Water treatment device and method
A point of use water purification unit for continuously and completely purifying water at all point of use for removing all chemicals, killing all microorganisms; the device having a computer monitored and controlled system for degassing, super heating and exploding water into a vacuum chamber, condensing the steam in a counter current cold brine apparatus and stored in a holding tank.
This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/914,402 which is a 371 of PCT/US97/11261 filed Jun. 27, 1997, which claims benefit of Ser. No. 60/022,015 filed Jun. 27, 1996, all incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a point of use water purification unit designed to continuously and completely purify water at all points of use such as homes, restaurants, hotels, military, sea and field units as well as desalination of sea water at the point of use. The device will remove all chemicals, all microorganisms and replete the water with essential ground minerals.
2. General Background of the Invention
Pure water for consumption, use in cooking and to maintain hygiene is a universal need. The purity and safety of water is deteriorating world wide. Tap water is no longer safe in major U.S. and foreign cities. It is contaminated by microbes, chemicals, heavy metals and in many instances ground water and sewage which gets into the distribution systems which are old and dilapidated. Improvement of municipal water treatment systems will be of little benefit. In line filtration and treatment along the distribution system will also be of little benefit because the distribution systems are old, leaky and in some instances are contaminated by lead joints. Pure water for our cities is a big challenge which will not be soon solved. It is therefore imperative that point of use water purification for all of the water used in the home be the immediate solution.
The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference:
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device that will accomplish the function of providing at the point of use a water treatment system that can convert any water into microbe free, chemical free, chlorine free, pleasant tasting, soft, mineral repleted water for the whole house, apartment, restaurant or other establishment.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system for water purification in which the feed water is preheated through a heat exchanger which takes energy from the systems refrigeration unit (condenser side) in order to conserve maximum energy.
Another object of this invention is to provide a thin water layer, centrifugal, vacuum chamber for degassing the feed water.
An additional object of this invention is to take advantage of the peculiar and little known physical character of degassed water. Pure water, when free of dissolved gases, may be heated above 100 degrees C. (up to 180 degrees C.) without boiling, but upon further heating, boiling may occur with explosive violence. This steam at (100 degrees C.) occupies a volume 1700 times greater than water at 100 degrees C.
It is a further object of the invention to isolate the degassing chamber by a series of three (3) in line valves. These valves are electronic and controlled by the on board computer controller.
Another object of the invention is to heat the degassed feed water to 260 degrees F. under pressure and then spray it into a heated 350 degrees F. vacuum chamber, where it flash vaporizes in an explosive manner, thereby providing the pressure and vaporization to evacuate the chamber into the condenser.
Another object of the invention is to provide a brine chilled counter current heat exchanger at 20 degrees F. to condense the vaporized pressured steam to chemically and microbiologically pure water at ambient temperature.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a holding tank containing a UV light source to maintain a microbial free condition of the water and providing high water level and lower water level sensors to regulate system operation through the on board microprocessor.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a booster pump which through in line pressure sensors will provide the desired pressure and flow throughout the system. This pressure and flow will be augmented by smaller in line pumps, if necessary.
A further object of the invention is to pass the water of this invention, as it flows from the holding tank, through a colloidal mineral column (to replace trace minerals) and lastly through a carbon column to assure good taste and freshness of the water.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an electronically heated (or other energy source) vegetable oil circulated through a jacket in the preheat heat exchanger and heated vacuum chamber.
A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical refrigeration unit to chill the brine of the counter current condensing chamber and to provide heat for the preheater.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a back wash capability for each part of the system which will contain a scale dissolving potable water for keeping the system clean. This back wash will be timed and sequenced by the computer processor.
Another object of the invention is to provide four degassing centrifugal vacuum chambers and four heated vacuum vaporization chambers, each of which operates as a batch process and is sequenced by the computer controller as sensors indicate the unit is operational from the stand point of temperature, pressure and vacuum.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will either be set forth in the description that follows, will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The object and advantages of the invention may be obtained by the apparatus and method particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention as embodied and as broadly described herein, a point of use water purification unit is revealed which continuously and completely purifies water at all points of use such as homes, restaurants, hotels and military field units, as well as desalinates sea water at the point of use. The device will remove all chemicals, kill all microorganisms and replete the water with essential ground minerals. The device is comprised of a computer monitored and controlled system for degassing, super heating and exploding water into a vacuum chamber, in which instant steam results. The steam is condensed in a counter current cold brine apparatus and stored in a holding tank containing ultraviolet light and is evacuated to the point of use by a booster pump flowing through a mineral repleting column and a carbon filter for freshness and the assurance of the absence of off taste.
