Self-sustaining water purifying system

Abstract

Provided is a self-sustaining water purification microplant that includes a filtering system comprising at least one filter that filters at least 0.2 microns and, additionally, includes a step of exposure to ultraviolet light. The system provides both a flow of water sufficient to supply purified water to at least one user and storage of the purified water for use over time, wherein information regarding the status of the system is provided in real time and visually in situ.

Description

[0001] SELF-SUSTAINING WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM

[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of mechanics and electronics, but more particularly to systems that receive, filter and purify water in remote or difficult to access areas, without the need to connect to the public network, whether water and / or electricity, providing a flow of already purified water sufficient for a plurality of users, for a flexible period of time, since it allows the storage of said already purified water when it is not in use, and where it allows knowing the status of the system in real time on site.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Access to drinking water is a factor that improves people's quality of life, and even more so when it comes to purified water (water that humans can drink). However, access to purified water is a challenge in hard-to-reach areas, arid climates, and / or places where the demand for water is very specific. Many of these places with a high demand for purified water are schools, hospitals, etc.

[0006] There are domestic water filtration and / or purification systems on the market that have been identified as only capable of supplying a single user, as the water flow is weak because commonly used filtration techniques have a limited flow capacity to maintain filtration quality. Systems for multiple users represent a high cost not only to implement but also to maintain for a long time, as is currently the case with reverse osmosis, which requires constant maintenance, which raises the cost. This point is critical, given the cost, abandonment or lack of maintenance due to inadequate design, lack of training and support, insensitivity to the needs and capabilities of technical support, etc., afflict a large number of projects and systems intended to address water shortages in contexts of economic and / or geographic marginalization, which quickly become unusable and wasteful. This becomes even more complex when purification systems involve a stage that requires electricity, such as filtration and / or water quality monitoring, whether on-site or remote. In this sense, one way to identify whether water is of quality or not is through the total coliform and / or fecal coliform indicator. Thus, many local and international standards specify that filtering water through a 0.2 micron microfiltration is sufficient to obtain water suitable for human consumption. However, water that has been microfiltered to 0.2 microns may still contain some total coliforms or particles smaller than this measurement (some bacteria and viruses) that are still active and increase in number over time, diminishing the water's quality. This means that purified water must be consumed almost immediately after the purification process, as it cannot be stored due to the number of microorganisms present, which multiply over time. This storage time is always variable, as it depends on many factors.

[0007] In this regard, it is known in the art that the use of UV (ultraviolet) lamps or emitters can disinfect up to 99.9% of pathogens present in water, thus achieving optimal purification for human consumption. However, it has been identified that integrating this technique into a filtration system fails to provide a sufficient flow of purified water for several users at the same time. To achieve this supply, several filters or one large filter are used, thus increasing the cost of the service and maintenance over its useful life. Furthermore, UV lamps or emitters use constant electrical power, which greatly limits the application of a purification system in vulnerable communities.

[0008] It is therefore desirable to develop a self-sustaining water purification system that includes all the resources and / or elements necessary for its operation in a remote location with an arid climate and / or difficult access, avoiding water waste and providing a sufficient flow of water for multiple users in parallel (at the same time) and, in addition to avoiding water waste, guaranteeing its quality over time. If the purified water is not being used, avoiding waste by allowing its storage and, when the water remains stored for a long time (growth of microorganisms), allowing this water to recover its original purification quality to be stored again until the user disposes of it, thus defining a self-sustaining cycle.The system is designed to be installed in different areas with different configurations and / or conditions, whether structural, climatic, geographic, and / or social. SUMMARY.

[0009] The present invention relates to methods, apparatus, systems and / or devices related to obtaining purified water in a self-sustaining manner, guaranteeing a flow rate for a plurality of users and water quality over time.

[0010] The system of the present invention aims to bring together a plurality of elements in an integrated system to achieve both the effective provision of at least 500 liters of water per day for various types of uses, including human consumption, as well as the long-term adoption and operation of the same.

[0011] The system of the present invention includes at least one water source that feeds an elevated tank, at least one storage tank with a capacity of several tens of liters, a filter train defined by at least one multi-stage filtration / disinfection process from filter media, activated carbon and / or UV exposure, which can filter pathogenic particles / agents of up to a minimum of 0.2 microns (eliminating up to 99.9% of pathogens), and a system of pipes and valves (including electromechanical valves or solenoid valves) configured in such a way that the water enters at one point, passes through the filtering stage to subsequently enter the storage tank and, at the exit of the storage tank at least one water inlet is coupled for use by the user(s), or the water is allowed to re-enter the filtering stage to recover a quality suitable for human consumption, thus defining several operating modes of the system.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the storage tank is made of a polymer. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage tank is made of stainless steel, since stainless steel has a high resistance to corrosion in the presence of substances found in food. Therefore, the release of particles or elements is negligible, thereby ensuring the absence of toxicity and the preservation of all the food's organoleptic properties (flavor, odor, color, texture, appearance).

[0013] Thus, the system of the present invention provides simultaneous production, storage, and supply of purified water to a plurality of users without relying on a public network. In this regard, it has been identified that filtered water exposed to UV rays can remain purified for a longer period of time compared to water filtered to only 0.2 microns.

