Removing hazardous contaminants from water
First Claim
1. A system for removing hazardous contaminants from water comprising:
- a tray disposed to be oriented substantially parallel to the horizon, said tray having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
a source of water in flow communication with said inlet portion;
vertical elements defining an elongated flow path for directing water across said tray, said elongated flow path extending from said inlet portion to said outlet portion;
an air diffusing element having a plurality of holes therethrough for distributing air along said elongated flow path, said holes being disposed to form a froth of water in said flow path; and
an air pump in flow communication with said tray for inducing air flow through said holes in said element to form said froth in said elongated flow path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for removing hazardous contaminants such as radon gas and volatile synthetic organic chemicals from domestic water supplies includes a perforated, horizontally-oriented tray which is baffled to define a curved (e.g., serpentine, spiral) liquid flow path. Contaminated water is distributed upon a portion of the tray and flows as directed by the baffles to a downcomer and into a storage tank. Air is blown into the storage tank, which is located below the perforated tray, and up through the perforations. The forced air causes the water flowing across the tray to froth, and evaporates the contaminants out of the frothing water. The forced air, carrying the volatilized contaminants, is then vented outside the home.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for removing hazardous contaminants from water comprising:
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a tray disposed to be oriented substantially parallel to the horizon, said tray having an inlet portion and an outlet portion; a source of water in flow communication with said inlet portion; vertical elements defining an elongated flow path for directing water across said tray, said elongated flow path extending from said inlet portion to said outlet portion; an air diffusing element having a plurality of holes therethrough for distributing air along said elongated flow path, said holes being disposed to form a froth of water in said flow path; and an air pump in flow communication with said tray for inducing air flow through said holes in said element to form said froth in said elongated flow path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for removing hazardous contaminants from water comprising:
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a tray having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and a substantially planar bottom, said bottom being disposed to be inclined relative to the horizon and having a plurality of holes therethrough; vertical elements associated with said tray, said vertical elements defining an elongated flow path for directing water across said tray, through said elongated flow path, from said inlet portion to said outlet portion; a blower for providing air to the bottom of said tray at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to form a water/air mixture consisting essentially of froth in said elongated flow path; said vertical elements being disposed to maintain said froth within said elongated flow path at a depth in the range of from 4 to 6 inches. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for removing hazardous contaminants from water comprising:
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a tray having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and a substantially planar bottom; a source of contaminated water in flow communication with said inlet portion of said tray; vertical elements associated with said tray, said vertical elements defining an elongated flow path on said tray bottom for directing water across said tray from said inlet portion to said outlet portion, said elongated flow path having an aspect ratio significantly greater than 1, the portion of said tray bottom defining the bottom of said elongated flow path having a plurality of circular holes therethrough, said vertical elements including a first weir between said source and said elongated flow path and a second weir between said elongated flow path and said outlet portion of said tray; a blower for providing air to the bottom of said tray at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to form a water/air mixture consisting essentially of froth in said elongated flow path; and said vertical elements being disposed to maintain said froth within said elongated flow path at a depth in the range of from 4 to 6 inches. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for removing hazardous organic contaminants from water comprising:
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a tray having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and a substantially planar bottom with said bottom being disposed to be inclined relative to the horizon; a source of contaminated water in flow communication with said inlet portion of said tray; vertical elements associated with said tray, said vertical elements defining a flow path on said tray bottom for directing water across said tray from said inlet portion to said outlet portion, the portion of said tray bottom defining the bottom of said elongated flow path having a plurality of circular holes therethrough, said vertical elements including a first weir between said source and said elongated flow path and a second weir between said flow path and said outlet portion of said tray; and a blower for providing air to the bottom of said tray at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to pass air through a water/air mixture comprised of an agitated froth in said flow path, said air having a flow rate such that said air passing through said froth removes greater than 90% of said hazardous organic contaminants in said contaminated water. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification