WO-2026095983-A1 - SELF CONTAINED MODULAR DECENTRALIZED POINT OF USE FLUID TREATMENT SYSTEM APPARATUS

Abstract

A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus disposed in an open atmosphere environment, the self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus is for treating a fluid in going from a raw fluid state to a purified fluid state, the fluid treatment system apparatus includes an influent vessel, multiple stages of filtration for particulates, plus additional filters for activated carbon, anion exchange resin, cation exchange resin, ultraviolet light, mineral cartridge, further including a pump / motor combination, and a purified fluid container all being disposed within a structural framework.

Inventors

• MCENCROE, John, James
• CHAVEZ-MALDONADO, Alexander, Leonel
• REJAI, BAHMAN
• Bright, Cole
• Fink, Justin
• GARZA, Maximilian
• Conaghan, Avery
• BURKE, Tierra, Tisby
• Newberry, Mya

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20250402

Priority Date

20241101

Claims (20)

1. 1. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus disposed in an open atmosphere environment, said self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus is for treating a fluid in going from a raw fluid state to a purified fluid state, said fluid treatment system apparatus comprising: a. a frustro-conical replaceable filter media element loosely disposed in a matching frusto-conical housing, wherein said frustro-conical replaceable filter media element is in the range of approximately twenty microns to approximately one- hundred fifty microns, with said frustro- conical replaceable filter media element and said frustro-conical housing are constructed as an upwardly facing diverging environmentally open to the atmosphere primary inlet reservoir with a gravity induced converging fluid filtration of the raw fluid, being operational to functionally provide an initial coarse of raw fluid filtration defined as a stage one fluid filtration that is discharged therethrough a convergent gravity feed outlet; b. an influent vessel having an upper influent vessel inlet that is in a first fluid communication with said convergent gravity feed outlet, said influent vessel also having a lower influent vessel outlet, said influent vessel having an internal volume; c. a fluid flow sensor having a fluid flow sensor inlet that is in a second fluid communication with said lower influent vessel outlet, said fluid flow sensor having a fluid flow sensor outlet, said fluid flow sensor further outputs an electrical signal in conjunction with a flow state status being defined as a fluid flow state and a nonfluid flow state; d. a fluid pump and motor combination with a fluid pump inlet that is in a third fluid communication with said fluid flow sensor outlet, said fluid pump also having a fluid pump outlet, said fluid pump is sized and configured to have a volumetric flowrate in the range of approximately ten percent to approximately twenty five percent of a batch volume of the raw fluid to operationally facilitate a selected empty bed contact time (EBCT) of the fluid as the fluid is processed therethrough said self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus to operationally accomplish the end purified fluid state, said batch volume is defined as a portion of said internal volume, alternatively said fluid pump can operate in a continuous flow state of the purified fluid with said volumetric flowrate; c. control circuitry to activate and to deactivate said fluid pump and motor combination, said control circuitry is operative to facilitate a batch system process of the fluid treatment in going from the raw fluid state to the purified fluid state, said control circuitry is in a first electrical communication with said fluid flow sensor electrical signal output for a control circuitry input, wherein said control circuitry is operative to monitor said fluid flow sensor electrical output signal, further said control circuitry is in a second electrical communication with a manually selectable switch, wherein said control circuitry is operative to monitor said manually selectable switch, wherein said control circuitry is operative to produce a plurality of event marker signals to an electrical relay that is in a third electrical communication with said fluid pump and motor combination to operationally enable a first function of a manual pump and motor activation and to enable a second function of an automatic pump and motor deactivation upon said fluid flow sensor being in said non-fluid flow state to protect said pump and motor combination from damage; f. a stage two filtration fluid filter having a stage two filtration fluid filter inlet and a stage two filtration fluid filter outlet, wherein said stage two filtration fluid filter inlet is in a fourth fluid communication with said fluid pump outlet, said stage two filtration fluid filter is a mechanical string wound type having filtration levels of less than approximately fifty microns; g. a stage three filtration fluid filter having a stage three filtration fluid filter inlet and a stage three filtration fluid filter outlet, wherein said stage three filtration fluid filter inlet is in a fifth fluid communication with said stage two filtration fluid filter outlet, said stage three filtration fluid filter is a mechanical string wound type having filtration levels of less than approximately ten microns; h. a stage four filtration being an activated granular carbon absorption fluid filter having a stage four filtration fluid filter inlet and a stage four filtration fluid filter outlet, wherein said stage four filtration fluid filter inlet is in a sixth fluid communication with said stage three filtration fluid filter outlet, said stage four filtration activated granular carbon absorption fluid filter is anti-microbial and ninety seven micron to eight-hundred forty one micron coconut shell based granular activated carbon being operational to functionally to help remove organics and help resist microbial contamination; i. a stage five filtration