Abstract:
A water purification system and method for residential or commercial application having a first support structure coupled to a water supply having a first heat source of sufficient magnitude to change the water into steam, thus abandoning any insoluble material dispersed within the liquid. The steam is further heated in a second support structure to form a substantially gaseous vapor and exposed to a second heat source of sufficient magnitude to super-heat the vapor to a temperature capable of destroying most, if not all living matter. Preferably, the second heat source is an electrical field of sufficient voltage to increase the temperature of the vapor in excess of 2000° F. The super-heated vapor is then allowed to condense to form potable water. This system may be powered by a standard 120 volt outlet found in the home.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is directed to a system and method for purifying water. In particular, the invention is directed to a system and method for removing contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds and inorganic compounds like metals, from water through the use of a system and method for heating the water to form vapor and then super heating the vapor to remove contaminants. 
     REFERENCE TO GOVERNMENT FUNDING 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many homes, businesses and communities rely on underground water for their fresh water supply. By drilling wells to various depths this underground water which is contained in underground aquifers is tapped and used. This is generally a pure water source, although it may have a relatively high mineral content. That is, the water may be what is commonly termed “hard water”. 
     High mineral content, although bothersome, does not make a water unuseable. However, if water contains measurable levels of organic materials, it can for health reasons, be considered unuseable for human consumption. These organic contaminants are the result of past abuses of the environment, many of them now illegal, that have come to us with our modern way of life. Thus contamination of ground water by volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds has become a widespread and well documented problem. 
     For example, organic chemicals have been disposed of by depositing them in landfills or by letting them seep into the ground and air from waste lagoons. Such contaminants enter the ground water from various sources such as underground storage tanks, municipal and industrial landfills, and industrial effluents. Contaminants may also enter the water as unintended by-product of conventional chemical treatment processes utilized to disinfect water on its way to municipal water supplies. Gasoline has entered the ground water from corroded underground storage tanks. A corroded tank can leak five or more gallons per day into the ground. This leakage is usually not discovered until hundreds of gallons have leaked into the ground. The result of ground water contamination is that wells which once yielded pure water now only produce contaminated water. Aquifers have been polluted with amounts of organics which make the water under a large area unuseable. However, in many cases the pollution only affects a small area. As the concentration of contaminants in ground water approach or exceed “acceptable levels”, the contaminants must be removed to render the water potable. Hence, as the water supply used by a municipality and/or private well owner approaches the “acceptable level” for a contaminant, the municipality and/or private well owner must either accept the risk associated with such levels of contaminant, locate an alternative water source, or implement a treatment processes for removing the contaminant. Generally, treatment processes for removing contaminants from water are extremely expensive. The most common method of removing contaminants from water is to contact the water with granular activated carbon. Treatment with activated carbon is generally the treatment of choice because it can readily remove a wide variety of typical contaminants. However, while activated carbon is effective at removing the less volatile contaminants such as PCBs, PAHs, and phenolics it is not particularly effective at removing the more volatile contaminants such as chloroform, 1,1,2-trichloroethane and trichloroethylene because of its low affinity for such contaminants. Hence, effective use of activated carbon to treat water contaminated with a volatile contaminant requires frequent replacement of the activated carbon to maintain optimum affinity of the activated carbon for the contaminant. Such frequent replacement of the activated carbon can significantly increases the cost of an already expensive process. A second commonly employed method of removing contaminants from water is to pass the water through an air stripping tower. Basically, an air stripping tower removes contaminants from water by cascading the water over a packing material designed to uniformly disperse the water throughout the tower while providing an upward flow of air which is also designed to uniformly disperse the water throughout the tower as well as provide a supply of air into which the contaminants may dissipate. However, effective operation of air stripping towers is difficult as they are readily susceptible to flow channeling and flooding. Air stripping is the treatment method of choice for removing volatile contaminants from water because of its relatively low cost. However, in order to prevent contamination of the atmosphere with the stripped contaminants it is typically necessary to recover the contaminant from the air prior to its release into the atmosphere and such secondary recovery can significantly increase the cost of the treatment. In addition, air stripping is not particularly effective at removing semivolatile and non-volatile contaminants as such contaminants are not readily volatilized from the water into the air. In the industrial arts, it is known to use an activated carbon filter in combination with a radiation source to filter and purify water. For example, such systems are used in the production of bottled water. The adaptation of this technology to home use has been difficult. Industrial systems are large, expensive and require special knowledge and tools to maintain. The expense of these systems is often due to the fact that they are designed to process water volumes many times larger than those required for home use. Other challenges encountered when designing such a water treatment system for home use stem from the varying operating conditions in each home. For example, water quality, water line pressure, water demand and the sophistication of the user will vary in different homes. Some water purifiers intended for home use are known which combine activated carbon filters with an ultraviolet (UV) radiation source. However, the performance of most known ultraviolet discharge bulb designs degrades with time. It is therefore desirable to monitor the radiant energy source and alert the user if there is a malfunction. In this regard, these home units have had a limited success due to inherent problems with their design that make maintenance of the units by the homeowner difficult and inconvenient. This can result in a water purification unit that, in time, operates only marginally if at all. 
