Reverse osmosis system with automatic pressure relief valve

• US 4,077,883 A
• Filed: 12/29/1976
• Issued: 03/07/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Desalination Systems, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Desalination Systems, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Bray, Donald Thedore
• Primary Examiner(s): Spear, Jr., Frank A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cross, E. Rollins
• Application Number:
  US05/755,217
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 210/136, 210/137, 210/321 R, 210/433 M, 210/494
• US Class Current: 210/136
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/12 Specific discharge elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/08 Apparatus therefor

Abstract

A restrictor in the form of an elongated small duct or tube is employed for brine or concentrate flow control in a reverse osmosis system. The duct is composed of two portions, one end of one of these portions being connected to the brine output of a semipermeable membrane cartridge, and one end of the other of these two portions being connected to the brine disposal system. The other ends of both these duct portions communicate with the interior of a common compartment which, in turn, communicates through a pressure relief or check valve with the purified water collector of the semipermeable membrane cartridge. When the pressure in the purified water collector exceeds the pressure in the compartment, the check valve opens and purified water flows into the compartment and out through the portion of the elongated small duct or tube leading to concentrate disposal. The two portion small diameter duct or tube thereby acts as a restrictor for concentrate or brine flow control and also for controlling a check or pressure relief valve for pressure control in the purified water collection and storage system.

Claims

1. Reverse osmosis apparatus comprising a semipermeable membrane cartridge enclosed in a pressure resistant container;

means for introducing pressurized liquid to be purified into said pressure resistant container and into said semipermeable membrane cartridge;

means for releasing concentrated liquid from said semipermeable membrane cartridge and from said pressure resistant container while maintaining operating pressure therein; and

means for collecting purified liquid from said semipermeable membrane cartridge;

in which the improvements comprise;

a. said means for releasing said concentrated liquid from said pressure resistant container while maintaining operating pressure therein comprising an elongated small duct;

b. said elongated small duct comprising two portions, one end of said portions communicating with the concentrate outlet end of said semipermeable membrane cartridge, one end of one of said portions communicating with means for disposal of said concentrated liquid, and the other ends of both of said portions of said duct communicating with the interior of a common compartment;

c. said compartment sealed except for passage means provided with a check valve between the interior of said compartment and said means for collecting purified water from said semipermeable membrane cartridge; and

d. said check valve adapted to close when the pressure of liquid within said common compartment exceeds the pressure of purified liquid in said means for collecting purified liquid, and said check valve adapted to open when the pressure of purified liquid in said means for collecting purified liquid exceeds the pressure of liquid within said common compartment.

2. Reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 1, in which said elongated small duct is composed of two separate portions, the said one end of each of said portions being an open end communicating with the interior of said compartment.

3. Reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 1, in which said elongated small duct is composed of one continuous length with an aperture in the wall of said duct communicating with the interior of said compartment.

4. Reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 1, in which said compartment is of annular form and said elongated small duct is a small diameter tube coiled inside said annular compartment.

5. Reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 1, in which said elongated small diameter tube is fabricated of extruded plastic.

6. Reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 4, in which said elongated small diameter tube is coiled around the central hub of said annular compartment.

7. Reverse osmosis apparatus according to claim 4, in which the lengths of each of said elongated small diameter tube portions are about equal.