being an activated granular carbon absorption fluid filter having a stage five filtration fluid filter inlet and a stage five filtration fluid filter outlet, wherein said stage five filtration fluid filter inlet is in a seventh fluid communication with said stage four filtration fluid filter outlet, said stage five filtration activated granular carbon absorption fluid filter is an acid washed four- hundred micron to one-thousand six-hundred and eighty micron coconut shell based granular activated carbon being operational to functionally help remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS including PFOS; j. a stage six filtration being an anion exchange resin fluid filter having a stage six filtration fluid filter inlet and a stage six filtration fluid filter outlet, wherein said stage six filtration fluid filter inlet is in an eighth fluid communication with said stage five filtration fluid filter outlet, said stage six filtration anion exchange resin fluid filter is a color indicating anion resin in hydroxide form polystyrenic porous gel two-hundrcd ninety seven micron to eleven-hundred ninety micron being operational to functionally help remove anions that can include but are not limited to chlorine, hydroxide, iodide, dichromate, oxide, and sulfate; k. a stage seven filtration being a cation exchange resin fluid filter having a stage seven filtration fluid filter inlet and a stage seven filtration fluid filter outlet, wherein said stage seven filtration fluid filter inlet is in a ninth fluid communication with said stage six filtration fluid filter outlet, said stage seven filtration cation exchange resin fluid filter is a color indicating acid cation resin polystyrenic gel with divinybenzene, hydrogen form being two-hundred ninety seven micron to eleven-hundred ninety micron being operational to functionally help remove minerals or cationic constituents that include but are not limited to barium, cadmium, copper, lead, calcium, and magnesium; l. a stage eight filtration being a first ultraviolet light module having a first ultraviolet light module inlet and a first ultraviolet light module outlet, wherein said first ultraviolet light module inlet is in a tenth fluid communication with said stage seven filtration fluid filter outlet, said stage eight filtration first ultraviolet light module includes an integral flow switch that activates said first ultraviolet light module with fluid flow and deactivates said first ultraviolet light module without fluid flow, said first ultraviolet light module is operational to functionally help remove pathogens; m. a stage nine filtration being a mineral cartridge module having a mineral cartridge module inlet and a mineral cartridge module outlet, wherein said mineral cartridge module inlet is in an eleventh fluid communication with said stage eight ultraviolet light module outlet, said mineral cartridge module is operational to help raise the fluid pH and alkalinity; n. a structural framework formed into a skeletal parallelepiped shape that is defined as an outer boundary of said structural framework, said structural framework further comprising a plurality of cross beams that are disposed completely within said skeletal parallelepiped shape, a combination of said plurality of cross beams and said skeletal parallelepiped shape structurally support said frustro-conical replaceable filter media element said matching frustro-conical housing, said influent vessel, said fluid flow sensor, said fluid pump and motor combination, said control circuitry, said stage two filtration fluid filter, said stage three filtration fluid filter, said stage four filtration, said stage five filtration, said stage six filtration, said stage seven filtration, said stage eight filtration, and said stage nine filtration are all disposed within said skeletal parallelepiped shape; and o. a purified fluid container that is removably engageable to said structural framework, said purified fluid container having an inlet port that has a removably engageable interface that is in a twelfth fluid communication with said mineral cartridge module outlet, said purified fluid container having a completely removed state from said structural framework, said purified fluid container operationally facilitating remote storage of said purified fluid container being filled with the purified fluid, further said purified fluid container having an installed state wherein said purified fluid container is engaged into said structural framework such that positionally said purified fluid container is completely disposed within said skeletal parallelepiped shape along with said frustro-conical replaceable filter media element said matching frustro-conical housing, said influent vessel, said fluid flow sensor, said fluid pump and motor combination, said control circuitry, said stage two filtration fluid filter, said stage three filtration fluid filter, said stage four filtration, said stage five filtration, said stage six filtration, said stage seven filtration, said stage eight filtration, and said stage nine filtration that are all disposed within said skeletal parallelepiped shape, wherein said skeletal parallelepiped shape with said fluid treatment system apparatus disposed completely within, is a completely open framework that facilitates visual monitoring, data collection, and control of said fluid treatment system apparatus from outside of said skeletal parallelepiped shape by a user.
2. 2. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first fluid communication, said second fluid communication, said third fluid communication, said fourth fluid communication, said fifth fluid communication, said sixth fluid communication, said seventh fluid communication, said eighth fluid communication, said ninth fluid communication, said tenth fluid communication, said eleventh fluid communication, and said twelfth fluid communication are all constructed of non-metallic materials to reduce metals leaching from varying fluid pH levels thought said fluid treatment system apparatus.
