Aquatic Life Collection Device with Spray Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water screen systems face challenges in protecting aquatic life from high-pressure spray water used to clean debris, leading to potential damage and increased water usage for separate fish and debris collection.
Innovation Solution
A collection device with separate compartments for aquatic life and debris, featuring a shield to protect aquatic life from high-pressure sprays and a filter allowing water flow between compartments, reducing water costs and ensuring safe collection of both species.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single collection trough is used for both aquatic life and debris, then device complexity is reduced, but aquatic life is damaged by high-pressure spray water
Solution Approach 1:
The collection device is divided into two separate compartments: a first compartment for collecting aquatic life and a second compartment for collecting debris. This segmentation allows each compartment to have different protection levels, with the shield selectively blocking high-pressure spray from reaching aquatic life while allowing debris to be cleaned effectively.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate collection troughs are used for fish and debris, then aquatic life is protected from high-pressure spray, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A shield is positioned between the high-pressure spray source and the first compartment containing aquatic life. The shield acts as an intermediary that selectively blocks harmful high-pressure spray water from reaching aquatic life while allowing controlled water flow to continue into the first compartment through the filter, enabling water reuse without direct exposure damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield provides localized protection specifically to the first compartment containing aquatic life, while the second compartment for debris continues to receive full high-pressure spray for effective cleaning. This local quality approach protects where needed while maintaining cleaning effectiveness elsewhere, optimizing water usage.
3Productivity
If high-pressure spray is used to clean debris from the water screen, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but aquatic life in the collection trough is harmed
Solution Approach 1:
The collection device segments the collection space into two distinct compartments with different functional requirements. The second compartment receives full high-pressure spray for effective debris cleaning, while the first compartment is protected by the shield, allowing high-pressure cleaning to proceed without harming aquatic life.
4Loss of substance
If a filter is added to allow water flow between compartments while preventing fish passage, then water reuse is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A filter is installed in the partition wall between the two compartments that allows water to pass through while blocking aquatic life. The filter enables water reuse by allowing cleaned water from the second compartment to flow into the first compartment, while its porous structure prevents fish and other aquatic organisms from passing through, adding minimal complexity for significant water conservation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A collection device for aquatic life and debris for a traveling water screen. The collection device allows sharing of water provided from a high pressure nozzle while shielding aquatic life from a high pressure spray produced by the high pressure nozzle. The collection device enables separate collection of items exposed to a high pressure spray and items protected from a high pressure spray while reducing water costs. The collection device includes a first compartment for collecting aquatic life collected by a water screen and a second compartment for collecting debris collected by the water screen. A shield dissipates or blocks a high pressure spray directed into the second compartment from entering the first compartment. A filter allows fluid to flow from the second compartment into the first compartment while blocking aquatic life in the first compartment from entering the second compartment.