Water filtration system

Abstract

A water or liquid substance filtration device is disclosed which removes microorganisms and organic contamination and sterilizes the containers and water lines after the unit. The unit is portable, or can be mounted stationary. The unit has a five stage filtration and sterilization system controlled by an independent onboard computer system that can link to a central computer system to keep track of all independent units. The unit will physically filter out of the water contaminants that can be reused, destroyed, or flushed down a safe drain. It can also be modified to filter for a certain size of particulate, making recovery of certain substances possible. The unit has a self-diagnostic system that can determine if the unit is operating properly and can shut down a part thereof if one of the capillary units fails. The system is hydrophilic, can run at low pressures and can be designed from low to extremely high volumes. The unit uses ozone to disinfect containers and water lines.

1 . A water filtration system, comprising:
 an input line for receiving water to be filtered;   an output line for discharging filtered water;   a containment line for discharging backflush water;   a first capillary filter having a first port at first capillary end and a second port at a second capillary end and a third port between capillary ends;   a first valve between the first port and the input line;   a second valve between the second port and the containment line; and   a third valve between the third port and the output line.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further including:
 an pressure line for supplying air, and   a fourth valve between the pressure line and the third port.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first capillary filter comprises:
 a cylindrical housing extending from a first end at the first pert to a second end at the second port;   a plurality of capillary membranes extending from the first end to the second end; and   a capillary holder at each of the first and second ends defining an open area between capillary membranes and between the capillary holders; and   an opening in the cylindrical housing into the open area at the third port.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for supplying backflush water into the third port to be drained through the containment line and second port during a backflushing operation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the means for supplying comprises filtered water output from the third port of a second capillary filter. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the second capillary filter is connected in parallel with the first capillary filter. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the means for supplying comprises sterilized water output from a water sterilization unit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the water sterilization unit receives filtered water output from the third port of a second capillary filter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the second capillary filter is connected in parallel with the first capillary filter. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a sterilization unit connected to the output line to receive filtered water. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a particle filter coupled to supply water to the input line. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller operating to electronically control the first second and third valves. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , the controller having a filtering mode wherein the first and third valves are controlled by the controller to be opened, and the second valve is controlled by the controller to be closed, so that water flows form the input line through the first and third ports to the output line. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , the controller having backflushing mode wherein the first valve is controlled by the controller to be closed and the second and third valves are controlled by the controller to be opened so that water flows into the third port from the output line through the second port to the containment line. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further including an pressure line for supplying air and a fourth valve between the pressure line and the third port, the controller having a testing mode wherein the first and third valves am controlled by the controller to be closed, and the second and fourth valves are controlled by the controller to be opened to apply air to the membrane. 
     
     
         16 . A water filtration system, comprising:
 an input line for receiving water to be filtered;   an output line for discharging filtered water;   a containment line for discharging backflush water;   a first capillary filter and a second capillary filter, where each capillary filter comprises a first port at first capillary end and a second port at a second capillary end and a third port between capillary ends;   a first valve between the first port of the first capillary filter and the input line;   a second valve between the first port of the second capillary filter and the input line;   a third valve between the second port of the first capillary filter and the containment line;   a fourth valve between the second port of the second capillary filter and the containment line;   a fifth valve between the third port of the first capillary filter and the output line; and   a sixth third valve between the third port of the second capillary filter and the output line.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a controller operating to electronically control opening and closing of the first through sixth valves. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , the controller having a filtering mode of operation wherein the first, second, fifth and sixth valves are controlled by the controller to be opened, and the third and fourth valves are controlled by the controller to be closed, so that water flows from the input line through the first and third ports of the capillary filters to the output line. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , the controller having backflushing mode of operation with respect to the first capillary filter wherein the first valve is controlled by the controller to be closed and the third and fifth valves are controlled by the controller to be opened so that water flows into the third port of the first capillary filter from the output line and through the second port to the containment line. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , the controller further operating in the backflushing mode of operation to open the sixth value to output filtered water from the second capillary filter so that the output filtered water enters the output line for use in backflushing the first capillary filter. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , the controller having backflushing mode of operation with respect to the second capillary filter wherein the second valve is controlled by the controller to be closed and the fourth and sixth valves are controlled by the controller to be opened so that water flows into the third port of the second capillary filter from the output line and through the second port to the containment line. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , the controller further operating in the backflushing mode of operation to open the fifth value to output filtered water from the first capillary filter so that the output filtered water enters the output line for use in backflushing the second capillary filter. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , further including a pressure line for supplying air and a seventh valve between the pressure line and the third port of the first capillary filter, the controller having a testing mode of operation with respect to the first capillary filter wherein the first and fifth valves are controlled by the controller to be closed, and the third and seventh valves are controlled by the controller to be opened to apply air to the membrane. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , ether including a pressure line for supplying air and an eighth valve between the pressure line and the third port of the second capillary filter, the controller having a testing mode of operation with respect to the second capillary filter wherein the second and sixth valves are controlled by the controller to be closed, and the fourth and eighth valves are controlled by the controller to be opened to apply air to the membrane. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 16  further including:
 an pressure line for supplying air, and   a valve between the pressure line and the third port of either capillary filter.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the each capillary filter comprises:
 a cylindrical housing extending from a first end at the fit port to a second end at the second port;   a plurality of capillary membranes extending from the first end to the second end; and   a capillary holder at each of the first and second ends defining an open area between capillary membranes and between the capillary holders; and   an opening in the cylindrical housing into the open area at the third port.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising means for supplying backflush water into the third port of either capillary filter to be drained through the containment line and second port during a backflushing operation. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the means for supplying comprises a controlled connection from the third port of one capillary filter into the third port of the other capillary filter. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the means for supplying comprises sterilized water output from a water sterilization unit. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the water sterilization unit receives filtered water output from the output line. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a sterilization unit connected to the output fine to receive filtered water. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a particle filter coupled to supply water to the input line. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the each capillary filter comprises:
 a cylindrical housing extending from a first end at the first port to a second end at the second port;   a bundle of tubular capillary filtration membranes fitted into the housing the capillary membranes being permanently hydrophilic, and having an asymmetric pore structure, wherein the capillary membranes are open at both the first and second ends;   a membrane holder at each of the first and second ends which closes off a space in between the capillary membranes and the housing; and   an opening in the cylindrical housing into the space at the third port.