Self powered water purification system

• US 7,775,374 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley Aldrich, Kathleen Aldrich
• Original Assignee: Innovative American Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Barker, Carmen L., Barker, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRINCE, FRED G
• Application Number:
  US12/032,914
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 210/232, 210/252, 210/259, 210/321.6, 210/416.1, 210/416.3, 210/202, 210/203
• US Class Current: 210/416.3
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• 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: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

A water purification unit to purify potentially contaminated water is provided. The water purification unit is in fluid communication with a water source and has a pump to draw water from the water source. The water is passed through at least a main filter to purify the water and dispensed through an outlet. Power is provided to the water purification unit by a battery bank and a non-grid power source.

Claims

1. A water purification unit comprising:

a fluid inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with a water source;

a fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump adapted to draw water from the water source to the water purification unit;

a prefilter in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid pump;

a main filter in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump, and the prefilter, the main filter adapted to filtrate the water from the water source;

a prefilter bypass line in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump, and the main filter, the prefilter bypass line adapted to transport fluid from the fluid inlet to the main filter without passing through the prefilter;

a pair of prefilter isolation valves, the pair of prefilter isolation valves adapted to divert fluid to the prefilter bypass line and prevent fluid from entering the prefilter when closed;

an expansion tank in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump, the prefilter, and the main filter;

a water purification unit outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump, the prefilter, and the main filter, the water purification unit outlet adapted to provide filtered water;

a controller, the controller electrically coupled to the fluid pump;

a power system to provide electrical energy to the water purification unit;

the power system comprising;

a battery electrically coupled to the water purification unit; and

a non-grid power source electrically coupled to the battery; and

a cylindrical housing defining an interior space to house the fluid pump, prefilter, main filter, controller and the battery;

wherein the fluid pump cycles on when the water purification unit outlet is opened and the fluid pump cycles off when the water purification unit outlet is closed.

2. The water purification unit of claim 1, wherein the non-grid power source comprises at least one non-grid power source selected from the group of non-grid power sources consisting of:

a photovoltaic array, a generator, a diesel fuel cell, a methanol fuel cell, a hydrogen fuel cell, a wind turbine generator, or a vehicle power connection.

3. The water purification unit of claim 1, wherein the power system further comprises a grid connection adapted to be electrically coupled to the battery.

4. The water purification unit of claim 1, wherein the non-grid power source is a photovoltaic array coupled to an exterior of the housing.

5. The water purification unit of claim 4, wherein the photovoltaic array is rotationally coupled to the exterior of the housing such that the photovoltaic array may be rotated relative the housing.

6. The water purification unit of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a top portion rotationally connected to a remainder, and wherein the photovoltaic array is coupled to the top portion of the housing such that the photovoltaic array may be rotated relative to the remainder.

7. The water purification unit of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises diamond plate aluminum.

8. The water purification unit of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a panel adapted to allow access to the interior space.

9. The water purification unit of claim 1, wherein the main filter is selected from a group of filters consisting of:

a membrane filter, a carbon filter, a reverse osmosis filter, an ionic filter, a radiation filter, or an agent additive filter.

10. The water purification unit of claim 1, wherein the main filter is a membrane filter and the prefilter filters relatively large particulate and the membrane filter filters relatively small particulate.

11. The water purification unit of claim 10, wherein the prefilter is 20 micron filter and the membrane filter is a 2 micron filter.

12. The water purification system of claim 11, wherein the housing is formed from diamond plate aluminum.

13. The water purification unit of claim 12, wherein the non-grid means for providing electrical power is a renewable energy source.

14. The water purification system of claim 11, wherein the photovoltaic array is mounted to an exterior of the housing and rotatable.

15. The water purification unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to mount in a vehicle and the non-grid power source is a vehicle power connection.

16. A water purification system comprising:

a water source;

an inlet pipe;

a cylindrical housing; and

a water purification unit contained in the cylindrical housing, the water purification unit comprising;

a fluid inlet coupled to the inlet pipe and in fluid communication with the water source;

a fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump adapted to draw water from the water source to the water purification unit;

a coarse particulate filter in fluid communication with the fluid pump and the fluid inlet, the coarse particulate filter adapted to filtrate the water from the water source;

a fine particulate filter in fluid communication with the fluid pump, the fluid inlet, and the coarse particulate filter, the fine particulate filter adapted to filtrate the water from the water source;

a coarse particulate filter bypass line in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump, and the fine particulate filter, the coarse particulate filter bypass line adapted to transport fluid from the fluid inlet to the fine particulate filter without passing through the coarse particulate filter;

a pair of coarse particulate filter isolation valves, the pair of coarse particulate filter isolation valves adapted to divert fluid to the coarse particulate filter bypass line and prevent fluid from entering the coarse particulate filter when closed;

an expansion tank in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump, the coarse particulate filter, and the fine particulate filter;

an outlet isolation valve in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump, the coarse particulate filter, and the fine particulate filter, the outlet isolation valve adapted to provide filtered water when opened;

a controller electrically coupled to at least the fluid pump;

a battery electrically coupled to the water purification unit; and

a photovoltaic array coupled to the battery and the water purification unit such that the battery and photovoltaic array provide electrical power to the water purification unit;

wherein the fluid pump cycles on when the outlet isolation valve is opened and the fluid pump cycles off when the outlet isolation valve is closed.

17. A water purification unit, comprising:

a fluid inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with a water source;

means for drawing fluid from the water source through the water purification unit;

first means for purifying the water from the water source;

second means for purifying the water from the water source;

a bypass line in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the means for drawing fluid, and the second means for purifying the water, the bypass line adapted to transport fluid from the fluid inlet to the second means for purifying the water without passing through the first means for purifying the water;

a pair of isolation valves, the pair of isolation valves adapted to divert fluid to the bypass line and prevent fluid from entering the first means for purifying the water when closed;

an expansion tank in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the fluid pump, the first means for purifying the water, and the second for purifying the water;

means for dispensing purified water from the water purification unit; and

non-grid means for providing electrical power to the water purification unit;

wherein the means for drawing fluid cycles on when the means for dispensing purified water is opened and the means for drawing fluid cycles off when the means for dispensing purified water is closed.