DE10256584A1 - Distribution unit for the permeate from a reverse osmosis membrane, for the supply of purest water to a dialysis apparatus, has a secondary ring channel at the primary channel, to prevent contamination - Google Patents

Abstract

The supply system for the delivery of the purest water to a dialysis apparatus, together with a reverse osmosis unit, has at least one secondary ring channel with its upstream section (5) concentric within the primary channel (1) to distribute the permeate from the reverse osmosis membrane. The secondary ring channel has a connection section outside the primary channel, and its downstream end (8) opens into the primary channel. The upstream section of the secondary ring channel is a straight section, from the curve (4) of the primary channel between its two straight and parallel sections (3), which can contain a throttle (10).

Description

The invention relates to an ultrapure water supply system for at least one, preferably several dialysis machines of a dialysis station, with a reverse osmosis device (RO unit), the ultrapure water or permeate feeds a permeate distribution system that a primary line and at least one secondary ring line branched therefrom to form a bypass to which the at least one dialysis machine is connected. By the secondary Ring line is divided in the permeate inlet, the permeate stream, a part further through the primary line - preferably a ring line - and the other part through the secondary Ring line flows.

The purest water supply by means of Reverse osmosis offers great Advantages, because almost all of the membrane filtration inorganic particles, colloids and germs as well as endotoxins and salts be filtered out of the raw water. A big problem with membrane filtration by means of reverse osmosis is that if the flow rate is too low and especially when the permeate in the permeate distribution system comes to a standstill can form which lead to biofilm growth and germination in the permeate. This occurs in particular when branches are not or insufficiently flowed and dead dreams in Permeate distribution system and when the dialysis is at a standstill which are estimated to be around 6,000 hours a year.

The present invention lies based on the task of a ultrapure water supply system of the considered Way to develop so that impurities are largely avoided in the permeate, without this the operating costs are decisive elevated are.

This task comes after a first Aspect of the present invention by the features of the claim 1 solved.

According to a second aspect of the present This object is achieved by the features of claim 9 solved.

Advantageous embodiments of the Invention are in the dependent claims characterized.

According to the first aspect of the present invention is at least a secondary one Ring line with its upstream End section within the primary line arranged and then passes through the wall of the primary line from this, the assigned dialysis machine to the outside of the primary line extending section of the secondary ring line connected is. The secondary ring line ends afterwards with their downstream End section back into the primary line on.

The primary line is constantly on during dialysis flows through a permeate stream. Because the secondary Ring line with the removal point of the dialysis machine the primary line connects with her upstream End section, i.e. the inlet area, within the primary line is arranged, flows the permeate without formation of dead spaces in the secondary ring line one so this the dialysis machine continuously provides sufficient flow even when the permeate is removed intermittently, so that one Germination of the dialysis machine supplied Permeates are safely avoided. With its downstream end section, the secondary Ring line back into the primary line on.

It is preferred that the upstream end section the secondary Loop is arranged concentrically in the primary line, i.e. in the central area where the permeate flows fastest.

It is also proposed with advantage that the upstream End section of the secondary ring line runs straight and in the area of a curve the primary line exits from this. This also makes the flow resistance in the secondary ring line as small as possible held. If the primary line runs straight, enters the secondary Ring line with an arcuate section from the primary line out.

In more detail, it is proposed that the secondary ring line flows into the primary line in the area, in which you are upstream End section is located within the primary line. The downstream End of secondary Ring line flush with the wall of the primary line to lock, i.e. the secondary The ring line does not protrude into the interior of the primary line.

In an alternative embodiment it is envisaged that the secondary Ring line downstream of your Leaving the primary line flows into this again. Here, too, the entry can be made as a flush connection to the Wall of the primary line done, or - what preferred here - the secondary ring line extends with its downstream end section into the primary line into it. The arrangement can be such that the central longitudinal axis of the secondary Ring line either with the central longitudinal axis of the primary line coincides or else it is in alignment. The secondary ring line can also eccentrically or flow into the primary line at a right angle.

The tube-in-tube arrangement according to the invention of the inlet area of the secondary ring line in the primary line ensures that the secondary ring line - like the primary line - is constantly free of dead space through a permeate stream during dialysis operation is rinsed so that no contamination can form in the lines.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a container and components for carrying out a physical disinfection are inserted in the primary line of the permeate distribution system. These components are preferably built into the container, but can also be arranged outside the container. The components can be a UV lamp, an ozone reactor or a reactor for the electrocatalytic enrichment of elemental oxygen ( DE 198 44 329 ).

This makes it possible during the considerable Downtimes of dialysis operation at least temporarily the permeate content the entire loop during expose the circulation to physical disinfection. hereby can with appropriate design of the system and sufficient duration exposure to the permeate such a radiation dose, ozone dose or dose of elemental oxygen can be received Disinfection equals. Because the circulation of the permeate through a specially designed pump inserted into the permeate line can occur, a high flow rate of the permeate with a relatively low Pump performance can be caused. Compared to hot cleaning This process offers significant cost advantages, with the additional equipment costs and energy consumption are significantly lower.

