Composite filter element and water purifier

Abstract

The composite filter element comprises a shell, a first cavity and a second cavity are formed in the shell, a channel communicated with the two cavities is formed in the shell, at least one filter element is arranged in each of the first cavity and the second cavity, a water inlet and a first water outlet which are communicated with the first cavity are formed in the shell, and a water outlet and a second water outlet which are communicated with the second cavity are formed in the shell. The first water outlet and the second water outlet are communicated with the first chamber, the second water outlet and the third water outlet are communicated with the second chamber, the first water outlet is used for discharging wastewater in the first chamber, the second water outlet is used for discharging wastewater in the second chamber, and the third water outlet is used for discharging filtered purified water. The composite filter element is simple in structure, multi-stage filtration can be achieved, impurities are prevented from being accumulated in the filter element, the service life is prolonged, and the use cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of water purifier components, and in particular to a composite filter element and a water purifier. Background Technology

[0002] In the current field of filtration technology, composite filter cartridges are widely used in many industries, such as drinking water purification. However, existing composite filter cartridges have a series of problems that urgently need to be solved.

[0003] First, its structure is quite complex. To achieve different levels of filtration, multiple different types of filter elements are often required. While simply stacking multiple filter elements improves the filtration effect to some extent, it also increases the overall length and volume of the composite filter element, increasing production difficulty and cost. Furthermore, during transportation, excessively long filter elements not only occupy more transport space but are also more susceptible to damage during handling due to collisions, significantly increasing transportation costs and risks.

[0004] Furthermore, with continuous use, contaminants accumulate inside the filter element. To ensure filtration effectiveness, the filter element needs to be replaced regularly. Frequent replacement not only consumes manpower and resources, but also incurs high costs for new filter elements, undoubtedly placing a significant financial burden on users. In summary, existing composite filter elements have numerous shortcomings in terms of structural design, production and transportation, and operating costs, urgently requiring improvement and innovation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to overcome the defects in the prior art, this utility model provides a composite filter element and a water purifier. The composite filter element has a simple structure, can achieve multi-stage filtration, avoids the accumulation of impurities in the filter element, extends service life, and reduces usage costs.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect, a composite filter element includes a housing, the housing having a first chamber and a second chamber, the housing having a channel connecting the two chambers, at least one filter element being disposed in each of the first and second chambers, the housing having an inlet and a first outlet communicating with the first chamber, and a second outlet and a third outlet communicating with the second chamber, wherein the first outlet is used to discharge wastewater from the first chamber, the second outlet is used to discharge wastewater from the second chamber, and the third outlet is used to discharge filtered clean water.

[0008] By configuring multiple chambers, each containing at least one filter element, a multi-stage filtration system is constructed, with each chamber equipped with a separate outlet. This achieves deep water purification, ensuring the quality of the final output purified water. Furthermore, wastewater of varying degrees can be discharged separately from the outlets of their respective chambers, preventing the accumulation of impurities in the chambers and on the filter elements. This not only improves water resource utilization but also significantly extends the lifespan of the filter elements, reduces replacement frequency, and effectively lowers operating costs.

[0009] Preferably, the first and second chambers are arranged along the width of the outer casing. This layout improves the compactness of the overall device structure and enhances its integration. From a production and transportation perspective, compared to arranging them along the length, it avoids the problem of an excessively long device, reduces the manufacturing difficulty of the outer casing, and facilitates transportation, reducing inconvenience and potential risks during transport. Furthermore, considering that the raw water inlet and purified water outlet of a water purifier are usually located on the same side of the machine body, arranging the chambers along the width eliminates the need to design complex flow channel structures to accommodate the arrangement of the inlet and outlet, thus reducing the complexity of the overall design and manufacturing.

[0010] More preferably, the first chamber is divided into a first region and a second region along the axial direction. A first filter element is provided in the first region, and a second filter element is provided in the second region. The first region and the second region are connected through a through hole on the second filter element.

[0011] The first chamber is divided into different zones, each containing a different filter cartridge, allowing the water to be treated in stages within the cartridges. Different cartridges target different impurities in the water, achieving multi-layered filtration and resulting in cleaner water.