3. 3. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said purified fluid container has an inner surface that is treated with an anti-microbial coating to operationally facilitate longer said removed state time periods to help preserve the purified fluid disposed within said purified fluid container, wherein said purified fluid is in contact with said inner surface anti-microbial coating.
4. 4. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said influent vessel has an interior surface that is treated with an anti-microbial coating to operationally facilitate an added layer of pretreatment of the raw fluid, wherein the raw fluid is in contact with said interior surface anti-microbial coating, further operationally said interior surface anti-microbial coating can help resist contamination of said interior surface of said influent vessel.
5. 5. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a means for a gas pressure source disposed at said upwardly facing diverging environmentally open to the atmosphere primary inlet reservoir, wherein said means for a gas pressure source is in a substantially fluid tight first gas communication with said primary inlet reservoir to operationally substitute for a failure of said fluid pump and motor combination, wherein said means for a gas pressure source will push the fluid therethrough said fluid treatment system apparatus in processing the fluid from a raw fluid state to a purified fluid state in a batch mode for the fluid disposed within said influent vessel.
6. 6. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a thirteenth fluid communication that acts as a bypass as between said fluid pump and motor combination said fluid pump inlet and said fluid pump outlet to operationally allow for the fluid to bypass said fluid pump and motor combination while the fluid is pushed therethrough said fluid treatment system by said means for said gas pressure source.
7. 7. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a pair of check valves comprising a first check valve and a second check valve, wherein said first check valve is disposed in said thirteenth fluid communication being positioned adjacent to said fluid pump inlet such that said first check valve flow allowed is away from said fluid pump inlet, further said second check valve is disposed in-between said fluid pump outlet and said thirteenth fluid communication such that said second check valve flow allowed is away from said fluid pump outlet, said first and second check valves are operational to functionally prevent said fluid pump and motor combination from having a backflow during the fluid being pushed therethrough said fluid treatment system by said means for said gas pressure source.
8. 8. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for said gas pressure source is selected from the group consisting of a compressor, an accumulator, a piston movably disposed within a cylinder, a bladder, or a pressure tank.
9. 9. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said influent vessel further comprises structure to be removably engageable to said structural framework, also said lower influent vessel outlet has a removably engageable interface that is disposed in said second fluid communication, said influent vessel having a completely removed state from said structural framework, said influent vessel operationally facilitating remote batch filling of said influent vessel with the raw fluid, further said influent vessel having an installed state wherein said influent vessel is engaged into said structural framework such that positionally said influent vessel is completely disposed within said skeletal parallelepiped shape.
10. 10. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said purified fluid container further comprises an overflow control that is constructed of a first aperture disposed therethrough said purified fluid container in a wall of said purified fluid container, wherein said first aperture is positioned vertically adjacent to said purified fluid container inlet port, said overflow control also includes also an overflow connector and discharge tube that form a fourteenth fluid communication from said first aperture to a fluid drain to operationally not cause damage to said fluid treatment system apparatus from overfilling said purified fluid container with the purified fluid. f l.
11. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of differential pressure sensors wherein each differential pressure sensor has a perceptible output that can be monitored and recorded to indicate acceptable operational function or maintenance required, said plurality of differential pressure sensors are each disposed as follows; between said fourth fluid communication and said fifth fluid communication to monitor acceptable operational function or maintenance on said stage two filtration, between said fifth fluid communication and said sixth fluid communication to monitor acceptable operational function or maintenance on said stage three filtration, between said sixth fluid communication and said seventh fluid communication to monitor acceptable operational function or maintenance on said stage four filtration, between said seventh fluid communication and said eighth fluid communication to monitor acceptable operational function or maintenance on said stage five filtration, between said eighth fluid communication and said nineth fluid communication to monitor acceptable operational function or maintenance on said stage six filtration, between said nineth fluid communication and said tenth fluid communication to monitor acceptable operational function or maintenance on said stage seven filtration, and between said eleventh fluid communication and said twelfth fluid communication to monitor acceptable operational function or maintenance on said stage nine filtration.
