In the following discussion, a water treatment system with three emitters in one chamber is used as an example. The voltages and flow rates below are suitable for this example, but it should be understood that more or fewer cells can be used, depending on the needs of the installation. It may be convenient to pass the water to be treated through a plurality of chambers to make a more compact system or to treat large volumes of water. The chambers may be arranged in series or in parallel. One of the pressing needs is the removal of ferrous hydroxide, which has an odor, stains and fouls plumbing. Oxidized iron is non-reactive and will not stain or foul plumbing, nor does it have an objectionable odor. The microbubbles evolved by the emitters are effective in rapid oxidation of contaminants both because of the high oxygen content achieved in the water and because of the large surface area for reaction. A final filter is preferred in order to remove fine precipitates of oxidized iron and other oxidized metals and to improve the clarity of the water. In the following examples, specific conditions of power supply, size and flow rates are provided for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art can readily make adjustments in power supply, size and flow rates to provide the benefits of this invention.
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This description is based on a example system with three emitters and the self cleaning polarity reversal on each initiation of water flow. Adjustments can be made for bigger or smaller systems. Circuit operation starts with applying line voltage, 120 V AC, to the power supply 26, which transforms the line voltage to 12 V DC. The controller circuit is in electrical communication with flow switch 23, temperature sensor 22 and push button switch 21 which activates the circuit, if the temperature sensor 22 indicates cool, thereby allowing 12 volts to be applied to the push button switch 21. When this push button switch is pushed, it energizes relay 24 K1A. The connections on this relay are such that it remains energized after the push button is released. The other contacts on this relay look at the flow switch to see if water is flowing. If so, the next relay 25 K1B is energized, applying 120 V AC to the second power supply 20 and relay 27 K2. K2 is a sequencing relay, the contacts of which will change state when energized and remain in an energized state when power is removed. The next time the relay is energized, the contacts change state and then stay in that position.
When 120 V AC power is supplied to the power supply 20, it sends DC voltage onto its output connections. Relays 28K3, 29K4, and 30K5 send the current through terminal boards 31, 32 and 33 to the emitters. If K2 is in one position, the voltage applied to the emitters is “forward” biased. The next water flow detection will change the state of K2 and the relays will change state, resulting in a reversal of polarity on the emitters. Oxygen will be produced during either state.
The action will continue indefinitely if the temperature sensor detects no increase in temperature. If the sensor sees an increase in temperature above its set point, it will open the circuit and remove the 12 V DC power to the relays, thereby shutting down the circuit. The circuit can be restarted only by activating the button switch again. When the spigot is turned off, there is a slight temperature rise until the flow switch turns off the controller. This rise is not enough to trigger the much higher set point on the temperature switch. Hence the system will turn on again once the flow switch detects flow. The temperature switch is a safety device and preferably, once the temperature switch inactivates the power system, manual intervention is required to reactivate the system.
Depending on the volume of fluid to be oxygenated, the emitter of this invention may be shaped as a circle, rectangle, cone or other model. One or more may be set in a substrate that may be metal, glass, plastic or other material. The substrate is not critical as long as the current is isolated to the electrodes by the nonconductor spacer material of a thickness from 0.005 to 0.140 inches, preferably 0.030 to 0.075 inches, most preferably 0.065 inches. Within this distance, micro- and nanobubbles of oxygen are evolved. These bubbles are so small that they cannot escape and build up into what may be termed a colloidal suspension of oxygen in an aqueous medium. Oxygen concentrations of 260% of calculated saturation at a particular temperature and pressure have been achieved in a stationary container. The oxygen suspension in a flow-through unit can be so concentrated with oxygen that the water appears milky. In addition to the high oxygen content achieved, the microbubbles have a larger surface area for reaction than ordinary-sized bubbles. While any configuration may be used in the water treatment system, a funnel or pyramidal shaped cell was constructed to treat larger volumes of fluid.
A. An experimental system, such as that in
Calculations of power expended and cost thereof were made. The current varied between 3.3 and 3.8 amps. At 12 volts, the power used was about 48 Watts for each emitter or about 144 watts. The system was activated for about two hours each day, at a daily cost (current electric company rates) of about 3.4 cents per day.
This experimental system did not feature the self-cleaning reverse polarity feature. The system was run for six days, during which time 1400 gallons of water was drawn. At this time, the electrodes began to show some mineral deposits.
