Water Purification System and Apparatus

• US 20110226684A1
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vws UK Limited (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
• Inventors: Underwood, Lee, Fleisig, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US13/123,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20110226684A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/141
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A water purification system including at least: a water purification apparatus comprising one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream, the apparatus having one or more user-operable controls; a programmable controller in the water purification apparatus, and connected to the user-operable control(s) for receiving control commands from the controls, the programmable controller configured to control the water purification apparatus in response to the control commands; and a data interface for receiving a remote operator program from a detachable communication device for controlling operation of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A water purification system comprising at least:

(a) a water purification apparatus comprising one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream, the apparatus having one or more user-operable controls;

(b) a programmable controller in the water purification apparatus, and connected to the user-operable control(s) for receiving control commands from the controls, the programmable controller configured to control the water purification apparatus in response to the control commands; and

(c) a data interface for receiving a remote operator program from a detachable communication device for controlling operation of the apparatus.

2. A water purification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data interface comprises a USB communication interface.

3. A water purification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the remote operator program comprises one or more of the following:

(1) an operation or process beyond the availability of the user-operable controls;

(2) updating of an existing program in the controller;

(3) calibration of a component;

(4) setting of a component; and

(5) a sanitisation routine.

11. A water purification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water purification apparatus comprises one or more of the following:

pumps, meters, oxidisers, sensors, de-ionisers, valves, drains, controllers, control units, control mechanisms, taps, reservoirs, recirculation loops, filters and membranes.

12. A water purification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water purification apparatus includes a pump, a water inlet, one or more de-ionisers, and a water outlet.

13. A water purification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water purification apparatus is a stand-alone laboratory unit.

14. A water purification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the remote operator program includes operational instructions for overriding user-operable controls.

19. A water purification system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the remote operator program includes operational instructions for overriding user-operable controls.

4. A water purification system comprising at least:

(i) a water purification apparatus comprising one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream having a conductivity of less than 1 μ

S/cm;

(ii) a controller in the water purification apparatus able to provide data about the water purification apparatus; and

(iii) a relay to relay the data to a remote operator via the internet.

5. A water purification system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the relay includes a USB flash device able to receive and at least partly relay the data to the remote operator.

6. A water purification system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the data comprises one or more of the following:

(1) component data such as a component lifetime and/or water quality therefrom;

(2) a dispense operation history; and

(3) cumulative operational data.

7. A water purification system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the water purification apparatus includes a USB socket.

8. A water purification system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the USB socket is arranged to receive a USB Flash drive.

16. A water purification system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the remote operator program includes operational instructions for overriding user-operable controls.

9. A water purification system comprising at least:

(i) a water purification apparatus comprising one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream, preferably having a conductivity of less than 1 μ

S/cm; and

(ii) a USB socket connected to the apparatus for permitting data to be transferred between a separable USB Flash drive and the apparatus.

17. A water purification system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the remote operator program includes operational instructions for overriding user-operable controls.

10. A water purification system comprising at least:

a water purification apparatus comprising one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream having a conductivity of less than 1 μ

S/cm; and

(ii) a portable memory means connectable to the water purification apparatus for supplying commands to or receiving data from the apparatus.

18. A water purification system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the remote operator program includes operational instructions for overriding user-operable controls.

15. A system for controlling a water purification apparatus, the water purification apparatus comprising one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream, the apparatus having user-operable controls;

a programmable controller in the water purification apparatus and connected to the user-operable controls for receiving control commands from the controls, the programmable controller configured to control the water purification apparatus in response to the control commands;

a data interface for receiving operator command controls for controlling operation of the apparatus; and

a communication device removably connectable to the data interface, the communication device including a storage medium containing programmable logic, the communication device adapted to provide remote operational control commands to the apparatus for controlling the operation of the apparatus.