[0014] The operating modes of the purification system include: Recirculation mode: an operating mode in which, following a change in flow direction, the water stored in the storage tank is reinjected into some stage of the system to refilter and / or eliminate particles / organisms (disinfection). This stage aims to improve water quality again by eliminating particles / organisms that have reproduced over time and / or due to external conditions. Likewise, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the recirculation mode includes pumping through a pressurizing pump or water pump already known in the art. This operating mode is activated after a general or specific period of time, in which no flow has been detected in the purification system or when a specific condition has been detected, such as high pressure / temperature.This operating mode is deactivated either after a predetermined period of time, after the water in the storage tank has been at least partially filtered again, or after the water leaving the tank is of acceptable quality, i.e., water suitable for human consumption.

[0015] Drain mode: An operating mode in which stored water is automatically directed to a defined outlet or water inlet by a drain valve, i.e., without a user request (by manually opening a water inlet) to drain the stored water. This operating mode is activated under certain specific system conditions, after a predetermined period of time, or after a predetermined number of times the circulation mode has been activated in a given period. This operating mode is deactivated either after a predetermined period of time or after the water in the storage tank has been at least partially filtered again. The drain valve can be a manual or electromechanical solenoid valve.

[0016] Normal mode: A purified water supply mode in which one or more users receive purified water for consumption, that is, at least one water inlet is at least partially open, such that water flows from the storage tank directly into said inlet. This operating mode remains active for a general or specific period of time and is activated by default and after another operating mode has concluded. It is also deactivated once another operating mode is activated. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one filtration stage includes a first filtration by means of sediment retention, which filters up to 50+10 microns, and a second filtration based on activated carbon adsorption, which removes finer contaminants, as well as odors and flavors.In a particular embodiment of the invention, the second filtration stage filters at least 0.2 microns. Furthermore, for reference, the filtration stages, whether in technique and / or materials, meet the requirements defined by FDA CFR-21 and NSF Standard 42 and / or NSF / ANSI Standard 55 and REG4.In a particular embodiment, the first stage of sediment filtration is carried out using 50-micron mesh screens; the second stage of filtration is performed by means of filters that integrate physical barriers of less than one micron, activated carbon with bactericidal agents that includes a bacteriostatic carbon block and a pharmaceutical-grade nylon membrane for bacterial retention as a filtering medium in the cartridge filter, such as commercial 3M-type filters; and a third stage of filtration is performed by means of ultraviolet light lamps to eliminate pathogens such as bacteria, where the ultraviolet light is obtained from LEDs (ultraviolet light-emitting diodes). Once the water is purified, it is stored, used, recirculated, or drained.

[0017] Water is supplied by a water source such as reclaimed rainwater, a public water network, and / or a tanker truck, etc. The water is directed to the elevated tank and from there to the plurality of particle filtration stages and is subsequently exposed to UV rays to eliminate microorganisms. A person skilled in the art will note that the capacity of the first filtration stage can vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention, and may filter either 60 microns, 50 microns, 30 microns, etc., depending on the technique, technology, and cost of each filter. Likewise, a person skilled in the art will note that the capacity of the second filtration stage can vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention, and may filter at least 0.2 microns, that is, 0.2 microns, 0.1 microns, 0.05 microns, etc., depending on the technique, technology, and cost of each filter.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the purification system of the present invention includes only one filtration stage that filters at least 0.2 microns.

[0019] After the filtration stage, the purified water is stored in at least one sealed storage tank, protecting it from sunlight. Filling of said storage tank will depend on the time, pressure, quantity of water, and / or the capacity of the filters used in the filtration stage. Below the storage tank, a plurality of water outlets or inlets are channeled so that one or more users can receive water directly. The water inlets are located below the storage tank to allow water flow by gravity. Likewise, the storage tank is located below the elevated reservoir so that the water flows into the tank (passing through the filtration stage) by gravity.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, if it is not possible to position one element below another to provide gravity flow, at least one pump is coupled to provide the pressure and / or water flow necessary for the system to operate. A person skilled in the art will note that the capacity and / or technical characteristics of said at least one pump may vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention. It may be a pressurizing pump or a water pump, without increasing the system pressure.

[0021] The length of time that the storage tank stores purified water while maintaining the same quality may vary depending on internal and / or external conditions of the system, such as climate, geographic location, maintenance, etc. Thus, an administrator performs periodic measurements of system usage and / or water quality to determine a particular system time period, where the administrator may be a preconfigured computer (on-site or remote) or an on-site or remote operator. Once said particular time period is determined, the recirculation mode may be automatically activated / deactivated each time said particular time elapses. In one embodiment of the invention, before determining the particular time period, a general or default time period is used, which is predetermined. In one embodiment of the invention, said general time period is one week.Thus, under the condition that once either the particular or general period of time has passed without the system having been used by the user(s), that is, without the purified water having flowed out of the purification system, this system can change its operating mode to recirculation mode, where the system of pipes and valves redirects the water so that it leaves the storage tank not towards the water intakes, but again towards some point in the filtration stage to be filtered again and recover its quality.

