Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for automatic recovery of waste water recovery in a RO water purifier. More particularly, the present invention relates to a Point of Use (POU) RO water purifier having control on the water wastage.

Background of the invention
Water, being one of the basic necessities of life, is required in every sphere. Since, the water bodies are subjected to various pollutants; they become a source of numerous communicable and fatal diseases. Hence, purification of water is of vital importance. Such purification is performed by water purifiers employing the technique of Reverse Osmosis (RO). Water purifiers remove harmful contaminants from source water and provide pure water that is fit for drinking.The life of the water purifier depends upon various factors including the type of purifier being used such as RO/ UV / GRAVITY etc., quality of the product, quality of input water, regular maintenance, hours and volume of water used, etc.

A Point OfUse (POU) Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Purifier, also referred to as RO Purifier, is known in a number of different configurations in the market. POU Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Purifiers do not have any control on water wastage or drain or reject water as 75 -90% water is drained out with hardly 5-10% variations in drain flux or flow depending upon the TDS of the input water, environmental conditions and working pressure. Also high wastage is not required under all circumstances.

Such a device has been disclosed in US5128035A. Said invention relates to a new and improved filtration purification or water treatment systems for providing improved purified drinking water at a point of use are provided in a substantially leak-free fluid flow control device to which the other filtration purification system elements may be matedly engaged. Other system elements may include various filters or filter modules, as well as, system leads for conveying incoming tap water in, outgoing waste water out to drain and purified water from the filter section to a storage tank until desired for use. The fluid flow control device is preferably a unitary thermoplastic body having a number of discrete fluid flow passages extending therein. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid flow control device includes integrally formed input/output connector features, filter-receiving socket portions and an automatic shut off valve disposed in fluid flow communication with certain ones of the passages.

Such a device has been disclosed in US6436282B1. Said invention relates to A unitary multi-function control module 18 for a reverse osmosis water purification system provides all of the necessary flow control functions in a single removable and easily replaceable unit. The module connects directly with a unitary injection molded manifold 14 and includes a control housing having a cover plate 42, a main body 40, and a closure plate 47. The control housing entirely encloses therein the supply flow shutoff valve 46, the reverse osmosis flow control 100, the permeate back flow check valve 82, and all of the interconnections between the manifold and the supply, permeate, and brine flow paths.

Such a device has been disclosed in US5002664A. Said invention relates to a reverse osmosis system (R.O.) is a fluid flow control device including an elongate unitary thermoplastic body having a generally rectangular configuration defined between spaced and opposed upper and lower major surfaces, a plurality of filter module-receiving socket formations extending normally from said lower surface at spaced apart locations along the length thereof, each socket formation including coaxially aligned radially inner and radially outer spaced apart tubular projections, and inner recess defined within said inner tubular projection and an outer annular recess defined between said inner and outer tubular projections, and aperture defined in said lower surface disposed with each said inner and outer recess; a plurality of discrete fluid flow passages defined in said body connecting certain ones of said socket apertures, female input/output connector means disposed at one end of said body, said female connector including a plurality of channel means for connecting selected ones of said passages to said system tap water source, said introducing means and said conveying means, respectively, said female connector means being adapted to polarizedlymatinglysealingly and lockingly engage a complimentary male I/O connector; and a like plurality of filter modules matingly and sealingly engaged in said socket formations.

Such a device is disclosed in US4585554A. Said invention relates to A purified water dispensing and reject water control device that when operatively associated with a pressurized feed water supplied reverse osmosis cartridge that has purified water and reject water outlets and a tank that is subdivided by a movable barrier into first and second compartments of variable volume that receive purified and reject water and may have same discharged therefrom. The control device includes a single elongate tubular member that actuates first and second valve members that tend to remain in first positions. Purified water from the purified water outlet flows to the first compartment and reject water from reject water outlet flows through a first flow restrictor and then through a second flow restrictor defined by the tubular member to the drain when the valve members are in first positions. When the tubular member and first and second valve members are moved to second positions reject water substantially by-passes the first and second flow restrictors to flow to the second compartment to expand the same and force purified water from the first compartment through an elongate passage partially defined by the elongate tubular member to a dispensing outlet. When the elongate tubular member and first and second valve members return to first positions, dispensing of purified water is terminated, and the flow thereof directed to the first compartment to expand the same and displace reject water from the second compartment. The displaced reject water enters the control device to flow through the second flow restrictor to the drain.

