AU2017210540B2 - Filter system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a filter system. The filter system includes a complex filter generating purified water from which nanoparticles, residual chlorine, and activated carbon particles are removed 5 from raw water introduced from the outside and a membrane filter removing viruses from the purified water generated in the complex filter. The complex filter includes a first ion adsorption part filtering the nanoparticles from the raw water, a carbon filter filtering the residual chlorine from the purified water from 0 which the nanoparticles are filtered by the first ion adsorption part, and a second ion adsorption part filtering the activated carbon particles, which are generated form the carbon filter, and the nanoparticles from the purified water from which the residual chlorine is filtered by the carbon filter. The introduction of 5 the dust and the nanoparticles into the membrane filter may be prevented to prevent an amount of flowing water and a placement period of the filter from being reduced. 114c 114 114b . . . - . 0 0 0 0 0 0 114a o0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 114d o 0 o o o 0 0 o o 0 o o o o o '115c b115b --P->'-K y > . 115 1 0 0 o o 0 o 0 o o 115a 0 0 o o o o o o o o 0 0 o o o 0 115d

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-20160100233 filed on 5 August 2016, and 10-2016-0102216 filed on 11 August 2016 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a filter system.

[0003] Various filters are used for water purifiers, which are devices for purifying water. In general, filters such as a sediment filter, a pre carbon filter, a membrane filter, and a post carbon filter may be used. Among them, the membrane filter is used as a core filter. A reverse osmosis membrane filter and a hollow fiber membrane filter are the most representative membrane filters.

[0004] The sediment filter is a filter that prevents sediments having large particles from being introduced and is mainly called a pretreatment filter or a sedimentation filter because it is installed first in the filter. The sediment filter is mainly used to filter large dust, rust, sand, soil, and the like. Thus, whether the sediment filter is used is selected in consideration of sizes of the particles contained in raw water introduced into the filter.

[0005] The pre carbon filter is a filter that removes chlorine (Cl), odor, and organic substances, which are contained in the raw water. Thus, the pre carbon filter is a filter that mainly disinfects impurities such as chlorine in the raw water pretreated by the sediment filter. If the sediment filter is not provided, the impurities such as chlorine are directly disinfected in the raw water. The pre carbon filter operates on a principle that carbon (activated carbon) adsorbs impurities.

[0006] The post carbon filter operates on a principle that carbon (activated carbon) adsorbs impurities in a manner similar to the pre carbon filter. The carbon (activated carbon) used in the post carbon filter removes gas, odor, and the like, which remain in the raw water, by using carbon (activated carbon) having quality higher that that of the carbon (activated carbon) used in the pre carbon filter or by adding an additional component. The pre carbon filter and the post carbon filter are named according to an installation order and the carbon (activated carbon) thereof. The pre carbon filter is installed before the membrane filter, and the post carbon filter is installed after the membrane filter.

[0007] The reverse osmosis membrane filter of the membrane filter refers to a filter using a reverse osmosis phenomenon. In a high-concentration solution and a low-concentration solution, which are isolated by a semipermeable membrane, water naturally passes through the semipermeable membrane to move from the low-concentration solution to the high-concentration solution. This phenomenon is called an osmotic phenomenon. Here, a difference in water level between the high-concentration solution and the low-concentration solution refers to as an osmotic pressure. However, when a pressure higher than the osmotic pressure is applied to the high-concentration solution, water passes through the semipermeable membrane to move from the high-concentration solution to the low-concentration solution as a phenomenon opposite to the natural phenomenon. This phenomenon is called a reverse osmotic phenomenon. Here, a difference in water level between the low-concentration solution and the high-concentration solution refers to as a reverse osmotic pressure. The reverse osmosis method is carried out by allowing only water molecules to pass through the semipermeable membrane due to the reverse osmotic phenomenon.

[0008] The hollow fiber membrane filter of the membrane filter uses hollow fibers such as a thread having a hollow in the center, like bamboo, as a filter membrane (hereinafter, referred to as a hollow fiber membrane). In the hollow fiber membrane, pores are formed to filter target substances to be removed, which are contained in water, and to allow water molecules to pass therethrough. If water passes through the hollow fiber membrane by using a water pressure, the removal target substances having sizes greater than that of each of the pores do not pass through the pores, and the water molecules pass through the hollow fiber membrane because the water molecule has a size less than that of the pore. The hollow fiber membrane is configured to purify raw water by using the above-described principle. However, it is known that the hollow fiber membrane does not remove finer substances as compared with the reverse osmosis membrane.

[0009] In the target substances to be removed, which are contained in the raw water, viruses are formed in vary microscopic sizes that are invisible to eyes. Particularly, if viruses that adversely affect the human body such as Norovirus are contained in drinking water, it is necessary to remove the virus through the water purifier because it causes abdominal pain and the like. However, since the reverse osmosis method is more effective than the hollow fiber membrane method in order to remove minute substances such as viruses that are formed in microscopic sizes, the removal of the viruses from the raw water has been generally performed through the reverse osmosis method.

[0010] However, when the reverse osmosis method is used, a long time is required to remove viruses, and a water storage tank for storing water has to be provided.

[0011] Research and development have been carried out to remove viruses by using the hollow fiber membrane that is capable of being used in a direct water system as a solution for this limitation. As a result, for example, there is Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0093446 filed by the applicant.

[0012] According to the above-described technique, a hollow fiber membrane having pores each of which has a size less than that of each of viruses may be provided to remove the viruses in a direct water supply manner.

[0013] However, since the hollow fiber membrane has the pores each of which has the size less than that of each of the viruses, there has been a limitation that an amount of flowing water is significantly reduced by nanoparticles existing in the water as time goes on.

[0014] Also, dust or the like may be generated on a carbon filter installed before the hollow fiber membrane type filter, and also, the dust or like may be contained in the purified water, thereby causing a limitation in which the dust or the like blocks the pores having the small size of the hollow fiber membrane type filter. As a result, a replacement period of the hollow fiber membrane type filter may be shortened.

[0015] Thus, when the hollow fiber membrane type filter, which is capable of removing viruses, is applied, there is a need for a filter system that is capable of overcoming the phenomenon in which the amount of flowing water is significantly reduced by the nanoparticles.

[0016] Also, there is a need for a filter system that is capable of preventing dust or the like from being injected into the small-sized pores of the hollow fiber membrane type filter and improving the replacement period of the hollow fiber membrane type filter.

[0017] Also, although a membrane for removing the nanoparticles and the dust or the like is provided in the carbon filter, since the membrane easily moves by an introduced water pressure, a filter system capable of firmly fixing the membrane is required.

SUMMARY

[0018] Embodiments provide a filter system that is capable of preventing a replacement period of a filter, to which a hollow fiber membrane is applied, from being reduced by dust of activated carbon generated when a carbon filter is used.

[0019] Embodiments also provide a filter system that is capable of preventing an amount of flowing water from being significantly reduced when a hollow fiber having a pore with a size capable of removing a virus is applied to the filter.

[0020] Embodiments also provide a filter system that is capable of being variously expanded by using a hollow fiber having a pore with a size capable of removing a virus and a carbon filter.

[0021] Embodiments provide a filter system that is capable of stably fixing a membrane for filtering dust, which is generated when a carbon filter is used, to the inside of the carbon filter.

[0022] Embodiments also provide a filter system that is preventing dust, which is generated when a carbon filter is used, from being introduced into a hollow fiber membrane type filter to prevent an amount of flowing water from being significantly reduced in the hollow fiber membrane type filter.

[0023] Embodiments also provide a filter system that is capable of being variously expanded by using a carbon filter including a hollow fiber membrane filter having a pore with a size capable of reducing a virus and a support structure.

[0024] In one embodiment, a filter system may include a complex filter generating purified water from which nanoparticles, residual chlorine, and activated carbon particles are removed from raw water introduced from the outside; and a membrane filter removing viruses from the purified water generated in the complex filter .

