WATER HYGIENE IMPROVING SYSTEM AND METHODS

• US 20190330091A1
• Filed: 04/30/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seccua Holding AG (Hummel Familien-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH + Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Seccua Holding AG (Hummel Familien-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH + Co. KG)
• Inventors: Hank, Michael, Buntig, Yannick
• Granted Patent: US 11,053,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/44 by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/06 Nutrients for stimulating the growth of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/14 Treatment of water in water supply networks, e.g. to prevent bacterial growth
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/02 Aerobic processes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/06 using submerged filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/04 Domestic or like local pipe systems domestic plumbing E03C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/074 Arrangement of water treatment devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/08 Arrangement of draining devices, e.g. manual shut-off valvesdraining devices in general F16K, F16L
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/10 Devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes, e.g. means for aerating self-closing flushing valves vacuum-breakers in general F16K, F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/00 Hot-water central heating systems district heating systems F24D10/00; central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses F24D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/20 Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

A water hygiene improving system and method are provided which may include and utilize one or more water hygiene improving devices which may be coupled to a building water supply network at any number of locations so that water passing through each water hygiene improving device is returned to the building water supply network. The water hygiene improving device may include one or more membrane filtration systems and optionally one or more bioreactors. The system and method include a new and innovative approach for surviving or improving water hygiene within the whole water supply network of new or existing buildings, for prevention of their contamination with legionella or other pathogens, general limitation of biofilm growth and their negative effects on water hygiene, also at point of use (POU), and water distribution within new or existing buildings by limitation of incoming nutrients, bacteria and other microorganisms at point of entry (POE) of buildings or at other locations of the water supply network within the building.

Claims

1. A water hygiene improving method for improving the water hygiene of a building water supply network, the method comprising the steps of:

passing water that is in communication with the building water supply network into a water hygiene improving device;

removing a first nutrient from the water passing through the water hygiene improving device;

removing a microorganism from the water passing through the water hygiene improving device; and

returning water from the water hygiene improving device into the building water supply network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used for prevention of microorganism contamination in a new building water supply network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used for reduction of microorganism contamination in an existing building water supply network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hygiene improving device is positioned proximate to a point of entry to limit the entrance of nutrients and microorganisms into the building water supply network from a public water distribution.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the water hygiene improving device is positioned within a hot water circulation loop of the building water supply network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hygiene improving device is positioned proximate to an outlet of a building water supply network to limit nutrients and microorganisms in water dispensed out of the outlet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the hygiene improving device is configured to prevent biofilm growth within the building water supply network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the water hygiene improving device comprises a granulated activated carbon filter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the water hygiene improving device comprises a first bioreactor having a first biofilm that is configured to remove the first nutrient from the water passing through the water hygiene improving device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the bioreactor comprises a culturing surface, the culturing surface providing a second nutrient that is used by the biofilm for the reduction of the first nutrient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of removing a third nutrient from the water passing through the second bioreactor via the water hygiene improving device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the water hygiene improving device comprises a second bioreactor having a second biofilm that is configured to remove the third nutrient from the water passing through the water hygiene improving device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the water hygiene improving device comprises a membrane filtration system that is configured to remove greater than 4 log reduction of microorganisms in the water returned from the water hygiene improving device into the building water supply network.