A water purification filter element is provided. The water purification filter element may include a filter bottle, a filter material, an end cover, and a water self-stopping and passing structure.

A two-stage filter enclosed within a single vessel is provided. The two-stage filter is provided in the form of the vessel having a first filtration stage configured to capture particles of a first size, and a second filtration stage downstream of the first filtration stage and in fluid communication with the first filtration stage configured to capture particles of a second size, wherein the first size is larger than the second size. The first filtration stage may comprise a porous media. The second filtration stage may comprise one or more membrane filters.

There is provided a retrofit control module that is connectable to various types of reverse osmosis systems, and a method of using the same. The retrofit control module includes a controller, the controller being located within a housing. The controller includes a first communication interface, the first communication interface being connectable to the reverse osmosis system, a processing unit and a memory connected to the processing unit. The processing unit is configured for receiving at least one parameter of the reverse osmosis system, comparing the at least one parameter of the reverse osmosis system with a predetermined threshold and in response to the at least one parameter of the reverse osmosis system being above the predetermined threshold: transmitting a control parameter to the reverse osmosis system, the control parameter causing the reverse osmosis system to control at least one component of the reverse osmosis system.

A method of desalinating water, including the steps of when electricity costs between a first predetermined price and a second predetermined price, fill water is pumped into a reverse osmosis desalination unit to yield desalinated permeate and saltwater having a first salinity, when electricity costs less than the first predetermined price, fill water is pumped into a reverse osmosis desalination unit to yield desalinated permeate and saltwater having a second salinity, and when electricity costs greater than the second predetermined price, pure water is flowed into a reverse osmosis unit to yield pressurized saltwater which is run through a turbine to generate electricity. The first salinity is lower than the second salinity.

An automated single-use filtration device, in particular for large-volume filtration processes, comprises an unfiltrate inlet, one or more filter elements, a filtrate outlet and sensors for detecting specific process parameters and regulating mechanisms for adjusting specific process parameters. The sensors and regulating mechanisms are connected to an external monitoring and control system, which is adapted for evaluating and processing sensor data and for piloting the regulating mechanisms based on one or more control algorithms.

The disclosed technology includes a water filtration unit. A disclosed water filtration unit includes a filtration unit housing defining a filtration unit cavity; an inlet coupled to the filtration unit housing; a pump positioned at least partially within the filtration unit cavity and including a pump inlet and pump outlet, the pump inlet coupled to the inlet; a filter housing positioned at least partially within the filtration unit cavity and including a filter inlet and filter outlet, the filter inlet coupled to the pump outlet and filter outlet coupled to a water dispenser; and a power source in communication with the pump to power the pump to push water through the filter housing when the water filtration unit is coupled to a water source.

An electro-osmosis pump system includes an inlet line through which a fluid is introduced, an outlet line through which the fluid is discharged, a first pump disposed between the inlet line and the outlet line and including a first housing in which a first operation fluid is disposed, a second pump disposed in parallel to the first pump between the inlet line and the outlet line and including a second housing in which a second operation fluid disposed, and a power supply configured to supply voltages to the first pump and the second pump. The first pump includes a first membrane, a 1A-th electrode, and a 2A-th electrode, the second pump includes a second membrane, a 1B-th electrode, and a 2B-th electrode, and the power supply supplies the voltage to the 1A-th electrode and the 2A-th electrode, and supplies the voltage to the 1B-th electrode and the 2B-th electrode.

Apparatus and processes for controlling a reverse osmosis system for water desalination to reduce energy consumption. The system has a controller configured to receive information from the sensor array and determine a fouling parameter for each reverse-osmosis stage based on one or more of: an A-Value, a B-value and a normalized differential pressure. The controller is then configured to control the flow through each of the reverse-osmosis assemblies based on the determined fouling parameters to meet a predetermined criterion for total permeate production for the reverse-osmosis system.

A switching system of an EDR water purifier has a first inlet end, a second inlet end, a first three-way solenoid valve, a second three-way solenoid valve, a third three-way solenoid valve, a fourth three-way solenoid valve, an EDR membrane stack, a first outlet end, and a second outlet end. The EDR membrane stack has a first inlet port, a second inlet port, a first outlet port, a second outlet port, a first electrode, and a second electrode. Each three-way solenoid valve has an inlet opening, a first outlet opening, and a second outlet opening. Each outlet opening of each three-way solenoid valve can be turned open or closed for switching two water routes passing the EDR membrane stack. Therefore, speed of forming limescale decreases, lifespan of the EDR membrane stack is prolonged, and water-purifying efficiency is improved.

A switching system has two inlet ends, two outlet ends, and an EDR membrane stack. Each inlet end and each outlet end are connected to both a primary branch and a secondary branch. Solenoid valves are mounted on each primary branch and each secondary branch to switch between opening and closing. The EDR membrane stack has two inlets, two outlets, and two electrodes. One inlet is connected to the primary branch of the two inlet ends while the other is connected to the secondary branch of the two inlet ends. One outlet is connected to the primary branch of the two outlet ends while the other is connected to the secondary branch of the two outlet ends. The polarity of the two electrodes is interchangeable to realize the reverse polarity of the electrodes. The two water flows that pass through the EDR membrane stack are interchangeable.