[0022] In this sense, a person skilled in the art will notice that water quality measurements can vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention and may be at least one selected from the list of: hydrogen potential (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP), conductivity factor (CF), amount of dissolved solids (TDS), among others already known in the art.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of storage tanks are used to recirculate water such that the water exiting a storage tank, once filtered again, enters another storage tank to prevent different types of water from mixing.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the purification system of the present invention includes at least one source of electrical energy that is selected, at least one, from the list of: solar panel, wind turbine, public electrical grid, biogas turbine, etc.

[0025] The specific system conditions that are identified are selected by selecting at least one from the list of: first stage filtration maintenance, second stage filtration maintenance, third stage filtration maintenance, storage tank maintenance, piping system maintenance, electromechanical valve maintenance, water quality (poor, acceptable, good), water pressure, water leak (when water flow is detected at one point, but not at another), battery level, power source, etc.

[0026] The purification system of the present invention includes at least one manager that, in one embodiment of the invention, is defined by a control unit, such as a computer or a programmable element that is pre-programmed / configured, or at least one processor with a memory coupled thereto. Additionally, in one embodiment of the invention, the system includes electronic modules for carrying out detections and / or measurements in the different parts of the purification system, such as the water source, the elevated tank, the storage tank, the piping system, the filtration stages, etc. The electronic modules for carrying out measurements are defined by sensors of different types already known in the art, which are located in different parts of the purification system to identify any leak or flow, to know the quality of the water at a given point and time, etc.Thus, based on these measurements, predictions or extrapolations can be made, as well as specific conditions identified so that the administrator can make decisions based on these conditions and thus change the operating mode by communicating this change of state to a central or remote device. Wired or wireless communication methods are already known in this technique.

[0027] The control unit, the electronic modules and / or any element that uses electrical energy, include the electrical / electronic means necessary to be coupled to the purification system, such as microcontrollers with firmware or previous configuration, transceivers for communication inside or outside the system, power stages, short circuit protection, open circuit protection, reverse protection, overload protection, passive elements, power supply, etc. The transceivers can be wired or wireless, by means of technologies already known in the art such as radio frequency, WIFI, Bluetooth, Zigbee, X10, among others and / or variations thereof.Likewise, the power stage can be made with relays, triacs, diacs, transistors and / or any other combination of electronic components that allows power amplification for the control of devices that operate with alternating current and / or direct current (whether 12V or 24V).

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the purification system includes an electrical power source of at least 25W defined by an arrangement of at least one solar panel and / or wind turbine coupled to a charge controller, a power inverter and at least one battery, already known in the art, to provide direct and / or alternating current to the electrical / electronic elements of the purification system, that is, to be the direct and / or alternating current power source continuously or in a particular manner. In this sense, the particular form of power source is when current (direct or alternating) is provided only when the corresponding device or element requires it or when it will be used, not constantly.

[0029] Likewise, at least one on-site display means is coupled to the purification system in order to visually display the current or future state of the system. The state of the system is identified from at least one of the specific conditions already mentioned. In one embodiment of the invention, the display means is a screen or light emitter of some color. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the display means is an electronic circuit that controls a traffic light with the colors green, yellow, and red, such that each color alerts the user(s) and / or the operator(s) / administrator(s) to a situation, such that green indicates a specific adequate condition, yellow indicates that a specific poor condition is approaching (acceptable) or that action will be required soon, and red indicates that the specific condition is poor or is already occurring, so that action is required.These actions may include changing filters or replacing parts in some part of the system, such as filter cartridges, general cleaning / maintenance, changing the operating mode, etc., such that at least one traffic light is used for at least one specific condition. A person skilled in the art will note that the display means used to provide color to the traffic light may vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention; they may be LEDs or any other technique known in the art.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, the electromechanical solenoid valves used in the system are latching valves, meaning that upon receiving an impulse or signal, they change their state from closed to open and vice versa. In this sense, a person skilled in the art will note that the valves (electromechanical or manual) used for the system may vary in configuration or according to their intended function, without affecting the subject matter of the present invention. They may be 3-way, 3-position, 3-way, 2-position, normally closed, normally open, etc. valves, such that valve activation / deactivation refers to the change from one position to another. Likewise, a person skilled in the art will note that the system capacity, defined as the diameter of the piping system, the capacity of each filter, and / or the storage capacity of the storage tank(s), may vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention.Likewise, a high temperature and / or pressure condition in the purification system may vary depending on the elements and materials used without affecting the subject matter of the present invention. For example, if a filter has a maximum operating pressure of 125 psi (862 kPa) and an operating water temperature of 37.8 ° C (100 ° F), when the sun causes the water temperature in the storage tank and / or in the water source to reach or be about to reach said temperature and / or pressure conditions, then the system can activate / deactivate the recirculation mode or the drain mode, according to a predetermined configuration and this can be reported by means of the display means or remotely.

[0031] Likewise, a person skilled in the art will notice that at least one of the plurality of electrical / electronic elements of the system may be housed in an outdoor cabinet.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the third filtration stage is defined by ozone disinfection.

[0033] Therefore, a system for purifying water is provided, wherein the water is located in an elevated reservoir at a predetermined height, the system comprising: means for filtering the water to a minimum of 50 microns, defining a first filtration; means for filtering the water to a minimum of 0.2 microns, defining a second filtration; means for exposing the water to UV rays for a predetermined period of time, defining a third filtration; means for storing the water that has been exposed to UV rays, through a storage tank, which is located below the elevated reservoir; means for redirecting the water stored in the storage tank towards the first filtration, the second filtration, the third filtration and / or towards at least one water outlet, wherein said at least one water outlet is located below the storage tank; and means for displaying visual information on site about the status of the system.

