Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Utilizing electrical or wave energy directly applied to...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-05
2004-11-09
Lawrence, Frank M. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Utilizing electrical or wave energy directly applied to...
C210S760000, C210S192000, C210S202000, C210S205000, C210S260000, C422S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06814876
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to water purification systems and more particularly to multi-stage water purification systems that combine at least a plurality of a pre-filtration stage, ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation, ozone treatment and oxygenation stage, and a post-filtration stage.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Water purification systems that combine filtration, UV irradiation and ozone treatment and oxygenation are known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,266,215, 5,540,848 and 5,709,799. These do not provide modular flexibility that permits adapting the system to particular, local water purification needs. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,266,215 and 5,540,848, for example, a single canister is described that combines filtration, the UV irradiation ozone and oxygenation treatment in a single chamber, but locates a filter in the UV, ozone, oxygenation chamber and so lessens the exposure of the water to the UV and ozone. Moreover, the system is not so versatile as to allow the user to adapt the system by choosing just one of pre-filtration, post-filtration or both in combination with UV irradiation and ozone treatment.
Introducing unfiltered water into UV irradiation can be ineffective when suspended particulates render the water so murky as to prevent the penetration of UV radiation. Also filters fine enough to collect bacteria on their surface have presented the problem that such bacteria breed there. A multi-stage purification system employing separately housed stages could be expected to be considerably more expensive than an all-in-one filtering, UV irradiating, ozone treating and oxygenation unit. Accordingly, there is a need for a water purification system and method that permits adaptation to existing conditions by separately housing a pre-filtration station, a UV irradiation and ozone treatment station and a post-filtration station, but that is carefully designed and constructed so as not to unreasonably increase the expense of manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention there is provided a water purification system and method that, in addition to ultraviolet light irradiation, ozone treatment and oxygenation, provides such filtration as is required for the water that is available at a particular location. In this system, one canister defines a chamber for ultraviolet irradiation, ozone treatment and oxygenation and one or more other canisters provide one or more chambers for pre-filtration and/or post-filtration. As used here, “pre-filtration” means filtering of water prior to its introduction to the location where ultraviolet irradiation occurs. “Post-filtration” means filtering the water downstream from such location of ultraviolet irradiation treatment. “Pre-filter” and “post-filter” mean the filters used for pre-filtration and post-filtration, respectively.
Water quality and chemistry can vary dramatically for region to region. The three chamber integrated design of this invention allows use of the best available technologies in unique series to handle a wide range of localized water problems. A customized pre-filter can be installed to handle specific contaminants to be followed by ozonation, UV exposure (and resulting photo-catalytic oxidation) and carbon block filtration.
Individual chambers for, first, pre-filtration, second, ozone/UV oxygenation treatment and, third, post-filtration not only allow greater exposure to UV and ozone in the chamber devoted to that treatment, but permit the use of larger, more effective filters and allow the filtration to be chosen as desired to suit local conditions, or even eliminated if one of the filtration stages is not necessary. Where the available water is murky due to an abundance of particulates, pre-filtration clarifies the water. In the canister where the irradiation occurs (“the irradiation canister”), then, ultraviolet light can effectively treat the water without being blocked by the murkiness such particulates cause. Preferably, pre-filtration occurs in a canister defining a chamber in which a filter is located that eliminates almost all particulates larger than 5 microns in size. The filtering is “non-bypass.” This means that every drop of water passing through the pre-filtration station is filtered prior to moving to the irradiation station. At the irradiation station, the entire elongate tubular ultraviolet lamp is exposed to the water moving along its length. The absence of any filter at this location means that the entire length of the lamp that is within the irradiation location contributes to ultraviolet irradiation. Ozone is produced in this location and that ozone is introduced into the water moving through the irradiation chamber.
The order of the technologies employed in accordance with the invention is quite important. In a preferred embodiment, a 5 micron polypropylene sediment filter is in the pre-filter chamber. If UV radiation is to be effective, the treated water must be optically clear to allow the UV radiation to pass through the water. If the water is cloudy, the UV radiation cannot pierce the cell membrane of bacteria and/or virus making it impossible to destroy its DNA and ability to reproduce. With pre-filtration this problem is overcome. As the water passes through the ozone/UV/advanced oxidation chamber, bacteria and virus are destroyed. The ozonated water then passes to the carbon block filter chamber. The filter removes any residual ozone, but not before it has had a chance to oxidize contaminants trapped on the outside layers of the carbon block. Each technology compliments the previous leaving completely sanitized and better tasting water.
The filters used can be common, commercially available filters. Ordinarily they are purchased separately and require installation. The three chamber system combines pre- and post-filtration into one, easy to install, easy to service system. Importantly, pre-filters can be selected to eliminate or substantially reduce specific contaminants prior to the UV irradiation, ozone, oxygenation and carbon block filtration processes. For example, some areas have a high degree of calcium, nitrates, arsenic, or fluoride. Pre-filters can be selected to remove these contaminants and installed in less than one minute.
A subsequent, post-filtration canister defines a chamber in which another finer filter is located. Again, the filtration is “non-bypass.” This post-filtration filter may be a carbon block filter that removes particulates down to one micron in size. Because of effective irradiation and ozone treatment prior to post-filtration, bacteria collected on the surface of the post-filtration filter has been effectively killed and will not breed there.
The system may be a two or three canister system, depending on what filtration is required by local conditions. To limit the expense of the use of multiple canisters, a single molded exterior is used for every canister. This means only a single injection mold needs to be employed for the manufacture of the system. As for the interior, the molded canisters are similar, but the irradiation chamber of the irradiation canister is molded with a mold core that provides openings that are characteristic of this canister. One such opening is for the insertion and securing of the elongate ultraviolet lamp and a quartz cylinder that extend into and along the length of the chamber. Another opening accommodates a check valve leading to a venturi in the water flow path for drawing ozone past the check valve and into the water flow. A third opening accommodates a pressure sensor used to turn on the ultraviolet lamp when water pressure is present, as when a tap supplying the system is opened.
The similarity of the exteriors of the canisters means that they are interchangeably supported in a supporting frame adapted to hold two or more of the canisters.
The system combines five proven technologies into one convenient, easy to install, point-of-use device that produces quality drinking water directly from the tap. The efficient and compact system has been designed to install quic
Gallagher & Kennedy P.A.
Lawrence Frank M.
MacBlain Thomas D.
Vortech Latinoamerica
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