Method and apparatus for the purification of water

A method for water purification employing an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode, a water stream path positioned therebetween, and electrodialysis membranes around the water stream path, comprising the steps of

• passing water to be purified directly over the anode;
• passing the resulting anolyte through a first turbidity filter of activated charcoal;
• and
• passing the water from the first turbidity filter through the water stream path of the electrodialysis purifier.

A method for water purification employing an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode, a water stream path positioned therebetween, and electrodialysis membranes around the water stream path, comprising the steps of

• passing water to be purified through a first turbidity filter;
• passing the water from the first turbidity filter through the water stream path of the electrodialysis purifier;
• and
• passing the water from the water stream path through a second turbidity filter.

A method for water purification employing an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode, a water stream path, electrodialysis membranes around the water stream path, and waste streams positioned adjacent the membranes comprising the steps of

• passing water to be purified directly over the anode;
• passing the resulting anolyte through a first turbidity filter;
• directing anolyte through the waste streams;
• passing the water from the first turbidity filter through the water stream path of the electrodialysis purifier;
• and
• passing the water from the water stream path of the electrodialysis purifier through a second turbidity filter.

A water purification system, comprising

• an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path located between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path, and ion exchange membranes separating said waste stream path most adjacent said anode from said anode, said water stream path, said waste stream paths, and said anode each having an inlet and an outlet;
• a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet;
• and
• a second turbidity filter including an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said second turbidity filter inlet being in communication with said water stream path outlet.

A water purification system, comprising

• an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path positioned between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path and between said anode and said cathode, ion exchange membranes separating each waste stream path from said water stream path and said waste stream path most adjacent said anode from said anode, said anode, said waste stream paths, and said water stream path each having an inlet and an outlet;
• a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media;
• and
• a second turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said anode outlet being in communication with said first turbidity filter inlet, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet, said anode outlet being in communication with at least one said waste stream path inlet, said water stream path outlet being in communication with said second turbidity filter inlet.

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising

• an anode;
• a cathode spaced from said anode;
• a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit;
• waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode;
• ion exchange beads in said water stream conduit;
• ion exchange membranes between said waste stream conduit and said water stream conduit;
• and
• screens between each said waste stream conduit and each said membrane adjacent said waste stream conduit and between said water stream conduit and each said membrane adjacent said water stream conduit, said screens having interstices smaller than the minor cross-sectional areas of said ion exchange beads.

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising

• an anode;
• a cathode spaced from said anode;
• a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit;
• waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode;
• ion exchange beads in said water stream conduit;
• ion exchange membranes between said waste stream conduit and said water stream conduit;
• and
• ion exchange beads in a plurality of said waste stream conduit.

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising

• a water stream outlet, and a plurality of water stream ribs, said water stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said water stream inlet to said water stream outlet defining water stream conduits therebetween, said water stream ribs lying in a planar arrangements;
• waste stream members positioned on either side of said water stream member, each said waste stream member having a waste stream inlet, a waste stream outlet and a plurality of waste stream ribs, said waste stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said waste stream inlet to said waste stream outlet defining waste stream conduits therebetween, said waste stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement and being laterally positioned to overlay the water stream ribs through a substantial portion of their length;
• ion exchange membranes positioned between each said waste stream member and said water stream member, said membranes separating said waste stream conduits from said water streams,
• an anode on a first side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members;
• a cathode on a second, opposite side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members.

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising

• a water stream member having a water stream inlet, a water stream outlet, and a plurality of water stream ribs, said water stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said water stream inlet to said water stream outlet, defining water stream conduits therebetween, said water stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement;
• waste stream members positioned on either side of said water stream member and having a waste stream inlet, a waste stream outlet and a plurality of waste stream ribs, said waste stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said waste stream inlet to said waste stream outlet defining waste stream conduits therebetween, said waste stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement and being laterally positioned to overlay the waste stream ribs through a substantial portion of their length;
• screens positioned on either side of said water stream member parallel to the planar arrangement;
• ion exchange membranes positioned between each waste stream member and water stream member, said membranes separating said waste stream conduits from said water stream conduits;
• ion exchange beads positioned within said water stream conduits and said waste stream conduits;
• an anode on one side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members;
• and
• a cathode on the other side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members.

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising

• an anode;
• a cathode spaced from said anode;
• a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit;
• waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode;
• and
• a cathode buffer including a cationic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from said cathode defining a first waste stream buffer conduit therebetween and an anionic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from said cationic exchange membrane defining a second waste stream buffer conduit therebetween further removed from said cathode.

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising

• an anode;
• a cathode spaced from said anode;
• a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit;
• waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode;
• ion exchange membranes between said waste steam conduit and said water stream conduit;
• a surge system associated with said waste stream paths, said surge system including a first and second outlet connected in parallel, said first outlet including a flow restrictor and said outlet including a valve means, said second outlet having less restrictions than said first outlet with said restrictor when said valve means is open.