Purification device, insert and method of purifying a liquid

• US 7,972,519 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nordaq Water Filter Systems AB
• Original Assignee: Nordaq Water Filter Systems AB
• Inventors: Koos, Paul, Koos, Paulina, Hahmann, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; Cameron J
• Application Number:
  US11/631,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 210/663, 210/192, 210/266, 422/22, 422/186
• US Class Current: 210/748.01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/06 Filters making use of electricity or magnetism ultrafiltration, microfiltration B01D61/14; electrodialysis, electro-osmosis B01D61/42; devices comprising filters and magnetic separators B03C1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• 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 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46176 Galvanic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/505 by oligodynamic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/03 Pressure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a purification device for the purification of a liquid such as water, preferably drinking water, which purification device comprises at least one casing (1) having at least one insert (10), said casing (1) having at least one inlet (8) and at least one outlet (9) for the liquid and said insert (10) comprising at least one filter (15) located in a flow path of the liquid. The purification device comprises at least one galvanic couple (12, 14) located in said flow path. The present invention also relates to an insert and a method of purifying a liquid.

Claims

1. A purification device for the purification of a liquid such as water which comprises at least one casing having at least one insert, said casing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for the liquid and said insert comprising at least one filter located in a flow path of the liquid, the purification device further comprising at least one galvanic couple located in said flow path, wherein said at least one filter is located downstream of said at least one galvanic couple in said flow path and consists of at least one compact piece pervious to the liquid and manufactured from powdered activated carbon whereby said at least one filter is located in said at least one galvanic couple, which galvanic couple is comprised of at least two nets of metal located at a distance from each other, making it possible for the liquid that is to be purified to pass through said at least one inlet into said casing and further radially from the outside and inwardly into, through and out of said at least one galvanic couple and further radially from the outside and inwardly into, through and out of said at least one filter and further through said at least enone outlet and out of said casing.

2. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein said insert comprises at least one galvanic couple located in said flow path, which galvanic couple comprises at least two nets of metal located at a distance from each other.

3. The purification device according to claim 2, wherein at least a first one of said nets is of copper and at least a second one of said nets is of zinc.

4. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein a least one first pre-filter is present in said flow path.

5. The purification device according to claim 4, wherein said at least one first pre-filter is present upstream said galvanic couple in said flow path.

6. The purification device according to a claim 4, wherein said at least one first pre-filter is of cellulose material having a porosity that allows particles having a size of approx. 5.0-15.0 pm to pass through.

7. The purification device according to claim 4, wherein at least one second pre-filter is present in said flow path.

8. The purification device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one second pre-filter is present between said nets in said flow path.

9. The purification device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one second pre-filter consists of at least one compact piece pervious to the liquid and manufactured from powdered activated carbon impregnated with silver and mixed with thermoplastic adhesive.

10. The purification device according to claim 9, wherein said at least one second pre-filter has a porosity that allows particles having a size of approx. 0.8-5.0 pm to pass through and said carbon is impregnated with approx. 0.3% silver.

11. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein said powdered activated carbon is impregnated with silver and mixed with thermoplastic adhesive.

12. The purification device according to claim 11, wherein said at least one filter has a porosity that allows particles having a size of approx. 0.2-0.4 pm to pass through and said carbon is impregnated with approx. 0.3% silver.

13. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein at least one space with ion-exchange resin is present in said flow path.

14. The purification device according to claim 13, wherein said space is present downstream of said galvanic couple in said flow path.

15. The purification device according to claim 8, wherein said insert, in addition to said filter, also comprises said first and second pre-filters and said galvanic couple.

16. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein said insert is of an essentially cylindrical shape and is provided with at least one top plate impervious to the liquid and of an essentially circular shape and that covers essentially the entire top surface of the cylindrical shape and at least one bottom plate impervious to the liquid and of an essentially circular shape and that covers essentially the entire bottom surface of the cylindrical shape, however, said top plate being provided with a through hole essentially centrally located.

