System and method for mineralizing water

Abstract

A system (100) configured to deliver mineralized water is provided. The system includes a faucet (110) configured to deliver water from a water source (120) to a user. The system further comprises at least one metering pump (130) upstream of the faucet (110) and configured to introduce the liquid mineral concentrate (140) into the water flow (150) to the faucet (110). The system further comprises a control unit arranged to control the metering pump. The at least one metering pump (130) is configured to introduce a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate (140) into the water flow (150), and wherein the mineralization state of the water flow (130) is actively influenced as a function of the predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate (140) introduced into the water flow (150) by the at least one metering pump (130). The control unit (160) is further configured to control the metering pump (130) to regulate the mineralization state of the water flow (150). Further, a method of using the system is provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of water mineralization. More specifically, this invention belongs to the technical field of delivering mineralized water to users. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of water treatment, removing impurities and compounds that can adversely affect the health of living organisms is crucial. One water treatment method, reverse osmosis (RO), is increasingly widely used throughout human society. However, while effectively removing harmful contaminants, RO-purified water also removes other compounds, such as essential minerals. In particular, RO-treated water often lacks essential minerals such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium, which are vital for human health. Essential minerals contribute to strong teeth and bones, healthy hair and skin, physical growth and development, and optimal nerve function. Furthermore, RO-treated water has a lower pH and is considered less palatable than water with a higher pH and higher mineral content.

[0003] While awareness of the toxicity levels of pollutants in water is relatively high today, the health benefits of certain essential minerals in water have not received the same attention. Given that the bioavailability of calcium and magnesium in water is comparable to that in other foods, water consumption can promote the daily intake of these minerals. Therefore, including mineral-rich water in the diet may be a suitable way to supplement calcium and magnesium intake, and it aligns with daily dietary recommendations for these nutrients.

[0004] Using reverse osmosis to purify water of harmful contaminants is only the first step. Reintroducing essential minerals is the necessary second step to ensure healthy and palatable water. Methods for mineralizing water are known in the art, such as incorporating passive mineral filters into water purification systems or having end-users manually add liquid mineral droplets to a glass of water.

[0005] However, existing solutions lack reproducible results, efficiency, control, and user-friendliness. Passive mineral filters are impractical, and users cannot control the mineralization state of the purified water delivered by the system. Manually adding liquid mineral droplets to a glass of water is time-consuming, cumbersome, and does not deliver reproducible results; it is not an efficient method for mineralizing drinking water. Therefore, there is a clear need to improve existing systems and methods for delivering mineralized water. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of this disclosure is to mitigate at least some of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. In particular, the object is to provide a system configured to efficiently deliver mineralized water to a user, such that the mineralization state of the water flow is actively, efficiently, and precisely regulated and beneficial to the user's health. Another object is to provide a method for actively regulating the mineralization state of water flow using said system. Other objects will become apparent hereinafter.

[0007] This invention is based on the understanding that by using a system or method designed to deliver mineralized water to a user as described herein, the mineralization state of the water delivered to the user via a tap can be actively, efficiently, and precisely regulated.

[0008] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a system configured to deliver mineralized water is provided. The system includes a faucet configured to deliver water from a water source to a user. The system further includes at least one metering pump upstream of the faucet and configured to introduce a liquid mineral concentrate into the water flow from the faucet. The system further includes a control unit arranged to control the metering pump. The at least one metering pump is configured to introduce a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate into the water flow, and wherein the mineralization state of the water flow is actively influenced based on the predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate introduced into the water flow by the at least one metering pump. The control unit is further configured to control the metering pump to regulate the mineralization state of the water flow.

[0009] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided for adjusting the mineralization state of a water flow using a system according to a first aspect of this disclosure. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving a water flow from a water source. The method further includes (b) controlling a metering pump to add a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate to the water flow, thereby actively influencing the mineralization state of the water flow. The method further includes (c) delivering the water flow with the actively influenced mineralization state to a faucet. And the method further includes (d) delivering the water flow with the actively influenced mineralization state from the faucet to a user.

[0010] Therefore, the concept upon which this invention is based is to provide a method for delivering mineralized water to users, wherein the mineralization state of the water flow has been actively influenced and is easily controlled and adjusted by the user. This invention has many advantages. The first advantage is that this invention can be installed in existing faucet systems, allowing for a more user-friendly experience and reducing installation burden. Thus, an advantage of this invention is that it eliminates the need for a separate faucet system, as the mineralized water can be delivered using existing faucet systems. Furthermore, the possibility of freely changing between water in various mineralization states is beneficial, as users can easily and precisely obtain the type of water they require. For example, some activities do not require water flow in which the mineralization state has been actively influenced; these may be activities where the user needs unaltered tap water from a water source. Other activities may require water flow in which the mineralization state of the water has been adjusted or actively influenced for specific mineral components. Users can quickly and easily switch between water flows with different mineralization states while using the same faucet to deliver the water to them.