[0034] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Some of the measurements, dimensions and / or arrangements of the elements of the figures shown have been exaggerated for illustrative purposes.

[0036] Fig. 1 shows an operating diagram of the purification system of the present invention.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the electronic electrical system of the system in Fig. 1.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows an operating diagram of an embodiment of the purification system of the present invention.

[0039] Fig. 4 shows a table with the different valve states depending on the normal or recirculation operating mode.

[0040] Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of the electronic electrical system of the system in Fig. 3.

[0041] Fig. 6 shows an operating diagram of an embodiment of the purification system of the present invention.

[0042] Fig. 7 shows a block diagram of the electronic electrical system of the system in Fig. 6.

[0043] Fig. 8 shows an illustration of the operation of the purification system of the present invention.

[0044] Fig. 9 shows an illustration of the operation of the purification system of the present invention coupled with a rainwater harvesting system.

[0045] Fig. 10 shows an illustration of the operation of the purification system of the present invention, including valves and a section of recirculation pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown; rather, it should be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0047] The methods and processes described in the detailed description section may be embodied as code and / or data, which may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium as described above. When a computing system reads and executes the code and / or data stored on the computer-readable storage medium, the computing system performs the methods and processes embodied as data structures and code and stored on the computer-readable storage medium.

[0048] In addition, the methods and processes described herein may be included in hardware modules and apparatus. These modules or apparatus may include, but are not limited to, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated or shared processor that executes a particular software module or piece of code at a given time, and / or other programmable logic devices known or later developed and referred to herein as programmable elements. When activated, the hardware modules or apparatus perform the methods and processes included therein.

[0049] Likewise, many of the shapes in the figures shown in this document have been exaggerated and / or a degree of transparency has been added for illustrative purposes. Similarly, for this document, filter, filter medium, filter cloth, filter stage, or filter cloth roll refers to the same element unless otherwise indicated. Media, whether mechanical, electrical, and / or electronic, refers to any element, component, device, and / or apparatus known in each relevant art.

[0050] Fig. 1 shows a sustainable water purification system 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, which includes a water source that feeds an elevated tank 100, which is connected to a filtration train 30 and to a storage tank 10, with tank inlet 11 and tank outlet 12, by means of pipe nodes L1 and L2. Between L1 and L2 is the filtration train 30 which, in an embodiment of the invention, is comprised of at least three consecutive filtering stages 31, 32 and 33. Thus, the water from the elevated tank 100 passes by gravity and pressure difference through node L1, is filtered by means of the filtration train 30 and subsequently enters the storage tank 10 by means of pipe node L2. Once the water has been stored, by means of a pipe node L3, one or a plurality of users can dispose of the filtered water by means of the water outlets 20.Likewise, the system 1 includes at least one air / pressure outlet 15, the location of which may vary depending on the layout and installation of the system 1. There is a height H between the storage tank 10 and the elevated tank 100, so the storage tank 10 is located below the elevated tank 100 such that there is a pressure difference, which varies according to said height H, ensuring a flow of water from the elevated tank 100 to the storage tank 10 and from there to the water outlets 20, which are also located below the storage tank 10. Likewise, the storage tank is located at a height from the floor and at a height from the water outlets 20. In one embodiment of the invention, the filtration train 30 is located below the storage tank 10. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the filtration train 30 is located above the storage tank 10.The elevated tank 100 may be a water tank located on a rooftop or in a high location compared to the other elements of the system 1.

[0051] In one embodiment of the invention, the system 1 includes a drain valve 23, which is activated to remove the water found in the system 1. The activation / deactivation of the drain valve 23 may be by means of at least one timer (not shown in the figures) and / or manually.

[0052] Additionally, system 1 includes at least one traffic light-type visual alert module 90, which is activated, either in green, yellow, or red, by means of a timer (not shown in the figures) or a preconfigured control unit. Said traffic light can be housed within a cabinet. Likewise, in one embodiment of the invention, the traffic light is located outside the cabinet so that it can be viewed from different distances and / or angles.

[0053] The storage tank 10 is manufactured from a substantially inert material, resistant to corrosion, cryogenics, high temperature resistance, affordable, and requires minimal maintenance. In this regard, in one embodiment of the invention, the storage tank 10 is manufactured from stainless steel and includes an insulating layer. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the storage tank has a capacity of 200 liters. One skilled in the art will note that the insulation technique for the storage tank 10 may vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention, and may be a double layer and / or a layer of insulating material, etc.

[0054] Fig. 2 shows an electrical / electronic diagram of the system of Fig. 1, where an alternative energy source 42, a power control module 41, and some element of the system 1 that requires electrical energy, such as the filter 33 that disinfects by means of exposure to UV rays, can be seen. In this sense, the energy control module 41 is defined by a module that includes a plurality of elements necessary to provide a constant source of energy from an alternative energy source such as wind, solar, biomass and / or biogas. Said module 41 includes at least one charge controller 43 (not shown in Fig. 2), at least one power inverter 44 (not shown in Fig. 2), and / or at least one battery 46 (not shown in Fig. 2). Likewise, a person skilled in the art will note that the alternative energy source 42 refers to any clean energy, green energy, or renewable energy.In one embodiment of the invention, the device used for the alternative energy source is selected from at least one of the following: solar panel, wind turbine, gas generator, and / or combinations thereof. Additionally, at least one visual alert module 90 is seen, which is defined by a device resembling a traffic light that, using colors (either green, yellow, or red), visually indicates conditions, ranges, or parameters of system 1.