[0012] Preferably, the first filter element is an ultrafiltration membrane module, the ultrafiltration membrane module is columnar, the inner side of the ultrafiltration membrane module is provided with a first flow channel communicating with the first water outlet, the outer side of the ultrafiltration membrane module forms a second flow channel between the outer side and the outer shell, and the second flow channel is connected to the through hole.

[0013] The ultrafiltration membrane module can be cylindrical, including a first cover plate, a first base plate, a tube disposed between the two, and multiple ultrafiltration membrane columns tightly arranged around the tube. The first base plate has a cavity inside, which is connected to a first flow channel inside the tube. The ultrafiltration membrane column is a hollow structure with openings at both ends; one end penetrates the first cover plate and is connected to the inlet, and the other end extends to be connected to the cavity inside the base plate. When raw water enters the composite filter element from the inlet, it flows directly into the ultrafiltration membrane column and flows along the axial direction of the ultrafiltration membrane column. During this process, water that meets the filtration conditions penetrates the ultrafiltration membrane column and enters the second flow channel; water that fails to penetrate the ultrafiltration membrane column flows into the cavity of the base plate, then into the first flow channel inside the tube, and finally flows out from the first outlet.

[0014] Using an ultrafiltration membrane as the first filter element ensures high filtration precision, effectively removing large molecules, colloids, bacteria, and other impurities from the water, guaranteeing the quality of the output water. Furthermore, ultrafiltration membrane modules typically possess good chemical stability and corrosion resistance, adapting to various water quality conditions and offering a long service life.

[0015] The first outlet can also be used as an inlet. When the first outlet is used as an inlet, the original inlet becomes an outlet. At this time, activating the backwash function allows water to enter through the first outlet, flowing in the opposite direction to normal filtration, thus backwashing the ultrafiltration membrane column. During backwashing, the counter-current water flow washes away impurities adhering to the ultrafiltration membrane column, cleaning it. The wastewater carrying impurities flows out through the original inlet, ensuring the filtration performance of the ultrafiltration membrane column is restored and maintained, extending its service life, and ensuring stable operation and water purification of the composite filter element.

[0016] The second filter element is an activated carbon component, which is columnar in shape. A third flow channel is formed on the inner side of the activated carbon component, and the third flow channel is connected to the through hole. A fourth flow channel is formed between the outer side of the activated carbon component and the outer shell, and the fourth flow channel is connected to the channel.

[0017] Specifically, the activated carbon assembly includes a second cover plate, a second base plate, and an activated carbon column disposed between the second cover plate and the second base plate. The second cover plate has a through hole, and a sealing ring is provided around its periphery to seal against the inner wall of the outer shell, thereby dividing the first region from the second region. The activated carbon column has a third flow channel in the middle that communicates with the through hole on the cover plate, and the bottom end of the activated carbon column is closed by the second base plate. A fourth flow channel is formed between the outer side of the activated carbon column and the outer shell, and the fourth flow channel communicates with a channel on the outer shell. When water flowing out of the ultrafiltration membrane column flows from the second flow channel through the through hole into the third flow channel within the activated carbon column, it must penetrate the activated carbon column to enter the fourth flow channel, thus requiring the water to be filtered by the activated carbon column before continuing to flow forward. The activated carbon column can be cylindrical.

[0018] Activated carbon is selected as the second filter element because it has a strong adsorption capacity, can adsorb a variety of pollutants in water, has good chemical stability, can withstand certain changes in pH, and the raw materials are widely available and low in cost.

[0019] Preferably, a reverse osmosis membrane module is provided in the second chamber. The reverse osmosis membrane module is columnar, and a fifth flow channel is formed between the outer side of the reverse osmosis membrane module and the outer shell. One end of the fifth flow channel is connected to the channel, and the other end is connected to the second outlet. A sixth flow channel is formed on the inner side of the reverse osmosis membrane module, which is connected to the third outlet.

[0020] Specifically, the reverse osmosis membrane module includes a fixture and a reverse osmosis membrane column mounted on the fixture. A fifth flow channel is formed between the outer side of the reverse osmosis membrane column and the outer shell. One end of the fifth flow channel is connected to a channel, and the other end is connected to a second outlet. A sixth flow channel is formed on the inner side of the reverse osmosis membrane column, which is connected to a third outlet. When water flows from the first chamber into the second chamber through the channel, water that meets the filtration criteria permeates the reverse osmosis membrane column, enters the sixth flow channel, and is discharged from the third outlet; water that fails to permeate the reverse osmosis membrane column flows out of the second chamber from the second outlet in the fifth flow channel. The reverse osmosis membrane column can be cylindrical.

