Systems and methods for treatment of hard water

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12404194-B2
Application number	US-202117759736-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2021
Priority date	Jan 31, 2020
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for treatment of hard water are disclosed that relate to combining a scale reduction device with a water softener device. In an aspect, the water softener device is an ion exchange water softener device. The systems and methods can be used to provide treated water having the same or similar performance quality compared to water produced by ion exchange water softener devices alone, while using significantly less chemical regenerant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water treatment system for reducing or eliminating the negative effects of hard water, comprising:
a water softener device comprising a first inlet for receiving feed water and a first outlet for transferring treated water from the water softener device,
a scale reduction device comprising a second outlet for transferring treated water from the scale reduction device,
wherein the scale reduction device is connected to the water softener device via the first outlet, and
a flow control device connected to the first inlet, wherein the flow control device is configured to direct a first portion of a flow of feed water to only the scale reduction device and a second portion of the flow to both the water softener device and the scale reduction device.

2. The water treatment system of claim 1 , further comprising a bypass conduit, wherein an inlet of the bypass conduit is connected to the first inlet and an outlet of the bypass conduit is connected to the first outlet.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the flow control device comprises a flow control valve connected to the bypass conduit, and
wherein the flow control valve is configured to direct a portion of the flow of feed water from the first inlet, through the bypass conduit, and into the scale reduction device via the first outlet.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the water softener device is an ion exchange water softener device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the scale reduction device is configured to induce precipitation of hardness ions.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the water softener device is configured to reduce a concentration of hardness ions in the feed water to 0.1 to 20 grains per gallon (gpg).

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the water softener device is configured to reduce a concentration of dissolved hardness ions in the feed water to 0.1 to 20 grains per gallon (gpg).

8. A water treatment system for reducing or eliminating the negative effects of hard water, comprising:
a scale reduction device comprising a first inlet for receiving feed water and a first outlet for transferring treated water from the scale reduction device, and
a water softener device comprising a second outlet for transferring treated water from the water softener device, wherein the water softener device excludes a reverse osmosis water softener device,
wherein the scale reduction device is connected to the water softener device via the first outlet,
a bypass conduit, wherein an inlet of the bypass conduit is connected to the first inlet and an outlet of the bypass conduit is connected to the first outlet, and
a flow control valve connected to the bypass conduit, wherein the flow control valve is configured to direct a portion of a flow of the feed water from the first inlet, through the bypass conduit, and into the water softener device via the first outlet.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the water softener device is configured to reduce a concentration of hardness ions in the feed water or treated water from the scale reduction device to 0.1 to 20 grains per gallon (gpg).

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the water softener device is configured to reduce a concentration of dissolved hardness ions in the feed water or treated water from the scale reduction device to 0.1 to 20 grains per gallon (gpg).

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the water softener device is an ion exchange water softener device or a capacitive deionization water softener device.

12. A water treatment system for reducing or eliminating the negative effects of hard water, comprising:
a water softener device comprising a first inlet for receiving feed water and a first outlet for transferring treated water from the water softener device,
a scale reduction device comprising a second outlet for transferring treated water from the scale reduction device, wherein the scale reduction device is connected to the water softener device via the first outlet,
a bypass conduit, wherein an inlet of the bypass conduit is connected to the first inlet and an outlet of the bypass conduit is connected to the first outlet, and
a flow control valve connected to the bypass conduit wherein the flow control valve is configured to direct a portion of a flow of the feed water from the first inlet, through the bypass conduit, and into the scale reduction device via the first outlet.

Assignees

• Cargill Inc

Inventors

• Koefod Robert Scott

Classifications

• C02F2301/043

  Treatment of partial or bypass streams · CPC title

• C02F2209/40

  Liquid flow rate · CPC title

• C02F2209/055

  Hardness · CPC title

• C02F5/08

  Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents · CPC title

• C02F1/42 Primary

  by ion-exchange (ion-exchange in general B01J) · CPC title