculating cooling towers and air washers, as well as swimming pools and spas. The filtration system is a two part system providing initial filtration of particulate matter followed by biological treatment through a contact chamber with a brass wool and copper wool packed element. Applicant has found that substantially all bacteria and algae in the filtered water is eliminated. The use of brass wool and copper wool eliminates or greatly reduces the need for toxic biocides and chlorine solutions.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. dr
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a water conditioning system utilizing a separate pump system for a cooling tower.
FIG. 2
is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a water conditioning system utilizing a side stream system for a cooling tower.
FIG. 3
is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a water conditioning system for a swimming pool/spa.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional diagram of water flow through one embodiment of the invention contact chamber.
FIG. 5
is a view along the line
5
—
5
of FIG.
4
.
FIG. 6
is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention contact chamber.
FIG. 7
is a view of the embodiment of
FIG. 4
with filter bags added.
FIG. 8
is a schematic diagram of a contact chamber within the invention filter system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5985141 (1999-11-01), Murphy, Jr.
McGonagle John P.
Popovics Robert J.
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