B. The first polarity-reversing experimental system, with three emitters, was installed in a home provided with well water, containing 2 to 3 ppm iron. The flow rate in the system was 6 gallons/minute. Polarity of the emitters was reversed every time the flow was started, that is, when a faucet was opened, about 70 times per day. This unit was equipped with a Birm filter. Tests showed complete removal of iron, down to 0 detectable ppm.
C. The second polarity-reversing experimental system was installed at a site where the effluent was also used for irrigation. The water contained 12.75 ppm iron and operated at a 15 gallon/minute rate. Polarity was reversed every time the well pump was started, which varied between 14 and 18 times a day.
As for the prototype in Example B, the iron in the effluent was undetectable and the effluent was passed through a Birm filter and the results showed that iron levels were undetectable. These results were verified by an independent testing laboratory.
D. The third polarity-reversing experimental system was installed at a site where the water contained both 10 ppm iron and 2.25 ppm hydrogen sulfide. Flow rate was 7 gallons per minute, and the polarity was reversed each time the well pump was started, about 14 times per day. The effluent was passed through a greens and filter. Iron and hydrogen sulfide levels in the effluent were undetectable.
A. Seventy gallons of well water testing 4 to 5 ppm were passed through conduit equipped with a three plate, twelve-inch emitter at 12 Volts. The flow rates were varied and the iron content was measured after the effluent passed through a 9 by 48 inch Birm filter. The first flow rate tested was two gallons per minute. Iron content was below 0.5 ppm (the practical lower limit of measuring). When the flow rate was increased to 2.7 gallons per minute, the iron content was less than 0.5 ppm. The flow was increased to 4.87 gallons per minute and then to six gallons per minute. The iron content of the effluent was 0.5 ppm or below.
B. Trailer testing. A special 5 ft. by 8 ft. trailer was outfitted in order to conduct water testing at various sites and to verify results before units were installed. The trailer was equipped with two polarity-reversing oxygenator chambers, a power supply, and two Birm filters. A 14 inch by 65 inch Birm filter for lower flow rates and a 21 inch by 54 inch Birm filter for higher rates were used. The trailer had its own power generator and large flow pump so iron, hydrogen sulfide and manganese removal can be tested immediately on site.
With this trailer, the ability of the system to remove manganese was tested. At the City of Brooklyn Park, Minn., various wells tested between 1.3 ppm to 2.7 ppm manganese. With the two chambers, powered on the trailer, and at flow rates up to 10 gallons/minute, the manganese was oxidized and 100% removed by the 21 by 54 inch Birm filter.
New embodiments have been developed that are suitable for factory assembly into a compact unit within a case for convenient installation. The improved features include a self-cleaning feature.
It should be noted that the details of the elements of the water treatment system are more fully described in examples 1 to 4. The embodiments described in this example 6 are equipped with a polarity reversing control. The process continues as long as the water flow exceeds the preset flow.
As mentioned above, it is well-known to attempt to improve the quality of water by aeration. Previous techniques of bubbling air or oxygen were not effective in reducing metals and sulfur compounds. While the embodiments described above produce the most improvement in quality of water, other means may produce an approximation of those results. Technology exists to bring pure oxygen to a site and inject it into the water in the form of microbubbles, which raises the oxygen content of the water and also presents a greater surface area for reaction with undesirable substances. A tank of oxygen may be used. The PSA methods passes air through a filter that removes the dinitrogen, leaving pure oxygen.
Various embodiments of emitter were tested. Round, flat or pyramid configuration emitters were tested in the laboratory for over 30 days. The emitters chosen were of titanium. The current was switched at varying intervals from five seconds to three hours. No buildup of mineral deposits was observed. Depending on the site and the user's preference, in the functioning water treatment system, the polarity can be set to reverse:
each time the well pump turns on and the water pressure increases;
when the water flow is initiated;
at timed intervals from 45 seconds to 24 hours or more;
or manually.
Each choice has its advantages with the purpose of minimizing the frequency of reversing polarity in order to prolong the useful life of the electrodes while maintaining the efficacy of water treatment. In general, if the water use is constant, the timing mode can be selective. When water use is intermittent, as is generally the case with home use, a mode based on pump or water flow is preferred.
Those skilled in the art may readily make insubstantial changes or additions. Such changes or additions are within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/813,267, filed Jun. 13, 2006.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60813267 | Jun 2006 | US |