[0025] The complex filter may include a first ion adsorption part filtering the nanoparticles from the raw water.

[0026] The ion adsorption part may be disposed to surround an outer surface of the complex filter.

[0027] The complex filter may include a carbon filter filtering the residual chlorine from the purified water from which the nanoparticles are filtered by the first ion adsorption part.

[0028] A hollow part may be provided in the carbon filter.

[0029] The carbon filter may further include an adsorption member to additionally remove heavy metals or organic compounds.

[0030] The adsorption member may be mixed with a raw material of the carbon filter together with a binder and extrusion-molded to form the carbon filter.

[0031] The complex filter may include a second ion adsorption part filtering the activated carbon particles, which are generated form the carbon filter, and the nanoparticles from the purified water from which the residual chlorine is filtered by the carbon filter.

[0032] The second ion adsorption part may be disposed to surround an inner circumferential surface of the complex filter in the hollow part.

[0033] Each of the first ion adsorption part and the second ion adsorption part may include: a nonwoven fabric support body having a pore; a glass fiber or cellulose attached to a surface of the nonwoven fabric support body; and an ion adsorption material grafted on a surface of the glass fiber or cellulose to provide positive charges.

[0034] The pore of the first ion adsorption part may have a size greater than or equal to that of the pore of the second ion adsorption part.

[0035] The ion adsorption material may include alumina.

[0036] The membrane filter may have an average size of about 25 nm or less to remove a virus having a size of about 25 nm or more .

[0037] The filter system may further include a housing accommodating the complex filter and the membrane filter so that the complex filter and the membrane filter are provided as a single module.

[0038] The filter system may include a first housing accommodating the complex filter; and a second housing accommodating the membrane filter, wherein the first and second housings are provided as separate modules.

[0039] In another embodiment, a filter system includes: a carbon filter having a hollow therein and removing chlorine existing in water; and a membrane filter removing viruses from the water, from which the chlorine is removed, while passing through the carbon filter [0040] The carbon filter may include: an internal adsorption part provided in the carbon filter to remove carbon particles generated from the carbon filter; and a support supporting the internal adsorption part and disposed in the carbon filter.

[0041] The support may include: a support body of which the inside is penetrated; and upper and lower fixing parts protruding from the support body.

[0042] The internal adsorption part may be disposed between the upper fixing part and the lower fixing part.

[0043] The internal adsorption part may be prevented from vertically moving by the upper fixing part and the lower fixing part [0044] The internal adsorption part may be prevented from moving to a central axis of the carbon filter by the space defined in the outer surface of the support body.

[0045] A plurality of flow holes through which water passing through the internal adsorption part passes may be provided in the support body.

[0046] The support may be inserted into the carbon filter in a state in which the internal adsorption part is closely attached to an inner circumferential surface of the carbon filter.

[0047] An external adsorption part removing the nanoparticles from water introduced from the outside may be disposed on an outer surface of the carbon filter.

[0048] Each of the external adsorption part and the internal adsorption part may include: a nonwoven fabric support body; a fiber material attached to a surface of the nonwoven fabric support body; and an ion adsorption material provided on a surface of the fiber material.

[0049] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a fluid flow in a filter system according to an embodiment.

[0051] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a complex filter according to a first embodiment.

[0052] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the complex filter according to the first embodiment.

[0053] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the complex filter according to the first embodiment.

[0054] Fig. 5 is one conceptual diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an ion adsorption part according to the first embodiment.

[0055] Fig. 6 is the other conceptual diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the ion adsorption part according to the first embodiment.

[0056] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a complex filter according to a second embodiment.

[0057] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the complex filter according to the second embodiment.

[0058] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a support part according to the second embodiment.

[0059] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the complex filter according to the second embodiment.

[0060] Fig. 11 is one conceptual diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an ion adsorption part according to the second embodiment.

[0061] Fig. 12 is the other conceptual diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the ion adsorption part according to the second embodiment.

[0062] Fig. 13 is a photograph of the ion adsorption part.

[0063] Fig. 14 is a conceptual view for explaining a mechanism in which nanoparticles are adsorbed to the ion adsorption part.

[0064] Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a membrane filter according to an embodiment.

[0065] Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the membrane filter according to an embodiment.

[0066] Fig. 17 is an enlarged photograph of a hollow fiber membrane .

[0067] Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a filter system according to a third embodiment.

[0068] Fig. 19 is a view of a filter system according to a fourth embodiment.

[0069] Fig. 20 is a view of a filter system according to a fifth embodiment.

[0070] Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a filter system according to a sixth embodiment.

[0071] Fig. 22 is a view of a filter system according to a seventh embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0072] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the same or similar components may be designated by the same or similar reference numerals although they are described according to different embodiments, and the explanation is substituted for the first explanation. The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless referred to the contrary.

[0073] It will be understood that although the ordinal numbers such as first and second are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these numbers. The terms are only used to distinguish one component from other components.

[0074] In this specification, the meaning of 'include' or 'comprise' specifies a property, a region, a fixed number, a step, a process, an element and/or a component but does not exclude other properties, regions, fixed numbers, steps, processes, elements and/or components.

[0075] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a fluid flow in a filter system according to an embodiment.

[0076] Referring to Fig. 1, a filter system 100 reguires more components than those illustrated in Fig. 1 so as to implement purification of raw water or products of an apparatus (water purifier) for purifying raw water. However, in Fig. 1, only essential components related to the technical ideas are illustrated, and the remaining components are omitted.

[0077] The filter system 100 according to this embodiment may include a complex filter 110 and a membrane filter 120, which filter impurities from raw water A to generate purified water.

[0078] The membrane filter 120 may be provided in a hollow fiber membrane manner to remove viruses. The membrane filter 120 may have pores with an average size less than that of each of the viruses to remove the viruses existing in the water.

[0079] The membrane filter 120 may be applied in a reverse osmosis manner rather than the hollow fiber membrane manner. Although not limited to this idea, it is assumed that the membrane filter 120 is provided in the hollow fiber membrane manner in this embodiment.

[0080] The pores provided in the hollow fiber membrane manner according to the related art have an average size of about 100 nm. However, since the viruses have an average size of about 25 nm to about 27 nm, it is difficult to remove the viruses by using the hollow fiber membrane manner according to the related art. The reason in which the pore has a size greater than that of the virus in the hollow fiber membrane manner according to the related art is because a function in the hollow fiber membrane manner is not related to the removal of the viruses.

[0081] One feature of the membrane filter 120 according to this embodiment is to remove the viruses. For this, the membrane filter 120 may have pores with an average size less than that of each of the viruses to remove the viruses. Since the viruses to be removed from water have an average size of about 25 nm to about 27 nm, the membrane filter 120 may have an average pore size of about 25 nm or less. To secure reliability in removal of viruses, the membrane filter 120 may have an average pore size of about 20 nm.

[0082] The membrane filter 120 having the average pore size of about 25 nm or less may remove viruses existing in water through a size exclusion mechanism. Particularly, the membrane filter 120 that removes the viruses through the size exclusion mechanism may have an advantage in that the viruses are capable of being removed regardless of kinds of raw water.

[0083] That is, since the membrane filter 120 uses the size exclusion mechanism, the membrane filter 120 is not affected by conditions of the raw water.

[0084] However, nanoparticles each of which has a size of about 200 nm or less as well as the viruses may exist in raw water such as water within a water supply. When the raw water passes through the membrane filter 120 to remove the viruses from the raw water containing the nanoparticles, the pores of the membrane filter 120 may be blocked by the nanoparticles as time goes on, and thus, an amount of water flowing through the membrane filter 120 may be significantly reduced.

[0085] That is, in the filter system 100 using the membrane filter 120 having the average pore size of about 25 nm or less, the decrease in amount of flowing water by the nanoparticles may have a great influence on performance of the water purifier.

[0086] Thus, in this embodiment, the complex filter 110 may be disposed before the membrane filter 120 to remove the nanoparticles .

