Internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of PPR (pentatricopeptide repeats) pipe

Abstract

The invention provides an internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of a PPR pipe, which comprises three layers of cleaning structures tightly attached to the inner wall of a PPR pipeline, the innermost layer is a super-hydrophobic guide layer, a large number of fine lotus leaf-like mastoid structures are arranged on the inner side of the super-hydrophobic guide layer, and the mastoid structures protrude towards the inner side of the pipeline; the mastoid structure rolls condensate water and residual water into water drops to the bottom of the pipeline; the middle layer is a porous water absorption buffer layer and is used for collecting and temporarily storing water drops; the outermost layer is a flow guide layer; a water collecting tank is arranged at the bottom of the initial end of the PPR pipeline and connected with a flow guide layer, the flow guide layer guides accumulated water to the water collecting tank, and the water collecting tank can be plugged and drained regularly. Accumulated water is collected through the three-layer cleaning structure and the water collecting tank and discharged regularly, and the accumulated water cleaning function is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of internal hydrophobic cleaning of pipelines, and in particular to an internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of a PPR pipe. Background Art

[0002] Due to their excellent chemical stability and good hot-melt welding properties, PPR pipes are widely used in many fields, including building water supply and drainage, and heating. However, in actual operating conditions, PPR pipes often encounter condensation caused by factors such as temperature fluctuations and humidity differences. For example, in hot water supply systems, when hot water stops flowing through the pipes, the residual heat in the pipes causes water vapor in the surrounding air to cool and liquefy, forming condensation. Similarly, in environments with frequent alternations between hot and cold, the surface temperature of PPR pipes constantly fluctuates, which can also easily lead to condensation accumulation.

[0003] The invention with the prior art publication number CN119435867A discloses a self-cleaning and flow-increasing PPR water supply pipe, which relates to the technical field of PPR water supply pipes, including a self-cleaning and flow-increasing PPR water supply pipe, which is used for water pipes to achieve self-cleaning and flow-increasing and to achieve quick connection between water pipes. The self-cleaning and flow-increasing PPR water supply pipe includes: a PPR water supply pipe unit, including an inner wall, and a polypropylene hydrophobic masterbatch coating is fixedly installed on the interior of the inner wall; a connecting unit, which is arranged at the end of the PPR water supply pipe unit, including a left connector and a right connector, one end of the left connector is fixedly installed with a connecting pipe, and a threaded sleeve is rotatably installed on the surface of the right connector, and the threaded sleeve is threadedly rotatably installed on the surface of the connecting pipe, and a polypropylene hydrophobic masterbatch coating is installed on the interior of the inner wall, which has the characteristics of high hydrophobicity (the hydrophobic effect can be adjusted according to product requirements) and low adhesion, and can achieve low residue or no residue on the material surface, no secondary coating is required, fluorine-free formula, safety and environmental protection, thereby realizing self-cleaning and flow-increasing of the PPR water supply pipe. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Traditional solutions, such as attaching traps to the piping system or regularly performing manual cleaning of accumulated water, have numerous drawbacks. The traps are complex to connect to PPR pipes, resulting in high installation and maintenance costs. The thermal expansion and contraction of PPR pipes can also lead to loosening or damage at the joints. Manual cleaning of accumulated water is inefficient, making it difficult to detect and address it promptly. Long-term accumulation of water not only corrodes the pipe walls, weakening them and posing a risk of leakage, but can also breed microorganisms such as bacteria and algae, contaminating the media flowing through them and posing a threat to water quality. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an efficient, adaptive hydrophobic layer structure built into PPR pipes to overcome these issues.

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution provided by the present invention is: an internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of a PPR pipe, comprising a three-layer cleaning structure that is tightly attached to the inner wall of the PPR pipe, the innermost layer being a super-hydrophobic guide layer, and a large number of tiny lotus-shaped nipple structures are present on the inner side of the super-hydrophobic guide layer, and the nipple structures protrude toward the inner side of the pipe; the middle layer is a porous water-absorbing buffer layer; the outermost layer is a guide layer, and the guide layer is tightly attached to the inner wall of the pipe; a water collecting trough is provided at the bottom of the starting end of the PPR pipe, and the water collecting trough is connected to the guide layer to collect the accumulated water collected by the three-layer cleaning structure; the water collecting trough can be unplugged and drained regularly.

