Water treatment system

Abstract

A system for the treatment of water to remove metals and undesirable substances from well and groundwater so as to render the water potable is disclosed. The system employs microbubbles of oxygen, which remain suspended in water at a concentration above 100% of the calculated saturated concentration at a particular temperature and pressure. These microbubbles oxidize undesirable substances in the water, which substances include iron manganese, arsenic, antimony, chrome, aluminum, reduced sulfur compounds, pesticide residues, drug metabolites and/or bacteria. Microbubbles are produced by electrolysis or by sparging through a microorifice. A control system for the electrolytic system is disclosed.

1 . A water treatment system comprising one or a plurality of emitters in one or a plurality of electrolysis chambers through which water flows, operably connected to a power source controlled by a controller comprising a flow switch which senses water flow and directs the controller to apply voltage to the emitters whereupon microbubbles of oxygen are evolved. 
   
   
       2 . The emitters of  claim 1  wherein the emitters comprise cathodes and anodes in aqueous communication with each other and separated by a critical distance of 0.005 to 0.75 inches. 
   
   
       3 . The emitters of  claim 2  wherein the cathodes and anodes are separated by a critical distance of 0.65 inches. 
   
   
       4 . The emitters of  claim 1  wherein the cathodes and anodes are formed from the same material, the material being titanium, ruthenium, iridium, nickel, iron, rhodium, rhenium, cobalt, tungsten; manganese, tantalum, molybdenum, lead, platinum, palladium, osmium or oxides thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The water treatment system of  claim 3  wherein the cathode and anode are formed from titanium coated with iridium oxide. 
   
   
       6 . A control system for the water treatment system of  claim 1  comprising a flow switch capable of sensing water flow above a set point, with electrical communication to a power source causing alternating current to be transformed to direct current, the direct current thereafter passing through relays to activate the emitters to cause the evolution of microbubbles, which activation continues as long as water is flowing. 
   
   
       7 . The control system of  claim 6  further comprising a pressure switch and/or a temperature switch operably connected to a control valve so that when the pressure and/or temperature rises above a set point, a control switch terminates the application of current to the emitters. 
   
   
       8 . The control system of  claim 6  further comprising a means to reverse polarity of the direct current at a predetermined set signal. 
   
   
       9 . The set signal of  claim 8  which is an increase of pressure from a well pump, initiation of water flow, a timed interval or manual. 
   
   
       10 . A water treatment system comprising a chamber with static mixer through which water flows, a source of oxygen, and a microorifice through which oxygen is sparged into the bottom of the chamber thereby forming microbubbles of oxygen. 
   
   
       11 . The source of oxygen which is a tank of oxygen or PSA technology. 
   
   
       12 . The water treatment systems of  claims 1 ,  6  and  10  further comprising a final filter, through which the water treated in the chamber flows. 
   
   
       13 . The filter of  claim 11  comprising Birm filter, Greensand, Pyrolux, Filtersand, Filter-Ag, activated carbon, anthracite and/or garnet. 
   
   
       14 . A water treatment system comprising a source of microbubbles of oxygen for oxidizing undesirable substances in water. 
   
   
       15 . The undesirable substances of  claim 14  which are iron manganese, arsenic, antimony, chrome, aluminum, reduced sulfur compounds, pesticide residues, drug metabolites and/or bacteria. 
   
   
       16 . The undesirable substances of  claim 14  which are iron, manganese and/or hydrogen sulfide.