Backwashable Water Filter with Movable Germicidal Suction Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water filtration systems face challenges in effectively addressing germ contamination on non-coated surfaces and in dead spaces, requiring costly silver plating of entire surfaces and limited effectiveness in preventing microbial growth between backwashing intervals.
Innovation Solution
A backwashable water filter with a screen filter insert and movable suction devices coated with a germicidal substance, allowing the coating to cover the filter cake and surrounding areas during backwashing, reducing the need for extensive silver coating and enhancing hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire surface of the screen filter is silver-coated to ensure hygienic operation, then germicidal protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The suction devices are selectively silver-coated rather than the entire screen filter surface. This localized application of the germicidal coating concentrates the protective effect where it is most needed (in the suction devices that contact filter cake and stagnant water) while significantly reducing material costs compared to full-surface coating.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction devices are made movable relative to the screen filter insert through a drive mechanism. This dynamic design allows the limited silver-coated surfaces to sweep across and contact different areas of the filter cake and filter housing interior during operation, extending the germicidal protection coverage without requiring the entire screen filter surface to be coated.
2Reliability
If silver coating is applied to all surfaces including suction devices and filter housing, then hygienic operation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly coating all surfaces, the invention selectively applies silver coating only to the suction devices. These movable components serve as mobile sources of germicidal protection that contact multiple surfaces (filter cake, filter housing interior, rinsing water channels) during their movement, eliminating the need to coat all these additional surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The silver-coated suction devices act as intermediary elements that transfer germicidal protection to multiple surfaces indirectly. Rather than requiring direct contact between silver coating and all protected surfaces, the movable suction devices with germicidal coating serve as mobile mediators that bring the protective effect to filter cake, housing walls, and water channels during their operation.
3Productivity
If backwashing is performed every 2 months to clean the filter insert, then filtration performance is maintained, but microorganism growth occurs on the filter between flushing intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The silver-coated suction devices provide continuous germicidal protection during normal filtration operation, before backwashing is required. This preliminary and ongoing antimicrobial action prevents microorganism colonization on the filter cake and in stagnant water areas throughout the filtration cycle, not just during the periodic backwashing intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable suction devices with silver coating continuously contact and disinfect the filter cake and surrounding areas during normal operation. This continuous germicidal action replaces the discontinuous protection that would only occur during periodic backwashing, maintaining hygienic conditions throughout the entire filtration cycle between flushings.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides effective germicidal coverage without the high cost of full surface silvering, ensuring improved hygiene and cost-effectiveness by using a movable germicidal coating on suction devices to combat microorganisms during backwashing.
Implementation Method 1
The oligodynamic, i.e. germicidal effect of traces of silver on microorganisms has been known for a long time
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A water supply to a dwelling has a transparent water filter (1) assembly with a sieve insert (3) between a water inlet and outlet, and sub-dividing the inner chamber into an inlet chamber (4) and an outlet chamber (5). The water filter (1) inner surface is coated with a bactericide and is movable with respect to the sieve (3). The inlet chamber (4) has one or more suction zones (9) also incorporating a bactericide. The bactericide incorporates metal e.g. silver or silver alloy with an oligo-dynamic action. The suction zone (9) wall is silver-coated plastic. The sieve is coaxial with the housing. The housing inner face is cleaned by the action of a wiper blade (10). The filter cake is removed by back-flush.