     Another type of pollution that poses significant health risks is microbiological activity. Like volatile organic pollution, the effects of microbiological activity in water is far more serious than the problems of hard water. Where the water purification unit is being used with a source of drinking water that contains contaminants or microbiological activity, the lack of maintenance of an activated carbon filter can have serious consequences. Thus one important factor is the kill rate of microorganisms, which may vary dependent on the performance of the carbon filter. Such filters are commonly used to remove contaminants from the water prior to irradiation. Moreover, the effectiveness of radiation in the killing of microorganisms is dependent on the clarity of the water. If any significant particulate contamination defeats the carbon filter, such contamination can mask or protect the microorganisms from the killing radiation. The drawbacks associated with the processes commonly employed to remove contaminants from water has resulted in a continued need for an inexpensive alternative technique for achieving the effective removal of contaminants, particularly volatile contaminants, from groundwater. In some circumstances, supplying bottled water may be an option. However, it is often costly, or impossible depending on the intended location. Furthermore, bottled water is not a viable solution for all situations, such as for general usage in the home. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide some water purification technique which is simple and economical, and which preferably does not require any large, complex or expensive equipment. It is desirable that the method can be carried out in a simple and economic apparatus, so that it becomes feasible to supply such equipment or apparatus to any location where potable water is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed primarily to cleaning water for end use, both residential and commercial, but may also be used for large scale operations, such as the remediation of polluted water from a disaster. 
     The present invention purifies the water by exposing it to a first heat source to cause the water to change from liquid to a substantially gaseous vapor, thus abandoning any insoluble matter that may have been interspersed in the liquid. The vapor is then super-heated by a second heat source of sufficient magnitude to increase the vapor temperature to a level at which most, if not all remaining contaminants are destroyed. The super-heated vapor condenses to form potable water. 
     The first heating of the water to vapor may be accomplished by an apparatus that includes a flash-heating device that raises the water temperature above its boiling point almost instantaneously upon entry, thus avoiding any foaming problems that typically lower the efficiency in conventional water boiling tanks. As the water immediately evaporates in the flash-heating device, it forms steam and leaves the insoluble matter behind. The steam is further heated to form a substantially gaseous vapor before being super heated. 
     While the vapor is in a substantially gaseous form, preferably at a temperature in the range of 212-600° F., it is super-heated by a second heat source to a temperature which is preferably in the range of 1500-3000° F. This second heat source may be an electrical field of sufficient magnitude. The voltage required for this utility may originate from a power supply, which may be powered by a standard household outlet. Preferably, the electrical field is generated in a chamber having a shape or configuration most conducive to causing ample contact between the vapor and electrical field. 
     After contact with the electrical field, the super-heated vapor is allowed to condense, forming potable water, and collected for use. Preferably, the present invention is operated at a pressure less than 10 psi. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages of the system and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the following description taken together with the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a device implementing the corona field in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a scorching chamber in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the inventive water purification system  10 , exemplified by a first embodiment of the present invention. Raw water from a groundwater well, municipal system, aquifer or the like, is contained in a holding tank  12  prior to entry into a scorching chamber  14 . Preferably, water  15  is released from holding tank  12  into scorching chamber  14  in batches of approximately equal amounts. In this embodiment, water enters scorching chamber  14  via pulse water injection device  16 , which may be an aerosol device. Pulse injection device  16  outputs an aerosol mist  17 . 
     Chamber  14  includes heating plate  18 , which is maintained at a temperature of high enough to quickly bring the water temperature above its boiling point, thus flash-heating the water and almost immediately causing the water to change from liquid to steam upon contact. Generally, heating plate  18  must be large enough and hot enough that, with water put through the system  10  at the desired rate, the water hitting heating plate  18  will not ever cool to a temperature below the boiling point of water. As an added feature, a temperature sensor may be used to stop the throughput of water if the heating element becomes too cool, for example, less than 400° F. 
     In this embodiment, heating plate  18  is heated by a heating element  20 . Preferably, heating plate  18  is maintained at a temperature range between 300° F. and 500° F. Pulse injector device  16  may be set to disperse water over substantially all of the area of heating plate  18 . Alternatively, a device for maintaining water discharge into chamber  14  at a controlled constant state, or any other valve or device that sprays water  15  into chamber  14 , such as a pump, stream head, sprinkler head or spray head, may also be used. Also, water  15  may discharge through a valve into chamber  14  via pressure from the source or a pressurized tank. 
     Raw water, after it has been put into gaseous form leaves behind particulate matter such as metals and other water-insoluble compounds that may have been contained in the raw water while in liquid form. These contaminants remain in scorching chamber  14  while steam flows through outlet  22 , as shown. 
     Outlet  22  is located at a higher vertical elevation in chamber  14  than the vertical positions of water input into the system when water is introduced into scorching chamber  14  prior to the evaporation of the water. This prevents water in liquid form from exiting chamber  14  through outlet  22 . Since injector  16  is adjustable, and may be set to release water in batch amounts that instantaneously vaporize upon contact with heating plate  18 , the rate of water being added to scorching chamber  14  may be set at a rate that will provide a constant flow of steam through outlet  22  without overflowing chamber  14 . 
     Once through outlet  22 , the steam flows through chamber  24 , where it is further heated by heating element  26 . Preferably, and as shown by this embodiment, chamber  24  is cylindrical. The steam is heated by heating element  26  to a temperature ranging from 212° F. to 700° F. to ensure complete vaporization of any droplets that may have been carried by the steam flow. Preferably, the vapor is heated to a temperature greater than 400° F. All known living matter is destroyed at these temperatures. 
     The following table illustrates the temperatures at which various compounds are incinerated, being broken down into carbon dioxide, water and other harmless materials. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Combustion Temperatures of Various Compounds 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Compound 
                 Auto Ignition Temperature (° F.) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Ammonia (Anhydrous) (Gas) 
                 1204 
               