[0055] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention of the purification system 1 , which includes a recirculation process by means of a pump 25 connected between node L3 and node L1 . Said pump is connected between node L3 and L1 by means of pipe node L4, which with pump 25 is subdivided into node L4 and L4.1 . The connection of section L4 and L4.1 is made by means of at least one recirculation connection defined by valve 21 and valve 22 comprised of mechanical and / or electromechanical valves, such as electric solenoid valves such that, once put in a specific position or in a recirculation mode, the water no longer exits through the water outlets 20, but is pushed by pump 25 again towards some stage of the filtration train 30 to enter again the storage tank 10, thus defining the recirculation.In this way, the operating modes of the water purification system 1 are defined: a normal mode and a recirculation mode. The normal purification mode, as explained above, is used by the user to open the water outlet 20 so that the purified water flows out and is used by the user. However, if no user is using the system 1 for a certain period of time, the system 1 switches to recirculation mode so that the water stored in the storage tank 10 passes through at least one stage of the filtration system 30 again, thus ensuring water quality for an indefinite period of time and / or a predetermined number of times.The way in which the system 1 switches from normal mode to recirculation mode can be manually, by means of an operator or automatically through an electrical / electronic control system (not shown in Figure 2) such as a control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled to it. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one recirculation connection defined by a valve 22 is connected before step 31 , 32 and / or 33 depending on a previous configuration and the quality of the water leaving the storage tank 10, in other words, at least one recirculation connection is coupled by means of a valve 22 either at node L1.1 , L1.2 and / or L1.3.

[0056] To determine the quality of the water, monitoring points 99 (not shown in Fig. 3) coupled at different points of the system 1 are used. In one embodiment of the invention, the storage tank 10 includes a water level sensor (not shown in the figures) to determine the amount of stored water.

[0057] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the system 1 includes a third operating mode corresponding to the drain mode, in which a valve 23 is included that is activated (opened) to allow the purified water to flow out after a condition has been met, such as after a period of time determined by a timer or some other condition. Thus, the system 1 includes at least one timer that, starting from a predetermined time, causes a specific operating mode to be activated / deactivated by modifying the valves 21, 22 and / or 23 in a specific position arrangement.

[0058] The storage tank including an inlet 11 and an outlet 12, such that the tank outlet 12 is located at the bottom of the tank so that the water exits by gravity and the tank inlet 11 is located at a top of the tank 10.

[0059] Likewise, in one embodiment of the invention, the recirculation node L4.1 is directly connected to the elevated tank 100. Fig. 4 shows a table illustrating the states that exemplify the position of the valve 21 and the valve 22 (coupled to the node L1) according to the operating mode in which they are found. Thus, in the normal operating mode, the valve 21 allows only the flow of water from the node L3 to the node L3.1 and, the valve 22, allows only the flow of water from the node L1 to the node L1.1. In this sense, when the operating mode changes to recirculation mode, the valve 21 allows only the flow of water from the node L3 to the node L4 and, the valve 22, allows only the flow of water from the node L4.1 to the node L1.1.

[0060] Fig. 5 shows an electrical / electronic diagram of the system of Fig. 3, which shows an alternative power source 42, a power control module 41, some element of the system 1 that requires electrical power, such as the UV filter 33, a control and monitoring unit 40 that controls the electromechanical valves 21, 22 and / or 23, as well as the pump 25. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, an additional power source 45 is included, such as the public power grid that functions as a backup. In this sense, the control and monitoring unit 40 includes at least one programmable element, such as a processor with a memory coupled thereto and configured to perform preset operations, at least one power stage, and wired and / or wireless communication means.Additionally, at least one visual alert module 90 can be seen coupled to unit 40 which, in one embodiment of the invention, is defined by a device that resembles a traffic light that, based on colors, whether green, yellow or red, indicates conditions, ranges or parameters of system 1.

[0061] Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the purification system 1 , wherein monitoring modules 50 have been coupled at different points of the system 1 . In this sense, each monitoring module 50 includes at least one sensor and / or meter which are coupled to the control and monitoring unit 40 (not shown in Fig. 6). In this way, based on the detections and / or measurements made, conditions for carrying out operations can be determined, such as the activation / deactivation of some operating mode, whether normal, recirculation or drainage. Therefore, based on specific conditions detected and / or measured in the system 1 , the operating modes, whether normal, recirculation or drainage, are selected. These conditions are, but are not limited to: detection of a flow in the system, measurement of water quality, predetermined time periods, temperature measurement and / or pressure measurement. Fig.7 shows an electrical / electronic diagram of the system in Fig. 6, wherein the monitoring modules 50 are coupled and in communication with the control and monitoring unit 40. Depending on their location within the system 1 and / or their function or functions, each monitoring module 50 will be powered continuously or in a specific manner, that is, power will only be supplied to said module 50 under certain conditions, thus saving energy. Additionally, at least one visual alert module 90 can be seen coupled to the unit 40, which, in one embodiment of the invention, is defined by a device that resembles a traffic light that, based on colors, whether green, yellow, or red, indicates conditions, ranges, and / or parameters of the system 1.In this sense, said conditions, ranges, and / or parameters are determined from, but are not limited to: water quality, water quantity, maintenance time of some element of system 1, useful life of some element of the system, and / or a current operating mode. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention, system 1 includes one or a plurality of visual alert modules 90.