[0011] In this context, "faucet" refers to a device with a certain type of nozzle and valve that is attached to the end of a pipe to control the flow of fluid. Therefore, a faucet can be a water tap, a mixer tap, a kitchen tap, or a tap that provides a controlled connection between a pipe and a second pipe or conduit (such as a pipe or conduit leading to a coffee machine), a device for conveying sparkling water, a device for conveying juice, etc.

[0012] Systems and methods according to the first and second aspects of the invention relate to actively influencing the mineralization state of a water flow to produce a water flow comprising a desired mineral composition or mineralization state and suitable pH and hardness, which is then delivered to a user. As used herein, the terms "mineralization state" or "mineral composition" refer to the current state or composition of the mineral content of the water flow. The mineralization state of the water flow can be the mineralization state in which the water flow includes minerals. "Minerals" should be understood as elements, ions, and compounds that can be contained in the water flow, such as calcium, magnesium, boron, chloride, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphate, rubidium, selenium, silicon, sodium, vanadium, and zinc. The mineralization state of the water flow can also be the mineralization state in which the water flow is completely free of minerals. As used in this invention, the term "actively influencing" the mineralization state of the water flow refers to an action that actively influences the mineralization state of the water. For example, the action could be a process of adding a predetermined dose of one or more selected minerals contained in a liquid mineral concentrate to a stream of water that is completely mineral-free or contains a sufficiently small amount of minerals to be considered palatable or healthy. The action of adding the predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate to the stream actively affects the mineralization state of the water because the mineralization state of the stream is a first state before the action and a second mineralization state different from the first state after the action. Wherein, as used in this invention, "actively affecting" the mineralization state of the stream can refer to the active restoration of minerals to a stream that is completely mineral-free or contains a sufficiently small amount of minerals, in order to obtain a stream with a different mineralization state compared to a previous stream that was completely mineral-free or contained a sufficiently small amount of minerals, thereby providing the user with a more palatable stream. It is important to distinguish between "actively affecting" and "passively affecting" the mineralization state of the stream. "Passively affecting" the mineralization state should be understood as a passive action, an action that occurs without any external input and / or action. "Passively affecting" the mineralization state of the stream is not entirely predictable or controllable. Users receiving water from a tap (which is part of a system that "passively influences the mineralization state of the water flow") cannot select the mineralization state of the delivered water. Specifically, users receiving water from such a system cannot actively influence or select or affect the concentration or dosage of minerals in the water flow. Conversely, and as explained above, "actively influencing" the mineralization state of the water flow should be understood as an active action, an active action occurring through external input and / or action. "Actively influencing the mineralization state of the water flow" is predictable and / or controllable. This actively influenced mineralization state can be achieved using the system of the present invention as described herein.

[0013] The systems and methods according to the first and second aspects of the invention relate to a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate. As used herein, the term "predetermined dose" of liquid mineral concentrate refers to a specific volume of liquid mineral concentrate. A predetermined dose can be defined as a dose that achieves a certain mineral concentration in a predetermined volume of water (e.g., one liter). The components of the liquid mineral concentrate can be of one mineral type, or the components can be of more than one mineral type. The mineral components of the liquid mineral concentrate can contain several mineral types, such as two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, fifteen, or twenty different mineral types. The liquid mineral concentrate can have any concentration, provided that the concentration of the liquid mineral concentrate allows the liquid mineral concentrate to be used in the system or method described herein. Consistent with what has been previously discussed, the liquid mineral concentrate contains minerals. Furthermore, "minerals" in liquid mineral concentrate should be understood as elements, ions, and compounds that can be contained in a stream of water, such as at least calcium, magnesium, boron, chloride, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphate, rubidium, selenium, silicon, sodium, vanadium, and zinc. The liquid mineral concentrate may contain other elements, compounds, or ions not listed above. The liquid mineral concentrate may contain elements that contribute to one or more of the following: the preservation of the concentrate, the flavor of the concentrate, the color of the concentrate, the viscosity of the concentrate, or any other physical or chemical property of the liquid mineral concentrate.

[0014] Water streams whose mineralization is actively affected may have already undergone treatment or purification processes before their mineralization is actively affected. An embodiment of the invention, according to a first aspect, provides a system as described herein, further comprising a water purifier disposed upstream of the faucet, the water purifier being configured to purify the water stream. However, in principle, the water stream used may also not have undergone treatment or purification processes and may be natural water that does not contain sufficient mineralization to be beneficial to the user's health. Nevertheless, the invention disclosed herein can be used with any water purification system and can also be used with future enhanced versions of commercially available water purifiers. This embodiment is advantageous because water purifiers or water treatment systems are important for delivering drinking water streams from sources containing non-potable water, such as seawater, lakes, or contaminated wells. An example of a water purification system that can be used with the invention is a reverse osmosis (RO) based system.

