US4344826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Distillation system and process
Assignee: Vaponics Inc
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Filing: 1980-06-20
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Granted: 1982-08-17
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Expires: 2000-06-20
Abstract
Abstract The waste water output of an RO unit in a distillation system is conveyed to a still's condenser cooling coil to minimize water requirements of the system. A portion of the heated water fron the condenser, in one embodiment, is circulated to the RO unit inlet, where a temperature mixing valve maintains an optimum temperature for the RO inlet water by mixing feed water and condenser output water in the desired proportions.
Inventors
- 👤 Verity C. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:34
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D1/00; B01D61/00; B01D61/02; B01D61/025; B01D2311/00; B01D2311/04; B01D2311/06; B01D2313/00; B01D2313/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/27; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A distillation system comprising: an RO unit having a feed water inlet, a treated water outlet, and a waste water outlet; a still having an evaporator and a condenser, said evaporator having a treated water inlet and a treated water outlet, and said condenser having a treated water inlet, a treated water outlet and a cooling coil with a feed water inlet and a heated water outlet, and conduit means for connecting said evaporator to said condenser, for connecting said RO unit waste water outlet to said cooling coil inlet and for connecting said RO unit treated water outlet to said evaporator inlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A distillation system comprising: an RO unit having a feed water inlet, a treated water outlet, and a waste water outlet; a still having an evaporator and a condenser, said evaporator having a treated water inlet and a treated water outlet, and said condenser having a treated water inlet, a treated water outlet and a cooling coil with a feed water inlet and a heated water outlet, and conduit means for connecting said evaporator to said condenser, for connecting said RO unit waste water outlet to said cooling coil inlet and for connecting said RO unit treated water outlet to said evaporator inlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 including means for connecting said cooling coil outlet to said RO unit feed water inlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 2 further including a temperature controlled valve means having a first inlet for feed water, a second inlet for water from said cooling coil outlet, and an outlet for connection to said feed water inlet of said RO unit, said temperature controlled valve means including temperature control means and means for mixing water entering said first and second inlets, responsive to said temperature control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
A distillation system comprising: an RO unit having a water inlet, a treated water outlet, and a waste water outlet; a still having an evaporator and a cooling unit, said evaporator having a treated water inlet and a treated water outlet, and said cooling unit having a treated water inlet, a treated water outlet and a cooling coil with a feed water inlet and a heated water outlet; and conduit means for connecting said evaporator to said cooling unit, for connecting said RO unit waste water outlet to said cooling coil inlet, for connecting said RO unit treated water outlet to said evaporator inlet, and for connecting said cooling coil heated water outlet to said RO unit water inlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
A distillation system comprising: an RO unit having a water inlet, a treated water outlet, and a waste water outlet; a still having an evaporator and a cooling unit, said evaporator having a treated water inlet and a treated water outlet, and said cooling unit having a treated water inlet, a treated water outlet and a cooling coil with a feed water inlet and a heated water outlet; and conduit means for connecting said evaporator to said cooling unit, for connecting said RO unit waste water outlet to said cooling coil inlet, for connecting said RO unit treated water outlet to said evaporator inlet, and for connecting said cooling coil heated water outlet to said RO unit water inlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 4 further including means for supplying feed water to said RO unit water inlet, and including a temperature controlled valve means having a first inlet for feed water, a second inlet for water from said cooling coil outlet, and an outlet for connection to said RO unit water inlet, said temperature controlled valve means including temperature control means and means for mixing water entering said first and second inlets, responsive to said temperature control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 4 in which said cooling units is a distillate condenser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a water distillation system comprising: an RO unit having a feed water inlet, a treated waste outlet, and a waste water outlet; a still having an evaporator and a condenser, said evaporator having a treated water inlet and a treated water outlet, and said condenser having a treated water inlet, a treated water outlet and a cooling coil with a water inlet and a heated water outlet; and conduit means for connecting said evaporator to said condenser, for connecting said RO unit waste water outlet to said cooling coil inlet, for connecting said RO unit treated water outlet to said evaporator inlet, and for connecting said cooling coil heated water outlet to said RO unit water inlet, a method of utilizing the waste water from the RO unit comprising the steps of: conveying the waste water from the RO unit to the cooling coil of the still condenser, and circulating said waste water through the cooling coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a water distillation system comprising: an RO unit having a feed water inlet, a treated waste outlet, and a waste water outlet; a still having an evaporator and a condenser, said evaporator having a treated water inlet and a treated water outlet, and said condenser having a treated water inlet, a treated water outlet and a cooling coil with a water inlet and a heated water outlet; and conduit means for connecting said evaporator to said condenser, for connecting said RO unit waste water outlet to said cooling coil inlet, for connecting said RO unit treated water outlet to said evaporator inlet, and for connecting said cooling coil heated water outlet to said RO unit water inlet, a method of utilizing the waste water from the RO unit comprising the steps of: conveying the waste water from the RO unit to the cooling coil of the still condenser, and circulating said waste water through the cooling coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 further including the steps of: collecting at least a portion of the waste water circulated through said cooling coil; and feeding said portion to the inlet of said RO unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 8 further including mixing said portion of waste water with raw water, and feeding said mixture of said portion of waste waste and raw water to the inlet of said RO unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9 including mixing said portion of waste water and said raw water at a ratio determined by a temperature control to provide a mixture for said RO unit inlet that has a temperature desirable for said RO unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-16 | 1986-02-15 | 1986-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-16 | 1990-02-15 | 1990-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-16 | 1994-02-15 | 1994-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |