Building Rainwater Regulation Unit for Siphon-Controlled Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rainwater retention systems struggle to evenly distribute and store large volumes of rainwater from roofs and facade surfaces during heavy rainfall events, leading to potential flooding and inefficiencies in water retention capacity.
Innovation Solution
A regulating unit utilizing the siphoning principle, such as the Pythagorean cup or siphon system, is employed to collect and evenly distribute rainwater from roofs and facade surfaces into retention units, ensuring a consistent volume flow and preventing overflow by using hydrostatic pressure without mechanical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If rainwater is directly fed into retention units during heavy rainfall, then water retention capacity is increased, but uneven distribution and overflow occur
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating unit performs preliminary action by collecting and pre-distributing rainwater through multiple outlet openings before the water reaches the retention units. This preliminary distribution ensures that water is evenly allocated across multiple retention units, preventing overflow and maximizing retention capacity during heavy rainfall events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the water flow by dividing it into multiple streams through several outlet openings in the regulating unit. Instead of a single concentrated flow, the water is split and distributed to multiple retention units simultaneously, achieving uniform distribution and preventing overload on any single unit.
2Reliability
If complex construction measures are implemented for rainwater retention, then retention effectiveness is improved, but construction cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating unit is designed to operate autonomously using passive hydraulic principles. The water distribution is automatically regulated through the interaction of water pressure and the outlet opening arrangement, without requiring external control systems, mechanical components, or active intervention. This self-service mechanism reduces construction and operational complexity while maintaining high retention effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical control systems with a purely hydraulic regulation mechanism. The outlet openings and water pressure interaction naturally control the distribution flow, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, valves, or other mechanical components that would increase device complexity and maintenance requirements.
3Ease of operation
If siphoning principle is used for water distribution, then mechanical components are eliminated, but flow regulation precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating unit employs local quality by strategically positioning multiple outlet openings at different locations and orientations on the unit. This spatial arrangement ensures that water is distributed to different retention units in proportion to their capacity and distance, achieving precise flow regulation through the natural hydraulic gradient created by the siphoning principle without requiring additional control mechanisms.
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
The system effectively regulates and equalizes rainwater distribution, preventing flooding and optimizing retention capacity by ensuring a uniform and controlled supply to retention units, reducing maintenance and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
A regulating unit utilizing the siphoning principle, such as the Pythagorean cup or siphon system, is employed to collect and evenly distribute rainwater from roofs and facade surfaces into retention units
Implementation Method 2
ensuring a consistent volume flow and preventing overflow by using hydrostatic pressure without mechanical components
Data Source
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AI summary
Shown and described is a building arrangement (1) with at least one building (3) having a roof and/or facade area (2), with at least one retention unit (4) having a water-storing material (6) for at least temporarily storing rainwater (5) from the roof and/or facade area in the water-storing material (5) and with at least one regulating unit (8) for regulating the feed of rainwater (5) into the retention unit (4).According to the invention, the regulating unit (8) has a water reservoir (11), at least one supply line (9) for filling the water reservoir (11) during a filling phase with rainwater (5) from the roof and/or facade surface (2) and at least one discharge line (14) for emptying the water reservoir (11) during an emptying phase, wherein rainwater (5) drained from the water reservoir (11) during the emptying phase can be fed to the retention unit (4) for temporary storage in the water-storing material (6) and wherein the regulating unit (8) for emptying the water reservoir (11) is designed according to the siphoning principle.