The water purifiers as described in the prior art are not capable controlling the waste water flow through said purifiers thereby leading to unnecessary wastage of water.. Said purifiers are quite expensive and require high maintenance cost.

Objective of the Invention
The objective of the present invention is to design a method and system for controlling the wastage of water through POU RO water purifiers depending upon different aspects of the input water.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to design a POU RO water purifier that contributes towards sustainable development.
The instant invention achieves the objective by employing a method and system for automatic control of the waste water through a POU RO water purifier depending upon the quality of the input water.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for automatic recovery of waste water recovery in a RO water purifier. More particularly, the present invention relates to a Point of use (POU) Reverse osmosis (RO) water Purifier, whose have control on water wastage or drain depends on effluent water s’ Total Dissolve Solids (TDS), which then allows drain water or waste water flow, depending on effluent TDS. On Less effluent TDS, drain or wastage shall be lower while on higher TDS it shall be nominal or lower or same.

According to the present invention, the technology involved controls the “drain/wastage” water “flux/flow” by detecting the quality of the input water especially the “Total Dissolve Solids (TDS)”. Said technology allows variable “drain/wastage” water “flux/flow” depending upon the TDS of the input water.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, POU RO Water Purifier include the steps of Reverse Osmosis followed by Sediment filter, Carbon Filter or some other filters like antiscalant, Pre-filter, technologies or purification steps.

According to another embodiment of the invention, POU RO may or may not involve UV, post carbon, mineral filter, hydrogen and UF.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, POU RO water purifier consist of a diaphragm booster pump of 50 GPD (Gallon of water produces per day) or 100 GPD or 150 GPD.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, POU Water purifier may or may not consist of a few functional parts including Low Pressure Switch (LPS), Float Valve (FV), Solenoid Valve (SV), connectors or ¼”, 3/8” or PL 6 size, pressure reducing valve (PRV).

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to control water wastage, said technology may employ a single adjustable or any number of Flow Restrictor Tube (FRT) of variable sizes, in series or in parallel, depending upon the input TDS.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, 2 or more Solenoid valves may be employed in said system so as to auto control drain or wastage of reject water.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, an innovation may or may not be controlled by PCB.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, there may be a mechanical valve to control the innovation with or without the use of a TDS sensor.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, position of said TDS sensor may vary. The TDS sensor may be placedin front of or to the back of a Sediment Filter or in front of RO filter or at any point or stage in front of the RO membrane or filter.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the instant system may be controlled automatically or manually by controlling membrane working pressure. Said innovation may control membrane working pressure from 0 – 200 psi by manually or PCB (auto) to achieve desirable results including wastage/recovery/reject.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates Innovation with 02 FRT (Flow Restrictor Tube and 01 SV, where drain/Reject/wastage may be flow individually by both FR or may mix and drain.

Figure 2 illustrates innovation with 03 FRT (Flow Restrictor Tube and 02 SV, where drain/Reject/wastage may be flow individually.

Figure 3 illustrates innovation with 03 or more FRT (Flow Restrictor Tube and 02 SV, where drain/Reject/wastage may be flow individually by all three or more FR or may mix and drain by single output.

Figure 4 illustrates innovation with 2 or more FRT (Flow Restrictor Tube and 02 or more mechanical valves to control drain/Reject/wastage. Valve shall operate manually. Shall be open if TDS is high while shall be close if TDS is lower. TDS Sensor may or may not be present when mechanical valve shall use.

