Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Chemical treatment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-07-24
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Chemical treatment
C210S198100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264846
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the treatment of water that is discharged into the environment and, more specifically, to the processing of water such as the removal of chlorine and chloramines from water discharged from water lines during flushing, initial disinfecting, testing, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Treated water is often discharged from utility water systems during flushing, testing, and the like. Utility water is often treated for human consumption with chemicals such as chlorine.
Traditionally, chlorinated water was simply discharged into the surrounding environment. More recently, it has been recognized that chlorinated water may be disruptive to the ecology of the environment into which it is discharged. Accordingly, attempts have been made to treat the utility water before it is discharged into the environment to prevent ecological disruption.
The present invention relates to systems and methods of treating chlorinated utility water discharged into the surrounding environment such that the water does not disrupt the ecology of the surrounding environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system for processing water by mixing the water with an additive comprising a source of unprocessed water; a destination of processed water; a source of the additive; and structure defining a main passageway, a bypass passageway, and an injection passageway. The bypass passageway is in fluid communication with the main passageway at first and second locations. The injection passageway is in fluid communication with an injection portion of the bypass passageway. The injection portion of the bypass passageway is configured such that the flow of unprocessed water through the bypass passageway causes additive to flow through the injection passageway and into the bypass passageway. The additive is, in one preferred embodiment, a neutralizing reagent for chemicals such as chlorine in the unprocessed water.
The system may further comprise optional structure for creating a differential pressure between an inlet portion of the main passageway and a mixing portion of the main passageway. This structure may comprise a plurality of discs each defining a through hole of a different cross-sectional area. This structure for creating this differential pressure may alternately comprise a valve assembly such as a butterfly valve, a gate valve, a universal valve, and a ball valve.
Preferably, the injection portion of the bypass passageway has a reducing cross-sectional area portion and an increasing cross-sectional area portion. The additive enters the bypass passageway from the injection passageway at an injection location substantially between the reducing cross-sectional area portion and the increasing cross-sectional area portion.
Optionally, a tap passageway that allows fluid communication between the bypass passageway and a tap port may be provided for obtaining fresh water on site.
The present invention may also be embodied as a method of mixing the water with an additive. This method preferably comprises the steps of establishing fluid communication between a bypass passageway and a main passageway at first and second locations and between the injection passageway and an injection portion of the bypass passageway. The main passageway is connected to a source of unprocessed water and to a destination of processed water. The injection passageway is connected to the source of the additive. The injection portion of the bypass passageway is configured such that the flow of unprocessed water through the bypass passageway causes additive to flow through the injection passageway and into the bypass passageway.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4339332 (1982-07-01), Jasperson
patent: 4640782 (1987-02-01), Burleson
patent: 5350512 (1994-09-01), Tang
patent: 5447641 (1995-09-01), Wittig
patent: 5746923 (1998-05-01), Forward
patent: 6096221 (2000-08-01), Kerchouche et al.
patent: 6129850 (2000-10-01), Martin et al.
Hoey Betsey Morrison
Hughes & Schacht, PLLC
Schacht Michael R.
Simmons David A.
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