Water purification apparatus

• US 7,578,416 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vws UK Limited (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: OTV S.A. (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Underwood, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US10/507,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/52, 222 55- 56, 222/318, 222/109, 222/189.06, 222/190, 222/144.5, 222/145.1, 222/145.5, 222/71, 222/145.6, 222/145.7, 222/129.2, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 210/650, 210/677, 210/900
• US Class Current: 222/190
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/05 Conductivity or salinity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/44 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/90 Ultra pure water, e.g. conductivity water

Abstract

A water purification apparatus having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one water purification device thereinbetween, wherein the outlet includes at least a first and second water release valve, the first release valve being operable at a first flow rate, and the second release valve being operable at a second flow, is described. Preferably, at least one water release valve is operable at a relatively slow flow rate of generally up to 0.1 liter per minute, and at least one other water release valve is operable at a relatively fast flow rate of, for example, up to 2 liters per minute. The present water purification apparatus provides the operator with the ability to very accurately obtain an exact volume of water desired.

Claims

1. A laboratory water purification apparatus for accurately dispensing purified laboratory water having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one water purification means thereinbetween, wherein the outlet includes at least a first water release valve and a second water release valve, the first water release valve being operable at a first flow rate to dispense purified water, and the second water release valve being operable at a second flow rate to dispense purified water, the first flow rate differing from the second flow rate, the first water release valve and the second water release valve being connected to a common purified water feed that is connected to the at least one purification means, the common feed for supplying said purified water from the at least one purification means to the first and second water release valves;

wherein the first water release valve and second water release valve combine their flows prior to dispense of a flow of said purified water from the outlet;

wherein at least one water release valve is operable at a relatively slow flow rate and at least one other water release valve is operable at a relatively fast flow rate.

2. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet includes further water release valve.

3. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rate of release of the purified water though the outlet is controlled by the first flow rate, or the second flow rate, or a combination thereof.

4. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water release valves operate in parallel.

5. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water release valves provide alternative flow paths for the purified water through the outlet.

6. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each water release valve is independently controllable from the or every other water release valve.

7. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one water release valve is operable at a relatively slow flow rate of up to 0.1 liters per minute, the at least one water release valve is operable at a relatively fast flow rate of up to 2 liters per minute.

8. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein operation of and/or flow rate of at least one water release valve is wholly or substantially dependent upon operation of and/or flow rate though at least one other water release valve.

9. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes one or more water pumps.

10. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the or each pump is linked with one or more of the water release valve.

11. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water release valves are operable automatically.

12. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a control means for controlling the outlet flow and flow rate through all the water release valves.

13. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control means is pre-programmed to calculate the rate of flow through each water release valves.

14. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a degree of operation of each water release valve is dependent upon an amount or volume of said purified water to be dispensed through the outlet.

15. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a recirculation system to provide recirculation around at least a part of the apparatus of any water treated by the or each water purification means.

16. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes one or more alarm means to provide a signal concerning the flow rate of the outlet and/or the flow rate of one or more of the water release valves.

17. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, adapted to provide a pre-set volume of purified water by automatic operation of one or each relevant water release valves.

18. A laboratory water purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common purified water feed is a recirculation line that leads from an outlet of the at least one purification means and connects to an inlet line leading into the at least one purification water means, and wherein the first and second water release valves connect to the recirculation line prior its connection to the inlet line.

19. A laboratory water purification apparatus for accurately dispensing purified laboratory water having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one water purification means thereinbetween, wherein the outlet includes at least a first water release valve and a second water release valve, the first water release valve being operable at a first flow rate to dispense purified water, and the second water release valve being operable at a second flow rate to dispense purified water, the first flow rate differing from the second flow rate;

wherein the first water release valve and second water release valve combine their flows prior to dispense of a flow of purified water from the outlet;

wherein at least one water release valve is operable at a relatively slow flow rate and at least one other water release valve is operable at a relatively fast flow rate, wherein operation of the relatively fast flow rate water release valve is dependent upon operation of the relatively slow flow rate water release valve.

20. A laboratory water purification apparatus for accurately dispensing purified laboratory water having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one water purification means thereinbetween, wherein the outlet includes at least a first water release valve and a second water release valve, the first water release valve being operable at a first flow rate to dispense purified water, and the second water release valve being operable at a second flow rate to dispense purified water, the first flow rate differing from the second flow rate;

wherein the first water release valve and second water release valve combine their flows prior to dispense a flow of purified water from the outlet, wherein the apparatus includes a recirculation system to provide recirculation around at least a part of the apparatus of any water treated by the or each water purification means, wherein the recirculation unit includes one or more pressure-sustaining means to maintain outlet pressure.

21. A method for accurately dispensing purified laboratory water from a laboratory water purification apparatus having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one water purification means thereinbetween, the outlet including at least a first water release valve and a second water release valve, the first water release valve and the second water release valve being connected to a common purified water feed that is connected to the at least one purification means, the common feed supplying purified water from the at least one purification means to the first and second water release valves, the first water release valve being operable at a first flow rate to dispense purified water, and the second water release valve being operable at a second flow rate to dispense purified water, the first flow rate differing from the second flow rate;

wherein the flow from the first water release valve and the flow from the second water release valve combine prior to the dispense of purified water from the outlet.

22. A method of dispensing water as claimed in claim 21, wherein the dispense of purified water from the outlet is controlled through at least one of the water release valve.

23. A method of dispensing water as claimed in claim 21, wherein the apparatus includes a pump which is automatically controlled by a control means.

24. A method of dispensing water as claimed in claim 21, wherein the purified water is provided by the first water release valve having a relatively fast flow rate followed by the second water release valve having a relatively slow flow rate.

25. A method for accurately dispensing purified laboratory water from a laboratory water purification apparatus having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one water purification means thereinbetween, the outlet including at least a first water release valve and a second water release valve, the first water release valve being operable at a first flow rate to dispense purified water, and the second water release valve being operable at a second flow rate to dispense purified water, the first flow rate differing from the second flow rate;

wherein the flow from the first water release valve and the flow from the second water release valve combine prior to the dispense of purified water from the outlet, the apparatus including a pump which is automatically controlled by a control means, wherein the second water release valve provides an initial relatively slow dispensement prior to the dispensement from the first water release valve.