Biological and algae control method and device

Abstract

The method of the present invention is to pump contaminated water, either by pushing or drawing, through a particulate filter and then through a contact chamber containing firstly copper wool and secondly brass wool. This method may be applied to a wide number of applications in which water is subject to either algae or bacterial contamination.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for controlling biological and algae contaminants in water, comprising the following steps: 
 pumping contaminated water through a particulate filter;    pumping the filtered contaminated water through a contact chamber containing copper wool and brass wool.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 passing the contaminated water in the contact chamber firstly through copper wool and secondly through brass wool.    
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said contaminated water is from a cooling water conditioning system, further comprising the steps: 
 providing a cooling tower with a top out of which evaporated and contaminated hot water emanates;    passing the contaminated hot water through a heat exchanger thereby reducing the heat in the water;    pumping the water from the heat exchanger into a reservoir for recycling;    pumping contaminated water from the reservoir through said particulate filter;    pumping the contaminated water from the particulate filter through said contact chamber;    pumping the water from the contact chamber back to the reservoir.    
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising the steps: 
 intercepting a portion of the water being pumped from the heat exchanger to the reservoir by a recirculating valve;    passing said intercepted portion of water through said particulate filter;    passing the water from the particulate filter through said contact chamber;    passing the water from the contact chamber to the reservoir.    
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said contaminated water is from a swimming pool, further comprising the steps: 
 drawing water from the pool by means of a pump;    pumping said drawn water through said particulate filter;    pumping the water from the particulate filter through said contact chamber;    pumping the water from the contact chamber back to the pool.    
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said contaminated water is from a spa, further comprising the steps: 
 drawing water from the spa by means of a pump;    pumping said drawn water through said particulate filter;    pumping the water from the particulate filter through said contact chamber;    pumping the water from the contact chamber back to the spa.    
     
     
         7 . A biological and algae control device for treating contaminated water, comprising: 
 a particulate filter; and    a contact chamber containing a copper wool filter medium and brass wool filter medium.    
     
     
         8 . A biological and algae control device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said contact chamber is comprised of: 
 a bag housing having a top, a bottom, a side wall, an inlet near to the housing top for inputting water to be treated, and an outlet at the housing bottom for outputting treated water, said top, bottom and side wall defining an interior; and    a liner within the housing interior, said liner having sides adjacent to the housing sides, an open top adjacent to the housing top, and a porous bottom adjacent to the housing bottom, said liner sides being made of a nonporous, flexible material, said liner sides defining an interior, said interior containing two porous, containment bags, one bag being packed with copper wool and the other bag being packed with brass wool, each containment bag having a porosity in the range of 200-400 microns, one of said bags being positioned nearest the housing inlet, said bag being packed with copper wool, the other bag being packed with brass wool.    
     
     
         9 . A biological and algae control device as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a 45° fitting attached to the housing inlet within the housing interior whereby inputted water flows tangentially to the housing side wall.    
     
     
         10 . A biological and algae control device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said contact chamber is comprised of: 
 a solid wall, cylindrical vessel having a top, bottom, side wall, interior, an inlet near to the vessel top, and an outlet at the vessel bottom;    two porous filter bags within the vessel interior, one said bag being positioned vertically over the other, said top filter bag being packed with copper wool and said bottom filter bag being packed with brass wool; and    a porous support plate within the vessel interior, near to the vessel bottom and above the outlet.    
     
     
         11 . A biological and algae control device as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a 45° fitting attached to the housing inlet within the housing interior whereby inputted water flows tangentially to the housing side wall.    
     
     
         12 . A biological and algae control device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the contact chamber has a bottom from which cylindrical side walls extend vertically upward, and a top connected to said cylindrical side walls, said top, bottom and side walls defining a contact chamber interior, said contact chamber being generally cylindrical in shape, said contact chamber having a longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to said bottom, wherein said contaminated water enters said contact chamber through said bottom and exits said contact chamber through said top, said contact chamber having a retaining screen attached thereto near to said bottom, said contact chamber interior being packed with brass wool and copper wool, said brass wool being positioned near to said contact chamber top and said copper wool being positioned near to said contact chamber bottom, said contact chamber interior having a porous disk positioned in a plane transverse to the central, longitudinal, vertical axis of the contact chamber at an approximate midpoint within said interior between said copper wool and said brass wool.