Following the physical disinfection the content of the permeate distribution system should start before the next In the morning the dialysis machines a rinsing process with permeate can be carried out without physical disinfection in order to avoid any organic Turn off substance. For this purpose, the entire ring line content excreted.

In this cleaning process the physical The ultrapure water areas are also advantageously disinfected of the reverse osmosis device involved.

By inserting the additional circulation pump and the container with components for physical disinfection in the permeate ring line is the possibility created while the downtimes of the reverse osmosis device and the dialysis mode a permeate circulation with UV radiation ozone or elementary Perform oxygen, effective through the biofilm growth and germination in the permeate be avoided. The associated energy and cost is very low.

Further details of the invention result from the following description and from the Drawings. Show:

1 a longitudinal section through part of a primary line of the permeate distribution system with integrated secondary ring line;

2 a perspective arrangement of the line part according to 1 . 3 to 6 alternative arrangements of secondary ring lines and

7 a flow diagram of the ultrapure water supply system according to the invention.

It will first focus on the 1 and 2 Referred. The part of a primary line shown 1 contains two straight, parallel pipe sections 2 . 3 , between which there is a semicircular section 4 located. The permeate flows into the section on the left in the figure 3 and runs from the section on the right in the figure 2 from.

Within the inlet section 3 is - concentric to this - the upstream end section 5 a secondary loop 6 arranged. The straight upstream end section 5 passes through the wall of the primary line 1 in the area of the semicircular section 4 out. Shortly after the exit, the upstream end section, which was arranged vertically until then, goes 5 after a corresponding curvature in a horizontal, substantially U-shaped section 7 about, the changes in direction are rounded so that the flow resistance remains low. The essentially U-shaped section 7 the secondary loop 6 eventually leads to another bend with the downstream end section 8th back into the primary line 1 back by the downstream end section 8 in the area of the semicircular section 4 through the wall of the primary line 1 passes. The end of the downstream end section protrudes 8th only a short distance inside the primary line 1 into it.

The arrangement is such that the central longitudinal axes of the upstream end section 5 and the downstream end portion 8th the secondary primary line 6 with the central longitudinal axes of the straight sections 2 . 3 the loop 1 coincide.

The secondary ring line 6 contains a coupling approximately in the middle of the substantially U-shaped section 9 for connecting a dialysis machine that comes from the secondary ring line 6 is supplied with permeate. The primary line 1 can with a throttle 10 be provided.

With the arrangement according to 3 is the upstream end section 5 the secondary loop 6 again concentrically within the straight inlet section 3 the primary line 1 arranged, as in the embodiment according to 4 the case is. In 3 occurs the downstream end section 8th back into an area in the primary line 1 one in which the section 5 still within the primary line 1 located. The downstream end section 8th the secondary line 6 opens vertically into the primary line 1 and closes flush with the pipe wall. The embodiment according to 4 differs from that in 1 Embodiment shown that the downstream end portion 8th so in the primary line 1 flows that the central longitudinal axis of the downstream end section 8th offset to the central longitudinal axis of the rectilinear section 2 the primary line 1 is.

In the in the 5 and 6 In the illustrated embodiments, the primary line runs in a straight line. The upstream end section 5 the secondary line 6 initially also runs in a straight line within the primary line 1 before the secondary loop 6 then in an arc section 11 from the primary line 1 emerges from the side. The downstream end section 8th opens at a right angle to the longitudinal extension of the primary line 1 in their wall and closes flush with it. 5 shows just like 6 that the upstream end section 5 and the downstream end portion of the secondary ring line 6 at the lower end sections in the figures with connection points 12 for the connecting section (not shown), which is provided with a coupling, not shown, for connecting a dialysis machine.

While in the embodiment according to 5 the downstream end section 8th the secondary loop 6 in one area in the primary line 1 flows into which the upstream end section 5 located within the primary line, the downstream end section leads 8th 6 downstream of the exit point of the upstream end section 5 to the primary line 1 back.

This in 7 The illustrated flow diagram of the ultrapure water supply system according to the invention contains a raw water inlet 12 , from which the raw water is a flow tank 13 is fed. A subsequent high pressure pump 14 does that in the flow tank 13 water of an RO membrane 15 to, from which the permeate formed by the membrane filtration into the permeate ring line 1 arrives. The permeate flows through a permeate check valve 16 , a permeate feed valve 17 and another permeate check valve 18 ,

The unfiltered part of the membrane 15 Water supplied, the concentrate, is passed through a concentrate choke 19 either the supply tank again 13 supplied, or discharged as waste water, as the flow diagram shows.

Through the permeate flow 20 the permeate was able to get to the dialysis machine 21 , with the permeate not removed in the permeate return 22 continues to flow. In the permeate return line 20 are a pressure vessel 24 with a UV lamp and a circulation pump 23 integrated.

