Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Physical type apparatus – Means separating or dissolving a material constituent
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-09
2001-04-03
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Physical type apparatus
Means separating or dissolving a material constituent
C422S275000, C422S283000, C137S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of water treatment systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for dissolving potassium permanganate (KMnO
4
) crystals in water to produce a uniform saturated potassium permanganate solution and for dispensing the solution to regenerate manganese oxide based iron removal water treatment systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Iron dissolved in water used for residential and commercial purposes can cause problems which make its removal desirable. For example, water with a high iron content can cause rust stains on clothing and plumbing fixtures and can make food and beverages taste unpleasant.
One commonly used method for removing iron from water involves flowing a stream of the water through a mineral bed containing “manganese greensand,” a material consisting of small pebble-like particles coated with manganese oxide (MnO
2
). The manganese greensand oxidizes the dissolved iron, thereby allowing the iron to precipitate in a solid form which can be filtered out. However, this oxidation process gradually exhausts the water treatment capability of the manganese greensand, so that its ability to remove iron from water becomes degraded. When this occurs, the manganese greensand may be regenerated by exposing it to a solution containing an appropriate oxidizer most commonly potassium permanganate, which process restores its iron removal capability. Typically, the regeneration process is performed automatically at periodic intervals to prevent the mineral bed from ever becoming completely exhausted.
Typically, a feeder provides the potassium permanganate solution needed for regeneration. A number of different feeder designs are known. Generally, a quantity of potassium permanganate crystals sufficient to supply many regenerations is placed in the feeder. Water is added to the feeder to dissolve a portion of the potassium permanganate crystals, and the feeder is able to dispense the resulting solution to the iron removal system.
For the manganese greensand to be fully regenerated by the regeneration process, it must be exposed to a solution having a sufficient amount of potassium permanganate present therein. This, in turn, means that the feeder must dissolve this sufficient amount of potassium permanganate and dispense the solution to the iron removal system. One way to ensure that a sufficient amount of potassium permanganate is provided for regeneration is to add a known amount of water to the feeder containing potassium permanganate crystals, so that potassium permanganate solution having a known saturation is formed, and then to dispense all of this solution for regeneration.
However, it is difficult to form a saturated potassium permanganate solution, and it is especially difficult to achieve a uniform level of saturation with each regeneration as the amount of potassium permanganate crystals present in the feeder decreases. Specifically, in many feeder designs the level of saturation decreases as the amount of potassium permanganate crystals decreases.
One way of achieving a more uniform saturation is to wait a long period of time after adding the water to the feeder before dispensing the solution. However, with many iron removal systems this is not possible because the automatic regeneration process applies suction to the feeder to withdraw solution almost immediately after the water is added to the feeder. With such a short amount of time to dissolve the potassium permanganate, it is particularly difficult to provide a uniform saturated solution.
The handling of potassium permanganate also presents a number of additional difficulties. Potassium permanganate is very reactive and, over time, tends to corrode or degrade many common materials. It also stains skin, clothing, and other materials and is damaging to the environment. Accordingly, it is crucial that any leakage or spillage of potassium permanganate crystals or solution be minimized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a feeder which can dispense, as needed, the potassium permanganate solution required to regenerate manganese oxide based iron removal systems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a feeder which is able to receive a quantity of water to dissolve potassium permanganate crystals and which is then able to dispense a sufficiently saturated potassium permanganate solution shortly after this quantity of water has been added.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a feeder which is able to dispense repeatedly a potassium permanganate solution having a level of saturation which remains uniform even though the amount of solid potassium permanganate present in the feeder decreases with each regeneration.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a potassium permanganate feeder which works reliably over a long period of time.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a potassium permanganate feeder which minimizes the spillage or leakage of potassium permanganate solution.
In accordance with the present invention, a potassium permanganate feeder is provided which is able to dispense a uniform saturated potassium permanganate solution for the regeneration of manganese oxide based iron removal systems. An inlet and outlet container are disposed in an outer container, and inlet and outlet tubes are disposed in the inlet and outlet containers, respectively. A common tube is connected at one end to the iron removal system and is connected at the other end to the inlet and outlet tubes of the feeder. An inlet check valve allows fluid to pass through the inlet tube only in the direction toward the inlet container, and an outlet check valve allows fluid to pass through the outlet tube only in the direction away from the outlet container. Potassium permanganate crystals are placed in the outer container in the space between the inlet and outlet containers. The inlet and outlet containers each include a porous barrier in the form of a screen which allows water and solution to pass through but which substantially excludes the passage of the potassium permanganate crystals.
When regeneration is required, the iron removal system introduces a quantity of water to the common tube which the check valves direct to the inlet tube. An automatic shut-off valve, such as a float valve, prevents overfilling. The water flows into the inlet container and through the screen to dissolve a portion of the potassium permanganate crystals to form a saturated potassium permanganate solution which then flows into the outlet container. After the quantity of water has been introduced into the feeder, the iron removal system provides a suction on the common tube which closes the check valve in the inlet tube and opens the check valve in the outlet tube. As a result, saturated potassium permanganate solution is drawn into the outlet tube to supply the iron removal system through the common tube.
REFERENCES:
patent: 203981 (1878-05-01), Adamson et al.
patent: 409234 (1889-08-01), Quinn
patent: 452764 (1891-05-01), Salathe
patent: 939131 (1909-11-01), Hensel
patent: 1978536 (1934-10-01), Jeavons et al.
patent: 2072976 (1937-03-01), Andrus
patent: 3167506 (1965-01-01), Fackler et al.
patent: 3502442 (1970-03-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 3753495 (1973-08-01), Bjork
patent: 3766940 (1973-10-01), Mason
patent: 3772193 (1973-11-01), Nelli et al.
patent: 3841349 (1974-10-01), Todd
patent: 3864090 (1975-02-01), Richards
patent: 3969605 (1976-07-01), Danell
patent: 4026673 (1977-05-01), Russo
patent: 4059522 (1977-11-01), Polley et al.
patent: 4250910 (1981-02-01), King
patent: 4286573 (1981-09-01), Nickel
patent: 4303515 (1981-12-01), Rademacher
patent: 4385034 (1983-05-01), Gacer
patent: 4407322 (1983-10-01), Moore et al.
patent: 4419233 (1983-12-01), Baker
patent: 4579142 (1986-04-01), Jung-Chao
patent: 4582099 (1986-04-01), McDaniel et al.
patent: 4655247 (1987-04-01), Westra et al.
patent: 4687019 (1987-08-0
Larson Ralph H.
Schlafer John L.
Ecowater Systems, Inc.
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe
Snider Theresa T.
Till Terrence R.
LandOfFree
Permanganate feeder for iron filter does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Permanganate feeder for iron filter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Permanganate feeder for iron filter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2541260