Method of providing a source of potable water
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing a source of potable water, comprising:
- providing an electrical purification apparatus, comprising;
a cell stack comprising alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments, each of the ion diluting compartments comprising ion exchange membranes and constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a first direction, and each of the ion concentrating compartments comprising ion exchange membranes and constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a second direction that is different from the first direction;
a housing enclosing the cell stack;
a blocking spacer comprising a screen portion positioned in at least one of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments and a solid portion positioned outside of the at least one of the alternating ion depleting compartments and the ion concentrating compartments, the solid portion of the blocking spacer having an edge in contact with the housinga frame positioned between the housing and the cell stack to provide a first modular unit, the frame constructed and arranged to provide the fluid flows in the first and second directions and to provide a current bypass path having an electrical resistance sufficient to promote current flow through the cell stack;
fluidly connecting a seawater feed stream comprising about 35,000 ppm total dissolved solids to an inlet of the electrical purification apparatus; and
fluidly connecting an outlet of the electrical purification apparatus to a potable point of use.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical purification apparatus and methods of making same are disclosed. The electrical purification apparatus may provide for increases in operation efficiencies, for example, with respect to current efficiencies and membrane utilization.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of providing a source of potable water, comprising:
-
providing an electrical purification apparatus, comprising; a cell stack comprising alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments, each of the ion diluting compartments comprising ion exchange membranes and constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a first direction, and each of the ion concentrating compartments comprising ion exchange membranes and constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a second direction that is different from the first direction; a housing enclosing the cell stack; a blocking spacer comprising a screen portion positioned in at least one of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments and a solid portion positioned outside of the at least one of the alternating ion depleting compartments and the ion concentrating compartments, the solid portion of the blocking spacer having an edge in contact with the housing a frame positioned between the housing and the cell stack to provide a first modular unit, the frame constructed and arranged to provide the fluid flows in the first and second directions and to provide a current bypass path having an electrical resistance sufficient to promote current flow through the cell stack; fluidly connecting a seawater feed stream comprising about 35,000 ppm total dissolved solids to an inlet of the electrical purification apparatus; and fluidly connecting an outlet of the electrical purification apparatus to a potable point of use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
-
-
13. A method of facilitating production of potable water from brackish water or seawater, comprising:
providing an electrical purification apparatus, comprising; a cell stack comprising alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments, each of the ion diluting compartments comprising ion exchange membranes and constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a first direction, and each of the ion concentrating compartments comprising ion exchange membranes and constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a second direction that is different from the first direction; a housing enclosing the cell stack; a blocking spacer comprising a screen portion positioned in at least one of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments and a solid portion positioned outside of the at least one of the alternating ion depleting compartments and the ion concentrating compartments, the solid portion of the blocking spacer having an edge in contact with the housing; and a frame positioned between the housing and the cell stack to provide a first modular unit, the frame constructed and arranged to provide the fluid flows in the first and second directions and to provide a current bypass path having an electrical resistance sufficient to promote current flow through the cell stack.
-
16. A method of providing a source of potable water, comprising:
-
providing an electrical purification apparatus, comprising; a cell stack comprising alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments, each of the ion diluting compartments comprising ion exchange membranes and constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a first direction, and each of the ion concentrating compartments comprising ion exchange membranes and constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a second direction that is different from the first direction; a housing enclosing the cell stack; a blocking spacer comprising a screen portion positioned in at least one of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments and a solid portion positioned outside of the at least one of the alternating ion depleting compartments and the ion concentrating compartments, the solid portion of the blocking spacer having an edge in contact with the housing; and a frame positioned between the housing and the cell stack to provide a first modular unit, the frame constructed and arranged to provide the fluid flows in the first and second directions and to provide a current bypass path having an electrical resistance sufficient to promote current flow through the cell stack; fluidly connecting a brackish feed stream comprising from about 1,000 ppm to about 10,000 ppm total dissolved solids to an inlet of the electrical purification apparatus; and fluidly connecting an outlet of the electrical purification apparatus to a potable point of use.
-
Specification