[0006] Specifically, the super-hydrophobic guiding layer is coated with a nanomaterial that has undergone special surface treatment, and there are a large number of tiny lotus leaf-shaped papillary structures on the surface; the papillary structure makes the surface have extremely low surface energy and weak adhesion.

[0007] Specifically, when water flows through the pipe wall and condensation water is generated, the water flow contacts the protrusions of the papillary structure on the surface of the superhydrophobic guide layer. The air in the gaps between adjacent papillary structures will be locked, and the condensation water or residual water forms point contact with the tip of the papillary structure, forming spherical water droplets that roll to the bottom of the pipe, realizing hydrophobic guidance.

[0008] Specifically, the porous water-absorbing buffer layer is made of a hydrophilic polymer fiber material, and a large number of interconnected tiny pores are formed between the fibers to quickly absorb water droplets rolling from the super-hydrophobic guide layer.

[0009] Specifically, the guide layer is made of a high molecular polymer composite, and has a number of tiny guide grooves evenly distributed on the surface along the axial direction of the pipe. The guide grooves quickly guide the water that penetrates the porous water-absorbing buffer layer to the water collection tank at the bottom of the PPR pipe starting point.

[0010] Specifically, the super-hydrophobic guide layer is a nano-titanium dioxide coating with a coating thickness between 0.05 and 0.2 mm. The surface has extremely low surface energy, so that the contact angle between the condensed water droplets and the coating surface is greater than 150°, thus having a strong rolling tendency, ensuring that the water droplets roll freely, making it reach the hydrophobicity of the inner wall of the PPR pipe and ensuring the efficient self-cleaning ability of the pipeline.

[0011] Specifically, the porous water-absorbing buffer layer is made of a polyvinyl alcohol fiber nonwoven fabric with a thickness of approximately 0.5-2 mm. The fibers form a large number of interconnected micropores with diameters ranging from 1-10 μm. This layer rapidly absorbs water droplets rolling down from the super-hydrophobic guide layer, buffering the accumulation of condensed water. Furthermore, its hydrophilic nature ensures that even at high condensation rates, it can temporarily retain water, preventing it from rapidly accumulating at the bottom of the pipe.

[0012] Specifically, the guide layer has a thickness of 0.1-0.5 mm, the guide groove has a width of 0.5-2 mm, a depth of 0.1-0.5 mm, and is in a shallow V-shape.

[0013] Specifically, the sump is equipped with a drain plug with a threaded plug on one end and a knob on the other. Regularly removing the plug and draining the water can ensure the service life of the PPR pipe and solve the problems of condensation water accumulation and poor drainage during the use of PPR pipes.

[0014] Specifically, the three-layer cleaning structure is manufactured simultaneously with the PPR pipe through a multi-layer co-extrusion process. The nanomaterial is coated on the innermost layer of the PPR pipe mold to form a super-hydrophobic guide layer; the hydrophilic polymer fiber material is rolled into the middle layer mold to form a porous water-absorbing buffer layer; the polymer is used on the outermost layer mold to create a guide layer; and space for installing a water collection tank is reserved at the corresponding position at the bottom of the pipe.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: a super-hydrophobic guide layer is provided on the inner wall of the pipe, and the provision of hydrophobic protrusions can reduce the water flow resistance of the pipe, reduce the head loss of the entire system, and indirectly improve energy utilization. The super-hydrophobic guide layer can allow the water flow to wash away a certain number of bacteria adhering to the inner wall of the pipe, reduce the secondary pollution of the water, and achieve a certain self-cleaning ability. This structure can minimize the water flow resistance in the pipe, so that the water can be transported more smoothly to the user terminal, thereby improving the user's water comfort. The mature production process of PPR pipes changes the molding structure of the inner wall of the pipe at the microscopic level, does not affect the production stability, and can maintain efficient production. Through the above-mentioned innovative structural design and meticulous technical implementation, the hydrophobic self-cleaning structure inside the PPR pipe of the present invention effectively solves the problem of condensation water accumulation in the PPR pipe, significantly improves the reliability, durability of the PPR pipe and the safety of the transported medium, and provides solid technical support for the wide application of PPR pipes in various complex working conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 This is the overall structural diagram of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the water collection tank of the present invention.