[0015] According to another embodiment, a system as described herein is provided, wherein the water purifier is configured to purify the water stream via reverse osmosis (RO). RO is a conventionally known water treatment method for removing salt from seawater, and is also used to purify drinking water by forcing untreated water molecules through a semi-permeable filtration membrane. The filtration membrane blocks contaminants and subsequently removes impurities from the environment. RO is a process in which weaker salt solutions tend to migrate to stronger salt solutions; that is, solutions with lower concentrations have a natural tendency to migrate to solutions with higher concentrations. Reverse osmosis occurs when a solution moves against a concentration gradient from lower to higher concentrations through a filtration membrane. This embodiment is advantageous because water treatment using RO can have a variety of benefits, including the availability of pure, clean drinking water and the removal of undesirable odors or tastes. Other types of water treatment systems can be used in conjunction with this invention. The ultimate goal of a water treatment system used with this invention can be to produce and deliver drinking water. However, water can also be treated for certain other purposes, including medical applications, pharmaceutical applications, chemical applications, industrial applications, or any commercial applications.

[0016] In another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a system as described herein is provided, wherein the water purifier is arranged downstream of a water source and upstream of the at least one metering pump. This embodiment is advantageous because positioning the water purifier downstream of the water source and upstream of at least one metering pump provides the user with the possibility of actively influencing the mineralization state of multiple “types” of water flow. Multiple “types” means that the water contained in the flow can be unpurified water directly from the water source, having the same mineralization state and the same purification state as the water source itself. This also means that the water contained in the flow can be purified water originating from the water source but having been guided through a piping system to the water purifier located downstream of the water source and upstream of at least one metering pump. When compared to water originating from the water source, this flow guided through the water purifier will have a different purification state and potentially a different mineralization state. Another advantage of this embodiment lies in itself, as the system allows for active influence on the mineralization state of either type of purified or unpurified water flow, depending on how the system is configured. This provides the user of the system with great flexibility and precise control over the mineralization state of both purified and unpurified water flows.

[0017] The systems and methods according to the first and second aspects of the present invention relate to a purification state. Here, "purification state" means whether water has passed through a water purifier or water treatment system. If water has passed through a water purifier or water treatment system, the water can be considered to have a specific purification state; if water has not passed through a water purifier or water treatment system, the water can be considered to have a different purification state.

[0018] The systems and methods according to the first and second aspects of the invention relate to purifying water streams. Here, "purifying water stream" means water streams that have passed through a water purifier or water treatment system in order to clean, rinse, or treat the water in a manner that makes it potable or usable for certain purposes (including, for example, medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, industrial, or any commercial application).

[0019] The systems and methods according to the first and second aspects of the invention further relate to unpurified water streams. Here, "unpurified water stream" means water streams from a water source that have not been purified or treated by a water purifier, making the water potable or usable for certain purposes (including, for example, medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, industrial, or any commercial applications).