Containment means are provided for holding these various components together in a compact package. The entire unit is monitored and controlled by a series of sensors, drivers and a computer processor.
Preferably, the containment means and all components should be covered compact and packaged for ease of installation and simplicity of operation. The unit may be housed either indoors or outdoors.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and serve to explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSFor a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
References will not be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, like referenced characters are used to designate like elements.
The water purification and conditioning unit of the invention are schematically illustrated in
Degassed water then enters counter current heat exchanger 25 where it is heated to 260 degrees F. In
Preheater (heat exchanger) 25 is heated by vegetable oil from heat source and pump 29 (260 degrees F.). Heat jackets for vacuum expansion chamber 20 are kept at 350 degrees F. by circulating vegetable oil pumped into and returning through conduit 41 into manifold 42. The conduits 43, 41 and 42 are double conduits (both inflow and outflow).
Since there are four (4) parallel batch steps in this device design, the flow of water has no detectable difference from a flow through system.
Automatic backwash is computer controlled and is done at times of no use demands on the water level in tank 31.
The following table lists the part numbers and part descriptions as used herein and in the drawings attached hereto.
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention.
Parts ListPart Number Description
1 conduit
2 heat exchanger
2a conduit
2b conduit
2c attachment means
9 circular vacuum pump
10 valve
11 degassing pots
11b baffle
11c vacuum ports
11d rotary water jets
11h motor
11i centrifugal chamber
11j baffle
11k opening
11l chamber
12 vacuum valve
13 conduit
14 valve
15 manifold
16 conduit
20 heated vacuum expansion chamber
20b ejection ports
20c baffle
20d baffle
21 valve
22 opening
23 conduit
24 valve
25 heat exchanger
25a conduit
25b conduit
26 conduit
27 valve
29 pump
30 counter current brine chiller
30a conduit
30b conduit
30c conduit
31 holding tank
32 pump
33 mineral replacement unit
33a conduit
33b feeder tank
33d conduit
33f
33g conduit
34a auto backwash
34d conduit
35 conduit
37 conduit
38 computer
39 level sensors
39a level sensors
40 manifold
41 conduit
42 manifold
43 insulation
All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
Claims
1. A method of purifying, comprising the following steps:
- a) providing a quantity of degassed water;
- b) heating the degassed water to at least 260 degrees F.;
- c) injecting the heated degassed water into a vacuum chamber to superheat the water to at least 350 degrees F.; and
- d) allowing the super heated degassed water to vaporize in an explosive fashion, evaporating rapidly and condensing in a counter current chiller.
2. The method of in claim 1, further comprising the step of draining the condensed water into a holding tank.
3. The method in claim 1, further comprising the step of pumping the condensed water out through a mineral column and a carbon column to replenish the trace minerals and remove any residual off taste.
4. The method in claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching an incoming water line to a counter current heat exchanger to preheat the incoming water and cool the high side gas in a refrigeration unit.
5. The method in claim 4, wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a first counter current conduit contained within a gas conduit.
6. The method in claim 4, wherein the water incoming into the counter current exchanger is the same temperature as the exiting gas and the exiting water is the same temperature as the incoming gas.
7. The method in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an electronically controlled valve for controlling degassed water.
8. The method in claim 1, wherein the degassed water enters a band of centrifugal, vacuum chambers through a manifold and electronic valving system, closing 2 electronic valves and wherein the centrifugal force forms a thin layer of water and the vacuum as well as the centrifugal force brings about a removal of dissolved gases from the feed water.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 21, 2006
Inventor: Robert Holcomb (Nashville, TN)
Application Number: 11/209,562
International Classification: B01D 3/06 (20060101); B01D 3/10 (20060101); C02F 1/04 (20060101);