[0062] Fig. 8 shows an illustration of the water purification system 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. Thus, the elevated tank 100 is shown, which corresponds to a water tank located at a higher point compared to the other elements of the system 1 and which, by containing water, thus ensures a flow of water by gravity and pressure difference. Firstly, once the water flows from the tank 100, the water travels by means of the pipe node L1 towards the filter train 30 with the first filter stage 31, the second filter stage 32 and the third filter stage 33.Once the water has been filtered through the filter train 30, thus defining the purified water, by means of the pipe node L2, the purified water enters the storage tank 10 by means of the tank inlet 11 such that, after a period of time, the tank 10 is filled or reaches a predetermined filling point, whereby the purified water is stored. Likewise, the monitoring point 99 can be seen, which is a point where a water inlet (valve) is left for analysis and thus determine the quality of the water at the outlet of the filter train 30. To the tank outlet 12, by means of the pipe node L3, one or a plurality of water inlets 20 and / or the drain valve 23 are connected, and where said drain valve 23 is placed at the end of the pipe to prevent any water remnants from remaining in said section of pipe L3.In relation to the electrical energy of the system 1 shown in the illustration of this figure 8, the alternative energy source 42 can be seen, which is coupled to the charge controller 43, which in turn is coupled to the charge inverter 44 and battery 46 that are located inside a cabinet 60, and which are coupled in such a way that they supply electrical energy to the electrical / electronic elements of the system 1 already mentioned previously. The cabinet 60 may be made of a weather-resistant plastic or metallic material.

[0063] Fig. 9 shows an illustration of the water purification system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the source of water that feeds the elevated tank 100 is a rainwater collection system, which falls on a surface or roof from where it is collected. The rainwater collection system is comprised of at least one first rain separator or interceptor means 200 configured for said surface or roof, at least one main or underground tank 210 in which the rainwater is stored, at least one turbulence reducer 220, at least one floating picket 215 that prevents water with sediment from being taken from the lower part of the tank 210, at least one main pump 225 that pumps water from the tank 210 to the elevated tank 100, and at least one filtration stage 230 prior to the elevated tank 100, as well as a corresponding rainwater collection pipe / channel system.Thus, the first rains are separated by means of the first rain separator 200. Once the first rains have been separated, they fall by gravity to the main or underground reservoir 210, where turbulence has previously been reduced by means of the turbulence reducer 220, preventing the movement of sediments. The water stored in the main reservoir 210 is pumped from the floating pond 215 by means of the main pump 225 to the elevated reservoir 100. In an alternative embodiment, before entering the elevated reservoir 100, the water is filtered by means of a filter train 230 that filters sediments and at least one activated carbon filter (not shown in Fig. 9).Once the water has reached the elevated tank 100, under a flow caused by an outlet valve 20 or 23, the water first travels through the pipe node L1 towards the filter train 30 with the first filtering stage 31, the second filtering stage 32 and the third filtering stage 33. Once the water has been filtered through the filter train 30 thus defining the purified water, said purified water, by means of the pipe node L2, enters the storage tank 10 by means of the tank inlet 11 such that, after a period of time, the tank 10 is filled or reaches a predetermined filling point, whereby the purified water is stored. Likewise, the monitoring point 99 can be seen, which is a point where a water intake is left for analysis and thus determine the quality of the water at the exit of the filter train 30.The storage tank 10 and / or any pipe node L1-L4 includes the mechanical means to allow the exit of air or at least pressure relief 15, as well as the necessary means to allow the hermetic seal of said tank 10. To the tank outlet 12, by means of the pipe node L3, one or a plurality of water intakes 20 and / or the valve 23 are connected, and where said drain valve 23 is placed at the end of the pipe to prevent remnants of water from remaining in said section of pipe L3. In relation to the electrical energy of the system 1 shown in the illustration of this figure 8, the alternative energy source 42 can be seen, which is coupled to the charge controller 43, which in turn is coupled to the charge inverter 44 and battery 46, which supplies electrical energy to the electrical / electronic elements of the system 1 already mentioned previously.

[0064] In one embodiment of the invention, the filter stage 230 and the filter stage 31 are the same stage, that is, they share the same device, thus defining a shared filter stage 230 / 31, which is located either on the side of the rainwater harvesting system or on the side of the water purification system 1 of the present invention. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the shared filter stage 230 / 31 is located after the elevated tank 100. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the shared filter stage 230 / 31 is located before the elevated tank 100.

[0065] In one embodiment of the invention, the water source of system 1 is a water source from rainwater collection, the technique of which is already known in the art.