               
                 Amyl Acetate 
                 714 
               
               
                 Amyl Alcohol 
                 572 
               
               
                 Aniline 
                 1418 
               
               
                 Asphalt 
                 905 
               
               
                 Butanol (Butyl Alcohol) 
                 689 
               
               
                 Carbolic Acid (Phenol) 
                 1319 
               
               
                 Carbonic Acid 
                 1319 
               
               
                 Castor Oil 
                 840 
               
               
                 Creosote 
                 637 
               
               
                 Diethylene Glycol 
                 444 
               
               
                 Diphenyl 300 F-350 F 
                 1004 
               
               
                 Ether 
                 356 
               
               
                 Ethyl Chloride (No Water) 
                 966 
               
               
                 Ethylene Glycol 
                 775 
               
               
                 Formaldehyde 
                 806 
               
               
                 Formic Acid 
                 1114 
               
               
                 Gasoline-Refined 
                 495 
               
               
                 Glycerine (Glycerol) 
                 739 
               
               
                 Hydrocyanic Acid (No Air) 
                 100 
               
               
                 Isopropanol (Isopropyl Alcohol) 
                 750 
               
               
                 Kerosene 
                 444 
               
               
                 Linseed Oil 
                 650 
               
               
                 Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) 
                 867 
               
               
                 Methyl Bromide 
                 998 
               
               
                 Methyl Chloride 
                 1170 
               
               
                 Methylene Chloride 
                 1224 
               
               
                 Naptha 
                 900/950 
               
               
                 Napthalene 
                 979 
               
               
                 Nitrobenzene 
                 900 
               
               
                 Oleic Acid 
                 685 
               
               
                 Picric Acid 
                 572 
               
               
                 Stearic Acid 
                 743 
               
               
                 Sulfur 
                 450 
               
               
                 Sulfur Chloride 
                 453 
               
               
                 Tannic Acid 
                 980 
               
               
                 Tartaric Acid 
                 802 
               
               
                 Toluene 
                 947 
               
               
                 Triethylene Glycol 
                 700 
               
               
                 Turpentine Oil 
                 488 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As can be understood from the above, the instant invention will thus result in killing living organisms, endotoxins and pyrogens, due to the high heat, and will also cause hydrocarbons, such as those commonly found in water pollution, to break down into such compounds has water, carbon, carbon dioxide and other harmless materials. 
     While flowing through chamber  24 , the gaseous vapor is exposed to a highly charged electrical field generated between electrodes  28 . The electrical field is of sufficient magnitude to elevate the temperature of the vapor at least beyond 1500° F. The voltage may range from 5000 to 12,000 volts depending on the configuration. Preferably, the voltage is sufficient to elevate the vapor temperature in excess of 2000° F. The chamber having the electrical field, which in this embodiment is chamber  24 , is to be made of inert material which, among other properties, is electrically non-conductive and will not release pollutants into the vapor when heated. The super-heated vapor is then discharged into condenser  30 , which may comprise any conventional condenser arrangement. Preferably, heating element  26  extends along chamber  24  to maintain the super-heated vapor at a temperature sufficient to keep it as a vapor, until entering condenser  30 . Purified water from condenser  30  drains to collection tank  32 , which has an outlet  34  for supplying potable water. 
     Preferably, system  10  further comprises an air emissions pollution control device. In this embodiment, collection tank  32  has a pressure-release valve  39  with charcoal gas trap filter  41 . 
