METHOD FOR PURIFYING LIQUID AND SYSTEM FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF

Abstract

The present liquid purification method, carried out with the aid of a liquid purification system, includes a three-stage liquid filtration cycle, during which all of the drain liquid can be continuously fed back into the purification system until the liquid filtration cycle is complete. During this continuous recycling, a high liquid flow rate is maintained, and the feed rate of the liquid can be controlled during the continuous mixing of initial liquid and drain liquid. The common aim of this subject matter and the technical result achieved in the use of same is the development of a novel energy-efficient method and system for purifying liquids which makes it possible to improve the energy-efficiency of liquid purification while simultaneously increasing the degree of purification and the extent to which the initial liquid is used.

Claims

1. A method for purifying a liquid in a pneumatically-started liquid filtration cycle with recirculation having a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage, the method comprising: in the first stage, filling with a raw liquid a raw liquid container being a part of a liquid recirculation unit included in a liquid purification unit, in the second stage, imparting a compressed gas energy to the recirculation unit, and said energy establishes a liquid recirculation unit pressure sufficient for filtering the liquid, in the third stage, returning drain liquid into a purification system continuously prior to completion of the liquid filtration cycle.

2. The method for purifying the liquid according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy at the first stage through, but not limited only to, a gas and liquid-impermeable partition being a part of the raw liquid container being a part of the recirculation unit included in the liquid purification unit.

3. The method for purifying the liquid according to claim 1, further comprising receiving at least a larger part of the raw liquid at the recirculation unit at the first stage of the liquid filtration cycle.

4. The method for purifying the liquid according to claim 1, further comprising carrying out the second stage of the liquid filtration cycle with continuous recirculation while maintaining a high liquid flow velocity so as to control a rate of supplying the liquid into the liquid filtration unit from the liquid recirculation unit while the drain liquid is directly supplied under pressure through a recirculation line to the raw liquid container from the liquid filtration unit while simultaneous stirring of the raw liquid and the drain liquid.

5. The method for purifying the liquid according to claim 1, further comprising removing a residual drain water from the raw liquid container due to the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy at the third stage of the cycle, wherein completion of the third stage is followed by repetition of the liquid filtration cycle without intermediate preparation steps beginning from the first stage.

6. The method for purifying the liquid according to claim 1, further comprising recovering a system energy from the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy at the third stage of the liquid filtration cycle.

7. The method for purifying the liquid according to claim 1, further comprising reverse washing a fine liquid purification device at the third stage of the liquid filtration cycle.

8. The method for purifying the liquid according to claim 1, further comprising a pure liquid conditioning and/or mineralization process.

9. A liquid purification system comprising: a liquid purification unit comprising at least one recirculation unit comprising a raw liquid container, a recirculation line and a system of valves, and a filtration unit, the filtration unit comprising at least one fine liquid purification device, a line for supplying the liquid from the raw water container to the fine liquid purification device, wherein the liquid purification unit is connected to the raw liquid unit, a pure liquid unit, and a pressure generation means for generating a recirculation unit pressure using a compressed gas energy, wherein the liquid purification unit is configured to perform a three-stage liquid filtration cycle to return drain liquid into the purification system prior to completion of the liquid filtration cycle with continuous recirculation while maintaining a high liquid flow velocity so as to control a rate of supplying the liquid into the liquid filtration unit from the liquid recirculation unit while the drain liquid is directly supplied under pressure through a recirculation line to the raw liquid container from the fine liquid purification device while simultaneous stirring of the raw liquid and the drain liquid.

10. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the liquid purification unit includes at least two recirculation units.

11. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the pressure generation means is configured to generate a pressure in the recirculation unit using a compressed gas and liquid mixture energy.

12. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the liquid purification unit is configured to be directly coupled to the raw liquid container of the recirculation line directed from the fine liquid purification device.

13. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the raw liquid container is configured to remove the drain water from the raw liquid container using the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy at the third stage of the cycle, and is further configured to convert a system energy into the compressed gas or compressed gas or liquid mixture energy at the third stage of the cycle.