[0018] In the figure, 1 is a super-hydrophobic guide layer, 2 is a porous water-absorbing buffer layer, 3 is a guide layer, 4 is a papilla structure, 5 is a water collection tank, 6 is a drainage plug, 7 is a plug, 8 is a knob handle, and 9 is a water droplet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0020] Example 1: An internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of a PPR pipe, comprising a three-layer cleaning structure that is in close contact with the inner wall of the PPR pipe, the innermost layer being a super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, on the inner side of which there are a large number of tiny lotus-shaped papilla structures 4, which protrude toward the inner side of the pipe; the middle layer being a porous water-absorbing buffer layer 2; the outermost layer being a guide layer 3, which is in close contact with the inner wall of the pipe; a water collection trough 5 is provided at the bottom of the starting end of the PPR pipe, which is connected to the guide layer 3, and the guide layer 3 diverts the accumulated water to the water collection trough 5; the water collection trough 5 can be regularly unplugged for drainage.

[0021] This embodiment is applicable to pipes that are not used for extended periods of time. When not flowing water, PPR pipes often experience condensation due to factors such as temperature fluctuations and humidity differences. For example, in a hot water supply system, when hot water stops flowing through the pipe, the residual heat within the pipe causes water vapor in the surrounding air to cool and liquefy, forming condensation. Similarly, in environments with frequent alternations between warm and cold weather, the surface temperature of PPR pipes fluctuates, similarly leading to condensation accumulation. This condensation and residual water from the pipes accumulate within the pipes. Long-term accumulation not only corrodes the pipe walls, weakens the pipes, and creates the risk of leaks, but can also breed microorganisms such as bacteria and algae, contaminating the media flowing through the pipes and posing a threat to water quality. Existing cleaning technologies require complex connections between the steam trap and the PPR pipe, resulting in high installation and maintenance costs. The thermal expansion and contraction of the PPR pipes can also lead to loosening or damage at the joints. Manual cleaning of accumulated water is inefficient and difficult to detect and address in a timely manner. Therefore, this embodiment utilizes a self-cleaning structure within the pipes to achieve this function.

[0022] The innermost super-hydrophobic guide layer 1 is coated with a nano-material that has undergone special surface treatment, and there are a large number of tiny lotus-leaf-shaped papillary structures 4 on the surface; the papillary structures 4 make the surface have extremely low surface energy and weak adhesion.

[0023] When water flows through the pipe wall and condensed water is generated, the water flow contacts the protrusions of the papillary structure 4 on the surface of the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1. The air in the gaps between adjacent papillary structures 4 will be locked, and the condensed water or residual water forms point contact with the tip of the papillary structure 4, forming spherical water droplets that roll to the bottom of the pipe, realizing hydrophobic guidance.

[0024] The porous water-absorbing buffer layer 2 in the middle layer is made of a hydrophilic polymer fiber material, and a large number of interconnected tiny pores are formed between the fibers to quickly absorb the water droplets rolling from the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1.

[0025] The outermost guide layer 3 is made of a high molecular polymer composite, and has a number of tiny guide grooves evenly distributed on its surface along the axial direction of the pipe. The guide grooves quickly guide the water that permeates the porous water-absorbing buffer layer 2 to the water collection tank 5 at the bottom of the PPR pipe starting point.

[0026] The super-hydrophobic guide layer 1 is a nano-titanium dioxide coating with a coating thickness between 0.05 and 0.2 mm. The surface has extremely low surface energy, so that the contact angle between the condensed water droplets and the coating surface is greater than 150°, thereby having a strong rolling tendency, ensuring that the water droplets roll freely, making it hydrophobic to the inner wall of the PPR pipe and ensuring the efficient self-cleaning ability of the pipeline.