[0020] According to yet another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a system as described herein is provided, further comprising a user interface configured to activate a metering pump and introduce a liquid mineral concentrate into a water flow. An advantage of this embodiment is that the user interface provides means for communication between the system and the user. Information that can be transmitted to the user via the user interface can be communication related to the use of the system. Such information can be warnings, reminders, prompts, instructions, etc. Furthermore, the user interface provides the user with means to interact with the system. Information that can be transmitted to the control unit via the user interface can be information related to the use of the system. Such information can be instructions from the user, selections from the user, commands from the user, etc. For example, the user interface can be configured to present the user with a way to select what type of water flow (e.g., purified or unpurified water flow) they wish to receive from the tap. Furthermore, the user interface can also, or alternatively, be configured to present the user with a way to influence the mineralization state of the water flow to be received from the tap. This can be achieved by configuring the user interface according to the embodiments described above. This allows the user to actively influence the mineralization state of the water flow through commands, requests, or selections via the user interface. This allows users to select the type of water flow they wish to receive from the faucet (e.g., a flow with active mineralization or a flow without active mineralization). The user interface does not require a cable connection to the control unit, metering pump, or system. Therefore, the user interface can be placed on the sink or affixed to a wall or other surface for easy user access.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a system as described herein is provided, wherein the control unit is further configured to control a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate to be introduced into the water stream by the metering pump based on user input via a user interface. This embodiment is advantageous because the user can actively control the predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate introduced into the water stream via the user interface, and wherein the water stream is delivered comprising various mineralization states. In other words, via the user interface, the user can select to increase or decrease the predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate to be introduced into the water stream by the metering pump. This possibility available to the user due to the inventive design of the system has several advantages over the prior art. For example, prior art passive mineral filters cannot deliver a variable dose of minerals upon user request. Prior art passive mineral filters deliver a specific dose of minerals of one type or one component at a specific dose unaffected by the user. Furthermore, filters are inherently characterized by wear over time, wherein the fluctuating dose of minerals delivered to the water stream steadily declines with use until the mineral filter is depleted. At the end of the filter's life, the water stream mineralized by the passive mineral filter will have a different mineral dose than the water stream mineralized by the mineral filter at the beginning of the filter's life. This leads to uncertainty regarding the actual mineralization state of the water delivered to the user. Furthermore, this system has several advantages over existing methods of mineralizing water by the user manually adding droplets of liquid mineral concentrate from a pipette or pouring the liquid mineral concentrate into a glass or flask containing water. Manually adding droplets or a fixed volume of liquid mineral concentrate is a method that results in highly variable outcomes. The mineralization state of the water is not entirely known because the user may apply droplets of liquid mineral concentrate of different sizes to the water, depending on how they manipulate the pipette or how the user measures the liquid mineral concentrate and adds it to the glass or flask containing water. Moreover, this method is neither efficient nor user-friendly, as it is time-consuming and requires user flexibility and focus. This existing method is cumbersome and does not allow the user to participate in other activities while the mineralization state of the water flow is being affected. The current embodiment is advantageous because it allows the user to participate in other activities while being provided with mineralized water, which may be advantageous in restaurant, industrial, or commercial environments. Furthermore, the current embodiment is also advantageous because it eliminates any manual measurement and application steps by the user and integrates these steps into the system. This further enables the system to be used by people whose physical flexibility is impaired due to physical disability, age, and / or other physical or mental changes that prevent them from operating pipettes or measuring small droplets into glass or flask containing water.Furthermore, as previously explained, the user interface can be configured to present the user with the option to select which type of water flow they wish to receive from the faucet (e.g., a flow with an actively affected mineralization state or a flow with no actively affected mineralization state). This embodiment is advantageous because it provides the user with additional possibilities for customizing the water flow delivered to the faucet.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a system as described herein is provided, further comprising a measuring element configured to measure the volume of water delivered to the user by the faucet. The measuring element measures the volume of water delivered to the user through the faucet and may be, for example, a flow meter. Thus, the flow meter can measure the volume of water flowing through the faucet per unit time. The measuring element may be arranged upstream of a metering pump such that the water flow is measured before a liquid mineral concentrate is added to the water flow. An advantage of this embodiment is that the measuring element is connected to a control unit, allowing the control unit to receive information about the flow rate of the water. The system is configured to accurately track the water flow rate and the volume of water therein.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a system as described herein is provided, wherein the control unit is further configured to inform the user of the mineralization state of the water flow, at least based on information from a measuring element. An advantage of this embodiment is that the current mineralization state of the water flow can be informed to the user when the tap is turned on and water is supplied. It can be advantageous for the user to know the type of water being supplied through the tap. For example, if the user is using the system and tap to extract water, the user can turn on the tap and allow water to flow from it for a certain time interval to perform a desired action while the water is flowing from the tap. For example, filling a container with the desired amount of water, washing dishes, washing hands, etc. When the user is finished, the user turns off the tap again. Conventional types of taps typically have some type of backflow retention, meaning that residual water will remain in the pipe leading to the tap in the plumbing system due to the tap being closed. If the user chooses to extract water with a first mineralization state (e.g., water with no actively influenced mineralization state, i.e., no liquid mineral concentrate added to the water flow), the remaining water in the plumbing system will therefore have the same first mineralization state. If the user turns on the tap again, but this time chooses to draw water with a second mineralization state (e.g., water with an active mineralization state, i.e., water for which a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate has been added) via the user interface, the system will not be able to immediately deliver water with the second mineralization state because the remaining water in the piping system from the previous use, which includes water in the first mineralization state, must first be delivered through the tap. To mitigate this problem, a measuring element and a user interface can be used together. The control unit controls the user interface to indicate the first mineralization state of the water flow. The control unit further calculates, based on information from the measuring element, when the volume of water that has flowed through the tap equals the fixed volume of the pipe between the measuring element and the tap. When the desired volume of water has flowed through the tap, the control unit controls the user interface to instruct the tap to deliver water with the second mineralization state, i.e., water for which a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate has been added. Thus, the remaining water in the piping system has flowed through the tap, and new mineralized water including the second mineralization state is delivered to the user. Therefore, there may be a time delay until the water delivered by the tap contains only water with the desired second mineralization state. Therefore, the control unit can be configured to inform the user via a user interface when the time delay has elapsed, i.e. when the water flow includes only water in the desired second mineralization state.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a system as described herein is provided, wherein the control unit is further configured to inform the user of the purification status of the water flow, at least based on information from a measuring element. This embodiment is advantageous in the same manner as the previous embodiments, but wherein the user is informed of the purification status of the delivered water flow. It may be advantageous for the user to know the type of water being delivered through the tap.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a system as described herein is provided, wherein the user interface further includes an indicator for informing the user that the mineralization state of the water flow has been adjusted. An advantage of this embodiment is that the user interface can inform the user when water flow, including the desired mineralization state, is delivered to the user through a faucet. The user can be informed in any conventional manner; the user interface may, for example, change color, emit an sound to audibly alert the user, inform the user via a physical alarm (e.g., vibration), or display messages, images, or infographics that can be viewed by the user.

