DEVICE FOR PURIFYING DRINKING WATER

Abstract

A device for the multi-stage, modular purification of drinking water is described, wherein a module comprises a chelating gel or a chelating and a bactericidal gel for heavy metal removal and/or for heavy metal removal and bacterial removal.

Claims

1. Device for the multi-stage, modular purification of drinking water, wherein one module comprises a chelating gel or a chelating and bactericidal gel for the removal of heavy metal or for the removal of heavy metal and bacteria.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the module for the removal of heavy metal is connected in series to other modules.

3. Device according to claim 1 wherein the following modules are connected in series: particle filter, active carbon, water softener, chelating gel, RO membrane; particle filter, active carbon, water softener, chelating gel, UF membrane; particle filter, active carbon, water softener, chelating and bactericidal gel; particle filter, active carbon, chelating gel, RO membrane; particle filter, active carbon, chelating gel, UF membrane; or particle filter, active carbon, chelating and bactericidal gel.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device can be connected directly to the tap water system and operated with pipeline pressure when no RO module is used.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device is additionally equipped with a pump when an RO module is used.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the modules can be replaced or regenerated independently of each other.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the water softening module comprises a device for automatic, semi-automatic, or manual regeneration.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a pH sensor, a conductivity sensor, a UV sensor, or sensors for bacteria determination.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the sensors issue a warning when defined limits are exceeded or undershot.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises additional elements.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the additional elements are selected from a water tank, a water heating system, a (UV) disinfection system, a redox filter, a CO.sub.2 dosing unit, or a chlorination unit.

12. Use of a device according to claim 1 for the purification of drinking water.

Description

[0027] According to one embodiment, the device can consist of a combination of different independent modules or cartridges which are connected to each other via pipes or directly.

[0028] The device combines and simplifies different orthogonal water purification technologies in a manner that satisfies the highest quality requirements by addressing different contaminant spectra successively.

[0029] The cartridges have an inlet opening through which the water from the pipe system/tap or an upstream cartridge enters the cartridge and comes into contact with the respective cartridge filling. In addition, the cartridge has an outlet opening through which the processed, purified water flows into the next cartridge or reaches the removal point.

[0030] Preferably, the cartridges are connected to each other and fixed in the device in such a way that they can be removed, replaced, or regenerated separately.

[0031] The device operates at a pipeline pressure of preferably 0.5-6 bar, more preferably 1-5 bar, most preferably 2-4 bar.

[0032] The core of the devices demonstrated here is a cartridge filled with a chelating MetCap-T resin to remove toxic heavy metals with and without a bactericidal function. If a bactericidal variant of the MetCap-T resins is used, as demonstrated in DE patent application 10 2017 007 273.6, then additional units for removing bacteria are unnecessary.

[0033] The central cartridge can be combined with a number of other cartridges that each address specific contaminant spectra that are not addressed by the chelating resin. These cartridges can be upstream or downstream of the central MetCap-T cartridge.

[0034] Furthermore, the entire device can be connected to a tank or directly to an extraction valve. The device can also be used as a component in a water heating system.

[0035] Because of the regeneration that is frequently becoming necessary, the cartridge with the ion exchange resin is provided with a device for easy regeneration. This is accomplished by rinsing with concentrated saline. In a preferred embodiment, the need for regeneration is determined by the appropriate sensors (such as water hardness, conductivity, flow cell, etc.) and indicated by warning lights.

[0036] Regeneration can be manual, semi-automatic, or automatic, depending on whether the device is equipped with appropriate sensors and storage tanks for salt or saline solution in the respective embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, the water softening module is equipped with the appropriate connections and valves for this purpose. The surplus salt is disposed of directly through the spout into the sewer or through the extraction valve.

[0037] For all other cartridges, regeneration is not possible and/or is technically not feasible with household products.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the device, the input of the particle filter is connected to the water supply system, the output of which is connected to the input of the activated carbon filter, the output of which in turn is connected to the input of the water softening module, the output of which is connected to the MetCap cartridge, the output of which in turn is connected to the RO module, the output of which then flows into the extraction point (see FIG. 1). When the water pressure on the input side of the device is low, a pump is connected.

[0039] Alternatively, the particle filter can be connected directly to the activated carbon filter, then to the MetCap cartridge, and finally to the RO module (see FIG. 2).

[0040] In the last two embodiments, the order of the MetCap cartridge and the water softener can also be reversed.

