Curved-Flow Water Filter Housing for High-Throughput Self-Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rainwater harvesting devices struggle to balance high flow rates with high catchment efficiency and filtration quality, often compromising one for the other, and lack effective self-cleaning capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A filtering apparatus with a configurable filtering chamber that allows high flow rates and efficient filtration by incorporating a curved flow path and dual filtration configurations, enabling high catchment efficiency and self-cleaning through adjustable orientations and multiple filtration stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single filter housing with one filter element is used, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity is limited due to sequential processing requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The filter housing is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) that can operate simultaneously or independently. Each chamber can contain its own filter element, allowing parallel filtration processes that increase overall productivity without requiring a completely new system design.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains multiple chambers for parallel filtration, provides mounting positions for multiple filter elements, and enables both simultaneous and sequential operation modes. This multi-functional design achieves high productivity while maintaining a single integrated housing structure.
2Productivity
If multiple filter housings are used to increase filtration capacity, then the productivity increases, but the device complexity and space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple chambers are nested within a single filter housing structure, with chambers arranged concentrically or adjacently within the same external boundary. This allows multiple filtration units to occupy the space of a single housing, increasing capacity without proportionally increasing external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple filter chambers that would traditionally require separate housings are merged into a single integrated filter housing structure. The housing contains internal partitions that create distinct chambers while maintaining a unified external structure, reducing overall space occupation and simplifying installation.
3Reliability
If a single filter element is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is reduced due to single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into multiple independent chambers, each with its own filter element. This segmentation creates redundancy where failure of one filter element does not compromise the entire system, as other chambers can continue operating to maintain filtration continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each chamber is designed as an independent functional unit with its own filter element, allowing localized maintenance and replacement. When one filter element needs replacement, only that specific chamber is affected, while other chambers maintain their filtration function, ensuring system reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for filtering solid and/or non-dissolved contaminants entrained in flowing water, the apparatus comprising an inlet for the water containing the entrained solid or non-dissolved contaminants to flow into a filtering chamber; a first outlet for expelling the unfiltered water from the filtering chamber; the filtering chamber further comprising: a curved or corner portion in the filtering chamber providing at least a part of a flow path of water from the inlet to the first outlet such that flow of the water along the curved or corner portion changes the direction of flow of the water; and a filtering screen for filtration of solid and/or non-dissolved contaminants from the influent water thereby allowing passage of filtered water out of the filtering chamber.