The pressure vessel 24 is with a vent valve 25 provided by the in the permeate return 22 entrained air is discharged before the permeate the pump 24 reached.

During the dialysis operation, the permeate is supplied by the reverse osmosis device (RO device) and via the permeate flow 20 , Permeate return 22 , the UV lamp in the pressure vessel 23 who have favourited Check Valves 26 . 27 . 28 and 29 back into the flow tank 13 guided. The flow rate in the permeate return 22 is the consumption of the dialysis machines 21 and depends on the permeate output of the reverse osmosis device.

To increase the flow rate and improve the flushing process, each flushing process is preceded by a circulation via the permeate ring line in the idle time of the RO device. The RO device is not active. The valves 30 and 17 are opened and the pump 24 is switched on. The container is used to equalize the pressure 23 about the valve 30 ventilated. The duration of the circulation can be predefined. The permeate is at a guaranteed flow rate through the UV lamp in the container 23 to the junction of the dialysis machines 21 circulates so that there is an essentially dead space-free conduit.

The following procedure is used to improve the flushing out of germs or their bridges or for first flushing and flushing after disinfection: The circulation pump 24 stops. The RO device switches on and flushes a previously entered amount of water through the valve 31 directly into the drain. The valve then closes 31 , The pump 14 is switched on for 5 seconds to flush the pump connections. The rinsing process ends when the target rinsing volume is reached.

During the rinsing and supplying of the dialysis machines with permeate, the fill level in the pressure vessel or tank 23 kept at level N2. The container is under pressure.

The tank is used for pressure equalization during the circulation 23 first by opening the valve 31 relieved of pressure and then by opening the valve 30 and simultaneous operation of the pump 24 over the flow tank 13 emptied to level N1. Emptying to level N1 is also possible via the valve if the height conditions are taken into account 31 possible. The circulation takes place with the valve open 30 instead of. By means of level control of the container 23 and the circulation pump 24 can also chemical disinfect the loop 1 without involving the RO device in such a way that disinfectant via the pump 24 is sucked in until the level N2 in the container 23 is reached.

Claims (15)

Ultrapure water supply system for at least one, preferably several dialysis machines of a dialysis station, with a reverse osmosis device (RO device), which supplies ultrapure water or permeate to a permeate distribution system, which has a primary line and at least one branched-off, bypass-forming secondary ring line to which this at least one dialysis machine connected sen, characterized in that the at least one secondary ring line ( 6 ) with its upstream end section ( 5 ) within the primary line ( 1 ) is arranged so that the secondary ring line ( 6 ) with a subsequent section ( 7 ) outside the primary line ( 1 ) runs and that the secondary ring line ( 6 ) with its downstream end section ( 8th ) back into the primary line ( 1 ) flows into. Ultrapure water supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the upstream end section ( 5 ) of the secondary ring line ( 6 ) concentric in the primary line ( 1 ) is arranged. Ultrapure water supply system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upstream end section ( 5 ) of the secondary ring line ( 61 runs straight and in the area of a curve ( 4 ) the primary line ( 1 ) exits this. Ultrapure water supply system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upstream end section ( 5 ) of the secondary ring line ( 6 ) runs in a straight line and then in an arc from the straight primary line ( 1 ) exit. Ultrapure water supply system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the secondary ring line ( 6 ) in the area back into the primary line 11 ) opens out in which its upstream end section ( 5 ) within the primary line ( 1 ) is located. Ultrapure water supply system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the secondary ring line ( 6 ) downstream of its exit from the primary line ( 1 ) flows into this again. Ultrapure water supply system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the downstream end of the secondary ring line is flush with the wall of the primary line ( 1 ) completes. Ultrapure water supply system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the secondary ring line ( 6 ) with its downstream end section ( 8th ) in the primary line ( 1 ) protrudes. Ultrapure water supply system for at least one, preferably a plurality of dialysis machines of a dialysis station, with a reverse osmosis device (RO device) which supplies ultrapure water or permeate to a permeate distribution system, characterized in that in the permeate line ( 18 . 20 ) a container ( 22 ) and components for performing a physical disinfection and downstream of it a circulation pump ( 21 ) are inserted. Ultrapure water supply system according to claim 9, characterized characterized that the Components for implementation a physical disinfection contain a UV lamp. Ultrapure water supply system according to claim 9, characterized characterized that the Components for implementation a physical disinfection contain an ozone reactor. Ultrapure water supply system according to claim 9, characterized characterized that the Components for implementation a physical disinfection a reactor for electrocatalytic Contain enrichment of elemental oxygen. Ultrapure water supply system according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the circulation pump ( 21 ) is a high flow pump. Ultrapure water supply system according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the container ( 22 ) is provided with a ventilation valve. Ultrapure water supply system according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the container ( 22 ) with the components for performing a physical disinfection and the circulation pump ( 21 ) downstream of the connection point of the at least one dialysis machine ( 19 ) are arranged.