Figure 5 illustrates POU RO Water Purifier may or may not consist other filters like sediment, Carbon and Pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered 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 spirit and scope of the present disclosure asdefined by the appended claims.

Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.

Aspects of the present disclosure relates to a Reverse Osmosis system (RO) for water filtration. An embodiment of the said disclosure provides a reverse osmosis based potable water system with improved yield of potable water thereby reducing wastage of water.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a RO based potable water system that may include a feed water inlet means configured to receive feed water, a first set of one or more filters configured in series to process the feed water to yield pre-treated feed water, the water then enters the RO unit and further treatment may or may not be performed through post carbon, mineral cartridge, Ultraviolet treatment and Ultrafiltration treatment or any other technologies may or may not be there for post RO treatment.

The said RO unit, with first reject/drain water outlet and second reject/drain water outlet, a piping unit may or may not be configured with a non-return valve, wherein the piping unit can be configured to drain the water to a junction point.

Depending upon the input water TDS the first drain output and second drain output shall drain waste/reject water together or individually. Function may be manual or controlled by logic PCB. One or many solenoid valves; an electromagnetic valve or one/many manual valves shall support in function to operate first or second drain output or both may function at same time or differently. There may be one, two or more drain outputs. Drain outputs shall be adjoining with one, two or more Flow Restrictor Tubes (FRT). The capacity of said FRT may vary from 0 – 2000 cc.

The wastage of a precious natural resource i.e. water. Technology has to control “drain/wastage” water “flux/flow” by detecting Input Water quality i.e. “Total Dissolve Solids”. It allows variable “drain/wastage” water “flux/flow” on different TDS.

Water Purifier may have following parts and functions:

1. POU RO Water Purifier means RO followed by Sediment filter, Carbon Filter or some other filters like antiscalant, Pre filter, technologies or purification steps.
2. POU RO may or may not with or without UV, post carbon, mineral filter, hydrogen and UF in addition.
3. POU RO water purifier consist a diaphragm booster pump of 50 GPD (Gallon of water produces per day) or 100 GPD or 150 GPD or any capacity.
4. POU Water purifier may or may not consist few functional parts like Low Pressure switch (LPS), Float Valve (FV), Solenoid Valve (SV), connectors or ¼”, 3/8” or PL 6 size, pressure reducing valve (PRV) etc.
5. To control water wastage, technology may use single adjustable or any nos. of Flow Restrictor Tube (FRT) of any size, in series or parallel.
6. Depending upon the input TDS, size and nos. of FRT may use.
7. There can be 02 or more Solenoid valves in the system to auto control drain or wastage of reject water.
8. This concept shall not allow to waste excess water when not required.
9. Innovation may or may not be controlled by PCB.
10. There may be a mechanical valve to control the innovation – ref fig 04. TDS sensor may or may not use in such case.
11. Position of TDS sensor may vary, it may be after or before Sediment Filter or before RO filter or at any point or stage before RO membrane or filter. TDS sensor may be omit or reduce with innovation have mechanical valve.
12. Auto or manual control can also control membrane working pressure to control the drain/wastage/reject water. Innovation may control membrane working pressure from 0 – 200 psi by manually or PCB (auto) to achieve desirable results i.e. wastage/recovery/reject.
13. Both the FRT may or may not be in function at same time or differently. Depends upon the input TDS 0 - 10000 ppm, function or FRT shall occur. TDS sensor shall detect input water TDS and operate both or one FRT through manually or electro-magnetic solenoid valves or any medium.
Referring to FIG. 1 wherein an exemplary schematic diagram of a RO based potable water system 100 is illustrated. As shown, the RO based potable water purification system 100 can incorporate two FRTs, a first FRT 101 and a second FRT 102. The two FRT, FRT 101 and FRT 102 can be install /fit in separate series and further output of both FRT 101 and FRT 102 have to fix by a juncture by suitable pipe/tubing to mix and flushed out. Reject/waste/drain water from Unit 100 may or may not fix by a juncture to mix and flushed out, outputs may also flush separately. Drain output of FRT 101 and FRT 102 may be optional and output of FRT 101 and FRT 102 may also be separate.