[0087] The complex filter 110 may generate water B introduced into the membrane filter 120. Also, the complex filter 110 may include a carbon filter (see reference numeral 111 of Fig. 3) for removing residual chlorine contained in at least the raw water A. Also, the complex filter 110 may include ion adsorption parts (see reference numerals 114 and 115 of Fig. 3) that filter the nanoparticles contained in at least the raw water A. Also, the complex filter 110 may include the plurality of ion adsorption parts (see reference numerals 114 and 115 of Fig. 3) to prevent activated carbon dust generated in a carbon block (see reference numeral 111 of Fig. 3) from being introduced into the membrane filter 12 0.

[0088] That is, the water B passing through the complex filter 110 does not contain residual chlorine, the activated carbon dust, and the nanoparticles.

[0089] The water B passing through the complex filter 110 may be introduced into the membrane filter 120 to remove the viruses through the pores having an average size less than that of the viruses .

[0090] That is, the water B passing through the complex filter 110 may pass through the membrane filter 120 to generate purified water C from which the viruses are removed. The purified water C may be used as drinking water as clean water from which the impurities such as residual chlorine, the activated carbon dust, and the nanoparticles and the viruses are removed.

[0091] As a result, the blocking of the pores of the membrane filter 120 by the activated carbon dust of the carbon block (see reference numeral 111 of Fig. 3), which is contained in the water B passing through the complex filter 110, and the nanoparticles may be prevented to increase a placement period of the membrane filter 12 0.

[0092] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the complex filter according to a first embodiment, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the complex filter according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the complex filter according to the first embodiment.

[0093] Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, the complex filter 110 may include the carbon block 111 for removing the residual chlorine and the plurality of ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 for removing the nanoparticles and the activated carbon dust.

[0094] The carbon block 111 may remove the residual chlorine existing in water by allowing the water to pass therethrough. The carbon block 111 may be understood as a carbon filter formed in the form of a block by compressing activated carbon through heat, a pressure, or a binder. The activated carbon may be called an activated carbon, carbon, or the like as a raw material of the carbon block 111. Also, the dust may be called powder or particles of the activated carbon. For example, the dust may be called activated carbon particles, activated carbon powder, carbon dust, or the like. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[0095] Also, the carbon block 111 may further include an adsorption material for additionally removing heavy metals or organic compounds. The adsorption material may be mixed with a raw material of the carbon block 111.

[0096] For example, the adsorption material may include iron hydroxide and a silica material. The iron hydroxide may remove arsenic existing in water, and the silica material may remove lead existing in water. Also, the adsorption material may include a material for removing chloroform that is a representative organic compound existing in water. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[0097] Covers 112 and 113 may be coupled to upper and lower ends of the carbon block 111. A hollow part may be defined in a central portion of the carbon block 111, and a hole 116 may be defined in each of the covers 112 and 113 to correspond to the hollow part of the carbon block 111.

[0098] The hole 116 may be understood as a passage through which the water passing through the carbon block 111 flows.

[0099] The plurality of ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may be coupled to the carbon block 111 to form the complex filter 110. The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may include a first ion adsorption part 114 provided on an outer circumferential surface of the carbon block 111 and a second ion adsorption part 115 disposed in the hollow part of the carbon block 111. Also, each of the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may be provided as one layer or film to prevent a flow rate from being reduced by the nanoparticles .

[00100] The ion adsorption part 114 may surround an outer circumferential surface of the carbon block 111 to previously remove the nanoparticles from the water to be supplied into the carbon block 111. Also, the first ion adsorption part 114 may be disposed on an outer surface of the carbon block 111. The second ion adsorption part 115 may be disposed in the hollow part of the carbon block 111 to surround an inner circumferential surface of the carbon block 111, thereby removing activated carbon dust from the water passing through the carbon block 111. Also, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be disposed on an inner surface of the carbon block 111.

[00101] Each of the first and second ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may have a pore and a gap with a predetermined size so that water passes therethrough. The first and second ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may have the same or similar pore and gap. Also, the first ion adsorption part 114 may have a pore and a gap each of which has a size greater than that of each of a pore and a gap of the second ion adsorption part 115. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea. Here, the pore and the gap may represent a size of a space through which water passes through the first or second ion adsorption part 114 or 115.

[00102] That is, water may be introduced into the outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 110, and the nanoparticles existing in the water may be removed by the first ion adsorption part 114. The water from which the nanoparticles are removed may pass through the carbon block 111 to remove the residual chlorine existing in the water. The water from which the residual chlorine is removed may pass through the second ion adsorption part 115 to remove the activated carbon dust generated by the carbon block 111 and nanoparticles that are not removed by the first ion adsorption part 114. The water from which the nanoparticles, the activated carbon dust, and the residual chlorine are removed may pass through the hollow part of the carbon block 111 and the hole 116 to flow.

[00103] Fig. 5 is one conceptual diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the ion adsorption part according to the first embodiment.

[00104] Referring to Fig. 5, the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 are configured to remove negatively charged nanoparticles existing in the water by using electrostatic attractive force. The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may include a nonwoven fabric support body 114a, a glass fiber 114b, an ion adsorption material 114c, and a pore 114d.

[00105] The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may include the first ion adsorption part 114 and the second ion adsorption part 115. The first ion adsorption part 114 and the second ion adsorption part 115 may have a difference in size of the pore and gap through which water passes. Also, the ion adsorption part 114 and the second ion adsorption part 115 may have the same component except for the sizes of the pore and gap.

[00106] Thus, the same component of the ion adsorption part 114 and the second ion adsorption part 115 may be called the same name. Also, in the components of the first and second ion adsorption parts 114 and 115, the components of the first ion adsorption part 114 may be called a first nonwoven fabric support body 114a, a first glass fiber 114b, a first ion adsorption material 114c, and a first pore 114d. Also, the components of the second ion adsorption part 115 may be called a second nonwoven fabric support body 115a, a second glass fiber 115b, a second ion adsorption material 115c, and a second pore 115d.

[00107] The first nonwoven fabric support body 114a may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the carbon block (see reference numeral 111 of Fig. 3). Also, the second nonwoven fabric support body 115a may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the carbon block 111. Particularly, each of the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115 may be manufactured in the form of a sheet and also may be provided in various shapes through processing. For example, the first nonwoven fabric support body 114a may be provided in a corrugated shape. Also, the second nonwoven fabric support body 115a may be provided in a cylindrical shape. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[00108] The nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a may support the glass fibers 114b and 115b, respectively. The pores 114d and 115d through which water passes may be provided in the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a, respectively. For example, each of the pores 114d and 115d may have a size of about 2 χάη to about 3 jMn.

[00109] The glass fibers 114b and 115b may be attached to surfaces of the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a, respectively. The glass fibers 114b and 115b are configured to fix the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c, respectively. The glass fibers 114b and 115b in the form of fibrils may be randomly arranged on the surfaces of the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a and entangled with each other. A gap having a size of about 2 βτα to about 3 //m may be defined between the glass fibers, and water may pass through the gap. Particles each of which has a size greater than that of the gap may be removed from the water through the size exclusion mechanism.

[00110] The ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may be formed by being grafted on the surfaces of the glass fibers 114b and 115b, respectively. The grafting is a process for fixing the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c to the surfaces of the glass fibers 114b and 115b. The grafting may include a process of fixing the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c to the glass fibers 114b and 115b through physical rolling. The ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may provide positive charges so that the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c are ion-adsorbed to the nanoparticles having negative charges, which exist in the water passing through the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a.

[00111] Each of the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may include alumina (A1OOH). The alumina may be dissociated into A1O+ cations and OH- anions. The ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may provide positive charges that are necessary for the ion adsorption using the A1O+ cations. Each of the positive charges may have a size of about +80 mV.

[00112] The nanoparticles that are negatively charged by the positive charges provided by the ion adsorption material 114c and 115c may be ion-adsorbed to the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115, respectively. That is, since the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 remove the nanoparticles by using the electrostatic attractive force, the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may be called "electrostatic adsorption parts".