[0027] Nano-titanium dioxide coatings are functional coatings based on nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles. Due to their unique photocatalytic, self-cleaning, antibacterial, and UV-resistant properties, they hold great promise for applications in the fields of construction, environmental protection, healthcare, and energy. Under photocatalytic action, the nano-titanium dioxide coating decomposes organic pollutants on the surface. Its super-hydrophilicity (water contact angle close to 0°) allows water droplets to form a uniform film on the surface, carrying away dirt and achieving "rain-wash self-cleaning." The nano-titanium dioxide coating undergoes a special surface treatment to form numerous tiny lotus-leaf-like papillae structures 4. These papillae structures impart extremely low surface energy and weak adhesion. As water flows through the pipe wall and condensation forms, it contacts the papillae 4 on the surface of the super-hydrophobic guiding layer 1. This traps air trapped between adjacent papillae, trapping any remaining water. Condensed or residual water then forms point contacts with the papillae's tips, forming spherical droplets that roll to the bottom of the pipe, effectively guiding the water.

[0028] The porous, water-absorbing buffer layer 2 is made of a polyvinyl alcohol fiber nonwoven fabric with a thickness of approximately 0.5-2 mm. The fibers form numerous interconnected micropores with diameters ranging from 1-10 μm. This layer rapidly absorbs water droplets rolling down from the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, buffering the accumulation of condensed water. Furthermore, its hydrophilic nature ensures that even at high condensation rates, it can temporarily retain water, preventing it from rapidly accumulating at the bottom of the pipe.

[0029] Polyvinyl alcohol fiber nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers. It features high strength, strong water absorption and retention, excellent chemical resistance, and is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. It is widely used in the medical, health, industrial, and agricultural sectors. This nonwoven fabric rapidly absorbs and locks in moisture, achieving a water absorption rate of up to 200 times and exhibiting excellent moisturizing properties. The numerous interconnected micropores formed between the fibers rapidly absorb water droplets rolling down from the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, buffering the accumulation of condensed water. Furthermore, its hydrophilic properties ensure that even at high condensation rates, it can temporarily retain water, preventing excessive accumulation at the bottom of the pipe.

[0030] The guide layer 3 has a thickness of 0.1-0.5 mm, a width of 0.5-2 mm, a depth of 0.1-0.5 mm, and is in a shallow V-shape.

[0031] The three-layer cleaning structure is manufactured simultaneously with the PPR pipe through a multi-layer co-extrusion process. Nanomaterials are coated on the innermost layer of the PPR pipe mold to form a super-hydrophobic guide layer 1. Hydrophilic polymer fibers are rolled into the middle mold to create a porous, water-absorbing buffer layer 2. A high-molecular-weight polymer is used to create a flow-guiding layer 3 on the outermost mold. Space is reserved at the bottom of the pipe for a water collection trough 5. This multi-layer co-extrusion process, combined with the proven PPR pipe production process, microscopically alters the pipe's inner wall structure without compromising production stability, ensuring efficient production.

[0032] The nanostructure of the super-hydrophobic guiding layer 1 is dense, and there are a large number of tiny lotus-shaped papillary structures 4 on the surface. When water contacts the inner wall, the air in the protruding gap will be locked, and the internal water flow will form point contact with the tip of the protruding structure. The surface adhesion is very weak, and it can be agglomerated into a sphere under the action of surface tension and roll freely on the internal surface. At the same time, the bacteria inside have little adhesion to the surface of the inner wall and are easily carried away by water. The inside of the pipe can achieve hydrophobic and self-cleaning effects, which can effectively solve the problem of bacterial breeding. It can not only protect the pipe from erosion, but also ensure the safety of water quality.

[0033] At the same time, the papillary structure 4 of the super-hydrophobic guiding layer 1 can reduce the water flow resistance of the pipe, reduce the head loss of the entire system, and indirectly improve energy utilization. The use of the PPR pipe of this embodiment can minimize the water flow resistance in the pipe, allowing water to be transported more smoothly to the user terminal, thereby improving the user's water use comfort.

