Water Purification System And Method

• US 20110197971A1
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Millipore Corporation
• Inventors: Gaignet, Yves
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/288 using composite sorbents, e.g. coated, impregnated, multi-layered
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/04 for obtaining ultra-pure water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/046 Recirculation with an external loop
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 Systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85938 Non-valved flow dividers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85954 Closed circulating system

Abstract

The invention concerns a water purification system (100) comprising a closed water recirculation loop (106) supplied at one point by a water inlet (101) with water to be purified, (and having) at least one outlet point of use of the purified water (102) and (further comprising) pumping means (103) and water purification means (150) on the loop respectively downstream of the inlet point and upstream of the at least one outlet point (102), in the water flow direction which system is characterized in that it includes two independent valves: a first valve (130) on the loop upstream of the pumping means (103), and a second valve (120) upstream of the at least one point of use outlet point (102). The invention also relates to a water purification method.

Claims

1. Water purification method allowing purified water distribution at at least two points of use simultaneously, comprising:

purifying water using water treatment means,

providing a first hydraulic connector, comprising four ports for distributing and recirculating purified water, said four ports comprising a purified fluid inlet and three outlets;

providing at least a second hydraulic connector, comprising four ports for distributing and recirculating purified water, said four ports comprising a purified fluid inlet and three outlets, wherein an outlet of said first hydraulic connector is in fluid communication with the inlet of said second hydraulic connector;

circulating the purified water in a recirculation line,

wherein for distribution in a low throughput mode, a purified water distribution line connecting the recirculation line to a purified water distribution point is opened, and the purified water recirculation line is opened, the major portion of the purified water being directly recirculated via said recirculation line;

for distribution in a high throughput mode at each point of use, the water distribution lines are opened and the recirculation line downstream of the water distribution line of said second hydraulic connector is closed, all the purified water being distributed at the distribution points via the distribution lines;

for distribution of a predetermined volume of water, the distribution line is opened and the recirculation line is closed;

for distribution in a recirculation mode of all the purified water, the recirculation line is opened and the distribution lines are closed;

and wherein water is drawn at said at least two points of use simultaneously, said high throughput mode takes priority and the throughput is distributed to each of the points of use as a function of the head losses.