[00113] An arrow illustrated in Fig. 5 represents a direction in which water flows.

[00114] With reference to the arrow, the nanoparticles contained in water may be ion-adsorbed while the first ion adsorption material 114c passes through the gap of the grafted first glass fiber 114b. Also, the water may pass through the first pore 114d of the first nonwoven fabric support body 114a.

[00115] Also, while processing the gap of the first glass fiber 114b and the first pore 114d, particles each of which has a size greater than that of each of the gap and the pore may be removed from the water through the size exclusion mechanism.

[00116] The water passing through the first ion adsorption part 114 may pass through the carbon block 111 to remove the residual chlorine.

[00117] The water from which the residual chlorine is removed may pass through the second ion adsorption part 115. The water passing through the second ion adsorption part 115 may be additionally ion-adsorbed to the nanoparticles that are not ion-adsorbed to the first ion adsorption part 114 while the second ion adsorption material 115c passes through the gap of the grafted second glass fiber 115b.

[00118] Also, the water may pass through the second pore 115d of the second nonwoven fabric support body 115a. While processing the gap of the second glass fiber 115b and the second pore 115d, particles each of which has a size greater than that of each of the gap and the pore may be removed from the water through the size exclusion mechanism.

[00119] Here, the activated carbon dust generated while passing through the carbon block 111 may be removed.

[00120] The first pore 114d of the first ion adsorption part 114 may have a size greater than that of the second pore 115d of the second ion adsorption part 115. Also, the first pore 114d and the second pore 115d may have the same size. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[00121] According to the above-described configuration, the relatively large nanoparticles of the nanoparticles may be filtered by the first ion adsorption part 114, and the relatively small nanoparticles of the nanoparticles may be filtered by the second ion adsorption part 115. That is, the nanoparticles may be removed in order of descending size.

[00122] However, when the first pore 114d has a size less than that of the second pore 115d, the first pore 114d may be blocked by the nanoparticles prior to the second pore 115d. That is, the pore may be blocked to reduce an amount of water flowing therethrough.

[00123] Thus, the first pore 114d may have a size greater than that of the second pore 115d, or the first and second pores 114d and 115d may have the same size.

[00124] Fig. 6 is the other conceptual diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the ion adsorption part according to the first embodiment.

[00125] The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may be configured to remove the nanoparticles having the negative charges, which exist in the water, by using the electrostatic attractive force. The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may include the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a, the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c, and celluloses 114h and 115h.

[00126] That is, the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a and the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c in the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 of Fig. 5 are the same as those of Fig. 6 except that the celluloses 114h and 115h are used instead of the glass fibers 114b and 115b.

[00127] The celluloses 114h and 115h in the form of fibrils may be randomly arranged on the surfaces of the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a and entangled with each other. A gap having a size of about 0.5 μιπ to about 1 pw may be defined between the celluloses, and water may pass through the gap. Particles each of which has a size greater than that of the gap may be removed from the water through the size exclusion mechanism.

[00128] The celluloses 114h and 115h have several advantages as compared with the glass fibers 114b and 115b.

[00129] First, the celluloses 114h and 115h are harmless to the human body. Since the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 are components of the filter system 100 generating the drinking water, the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 should not be harmful to the human body. Also, since the celluloses 114h and 115h are proved to be harmless as compared with the glass fibers 114b and 115b, the celluloses 114h and 115h may be suitable as components of the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 for treating the drinking water.

[00130] Also, a gap having a size less than that of the glass fiber may be defined between the celluloses. Thus, the performance of removing the impurities existing in the water through the size exclusion mechanism may be improved.

[00131] An arrow illustrated in Fig. 6 represents a direction in which water flows.

[00132] The nanoparticles, the residual chlorine, and the activated carbon dust contained in the water may be removed in order of the first ion adsorption part 114, the carbon block 111, and the second ion adsorption part 115 with respect to the arrow of Fig. 6.

[00133] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a complex filter according to a second embodiment, Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the complex filter according to the second embodiment, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a support part according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 10 is a crosssectional view of the complex filter according to the second embodiment.

[00134] Referring to Figs. 7 to 10, a complex filter 110 may include a carbon block for removing residual chlorine and a plurality of ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 for removing nanoparticles and activated carbon dust.

[00135] The carbon block 111 may remove the residual chlorine existing in water by allowing water to pass therethrough. The carbon block 111 may be understood as a carbon filter formed in the form of a block by compressing activated carbon through heat, a pressure, or a binder. The activated carbon may be called an activated carbon, carbon, or the like as a raw material of the carbon block 111. Also, the dust may be called powder or particles of the activated carbon. For example, the dust may be called activated carbon particles, activated carbon powder, carbon dust, or the like. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[00136] Also, the carbon block 111 may further include an adsorption material for additionally removing heavy metals or organic compounds. The adsorption material may be mixed with a raw material of the carbon block 111.

[00137] For example, the adsorption material may include iron hydroxide and a silica material. The iron hydroxide may remove arsenic existing in the water, and the silica material may remove lead existing in the water. Also, the adsorption material may include a material for removing chloroform that is a representative organic compound existing in water. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[00138] Covers 112 and 113 may be coupled to upper and lower ends of the carbon block 111. A hollow part may be defined in a central portion of the carbon block 111, and a hole 116 may be defined in each of the covers 112 and 113 to correspond to the hollow part of the carbon block 111.

[00139] The hole 116 may be understood as a passage through which the water passing through the carbon block 111 flows.

[00140] The plurality of ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may be coupled to the carbon block 111 to form the complex filter 110. The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may include a first ion adsorption part 114 provided on an outer circumferential surface of the carbon block 111 and a second ion adsorption part 115 disposed in the hollow part of the carbon block 111.

[00141] Each of the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may be provided as one layer or film to prevent a flow rate from being reduced by the nanoparticles.

[00142] The ion adsorption part 114 may surround an outer circumferential surface of the carbon block 111 to previously remove the nanoparticles from the water to be supplied into the carbon block 111. Also, the first ion adsorption part 114 may be disposed on an outer surface of the carbon block 111. Here, the first ion adsorption part 114 may be called an "external adsorption part".

[00143] The second ion adsorption part 115 may be disposed in the hollow part of the carbon block 111 to surround an inner circumferential surface of the carbon block 111, thereby removing activated carbon dust from the water passing through the carbon block 111. Also, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be disposed on an inner surface of the carbon block 111. Here, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be called an "internal adsorption part".

[00144] Each of the first and second ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may have a pore and a gap with a predetermined size so that water passes therethrough. The first and second ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may have the same or similar pore and gap. Also, the first ion adsorption part 114 may have a pore and a gap each of which has a size greater than that of each of a pore and a gap of the second ion adsorption part 115. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea. Here, the pore and the gap may represent a size of a space through which water passes through the first or second ion adsorption part 114 or 115.

[00145] The complex filter 110 may includes a support 150 supporting the second ion adsorption part 115 on the hollow part of the carbon block 111.

[00146] The support 150 may be inserted into the hollow part of the carbon block 111. Also, the support 150 may be fitted to be coupled to the hollow part of the carbon block 111. In the state in which the support 150 is fitted to be coupled to the hollow part of the carbon block 111, covers 112 and 113 may be coupled to upper and lower ends of the carbon block 111.

[00147] The support 150 may include a support body 151 having a cylindrical shape of which the inside is penetrated, an upper fixing part 152 disposed on an upper end of the support body 151, and a lower fixing part 153 disposed on a lower end of the support body 151. Also, a plurality of flow holes 154 for allowing the inside of the support body 151 to communicate with the outside of the support body 151 may be provided in the support body 151.

[00148] The second ion adsorption part 115 may be disposed on an outer surface of the support body 151. In detail, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be wound to be fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the support body 151.