FRT 101 shall be free flow and drain output works whenever RO system 100 work drain of RO membrane 103 shall passes through FRT 101 when TDS is low that is 0-1000 ppm. FRT 102 controlled by electronic controller 104 through TDS sensor 105. TDS sensor 105 detect the value of input TDS and depends upon input TDS in ppm 0-10000, electronic controller 104 shall operate FRT 102 by operating electro- magnetic solenoid valve 106. Electromagnetic solenoid valve 106 operates shall open or close by getting signal from electronic controller 104, depending upon input TDS, sensed by TDS sensor 105. In an aspect, to ensure input in RO membrane 103 to proceed reverse osmosis mechanism a high pressure pump of any size or capacity is essential and installed, other pre and post RO 103 filtration is also there.

Referring to FIG. 2 wherein an exemplary schematic diagram of a RO based potable water system 100 is illustrated. As shown, the RO based potable water purification system 100 can incorporate three FRTs, a first FRT 101, a second FRT 102 and a third FRT 107. The said unit also has two electromagnetic solenoid valves, first 106 and second 108. The three FRT, FRT 101, FRT 102 and FRT 107 can be install/ fit in separate series and further output of all three FRT 101, FRT 102 and FRT 107 shall fix by a juncture by suitable pipe/tubing to mix and flushed out. Reject/waste/drain water from Unit 100 may or may not fix by a juncture to mix and flushed out, outputs may also flush separately. Drain output of FRT 101, FRT 102 and FRT 107 may be optional and output of FRT 101, FRT 102 and FRT 107 may also be separate.

FRT 101 shall be free flow and drain output works whenever RO system 100 work drain of RO membrane 103 shall passes through FRT 101 when TDS is low that is 0-1000 ppm. FRT 102 and FRT 107 controlled by electronic controller 104 through TDS sensor 105. TDS sensor 105 detect the value of input TDS and depends upon input TDS in ppm 0-10000, electronic controller 104 shall operate FRT 102 and FRT 107 by operating electro- magnetic solenoid valve 106 and electromagnetic solenoid valve 107. Electromagnetic solenoid valve 106 and electromagnetic solenoid valve 107 shall function and allow to pass water by getting signal from electronic controller 104, depending upon input TDS, sensed by TDS sensor 105. In an aspect, to ensure input in RO membrane 103 to proceed reverse osmosis mechanism a high pressure pump of any size or capacity is essential and installed, other pre and post RO 103 filtration is also there.

Referring to FIG. 3 wherein an exemplary schematic diagram of a RO based potable water system 100 is illustrated. As shown, the RO based potable water purification system 100 can incorporate three FRTs, a first FRT 101, a second FRT 102 and a third FRT 107. The said unit also has two electromagnetic solenoid valves, first 106 and second 108. The three FRT, FRT 101, FRT 102 and FRT 107 can be install/ fit in separate series and further output of all three FRT 101, FRT 102 and FRT 107 shall fix by a juncture by suitable pipe/tubing to mix and flushed out.

FRT 101 shall be free flow and drain output works whenever RO system 100 work drain of RO membrane 103 shall passes through FRT 101 when TDS is low that is 0-1000 ppm. FRT 102 and FRT 107 controlled by electronic controller 104 through TDS sensor 105. TDS sensor 105 detect the value of input TDS and depends upon input TDS in ppm 0-10000, electronic controller 104 shall operate FRT 102 and FRT 107 by operating electro- magnetic solenoid valve 106 and electromagnetic solenoid valve 107. Electromagnetic solenoid valve 106 and electromagnetic solenoid valve 107 shall function and allow to pass water by getting signal from electronic controller 104, depending upon input TDS, sensed by TDS sensor 105. In an aspect, to ensure input in RO membrane 103 to proceed reverse osmosis mechanism a high pressure pump of any size or capacity is essential and installed, other pre and post RO 103 filtration is also there.

