US 2016/0137532 A1 · ION-EXCHANGE PURIFICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS

Abstract

An ion-exchange water purification method and system. Feed water is exposed in countercurrent to active media in a vessel, resulting in treated water and spent media. The treated water flows upwards in the vessel and is recovered. The spent media flows to a regeneration zone of the vessel below the active media and is exposed to a regenerant in the regeneration zone, resulting in regenerated media and spent regenerant. The regenerated media flows to a point above the active media and from the point above the active media toward the active media while treated water flows upwards in countercurrent from the active media toward the regenerated media, rinsing the regenerated media and resulting in rinsed media and rinse water. The rinsed media flows to the active media and is combined with the active media.

Claims32

Dependent claims

An ion-exchange water purification method comprising:

exposing feed water to active media in a vessel, resulting in treated water and spent media;
flowing the treated water upwards in the vessel and recovering the treated water;
flowing the spent media to a regeneration zone of the vessel below the active media;
exposing the spent media to a regenerant in the regeneration zone, resulting in regenerated media and spent regenerant;
flowing the regenerated media to a point above the active media;
flowing the regenerated media from the point above the active media toward the active media and flowing the treated water in countercurrent from the active media toward the regenerated media, rinsing the regenerated media and resulting in rinsed media and rinse water;
flowing the rinsed media to the active media;
and
removing the spent regenerant.

6 more elements

An ion-exchange water purification vessel comprising:

a body;
a treatment zone defined within the body for receiving an active media;
a feed water inlet for providing feed water to the treatment zone and exposing the feed water to the active media, resulting in treated water and spent media;
a regeneration zone defined within the body below the treatment zone for receiving the spent media;
a regenerant inlet for providing regenerant to the regeneration zone and exposing the spent media to a regenerant, resulting in regenerated media and spent regenerant;
a regeneration zone barrier positioned between the treatment zone and the regeneration zone for restricting fluid flow between the treatment zone and the regeneration zone;
and
a separator above the treatment zone for exposing the regenerated media to the treated water to rinse the regenerated media, resulting in rinsed media and rinse water;
wherein the separator is in fluid communication with the regeneration zone for receiving the regenerated media from the regeneration zone;
the separator is in fluid communication with the treatment zone for receiving purified fluid from the treatment zone;
and
the separator is in fluid communication with the treatment zone for providing the rinsed media to the treatment zone for adding to the active media.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ion-exchange purification method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Ion-exchange purification method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32