[0066] Fig. 10 shows an illustration of the water purification system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, where the recirculation, already explained previously, has been included by coupling a pipe node L4 between valves 21 and 22. In this sense, a pump 25 (not shown in Fig. 10) is coupled to the pipe node L4 to pump the water stored in the storage tank 10.

[0067] The storage tank 10 and / or any pipe node L1-L4 (including node subsections such as L1 .1 , L1 .2 etc.) includes the mechanical means to allow air to escape or at least pressure relief 15, as well as the means necessary to allow the tightness of said tank 10.

[0068] Each monitoring module 50 includes at least one of the following: an external and / or internal (pipe) temperature meter, a water flow sensor / meter, a water quality meter, and / or a pressure meter. In this regard, one skilled in the art will note that the device / sensor or technique used to measure temperature, measure or detect water flow, measure water quality, and / or measure pressure may vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention, and may be different electrodes that measure salinity, pH, ORP, temperature, etc. In one embodiment of the invention, the monitoring modules 50 are powered directly by the power control module 41.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the monitoring modules 50 are powered by the power control module 41 and / or by the control and monitoring unit 40, such that some monitoring modules 50 are only powered in a particular way when a specific condition exists, such as when a water flow is detected in some part of the system 1. A person skilled in the art will note that the specific conditions for powering in a particular way to some electrical / electronic element of the system 1 may vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention.

[0069] In one embodiment of the invention, tank 10 includes a magnesium rod at the water inlet to reduce oxidation and in case the water includes small amounts of chlorine.

[0070] In one embodiment of the invention, system 1 includes at least one additional filtration stage defined by an ultraviolet (UV) filter, where the water circulates and is exposed for a predetermined time to a UV light lamp. A person skilled in the art will note that the predetermined exposure time of the water to UV rays may vary depending on the flow rate, filter inlet / outlet diameter, materials, etc., without affecting the subject matter of the present invention. Likewise, a person skilled in the art will note that the UV source may vary in form, technique, and / or elements used without affecting the subject matter of the present invention.

[0071] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage tank 10 is airtight.

[0072] One skilled in the art will note that the capacity of the alternative power source 42 as well as the power control module 41 may vary depending on the number of devices / apparatuses to be powered without affecting the subject matter of the present invention.

[0073] A person skilled in the art will note that pipe nodes are defined by any section of pipe of any configuration, length and of a predefined diameter that includes any compatible mechanical means such as T-connections, reductions / enlargements, 90° elbows, 45° elbows, air vents, check valves, adapters, etc., already known in the art and that may vary depending on the location and installation conditions without affecting the subject matter of the present invention. Filtration stage 31 is defined by a sediment filter that filters particles of at least 50 microns. After stage 31, filtration stage 32 is defined by a filter that filters particles of at least 0.2 microns. After stage 32, filtration stage 33 is comprised of a disinfection process that, in one embodiment of the invention, is defined by a UV filter.A person skilled in the art will note that the way in which each filtration stage connects to another will depend on the type of connection the filter has, so it can vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention.

[0074] Likewise, a person skilled in the art will note that the technique that each filter uses to disinfect and / or filter the corresponding micron of each stage 31, 32 and / or 33 may vary without affecting the subject matter of the present invention, and may be inertial filtration techniques, absorption, retention, sieving, screening, interception, diffusion, electrostatic, activated carbon and / or combinations of these techniques.

[0075] In one embodiment of the invention, the visual alert module 90 provides alerts or notifications electronically via a compatible client device.

[0076] The preceding descriptions of various embodiments have been presented solely for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the disclosed forms. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system for purifying water, wherein the water is located in an elevated reservoir at a predetermined height, the system comprising: means for filtering the water to a minimum of 50 microns, defining a first filtration; means for filtering the water to a minimum of 0.2 microns, defining a second filtration; means for exposing the water to UV rays for a predetermined period of time, defining a third filtration; means for storing the water that has been exposed to UV rays, through a storage tank, which is located below the elevated reservoir; means for redirecting the water stored in the storage tank towards the first filtration, the second filtration, the third filtration and / or towards at least one water outlet, wherein said at least one water outlet is located below the storage tank; and means for displaying visual information on site about the status of the system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the UV rays are produced by ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a water source supplies water to the elevated tank, the water source being selected, at least one, from the list of: rainwater harvesting system, public water network and tanker truck.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second filtration includes absorption by activated carbon.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further includes means for providing electrical power defined by at least one alternative power source coupled to a charge controller, at least one power inverter and at least one battery.

6. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the alternative energy source is comprised of an array of solar panels of at least 25W.

7. The system according to claim 1, further including a control unit defined by at least one processor with a memory coupled thereto.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further includes electronic means for performing measurements and / or detections, wherein the electronic means are located at different points of the system.

9. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the electronic means are defined by sensors that are selected, at least one from the list of: temperature meter, water flow sensor / meter, water quality meter and / or water flow sensor / meter.

10. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the water quality meter performs water quality measurements that are selected, at least one from the list of: pH, EC, ORP, CF and / or TDS.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for redirecting the water stored in the storage tank include at least one electromechanical valve, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for redirecting the water stored in the storage tank includes at least one water pump, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the water outlets includes an electromechanical valve, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for displaying visual information includes at least one traffic light, wherein each color of the traffic light indicates a current or upcoming state of the system.