[0034] Example 2: An internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of a PPR pipe, comprising a three-layer cleaning structure that is in close contact with the inner wall of the PPR pipe, the innermost layer being a super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, on the inner side of which there are a large number of tiny lotus-shaped nipple structures 4, which protrude toward the inner side of the pipe; the middle layer being a porous water-absorbing buffer layer 2; the outermost layer being a guide layer 3, which is in close contact with the inner wall of the pipe; a water collecting trough 5 is provided at the bottom of the starting end of the PPR pipe, which is connected to the guide layer 3, and the guide layer 3 diverts the accumulated water to the water collecting trough 5; the water collecting trough 5 can be unplugged and drained regularly.

[0035] The hydrophobic layer of the present invention adheres tightly to the inner wall of the PPR pipe, forming a three-layer structure. The innermost layer is a super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, made from a specially surface-treated nanomaterial, including a nano-titanium dioxide coating with a thickness between 0.05 and 0.2 mm. This layer has an extremely low surface energy, causing condensed water to form spherical droplets on its surface. The contact angle between the droplets and the coating surface is greater than 150°, resulting in a strong rolling tendency, achieving the hydrophobicity of the PPR pipe inner wall and ensuring the pipe's efficient self-cleaning ability.

[0036] Nano-titanium dioxide coatings are functional coatings based on nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles. Due to their unique photocatalytic, self-cleaning, antibacterial, and UV-resistant properties, they hold great promise for applications in the fields of construction, environmental protection, healthcare, and energy. Under photocatalytic action, the nano-titanium dioxide coating decomposes organic pollutants on the surface. Its super-hydrophilicity (water contact angle close to 0°) allows water droplets to form a uniform film on the surface, carrying away dirt and achieving "rain-wash self-cleaning." The nano-titanium dioxide coating undergoes a special surface treatment to form numerous tiny lotus-leaf-like papillae structures 4. These papillae structures impart extremely low surface energy and weak adhesion. As water flows through the pipe wall and condensation forms, it contacts the papillae 4 on the surface of the super-hydrophobic guiding layer 1. This traps air trapped between adjacent papillae, trapping any remaining water. Condensed or residual water then forms point contacts with the papillae's tips, forming spherical droplets that roll to the bottom of the pipe, effectively guiding the water.

[0037] The middle layer is a porous, water-absorbing buffer layer 2, made from a hydrophilic polymer fiber material, such as a polyvinyl alcohol fiber nonwoven fabric, with a thickness of approximately 0.5-2 mm. The fibers in this layer form numerous interconnected micropores, with diameters ranging from 1-10 μm. These pores rapidly absorb water droplets rolling down from the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, buffering the accumulation of condensed water. Furthermore, their hydrophilic nature ensures that even at high condensation rates, they can temporarily retain the water, preventing it from rapidly accumulating at the bottom of the pipe.

[0038] Polyvinyl alcohol fiber nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers. It features high strength, strong water absorption and retention, excellent chemical resistance, and is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. It is widely used in the medical, health, industrial, and agricultural sectors. This nonwoven fabric rapidly absorbs and locks in moisture, achieving a water absorption rate of up to 200 times and exhibiting excellent moisturizing properties. The numerous interconnected micropores formed between the fibers rapidly absorb water droplets rolling down from the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, buffering the accumulation of condensed water. Furthermore, its hydrophilic properties ensure that even at high condensation rates, it can temporarily retain water, preventing excessive accumulation at the bottom of the pipe.

[0039] The outermost layer is the diversion layer 3, also made of a high-molecular polymer composite and with a thickness between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. This layer's surface is evenly distributed along the pipe's axial direction with several tiny diversion grooves, ranging in width from 0.5 to 2 mm and in depth from 0.1 to 0.5 mm, forming a shallow V-shape. The diversion grooves allow water that permeates the porous, water-absorbing buffer layer 2 to flow quickly along the grooves to the water collection area at the bottom of the pipe, accelerating drainage. Furthermore, the nanomaterial composition enhances the layer's wear and corrosion resistance, ensuring the stable performance of the hydrophobic layer structure over long-term use.

[0040] A multi-layer co-extrusion process integrates a hydrophobic layer into the PPR pipe manufacturing process. First, a nanomaterial is applied to the innermost layer of the PPR pipe mold to form a super-hydrophobic guide layer 1. Next, a hydrophilic polymer fiber material is rolled into the middle mold to create a porous, water-absorbing buffer layer 2. Finally, a polymer is applied to the outermost mold to create a flow-guiding layer 3. Space is reserved at the bottom of the pipe for a drainage device.

