Water treatment system and method

Abstract

A water treatment system provides treated water to a point of use by removing at least a portion of any hardness-causing species contained in water from a water source, such as municipal water, well water, brackish water and water containing foulants. The water treatment system typically receives water from the water source or a point of entry and purifies the water containing at least some undesirable species before delivering the treated water to a point of use. The water treatment system has a pressurized reservoir system in line with an electrochemical device such as an electrodeionization device. The water treatment system can have a controller for adjusting or regulating at least one operating parameter of the treatment system or a component of the water treatment system.

1 . A water treatment system comprising: 
 a pressurized reservoir system fluidly connected to a point of entry;    a water treatment device fluidly connected to the pressurized reservoir system;    a water distribution system fluidly connected to the pressurized reservoir system; and    at least one point of use fluidly connected to the water distribution system.    
     
     
         2 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising a pretreatment system fluidly connected upstream of the water treatment device.  
     
     
         3 . The water treatment system of  claim 2  wherein the pretreatment system comprises a reverse osmosis device.  
     
     
         4 . The water treatment system of  claim 3  wherein the pretreatment system further comprises a carbon filter.  
     
     
         5 . The water treatment system of  claim 4  further comprising at least one water property sensor.  
     
     
         6 . The water treatment system of  claim 5  wherein the water property sensor comprises any of a conductivity sensor, a flow rate sensor, a temperature sensor, pressure sensor, a pH sensor, a turbidity sensor, a composition analyzer and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The water treatment system of  claim 6  further comprising a controller for regulating an operating condition of the water treatment system based on a measurement of the water property sensor.  
     
     
         8 . The water treatment system of  claim 7  wherein the controller regulates at least one of an applied current and an applied voltage to the water treatment device.  
     
     
         9 . The water treatment system of  claim 8  further comprising a remote communication device in communication with the controller.  
     
     
         10 . The water treatment system of  claim 9  wherein the point of use comprises an appliance.  
     
     
         11 . The water treatment system of  claim 7  further comprising an algorithm in the controller capable of calculating an LSI based on the measurement of the water property sensor.  
     
     
         12 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  wherein water in the water storage vessel comprises chlorine.  
     
     
         13 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising a heat exchanger thermally connected to the pressurized reservoir system.  
     
     
         14 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one water property sensor.  
     
     
         15 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller for regulating an operating condition of the water treatment system based on a measurement of a water property sensor.  
     
     
         16 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising an auxiliary use fluidly connected downstream of the water treatment device.  
     
     
         17 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising an irrigation system fluidly connected downstream of the water treatment device.  
     
     
         18 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  wherein the water distribution system is a household water distribution system.  
     
     
         19 . The water treatment system of  claim 1  wherein the treated water has a conductivity of less than about 220 μS/cm.  
     
     
         20 . The water treatment systems of  claim 1  wherein the water treatment device comprises an electrodeionization device.  
     
     
         21 . A treatment system comprising: 
 a reservoir system fluidly connected to a point of entry;    an electrochemical device fluidly connected to the reservoir system;    a point of use fluidly connected to the reservoir system; and    an auxiliary use fluidly connected downstream of the electrochemical device.    
     
     
         22 . The treatment system of  claim 21  wherein the reservoir system is pressurized.  
     
     
         23 . The treatment system of  claim 21  further comprising a pretreatment system fluidly connected upstream of the electrochemical device.  
     
     
         24 . The treatment system of  claim 21  wherein the pretreatment system comprises a reverse osmosis device.  
     
     
         25 . The treatment system of  claim 23  wherein the pretreatment system comprises a carbon filter.  
     
     
         26 . The treatment system of  claim 21  further comprising a controller for regulating at least one operating parameter of the treatment system.  
     
     
         27 . The treatment system of  claim 21  wherein the point of use comprises an appliance.  
     
     
         28 . The treatment system of  claim 21  further comprising a heat exchanger thermally connected to the reservoir system.  
     
     
         29 . The treatment system of  claim 21  wherein the auxiliary use comprises an irrigation system.  
     
     
         30 . A method for treating water comprising: 
 introducing water to a pressurized reservoir system;    transferring a portion of the water from the pressurized reservoir system to a water treatment device;    removing at least a portion of any undesirable species from the water from the pressurized reservoir system in the water treatment device to produce treated water;    transferring the treated water from the water treatment device to the pressurized reservoir system; and    distributing a portion of the treated water from the pressurized reservoir system to a point of use.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the undesirable species is a hardness ion species.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising pretreating the water before transferring the water to the water treatment device.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising measuring any of a water turbidity, alkalinity, composition, conductivity, pH, pressure and temperature.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising adjusting at least one of an applied current and an applied voltage on the water treatment device.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising heating the water in the pressurized reservoir system.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising adjusting an operating cycle of the water treatment device.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the water treatment device comprises an electrodeionization device.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising cleaning the water treatment device to remove or inactivate at least a portion of any contaminant organisms.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein cleaning the water treatment device comprises exposing at least a portion of a wetted surface of the water treatment device to a cleaning agent.  
     
