Biological Filter Anion Exchanger Pool Water Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming pool water treatment methods require chlorine or other toxic chemicals and often result in large space requirements and unsightly algae blooms, as well as the presence of unwanted aquatic creatures.
Innovation Solution
A dual pump-driven water circuit system where near-surface pool water is mechanically filtered, and then treated in a biological filter followed by an anion exchanger to adsorptively bind phosphates, eliminating the need for chlorine and reducing algae growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorine or other toxic chemicals are used to treat pool water, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but water safety and environmental friendliness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical disinfection (chlorine) with a biological treatment system using a biological filter containing microorganisms that naturally decompose organic substances and kill pathogens through biological processes, eliminating the need for toxic chemicals while maintaining disinfection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The biological filter creates a self-sustaining ecosystem where microorganisms naturally proliferate and perform disinfection functions without requiring external chemical inputs, making the system self-regulating and free from toxic substance addition
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biological filters with aquatic plants are used for water treatment, then chemical disinfectants are eliminated, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the space-consuming aquatic plant component from traditional biological filters, retaining only the essential biological filtration function through a compact filter medium that provides sufficient surface area for microorganism colonization without requiring large planted zones
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the biological filter by using a fine-grained filter medium with high surface area-to-volume ratio, allowing effective biological treatment in a compact space rather than requiring extensive aquatic plant coverage
3Object-affected harmful factors
If natural biological treatment systems are used, then chemical treatment is avoided, but algae blooms and aquatic creature proliferation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an anion exchanger as an intermediary component between the biological filter and the pool water, which specifically adsorbs phosphates and nitrogen compounds to prevent eutrophication and subsequent algae blooms, while the biological filter handles organic substance decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different treatment qualities to different components: the biological filter provides organic matter decomposition and pathogen control, while the anion exchanger specifically targets phosphate and nitrogen removal, creating a differentiated treatment approach that prevents algae growth without requiring chemical disinfectants
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 method allows for chlorine-free swimming pool operation, effectively preventing algae growth by limiting phosphorus levels, while requiring minimal space and maintaining water quality without intermediate storage or high flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
through a separate anion exchanger for the adsorptive binding of the phosphates
Implementation Method 2
which is adsorptively bound by ion exchange
Implementation Method 3
organic substances contained therein as well as organic substances dissolved in the pool water being mineralized by the activity of bacteria
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The method requires neither chlorine nor other toxic chemicals in the pool water since pool water near the surface is mechanically cleaned in a first water circuit, and turbidity contained in the pool water is captured in a second water circuit in a biological filter (9), with organic materials such as algae or detritus contained in the turbidity and organic materials dissolved in the pool water being mineralized through the activity of bacteria, wherein the phosphorous contained in the organic materials is decomposed to form dissolved reactive phosphate which is then adsorptively bound in an anion exchanger (14).