[0041] At the same time, the drainage plug 6 at the bottom is located at the end face of the pipe at the beginning of the installation, so that drainage can be done regularly to ensure the service life of the PPR pipe and solve the problems of condensation water accumulation and poor drainage faced by the PPR pipe during use.

[0042] The inner layer has a dense nanostructure, with a large number of tiny lotus-shaped papillary structures 4 on the surface. When water contacts the inner wall, the air in the protruding gaps will be locked, and the internal water flow will form point contact with the tip of the protruding structure. The surface adhesion is very weak, and under the action of surface tension, it can be aggregated into a sphere and roll freely on the internal surface. At the same time, the bacteria inside have little adhesion to the surface of the inner wall and are easily carried away by water, so that the inside of the pipe can achieve hydrophobic and self-cleaning effects.

[0043] Through the above-mentioned innovative structural design and careful technical implementation, the hydrophobic self-cleaning structure inside the PPR pipe of the present invention effectively solves the problem of condensate accumulation in the PPR pipe, significantly improves the reliability and durability of the PPR pipe and the safety of the transported medium, and provides solid technical support for the wide application of PPR pipes in various complex working conditions.

[0044] Example 3: An internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of a PPR pipe, comprising a three-layer cleaning structure that is in close contact with the inner wall of the PPR pipe, the innermost layer being a super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, on the inner side of which there are a large number of tiny lotus-shaped papilla structures 4, which protrude toward the inner side of the pipe; the middle layer being a porous water-absorbing buffer layer 2; the outermost layer being a guide layer 3, which is in close contact with the inner wall of the pipe; a water collection trough 5 is provided at the bottom of the starting end of the PPR pipe, which is connected to the guide layer 3, and the guide layer 3 diverts the accumulated water to the water collection trough 5; the water collection trough 5 can be unplugged and drained regularly.

[0045] This embodiment is applicable to pipes that are not used for extended periods of time. When not flowing water, PPR pipes often experience condensation due to factors such as temperature fluctuations and humidity differences. For example, in a hot water supply system, when hot water stops flowing through the pipe, the residual heat within the pipe causes water vapor in the surrounding air to cool and liquefy, forming condensation. Similarly, in environments with frequent alternations between warm and cold weather, the surface temperature of PPR pipes fluctuates, similarly leading to condensation accumulation. This condensation and residual water from the pipes accumulate within the pipes. Long-term accumulation not only corrodes the pipe walls, weakens the pipes, and creates the risk of leaks, but can also breed microorganisms such as bacteria and algae, contaminating the media flowing through the pipes and posing a threat to water quality. Existing cleaning technologies require complex connections between the steam trap and the PPR pipe, resulting in high installation and maintenance costs. The thermal expansion and contraction of the PPR pipes can also lead to loosening or damage at the joints. Manual cleaning of accumulated water is inefficient and difficult to detect and address in a timely manner. Therefore, this embodiment utilizes a self-cleaning structure within the pipes to achieve this function.

[0046] The innermost super-hydrophobic guide layer 1 is coated with a nano-material that has undergone special surface treatment, and there are a large number of tiny lotus-leaf-shaped papillary structures 4 on the surface; the papillary structures 4 make the surface have extremely low surface energy and weak adhesion.

[0047] When water flows through the pipe wall and condensed water is generated, the water flow contacts the protrusions of the papillary structure 4 on the surface of the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1. The air in the gaps between adjacent papillary structures 4 will be locked, and the condensed water or residual water forms point contact with the tip of the papillary structure 4, forming spherical water droplets that roll to the bottom of the pipe, realizing hydrophobic guidance.

[0048] The porous water-absorbing buffer layer 2 in the middle layer is made of a hydrophilic polymer fiber material, and a large number of interconnected tiny pores are formed between the fibers to quickly absorb the water droplets rolling from the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1.

[0049] The outermost guide layer 3 is made of a high molecular polymer composite, and has a number of tiny guide grooves evenly distributed on its surface along the axial direction of the pipe. The guide grooves quickly guide the water that permeates the porous water-absorbing buffer layer 2 to the water collection tank 5 at the bottom of the PPR pipe starting point.