[00149] The upper fixing part 152 and the lower fixing part 153 may protrude from the outer surface of the support body 151. Also, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be disposed between the protruding upper fixing part 152 and the protruding lower fixing part 153.

[00150] Since the upper fixing part 152 and the lower fixing part 153 protrude from the support body 151, a space in which the second ion adsorption part 115 is seated may be defined in an outer surface of the support body 151.

[00151] Also, when the second ion adsorption part 115 is disposed between the protruding upper fixing part 152 and the protruding lower fixing part 153, the second ion adsorption part 115 is prevented from vertically moving.

[00152] For another example, the upper fixing part 152 and the lower fixing part 153 may be disposed to be separated from the support body 151. Here, each of the support body 151, the upper fixing part 152, and the lower fixing part 153 may be coupled to each other through screw coupling, fitting, or the like. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[00153] The water passing through the second ion adsorption part 115 may flow through the flow hole 154 defined in the support body 151. Also, the flow hole 154 may variously vary in size. Also, the support body 151 may include the plurality of flow holes 154, and at least a portion of the flow holes 154 may be provided in the form of a mesh. According to the abovedescribed configuration, an amount of water passing through the second ion adsorption part 115 may be prevented from being reduced by the flow holes 154. Also, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be supported by the support body 151 except for the flow holes 154 .

[00154] That is, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be prevented from vertically moving by the upper fixing part 152 and the lower fixing part 153. Also, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be supported by the support body 151 by the space defined by the protruding upper and lower fixing parts 152 and 153.

[00155] That is, the water introduced into the outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 110 may pass in order of the first ion adsorption part 114 and the carbon block 111. When the water passing through the carbon block 111 is introduced into the second ion adsorption part 115, the second ion adsorption part 115 may move in a direction of the inner circumferential surface of the carbon block 111 by a water pressure of the water introduced into the carbon block 111. Here, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be prevented from moving in the direction of the inner circumferential surface of the carbon block 111 by the support body 151 on which the second ion adsorption part 115 is seated.

[00156] Also, the second ion adsorption part 115 may vertically move by the water flowing toward the hole 116 along the hollow part of the carbon block 111. Here, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be prevented from vertically moving by the upper fixing part 152 and the lower fixing part 153.

[00157] As a result, the water may be introduced into an outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 110, and the nanoparticles existing in the water may be removed by the first ion adsorption part 114. The water from which the nanoparticles are removed may pass through the carbon block 111 to remove the residual chlorine existing in the water. The water from which the residual chlorine is removed may pass through the second ion adsorption part 115 to remove the activated carbon dust generated by the carbon block 111 and nanoparticles that are not removed by the first ion adsorption part 114. The water from which the nanoparticles, the activated carbon dust, and the residual chlorine are removed may pass through the flow hole 154 of the support 150. Also, the water passing through the flow hole 154 may flow toward the hole 116 in the support 150.

[00158] According to the above-described configuration, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be stably fixed to the hollow part of the carbon block 111. Also, the moving of the second ion adsorption part 115, which occurs because the second ion adsorption part 115 is not fixed to the hollow part of the carbon block 111, may be prevented. That is, the moving of the second ion adsorption part 115 may be prevented by the water pressure to prevent the dust from being introduced into the membrane filter 120 .

[00159] Also, even if a fixing agent such as silicone is used to fix the second ion adsorption part 115 to the inside of the carbon block 111, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be prevented from being separated from the carbon block 111 by the water pressure. Alternatively, the second ion adsorption part 115 may be stably fixed to the carbon block 111 without using the fixing agent such as the silicone.

[00160] Fig. 11 is one conceptual diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the ion adsorption part according to the second embodiment.

[00161] Referring to Fig. 11, the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 are configured to remove negatively charged nanoparticles existing in the water by using electrostatic attractive force. The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may include a nonwoven fabric support body 114a, a glass fiber 114b, an ion adsorption material 114c, and a pore 114d.

[00162] The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may include the first ion adsorption part 114 and the second ion adsorption part 115. The first ion adsorption part 114 and the second ion adsorption part 115 may have a difference in size of the pore and the gap through which water passes. Also, the ion adsorption part 114 and the second ion adsorption part 115 may have the same component except for the sizes of the pore and gap.

[00163] Thus, the same component of the ion adsorption part 114 and the second ion adsorption part 115 may be called the same name. Also, in the components of the first and second ion adsorption parts 114 and 115, the components of the first ion adsorption part 114 may be called a first nonwoven fabric support body 114a, a first glass fiber 114b, a first ion adsorption material 114c, and a first pore 114d. Also, the components of the second ion adsorption part 115 may be called a second nonwoven fabric support body 115a, a second glass fiber 115b, a second ion adsorption material 115c, and a second pore 115d.

[00164] The first nonwoven fabric support body 114a may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the carbon block (see reference numeral 111 of Fig. 8). Also, the second nonwoven fabric support body 115a may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the carbon block 111. In detail, the second nonwoven fabric support body 115a may be supported by the support body 151 of the support 150.

[00165] Particularly, each of the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115 may be manufactured in the form of a sheet and also may be provided in various shapes through processing. For example, the first nonwoven fabric support body 114a may be provided in a corrugated shape. Also, the second nonwoven fabric support body 115a may be provided in a cylindrical shape. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[00166] The nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a may support the glass fibers 114b and 115b, respectively. The pores 114d and 115d through which water passes may be provided in the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a, respectively. For example, each of the pores 114d and 115d may have a size of about 2 pan to about 3 //m.

[00167] The glass fibers 114b and 115a may be attached to surfaces of the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a, respectively. The glass fibers 114b and 115b are configured to fix the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c, respectively. The glass fibers 114b and 115b in the form of fibrils may be randomly arranged on the surfaces of the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a and entangled with each other. A gap having a size of about 2 pan to about 3 //m may be defined between the glass fibers, and water may pass through the gap. Particles each of which has a size greater than that of the gap may be removed from the water through the size exclusion mechanism.

[00168] The ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may be formed by being grafted on the surfaces of the glass fibers 114b and 115b, respectively. The grafting is a process for fixing the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c to the surfaces of the glass fibers 114b and 115b. The grafting may include a process of fixing the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c to the glass fibers 114b and 115b through physical rolling. The ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may provide positive charges so that the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c are ion-adsorbed to the nanoparticles having negative charges, which exist in the water passing through the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a.

[00169] Each of the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may include alumina (A1OOH). The alumina may be dissociated into A1O+ cations and OH- anions. The ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may provide positive charges that are necessary for the ion adsorption using the A1O+ cations. Each of the positive charges may have a size of about +80 mV.

[00170] The ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c may generate bipolar particles on the surface as described above, and the bipolar particles may collect organic substances and metal oxides dissolved in the water. For example, the organic substances may include organic compounds having functional groups such as COOH-, OH-, COO-, and the like. For example, the metal oxides may include A12O3. Since the substance to be collected is negative, it may be collected to the ion adsorption material. Inorganic substances beneficial to the human body such as Ca+ may be collected to the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c, thereby contributing to improvement of water quality.

[00171] The nanoparticles that are negatively charged by the positive charges provided by the ion adsorption material 114c and 115c may be ion-adsorbed to the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115, respectively. That is, since the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 remove the nanoparticles by using the electrostatic attractive force, the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may be called "electrostatic adsorption parts".

[00172] An arrow illustrated in Fig. 11 represents a direction in which water flows.

[00173] With reference to the arrow, the nanoparticles contained in water may be ion-adsorbed while the first ion adsorption material 114c passes through the gap of the grafted first glass fiber 114b. Also, the water may pass through the first pore 114d of the first nonwoven fabric support body 114a.

[00174] Also, while processing the gap of the first glass fiber 114b and the first pore 114d, particles each of which has a size greater than that of each of the gap and the pore may be removed from the water through the size exclusion mechanism.

[00175] The water passing through the first ion adsorption part 114 may pass through the carbon block 111 to remove the residual chloride.