12. 12. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a stage ten filtration being a second ultraviolet light module having a second ultraviolet light module inlet and a second ultraviolet light module outlet, wherein said second ultraviolet light module inlet is disposed in fluid communication with said twelfth fluid communication being with said stage nine filtration mineral cartridge module outlet, said second ultraviolet light module outlet is in a fourteenth fluid communication with said purified fluid container inlet port, said stage ten filtration second ultraviolet light module includes an integral flow switch that activates said second ultraviolet light module with fluid flow and deactivates said second ultraviolet light module without fluid flow, said second ultraviolet light module is operational to functionally further help remove pathogens.
13. 13. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a stage eleven filtration being a third ultraviolet light module having a third ultraviolet light module inlet and a third ultraviolet light module outlet, wherein said third ultraviolet light module inlet is disposed in fluid communication with said sixth fluid communication being with said stage three filtration outlet, said third ultraviolet light module outlet is in a fifteenth fluid communication with said stage four fluid filter inlet, said stage eleven filtration third ultraviolet light module includes an integral flow switch that activates said third ultraviolet light module with fluid flow and deactivates said third ultraviolet light module without fluid flow, said third ultraviolet light module is operational to functionally further help remove pathogens.
14. 14. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a chlorine disinfectant residual test kit including chlorine test strips and instructions to test for absence of chlorine in the purified fluid disposed in said purified fluid container to operationally check the efficacy of said stage four and stage five activated granular carbon absorption fluid filters.
15. 15. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a bleach kit with instructions to add, agitate, and have dwell time of additional chlorine from said bleach to the purified fluid disposed within said purified fluid container in the event of said first ultraviolet light module failure, further using said chlorine disinfectant residual test kit including chlorine test strips to test for a desired chlorine level in the purified fluid and repeating said instructions to add, agitate, and have dwell time of additional chlorine to achieve said desired chlorine level in the purified fluid.
16. 16. A self-contained modular' decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a means for accommodating a utility fluid pressure source disposed at said upwardly facing diverging environmentally open to the atmosphere primary inlet reservoir, wherein said means for accommodating the utility fluid pressure source converts said upwardly facing diverging environmentally open to the atmosphere primary inlet reservoir into a closed to the environment primary inlet reservoir to accommodate the utility fluid pressure source, resulting in the utility fluid pressure source being in a substantially fluid tight initial fluid communication with said primary inlet reservoir to operationally substitute for the raw fluid coming from the utility fluid pressure source, wherein the utility fluid pressure source will push the fluid therethrough said fluid treatment system apparatus in processing the fluid from a raw fluid state to a purified fluid state in a continuous flow mode for the fluid disposed within said influent vessel.
17. 17. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a thirteenth fluid communication that acts as a bypass as between said fluid pump and motor combination said fluid pump inlet and said fluid pump outlet to operationally allow for the fluid to bypass said fluid pump and motor combination while the fluid is pushed therethrough said fluid treatment system by the utility fluid pressure source.
18. 18. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a pair of check valves comprising a first check valve and a second check valve, wherein said first check valve is disposed in said thirteenth fluid communication being positioned adjacent to said fluid pump inlet such that said first check valve flow allowed is away from said fluid pump inlet, further said second check valve is disposed in-between said fluid pump outlet and said thirteenth fluid communication such that said second check valve flow allowed is away from said fluid pump outlet, said first and second check valves are operational to functionally prevent said fluid pump and motor combination from having a backflow during the fluid being pushed therethrough said fluid treatment system by the utility fluid pressure source.
19. 19. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said fluid flow sensor further comprises a perceptible output that indicates an instantaneous flowrate that facilitates a manually selectable fluid flow rate of the raw fluid from the utility fluid pressure source to operationally set a fluid flow rate that substantially matches said volumetric flowrate.
20. 20. A self-contained modular decentralized point of use fluid treatment system apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first bypass for said influent vessel for accommodating a utility fluid pressure source, said first bypass is disposed positionally to operationally bypass said upwardly facing diverging environmentally open to the atmosphere primary inlet reservoir, wherein said first bypass for accommodating the utility fluid pressure source facilitates direct fluid communication from the utility fluid pressure source to said fluid flow sensor resulting in the utility fluid pressure source being in a substantially fluid tight initial fluid communication with said fluid flow sensor to operationally substitute for the raw fluid coming from said primary inlet reservoir and said influent vessel, wherein the utility fluid pressure source will push the fluid therethrough said fluid treatment system apparatus in processing the fluid from a raw fluid state to a purified fluid state in a continuous flow mode.