[0050] The super-hydrophobic guide layer 1 is a nano-titanium dioxide coating with a coating thickness between 0.05 and 0.2 mm. The surface has extremely low surface energy, so that the contact angle between the condensed water droplets and the coating surface is greater than 150°, thereby having a strong rolling tendency, ensuring that the water droplets roll freely, making it hydrophobic to the inner wall of the PPR pipe and ensuring the efficient self-cleaning ability of the pipeline.

[0051] Nano-titanium dioxide coatings are functional coatings based on nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles. Due to their unique photocatalytic, self-cleaning, antibacterial, and UV-resistant properties, they hold great promise for applications in the fields of construction, environmental protection, healthcare, and energy. Under photocatalytic action, the nano-titanium dioxide coating decomposes organic pollutants on the surface. Its super-hydrophilicity (water contact angle close to 0°) allows water droplets to form a uniform film on the surface, carrying away dirt and achieving "rain-wash self-cleaning." The nano-titanium dioxide coating undergoes a special surface treatment to form numerous tiny lotus-leaf-like papillae structures 4. These papillae structures impart extremely low surface energy and weak adhesion. As water flows through the pipe wall and condensation forms, it contacts the papillae 4 on the surface of the super-hydrophobic guiding layer 1. This traps air trapped between adjacent papillae, trapping any remaining water. Condensed or residual water then forms point contacts with the papillae's tips, forming spherical droplets that roll to the bottom of the pipe, effectively guiding the water.

[0052] The porous, water-absorbing buffer layer 2 is made of a polyvinyl alcohol fiber nonwoven fabric with a thickness of approximately 0.5-2 mm. The fibers form numerous interconnected micropores with diameters ranging from 1-10 μm. This layer rapidly absorbs water droplets rolling down from the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, buffering the accumulation of condensed water. Furthermore, its hydrophilic nature ensures that even at high condensation rates, it can temporarily retain water, preventing it from rapidly accumulating at the bottom of the pipe.

[0053] Polyvinyl alcohol fiber nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers. It features high strength, strong water absorption and retention, excellent chemical resistance, and is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. It is widely used in the medical, health, industrial, and agricultural sectors. This nonwoven fabric rapidly absorbs and locks in moisture, achieving a water absorption rate of up to 200 times and exhibiting excellent moisturizing properties. The numerous interconnected micropores formed between the fibers rapidly absorb water droplets rolling down from the super-hydrophobic guide layer 1, buffering the accumulation of condensed water. Furthermore, its hydrophilic properties ensure that even at high condensation rates, it can temporarily retain water, preventing excessive accumulation at the bottom of the pipe.

[0054] The guide layer 3 has a thickness of 0.1-0.5 mm, a width of 0.5-2 mm, a depth of 0.1-0.5 mm, and is in a shallow V-shape.

[0055] like Figure 2 As shown, the sump 5 is equipped with a drain plug 6, which has a threaded plug 7 on one end and a knob 8 on the other. Regularly removing the plug and draining water can extend the life of the PPR pipe and address the problems of condensate accumulation and poor drainage that often occur during use. The threaded plug 7 ensures the sump 5 remains airtight when not draining, preventing leaks. The knob 8 facilitates opening the drain plug 6 when removing the plug and draining water.

[0056] The three-layer cleaning structure is manufactured simultaneously with the PPR pipe through a multi-layer co-extrusion process. Nanomaterials are coated on the innermost layer of the PPR pipe mold to form a super-hydrophobic guide layer 1. Hydrophilic polymer fibers are rolled into the middle mold to create a porous, water-absorbing buffer layer 2. A high-molecular-weight polymer is used to create a flow-guiding layer 3 on the outermost mold. Space is reserved at the bottom of the pipe for a water collection trough 5. This multi-layer co-extrusion process, combined with the proven PPR pipe production process, microscopically alters the pipe's inner wall structure without compromising production stability, ensuring efficient production.

