Claims
- 1. A method for removing scale from hot water by passing the hot water through a removal medium, where removal medium is defined as a bed of metal, glass, plastic or other material granules or loose mesh material with far more surface area than the walls of the tank holding the granules or loose mesh material. As hot water passes through the removal medium the precipitate comes into contact with a solid surface and adheres to it, thus removing scale from the water.
- 2. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering a location for the removal medium by placing it as a layer in the water heater tank.
- 3. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering a location for the removal medium by placing it in a tank receiving the hot water leaving the water heater.
- 4. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering a location for the removal medium by placing it in a tank which receives the hot water leaving the water heater, where there is extra room for the expansion of the removal medium as scale accumulates on the surfaces.
- 5. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering a location for the removal medium by placing it as a layer in the water heater tank, where there is extra room for the expansion of the removal medium as scale accumulates on the surfaces.
- 6. A method for treating water as in claim 1 with the use of a circulating pump to circulate the hot water through the removal medium.
- 7. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering the use of an opening in the tank containing the removal medium, whether the water heater or a separate unit, large enough to load, remove or replace granules or loose mesh material.
- 8. A method for treating water as in claim 1 where screens made of perforated plates or plates made of metal, plastic or mineral are placed inside the tank containing the removal medium, whether the water heater or a separate unit, hold the removal medium in place.
- 9. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering the use of a viewing port to inspect the condition of the removal medium without opening the tank containing the removal medium, whether the water heater or a separate unit.
- 10. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering the use of a viewing port or section of transparent pipe to inspect for scale accumulation without opening the pipes.
- 11. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering the use of a conductivity meter, or other hardness meter, connected after or before and after the system indicating the amount of removal of scale causing minerals.
- 12. A method for treating water as in claim 1 wherein the tanks and pipes are insulated.
- 13. A method for treating water as in claim 1 where the tank containing the removal medium located has an opening to allow the replacement or removal of granules or loose mesh material after scale accumulation has restricted water flow, exceeded the designated volume capacity allowed by the tank, or both.
- 14. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering the use of valves that allow switching between in-use and offline units, including valves before and after some or all pumps, pipes and tanks as appropriate for maintenance and replacement. The off-line units are either backups or units to be replaced or serviced.
- 15. A method for treating water as in claim 1 using the various configurations shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7.
- 16. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering all combinations of FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, such as the use of multiple circulation pumps, multiple tanks and other alterations and augmentations that use ideas from other figures.
- 17. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering obvious variations to the configurations depicted in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, or combination of configurations, such as connecting additional tanks in parallel or series.
- 18. A method for treating water as in claim 1 further covering variations to the tank containing the removal medium, such shape or material composition, as well as the use of insulation on tanks and/or pipes.
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