Electroionic water disinfection apparatus
First Claim
1. A disinfection apparatus for disinfection of wastewater and/or potable water, the disinfection apparatus comprising:
- an electrolytic flow cell including at least two spaced apart electrodes positioned in a flow line of a dynamic flow system which operates at high flow rates in large pipes and open channels through which wastewater and/or potable water passes the therethrough;
a DC power supply coupled to a polarity switching circuit and connected to said electrodes, said power supply operable to create an ionic current flow between said electrodes and operable to create a current density for disinfection of the wastewater and/or potable water;
an ultrasonic generator coupled to said electrodes;
an on-line microbial fluorometric monitor coupled to the input and output of said flow cell with sensors in said flow line to detect and quantify the total microbial population density of said wastwater and/or potable water;
a flow meter coupled to said flow line;
a power supply controller coupled to said power supply and receiving inputs from said on-line microbial fluorometric monitor and said flow meter for adjusting the power output level of said power supply, minimizing electric power consumption.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the disinfection of water and wastewater contaminated with bacteria and other microorganisms. The apparatus includes an electrolytic flow cell including electrodes forming a part of flow pipe or open channel through which water or wastewater passes. The electrodes are formed of iron, stainless steel, carbon or copper and connected to a power supply voltage in the range of 20 to 100 volts and establishing a current in the range of 1 to 6 amperes. Disinfection results from either metal ions impacting microbial cells or through the generation of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals and hypochlorous acid. When the electrodes are copper, toxic metal contamination limits are established through proper design of the flow cell. An ultrasonic transducer is connected to the electrodes and enhances hydroxyl radical generation.
51 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A disinfection apparatus for disinfection of wastewater and/or potable water, the disinfection apparatus comprising:
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an electrolytic flow cell including at least two spaced apart electrodes positioned in a flow line of a dynamic flow system which operates at high flow rates in large pipes and open channels through which wastewater and/or potable water passes the therethrough;
a DC power supply coupled to a polarity switching circuit and connected to said electrodes, said power supply operable to create an ionic current flow between said electrodes and operable to create a current density for disinfection of the wastewater and/or potable water;
an ultrasonic generator coupled to said electrodes;
an on-line microbial fluorometric monitor coupled to the input and output of said flow cell with sensors in said flow line to detect and quantify the total microbial population density of said wastwater and/or potable water;
a flow meter coupled to said flow line;
a power supply controller coupled to said power supply and receiving inputs from said on-line microbial fluorometric monitor and said flow meter for adjusting the power output level of said power supply, minimizing electric power consumption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electroionic disinfection apparatus for disinfecting water including wastewater and/or potable water, the electroionic disinfection apparatus comprising:
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an electroionic flow cell including at least two spaced apart electrodes positioned in a flow line including a pipe or open channel through which said water passes therethrough;
a DC power supply coupled to a polarity switching circuit and connected to said electrodes;
an ultrasonic generator coupled to said electrodes;
an on-line microbial fluorometric monitor coupled to the input and output of said flow cell with sensors in said flow line;
a flow meter coupled to said flow line; and
a power supply controller coupled to said power supply and receiving inputs from said on-line microbial fluorometric monitor and said flow meter. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for electroionically disinfecting water including wastewater and potable water, the method comprising the steps of:
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passing said water through a passageway having opposed electrodes forming opposed outer walls of said passageway;
supplying a switched bipolar DC voltage across said electrodes for establishing a current flow between said electrodes;
connecting an ultrasonic generator to said electrodes;
connecting an on-line microbial fluorometric monitor between the input and output of said passageway;
connecting a flow meter to said passageway; and
coupling a power supply controller to said power supply and receiving inputs from said on-line microbial fluorometric monitor and said flow meter. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification