] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a water purifier and particularly to a water purification device and method that is capable to retain minerals in water during filtration and reduces an amount of water wastage.
Description of Related Art
[002] Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a water treatment process that removes contaminants from drinking water by using a pressure to force water molecules. However, according to World Health Organization (WHO), a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filter is not good for health as it not only removes the contaminants but also removes some essential minerals and nutrients such as calcium and magnesium from the drinking water. Moreover, the drinking water contains sulphates, nitrates, fluorides and chlorides that are equally unsafe and can cause several diseases like gastric and intestinal cancer, blue-baby syndrome, vomiting, diarrhea, birth defects, hypertension, high blood pressure, and so on.
[003] Conventionally available RO water filters take around 2 to 4 hours to filter. Moreover, a usage of the RO water filters has become less due to a fact that the RO water filters remove most of the useful minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium and sodium which are essential for a human body. In addition, there is a lot of water wastage in the available RO water filters. Further, the RO water filters are expensive as it is more energy intensive and consumes more electricity.
[004] There is thus a need for an advanced and more effective water purification device that can administer the drawbacks faced by the conventional devices.

SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a water purification device. The device comprising: a water filtration unit adapted to perform ultrafiltration on an untreated water received from an untreated water source by applying a pressure on the untreated water to pass through a semi permeable membrane such that the applied pressure causes water molecules, smaller molecules, and ions to filter through the semi-permeable membrane to obtain a filtrate. The device further comprising: a reabsorption unit adapted to perform a selective reabsorption process to reabsorb minerals from the filtrate such that the minerals are filtered out during the ultrafiltration of the untreated water. The device further comprising: an electrolysis unit adapted to perform an electrolysis to remove anions selected from fluorides, sulfates, chlorides, nitrates, or a combination thereof from the filtrate to obtain purified water. The device further comprising: a storage unit adapted to store the purified water.
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method of purifying water by a water purification device. The method comprising steps of: performing ultrafiltration on an untreated water received from an untreated water source by applying a pressure on the untreated water to pass through a semi permeable membrane such that the applied pressure causes water molecules, smaller molecules, and ions to filter through the semi-permeable membrane to obtain a filtrate; performing a selective reabsorption process to reabsorb minerals from the filtrate such that the minerals are filtered out during the ultrafiltration of the untreated water; performing an electrolysis to remove anions selected from fluorides, sulfates, chlorides, nitrates, or a combination thereof from the filtrate to obtain purified water; and storing the purified water in a storage unit of the water purification device.

[007] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a water purification device for purifying water by a less energy intensive process that reduces a generation of waste water and consumes no electricity.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide a water purification device that performs selective reabsorption to retain minerals in water which are essential for a human body.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide a water purification device that enhances a purity of water by removing nitrates, sulphates, chlorides and so forth from drinking water using electrolysis.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide a water purification device that generates an alarm to indicate a user that a storage unit of the device is filled with enhanced purified water.
[0011] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0012] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and still further features and advantages of

embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a water purification device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method for purifying water by using the water purification device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include", "including", and "includes" mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific

form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0018] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises", and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having" and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", "consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of", the like.
[0019] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a water purification device 100 (hereinafter referred to as the device 100), according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the device 100 may be configured to purify water by a less intensive process that reduces a generation of waste water and consumes no electricity. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may be eco-friendly as the device 100 reduces an amount of plastic waste bottles in landfills. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may be economical and efficient to enhance the purified water. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may be designed to supply the purified water for drinking and cooking purposes.
[0021] The device 100 may be designed to be placed on a surface of an object such as, but not limited to, a table, a shelf and alike, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the object including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In

another embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may be mounted on a wall to enable an easy access to the purified water.
[0022] According to embodiments of the present invention, the device 100 may comprise components such as, a water filtration unit 102, a reabsorption unit 104, a permeate pump 106, an electrolysis unit 108, a storage unit 110, a water level sensor 112, a sound unit 114, and a control unit 116.
[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the components may be detachably connected to each other in a series configuration. In another embodiment of the present invention, the components may be fixedly connected to each other in the series configuration.
[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the water filtration unit 102 may be connected to an untreated water source, to receive untreated water from the untreated water source. In an embodiment of the present invention, the untreated water source may be, but not limited to, a roof mounted tank, a residential type water faucet, in-line under a sink, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the untreated water source.
[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the water filtration unit 102 may be adapted to perform ultrafiltration on the untreated water. In an embodiment of the present invention, the ultrafiltration may be performed by applying a pressure on the untreated water to pass through a filter membrane. In an embodiment of the present invention, suspended solids and high molecular weight solutes may be retained as the waste water at a retentate side while water molecules and low molecular weight solutes may be filtered through the filter membrane to a permeate side. The filter membrane may be, but not limited to, a micro filter membrane, an activated carbon filter membrane, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filter membrane may be a semi-permeable

membrane. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the filter membrane that may lead to separation of the low molecular weight solutes from the high molecular weight solutes.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may be connected to tubes that may increase the pressure applied on the untreated water moving through the filter membrane. In an embodiment of the present invention, the increased pressure may eventually cause the water molecules, smaller molecules, ions and so forth to filter through the filter membrane to obtain a filtrate. In another embodiment of the present invention, the contaminants such as, but not limited to, bacteria, macromolecular organic, particles, silt, and so forth may be forced out from the water during the ultrafiltration. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the contaminants.
[0027] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the reabsorption unit 104 may be connected to the water filtration unit 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the reabsorption unit 104 may perform a selection reabsorption process to reabsorb minerals from the filtrate as some of the minerals are filtered out during the ultrafiltration of the untreated water. In an embodiment of the present invention, the selective reabsorption of the minerals may be performed on the waste water. In an embodiment of the present invention, the minerals may be, but not limited to, zinc, copper, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the minerals that may be essential for a human body.
[0028] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the permeate pump 106 may be installed within the device 100, to reduce an amount of

the waste water and increase an efficiency of the device 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the permeate pump 106 may create a barrier between the filter membrane of the water filtration unit 102 and the storage unit 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the permeate pump 106 may be adapted to collect the waste water that may be headed to a drain and use the waste water as an energy to push the filtrated water into the storage unit 110.
[0029] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the electrolysis unit 108 may be adapted to remove anions present in the filtered water as a waste product. The electrolysis unit 108 may be adapted to remove the anions present in the filtered water for further purifying the filtered water, in an embodiment of the present invention. The anions may be, but not limited to, chlorides, sulphates, nitrates, fluorides, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the anions that may be present in the water. Further, the electrolysis unit 108 may be adapted to supply the purified water to the storage unit 110, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit 110 may be connected to the electrolysis unit 108, to receive the purified water from the electrolysis unit 108. In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit 110 may be having a pre-defined capacity to store the purified water. In an embodiment of the present invention, the purified water may be supplied to a user through a water outlet line from the storage unit 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit 110 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a stainless steel, a plastic, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the storage unit 110 including known related art and/or later developed technologies. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit 110 may be of any shape such as, but not

limited to, a rectangular shape, a square shape, a circular shape, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any shape of the storage unit 110 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the water level sensor 112 may be installed within the storage unit 110 to sense a level of the purified water inside the storage unit 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the water level sensor 112 may be, but not limited to, a float sensor, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the water level sensor 112 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The water level sensor 112 may include a permanent magnet and a float switch that may enable the water level sensor 112 to rise and/or fall with the level of the purified water present inside the storage unit 110 and further the float switch may get activated and/or deactivated accordingly by the permanent magnet to send a signal to the control unit 116, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sound unit 114 may be configured to generate a sound alert based on an output generated by the control unit 116. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sound unit 114 may be configured to generate the sound alert to indicate the user that the storage unit 110 of the device 100 has been filled with the purified water. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sound unit 114 may be, but not limited to, a beeper, a buzzer, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the sound unit 114 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0033] The control unit 116 may be configured to execute computer readable instructions stored in a memory (not shown) to generate the