14. The liquid purification system according to claim 13, wherein the raw liquid container comprises a gas- and liquid-impermeable partition disposed such that the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy is transmitted to the system through the gas- and liquid-impermeable partition, and through which further conversion of a system energy into the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy occurs during the third stage of the filtration cycle.

15. The liquid purification system according to claim 14, wherein the gas- and liquid-impermeable partition comprises an elastic diaphragm.

16. The liquid purification system according to claim 13, wherein the raw liquid container comprises a liquid-impermeable partition which allows the compressed gas to pass through and/or is provided with a compressed gas supply opening and/or valve.

17. The liquid purification system according to claim 16, wherein the compressed gas arriving at the raw liquid container from the pressure generation means through the liquid-impermeable and gas-permeable partition and/or the opening and/or valve in the partition is an antiscalant or a coagulant.

18. The liquid purification system according to claim 13, wherein the raw liquid container is is configured to provide a flow-through movement of the liquid.

19. The liquid purification system according to claim 13, wherein the raw liquid container further comprises an adjustable restrictor which does not permit the raw liquid to fill the raw liquid container in the amount more than a defined one.

20. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the system of valves is configured to direct a compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture flow at the first stage of the liquid filtration cycle from an output of the pressure generation means to the raw liquid container included in the recirculation unit, and is further configured to direct the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture flow at the third stage of the filtration cycle from the raw liquid container included in the recirculation unit to an input of the pressure generation means.

21. The liquid purification system according to claim 10, wherein the system of valves is configured to direct a compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture flow from the raw liquid container being a part of one recirculation unit to the raw liquid container being a part of another recirculation unit.

22. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the liquid supply line is provided with a liquid circulation means.

23. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the fine liquid purification device comprises a nanofiltration device.

24. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the recirculation line included in the liquid recirculation unit further comprises at least one filtration device.

25. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the raw liquid unit further comprises an antiscalant dosing unit configured to provide dosage of a certain amount of the antiscalant at the first stage of the liquid filtration cycle and maintenance the antiscalant received from the raw water unit at the first stage of the cycle within the liquid purification unit to provide increase in the antiscalant concentration in a liquid present in the recirculation unit along with growth of an impurity concentration in the liquid present in the recirculation unit throughout the second stage of the liquid filtration cycle.

26. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the raw liquid unit further comprises a unit configured to dose auxiliary substances for purification.

27. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the raw liquid unit further comprises at least one prefilter.

28. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the pure liquid unit further comprises at least one postfilter comprising at least one of sorption materials, a mineralization unit, or an additional liquid preparation unit.

29. The liquid purification system according to claim 9, wherein the pure liquid unit further comprises an inverse washing unit of the fine liquid purification device.

Description

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic lay-out diagram illustrating basic members of a liquid purification system embodied with one recirculation unit included in a water purification unit.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic lay-out diagram illustrating basic members of a liquid purification system embodied with two recirculation units included in a water purification unit.

[0014] Generally, a liquid purification system (FIG. 1) includes a liquid purification unit (1), a raw liquid unit (2), a pure liquid unit (3), a pressure generation means (4). At the same time, the liquid purification unit (1) is connected to the raw liquid unit (2), the pure liquid unit (3), and the pressure generation means (4).

[0015] The liquid purification unit (1) includes at least one liquid recirculation unit (5) and a liquid filtration unit (6).

[0016] The liquid filtration unit (6) includes, for example, one fine liquid purification device (11) embodied, for example, as a reverse-osmosis or nanofiltration device. The fine liquid purification device (11) has one input coupled to a line (12) for supplying a liquid from the raw water container (7) included in the recirculation unit (5), whereincontrary to the closest prior artthe liquid supply line (12) comprises a liquid circulation means (13), for example, a diaphragm or centrifugal low-power pump or injector. The fine liquid purification device has two outputs: a pure liquid output coupled to the pure liquid unit (3) and a drain liquid output coupled to a recirculation line (8) included in the recirculation unit (5).