[0026] According to another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a system as described herein is provided, wherein a liquid mineral concentrate is stored in at least one container, and wherein a control unit is further configured to notify the user via a user interface when the at least one container needs to be refilled. This embodiment is advantageous because the user can be notified when the at least one container containing the liquid mineral concentrate is nearly empty and needs to be refilled. This information simplifies system repair and maintenance. In another example, the at least one container is a plurality of containers, such as two, three, four, five, ten, or twenty containers. In another example, the liquid mineral concentrate stored in the plurality of containers is the same liquid mineral concentrate. In yet another example, the liquid mineral concentrate stored in the plurality of containers is a different mineral concentrate, such as different components and / or different concentrations. In this way, the user can not only set a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate via the user interface, but also select between different liquid mineral concentrates. This is advantageous in applications where different users may expect different combinations of minerals, for example for personal health reasons or preferences, or for example in gyms, restaurants, bars, or other public places.

[0027] According to an embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, a method as described herein is provided, the method further comprising a step after step a. and before step b., the step comprising a1. purifying the water stream by reverse osmosis. This embodiment is advantageous because water treatment using RO can have a variety of benefits, including obtaining pure, clean drinking water and removing undesirable odors or tastes. Other types of water treatment systems can be used with the invention. The advantages of this embodiment are the same as those described with respect to the related embodiments of the first aspect, and therefore will not be repeated in detail.

[0028] According to another embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, a method as described herein is provided, the method further comprising the step of: e. receiving user input via a user interface, wherein the user input includes information about a predetermined dosage. This embodiment is advantageous because the user can actively control the predetermined dosage of the liquid mineral concentrate introduced into the water stream via the user interface, and wherein the water stream being delivered comprises various mineralization states. The advantages of this embodiment are the same as those described with respect to the related embodiments of the first aspect, and therefore will not be repeated in detail.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, a method as described herein is provided, the method further comprising the steps of: f. measuring the volume of water flowing through the faucet to the user, and g. informing the user of the mineralization state of the water flow via a user interface. An advantage of this embodiment is that the current mineralization state of the water flow can be communicated to the user when the faucet is turned on and water is delivered to the user. It can be advantageous for the user to know the type of water being delivered through the faucet. The advantages of this embodiment are the same as those described in the related embodiments of the first aspect, and therefore will not be repeated in detail. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the following figures:

[0031] Figure 1 A system for conveying mineralized water according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is schematically illustrated;

[0032] Figure 2 A detailed view of a metering pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is schematically illustrated.

[0033] Figure 3 A user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is schematically illustrated;

[0034] Figure 4 A method for adjusting the mineralization state of water flow according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0035] As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the sizes of elements and areas may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes and are therefore provided to illustrate the overall structure of the embodiments. Throughout the text, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements.

[0036] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments are illustrated. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to achieve thoroughness and completeness and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0037] refer to Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a system 100 for delivering mineralized water according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. System 100 includes a tap 110 configured to deliver a flow 150 of water from a water source 120 to a user (not shown). System 100 further includes a metering pump 130 upstream of tap 110, configured to introduce a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140 into the water flow 150 delivered to tap 110. The predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140 affects the mineralization state of the water flow 150. Further, system 100 includes a control unit 160 configured to control the metering pump 130 to regulate the mineralization state of the water flow 150.

[0038] Water source 120 is delivered to tap 110 via piping system 115. Piping system 115 and tap 110 can be of conventional type, as found in kitchens, restaurants, bars, gyms, school buildings, etc. Water flow 150 flows from water source 120, which is the upstream component, to tap 110, which is the downstream component of system 100. Therefore, water flow 150 in... Figure 1 The direction of the arrow being depicted is flowing.

[0039] Metering pump 130 is connected to liquid mineral concentrate 140, which is contained in container 200. Therefore, the metering pump is connected to container 200 containing liquid mineral concentrate 140. Metering pump 130 can draw liquid mineral concentrate 140 from container 200 through a tube (not shown) or the like. This tube can extend from metering pump 130 into the interior of container 200, where it is inserted into liquid mineral concentrate 140. Thus, metering pump 130 can draw a certain amount of liquid mineral concentrate 140 through the tube and draw it into metering pump 130. Metering pump 130 can be driven by a drive unit (e.g., a motor) that can both draw liquid mineral concentrate 140 from container 200 into metering pump 130 and pump liquid mineral concentrate 140 from metering pump 130 into water flow 150. By controlling the drive unit of metering pump 130, the amount of liquid mineral concentrate 140 drawn from container 200 can be controlled. Metering pump 130 is controlled by control unit 160, which determines a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140 and transmits this information to metering pump 130, which delivers the predetermined dose to water flow 150. The predetermined dose can be defined as achieving a certain dose of mineral concentrate in a defined volume of water (e.g., one liter). Since water flow 150 can flow continuously through piping system 115, metering pump 130 can deliver the predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140 at intervals. For example, depending on water flow rate, the selected predetermined dose, the size of tap 110, etc., the predetermined dose can be delivered to water flow 150 every 20 seconds, every minute, every 5 seconds, or similarly. The predetermined dose is delivered to water flow 150 through a connection between piping system 115 and metering pump 130. This connection can be a pipe or tube integrated into piping system 115, such as… Figure 1 As shown. The metering pump 130, together with the container 200 and the liquid mineral concentrate 140, is a separate module that can be added to an existing tap 110 or to a piping system 115 connected to a water source 120.