output. The control unit 116 may be configured to compare the sensed level of the purified water with a pre-defined level. In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 116 may be configured to enable the sound unit 114 to generate the sound alert when the sensed level of the purified water is greater than or equal to the pre-defined level. In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 116 may be configured to continue receiving the sensed level of the purified water from the water level sensor 112 when the sensed level of the purified water is less than the pre-defined level. The control unit 116 may be, but not limited to, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a development board, a digital signal processor, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control unit 116, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0034] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method 200 for purifying the water by using the device 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 202, the device 100 may receive the untreated water from the untreated water source.
[0035] At step 204, the device 100 may perform the ultrafiltration on the untreated water where the untreated water is forced to pass through the filter membrane that may be the semipermeable membrane to obtain the filtrate.
[0036] At step 206, the device 100 may perform the selective reabsorption process to reabsorb the minerals from the filtrate as some of the minerals may be filtered out during the ultrafiltration of the untreated water.
[0037] At step 208, the device 100 may remove the anions from the filtered water by using the electrolysis to obtain the purified water.
[0038] At step 210, the device 100 may store the purified water in the storage unit 110.

[0039] At step 212, the device 100 may sense the level of the purified water in the storage unit 110.
[0040] At step 214, the device 100 may compare the sensed level of the purified water with the pre-defined level. The method 200 may proceed to a step 216, when the sensed level of the purified water is greater than or equal to the pre-defined level. Otherwise, the method 200 may return to the step 212.
[0041] At the step 216, the device 100 may generate the sound alert through the sound unit 114.
[0042] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0043] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

CLAIMS
I/We Claim:

1. A water purification device (100), the device (100) comprising:
a water filtration unit (102) adapted to perform ultrafiltration on an untreated water received from an untreated water source by applying a pressure on the untreated water to pass through a semi permeable membrane such that the applied pressure causes water molecules, smaller molecules, and ions to filter through the semi-permeable membrane to obtain a filtrate;
a reabsorption unit (104) adapted to perform a selective reabsorption process to reabsorb minerals from the filtrate such that the minerals are filtered out during the ultrafiltration of the untreated water;
an electrolysis unit (108) adapted to perform an electrolysis to remove anions selected from fluorides, sulfates, chlorides, nitrates, or a combination thereof from the filtered water to obtain purified water; and
a storage unit (110) adapted to store the purified water.
2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein contaminants selected from bacteria, macromolecular organic, particles, silt, or a combination thereof are forced out from the untreated water during the ultrafiltration.
3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a permeate pump (106) adapted to reduce an amount of waste water by utilizing the waste water as an energy to push the filtrated water into the storage unit (110).
4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a water level sensor (112) installed within the storage unit (110), to sense a level of the purified water in the storage unit (110).

5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 4, comprising a sound unit (114) configured to generate a sound alert when the sensed level of the purified water is greater than or equal to a pre-defined level.
6. A method of purifying water by a water purification device (100), wherein the method comprising steps of:
performing ultrafiltration on an untreated water received from an untreated water source by applying a pressure on the untreated water to pass through a semi permeable membrane such that the applied pressure causes water molecules, smaller molecules, and ions to filter through the semi-permeable membrane to obtain a filtrate;
performing a selective reabsorption process to reabsorb minerals from the filtrate such that the minerals are filtered out during the ultrafiltration of the untreated water;
performing an electrolysis to remove anions selected from fluorides, sulfates, chlorides, nitrates, or a combination thereof from the filtered water to obtain purified water; and
storing the purified water in a storage unit (110) of the water purification device (100).
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising a step of reducing an amount of waste water by installing a permeate pump (106) inside the water purification device (100).
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising a step of sensing a level of the purified water in the storage unit (110).
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, comprising a step of generating a sound alert when the sensed level of the purified water is greater than or equal to a pre-defined level.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising a step of forcing out contaminants selected from bacteria, macromolecular organic, particles, silt, or a combination thereof from the untreated water during the ultrafiltration.