[0017] Each liquid recirculation unit (5) included in the liquid purification unit includes the raw liquid container (7), the recirculation line (8), a system of valves (10) andcontrary to the closest prior arta drain line (9). The raw liquid container (7) is made of polymeric materials or a metal andcontrary to the closest prior artis capable of providing the flow-through movement of the liquid, in other words, the raw liquid container (7) has an input coupled simultaneously to the raw liquid unit (2) and directly to the recirculation line (8) and an output coupled to the liquid supply line (12) included in the liquid filtration unit (6). The raw liquid container (7) is also coupled to the pressure generation means (4), wherein the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy is transmitted from the pressure generation means to the raw liquid container (7) through a gas and liquid-impermeable partition being a part of the raw liquid container (7). Said partition can be embodied, for example, as an elastic diaphragm or as a solid partition operated on the principle of a piston. Said partition also can be impermeable for a liquid but permeable for a compressed gas and/or can comprise a compressed gas supply opening and/or valve, wherein the compressed gas arriving at the raw liquid container can be an antiscalant or a coagulant. For example, carbon dioxide can be used as the compressed gas; in such a case, when carbon dioxide penetrates through the gas-permeable partition and/or the opening and/or valve, it is mixed with the raw water which leads to reduction in pH (a hydrogen index) of the raw water; this reduces the precipitation of sediments on system members. Or, for example, oxygen can be used as the compressed gas; in such a case, when oxygen penetrates through the gas-permeable partition and/or opening and/or valve, it is mixed with the raw water accelerating the iron oxidation process. The raw liquid container (7) can further comprise an adjustable restrictor, for example, a movable rigid partition or valve (not shown in the figures); in this case, a maximum raw liquid volume which can be placed in the raw liquid container is set by the restrictor. Contrary to the closest prior art, the raw liquid container (7) is implemented so as to fulfill two functions simultaneously: the function of transmitting the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy from the pressure generation means (4) to the liquid being in the present container, and the function of mixing the raw liquid and the drain liquid. The raw liquid container in the closest prior art is capable of implementing only the function of transmitting the compressed gas energy from the pressure generation means to the liquid being in the raw liquid container. Contrary to the closest prior art, the recirculation unit (5) comprises also the drain line (9). The recirculation line can further include a filtration device (not shown in the figures), for example, an ultrafiltration or microfiltration device, a sorption filter. The recirculation unit is controlled by the system of valves (10) which can consist, for example, of manually operated valves or automatic control valves controlled by a programmed device. In such a case, the system of valves (10) is capable of directing a compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture flow at the first stage of the liquid filtration cycle from the output of the pressure generation means (4) to the raw liquid container (7) included in the recirculation unit (5), and further is capable of directing the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture flow at the third stage of the filtration cycle from the raw liquid container (7) included in the recirculation unit to the input of the pressure generation means (4), orif the water purification system is embodied with at least two recirculation units (5) included in the liquid purification unit (1) (FIG. 2)the system of valves (10) is embodied with a further capability of directing the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture flow from the raw liquid container (7) being a part of one recirculation unit (5) to the raw liquid container (7a) being a part of another recirculation unit (5a).

[0018] The raw liquid unit (2) includes at least, one means for supplying the liquid from various sources, for example, a city water system or well, and at least one raw liquid amount measurement means (14). Further, the raw liquid unit (4) can comprise an antiscalant dosing unit (not shown in the figures) and/or a unit for dosing auxiliary substances for purification (not shown in the figures), for example, coagulants, oxidants or catalysts.

[0019] The pure liquid unit (3) can be embodied as a pure liquid reservoir or a line for supplying the pure liquid to a user. The pure liquid unit comprises at least one pure liquid amount measurement means (15). Further, the pure liquid unit (3) can include at least one postfilter comprising sorption materials (not shown in the figures) and/or a mineralization unit (not shown in the figures) and/or an additional liquid preparation unit (not shown in the figures), for example, a sterilizer or a device for saturation of the liquid with oxygen. Furthermore, the pure liquid unit can comprise a reverse washing unit (not shown in the figures) of the fine liquid purification device, for example, a hydro-pneumatic accumulator or a line for supplying pure liquid to the fine liquid purification device.