[0021] Using a reverse osmosis membrane as the third filter element, it has a high desalination rate and can effectively remove impurities such as salt, bacteria, and viruses from the water. It does not require the addition of chemical agents and is environmentally friendly and energy-saving.

[0022] Similarly, the third outlet can also serve as an inlet, connecting to an external water source or a specific flushing device to introduce water with a certain pressure and flow rate to backwash the reverse osmosis membrane, washing away pollutants and impurities retained on the surface of the reverse osmosis membrane, thereby restoring the filtration performance of the reverse osmosis membrane, ensuring its long-term and efficient operation, effectively extending the service life of the reverse osmosis membrane, and ensuring the quality of purified water.

[0023] To meet the water usage needs of different scenarios, the outer casing is also equipped with a fourth water outlet, which is connected to the channel connecting the first and second chambers. The outer casing is equipped with a water flow reversing valve, which controls whether water flowing out of the first chamber enters the second chamber or flows out of the fourth water outlet. Specifically, the water flow reversing valve can be a three-way valve or a rocker valve. When high water quality is required, the water flow reversing valve can be operated to close the fourth water outlet, allowing the filtered water from the first chamber to flow into the second chamber for deep filtration, ultimately resulting in high-quality purified water flowing out of the third water outlet. In scenarios where water quality requirements are not high, the water flow reversing valve can be operated to close the entrance to the second chamber, allowing the filtered water from the first chamber to flow directly out of the fourth water outlet for use. Furthermore, when rinsing the filter element in the first chamber, the entrance to the second chamber can also be closed to prevent impurities generated during rinsing from entering the second chamber.

[0024] Preferably, the outer casing comprises a top cover, a base, and a first tube and a second tube fitted between the top cover and the base, wherein a first chamber is formed within the first tube, and a second chamber is formed within the second tube. The first tube and the second tube may be of a double-layer structure.

[0025] Secondly, a water purifier includes the aforementioned composite filter element.

[0026] Due to the application of the above technical solution, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0027] 1. By setting multiple filter elements in different chambers to construct a multi-stage filtration system, water can be deeply purified, effectively removing various impurities in the water and ensuring the quality of the final output purified water.

[0028] 2. Each chamber is equipped with an independent outlet, allowing wastewater of varying levels to be discharged separately from the corresponding chamber's outlet. This prevents impurities from accumulating in the chambers and on the filter cartridges, improving water resource utilization. When the outlet is converted to an inlet, the water flow direction is opposite to that during normal filtration. This reverse flow washes away dirt and impurities from the filter cartridge, maintaining its optimal filtration performance and extending its lifespan. This combination enhances water resource utilization and ensures stable filter cartridge operation.

[0029] 3. Impurities do not accumulate in the chamber and filter element, reducing clogging and contamination of the filter element, significantly extending its service life, reducing replacement frequency, and lowering operating costs.

[0030] 4. The first and second chambers are arranged along the width of the outer casing, improving the compactness of the overall structure and enhancing the overall integration. Compared to arranging them along the length, this avoids the problem of an excessively long device, reduces the manufacturing difficulty of the outer casing, facilitates transportation, and reduces inconvenience and potential risks during transport. Considering that the raw water inlet and purified water outlet on a water purifier are usually located on the same side of the machine body, this layout eliminates the need for complex flow channel structures to accommodate the inlet and outlet arrangement, reducing the complexity of the overall design and manufacturing.

[0031] 5. A fourth water outlet and a water flow reversing valve connected to the channel are added to the outer shell. The water flow direction can be flexibly controlled by the water flow reversing valve. This structural design is simple and reasonable and can fully meet the water use needs of diverse scenarios.

[0032] To make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the composite filter element in Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the composite filter element in Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the composite filter element in Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the base structure in Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the composite filter element in Embodiment 2 of this utility model;

[0039] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the composite filter element in Embodiment 2 of this utility model.

