# US 2019/0168164 A1 · Water purifier and water preparation method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168164 A1 - Document ID: US20190168164A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/204,957 - Filed: 2018-11-29 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-31 - Assignees: A. O. Smith Corporation - Applicants: A.O. Smith (China) Water Heater Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shi SHUAI; Haifeng ZHANG; Zhaoshan CHENG; Yaohua HE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168164A1 ## CPC - B01D 65/02: Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration} - B01D 39/18: the material being cellulose or derivatives thereof ({cork or peat B01D39/1646} ; making filter paper D21F11/14) - B01D 39/2055: {Carbonaceous material (solid sorbent compositions comprising free carbon B01J20/20)} - B01D 61/02: Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration {; Nanofiltration} - B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration} - B01D 61/08: Apparatus therefor - B01D 61/12: Controlling or regulating - C02F 9/00: Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage - B01D 2311/2626: Absorption or adsorption - B01D 2311/2649: Filtration - B01D 2313/243: Pumps - B01D 2313/501: Permeate storage tanks - B01D 2315/10: Cross-flow filtration - B01D 2321/12: Use of permeate - C02F 1/001: {Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)} - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/283: {using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them} - C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis} - C02F 2303/16: Regeneration of sorbents, filters - 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) - 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) ## Abstract The present invention discloses a water purifier and a water production method thereof, relating to the technical field of water processing, the water purifier comprising: a reverse osmosis membrane device comprising a raw water port, a purified water port and a waste water port; a water storage device which is provided therein with a first chamber of which a volume can be adjusted, the first chamber being communicated with the raw water port and the purified water port, respectively; in the cleaning mode, the first chamber is disconnected from the purified water port, the first chamber is communicated with the raw water port, and the purified water flows into the first chamber from the raw water port of the reverse osmosis membrane device and is discharged from the waste water port of the reverse osmosis membrane device; in the water production mode, and the first chamber is communicated with the purified water port, the first chamber is disconnected from the raw water port. In the present invention, the purified water is stored in the water purifier so as to flush the reverse osmosis membrane device, such that the total dissolved solid (TDS) of a first glass of purified water that flows out of the water purifier at the beginning of use is reduced, and meanwhile lifetime of a reverse osmosis membrane in the reverse osmosis membrane device is effectively improved. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water purifier, wherein, the water purifier comprises: a reverse osmosis membrane device comprising a raw water port, a purified water port and a waste water port; a water storage device which is provided therein with a first chamber of which a volume can be adjusted; the first chamber can be communicated with the raw water port and the purified water port, respectively; the water purifier has a cleaning mode and a water production mode, in the cleaning mode, the first chamber is disconnected from the purified water port, the first chamber is communicated with the raw water port, the purified water flows into the first chamber from the raw water port of the reverse osmosis membrane device and is discharged from the waste water port of the reverse osmosis membrane device; in the water production mode, the first chamber is communicated with the purified water port, and the first chamber is disconnected from the raw water port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein, the water storage device comprises a separator which separates interior of the water storage device into the first chamber and a second chamber that are isolated from each other, and can adjust sizes of the first chamber and the second chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein, a first switching device is disposed between the first chamber and the raw water port, and a second switching device is disposed between the first chamber and the purified water port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein, gas or liquid can flow into the second chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein, the second chamber can be in communication with a water source or a gas source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein, the water purifier further comprises a pre-filter element whose outlet can be in communication with the second chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The water purifier according to claim 6, wherein, the water purifier comprises a first control switch disposed between the outlet of the pre-filter element and the second chamber; in the cleaning mode, the first control switch causes the outlet of the pre-filter element to be in communication with the second chamber; in the water production mode, the first control switch causes the outlet of the pre-filter element to be disconnected from the second chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein, the first chamber is provided therein with filtering material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The water purifier according to claim 8, wherein, the filtering material separates the first chamber into a third chamber and a fourth chamber that are arranged along a filtering direction of the filtering material, the third chamber is communicated with the purified water port of the reverse osmosis membrane device, and the fourth chamber is communicated with the raw water port of the reverse osmosis membrane device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The water purifier according to claim 9, wherein, the fourth chamber is communicated with a water use end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The water purifier according to claim 8, wherein, the filtering material is activated carbon filter element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein, the separator includes at least one of an airbag piston and a drumhead. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein, the water storage device comprises an elastic member that can adjust the volume of the first chamber. ### Claim 14 A water production method of a water purifier, wherein, the water purifier comprises: a reverse osmosis membrane device comprising a raw water port, a purified water port and a waste water port; a water storage device which is provided therein with a first chamber of which a volume can be adjusted, the first chamber being communicated with the raw water port and the purified water port, respectively; when the water purifier is in a water production state, communicating the purified water port with the first chamber and disconnecting the raw water port from the first chamber such that purified water flowing out of the reverse osmosis membrane device flows into the first chamber; when the water purifier is in a cleaning state, communicating the raw water port with the first chamber such that the purified water in the first chamber flows into the raw water port of the reverse osmosis membrane device. ### Claim 15 A water purifier, wherein, the water purifier comprises: a reverse osmosis membrane apparatus having a raw water port, a purified water port and a waste water port; a water storage apparatus which is provided therein with a first chamber having a volume regulatable; the first chamber can be communicated with the raw water port and the purified water port; the water storage apparatus has an isolator which partitions an interior of the water storage apparatus into the first chamber and a second chamber that are isolated from each other, and the second chamber can be communicated with a water source; the water source supplies raw water; and the isolator can regulate sizes of the first chamber and the second chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The water purifier according to claim 15, wherein the raw water port is connected with a booster pump and a front filter element; the waste water port of the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus is connected with a waste water ratio apparatus; and the purified water port is connected with an activated carbon filter element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The water purifier according to claim 16, wherein the front filter element is connected at an upstream of the booster pump; and an outlet of the front filter element can be communicated with the second chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The water purifier according to claim 15, wherein a first switching apparatus is provided between the first chamber and the raw water port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The water purifier according to claim 17, wherein a first control switch is provided between the second chamber and the water source, and located between the outlet of the front filter element and the second chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The water purifier according to claim 16, wherein a first electromagnetic valve is further provided between the front filter element and the booster pump. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The water purifier according to claim 15, wherein a second switching apparatus is provided between the first chamber and the purified water port. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The water purifier according to claim 15, wherein the first chamber is provided therein with a filtering material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The water purifier according to claim 22, wherein the filtering material partitions the first chamber into a third chamber and a fourth chamber which are arranged along a filtering direction of the filtering material, wherein the third chamber is in communication with the purified water port of the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus, and the fourth chamber is in communication with the raw water port of the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The water purifier according to claim 23, wherein the fourth chamber is in communication with a water use end. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The water purifier according to claim 15, wherein the isolator at least includes one of an airbag piston and a drum membrane. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The water purifier according to claim 15, wherein the water storage apparatus has an elastic member which can regulate the volume of the first chamber.