[0020] The raw and pure liquid amount measurement means (14) and (15) are intended for the monitoring of the raw and pure liquid amount. Based on the difference of these indices, it is possible to determine a degree of utilization of the raw liquid, in other words, an amount of the pure liquid produced of a fixed amount of the raw liquid. The degree of utilization of the raw liquid is set depending upon the needs of the pure liquid and the degree of availability of raw liquid sources and can be a controlling parameter for the liquid filtration cycle. In case when the raw liquid container included in the recirculation unit included in the liquid purification system is embodied with an adjustable restrictor while the pure liquid line includes a pure liquid reservoir having a fixed volume, the degree of utilization of the raw liquid can be set through a maximum amount of the raw liquid which can be placed in the raw liquid container and within the volume of a pure liquid reservoir.

[0021] The pressure generation means (4) can be, but not limited only to, a system for supplying compressed gas including, but not limited only to, air, nitrogen, steam, oxygen, carbon dioxide; a compressed gas, for example, air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide or oxygen, cylinder; or a compressor; or a compressed gas and liquid mixture supply device; or a steam generator.

[0022] Within the distinguishing features, the liquid purification method intended to be implemented by the above described liquid purification system consists in a three-stage pneumatically-started liquid filtration cycle with recirculation, wherein:

[0023] 1. At the first stage of the liquid filtration cycle, a certain amount (V) of the raw liquid with an amount (C.sub.0) of impurities arrivevia an input coupled to the raw liquid unit (2)at the raw liquid container (7) included in the liquid recirculation unit (5) included in the purification unit (1), wherein the raw liquid amount measurement means (14) fixes the amount of the raw liquid. In doing so, a pressure in the liquid purification unit (1) is lower than that in the raw liquid unit (2), therefore, filling of the raw liquid container (7) occurs without additional consumption of energy. After completion of filling the raw liquid container (7) with the raw liquid in the amount (V) with the pressure generation means (4), the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid energy is imparted to the recirculation unit (5), which establishes a pressure in the water recirculation unit (1), said pressure being sufficient for filtration to run at the second stage of the cycle. Further, addition of the antiscalant to the raw liquid using an antiscalant dosing unit is possible at the first stage of filtration, the latter unit being a part of the raw liquid unit (2). Further, addition of auxiliary substances for purification using an auxiliary-substances-for-purification dosing unit (not shown in the figures) is possible at the first stage of filtration, the latter unit being a part of the raw liquid unit.

[0024] 2. At the second stage of the liquid filtration cycle, the raw liquid at a pressure P arrives from the raw liquid container (7) at the liquid supply line (12) being a part of the liquid filtration unit where acquires a flow velocity (v) by means of the liquid circulation means (13). The structure of the closest prior art has no liquid circulation means, therefore, the pressure generation means fulfills the flow velocity creation function, which does not allow a high liquid flow velocity and also requires consumption of a compressed gas energy higher than that required in implementation of the claimed group of inventions. The liquid arrives through the supply line (12) at an input of the fine liquid purification device (11) where as a result of the filtration process formed is a pure liquid arriving through a pure liquid output at the pure liquid unit (3). The pure liquid amount measurement means (15) included in the pure liquid unit (3) fixes an amount of the pure liquid. The drain liquid having a volume V.sub.1 (V.sub.1<V) with an impurity concentration C.sub.1 (C.sub.1>C.sub.0) arrives at the recirculation line (8) and returns directly into the raw liquid container (7) from which it again arrives at the liquid supply line (12). In doing so the energy loss in the system is not more than necessary to extract the pure liquid to the pure liquid unit. The system pressure remains sufficient for filtration while the flow velocity is still high. Thus, the energy efficiency of the liquid purification becomes higher. At the same time, the raw and drain liquids are continuously stirred in the raw liquid container (7), which provides uniform increase in the concentration of impurities in the liquid supplied to the fine liquid purification device (11). Uniform, rather than jump-wise as in the closest prior art, increase in the concentration of impurities in the liquid supplied to the fine liquid purification device (11) improves the liquid purification efficiency. The increase in a liquid supply rate is possible at the second stage of the cycle at any time due to feed of an additional energy to the system from the pressure generation system (4).

