Integrated Chlorine and Copper Silver Ionization Water Sanitization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sanitizing swimming pools and drinking water supplies face challenges such as high costs, safety hazards, and inefficiencies, including the use of chlorine which can cause corrosion and generate harmful by-products, while alternative methods like ultraviolet light and ozone require expensive equipment and have limitations in turbid water and residual sanitizing effects.
Innovation Solution
An advanced on-site integrated chlorine generation and copper/silver ionization system that sanitizes water by combining chlorine and copper/silver ions in a single unit, reducing chlorine consumption, avoiding the formation of harmful by-products, and effectively sanitizing turbid water without the need for expensive pre-filtration or ozone generators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorine is used for sanitizing water, then effective disinfection is achieved, but corrosion of metal pipes and equipment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines chlorine generation with copper/silver ionization in a single integrated system. The copper and silver ions work synergistically with chlorine to provide disinfection while the copper/silver ionization component reduces reliance on high chlorine concentrations, thereby minimizing corrosion of metal pipes and equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite approach by integrating multiple sanitizing mechanisms (chlorine generation, copper ionization, silver ionization) into one system. This composite method allows the benefits of each mechanism to complement each other, achieving effective disinfection with reduced harmful side effects like corrosion.
2Reliability
If chlorine is used for sanitizing water, then disinfection is achieved, but harmful by-products such as chloramines and trihalomethanes are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful interaction between chlorine and ammonia (which forms chloramines) into a benefit by introducing copper and silver ions. These ions alternative pathways for disinfection, reducing the demand for chlorine and thereby minimizing the formation of harmful by-products like chloramines and trihalomethanes.
Solution Approach 2:
Copper and silver ions act as intermediaries in the disinfection process. They provide an alternative mechanism for killing microorganisms, reducing the need for high chlorine concentrations and thereby minimizing the formation of harmful by-products.
3Reliability
If ultraviolet light is used for sanitizing water, then disinfection is achieved, but expensive equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs chlorine generation and copper/silver ionization, which use relatively inexpensive chemicals compared to expensive ultraviolet light equipment. The system achieves effective disinfection using affordable chemical agents rather than costly mechanical equipment.
4Reliability
If ozone is used for sanitizing water, then disinfection is achieved, but expensive equipment and residual sanitizing effects are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses chlorine generation and copper/silver ionization, which employ inexpensive chemical agents compared to expensive ozone generation equipment. The system achieves sustained disinfection with residual effects using affordable chemicals rather than costly equipment.
5Reliability
If high chlorine concentration is used for sanitizing turbid water, then disinfection is achieved, but more harmful by-products are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines chlorine generation with copper/silver ionization to create a synergistic disinfection system. This combination allows effective sanitization of turbid water while reducing the need for high chlorine concentrations, thereby minimizing the formation of harmful by-products.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system uses a composite approach by combining multiple disinfection mechanisms (chlorine, copper ions, silver ions). This composite method provides effective disinfection in turbid water with reduced harmful side effects compared to using chlorine alone.
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 provides a cost-effective, safe, and efficient sanitization method that reduces chlorine use, minimizes equipment costs, and enhances water quality by maintaining effective disinfection without the risks associated with chlorine gas and ozone, while effectively sanitizing water regardless of clarity.
Implementation Method 1
a copper/silver ionizer, in fluid communication with the manifold loop, capable of receiving a flow of water to be sanitized, adding copper and silver ions to the flow of water
Implementation Method 2
a chlorinator, in fluid communication with the manifold loop, capable of receiving a flow of ionized water, and a flow of chlorine, and allowing the flow of chlorine to mix with the flow of ionized water
Data Source
AI summary
An advanced on-site water sanitization system is taught having integrated chlorine generation and copper/silver ionization in the same unit. The system includes a manifold loop connectable to a water supply line for supplying water to be sanitized from a body of water, and connectable to a water return line for returning sanitized water to the body of water. It also includes a copper/silver ionizer, capable of receiving a flow of water to be sanitized, adding copper and silver ions to the flow of water so as to provide a copper/silver ionized flow of water. A chlorinator is also included, capable of receiving a flow of ionized water, and a flow of chlorine, and allowing the flow of chlorine to mix with the flow of ionized water so as to provide a chlorinated flow of ionized water to the manifold loop to return as sanitized water to the body of water.