[0057] The nanostructure of the super-hydrophobic guiding layer 1 is dense, and there are a large number of tiny lotus-shaped papillary structures 4 on the surface. When water contacts the inner wall, the air in the protruding gap will be locked, and the internal water flow will form point contact with the tip of the protruding structure. The surface adhesion is very weak, and it can be agglomerated into a sphere under the action of surface tension and roll freely on the internal surface. At the same time, the bacteria inside have little adhesion to the surface of the inner wall and are easily carried away by water. The inside of the pipe can achieve hydrophobic and self-cleaning effects, which can effectively solve the problem of bacterial breeding. It can not only protect the pipe from erosion, but also ensure the safety of water quality.

[0058] At the same time, the papillary structure 4 of the super-hydrophobic guiding layer 1 can reduce the water flow resistance of the pipe, reduce the head loss of the entire system, and indirectly improve energy utilization. The use of the PPR pipe of this embodiment can minimize the water flow resistance in the pipe, allowing water to be transported more smoothly to the user terminal, thereby improving the user's water use comfort.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, it is still possible for those skilled in the art to modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or to make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features therein. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A PPR pipe internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure, characterized in that: It includes a three-layer cleaning structure that is tightly attached to the inner wall of the PPR pipe. The innermost layer is a super-hydrophobic guide layer. There are a large number of tiny lotus-shaped papilla structures on the inner side of the super-hydrophobic guide layer, and the papilla structures protrude toward the inner side of the pipe; the middle layer is a porous water-absorbing buffer layer; the outermost layer is a diversion layer, which is tightly attached to the inner wall of the pipe; a water collection trough is provided at the bottom of the starting end of the PPR pipe, which is connected to the diversion layer. The diversion layer diverts the accumulated water to the water collection trough; the water collection trough can be unplugged and drained regularly.

2. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The super-hydrophobic guiding layer is coated with a nanomaterial that has undergone special surface treatment, and there are a large number of tiny lotus-shaped papillary structures on the surface; the papillary structure gives the surface extremely low surface energy and weak surface adhesion.

3. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 2 is characterized in that: When water flows through the pipe wall and condensation water is generated, the water flow contacts the papillary structure protrusions on the surface of the superhydrophobic guide layer. The air in the gaps between adjacent papillary structures will be locked, and the condensation water or residual water forms point contact with the tip of the papillary structure, forming spherical water droplets that roll to the bottom of the pipe, realizing hydrophobic guidance.

4. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The porous water-absorbing buffer layer is made of hydrophilic polymer fiber material. A large number of interconnected tiny pores are formed between the fibers, which can quickly absorb water droplets rolling from the super-hydrophobic guide layer.

5. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The diversion layer is made of a high molecular polymer composite, and there are several tiny diversion grooves evenly distributed on the surface along the axial direction of the pipe. The diversion grooves quickly divert the water that penetrates the porous water-absorbing buffer layer to the water collection tank at the bottom of the starting end of the PPR pipe.

6. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The super-hydrophobic guide layer is a nano-titanium dioxide coating with a coating thickness between 0.05 and 0.2 mm. The surface has extremely low surface energy, so that the contact angle between the condensed water droplets and the coating surface is greater than 150°, ensuring that the water droplets can roll freely.

7. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: The porous water-absorbing buffer layer is made of polyvinyl alcohol fiber non-woven fabric with a thickness of 0.5-2 mm; a large number of interconnected tiny pores are formed between the fibers, and the pore diameter is between 1-10 μm.

8. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The guide layer has a thickness of 0.1-0.5 mm, a width of 0.5-2 mm, a depth of 0.1-0.5 mm, and is in a shallow V-shape.

9. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that: A drain plug is provided on the water trough, one end of the drain plug is a plug with a thread, and the other end is a knob handle.

10. The internal hydrophobic self-cleaning structure of the PPR pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The three-layer cleaning structure is manufactured simultaneously with the PPR pipe through a multi-layer co-extrusion process. Nanomaterials are coated on the innermost layer of the PPR pipe mold to form a super-hydrophobic guide layer; hydrophilic polymer fiber materials are rolled into the middle layer mold to form a porous water-absorbing buffer layer; high molecular polymers are used on the outermost layer mold to create a guide layer; and space is reserved for installing a water collection tank at the corresponding position at the bottom of the pipe.

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