[00176] The water from which the residual chlorine is removed may pass through the second ion adsorption part 115. The water passing through the second ion adsorption part 115 may be additionally ion-adsorbed to the nanoparticles that are not ion-adsorbed to the first ion adsorption part 114 while the second ion adsorption material 115c passes through the gap of the grafted second glass fiber 115b.

[00177] Also, the water may pass through the second pore 115d of the second nonwoven fabric support body 115a. While processing the gap of the second glass fiber 115b and the second pore 115d, particles each of which has a size greater than that of each of the gap and the pore may be removed from the water through the size exclusion mechanism. Here, the activated carbon dust generated while passing through the carbon block 111 may be removed.

[00178] The water from which the activated carbon dust generated while passing through the carbon block 111 may pass through the flow hole 154 of the support 150.

[00179] The first pore 114d of the first ion adsorption part 114 may have a size greater than that of the second pore 115d of the second ion adsorption part 115. Also, the first pore 114d and the second pore 115d may have the same size. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[00180] According to the above-described configuration, the relatively large nanoparticles of the nanoparticles may be filtered by the first ion adsorption part 114, and the relatively small nanoparticles of the nanoparticles may be filtered by the second ion adsorption part 115. That is, the nanoparticles may be removed in order of descending size.

[00181] However, when the first pore 114d has a size less than that of the second pore 115d, the first pore 114d may be blocked by the nanoparticles prior to the second pore 115d. That is, the pore may be blocked to reduce an amount of flowing water.

[00182] Thus, the first pore 114d may have a size greater than that of the second pore 115d, or the first and second pores 114d and 115d may have the same size.

[00183] Fig. 12 is the other conceptual diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the ion adsorption part according to the second embodiment.

[00184] The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may be configured to remove the nanoparticles having the negative charges, which exist in the water, by using the electrostatic attractive force. The ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 may include the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a, the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c, and celluloses 114h and 115h.

[00185] That is, the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a and the ion adsorption materials 114c and 115c in the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 of Fig. 11 are the same as those of Fig. 6 except that the celluloses 114h and 115h are used instead of the glass fibers 114b and 115b.

[00186] The celluloses 114h and 115h in the form of fibrils may be randomly arranged on the surfaces of the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a and entangled with each other. A gap having a size of about 0.5 /.mi to about 1 /zui may be defined between the celluloses, and water may pass through the gap. Particles each of which has a size greater than that of the gap may be removed from the water through the size exclusion mechanism.

[00187] The celluloses 114h and 115h have several advantages as compared with the glass fibers 114b and 115b.

[00188] First, the celluloses 114h and 115h are harmless to the human body. Since the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 are components of the filter system 100 generating the drinking water, the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 should not be harmful to the human body. Also, since the celluloses 114h and 115h are proved to be harmless as compared with the glass fibers 114b and 115b, the celluloses 114h and 115h may be suitable as components of the ion adsorption parts 114 and 115 for treating the drinking water.

[00189] Also, a gap having a size less than that of the glass fiber may be defined between the celluloses. Thus, the performance of removing the impurities existing in the water through the size exclusion mechanism may be improved.

[00190] An arrow illustrated in Fig. 12 represents a direction in which water flows.

[00191] The nanoparticles, the residual chlorine, and the activated carbon dust contained in the water may be removed in order of the first ion adsorption part 114, the carbon block 111, and the second ion adsorption part 115. The water from which the nanoparticles, the residual chlorine, and the activated carbon dust are removed may pass through the flow hole 154 of the support 150 to flow.

[00192] Fig. 13 is a photograph of the ion adsorption part.

[00193] Referring to Fig. 13, in the photograph, bright portions of lower left and upper ends correspond to the nonwoven fabric support bodies 114a and 115a. Also, the dark fibers extending from upper left end to lower right end correspond to the glass fibers 114b and 115b or the celluloses 114h and 115h. Particles disposed on surface of the glass fibers 114b and 115b or the celluloses 114h and 115h correspond to alumina.

[00194] Fig. 14 is a conceptual view for explaining a mechanism in which the nanoparticles are adsorbed to the ion adsorption part.

[00195] A mechanism in which the nanoparticles are ion-adsorbed may be described by using the first ion adsorption part (reference numeral 114 of Figs. 3 and 8) as an example, and an arrow of Fig. 14 represents a flow of water.

[00196] Referring to Fig. 14, three first glass fibers 114b or first celluloses 114h are disposed to be entangled with each other. A gap having a triangular shape may be defined between the three first glass fibers 114b or first celluloses 114h, and water may pass through the gap. The alumina fixed to the surface of the first glass fiber 114b or the cellulose 114h may provide cations, which are necessary for the ion adsorption by using cations. Thus, positive charges may be formed on the surface of the first glass fiber 114b or the cellulose 114h. Since the nanoparticles existing in the water are negatively charged, the nanoparticles may be ion-adsorbed to the cations existing on the surface of the first glass fiber 114b or the cellulose 114h while the water passes through the first glass fiber 114b or the cellulose 114h.

[00197] Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a membrane filter according to an embodiment, Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the membrane filter according to an embodiment, and Fig. 17 is an enlarged photograph of a hollow fiber membrane.

[00198] Referring to Figs. 15 to 17, the membrane filter 120 may be formed by bundling the hollow fiber membrane 121. The hollow fiber membrane 121 represents a membrane such as a thread having a hollow portion in the middle. A lower end 124 may be potted by a resin such as polyurethane to block a flow of water. Also, a resin of an upper end 123 may be cut after the potting to discharge water through the central portion of the hollow fiber membrane. Pores each of which has a small size may be defined in an outer circumferential surface of the hollow fiber membrane 121. The pore may have a size of about 25 nm or less to remove viruses. To more completely remove the viruses, the pores may have an average size of about 20 nm.

[00199] A passage 122 through which water is discharged may be provided in a central portion of the membrane filter 120. The passage 122 may be understood as a path through which the water passing through the hollow fiber membrane 121 flows.

[00200] The water may be introduced into an outer circumferential surface of the membrane filter 120, i.e., the pore having a small size, provided in the outer circumferential surface of the hollow fiber membrane 121. The viruses existing in the water may not pass through the pore while passing through the membrane filter 120, and thus may be removed from the water.

[00201] An arrow of Figs. 15 and 16 represents a flow of water.

Also, the water may be discharged through the passage 122 provided in the central portion of the membrane filter 120.

[00202] With reference to the arrow, the water may be introduced into the bundle of the hollow fiber membranes 121. The introduced water may pass through the pores provided in the outer circumferential surface of the hollow fiber membrane 121. Here, virus having a size less than that of the pore may be removed. The water passing through the pore may flow through the empty central portion of the hollow fiber membrane 121.

[00203] In this embodiment, a flow of water at the lower end may be blocked by a resin such as polyurethane, and the upper end 123 may be cut to provide the passage 122 through which the water is discharged.

[00204] Thus, the water flowing through the empty central portion of the hollow fiber membrane 121 may be discharged to the outside of the membrane filter 120 through the passage 122. Here, the water from which the viruses are removed may flow through the empty central portion of the hollow fiber membrane 121.

[00205] Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a filter system according to a third embodiment.

[00206] Referring to Fig. 18, a filter system 200 according to this embodiment may be provided as one-stage filter in which a complex filter 210 and a membrane filter 220 are coupled to each other. Also, the filter system 200 may include a housing 201 accommodating the complex filter 210 and the membrane filter 220. A function of each of the complex filter 210 and the membrane filter 220 is the same as that described above.

[00207] The complex filter 210 and the membrane filter 220 may be disposed in the housing 201. As illustrated in Fig. 18, the complex filter 210 and the membrane filter 220 may be successively stacked in the housing 201. An inlet 201a defining an inflow passage of raw water and an outlet 201b defining a passage through which purified water is discharged may be provided in the housing 201.

[00208] An inner passage of the housing 201 may include a raw water supply passage 202a, a connection passage 202b, and a discharge passage 202c.

