Patent ID: 6190558
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
A reverse osmosis water purification system for providing potable water from an impure aqueous source without the incorporation of any accumulation tank, which system comprises:a reverse osmosis purification unit having an inlet, a purified water outlet and a brine outlet,motor driven pump means having an inlet and a discharge,supply means interconnecting said pump means and an impure aqueous source,first conduit means connecting said pump means discharge to said inlet of said reverse osmosis purification unit so as to allow the flow of liquid thereto,tap means for intermittently withdrawing purified water from the system,second conduit means connecting said purification unit purified water outlet to said tap means,third conduit means for returning at least some aqueous concentrate exiting from said brine outlet of said purification unit to said pump means,said second conduit means being branched with a first branch leading to said tap means and a second branch leading to said pump means,first valve means in said second branch,second valve means in said supply meanssensing means associated with said tap means, andcontrol means connected to said sensing means and to said first and second valve means and designed (i) to open said second valve means and to also begin operation of said pump means when said sensing means detects a condition in said second conduit means that is indicative of the opening of said tap means and (ii) to subsequently open said first valve means when a condition is sensed by said sensing means which is indicative of the closing of said tap means following withdrawal of potable water therethrough thereby causing purified water from said purified water outlet to flow directly to said pump means inlet together with water from said impure aqueous source.