PRECISION RECHARGING BASED ON SORBENT EFFLUENT ANALYSIS
The invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for precision recharging of sorbent materials in a sorbent module. The devices, systems, and methods use sensor-based analysis of an effluent of the sorbent module during recharging to set recharge parameters used in recharging the sorbent material.
1 . A system, comprising:
a sorbent recharger ( 101 ), the sorbent recharger comprising a recharging flow path ( 301 , 401 ), the recharging flow path fluidly connectable to a sorbent module ( 302 , 402 ) containing at least one sorbent material; at least one recharge solution source ( 305 , 306 , 405 , 406 ) containing at least one recharge solution for recharging the at least one sorbent material within the sorbent module, the at least one recharge solution source fluidly connectable to a sorbent module inlet; at least one pump ( 307 , 407 ) in the recharging flow path; and at least a first sensor ( 310 , 413 ) in an effluent line ( 309 , 411 ) fluidly connectable to a sorbent module outlet ( 304 , 404 ) of the sorbent module; and
a processor; the processor programmed to receive data from the first sensor and to set at least one recharge parameter for recharging of the at least one sorbent material.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sorbent material comprises zirconium phosphate.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sorbent material comprises zirconium oxide.
4 . The system of any of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the at least one recharge parameter is selected from the group consisting of a volume of at least one recharge solution introduced through the sorbent module, a concentration of at least one recharge solution introduced through the sorbent module, and a flow rate of at least one recharge solution introduced through the sorbent module.
5 . The system of any of claims 1 - 4 , further comprising at least a second sensor ( 311 , 412 ) positioned between the at least one recharge solution source and the sorbent module inlet.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is programmed to set the at least one recharge parameter based on a difference between data received from the first sensor and data received from the second sensor.
7 . The system of any of claims 5 - 6 , wherein the processor is programmed to introduce the at least one recharge solution into the sorbent module until a pH or conductivity in an effluent of the sorbent module is within a predetermined range of a pH or conductivity of the at least one recharge solution.
8 . The system of any of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the first sensor is a pH sensor or a conductivity sensor.
9 . The system of any of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the first sensor is an ion selective electrode.
10 . The system of any of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor.
11 . The system of any of claims 1 - 8 , wherein the processor is programmed to compare a conductivity or pH in an effluent of the sorbent module to an elution profile.
12 . The system of any of claim 1 - 2 , or 5 - 11 , wherein the sorbent module contains zirconium phosphate, and wherein the at least one recharge solution source comprises at least a water source and a brine source.
13 . The system of any of claim 1 or 3 - 11 , wherein the sorbent module contains zirconium oxide, and wherein the at least one recharge solution source comprises at least a base source.
14 . The system of any of claims 1 - 13 , the system performing precision recharging of the at least one sorbent material.
15 . A method, comprising the steps of:
introducing a recharge solution into a sorbent module ( 302 , 402 ) containing at least one sorbent material in a sorbent recharger ( 101 );
receiving data from a first sensor ( 310 , 413 ) positioned in an effluent line ( 309 , 411 ) fluidly connected to a sorbent module outlet ( 304 , 404 ) of the sorbent module; and
setting at least one recharge parameter based on data received from the first sensor.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sorbent module contains zirconium phosphate.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sorbent module contains zirconium oxide.
18 . The method of any of claims 15 - 17 , wherein the at least one recharge parameter is selected from the group consisting of a volume of at least one recharge solution introduced through the sorbent module, a concentration of at least one recharge solution introduced through the sorbent module, and a flow rate of at least one recharge solution introduced through the sorbent module.
19 . The method of any of claims 15 - 17 , further comprising the step of receiving data from a second sensor ( 311 , 412 ) positioned between a recharge solution source containing the recharge solution and a sorbent module inlet of the sorbent module and comparing the data from the second sensor to data from the first sensor.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of stopping introduction of the recharge solution when data received from the first sensor is within a predetermined range of data received from the second sensor.
21 . The method of any of claims 15 - 20 , wherein the first sensor is a pH sensor, a conductivity sensor, an ion selective electrode, or an optical sensor.
22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the recharge solution comprises at least a brine solution.
23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the recharge solution comprises at least a base solution.
24 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of setting the at least one recharge parameter comprises comparing data from the first sensor to an elution profile of the sorbent module.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first sensor is an ion selective electrode, and further comprising the step of stopping introduction of the recharge solution when a concentration of at least one ion in the effluent line is within a predetermined range.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the predetermined range is a non-zero value.
27 . The method of any of claims 15 - 26 , wherein the method is performed by the system of claim 1 .
28 . The method of any of claims 15 - 27 , wherein the at least one recharge parameter is set based on data received from the first sensor at a first time, and wherein the at least one recharge parameter is adjusted based on data received from the first sensor at a second time.
29 . The method of any of claims 15 - 28 , the method for precision recharging of the at least one sorbent material.