[0040] Metering pump 130 can be connected to control unit 160 via a cable (not shown). Metering pump 130 can also be connected to control unit 160 via a wireless device (e.g., via Bluetooth). When the liquid mineral concentrate 140 contained in container 200 is nearly empty, metering pump 130 can notify control unit 160.

[0041] Furthermore, the control unit 160 is connected to the user interface 180. The user interface 180 can be connected to the control unit 160 via a cable or via a wireless device (e.g., via Bluetooth). The user interface 180 is configured to receive user input from the user to change the mineralization state of the water flow 150 delivered by the faucet 110. The user can choose to start delivering the mineralized water flow 150, stop delivering the mineralized water flow, or change a predetermined dose of the liquid mineral concentrate 140. The user input information is transmitted to the control unit 160, which controls the metering pump 130 to deliver a predetermined dose of the liquid mineral concentrate 140 to the water flow 150, stop delivering a predetermined dose of the liquid mineral concentrate 140 to the water flow 150, or change the predetermined dose delivered to the water flow 150. Thus, the user can set the predetermined dose to be delivered in the water flow 150 via the user interface 180. The control unit 160 is further configured to inform the user about the mineralization state of the water flow 150, for example, via an indicator (not shown). Furthermore, the control unit 160 is configured to inform the user via the user interface 180 when the container 200 containing the liquid mineral concentrate 140 is nearly empty. This is advantageous because it allows the user to replace or refill the liquid mineral concentrate 140 in the container 200 before it is depleted.

[0042] System 100 further includes a water purifier 170 located upstream of faucet 110 and metering pump 130 in the direction of water flow 150. The water purifier 170 purifies water flow 150 via reverse osmosis. The water purifier 170 can be connected or disconnected. When the water purifier 170 is connected, all water flowing from water source 120 to faucet 110 is directed through the water purifier 170, where it is purified, and then flows downstream of piping system 115 to faucet 110 and is delivered to the user (not shown). When the water purifier 170 is disconnected, water from water source 120 is directed through piping system 115 to faucet 110 without flowing through the water purifier 170. The connection / disconnection of the water purifier can be controlled by control unit 160. User interface 180 can inform the user of the purification status of water flow 150, i.e., whether the water delivered by faucet 110 has been purified, via information from control unit 160. The control unit 160 can control the connection / disconnection of the water purifier 170 via user input from the user interface 180. The user can select whether the water flow 150 should be purified via the user interface 180. This is done by the user indicating via the user interface 180 that purified water is desired, thereby the control unit 160 controls the water purifier 170 to connect to the water flow 150. Conversely, the user can indicate via the user interface 180 that purified water flow 150 should not be extracted, thereby the control unit 160 controls the water purifier to disconnect from the water flow 150. The user can also indicate via the user interface 180 that both purified and mineralized water flow 150 is desired. The user can also indicate via the user interface 180 that purified but unmineralized water flow 150 is desired, or unpurified but mineralized water, etc.

[0043] The water purifier 170 can be part of the system 100, or it can be a separate module that can be removed from the system 100. The purified water can be further delivered from outside the system 100 and from any type of water purification system.

