초록 ▼

A reverse osmosis water purification system in which the concentrate water normally produced by the process is not disposed of by routing it to a drain line or otherwise, but is redirected to the main water supply. The system includes the well-known components of a reverse osmosis membrane, pre-filt

A reverse osmosis water purification system in which the concentrate water normally produced by the process is not disposed of by routing it to a drain line or otherwise, but is redirected to the main water supply. The system includes the well-known components of a reverse osmosis membrane, pre-filters which are installed ahead of the reverse osmosis membrane, and an appropriate tank to store the purified water. In addition, the system includes a pump and associated pressure sensing device for increasing the pressure of the incoming non-processed water to the reverse osmosis unit, and a pipe to carry the concentrate water from the reverse osmosis unit to the incoming main water supply, be it either a cold or hot water line. Additionally included is a one-way check valve in the concentrate water line, and a sensing device in the purified water storage tank to turn the pump off whenever the quantity of water in the tank exceeds a predetermined amount.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of recycling waste water from a reverse osmosis unit that produces both purified water and waste water, the method comprising: receiving into a pump supply water, from a source that is pressurized to a supply pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and increasing in the pump the pressur

A method of recycling waste water from a reverse osmosis unit that produces both purified water and waste water, the method comprising: receiving into a pump supply water, from a source that is pressurized to a supply pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and increasing in the pump the pressure of the received supply water by the sum of (i) a first pressure that is of a magnitude individually sufficiently large so as to serve as a differential pressure across a membrane of a reverse osmosis unit, plus (ii) a second pressure that is of magnitude individually sufficiently large so as to serve to force water through a conduit, therein by the sum of the first pressure and the second pressure to produce an increased pressure that is of a magnitude too large to serve as the differential pressure across a reverse osmosis unit; receiving in the reverse osmosis unit the supply water at the increased pressure from the pump, and processing the received water so as to produce both (i) purified water at a purified water outlet, and also (ii) waste water at a waste water outlet, while incurring a pressure drop equal to the first pressure; threshold sensing the supply pressure; and enabling the increasing in accordance with the threshold sensing; wherein the increased pressure is maintained greater than a threshold pressure level despite variations in the supply pressure; wherein each of the purified water and the waste water is produced at a pressure that is, although less than the increased pressure, still greater than the supply pressure by the magnitude of the second pressure; and flow-connecting the waste water at a pressure greater than the supply pressure from the reverse osmosis unit directly without flow restriction or constriction to the source of water at its supply pressure, wherein by the direct connection any reverse pressure that tends to counteract flow which is experienced by the waste water is precisely and exactly the supply pressure, and no greater nor any less pressure; wherein the differential water pressure across the reverse osmosis unit is the first pressure; wherein the waste water produced by the reverse osmosis unit is returned under the second pressure to the source of water that is at the supply pressure; wherein water is conserved.