Ceramic Water Purifier with Silver Nanoparticles for Sterilization

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water purifiers with storage cisterns and filters fail to effectively inhibit the growth of microorganisms, leading to contaminated drinking water, especially in areas without electricity where natural filtering methods are used.

Innovation Solution

A water purifier system incorporating a ceramic filter made from a mixture of silicon dioxide and nano-particles like silver, tungsten, and titanium dioxide, a silver-coated carbon filter, and a mineral filter coated with silver, white gold, or gold, which provides a sterilization function to prevent microbial growth and ensure safe drinking water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If water is stored in the first storage cistern for a long time, then the water can be purified through the filter, but microorganisms such as colon bacillus increase and drinking water is polluted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater storage durationVSAvoidmicroorganism increase

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating silver nanoparticles into the filter structure before water purification begins. The silver nanoparticles are pre-positioned in the filter to exert antimicrobial effects on water as it passes through, preventing microorganism proliferation during storage in the first cistern. This proactive approach addresses the microorganism increase problem before it occurs during extended water storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses silver nanoparticles as an intermediary substance within the filter structure. These nanoparticles act as a mediator between the water and the filtration process, providing continuous antimicrobial action. The silver nanoparticles are embedded in the filter matrix, allowing them to interact with water passing through while maintaining structural integrity and filtration efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If water is stored in the second storage cistern for a long time, then purified water is available, but microorganisms can increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurified water storage durationVSAvoidmicroorganism increase

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating silver nanoparticles into the filter structure before water purification begins. The silver nanoparticles are pre-positioned in the filter to exert antimicrobial effects on water as it passes through, preventing microorganism proliferation during storage in the first cistern. This proactive approach addresses the microorganism increase problem before it occurs during extended water storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses silver nanoparticles as an intermediary substance within the filter structure. These nanoparticles act as a mediator between the water and the filtration process, providing continuous antimicrobial action. The silver nanoparticles are embedded in the filter matrix, allowing them to interact with water passing through while maintaining structural integrity and filtration efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a conventional filter is used to filter water from the first storage cistern, then water is purified, but microorganisms occur and propagate in the inside of the filter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater purification effectivenessVSAvoidmicroorganism propagation in filter

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional filter materials with silver nanoparticles to create a composite filter structure. The conventional filter material provides the base filtration function, while the silver nanoparticles embedded within provide antimicrobial properties. This composite structure maintains effective water purification while preventing microorganism propagation within the filter matrix.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses silver nanoparticles as an intermediary substance within the filter structure. These nanoparticles act as a mediator between the water and the filtration process, providing continuous antimicrobial action. The silver nanoparticles are embedded in the filter matrix, allowing them to interact with water passing through while maintaining structural integrity and filtration efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 achieves over 99% instant sterilization of bacteria, preventing waterborne infections and ensuring safe drinking water, even in areas with no electricity, by using natural filtering methods effectively.

Implementation Method 1

the particle size of silver is 1-10 nanometer and its use concentration is 5-50 ppm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntimicrobial effect of silver nanoparticles:

Implementation Method 2

the particle size of titanium dioxide is 1-100 nanometer and its use concentration is 50-500 ppm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotocatalytic effect of titanium dioxide:

Implementation Method 3

a ceramic filter formed as a mixture by mixing the conventional used silicon dioxide with its particle size of 1 ∼100 micrometer with additionally one or two or more selected among silicon dioxide, tungsten, alumina (Al2O3), silver, zinc (Zn), white gold (PT), gold (Au), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) with nano particle size

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 4

a cartridge filter in which silver-coated carbon filter is equipped with its inside and the silver coated on the surface of the carbon filter is formed by silver nano particles with the size of 1-10 nanometer and coated by the concentration of 5-150 ppm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS9943785B2Water purifier

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 CHANG YUNG GI

AI summary

Disclosed is a water purifier including a first storage cistern in which an inlet for flowing in water is formed, a second storage cistern for storing the purified water and having a nozzle at the outside thereof, and a filter constituted by a ceramic filter, a cartridge filter, and a mineral filter and installed to the inside of the first storage cistern and the second storage cistern to filter the water flown in the first storage cistern and make the purified water flow in the second storage cistern, the water purifier comprises a ceramic filter formed as a mixture by mixing the conventional used silicon dioxide with its particle size of 1˜100 micrometer with additionally one or two or more selected among silicon dioxide, tungsten, alumina (Al2O3), silver, zinc (Zn), white gold (PT), gold (Au), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) with nano particle size.