[0040] The reference numerals in the above figures are as follows: 1. Outer shell; 11. Top cover; 111. Inlet; 112. First outlet; 113. Second outlet; 114. Third outlet; 115. Fourth outlet; 12. Base; 121. Channel; 13. First pipe; 14. Second pipe; 2. Ultrafiltration membrane assembly; 21. First cover plate; 22. First base plate; 23. Pipe fitting; 24. Ultrafiltration membrane column; 3. Activated carbon assembly; 31. Second cover plate; 32. Second base plate; 33. Activated carbon column; 4. Reverse osmosis membrane assembly; 41. Fixing component; 42. Reverse osmosis membrane column; 5. Water flow reversing valve. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0042] Example 1: See Figures 1-4 As shown, a composite filter element includes a housing 1 and multiple filter elements disposed within the housing 1. The housing 1 includes a top cover 11, a base 12, and a first tube 13 and a second tube 14 sleeved between the two. The first tube 13 and the second tube 14 are arranged along the width direction of the top cover 11, and both are double-layered tube structures. A first chamber is formed within the first tube 13, and a second chamber is formed within the second tube 14. The two chambers are connected by a channel 121 on the base 12. The top cover 11 is provided with an inlet 111 and a first outlet 112 communicating with the first chamber, and also with a second outlet 113 and a third outlet 114 communicating with the second chamber. The first outlet 112 is used to discharge wastewater from the first chamber, the second outlet 113 is used to discharge wastewater from the second chamber, and the third outlet 114 is used to discharge filtered clean water. At least one filter element is disposed in each of the first and second chambers.

[0043] In one possible implementation, see Figure 2 , 3 As shown in the diagram, the arrows indicate the direction of water flow. The first chamber is divided into a first region and a second region along the axial direction. Different filter elements are installed in the first region and the second region to perform multi-layer filtration of the water.

[0044] In one possible implementation, an ultrafiltration membrane assembly 2, which is cylindrical, is disposed in the first region. The ultrafiltration membrane assembly 2 includes a first cover plate 21, a first base plate 22, a tubing 23, and ultrafiltration membrane columns 24 tightly arranged around the tubing 23. The ultrafiltration membrane columns 24 are open at both ends; one end is connected to an inlet 111, and the other end communicates with a first flow channel through a cavity in the base plate. The first outlet 112 can also serve as an inlet 111 for backwashing the ultrafiltration membrane columns 24.

[0045] In the ultrafiltration membrane module 2, a first flow channel is formed inside the tube 23. A second flow channel is formed between the outer side of the ultrafiltration membrane column 24 and the inner wall of the first tube 13. When raw water enters the composite filter element from the inlet 111, it flows directly into the interior of the ultrafiltration membrane column 24 and flows along the axial direction of the ultrafiltration membrane column 24. During this process, water that meets the filtration conditions penetrates the ultrafiltration membrane column 24 and enters the second flow channel; water that fails to penetrate the ultrafiltration membrane column 24 flows into the cavity of the bottom plate, then enters the first flow channel inside the tube 23, and finally flows out from the first outlet.

[0046] An activated carbon assembly 3, which is cylindrical, is disposed in the second region. The activated carbon assembly 3 includes a second cover plate 31, a second base plate 32, and an activated carbon column 33. The second cover plate 31 has a through hole connecting the first and second regions. A sealing ring is also provided on the periphery of the second cover plate 31 to prevent water from the first region from entering the second region through parts other than the through hole. A third flow channel is formed on the inner side of the activated carbon column 33, communicating with the through hole. A fourth flow channel is formed between the outer side of the activated carbon column 33 and the inner wall of the first tube 13. The fourth flow channel is connected to the channel 121 on the base 12. The bottom of the activated carbon column 33 is sealed by the second base plate 32. When water flowing out of the ultrafiltration membrane column 24 flows into the third flow channel of the activated carbon column 33 through the through hole from the second flow channel, it must penetrate the activated carbon column 33 to enter the fourth flow channel, thus requiring the water to be filtered by the activated carbon column 33 before continuing to flow forward.

