Patent · US Active

Water purification apparatus, and a method for controlling a water purification apparatus

US12179151B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 16, 2020
Grant dateDec 31, 2024
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 4, 2041

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A20/131
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A water purification apparatus (1) comprising a Reverse Osmosis, RO, device (26). The RO device (26) comprises a RO membrane (26a) and a feed pump (23). The apparatus (1) also comprises a recirculation mechanism (33) arranged to recirculate a portion of the reject water to the feed water, a temperature sensor device arranged to measure a temperature indicative of the temperature of the RO membrane (26a), and a flow rate sensor device arranged to measure a flow rate indicative of the permeate flow rate of the permeate water. The apparatus (1) further comprises a control arrangement (50) configured to control recirculation to achieve a predetermined recovery ratio. The control arrangement (50) is also configured to control the rate of the feed pump (23), based on the measured temperature indicative of the temperature of the RO membrane (26a) and a desired permeate conductivity, to make the permeate flow rate equal to, or within a predetermined margin of, an energy efficient permeate flow rate determined based on a predetermined relation between RO membrane temperature, permeate flow rate and permeate conductivity. The disclosure also related to a corresponding method.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.