Electrosorption purification system with recirculation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10968117-B2
Application number	US-201615564528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

The invention provides a deionization system (1000) configured to deionize an aqueous liquid (10), wherein the deionization system (1000) comprises: (a) a recirculation loop (100) comprising a first loop inlet (111), a first loop outlet (121) and a second loop outlet (122); (b) a flow generation apparatus (200), configured to generate flow of the aqueous liquid (10) in the deionization system (1000); (c) an electrosorption cell unit (300) comprising a treatment section (305) for said aqueous liquid (10), wherein the treatment section (305) comprises (a) a first electrosorption electrode arrangement (310) comprising a first electrosorption electrode (311), (b) a second electrosorption electrode arrangement (320) comprising a second electrosorption electrode (321), (c) a first treatment section opening (331) for introduction of the aqueous liquid (10) from the recirculation loop (100), and (d) a second treatment section opening (332) for releasing aqueous liquid (10) into the recirculation loop (100), wherein the treatment section (305) is configured downstream from the first loop inlet (111) and upstream of the second loop outlet (122).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A deionization system configured to deionize an aqueous liquid, wherein the deionization system comprises:
a recirculation loop comprising a first loop inlet, a first loop outlet for waste liquid and a second loop outlet for purified aqueous liquid;
a flow generation apparatus configured to generate flow of the aqueous liquid in the deionization system;
an electrosorption cell unit comprising a treatment section for said aqueous liquid, wherein the treatment section comprises (a) a first electrosorption electrode arrangement comprising a first electrosorption electrode, (b) a second electrosorption electrode arrangement comprising a second electrosorption electrode, (c) a first treatment section opening for introduction of the aqueous liquid from the recirculation loop, and (d) a second treatment section opening for releasing aqueous liquid into the recirculation loop, and wherein the treatment section is configured downstream from the first loop inlet and upstream of the second loop outlet based on a flow starting at the first loop inlet, flowing through the recirculation loop and ending at the first loop inlet after a single recirculation;
a first loop part, in the recirculation loop, downstream from the electrosorption cell unit and upstream from the first loop outlet, the first loop part having a first volume (V 1 ); and
a second loop part, in the recirculation loop, downstream from the electrosorption cell unit and upstream from the second loop outlet, the second loop part having a second volume (V 2 ), wherein V 1 /V 2 <0.5.

2. The deionization system according to claim 1 , wherein V 1 /V 2 <0.1.

3. The deionization system according to claim 1 , further comprising a mixing tank configured downstream from the first loop inlet and upstream of the electrosorption cell unit.

4. The deionization system according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more of (i) a waste reservoir, in fluid connection with the first loop outlet, (ii) a purified liquid reservoir, in fluid connection with the second loop outlet, and (iii) a buffer reservoir comprised by the recirculation loop.

5. The deionization system according to claim 4 , comprising said buffer reservoir, and further comprising a mixing tank configured downstream from the first loop inlet and upstream of the electrosorption cell unit.

6. The deionization system according to claim 4 , comprising said buffer reservoir, wherein the buffer reservoir further comprises an adsorbent for one or more of organic material and ions.

7. The deionization system according to claim 1 , further comprising a source of UV light configured to provide UV light to one or more of (i) the aqueous liquid within the recirculation loop and (ii) the aqueous liquid within an element comprised by the recirculation loop.

8. The deionization system according to claim 1 , wherein the second loop outlet is configured downstream from the first loop outlet.

9. The deionization system according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrosorption electrode arrangement comprises said first electrosorption electrode and a first ion selective membrane, wherein the second electrosorption electrode arrangement comprises said second electrosorption electrode and a second ion selective membrane, and wherein one of the first ion selective membrane and the second ion selective membrane is selective for one or more cations and another is selective for one or more anions.

10. The deionization system according to claim 1 , further comprising a first cell comprising said first electrosorption electrode arrangement, and a second cell comprising said second electrosorption electrode arrangement, wherein the first cell and the second cell are separated by a water splitting membrane or by an electrically floating electrode, and wherein both the first cell and the second cell are at one side in fluid connection with the first loop inlet, and at another side in fluid connection with the second loop outlet.

11. The deionization system according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of electrosorption cell units, each with said treatment section configured downstream from the first loop inlet and upstream of the second loop outlet.

12. The deionization system according to claim 1 , further comprising a DC power supply system configured to provide a voltage difference between the first electrosorption electrode and second electrosorption electrode during a purification stage or a regeneration stage.

13. A method for deionization of an aqueous liquid, using the deionization system according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises a purification stage, wherein at least part of the aqueous liquid is released from the recirculation loop via the second loop outlet, and wherein the method further comprises a regeneration stage, wherein aqueous liquid is released from the recirculation loop via the first loop outlet.

14. An electronic domestic appliance comprising:
a user interface;
a first appliance opening;
a deionization system, wherein the deionization system comprises:
a recirculation loop comprising a first loop inlet, a first loop outlet for waste liquid and a second loop outlet for purified aqueous liquid, wherein the first appliance opening is in fluid connection with the first loop inlet, for introduction of an aqueous liquid to the electronic domestic appliance;
a flow generation unit, configured to generate flow of the aqueous liquid in the deionization system;
an electrosorption cell unit comprising a treatment section for said aqueous liquid, wherein the treatment section comprises (a) a first electrosorption electrode arrangement (b) a second electrosorption electrode arrangement, (c) a first treatment section opening for introduction of the aqueous liquid from the recirculation loop, and (d) a second treatment section opening for releasing the aqueous liquid into the recirculation loop, and wherein the treatment section is configured downstream from the first loop inlet and upstream of the second loop outlet based on a flow starting at the first loop inlet, flowing through the recirculation loop and ending at the first loop inlet after a single recirculation; and

a functional element storage wherein the purified aqueous liquid is applied and/or stored.

15. The electronic domestic appliance according to claim 14 , wherein the electronic domestic appliance comprises one selected from the group consisting of a floor steam cleaner, a food steamer, a kettle, a coffee maker, an espresso maker, a tea maker, a water carbonator, a water softener, a water purifier, a steam iron, and an air humidifier.

16. The electronic domestic appliance according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a waste outlet for removal of the waste liquid; and
a control unit configured to:
control the flow generation unit, valves at the first loop outlet, and valves at the second loop outlet.

17. The electronic domestic appliance according to claim 14 , wherein the functional element storage comprises a functional element outlet.

18. A deionization system comprising:
a recirculation loop comprising a first loop inlet, a first loop outlet for waste liquid, a second loop outlet for purified aqueous liquid, and a buffer reservoir unit;
a flow generation apparatus, configured to generate flow of the aqueous liquid in the deionization system;
an electrosorption cell unit comprising a treatment section for said aqueous liquid, wherein the treatment section comprises (a) a first electrosorption electrode arrangement, (b) a second electrosorption electrode arrangemen

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Verschueren Alwin Rogier Martijn

Classifications

• C02F2201/4613

  Inversing polarity · CPC title

• C02F1/32

  with ultraviolet light · CPC title

• C02F1/283

  using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them · CPC title

• C02F2307/12

  as part of household appliances such as dishwashers, laundry washing machines or vacuum cleaners · CPC title

• C02F2301/046

  Recirculation with an external loop · CPC title