Controlled-debris elements inhibit the formation of a fibrous/particulate debris bed that unduly increases the pressure head loss through the perforated plates of strainers in a nuclear power plant emergency core cooling system. In a loss of cooling accident, pumps draw cooling water through the plates, which retain on their surfaces fibrous material in the circulating water to prevent it from reaching the pumps while permitting entrained particulate matter to pass through the perforations. The controlled-debris elements have a specific gravity substantially the same as the circulating water so they are entrained in the cooling water that is drawn toward the strainers and intimately intermix with the fibrous and particulate matter in the cooling water. The elements are configured to provide open structures in the bed formed on the plate surfaces to distribute fibers in the flow away from the surface and maintain cavities between the elements for the particulates.

The filtration system of the present invention comprises first and second filtration tanks. The first filtration tank has a first floating filter media layer, a first upper screen with a first aperture ratio, a first inlet, a first backwash water supply source, and a first backwash water outlet means. The second filtration tank has a second floating filter media layer, a second upper screen with a second aperture ratio, a second inlet, an inflow blocking mechanism capable of blocking inflow of water to be treated through the second inlet, a second backwash water supply source, and a second backwash water outlet means. The first aperture ratio is smaller than the second aperture ratio.

The filtration system of the present invention comprises first and second filtration tanks. The first filtration tank has a first floating filter media layer, a first upper screen with a first aperture ratio, a first inlet, a first backwash water supply source, and a first backwash water outlet means. The second filtration tank has a second floating filter media layer, a second upper screen with a second aperture ratio, a second inlet, an inflow blocking mechanism capable of blocking inflow of water to be treated through the second inlet, a second backwash water supply source, and a second backwash water outlet means. The first aperture ratio is smaller than the second aperture ratio.

Controlled-debris elements inhibit the formation of a fibrous/particulate debris bed that unduly increases the pressure head loss through the perforated plates of strainers in a nuclear power plant emergency core cooling system. In a loss of cooling accident, pumps draw cooling water through the plates, which retain on their surfaces fibrous material in the circulating water to prevent it from reaching the pumps while permitting entrained particulate matter to pass through the perforations. The controlled-debris elements have a specific gravity substantially the same as the circulating water so they are entrained in the cooling water that is drawn toward the strainers and intimately intermix with the fibrous and particulate matter in the cooling water. The elements are configured to provide open structures in the bed formed on the plate surfaces to distribute fibers in the flow away from the surface and maintain cavities between the elements for the particulates.

A piezoelectric deionization system uses a piezoid bed made up of multiple piezoids for deionization of a working fluid containing charged particles, ions, and/or ionic complexes. The working fluid may be salt water in various embodiments. A uniaxial compressive force is applied to the piezoid bed causing a piezoelectric effect in the piezoids, resulting in a piezoelectric field generated by each particle, which attracts charged particles, ions, and/or ionic complexes contained in the working fluid. The piezoid bed is contained in a closed chamber to which the uniaxial compressive force is applied. Monocrystalline quartz particles or another suitable piezoid, natural or synthetic, may be used. A fluid is used to purge the piezoid bed of charged particles, ions, and/or ionic complexes after the piezoid bed becomes saturated through use. The working fluid may be used to purge the piezoid.

A drainless reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system provides relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, while recycling brine to a domestic hot water system. The drainless purification system includes a pre-filter catalyst cartridge for removing chlorine-based contaminants from a tap water supply upstream from an RO membrane. The catalyst is regularly refreshed by a high through-flow of water to a conventional cold water dispense faucet, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of the RO membrane. The RO membrane is incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit adapted for facilitated slide-out removal and replacement as needed. A control valve recycles brine from the RO membrane to the hot water system during pure water production, and recirculates tap water through the RO membrane when a pure water reservoir is substantially filled. The multi-cartridge unit may further include an air filtration system for providing a flow of filtered air.

A drainless reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system provides relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, while recycling brine to a domestic hot water system. The drainless purification system includes a pre-filter catalyst cartridge for removing chlorine-based contaminants from a tap water supply upstream from an RO membrane. The catalyst is regularly refreshed by a high through-flow of water to a conventional cold water dispense faucet, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of the RO membrane. The RO membrane is incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit adapted for facilitated slide-out removal and replacement as needed. A control valve recycles brine from the RO membrane to the hot water system during pure water production, and recirculates tap water through the RO membrane when a pure water reservoir is substantially filled. The multi-cartridge unit may further include an air filtration system for providing a flow of filtered air.

A floating media filter including a filter housing with an influent conduit extending into the filter housing, the influent conduit having at least one outflow aperture positioned below an effluent outlet of the filter housing. A floating media is positioned in the filter housing and forms a media bed when the filter is in a filtration stage, the media bed having a lower surface and an upper surface defining a filtration zone between the lower and upper media bed surfaces during the filtration stage. A diffuser trough is positioned in the filter housing such that (i) the lower surface of the media bed, when the filter is in the filtration stage, is below an upper edge of the diffuser trough, and (ii) the outflow aperture of the influent conduit is positioned sufficiently close to a surface of the diffuser trough such that influent flow, during the filtration stage, is initially directed against and/or along the surface of the diffuser trough, and then redirected in a path into the media bed. Finally, the media filter includes a backwashing mechanism causing (i) lowering of the upper surface of the media bed to a point below the upper edge of the diffuser trough, and (ii) creation of an air space in a substantial portion of the filtration zone.

A floating media filter including a filter housing with an influent conduit extending into the filter housing, the influent conduit having at least one outflow aperture positioned below an effluent outlet of the filter housing. A floating media is positioned in the filter housing and forms a media bed when the filter is in a filtration stage, the media bed having a lower surface and an upper surface defining a filtration zone between the lower and upper media bed surfaces during the filtration stage. A diffuser trough is positioned in the filter housing such that (i) the lower surface of the media bed, when the filter is in the filtration stage, is below an upper edge of the diffuser trough, and (ii) the outflow aperture of the influent conduit is positioned sufficiently close to a surface of the diffuser trough such that influent flow, during the filtration stage, is initially directed against and/or along the surface of the diffuser trough, and then redirected in a path into the media bed. Finally, the media filter includes a backwashing mechanism causing (i) lowering of the upper surface of the media bed to a point below the upper edge of the diffuser trough, and (ii) creation of an air space in a substantial portion of the filtration zone.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a system for treating water. The system comprises one or more inlets for introducing biochar and polyamine to the water, such as a biochar inlet and a polyamine inlet, or a biochar/polyamine mixture inlet. The system may optionally also include a metal salt inlet, ozone inlet, an additional organic carbon compound inlet, or any combination thereof. The biochar and polyamine may optionally be premixed prior to addition to the water. The system also comprises a filtration device, such as a reactive filtration device. The system produces a treated water stream and a reject stream, which may be further separated into a recycled water stream and a solid product. The solid product may be suitable as a soil amendment for application to agricultural land, or for recycling. A method for using the system to treat water, particularly nitrate-contaminated water, also is disclosed.