[0047] The second chamber houses a reverse osmosis membrane assembly 4, which is cylindrical. The reverse osmosis membrane assembly 4 includes a fixing member 41 and a reverse osmosis membrane column 42. A fifth flow channel is formed between the outer side of the reverse osmosis column and the inner wall of the second tube 14. A sixth flow channel is formed on the inner side of the reverse osmosis membrane column 42. One end of the fifth flow channel is connected to a channel 121 on the base 12, and the other end is connected to a second outlet 113. The sixth flow channel is connected to a third outlet 114. The third outlet 114 can also serve as an inlet 111 for backwashing the reverse osmosis membrane. When water flows from the first chamber into the second chamber through channel 121, water that meets the filtration criteria penetrates the reverse osmosis membrane column 42, enters the sixth flow channel, and is discharged from the third outlet 114; water that fails to penetrate the reverse osmosis membrane column 42 flows out of the second chamber through the second outlet 113 in the fifth flow channel. The reverse osmosis membrane column 42 can be cylindrical.

[0048] Example 2: See Figure 5 , 6 As shown, a composite filter element has a structure basically the same as that in Embodiment 1, except that: the base 12 is provided with a fourth water outlet 115, which is connected to the channel 121 in the base. The base 12 is provided with a water flow reversing valve 5, which can control the water flowing out of the first chamber to enter the second chamber or flow out from the fourth water outlet. When high water quality is required, the water flow reversing valve 5 can be operated to close the fourth water outlet 115, allowing the water filtered in the first chamber to flow into the second chamber for deep filtration, and finally, high-quality purified water flows out from the third water outlet 114. In scenarios where water quality requirements are not high, the water flow reversing valve 5 can be operated to close the entrance to the second chamber, allowing the water filtered in the first chamber to flow directly out from the fourth water outlet 115 for use. Furthermore, when rinsing the filter element in the first chamber, the entrance to the second chamber can also be closed to prevent impurities generated during rinsing from entering the second chamber.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the water flow reversing valve is a three-way valve.

[0050] In one possible implementation, the water flow reversing valve is a rocker valve.

[0051] Example 3: A water purifier, including the composite filter element of Example 1.

[0052] This utility model uses specific embodiments to illustrate the principle and implementation of the utility model. The above description of the embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core idea of ​​the utility model. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation and application scope based on the idea of ​​the utility model. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of the utility model.

Claims

1. A composite filter element, characterized in that, The device includes an outer casing, which contains a first chamber and a second chamber. The outer casing has a channel connecting the two chambers. Each of the first and second chambers contains at least one filter element. The outer casing has an inlet and a first outlet connected to the first chamber, and a second outlet and a third outlet connected to the second chamber. The first outlet is used to discharge wastewater from the first chamber, the second outlet is used to discharge wastewater from the second chamber, and the third outlet is used to discharge filtered clean water.

2. The composite filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first chamber and the second chamber are arranged along the width direction of the outer shell.

3. The composite filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first chamber is divided into a first region and a second region along the axial direction. A first filter element is provided in the first region and a second filter element is provided in the second region. The first region and the second region are connected through a through hole on the second filter element.

4. The composite filter element according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first filter element is an ultrafiltration membrane module, which is columnar. The inner side of the ultrafiltration membrane module is provided with a first flow channel that communicates with the first water outlet, and the outer side of the ultrafiltration membrane module forms a second flow channel between it and the outer shell.

5. The composite filter element according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second filter element is an activated carbon component, which is columnar in shape. A third flow channel is formed on the inner side of the activated carbon component, which is connected to the second flow channel. A fourth flow channel is formed between the outer side of the activated carbon component and the outer shell, which is connected to the channel.

6. The composite filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second chamber is equipped with a reverse osmosis membrane assembly.

7. The composite filter element according to claim 6, characterized in that, The reverse osmosis membrane module is columnar, and a fifth flow channel is formed between the outer side of the reverse osmosis membrane module and the outer shell. One end of the fifth flow channel is connected to the channel, and the other end is connected to the second outlet. A sixth flow channel is formed on the inner side of the reverse osmosis membrane module and is connected to the third outlet.

8. The composite filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer casing is also provided with a fourth water outlet, which is connected to the channel. The outer casing is provided with a water flow reversing valve, which can control the water flowing out of the first chamber to enter the second chamber or flow out from the fourth water outlet.

9. The composite filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell consists of a top cover, a base, and a first tube and a second tube fitted between the top cover and the base. A first chamber is formed inside the first tube, and a second chamber is formed inside the second tube.

10. A water purifier, characterized in that, Includes the composite filter element as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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