# US 10,246,351 B2 · Device for producing ultrapure water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,351 B2 - Document ID: US10246351B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/602,487 - Filed: 2012-09-04 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-24 - Assignees: Vivonic GmbH - Applicants: Manfred Völker - Inventors: Manfred Völker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246351B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis} - A61M 1/1672: {using membrane filters, e.g. for sterilising the dialysate} - A61M 1/168: {Sterilisation or cleaning before or after use} - A61M 1/169: {using chemical substances} - B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration} - B01D 61/08: Apparatus therefor - B01D 61/12: Controlling or regulating - B01D 65/02: Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration} - B01D 65/10: Testing of membranes or membrane apparatus; Detecting or repairing leaks - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - A61M 1/1656: {Apparatus for preparing dialysates} - A61M 1/1686: {by heat} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/707: Testing of filters for clogging - A61M 2205/7563: with means preventing clogging of filters - B01D 2313/48: Mechanisms for switching between regular separation operations and washing - B01D 2321/04: Backflushing - B01D 2321/40: Automatic control of cleaning processes - C02F 2103/026: {Treating water for medical or cosmetic purposes} - C02F 2103/04: for obtaining ultra-pure water - C02F 2303/14: Maintenance of water treatment installations - C02F 2303/16: Regeneration of sorbents, filters - C02F 2303/20: Prevention of biofouling - C02F 2303/22: Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention (C02F1/042, C02F1/4602, C02F5/00 take precedence) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract The device for producing ultrapure water according to the reverse osmosis principle with a reverse osmosis filter which is subdivided by the RO membrane into a primary chamber and a secondary chamber, with a primary circuit through which raw water is supplied to the primary chamber and concentrate is discharged therefrom, and with a secondary circuit for supplying permeate to at least one consumer, preferably to a dialysis device, is characterized in that a means for detecting organic and/or inorganic deposits is arranged in or on the primary circuit and/or the secondary circuit and is connected to an evaluation means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for producing ultrapure water according to a reverse osmosis (RO) principle with a reverse osmosis filter which is subdivided by a RO membrane into a primary chamber and a secondary chamber, with a primary circuit through which raw water is supplied to the primary chamber and concentrate is discharged therefrom, and with a secondary circuit for supplying permeate to at least one consumer, the device for producing ultrapure water comprising, a pump connected to a conduit of the primary circuit upstream of the reverse osmosis filter; a flow resistance means and a valve with a discharge outlet connected to a concentrate conduit of the primary circuit downstream of the reverse osmosis filter; a deposition layer detector arranged in or on a concentrate line of the primary circuit downstream of the primary chamber that detects a deposition layer of at least one of organic and inorganic deposits, the deposition layer detector being connected to a processor, the processor including a deposition layer evaluator; and a buffer vessel having a flexible, expandable volume incorporated into a permeate conduit of the secondary circuit, wherein the deposition layer evaluator is configured to determine a thickness measurement value of the deposition layer detected by the deposition layer detector; wherein the deposition layer detector comprises a sensor system; and wherein the sensor system is configured to initiate a back flushing of the RO membrane when the determined thickness measurement value reaches a predetermined limit measurement value, wherein the back flushing comprises the deposition layer evaluator causing the processor to stop the pump and open the valve to the discharge outlet, and further causing the processor to control the buffer vessel to produce a negative pressure on the RO membrane to cause a reverse flow via the RO membrane to the discharge outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the deposition layer evaluator is connected to a display for displaying the determined thickness measurement values. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the deposition layer evaluator outputs an alarm signal when the predetermined limit measurement value is reached or exceeded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises a transmitter for transmitting optical signals and a receiver for receiving incoming signals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein a mirror reflecting the optical signals is positioned opposite to the transmitter of the optical signals as a measurement surface that reflects the optical signals to the receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein a surface which is inert to deposits is positioned next to the measurement surface as a comparison or calibration surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the sensor system containing a section of a liquid-conducting line or of a component getting into contact with the liquid consists fully or partially of transparent or translucent material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein a sensor of the sensor system is installed in a measurement chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the transmitter emits UV light for detecting deposition layers including biological deposits. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the deposit layer evaluator determines a thickness of the deposition layer, wherein the deposition layer comprises a biological and/or inorganic deposition. ### Claim 11 A device for producing ultrapure water according to a reverse osmosis (RO) principle with a reverse osmosis filter which is subdivided by a RO membrane into a primary chamber and a secondary chamber, with a primary circuit through which raw water is supplied to the primary chamber and concentrate is discharged therefrom, and with a secondary circuit for supplying permeate to at least one consumer, the device for producing ultrapure water comprising, a pump connected to a conduit of the primary circuit upstream of the reverse osmosis filter; a flow resistance means and a valve with a discharge outlet connected to a concentrate conduit of the primary circuit downstream of the reverse osmosis filter; a deposition layer detector arranged in or on a ring line of the secondary circuit downstream of the secondary chamber that detects a deposition layer of at least one of organic and inorganic deposits, the deposition layer detector being connected to a processor, the processor including a deposition layer evaluator; and a buffer vessel having a flexible, expandable volume incorporated into a permeate conduit of the secondary circuit, wherein the deposition layer evaluator is configured to determine a thickness measurement value of the deposition layer detected by the deposition layer detector; wherein the deposition layer detector comprises a sensor system; and wherein the sensor system is configured to initiate a back flushing of the RO membrane when the determined thickness measurement value reaches a predetermined limit measurement value, wherein the back flushing comprises the deposition layer evaluator causing the processor to stop the pump and open the valve to the discharge outlet, and further causing the processor to control the buffer vessel to produce a negative pressure on the RO membrane to cause a reverse flow via the RO membrane to the discharge outlet. ### Claim 12 A device for producing ultrapure water according to a reverse osmosis (RO) principle with a reverse osmosis filter which is subdivided by a RO membrane into a primary chamber and a secondary chamber, with a primary circuit through which raw water is supplied to the primary chamber and concentrate is discharged therefrom, and with a secondary circuit for supplying permeate to at least one consumer, the device for producing ultrapure water comprising, a pump connected to a conduit of the primary circuit upstream of the reverse osmosis filter; a flow resistance means and a valve with a discharge outlet connected to a concentrate conduit of the primary circuit downstream of the reverse osmosis filter; a deposition layer detector arranged in or on a ring line of the secondary circuit downstream of a consumer line connected to the secondary chamber that detects a deposition layer of at least one of organic and inorganic deposits, the deposition layer detector being connected to a processor, the processor including a deposition deposit layer evaluator; and a buffer vessel having a flexible, expandable volume incorporated into a permeate conduit of the secondary circuit, wherein the deposition layer evaluator is configured to determine a thickness measurement value of the deposition layer detected by the deposition layer detector; wherein the deposition layer detector comprises a sensor system; and wherein the sensor system is configured to initiate a back flushing of the RO membrane when the determined thickness measurement value reaches a predetermined limit measurement value, wherein the back flushing comprises the deposition layer evaluator causing the processor to stop the pump and open the valve to the discharge outlet, and further causing the processor to control the buffer vessel to produce a negative pressure on the RO membrane to cause a reverse flow via the RO membrane to the discharge outlet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein during said back flushing of the RO membrane, the buffer vessel continues to feed permeate to the consumer in addition to said causing reverse flow via the RO membrane to the discharge outlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein during said back flushing of the RO membrane, the buffer vessel continues to feed permeate to the consumer in addition to said causing reverse flow via the RO membrane to the discharge outlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein during said back flushing of the RO membrane, the buffer vessel continues to feed permeate to the consumer in addition to said causing reverse flow via the RO membrane to the discharge outlet.