Device and method for dynamic processing in water purification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9862624-B2
Application number	US-93675307-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2007
Priority date	Nov 7, 2007
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A transformational approach to water treatment is provided that incorporates membrane-free filtration with dynamic processing of the fluid to significantly reduce treatment times, chemical cost, land use, and operational overhead. This approach provides hybrid capabilities of filtration, together with chemical treatment, as the water is transported through various spiral stages.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for dynamic processing for water purification, the system comprising:
an inlet to receive water from a source;
a filter stage operative to filter first particles;
a mixing stage operative to receive and coagulate the filtered water;
a spiral stage operative to receive the water and separate second particles from the water, wherein the spiral stage comprises a channel in which separation occurs, having a central inlet, structured to provide continuous flow to a peripheral outlet thereof having a split channel egress with a first single channel egress for effluent and a second single channel egress for concentrate; and
a second filter stage operative to filter third particles from the water.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first filter stage is a screen filter.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spiral stage is incorporated in a single spiral device.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixing stage is incorporated in a single spiral device.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixing stage is incorporated in a flash mixer.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spiral stage is incorporated in a first spiral device to receive the coagulated water and treat with flocculant and a second spiral device to separate second particles from the water.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second filter stage is a filter device.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a feedback path to the source or to the inlet of the channel.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the feedback path includes a spiral stage for dewatering that receives backwash from the second filter stage.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first particles are approximately 1-3 mm in diameter.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second particles are approximately 5 μm or larger in diameter.

12. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the third particles are 0.5 μm or larger in diameter.

13. A system for dynamic processing for water purification, the system comprising:
an inlet to receive water from a source;
a filter stage operative to filter first particles;
a spiral mixing stage operative to receive and coagulate the filtered water, the spiral mixing stage having a central inlet and a peripheral outlet;
a separating stage operative to receive the coagulated water and treat with flocculant and separate second particles from the water, wherein the separating stage comprises a channel in which separation occurs, having an inlet, structured to provide continuous flow to an outlet thereof having a split channel egress with a first single channel egress for effluent and a second single channel egress for concentrate, wherein the separating stage eliminates sedimentation to separate the second particles;
a second filter stage operative to filter third particles from the water.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first filter stage is a screen filter.

15. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the second filter stage is a filter device.

16. The system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a feedback path to the source.

17. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first particles are approximately 1-3 mm in diameter.

18. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the second particles are approximately 5 μm or larger in diameter.

19. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the third particles are 0.5 μm or larger in diameter.

20. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the channel is membrane-free.

21. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the channel is membrane-free.

22. A system for dynamic processing for water purification, the system comprising:
an inlet to receive water from a source;
a filter stage operative to filter first particles;
a spiral mixing stage operative to receive, coagulate and mix flocculant into the filtered water, the spiral mixing stage having a central inlet and a peripheral outlet;
a spiral separating stage operative to receive the water from the mixing stages and separate second particles from the water, wherein the spiral stage comprises a channel in which separation occurs, having a central inlet, structured to provide continuous flow to a peripheral outlet thereof having a split channel egress with a first single channel egress for effluent and a second single channel egress for concentrate; and,
a second filter stage operative to filter third particles from the water.

23. The System as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a water feedback path.

24. A system for dynamic processing for water purification, the system comprising:
an inlet to receive water from a source;
a filter stage operative to filter first particles;
a spiral stage operative to receive the water, mix the water and separate second particles from the water, wherein the spiral stage comprises a channel in which mixing and separation occurs, having a central inlet, structured to provide continuous flow to a peripheral outlet thereof having a split channel egress with a first single channel egress for effluent and a second single channel egress for concentrate; and
a second filter stage operative to filter third particles from the water.

Assignees

• Lean Meng H
• Seo Jeonggi
• Völkel Armin R
• Kole Ashutosh
• Hsieh Huangpin B
• Parekh Nitin S
• Chang Norine E
• Palo Alto Res Ct Inc

Inventors

• Lean Meng H
• Seo Jeonggi
• Völkel Armin R
• Kole Ashutosh
• Hsieh Huangpin B
• Parekh Nitin S
• Chang Norine E

Classifications

• C02F2301/024

  Turbulent · CPC title

• C02F2301/046

  Recirculation with an external loop · CPC title

• B01D21/265

  by using a vortex inducer or vortex guide, e.g. coil (B01D21/0054 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01D21/26

  Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force {or centripetal force}(centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C) · CPC title

• B01D46/403

  of helically or spirally wound bodies · CPC title