Reverse osmosis water purification system

Abstract

A reverse osmosis system including a high pressure pump and pump motor is enclosed in an unvented enclosure to reduce the amount of noise which would otherwise be transmitted into the surrounding environment. The pump motor is cooled by the flow of inlet water through heat-conducting tubing arranged as by wrapping to be in thermal contact with the pump motor. The absorption of thermal energy by the inlet water provides an additional benefit in that product water flow during reverse osmosis is a function of temperature, with the higher temperature water yielding an increased product water flow. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tubing coil is secured to the pump motor housing by a clamshell-like clamping assembly. The purity of the product water is monitored by a conductivity cell including first and second electrodes arranged to detect the conductivity of the water. At least one of the electrodes exhibits a screw-like shape, including a threaded body and a head which comprises the electrode in the flow of water. The central axis of the head which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the threaded body is offset from the axis of the threaded body. A slot is located in the end of the body remote from the head which permits the electrode to be turned mechanically. Rotation of the body will thereby rotate the offset electrode head toward or away from the second electrode, thus permitting adjustment of the output of the conductivity cell without entering the water flow.