15. The system according to claim 1, further including means for remotely displaying visual information via a compatible client device.

16. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the displayed visual information includes at least one of the list of: first filtration maintenance, second filtration maintenance, third filtration maintenance, storage tank maintenance, maintenance of a piping system, electromechanical valve maintenance, water quality, water pressure, water leak, battery level, power source, etc.

17. A method for purifying water, where the water is in a tank elevated at a predetermined height, the method comprises the steps of: filtering the water to a minimum of 50 microns, defining a first filtration; filtering the water to a minimum of 0.2 microns, defining a second filtration; exposing the water to UV rays for a predetermined period of time, defining a third filtration; storing the water that has been exposed to UV rays, through a storage tank, which is located below the elevated reservoir; redirecting the water stored in the storage tank towards the first filtration, the second filtration, the third filtration and / or towards at least one water outlet, where said at least one water outlet is located below the storage tank; and displaying visual information on site.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the UV rays are produced by ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs).

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein a water source supplies water to the elevated tank, the water source being selected, at least one, from the list of: rainwater harvesting system, public water network and tanker truck.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second filtration includes absorption by activated carbon.

21. The method of claim 17, further including: providing defined electrical power by at least one alternative power source coupled to a charge controller, at least one power inverter, and at least one battery.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the alternative energy source is comprised of an array of solar panels of at least 25W.

23. The method according to claim 17, further including a control unit defined by at least one processor with a memory coupled thereto.

24. The method according to claim 17, further including: performing measurements and / or detections, wherein the measurements and / or detections are performed at different points in the system.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the electronic means are defined by sensors that are selected, at least one from the list of: temperature meter, water flow sensor / meter, water quality meter and / or water flow sensor / meter.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the water quality meter performs water quality measurements that are selected, at least one from the list of: pH, EC, ORP, CF and / or TDS.

27. The method according to claim 17, wherein redirecting the water stored in the storage tank includes at least one electromechanical valve, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

28. The method according to claim 17, wherein redirecting the water stored in the storage tank includes at least one water pump, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

29. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the water outlets includes an electromechanical valve, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the displaying visual information includes at least one traffic light, wherein each color of the traffic light indicates a current or upcoming state of the system.

31. The method of claim 17, further including: remotely displaying visual information via a compatible client device.

32. The method according to claim 17, wherein the displayed visual information includes at least one of the list of: first filtration maintenance, second filtration maintenance, third filtration maintenance, storage tank maintenance, maintenance of a piping system, electromechanical valve maintenance, water quality, water pressure, water leak, battery level, power source, etc.

33. A system for purifying rainwater, the system comprising: means for collecting rainwater; means for separating first rainwater from the rain; means for storing the rainwater; means for pumping the stored rainwater to an elevated reservoir at a predetermined height; means for filtering the water to a minimum of 50 microns, defining a first filtration; means for filtering the water to a minimum of 0.2 microns, defining a second filtration; means for exposing the water to UV rays for a predetermined period of time, defining a third filtration; means for storing the water that has been exposed to UV rays, through a storage tank, which is located below the elevated reservoir; means for redirecting the water stored in the storage tank towards the first filtration, the second filtration, the third filtration and / or towards at least one water outlet, where said at least one water outlet is located below the storage tank; and means for displaying visual information on site regarding the status of the system.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the UV rays are produced by ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs).

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein a water source supplies water to the elevated tank, the water source being selected, at least one, from the list of: rainwater harvesting system, public water network and tanker truck.

36. The system according to claim 33, wherein the second filtration includes absorption by activated carbon.

37. The system according to claim 33, wherein the system further includes means for providing electrical power defined by at least one alternative power source coupled to a charge controller, at least one power inverter, and at least one battery.

38. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the alternative energy source is comprised of an array of solar panels of at least 25W.

39. The system according to claim 33, further including a control unit defined by at least one processor with a memory coupled thereto.

40. The system according to claim 33, wherein the system further includes electronic means for performing measurements and / or detections, wherein the electronic means are located at different points of the system.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the electronic means are defined by sensors that are selected, at least one from the list of: temperature meter, water flow sensor / meter, water quality meter and / or water flow sensor / meter.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the water quality meter performs water quality measurements that are selected, at least one from the list of: pH, EC, ORP, CF and / or TDS.

43. The system according to claim 33, wherein the means for redirecting the water stored in the storage tank include at least one electromechanical valve, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

44. The system according to claim 33, wherein the means for redirecting the water stored in the storage tank includes at least one water pump, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

45. The system according to claim 33, wherein at least one of the water outlets includes an electromechanical valve, which is activated / deactivated either by a timer, by an operator and / or by a preconfigured control unit defined by a processor with a memory coupled thereto.

46. The system according to claim 33, wherein the means for displaying visual information includes at least one traffic light, wherein each color of the traffic light indicates a current or upcoming state of the system.

47. The system according to claim 33, further including means for remotely displaying visual information via a compatible client device.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein the displayed visual information includes at least one of the list of: first filtration maintenance, second filtration maintenance, third filtration maintenance, storage tank maintenance, maintenance of a piping system, electromechanical valve maintenance, water quality, water pressure, water leak, battery level, power source, etc.

49. A water purification apparatus, comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processor(s), wherein the processor(s) are configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 17 to 32.

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