17. The purification device according to claim 16, wherein each one of said at least one first pre-filter, at least one first net, at least one second pre-filter, at least one second net and at least one filter has an essentially ring-shaped cross section and said at least one space with ion-exchange resin has an essentially circular cross section, said components being placed concentrically within each other in said insert allowing the liquid that is to be purified to pass through said at least one inlet into said casing and further essentially radially into, through and out of said insert as well as further through said at least one outlet out of said casing, the liquid upon the passage thereof through said insert in turn passing through said at least one first pre-filter, at least one first net, at least one second pre-filter, at least one second net, at least one filter and at least one space with ion-exchange resin.

18. The purification device according to claim 1, which has a control equipment that comprises at least one pressure gauge for the inlet side of the liquid, at least one pressure gauge for the outlet side of the liquid, at least one generator for a rechargeable battery and driven by liquid flow through the purification device, at least one rechargeable battery, at least one indicator of LED type or the like, at least one signal-processing equipment as well as at least one equipment for communication via Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Third Generation mobile telephony (3G), radio, telecommunication network (tele) and/or the like.

19. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one casing constitutes a cathode, said cathode constituting a part of a circuit fed from an external power supply.

20. The purification device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one insert comprises an anode located in said flow path, said anode constituting a part of a circuit fed from an external power supply.

21. The purification device according to claim 20, wherein said anode is made of a valve metal.

22. An insert for use in a purification device according to claim 1, comprising at least one filter located in a flow path of a liquid, the insert further comprising at least one galvanic couple located in said flow path wherein said at least one filter is located downstream of said at least one galvanic couple or said anode in said flow path and consists of at least one compact piece pervious to the liquid and manufactured from powdered activated carbon, whereby said at least one filter is located in said at least one galvanic couple, which galvanic couple is comprised of at least two nets of metal located at a distance from each other, making it possible for the liquid that is to be purified to pass radially from the outside and inwardly into, through and out of said at least one galvanic couple and further radially from the outside and inwardly into, through and out of said at least one filter.

23. The insert according to claim 22, comprising at least one galvanic couple located in said flow path, which galvanic couple shows at least two nets of metal located at a distance from each other.

24. The insert according to claim 23, wherein at least a first one of said nets is of copper and at least a second one of said nets is of zinc.

25. The insert according to claim 24, wherein at least one first pre-filter is present in said flow path.

26. The insert according to claim 25, wherein at least one second pre-filter is present in said flow path.

27. The insert according to claim 26, wherein at least one space with ion-exchange resin is present in said flow path.

28. The insert according to claim 27, which is of an essentially cylindrical shape and is provided with at least one top plate impervious to the liquid and of an essentially circular shape that covers essentially the entire top surface of the cylindrical shape and at least one bottom plate impervious to the liquid and of an essentially circular shape that covers essentially the entire bottom surface of the cylindrical shape, however, said top plate being provided with a through hole essentially centrally located.

29. The insert according to claim 27, wherein each one of said at least one first pre-filter, at least one first net, at least one second pre-filter, at least one second net and at least one filter has an essentially ring-shaped cross section and said at least one space with ion-exchange resin has an essentially circular cross section, said components being placed concentrically within each other in said insert allowing the liquid that is to be purified to pass essentially radially into, through and out of the insert, the liquid upon the passage thereof in turn passing through said at least one first pre-filter, at least one first net, at least one second pre-filter, at least one second net, at least one filter and at least one space with ion-exchange resin.

30. A method of purifying a liquid such as water using a purification device according to claim 1, which purification device comprises at least one casing having at least one insert, said casing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for the liquid and said insert comprising at least one filter located in a flow path of the liquid, the purification device further comprising at least one galvanic couple located in said flow path, wherein the liquid, before purification in said filter in the form of at least one compact piece pervious to the liquid and manufactured from powdered activated carbon, is subjected to a galvanic current, whereby the liquid is brought to pass through said at least one inlet into said casing and further radially from the outside and inwardly into, through and out of said at least one galvanic couple and further radially from the outside and inwardly into, through and out of said at least one filter and further through said at least one outlet and out of said casing.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the liquid, before it is subjected to said galvanic current, is filtered in at least one pre-filter.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the liquid, at the same time as it is subjected to said galvanic current, is filtered in at least one pre-filter.