Passive circulation in electrolytic fluid treatment systems
AssigneeWater Regeneration Systems, Inc.
InventorsRobert K. Erickson, Michael D. Hanrahan
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Abstract
A fluid system (10) is disclosed including a filter system (16) for the moving contaminants from fluid provided by a fluid source (12) to a supplied environment (14). The filter system includes an electrolytic or electrostatic cell (26) which is operated by a control circuit (28). The control circuit is programmed to continue to operate the cell after active water flow from fluid source is discontinued. The cell is designed to passively circulate fluid entirely within the cell, allowing efficient continued filtration to occur. As a result, more efficient matching of the cell to the particular supplied environment may be achieved. Several alternative constructions of the cell are disclosed.
Claims33
A system for filtering a fluid, said system comprising:
- storage means for receiving the fluid;
- and
- passive filtration and circulation means for filtering the fluid and for producing a gradient in the fluid that induces circulation of the fluid in said storage means, wherein said passive filtration and circulation means comprises:
- at least one pair of electrodes;
- a housing including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a recirculation port, said housing being positioned within said storage means, said at least one pair of electrodes being positioned within said housing;
- and
- a damper for controlling the alternative introduction of fluid into said housing via said inlet port and said recirculation port.
A system for filtering a fluid, said system comprising:
- storage means for receiving the fluid;
- and
- passive filtration and circulation means for filtering the fluid and for producing a gradient in the fluid that induces circulation of the fluid in said storage means, wherein said passive filtration and circulation means include means for increasing the temperature of at least some of the fluid and wherein said gradient is a thermal gradient.
A system for filtering a fluid, said system comprising:
- storage means for receiving the fluid;
- and
- passive filtration and circulation means for filtering the fluid and for producing a gradient in the fluid that induces circulation of the fluid in said storage means, wherein said passive filtration and circulation means includes means for increasing the oxygen level of the fluid and wherein said gradient is an oxygen gradient.
A system for filtering a fluid, said system comprising:
- storage means for receiving the fluid;
- and
- passive filtration and circulation means for filtering the fluid and for producing a gradient in the fluid that induces circulation of the fluid in said storage means, wherein said passive filtration and circulation means comprises at least one pair of electrodes exposed to the fluid in said storage means.
A system for filtering a fluid, said system comprising:
- storage means for receiving the fluid;
- and
- passive filtration and circulation means for filtering the fluid and for producing a gradient in the fluid that induces circulation of the fluid in said storage means, wherein said storage means includes:
- inlet means for allowing fluid to enter said storage means;
- and
- outlet means for allowing fluid to exit said storage means, said storage means further including an active circulation path between said inlet means and said outlet means and also including a passive circulation path within said storage means.
A method of filtering a fluid which method comprises the steps of:
- (1) storing the fluid in a storage tank;
- (2) producing a gradient in the stored fluid in the storage tank to induce passive circulation of the fluid through a path within the storage tank;
- and
- (3) filtering the fluid as it circulates by passing the circulating fluid through a filter contained within the storage tank without withdrawing fluid from the storage tank and without introducing fluid into the storage tank.
A method of controlling an electrolytic system for treating a fluid, said system being positioned in a fluid flow path and provided with an interruptible supply of fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing energy to the electrolytic system;
- sensing an interruption in the supply of fluid to the flow path;
- continuing to provide energy to the electrolytic system after sensing the interruption;
- and
- thereafter terminating the step of providing energy to the electrolytic system some controllable interval of time after sensing the interruption.
An electrolytic cell for use in processing a fluid that is receivable from a fluid source and transferable to a fluid receiving element, said fluid source being capable of actively supplying fluid to said cell, said system comprising:
- a cell housing including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid recirculation port, and a fluid chamber, said fluid inlet being culpable to the fluid source, said fluid chamber defining an active fluid flow path between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet and a passive fluid flow path between said fluid recirculation port and said fluid outlet;
- at least one pair of electrodes positioned in said active and passive fluid flow paths defined by said fluid chamber;
- and
- a recirculation port damper, positioned adjacent said fluid recirculation port and movable between a closed position, in which said damper substantially restricts fluid flow through said recirculation port, and an open position, in which said damper does not substantially restrict fluid flow through said recirculation port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.