The present invention is a water softener brine tank salt bag splitter with a blade and telescoping mounting rod positioned below the tank lid to accommodate a variety of tank sizes and stiffen the lateral flexibility of the tank sidewall. Looped vertical mounting brackets secure over and around the upper edge of the tank sidewall to preserve the seal between the tank sidewall and lid. The mounting rod and brackets form a platform to support the weight of a salt bag when pouring salt pellets into the tank. The configuration of the brackets and the weight of the bag locks the bracket in place to prevent the blade from rotating when the bag drops down onto the blade. The device includes a rod assembly with an adjustable length, a cutting blade attached to a surface of the rod assembly, and brackets connectable to first and second ends of the rod assembly.

The present invention is a water softener brine tank salt bag splitter with a blade and telescoping mounting rod positioned below the tank lid to accommodate a variety of tank sizes and stiffen the lateral flexibility of the tank sidewall. Looped vertical mounting brackets secure over and around the upper edge of the tank sidewall to preserve the seal between the tank sidewall and lid. The mounting rod and brackets form a platform to support the weight of a salt bag when pouring salt pellets into the tank. The configuration of the brackets and the weight of the bag locks the bracket in place to prevent the blade from rotating when the bag drops down onto the blade. The device includes a rod assembly with an adjustable length, a cutting blade attached to a surface of the rod assembly, and brackets connectable to first and second ends of the rod assembly.

This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of lithium, iron and silica compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions contain concentration of lithium ranges from 0 to 200 mg/kg, concentration of silica ranges from 0 to 30 mg/kg, concentration of iron ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg. Exemplary compositions also contain reduced concentrations of elements like arsenic, barium, and lead.

A device for removing ions from a flow of water includes a first electrode and a counter-electrode opposite the first electrode in the flow of water. The first electrode contains at least one material which is capable of intercalating one or both of Mg.sup.2+ and Ca.sup.2+ ions in the flow of water. The counter-electrode can include a material capable of binding to anions in the flow of water.

A device for removing ions from a flow of water includes a first electrode and a counter-electrode opposite the first electrode in the flow of water. The first electrode contains at least one material which is capable of intercalating one or both of Mg.sup.2+ and Ca.sup.2+ ions in the flow of water. The counter-electrode can include a material capable of binding to anions in the flow of water.

A valve for a water system including a water supply conduit, the valve having a valve housing that defines a valve inlet and valve outlet. The valve inlet is connected to the water conduit and at least one piston is disposed within the valve housing and is configured to direct flow within the valve. A motor associated with the valve housing is operably attached to the piston and is further configured for driving the piston between a service position, a bypass position, and a shutoff position. The valve further includes at least one sensor associated with the valve inlet or valve outlet for monitoring a water condition. A control system receives data from the at least one sensor and is configured for actuating the motor between the service position, the bypass position, and the shutoff position in response to the data.

A valve for a water system including a water supply conduit, the valve having a valve housing that defines a valve inlet and valve outlet. The valve inlet is connected to the water conduit and at least one piston is disposed within the valve housing and is configured to direct flow within the valve. A motor associated with the valve housing is operably attached to the piston and is further configured for driving the piston between a service position, a bypass position, and a shutoff position. The valve further includes at least one sensor associated with the valve inlet or valve outlet for monitoring a water condition. A control system receives data from the at least one sensor and is configured for actuating the motor between the service position, the bypass position, and the shutoff position in response to the data.

Water deionization systems based on electrochemical water desalination or softening using a capacitive or intercalative deionization devices including a stack of electrochemical cells. Each cell includes first and second electrodes and an ion exchange membrane. Each cell includes inlet and outlet channels with control valves that control the separation of the source water into brine (e.g., concentration) and clean water (e.g., purification) streams. The deionization device or module may include multiple electrochemical cells connected electrically in series, parallel or a combination of both. The cells may also be in serial, parallel, or combined fluid communication. The output water of one or more streams from each cell or collection of cells may be recirculated and combined with one or more input water streams to improve the electrochemical energy efficiency of the cells. The electrochemical cells at different rows may have varying electrode thickness, area and loading of the active material.

Water deionization systems based on electrochemical water desalination or softening using a capacitive or intercalative deionization devices including a stack of electrochemical cells. Each cell includes first and second electrodes and an ion exchange membrane. Each cell includes inlet and outlet channels with control valves that control the separation of the source water into brine (e.g., concentration) and clean water (e.g., purification) streams. The deionization device or module may include multiple electrochemical cells connected electrically in series, parallel or a combination of both. The cells may also be in serial, parallel, or combined fluid communication. The output water of one or more streams from each cell or collection of cells may be recirculated and combined with one or more input water streams to improve the electrochemical energy efficiency of the cells. The electrochemical cells at different rows may have varying electrode thickness, area and loading of the active material.

The present invention relates to a residential home water filter system and method. The water filter system comprises a filter stage, a water purification stage, a water storage stage, and a back-up water softening stage, to deliver filtered and purified water to consumers when needed. Water from a pressurized water source first flows through filter 16 and then to a first junction 18 to a reverse osmosis system 22 when a pump 24 is activated or to an ion exchange water softener 20 when the pump 24 is deactivated. The filtered and purified water is then stored in tank 26.