Reverse Osmosis Filtration Devices with Rfid Tag-Powered Flow and Conductivity Meters

• US 20080296208A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydranautics (Nitto Denko Corporation), Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hydranautics (Nitto Denko Corporation), Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Ikeyama, Norio, Wilf, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,617,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/87
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/16 Flow or flux control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/243 Electrical conductivity control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/2607 Application of a magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/36 Energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/025 Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/12 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/10 Spiral-wound membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/101 Spiral winding
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/12 comprising multiple spiral-wound assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/05 Conductivity or salinity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate

Abstract

The present invention relates to reverse osmosis filtration devices, and more particularly, to membrane filtration devices (10, 11, 12) that have flow meters and fluid conductivity meters powered by RFID tags. Embodiments of the present invention comprise reverse osmosis filters and filtration systems comprising measuring devices, including flow and conductivity meters. The meters of the present invention are preferably located on or within permeate core tubes (16) of filtration devices and systems.

Claims

1. A reverse osmosis system for filtering a fluid to obtain a permeate, comprising:

a membrane filter device comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a measuring device configured to measure a value of at least one of the conductivity and the flow of the permeate, said measuring device also configured to transfer information concerning said value to said RFID tag.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is a fluid flow meter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow meter is an electromagnetic flow meter.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow meter comprises a rotatable member.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow meter comprises a strain gauge.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow meter comprises an ultrasonic flow meter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is a fluid conductivity meter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid conductivity meter comprises an electrode.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid conductivity meter comprises an electrodeless device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is powered by the RFID tag.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is powered by a battery.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the battery is rechargeable.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the battery is recharged by the RFID tag.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is powered by an external activated radio frequency energy source.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the membrane filter device is a spiral wound membrane filter device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag stores the measured value.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data retrieval device configured to communicate with the RFID tag.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the measured value is transferred to the data retrieval device via communication with the RFID tag.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data retrieval device is configured to use the measured value to calculate a value indicative of the performance of the membrane filter device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the calculated value is a normalized salt passage percentage.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the calculated value is a normalized total dissolved solids passage percentage.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is configured to store a preloaded value relating to the membrane filter device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the preloaded value is selected from a lot number, production data, and shipping data.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the preloaded value and the measured value are transferred to the data retrieval device via communication with the RFID tag, and the data retrieval device is configured to use the preloaded value and the measured value to calculate a value indicative of the performance of the membrane filter device.

25. A method for monitoring performance of a membrane filter device, comprising:

measuring a value of at least one of the conductivity and the flow of permeate through the filter device;

transferring information concerning the value to an RFID tag mounted on the filter device; and

remotely receiving information from the RFID tag.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

calculating a value indicative of the performance of the membrane filter device from the information.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the calculated value is a normalized salt passage percentage.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the calculated value is a normalized total dissolved solids passage percentage.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

storing a preloaded value relating to the membrane filter device in the RFID tag; and

calculating a value indicative of the performance of the membrane filter device from the information concerning the measured value and the preloaded value.