[0041] In a further preferred embodiment, the particle filter is connected to the activated carbon cartridge that is connected to the water softening module and then to the MetCap cartridge, followed by a UF membrane (see FIG. 3). Alternatively, the particle filter can also be connected directly to the activated carbon cartridge, the MetCap cartridge, and the UF membrane (see FIG. 4). If necessary, the water softening module can also be installed upstream of the MetCap cartridge. The advantages of this embodiment are that usually no pump is necessary because the device has such low back pressure that the pipeline pressure is sufficient for regular operation.

[0042] In a further preferred embodiment, the particle filter is connected to the activated carbon cartridge and the water softening cartridge, which in turn is connected to the MetCap cartridge, which contains a chelating and bactericidal gel (see FIG. 5).

[0043] Alternatively, the particle filter can also be connected directly to the activated carbon cartridge, and the latter directly to the MetCap cartridge filled with a chelating and bactericidal gel (see FIG. 6).

[0044] In this embodiment, further bacteria removal membranes can be dispensed with.

[0045] In a further preferred embodiment, the particle filter is connected directly to the water softening cartridge, and the latter is connected directly to the MetCap cartridge, filled with a chelating and bactericidal gel (see FIG. 7).

[0046] In a further embodiment of the device, the particle filter is connected directly to the MetCap cartridge, filled with a chelating and bactericidal gel (see FIG. 8). This embodiment is similar to the cartridge demonstrated in DE 102016007662 A1, but differs from it in its filling with a chelating and bactericidal gel.

[0047] The device can be easily combined with all other common purification or storage modules, such as an adjacent tank for storing the purified water, or other purification technologies, such as UV disinfection (in the tank or online), redox filters, etc., or for further use in hot-water preparation, a CO.sub.2 additive module for the production of sparkling water, a possible chlorination or hydrogen peroxide additive for subsequent disinfection or preservation, etc.

[0048] The device does not affect or interfere with the type of subsequent water extraction or water treatment.

[0049] The performance of the device can be monitored by suitable sensors at a suitable location, either at the extraction point or at points between the individual modules. Examples of suitable sensors include, but are not limited to, pH sensors, conductivity sensors, bacteria concentration detection sensors, ion selective sensors, UV sensors, etc. A flow cell can measure the amount of water processed.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the sensors are connected to a data processing system that monitors the function of the individual modules based on the measured values and issues the appropriate messages when a cartridge has to be replaced or regenerated. With the aid of the sensors, the replacement of the modules can also be purely time-controlled or volume-controlled. Depending on the embodiment, the data processing system can initiate automatic regeneration of the water softening module or close a valve to force the replacement of modules as a prerequisite for continued operation.

[0051] For the first time, the devices described herein allow a comprehensive purification of drinking water as a simple solution for a household, which is superior to all known systems in terms of the quality of the purified water and the yield or energy consumption.

[0052] On the one hand, the devices concentrate on the removal of really harmful, partially toxic substances, and on the other hand, on the general improvement of the water quality by improving the taste (for example, by removing the chlorine).

[0053] In the smallest version, the device is suitable for use in the home and is based on typical consumption. In larger versions, the device can also be used in multiple dwellings, residential complexes, restaurants, hospitals, on ships, or in other facilities with a need for high-quality drinking water.

[0054] Accordingly, another object of the invention is the use of the aforementioned devices for the purification of drinking water.

LIST OF FIGURES

[0055] The following figures serve to further explain the invention. They show the following:

[0056] FIG. 1: Schematic structure of the device for water purification with particle filter, activated carbon module, water softening module, MetCap module, and RO membrane module.

[0057] FIG. 2: Schematic structure of the device for water purification with particle filter, activated carbon module, MetCap module, and RO membrane module.

[0058] FIG. 3: Schematic structure of the device for water purification with particle filter, activated carbon module, water softening module, MetCap module, and UF membrane module.

[0059] FIG. 4: Schematic structure of the device for water purification with particle filter, activated carbon module, MetCap module, and UF membrane module.

[0060] FIG. 5: Schematic structure of the device for water purification with particle filter, activated carbon module, water softening module, and MetCap module with additional bactericidal function.

[0061] FIG. 6: Schematic structure of the device for water purification with particle filter, activated carbon module, and MetCap module with additional bactericidal function.

[0062] FIG. 7: Schematic structure of the device for water purification with particle filter, water softening module, and MetCap module with additional bactericidal function.

[0063] FIG. 8: Schematic structure of the device for water purification with particle filter and MetCap module with additional bactericidal function.