Zirconium phosphate and zirconium oxide recharger control logic and operational process algorithms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10099214-B2
Application number	US-201615143494-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Nov 26, 2013
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

Control logic and processes for monitoring and controlling sorbent rechargers are presented. The control logic and processes use control systems to monitor the rechargers for performance problems and to control the recharging process. Various sensors in communication with the control systems are provided to ensure proper operation.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sorbent recharger, comprising:
a first receiving compartment for a first sorbent module; the receiving compartment having a first sorbent module inlet and a first sorbent module outlet;
a first inlet line fluidly connected to the first sorbent module inlet;
wherein the first inlet line is fluidly connected to at least one of a disinfectant source, a brine source, a base source, and a water source;
a first effluent line fluidly connected to the first sorbent module outlet;
at least a first pump positioned in the first inlet line for pumping fluid from the disinfectant source, brine source, and water source to the first sorbent module inlet;
at least one flow sensor, at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one conductivity sensor; and
a control system in communication with at least one of the flow sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor or conductivity sensor;
wherein the control system controls the first pump by determining whether at least one of the pressure, flow rate, temperature, and conductivity are within predetermined ranges.

2. The sorbent recharger of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the control system.

3. The sorbent recharger of claim 1 , wherein at least one conductivity sensor is located upstream of the first sorbent module inlet;
wherein the control system controls the first pump by determining whether at least the pressure, the flow rate, and the conductivity are within predetermined ranges; and wherein
the control system generates an alert indicating a leak when the pressure is below the predetermined range; and wherein the control system generates an alert indicating an occlusion when the pressure is above the predetermined range;
wherein the control system generates an alert indicating a pump failure when the flow rate is below the predetermined range and the conductivity of a fluid upstream of the first sorbent module inlet is within a predetermined range; and
wherein the control system generates an alert indicating a chemical run-out when the control system determines the flow rate is below the predetermined range and that the conductivity of the fluid upstream of the first sorbent module inlet is below the predetermined range.

4. The sorbent recharger of claim 1 , further comprising a heater in the first inlet line, the at least one temperature sensor in communication with the control system; wherein the control system controls the heater based on data from the at least one temperature sensor; wherein the control system generates an alert if the temperature in the first inlet line does not reach a predetermined temperature in a predetermined amount of time.

5. The sorbent recharger of claim 4 , further comprising a second temperature sensor in the first effluent line, wherein the control system generates an alert if the temperature in the first effluent line does not reach a predetermined temperature in a predetermined amount of time; wherein the first inlet line is fluidly connected to the at least one brine source, and the control system calculates an amount of brine necessary for recharging a sorbent module containing zirconium phosphate based, at least in part, on the temperature in the first effluent line.

6. The sorbent recharger of claim 1 , further comprising a second receiving compartment for a second sorbent module; the second receiving compartment having a second sorbent module inlet and a second sorbent module outlet;
a second inlet line fluidly connected to the second sorbent module inlet;
a second effluent line fluidly connected to the second sorbent module outlet;
wherein at least one of the disinfectant source, the base source, and the water source are fluidly connected to the second inlet line;
at least a second pump positioned in the second inlet line for pumping fluid from at least one of the disinfectant source, the base source, and the water source to the second sorbent module inlet;
at least one flow sensor, at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one conductivity sensor positioned in the second inlet line;
wherein the control system is in communication with at least one of the flow sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and conductivity sensor; the control system controlling the second pump.

7. The sorbent recharger of claim 6 , wherein at least one conductivity sensor is positioned in the first effluent line; wherein the control system controls the first pump, the second pump, or both pumps to pump fluid from the disinfectant source, brine source, and/or water source through the first sorbent module; and wherein the control system determines a conductivity of fluid in the first effluent line based on data from the conductivity sensor positioned in the first effluent line;
wherein at least one conductivity sensor is positioned in the second effluent line; wherein the control system controls the first pump, the second pump, or both pumps to pump fluid from the disinfectant source, base source, and/or water source through the second sorbent module; and wherein the control system determines a conductivity of fluid in the second effluent line based on data from the conductivity sensor positioned in the second effluent line.

8. The sorbent recharger of claim 7 , wherein the second effluent line is fluidly connected to the first effluent line at a junction; and further comprising a static mixer at or downstream of the junction;
wherein the control system calculates a neutralization ratio based on the conductivity of the fluid in the first effluent line and the conductivity of the fluid in the second effluent line; and wherein the control system controls the second pump and the first pump based on data from the conductivity sensor in the first effluent line and the conductivity sensor in the second effluent line; wherein
the control system controls the first pump and second pump to generate a fluid within a predetermined pH range in the static mixer based on the neutralization ratio.

9. The sorbent recharger of claim 8 , wherein the control system stops the second pump when the conductivity of the fluid in the second effluent line reaches a predetermined range; and
wherein the control system stops the first pump when the conductivity of the fluid in the first effluent line reaches a predetermined range.

10. The sorbent recharger of claim 9 , wherein the control system starts the first pump and second pump when the conductivity in the first effluent line reaches a predetermined range.

11. The sorbent recharger of claim 5 , wherein the control system calculates an amount of brine necessary for recharging a sorbent module containing zirconium phosphate based, at least in part, on the temperature in the first effluent line.

12. A method, comprising the steps of:
pumping fluid from a disinfectant source, a base source, a brine source, a water source, or combinations thereof, through a recharging flow path to a first sorbent module; and
determining a presence of at least one of a leak, occlusion, pump failure, chemical mismatch, or chemical run-out.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the presence of a leak comprises determining that a pressure in the recharging flow path is below a predetermined range;
wherein determining the presence of an occlusion comprises determining that a pressure in the recharging flow path is above a predetermined range;
wherein determining the presence of a pump failure comprises the steps of determining that a flow rate in the recharging flow path is below a predetermined range; and determining that a conductivity at a sorbent mod

Assignees

• Medtronic Inc

Inventors

• Menon Kanjimpuredathil Muralikrishna
• Malayath Sujeendran
• Gerber Martin T
• Hobot Christopher M
• Patil Kaustubh R
• Jeyachandran Ramkumar
• Saxena Sameer

Classifications

• A61M2205/3334

  Measuring or controlling the flow rate · CPC title

• A61M2205/3368

  Temperature · CPC title

• A61M1/1696 Primary

  with dialysate regeneration · CPC title

• B01J20/06

  comprising oxides or hydroxides of metals not provided for in group B01J20/04 · CPC title

• B01J20/3483

  by thermal treatment not covered by groups B01J20/3441 - B01J20/3475, e.g. by heating or cooling · CPC title