[0044] System 100 further includes a measuring element 190 arranged upstream of faucet 110 and metering pump 130 along water flow 150. Further, measuring element 190 is arranged downstream of water purifier 170. Measuring element 190 measures the volume of water delivered to the user (not shown) through faucet 110 by measuring the water flow 150 from water source 120 and / or water purifier 170 in the pipe system 115. Measuring element 190 may be a flow meter. Thus, the flow meter can measure the volume of water flowing through pipe system 115 per unit time and ultimately through faucet 110. Measuring element 190 is connected to control unit 160, such that control unit 160 receives information about the flow rate of water flow 150. Control unit 160 can calculate the volume of water based on the flow rate value from measuring element 190. Measuring element 190 may be arranged upstream of faucet 110 and metering pump 130, where the volume of the pipe leading from measuring element 190 to faucet 110 is known. The control unit 160 can know this fixed volume. Therefore, the control unit 160 can compare the volume of water flowing through the measuring element 190 with the known fixed volume. This is advantageous in applications where the user wants to alternate between mineralized and demineralized water. For example, if the user is using system 100 and faucet 110 to take water, the user can turn on faucet 110 and let water flow from faucet 110 for a certain time interval to perform a desired action while the water is flowing from faucet 110. For example, filling a container with the desired amount of water, washing dishes, washing hands, etc. When the user is finished, the user turns off faucet 110 again. Conventional types of faucets 110 typically have some type of backflow retention, meaning that because faucet 110 is closed, there will be residual water in the pipe leading to faucet 110 in the plumbing system 115. If the user chooses to take demineralized water, the residual water in plumbing system 115 will therefore be demineralized. If the user turns on tap 110 again, but this time selects to dispense mineralized water via user interface 180, system 100 will not be able to immediately deliver mineralized water because the remaining water from the previous use in pipe system 115 must first be delivered through tap 110. To mitigate this problem, measuring element 190 and user interface 180 can be used together. Control unit 160 controls user interface 180 to indicate the mineralization state of water flow 150. Control unit 160 further calculates, based on information from measuring element 190, when the volume of water that has flowed through tap 110 equals the fixed volume of the pipe between measuring element 190 and tap 110. When the desired volume of water has flowed through tap 110, control unit 160 controls user interface 180 to instruct tap 110 to deliver mineralized water. Thus, the remaining water in pipe system 115 has flowed through the tap, and new mineralized water is delivered to the user. Therefore, there may be a time delay until the water flow 150 delivered by tap 110 contains only water with the desired mineralization state.Therefore, the control unit 160 can be configured to inform the user via the user interface 180 when the time delay has elapsed, i.e., when the water flow 150 consists only of water in the desired mineralization state. In cases where the faucet 110 is connected to an additional pipe or conduit, such as leading to a coffee maker or a device for delivering juice (not shown), the control unit 160 can be configured to calculate an additional time delay when a certain volume of water flows not only through the faucet but also through an additional pipe or conduit leading to its open end to deliver the beverage to the user.

[0045] Measuring element 190 can be further used to determine the dosage of liquid mineral concentrate 140 to be delivered by metering pump 130. If the user determines a predetermined dosage of liquid mineral concentrate 140 via user interface 180, control unit 160 can use the information from measuring element 190 to determine the amount of liquid mineral concentrate 140 required to be added to water flow 150 to achieve the predetermined dosage of liquid mineral concentrate 140 in the water delivered to the user. As mentioned, the predetermined dosage can be defined as a dosage to achieve a certain mineral concentration in a defined volume of water (e.g., one liter). To achieve this concentration, control unit 160 can therefore use the information from measuring element 190 regarding the volume of water flow to further control the amount of liquid mineral concentrate 140 delivered by metering pump 130 corresponding to the desired liquid mineral concentration per defined volume of water.

[0046] refer to Figure 2 , showed Figure 1 The view shown in the dashed box marked 'A' schematically illustrates an alternative metering pump 130 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The metering pump 130 may be connected to multiple containers 201, 202, 203 containing liquid mineral concentrates 141, 142, 143. Containers 201, 202, 203 may contain the same liquid mineral concentrates 141, 142, 143. Containers 201, 202, 203 may further contain different types of liquid mineral concentrates 141, 142, 143. In this way, a user can not only set a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140 via user interface 180, but also select between different liquid mineral concentrates 141, 142, 143. This is advantageous in applications where different users may expect different combinations of minerals, such as for personal health reasons or preferences, or for example in gyms, restaurants, bars, or other public places. Metering pump 130 may be a single metering pump driving all liquid mineral concentrates 141, 142, and 143. Metering pump 130 may also be three separate metering pumps (not shown), one for each liquid mineral concentrate 141, 142, and 143.

[0047] refer to Figure 3 The figure illustrates an example user interface 180 according to this disclosure. The user interface 180 may have a button 181, as shown in this figure, which a user can press to select between different options, as discussed above. Further, the button 181 may be rotatable, allowing a user to rotate the button 181 to increase or decrease a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140. The user interface 180 may further include an indicator 182 for instructing the user. For example, the indicator 182 shown in this figure is a lamp. The lamp 181 may be configured to change color, light intensity, or flash or pulse at different time intervals depending on the selected setting. For example, the lamp 181 may be one color when indicating that the water flow 150 is in a first mineralization state (e.g., mineralized), and another color when indicating that the water flow 150 is in a second mineralization state (e.g., unmineralized). The lamp 181 may have a separate color and / or lighting scheme (e.g., flashing or pulsed at different time intervals) for indicating whether the water is purified, and another separate color and / or lighting scheme for indicating that the water is not purified. Furthermore, if the container 200 containing the liquid mineral concentrate 140 needs to be replaced or refilled, the light 181 may flash, pulse, or change color. Further, the light 181 may flash, pulse, or change color during a time delay in the following situations: when the user has selected a water flow with a second mineralization state (e.g., mineralized water) and the faucet 110 is delivering a water flow 150 including a water flow with a first mineralization state (e.g., unmineralized water); and, for example, when there is residual water in the pipes after a previous use. Even further, if the water is both purified and has a certain mineralization state (e.g., mineralized), the light 181 may have a separate color and / or lighting scheme for this setting (e.g., flashing or pulsed at different time intervals). In addition to the light 181, the user interface 180 may also include other indicating devices. For example, the user interface 180 may include a display showing the currently selected predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140, or a message informing the user of the water's mineralization state and / or purification state. As previously mentioned, the user interface 180 may have a wireless connection to the control unit 160. This means that the user interface 180 can be placed close to the faucet 110, for example, on a kitchen countertop next to the faucet 110. Since most conventional faucets 110 are typically mounted above cabinets or the like, where only the faucet 110 is visible to the user, and the plumbing system 115, metering pump 130, and water purifier 170 can be installed under the sink in the cabinet, it is advantageous to place the user interface 180 close to the faucet 110, as the user does not have to enter the cabinet to find the user interface 180.