[00209] The raw water supply passage 202a may extend from the inlet 201a to an outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 210 to allow raw water to flow to the complex filter 210.

The raw water introduced through the inlet 201a of the housing 201 may be supplied to the outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 210 along the raw water supply passage 202a.

[00210] The raw water introduced into the complex filter 210 may pass the first ion adsorption part 214 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 210. Next, the water may pass through the carbon block 211. Then, the water may pass through the second ion adsorption part 215 disposed on the hollow part of the carbon block 211 to flow.

[00211] The connection passage 202b may extend from the complex filter 210 to an outer circumferential surface of the membrane filter 220 so that the water from which the nanoparticles, the activated carbon dust, and the residual chlorine are primarily removed while passing through the complex filter 210 flows to the membrane filter 220.

[00212] The water discharged by passing through the complex filter 210 may flow to the outer circumferential surface of the membrane filter 220 along the connection passage 202b. The viruses existing in the water may be removed by the membrane filter 220.

[00213] The discharge passage 202c may be connected to the outlet 201b so that the water from which the viruses are secondarily removed while passing through the membrane filter 220 flows to the outside of the housing 201.

[00214] The water introduced into the inlet 201a of the housing 201 may be discharged through the outlet 201b of the housing 201 by passing through the raw water supply passage 202a, the complex filter 210, the connection passage 202b, the membrane filter 220, and the discharge passage 202c. In this process, the nanoparticles, the activated carbon dust, the residual chlorine, and the viruses existing in the water may be successively removed by the complex filter 210 and the membrane filter 220.

[00215] When the complex filter 210 and the membrane filter 220 are disposed in the single housing 201, and the raw water supply passage 202a, the connection passage 202b, and the discharge passage 202c are connected as described above, the filter system 200 may be provided as one module.

[00216] The filter system 200 provided as one module may be reduced in overall size as compared with a filter system in which the complex filter 210 and the membrane filter 220 are separately provided. When the filter system 200 provided as one module is used, a small-sized water purifier may be realized.

[00217] Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a filter system according to a fourth embodiment.

[00218] Referring to Fig. 19, in a filter system 300 according to this embodiment, a complex filter 310 and a membrane filter 320 may be respectively provided in housings 301 and 302 that are divided into two parts. The housings 301 and 302 may include a first housing 301 accommodating the complex filter 310 and a second housing 302 accommodating the membrane filter 320. A function of each of the complex filter 310 and the membrane filter 320 is the same as that described above.

[00219] The complex filter 310 and the membrane filter 320 may be provided as separate modules, respectively. Water may pass through the complex filter 310 and then pass through the membrane filter 320.

[00220] When the membrane filter 320 and the complex filter 310 are respectively provided as separate modules, the filter system 300 may increase in size as compared to the filter system 200 provided as the single module. However, since the membrane filter 320 and the complex filter 310 have replacement periods different from each other, it is assumed that any one of the membrane filter 320 and the complex filter 310 has lost its function, it is unnecessary to replace the other filter.

[00221] Also, since the residual chlorine, the nanoparticles, and the activated carbon dust, which are capable of blocking the small pores of the membrane filter 320, are previously removed, the replacement period of the membrane filter 320 may be prolonged.

[00222] Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a filter system according to a fifth embodiment.

[00223] Referring to Fig. 20, a filter system 400 according to this embodiment may include a complex filter 410, a membrane filter 420, and a post carbon filter 430. The complex filter 410, the membrane filter 420, and the post carbon filter 430 may be provided as separate modules, respectively. A function of each of the complex filter 410 and the membrane filter 420 is the same as that described above.

[00224] The post carbon filter 430 may operate on a principle that carbon (activated carbon) adsorbs impurities existing in water by allowing water to pass therethrough. Here, the used carbon (activated carbon) may use high-guality activated carbon made of vegetable fruits. Also, the post carbon filter 430 may include an adsorption material such as a carbon block of the complex filter 410.

[00225] The post carbon filter 430 may remove gases and odor contained in contained in water and prevent germs from being propagated. That is, the post carbon filter 430 may be positioned at the last stage of the water purification to improve the taste of the water.

[00226] Water may be purified while successively passing through the complex filter 410, the membrane filter 420, and the post carbon filter 430. The complex filter 410 may remove the residual chlorine, the nanoparticles, the activated carbon dust, and the like. The membrane filter 420 may remove the viruses. The post carbon filter 430 may remove the residual chlorine, the gases, and the odor. When the adsorption material is provided in the carbon block of the complex filter 410 or the post carbon filter 430, heavy metals or organic compounds may be additionally removed.

[00227] The post carbon filter 430 may further include a plurality of ion adsorption parts (see reference numerals 114 and 115 of Figs. 3 and 8) like the complex filter 410. In this case, the activated carbon dust generated from the post carbon filter 430 may be removed. The present disclosure is not limited to this idea.

[00228] Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a filter system according to a sixth embodiment.

[00229] Referring to FIG. 21, a filter system 500 according to this embodiment may be provided as one-stage filter in which a complex filter 510, a membrane filter 520, and a post carbon filter are coupled to each other. The filter system 500 may include a housing 501 accommodating the complex filter 510, the membrane filter 520, and the post carbon filter 530. A function of each of the complex filter 510, the membrane filter 520, and the post carbon filter 530 is the same as that described above.

[00230] The complex filter 510, the membrane filter 520, and the post carbon filter 530 may be disposed in the housing 501. As illustrated in Fig. 15, the complex filter 510, the membrane filter 520, and the post carbon filter 530 may be successively stacked in the housing 501. Also, an inlet 501a defining an inflow passage of raw water and an outlet 501b defining a passage through which purified water is discharged may be provided in the housing 501.

[00231] An inner passage of the housing 501 may include a raw water supply passage 502a, a first connection passage 502b, a second connection passage 502c, and a discharge passage 502d.

[00232] The raw water supply passage 502a may extend from the inlet 501a to an outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 510 to allow raw water to flow to the complex filter 510. The raw water introduced through the inlet 501a of the housing 501 may be supplied to the outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 510 along the raw water supply passage 502a.

[00233] The raw water introduced into the complex filter 510 may pass a first ion adsorption part 514 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the complex filter 510. Next, the water may pass through a carbon block 511. Then, the water may pass through a second ion adsorption part 515 disposed on a hollow part of the carbon block 511 to flow.

[00234] The first connection passage 502b may extend from the complex filter 510 to an outer circumferential surface of the membrane filter 520 so that the raw water from which the nanoparticles, the activated carbon dust, and the residual chlorine are primarily removed while passing through the complex filter 510 flows to the membrane filter 520.

[00235] The water discharged by passing through the complex filter 510 may flow to the outer circumferential surface of the membrane filter 520 along the first connection passage 502b. The viruses existing in the water may be removed by the membrane filter 520.

[00236] The second connection passage 502c may extend from the membrane filter 520 to an outer circumferential surface of the post carbon filter 530 so that the raw water from which the viruses are secondarily removed while passing through the membrane filter 520 flows to the post carbon filter 530.

[00237] The water discharged by passing through the membrane filter 520 may flow to the outer circumferential surface of the post carbon filter 530 along the second connection passage 502c. The residual chlorine, the odor, and the gases existing in the water may be removed by the post carbon filter 530.

[00238] The discharge passage 502d may be connected to the outlet 501b so that the water from which the residual chlorine, the odor, and the gases are tertiarily removed while passing through the post carbon filter 530 flows to the outside of the housing 501. The water introduced into the inlet 501a of the housing 501 may be discharged through the outlet 501b of the housing 501 by passing through the raw water supply passage 502a, the complex filter 510, the first connection passage 502b, the membrane filter 520, the second connection passage 502c, the post carbon filter 530, and the discharge passage 502d.

[00239] In this process, the nanoparticles, the activated carbon dust, the residual chlorine, the viruses, the gases, and the odor existing in the water may be successively removed by the complex filter 510, the membrane filter 520, and the post carbon filter 530.