     Preferably, the present invention further comprises a main control system  35 , which may be microprocessor or personal computer based, for automatically running the system based on peak periods of usage and controlling and adjusting parameters, such as operating times, temperatures, water flow rate, etc. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the control system may control the input of water through nozzle  16  in response to such factors as a temperature of heating element  20 , the level of water in holding tank  32 , and the temperature in the electrical field between electrodes  28 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a device which produces a highly charged electrical field of the type known as a “corona field” in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the interior of chamber  124  is defined within a lava rock block  125 , of the type which is inert, machinable and can withstand high temperatures. Preferably, the electrical field is generated in a chamber shaped or configured in a manner that results in the most substantial vapor contact with the field, particularly at its anodes. In this embodiment, chamber  124  comprises tube  137 . Tube  137  further comprises a first tube portion  136  having a first diameter, a second tube portion  138  having a second diameter and a third tube portion  140  having substantially the same diameter as the first tube portion  136 . Conical portions  144  have diameters at their ends which match either the diameters of the first and second, or second and third tube portions, respectively, to provide a connection between tube portions  136 ,  138  and  140 . The ratio of the diameter and length of tube portion  138  is determined by the electrical energy and focus of anodes  128 . 
     Vapor flow enters chamber  124  at inlet  122  as steam and is heated by heater rod  126  to a temperature that changes the steam to gaseous vapor in first tube portion  136  of tube  137 . After funneling through conical portion  144 , the gaseous vapor is exposed to corona field  146  within second tube portion  138 . Corona field  146  is generated by anodes  128  which extend into tube portions  136  and  140  at the entrance and exit of second tube portion  138 . After exiting tube portion  138  through a second conical portion  144 , the super-heated vapor flows into tube portion  140  and exits chamber  124  via outlet  130 . Heating element  126  comprises a nichrome heater rod, such as that which is marketed by Chromolox, Inc., although chamber  124  may be heated by any conventional means. Heating element  126  is contained within a hole  151  within lava rock block  125 , and closely fits within hole  151 . Alternately, the inert material may be configured to fit a heating element  126  which may be of the type that encompasses tube  137  like a sleeve, or wraps around tube  137 , such as a heating element having a helical or concentric circular shape. Power leads  148  and  150  supply anodes  128  and heating element  126  with electricity. Preferably, the present invention is capable of being fully powered by plugging it into a standard household outlet. Corona field  146 , which may be upwards of 9000 volts, can derive this voltage from a high voltage solid state circuit. Power for heating element  126 , as well as any other device included in the present invention can be derived from the AC mains. 
     FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a scorching chamber in accordance with the present invention. Raw water from a pressurized source or holding tank (not shown) flows through inlet pipe  252  and is discharged into scorching chamber  214  via electronic pulse valve  216  powered through leads  254 . Pulse valve  216  may be any conventional electronically controlled valve or electronic pump. Raw water is sprayed intermittently or at a controlled constant state through nozzle  256  onto heated plate  218 . Heated plate  218  is heated by heating element  220  from within insulated heater chamber  258  so that the raw water substantially vaporizes upon contact. Because the volume of vaporized water is much greater than the volume of the water from which the vapor was generated by boiling and evaporation at heated plate  218 , significant vapor pressure is generated within scorching chamber  214 . Accordingly, this results in driving substantially all vaporized water, in the form of steam through pipe  262 . Thus, the vapor rises from heated plate  218  and exits chamber  214  through outlet  222  and connecting pipe  262 . In this embodiment, chamber  214  further comprises baffle  260 , which helps to prevent rising vapor from carrying water droplets into outlet  222 . Baffle  260  may be lattice or a solid planar member. The exiting steam is then further heated before being exposed to the electrical field, or as in the previous embodiment, corona field  146 . 
     The vapor then passes through corona field  146  where it is super heated. After superheating, vapor passes to condenser  30 , where the same is condensed again into water in the liquid form which drips into collection tank  32 , as noted above. 
     While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is, of course, understood that various modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Many such modifications are contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.