Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a compact, efficient, and scalable packed ceramic water filter that integrates loose filler materials within a porous ceramic structure for enhanced water treatment. Conventional water filtration systems often suffer from inefficiencies, high maintenance requirements, and limited scalability. This invention addresses these limitations by introducing a novel packed ceramic filter designed for superior contaminant removal and ease of use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Proposed invention is capable of treating the groundwater, surface water and industrial effluent (to some extent) up to point of use (PoU) drinking purpose, without requiring any electrical energy.
The currently available solutions exhibit significant limitations in addressing the problem effectively. Ceramic filters, typically made of baked Kaolinite clay, offer similar functionality to the present invention but suffer from a very low filtration rate, limiting their applicability. Sand filters, while effective to some extent, require frequent maintenance and necessitate a complete shutdown of the unit during maintenance, rendering them unsuitable for industrial wastewater treatment. On the other hand, filters based on reverse osmosis (RO) technology provide a high filtration rate but come with drawbacks such as high electricity consumption and substantial water wastage during the filtration process. These limitations highlight the need for an improved solution.
 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention.
This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention relates to water filtration technology, specifically to a compact, efficient, and scalable packed ceramic filter that integrates loose filler materials within a porous ceramic structure for enhanced water treatment. Conventional water filtration systems often suffer from inefficiencies, high maintenance requirements, and limited scalability. This invention addresses these limitations by introducing a novel packed ceramic filter designed for superior contaminant removal and ease of use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
FIGURE 1. (A) CUT-SECTION VIEW OF CERAMIC FILTER, (B) EXPLODED VIEW OF CERAMIC FILTER, AND (C) ASSEMBLED PACK CERAMIC FILTER
The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a",” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", “third”, and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first" and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The present invention relates to water filtration technology, specifically to a compact, efficient, and scalable packed ceramic filter that integrates loose filler materials within a porous ceramic structure for enhanced water treatment. Conventional water filtration systems often suffer from inefficiencies, high maintenance requirements, and limited scalability. This invention addresses these limitations by introducing a novel packed ceramic filter designed for superior contaminant removal and ease of use.
The packed ceramic filter comprises two primary components:
Outer Layer: A baked porous ceramic shell fabricated from a mixture of clay and sawdust in equal proportions (by volume) and water.
Inner Layer (Filler Material): Loose filler materials, including sand, small pebbles, and specific additive materials tailored for the removal of targeted chemical contaminants.
The outer ceramic layer is manufactured through a precise process:
The dough is prepared by mixing clay and sawdust with water. The dough is shaped into greenware using a mold and left to dry in a shaded environment for approximately one week to prevent cracking. The dried greenware is baked in a muffle furnace at a peak temperature of 850°C, ensuring optimal strength and adsorption capacity.
The inner layer includes filler materials chosen based on the contaminant to be removed. For instance: Marble slurry for arsenic removal, rice husk for fluoride removal, and silver coating for antibacterial properties.
Water enters the system through a high-pressure inlet line connected to a perforated plastic rod embedded within the filter. This rod disperses water into the loose filler materials. As water flows through the filler materials, it undergoes initial filtration to remove physical and certain chemical contaminants. Subsequently, the water percolates through the porous ceramic layer, where additional chemical impurities are adsorbed. The treated water is collected in a reservoir as filtrate, ready for use. This invention represents a significant advancement in water filtration technology, combining functionality, sustainability, and affordability to meet diverse water treatment needs.
The packed ceramic filter provides a high filtration rate while effectively removing physical, chemical, and biological contaminants from water, without requiring electricity or producing water wastage during the filtration process.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
• The loose filler materials (such as sand, additives, or charcoal) are contained within the porous ceramic filter, making the filter more compact, easier to handle, and user-friendly for installation and maintenance without requiring a system shutdown.
• The packed ceramic filter features a closed-loop design, enabling operation under higher hydrostatic water pressure, which significantly increases the filtration rate compared to traditional systems.
• The modular nature of the packed ceramic filter allows for scalable implementation, making it adaptable for meeting higher water treatment demands by integrating multiple units efficiently.
, Claims:1. A packed ceramic water filter comprising:
o An outer porous ceramic shell formed from a mixture of clay and sawdust,
o An inner layer comprising loose filler materials selected for targeted contaminant removal,
o A perforated plastic rod for water distribution within the filter.
2. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer ceramic shell is formed by drying greenware in a shaded environment for approximately one week and then baking it in a muffle furnace at a peak temperature of 850°C.
3. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filler materials comprise sand and small pebbles to enhance physical filtration and adsorption properties.
4. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filler materials further include marble slurry for the removal of arsenic from water.
5. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filler materials further include rice husk for the removal of fluoride from water.
6. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filler materials further include a silver coating to provide antibacterial properties.
7. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter operates under hydrostatic water pressure to enhance the filtration rate.
8. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is modular in nature, allowing multiple units to be integrated for increased water treatment capacity.
9. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system does not require electricity for operation, making it suitable for remote or off-grid applications.
10. The packed ceramic filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closed-loop design minimizes maintenance requirements and allows for easy replacement of filter components without system shutdown.