Referring to FIG. 4 wherein an exemplary schematic diagram of a RO based potable water system 100 is illustrated. As shown, the RO based potable water purification system 100 can incorporate two FRTs, a first FRT 101 and a second FRT 102. The two FRT, FRT 101 and FRT 102 can be install /fit in separate series and further output of both FRT 101 and FRT 102 have to fix by a juncture by suitable pipe/tubing to mix and flushed out. Reject/waste/drain water from Unit 100 may or may not fix by a juncture to mix and flushed out, outputs may also flush separately. Drain output of FRT 101 and FRT 102 may be optional and output of FRT 101 and FRT 102 may also be separate.

FRT 101 shall be free flow and drain output works whenever RO system 100 work drain of RO membrane 103 shall passes through FRT 101 when TDS is low that is 0-1000 ppm. FRT 102 controlled by manual controller 109. Depends upon input TDS in ppm 0-10000, manual controller valve 109 have to operate. Manual valve 109 operates manually open or close by checking input water TDS. In an aspect, to ensure input in RO membrane 103 to proceed reverse osmosis mechanism a high pressure pump of any size or capacity is essential and installed, other pre and post RO 103 filtration is also there.

Referring to FIG. 5, there shall be sediment filter 110, pre carbon filter 11 and a boosting pump 112 be organized to perform pretreatment of water. The sediment filter 110, pre carbon filter 11 and a boosting pump 112 may be arranged in any sequence depends upon input water quality. There may more pre and post filters depend upon need, input water quality, environment and other challenges presence in water. More to above there may be Ultraviolet treatment 113, Ultrafiltration treatment 114 and Post mineral or Post Carbon Filter 115 may or not may be there. Treatment train may be as above or any one of above. Pretreated water may or may not be blend before RO and then mix after RO and further subjected to treatment with 113, 114 and 115 or all or any of these.

We Claim:
1. A reverse osmosis (RO) based potable water system with high recovery rate of pure water, the system comprising of:
i. a feed water inlet means configured to receive feed water;
ii. a first set of one or more filters, configured in series to partially treat the feed water;
iii. a first FRT unit configured to drain out waste/reject water from the set of one or more filters, and process the pre-treated feed water with help of membrane that rejects impurities present in the pretreated water and allows only pure water to pass through the membrane;
iv. a first drain water outlet configured to maintain the water recovery and waste water from RO unit;
v. a second, third and may be more reject water outlet configured to control output rejected water from the RO unit to maintain input water loss depends upon input water TDS;
vi. a junction may or may not configured to receive the rejected water from the first, second, third or more reject water outlet; and
vii. a second, third or more FRT unit configured to maintain water wastage/drainage controlled by first, second or more electromagnetic or manual valve;
characterized in that the first, second or more electromagnetic valve may be controlled by electronic controller with the support of TDS sensor thereby automatically controlling the waste water depending upon the quality of the input water.

2. The water purifier as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the membrane(s) is a semi-permeable membrane or a nano-filter membrane or any other technology have drain water.
3. The water purifier as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a first pump configured to supply the partially treated feed water to the first RO unit at the high pressure side of the first RO unit with required pressure and flow parameters.
4. The water purifier as claimed in Claims 1 and 4, wherein the first set of one or more filters is one or combination of anti-scalant, a water softener, a scale inhibitor, means of pre-filtration comprising chemical coagulation, flocculation, clarification, gravity setting, multi media filtration, activated carbon, adsorption media, microfiltration and ultra-filtration.
5. The water purifier as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a third or many FRT configured to maintain the water drain.