Description

SELF CONTAINED MODULAR DECENTRALIZED POINT OF USE FLUID TREATMENT SYSTEM APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS There are no related applications. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention is generally related to water treatment systems and more particularly to household use self-contained water treatment systems for producing potable water from either compromised municipal water supplies or other non-potable water sources. [0002] In United States patent number 7,632,410 to Heiss, disclosed is a portable universal water purification system that includes a method for producing safe drinking water from any water source, wherein the main goal is to minimize the maintenance required from contamination of water treatment components that include particle barriers, reverse osmosis membranes (RO), ultraviolet light (UV), hydrocarbon absorbent media, chlorine, ozonation, as the typical water purification components, via using water pressure and flow monitoring that can determine when to backflush filters, the UV light has a wiping device to keep the light transmission levels high, while using oxidation after RO to destroy organic compounds as opposed to self-exhausting filter media, finally ozonation and chlorine are used as residual disinfectant. [0003] In United States patent number 6,863,827 to Saraceno, disclosed is a solar powered portable water purifier that includes multiple water filters and an ultraviolet light (UV) wherein purified water is discharged, compared to many water treatment systems, Saraceno has minimal components (i.c. a single UV treatment) that would limit the degree of contaminated water that the Saraceno unit could handle. [0004] What is needed is a fluid treatment system that employs existing technologies to economically produce potable water in a configuration which provides the requisite flexibility for everyday use in the home, portable use away from home, and during civil potable water supply emergencies. Unlike bottled water which is processed in a controlled environment and subsequently distributed in tamper evident packaging (and which may be unavailable during civil emergencies when most needed), municipally treated water is pumped through a complicated water distribution system in which there are numerous potential places for contamination, and which arc not under the direct control of the water supplier. Indeed, one study found that 30.3% of waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States could be traced to our treated water distribution systems (Craun & Calderon 2001). [0005] The present invention process can help eliminate outbreaks related to distribution system contamination events. In addition to concerns with contamination of treated water within municipal water distribution systems, there are trace amounts of human made chemicals, such as endocrine disrupting compounds, which are routinely detected in the treated water leaving our municipal drinking water plants. Until relatively recent advances in laboratory analysis capabilities, the presence of trace amounts of many of these chemicals was immeasurable. Dr. Jocrg Drcwcs (formerly at Colorado School of Mines and now at the University of Munich) stated his concern about these chemicals as follows: In addition to concerns about individual endocrine disrupting compounds, there is concern about the cocktail effect of numerous micropollutants and/or their metabolites (lecture notes from ESGN 603 at Colorado School of Mines, 9/9/2004 ). Indeed, there are over 83,000 chemicals currently in the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) inventory (testimony before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Committee on Energy, and Commerce, House of Representatives by John Stephenson, Director Natural Resources and the Environment GAO, 2/26/2009, GAO-09-428T Chemical Regulation, Options for Enhancing the Effectiveness of TSCA). [0006] The regulatory community and municipal water industry are at a crossroads. At an enormous cost, wc can remove these trace contaminants using centralized municipal water treatment, but does it make sense to do so when less than 1% of our municipal water supply is ingested (Vickers 2001) , and when we know that about 1/3 of disease outbreaks attributable to our potable water systems can be traced to our water distribution systems, the problem needs attention. Although bottled water is generally free of endocrine disrupting compounds and of high microbial purity, as stated before it may be unavailable during civil emergencies when it is most needed. The present invention being a self- contained countertop or under counter (portable) water treatment system, wherein the water treatment system uses multiple stages of filtration, and/or adsorption, and/or ion exchange, coupled with multiple stages of UV disinfection, to reliably and economically address these exposures. [0007] The present invention fluid / water treatment system is a logical, economical, and effecti