Liquid purification or separation – Flow – fluid pressure or material level – responsive – Diverse sensing means
Patent
1995-06-29
1998-08-04
Drodge, Joseph W.
Liquid purification or separation
Flow, fluid pressure or material level, responsive
Diverse sensing means
96157, 96173, 210104, 210149, 210180, 210188, 2101952, 2102572, 210640, B01D 1712, B01D 6136, B01D 6158
Patent
active
057888353
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water purifier of the kind defined in the preamble of claim 1, and then particularly to a water purifier for domestic use. More specifically, the invention relates to a water purifier which purifies water by membrane distillation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Membrane distillation per se is known to the art. For instance, European Patent Specification EP-0 118 760 teaches an arrangement for separating a volatile component from a solution, by pervaporation through vapour permeable membranes. These membranes are stretched in frames which separate different chambers one from the other. Crude water flows upwards in crude medium chambers at the same time as hot water flows down in heating chambers. Permeate is obtained in separate intermediate permeate chambers, by vaporization through the membranes.
The German Patent Specification DE 3441190 also discloses pervaporation through membranes from crude medium chambers to permeate chambers, which are cooled with the aid of coolant on a side opposite the associated crude medium chamber.
Although these and similar devices fulfil the purpose for which they are intended, they are not suited as a product for, e.g., domestic use, i.e. a use in which relatively small quantities of water are concerned and where purity demands and demands for very easy handling of the device are very high. The object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier of this kind.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventive water purifier is defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1 and includes degassing means, membrane means and outlet means. The degassing means functions to degas incoming crude water prior to commencing membrane distillation. The membrane means functions to distill degassed water. The outlet means functions to empty remaining degassed, undistilled water when the level of degassed undistilled water has fallen to a predetermined lower level.
According to a further development of the invention the water purifier includes a container for incoming crude water. The container is provided with upper and lower level sensors and a temperature sensor, when the crude water reaches an upper level in the container the upper level sensor functions to activate the start of circulation means for the circulation of crude water to the degassing means and also the start of crude water heating means, when the falling water level reaches the lower water level in the container, the lower level sensor functions to activate opening of the outlet means so as to discharge the undistilled water that remains. Furthermore, when the temperature of the crude water reaches a given value, the temperature sensor functions to cause circulation to the degassing means to stop and to cause the circulation of degassed water to the membrane means, where distillation takes place, to begin.
These and other characteristic features of an inventive water purifier are set forth in the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying sole figure, which illustrates an inventive water purifier schematically and in perspective, with parts being cut away so that the construction can be more easily seen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The illustrated water purifier includes within a closed housing:
a fixed container 3 intended for incoming crude water and having fitted thereto an upper level sensor 4, a lower level sensor 18 and a temperature sensor 11;
degassing means 7;
fan means 10 mounted in the vicinity of the degassing means 7;
membrane means 16 fitted with air cooling means 161;
crude water circulating means 5;
crude water heating means 9;
outlet means 20 for discharging remaining quantities of degassed undistilled water and excess crude water and also possible products of degassification; and
two removable cans or bins 17 (only one of which is shown) for purified water.
A brie
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Saask Aapo
Syrjala Seppo
Telander Frederic
Drodge Joseph W.
H.V. Water Purification AB
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