METHOD OF PROVIDING A SOURCE OF POTABLE WATER

• US 20120118738A1
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Pte Limited (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Liang, Li-Shiang, Chan, John K., Salvo, Lawrence J., Gifford, Joseph D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/520
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2315/10 Cross-flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/463 comprising the membrane sequence AC or CA, where C is a cation exchange membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/48 having one or more compartments filled with ion-exchange material , e.g. electrodeionisation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/50 Stacks of the plate-and-frame type
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4693 electrodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4695 electrodeionisation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46 Apparatus for electrochemical processes
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/00 Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/19 with diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/70 Assemblies comprising two or more cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/02 for manufacturing cores, coils, or magnets H01F41/14 takes precedence; for dynamo-electric machines H02K15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/124 Water desalination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

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.

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 constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a first direction, and each of the ion concentrating compartments constructed and arranged to provide a fluid flow in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and each of the ion concentrating compartments and ion diluting compartments constructed and arranged to provide a fluid contact of greater than 85% of the surface area of each of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion depleting compartments;

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical purification apparatus further comprises a housing enclosing the cell stack, at least a portion of a periphery of the cell stack secured to the housing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrical purification apparatus further comprises a frame positioned between the housing and the cell stack to provide a first modular unit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electrical purification apparatus further comprises a second modular unit secured within the housing.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising redirecting at least one of electrical current and fluid flow between the first modular unit and the second modular unit.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the electrical purification apparatus further comprises a blocking spacer positioned between the first modular unit and the second modular unit.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the electrical purification apparatus further comprises a bracket assembly positioned between the frame and the housing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first direction of fluid flow is perpendicular to the second direction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising redistributing fluid within at least one of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments.

10. The method of claim of claim 1, wherein the electrical purification apparatus further comprises a flow redistributor within at least one of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments is constructed and arranged to provide flow reversal within the compartment.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the alternating ion diluting compartments and ion concentrating compartments comprises a spacer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the spacer is a blocking spacer.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing the seawater feed stream through multiple stages in the electrical purification apparatus to provide the source of potable water.