     
         40 . A method for treating water comprising: 
 introducing water from a point of use to a reservoir system;    removing at least a portion of any undesirable species from the water in the reservoir system in an electrochemical device to produce treated water and discharge water;    transferring at least a portion of the treated water from the electrochemical device to the reservoir system;    transferring a portion of the discharge water to an auxiliary use; and    distributing a portion of the treated water from the reservoir system to a point of use.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the reservoir system is pressurized.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein distributing a portion of the treated water comprises distributing water to a household.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40  wherein transferring the discharge water to the auxiliary use comprises transferring at least a portion of the discharge water to an irrigation system.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising pretreating the water before removing the at least a portion of the any undesirable species from the water.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising adjusting an operating parameter of the electrochemical device.  
     
     
         46 . A water distribution system comprising: 
 a first pretreatment system fluidly connected to a point of entry;    a pressurized reservoir system fluidly connected downstream of the first pretreatment system;    a second pretreatment system fluidly connected to the pressurized reservoir system; and    an electrochemical device fluidly connected downstream of the second pretreatment system and to the pressurized reservoir system.    
     
     
         47 . The distribution system of  claim 46  further comprising a controller for regulating at least one of an applied current and an applied voltage on the electrochemical device.  
     
     
         48 . The distribution system of  claim 46  further comprising a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the pressurized reservoir system.  
     
     
         49 . The distribution system of  claim 46  further comprising a fluid transfer system fluidly connected to the pressurized reservoir system and a point of use.  
     
     
         50 . The distribution system of  claim 49  further comprising a post treatment system fluidly connected downstream of the electrochemical device and upstream of a point of use.  
     
     
         51 . A water treatment system comprising: 
 means for accumulating water from a water source at a pressure above atmospheric pressure; and    an electrochemical device fluidly connected to the means for accumulating water.    
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51  further comprising means for fluidly delivering a portion of the water to a point of use.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 51  further comprising a pretreatment system fluidly connected upstream of the means for accumulating water.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 51  further comprising a means for adjusting an operating parameter of at least one of the electrochemical device, the means for accumulating water and the means for fluidly delivering a portion of the water.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 51  further comprising means for heating the water.  
     
     
         56 . A method for treating water comprising: 
 mixing water from a point of entry with a treated water to produce a mixed water;    removing a portion of any undesirable species from a portion of the mixed water in an electrochemical device to produce the treated water; and    distributing a portion of the mixed water to a point of use.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  further comprising pre-treating at least a portion of the mixed water.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56  further comprising adjusting at least one of a voltage and current applied on the electrochemical device.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56  further comprising heating at least a portion of the mixed water.  
     
     
         60 . A method for treating water comprising: 
 accumulating water from a point of use;    removing at least a portion of any undesirable species from the water in an electrochemical device to produce treated water; and    supplying at least a portion of the treated water to a household.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein the water from the point of use is accumulated under a pressure that is above atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         62 . A method for treating water comprising: 
 accumulating water from a point of use at a pressure that is above atmospheric pressure;    providing an electrochemical device;    transferring at least a portion of the accumulated water to the electrochemical device;    removing at least a portion of any undesirable species from the water in the electrochemical device to produce a treated water; and    adjusting at least one operating parameter of the electrochemical device.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising supplying at least a portion of the treated water to a household appliance.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  further comprising heating at least a portion of the treated water prior to supplying the water to a household appliance.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising calculating a desired property of the treated water.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising reversing a polarity of an electric field applied across the electrochemical device.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 62  further comprising adjusting a time delay between reversing cycles.  
     
     
         68 . A system comprising: 
 a fluid reservoir in thermal communication with a heat exchanger; and    a fluid treatment device fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir.    
     
     
         69 . The system of claim  71  wherein the fluid treatment device comprises at least one of an electrochemical device, a reverse osmosis device, an ion-exchange device, an electrodialysis device and a capacitive deionization device.  
     
     
         70 . A method for facilitating water treatment comprising: 
 providing a system comprising a pressurizable reservoir system that is fluidly connectable to a point of entry and an electrochemical device fluidly connected to the pressurizable reservoir system and fluidly connectable to a water distribution system.