[0048] refer to Figure 4The figure illustrates a method 300 for mineralizing water according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 300 shown in this figure can be, for example, by... Figure 1 The system 100 shown is executed. In step S1, water flow 150 is received from water source 120. In step S1a, water flow 150 is purified, for example, by passing through water purifier 170 and by reverse osmosis. In step S1b, user input is received via user interface 180, which includes information about a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140. Therefore, the user input can be a setting of a predetermined dose. In step S1c, the volume of water flow 150 flowing through faucet 110 is measured, for example, by measuring element 190. In step S2, metering pump 130 is controlled, for example, by control unit 160, to add a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate 140 to water flow 150. In step S3, water flow 150 including the added amount of liquid mineral concentrate 140 (i.e., mineralized water) is delivered to faucet 110. In step S4, mineralized water is delivered from faucet 110 to the user. In step S4a, the user is informed of the mineralization status of the delivered water flow 150 via the user interface 180.

Claims

1. A system (100) configured to deliver mineralized water, the system comprising: A tap (110) configured to deliver water from a water source (120) to a user; At least one metering pump (130) is located upstream of the tap (110) and configured to introduce a liquid mineral concentrate (140) into the water flow (150) to the tap (110), and A control unit, which is arranged to control the metering pump, wherein, The at least one metering pump (130) is configured to introduce a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate (140) into the water stream (150), and wherein, The mineralization state of the water flow (150) is actively influenced by a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate (140) introduced into the water flow (150) by the at least one metering pump (130), and the control unit (160) is configured to control the metering pump (130) to regulate the mineralization state of the water flow (150).

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a water purifier (170) disposed upstream of the tap (110), the water purifier being configured to purify the water flow (150).

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein, The water purifier (170) is configured to purify the water flow (150) by reverse osmosis.

4. The system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The water purifier (170) is located downstream of the water source (120) and upstream of the at least one metering pump (130).

5. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a user interface (180) configured to enable the metering pump and introduce the liquid mineral concentrate into the water flow.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein, The control unit (160) is further configured to control a predetermined dose of the liquid mineral concentrate (140) to be introduced into the water flow (150) by the metering pump (130) based on user input via the user interface (180).

7. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a measuring element (190) configured to measure the volume of water delivered to the user by the faucet (110).

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein, The control unit is further configured to inform the user of the mineralization state of the water flow (150) via the user interface (180) based at least on information from the measuring element (190).

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein, The control unit (160) is further configured to inform the user of the purification status of the water flow (150) via the user interface (180) based at least on information from the measuring element (190).

10. The system according to claim 5, wherein, The user interface (180) further includes an indicator for informing the user that the mineralization state of the water flow (150) has been adjusted.

11. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The liquid mineral concentrate (140) is stored in at least one container (200), and wherein the control unit (160) is further configured to notify the user via the user interface (180) when the at least one container needs to be refilled.

12. A method (300) for adjusting the mineralization state of water flow (150) using the system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising the steps of: a. Receive (S1) water flow (150) from water source (120), and, b. Control (S2) metering pump (130) to add a predetermined dose of liquid mineral concentrate (140) to the water stream (150), thereby actively influencing the mineralization state of the water stream. c. The water flow (150) with active mineralization state is transported (S3) to the tap (110), and d. The water flow (150) with active mineralization is delivered (S4) from the tap (110) to the user.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step after step a and before step b, the step comprising... a1. Purify the water flow (150) by reverse osmosis (S1a).

14. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 13, further comprising the following steps: e. Receive (S1b) user input via user interface (180), wherein the user input includes information about the predetermined dose.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising the following steps: f. Measure (S1c) the volume of water flowing through the faucet (110) to the user (150), and g. Inform the user (S4a) of the mineralization state of the water flow via the user interface (180).

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