[00240] When the complex filter 510, the membrane filter 520, and the post carbon filter 530 are disposed in the single housing 501, and the raw water supply passage 502a, the first connection passage 502b, the second connection passage 502c, and the discharge passage 502d are connected as described above, the filter system 500 may be provided as one module.

[00241] The filter system 500 provided as one module may be reduced in overall size as compared with a filter system in which the complex filter 510, the membrane filter 520, and the post carbon filter 530 are separately provided. When the filter system 500 provided as one module is used, a small-sized water purifier may be realized.

[00242] Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a filter system according to a seventh embodiment.

[00243] Referring to Fig. 22, raw water may be purified by successively passing through a sediment filter 640, a complex filter 610, a membrane filter 620, and a post carbon filter 630. A function of each of the complex filter 610, the membrane filter 620, and the post carbon filter 630 is the same as that described above .

[00244] Also, the sediment filter 640 may prevent sediments having large particles from being introduced and perform a pretreatment or sedimentation function of the filter system 600.

[00245] That is, the sediment filter 640 may remove sediments having large particles from water. The complex filter 610 may remove the residual chlorine, the nanoparticles, and the activated carbon dust. The membrane filter 620 may remove the viruses. The post carbon filter 630 may remove the residual chlorine, the gases, and the odor. Also, an adsorption material may be provided in a carbon block of the complex filter 610 or at least one activated carbon of the post carbon filter 630 to additionally remove heavy metals or organic compounds.

[00246] An installation order of the filters may be changed. However, the position of the complex filter 610 in the front of the membrane filter 620 is not changed. Also, the filter system 600 may include the complex filter 610 and the membrane filter 620 as essential components and be expanded to multi-stages.

[00247] According to the embodiments, the nanoparticles, which cause the decrease in flow rate, of the hollow fiber membrane capable of removing the virus may be previously removed through the size exclusion mechanism before passing through the hollow fiber membrane to prevent the amount of water flowing through the filter, to which the hollow fiber membrane manner is applied, from being significantly reduced.

[00248] According to the embodiments, the dust of the activated carbon, which is generated from the carbon filter, may be previously removed before passing through the hollow fiber membrane to prevent the replacement period of the filter, to which the hollow fiber membrane manner is applied, from being reduced.

[00249] According to the embodiments, the ion adsorption part for removing the dust and the nanoparticles though the size exclusion mechanism may be separated from the carbon filter by the water pressure to prevent the dust and the nanoparticles from being introduced into the purified water.

[00250] According to the embodiments, the nanoparticles and the dust may be removed from the carbon filter through the size exclusion mechanism before passing through the hollow fiber membrane to prevent the amount of water flowing through the filter, to which the hollow fiber membrane manner is applied, from being reduced. In addition, it may prevent the replacement period of the filter from being reduced.

[00251] According to the embodiments, since the carbon filter and the plurality of ion adsorption parts are provided as the single complex filter, the filter may be simplified and expand to one stage or multi-stages.

[00252] The above-described filter system is not limited to the constituent and method according to the abovementioned embodiments, but the embodiments can be configured such that all or some of the embodiments are selectively combined with each other .

[00253] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[00254] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it) , or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

[00255] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context reguires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims (20)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A filter system including: a complex filter generating purified water from which nanoparticles, residual chlorine, and activated carbon particles are removed from raw water introduced from the outside; and a membrane filter removing viruses from the purified water generated in the complex filter, wherein the complex filter includes: a first ion adsorption part filtering the nanoparticles from the raw water; a carbon filter filtering the residual chlorine from the purified water from which the nanoparticles are filtered by the first ion adsorption part; and a second ion adsorption part filtering the activated carbon particles, which are generated from the carbon filter, and the nanoparticles from the purified water from which the residual chlorine is filtered by the carbon filter.

2. The filter system according to claim 1, wherein the ion adsorption part is disposed to surround an outer surface of the complex filter.

3. The filter system according to claim 2, wherein the outer surface surrounds an entire outer circumferential surface of the complex filter.

4. The filter system according to claim 2, wherein the complex filter has a hollow part therein, and the second ion adsorption part is disposed to surround an inner circumferential surface of the complex filter in the hollow part.

5. The filter system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the carbon filter further includes an adsorption member to additionally remove heavy metals or organic compounds, and the adsorption member is mixed with a raw material of the carbon filter together with a binder and extrusion-molded to form the carbon filter.

6. The filter system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the first ion adsorption part and the second ion adsorption part includes: a nonwoven fabric support body having a pore; a glass fiber or cellulose attached to a surface of the nonwoven fabric support body; and an ion adsorption material provided on a surface of the glass fiber or cellulose to provide positive charges so that the ion adsorption material is ion-adsorbed to the nanoparticles having negative charges, which exist in water passing through the nonwoven fabric support body.

7. The filter system according to claim 6, wherein the pore of the first ion adsorption part has a size greater than or equal to that of the pore of the second ion adsorption part.

8. The filter system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further including a housing accommodating the complex filter and the membrane filter, wherein an inner passage of the housing includes: a raw water supply passage through the raw water flows to the complex filter; a connection passage extending from the complex filter to an outer circumferential surface of the membrane filter so that the water, from which the nanoparticles, the residual chlorine, and the activated carbon particles are removed while passing through the complex filter, flows to the membrane filter; and a discharge passage through which the water, from which the viruses are removed while passing through the membrane filter, flows to the outside of the housing.

9. The filter system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the filter system includes: a first housing accommodating the complex filter; and a second housing accommodating the membrane filter.

10. A filter system including: a carbon filter having a hollow therein and removing chlorine existing in water; and a membrane filter removing viruses from the water, from which the chlorine is removed, while passing through the carbon filter, wherein the carbon filter includes: an internal adsorption part provided in the carbon filter to remove carbon particles generated from the carbon filter; and a support supporting the internal adsorption part and disposed in the carbon filter.

11. The filter system according to claim 10, wherein the support includes: a support body of which the inside is penetrated; an upper fixing part protruding from an upper end of the support body; and a lower fixing part protruding from a lower end of the support body.

12. The filter system according to claim 11, wherein the internal adsorption part is disposed between the upper fixing part and the lower fixing part.

13. The filter system according to claim 12, wherein a space into which the internal adsorption part is seated is defined in an outer surface of the support body disposed between the upper fixing part and the lower fixing part.

14. The filter system according to claim 13, wherein the internal adsorption part is prevented from vertically moving by the upper fixing part and the lower fixing part and provided from moving to a central axis of the carbon filter by the space defined in the outer surface of the support body.

15. The filter system according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein a plurality of flow holes through which water passing through the internal adsorption part passes are provided in the support body.

16. The filter system according to claim 15, wherein the support body is provided in the form of at least a mesh by the plurality of flow holes.

17. The filter system according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the support is inserted into the carbon filter in a state in which the internal adsorption part is closely attached to an inner circumferential surface of the carbon filter.

18. The filter system according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein an external adsorption part removing the nanoparticles from water introduced from the outside is disposed on an outer surface of the carbon filter.

19. The filter system according to claim 18, wherein each of the external adsorption part and the internal adsorption part includes : a nonwoven fabric support body having a pore; a fiber material attached to a surface of the nonwoven fabric support body; and an ion adsorption material provided on a surface of the fiber material to provide positive charges so that the ion adsorption material is ion-adsorbed to the nanoparticles having negative charges, which exist in water passing through the nonwoven fabric support body.

20. A complex filter including: a carbon block having a hollow therein in a cylindrical shape; a first electrostatic adsorption part disposed on an outer surface of the carbon block to remove nanoparticles contained in water; a second electrostatic adsorption part having at least one surface coming into contact with an inner surface of the carbon block to remove carbon particles generated from the carbon block; and a support coming into contact with the other surface of the second electrostatic adsorption part to prevent the second electrostatic adsorption part from moving by water introduced in a direction that is directed to the inside of the carbon block.