[0025] The second stage of the cycle continues uninterruptedly and not periodically as in the closest prior art until the amount of the drain liquid achieves a predetermined amount V.sub.N determined from a difference between an amount of the raw liquid fixed by the raw liquid amount measurement means (14) and an amount of the pure liquid fixed by the pure liquid amount measurement means (15). The continuous progress of the second filtration stage in the invention selected as the closest prior art is impossible, and also the structure of the closest prior art assumes periodical addition of the raw liquid to the liquid purification unit from the raw liquid unit during the second stage of the filtration cycle.

[0026] 3. The partial pressure relief takes place in the liquid purification unit (1) at the third stage of the cycle. The energy resulted from the pressure relief in the purification unit (1) can be recovered in the form of the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy. At the same time, the system of valves (10) is capable of directing the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture flow from the raw liquid container (7) included in B recirculation unit (5) to the input of the pressure generation means (4) or to another recirculation unit if the purification system is embodied with at least two recirculation units in the purification unit (FIG. 2). Due to the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy remained in the purification unit (1), the drain liquid residual in the raw liquid container (7) in the amount V.sub.N at the impurity concentration C.sub.N (C.sub.N>C.sub.0) is completely released into the drain piping through the drain line (9). In doing so, it is possible to set any amount V.sub.N depending upon an initial impurity concentration C.sub.0 and a pure liquid need. If necessary, the amount V.sub.N can be small as compared to the initial amount V, therefore, the residual compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy necessary to release the liquid in the amount V.sub.N to the drain piping can be minimum, and practically the complete recovery of the system energy takes place. It is possible to vary the sequence of processes at the third stage of the filtration cycle, if necessary; in this case, first, the release of the drain liquid remained in the raw liquid container (7) takes place through the drain line (9) at the third stage of the filtration cycle due to the compressed gas or compressed gas and liquid mixture energy. Then, the residual energy recovery takes place. Thus, the energy efficiency of the liquid filtration increases. At the same time, after release of the liquid in the amount V.sub.N to the drain piping the raw liquid container (7) becomes empty, while the pressure in the purification unit (1) becomes lower than that in the raw liquid unit (2). The repetition of the liquid filtration cycle is possible beginning from the first stage without intermediate preparation steps. Further, the reverse washing of the fine liquid filtration device (11) is possible at the third stage of liquid filtration by means of an inverse washing unit (not shown in the figures) included in the pure liquid unit (3).

[0027] Within the distinguishing features of the claimed invention, the liquid purification system can further comprise an antiscalant dosing unit (not shown in the figures) arranged in the raw liquid unit (2) and embodied so as to dose a certain amount of the antiscalant into a defined amount of the raw liquid at the first stage of the filtration cycle. In doing so, the antiscalant does not enter the pure liquid during the filtration cycle. Thus, the concentration of the antiscalant in the drain liquid increases simultaneously with increase of the impurity concentration. Therefore, the more effective action of the antiscalant is provided owing to which the service life of the fine liquid purification device (11) increases.

[0028] Further, within the distinguishing features of the claimed invention, the liquid purification system with at least two recirculation units within the liquid purification unit (FIG. 2) is capable of starting the first stage of the liquid filtration cycle in each subsequent recirculation unit in parallel with the third stage of liquid filtration in a previous recirculation unit, which makes it possible to supply the pure liquid to a consumer continuously without the need to include a pure liquid reservoir in the pure liquid unit.

[0029] This description of the present invention discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention. It can be changed within the disclosed set of claims, so the wide use of the invention is possible.