Curvilinear Flow Path Gravitational Liquid Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water filtration systems under gravitational flow often result in linear flow paths, which can lead to inefficiencies and incomplete filtration, and lack effective mechanisms for releasing beneficial substances or removing heavy metals.
Innovation Solution
A liquid filter system with a housing featuring upward and downward extending walls creating a curvilinear flow path, incorporating a filtering medium with iodine-releasing polymers and ceramic components for enhanced purification, and a venting system to manage air entrainment, ensuring uniform filtration and effective removal of contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a linear flow path is used in gravitational filtration, then the device structure is simple, but the filtration efficiency is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvilinear flow paths with upward and downward extending walls that create curved, non-linear water flow through the filtering medium. This curvature increases the contact time and contact area between water and filter media, improving filtration efficiency while maintaining gravitational flow and simple structure.
2Device complexity
If traditional filtering media is used, then the device is simple, but it cannot effectively remove heavy metals or release beneficial substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite filtering media including iodine-releasing polymers and ceramic components. These composite materials provide multiple functions: physical filtration, chemical reaction with contaminants, and release of beneficial substances like iodine, thereby enhancing contaminant removal capability while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If gravitational flow is used, then energy consumption is low, but flow rate and throughput are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The curvilinear flow path design optimizes gravitational flow by creating downward-sloping curved paths that maintain flow velocity. The upward and downward walls guide water efficiently through the filter media, maximizing throughput under gravitational force without requiring additional energy input.
4Device complexity
If the filter housing contains only filtering medium, then the structure is simple, but air entrapment occurs during filtration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air venting function from the basic filtering structure by incorporating dedicated venting ports in the housing. These ports allow trapped air to escape during filtration, ensuring continuous water flow and preventing air lock issues while adding minimal structural complexity.
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 efficient gravitational filtration with high throughput, releasing beneficial substances like iodine and effectively removing heavy metals, resulting in purified water with improved quality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating a filtering medium with iodine-releasing polymers
Implementation Method 2
ceramic components for enhanced purification, effectively removing heavy metals
Implementation Method 3
filtering liquid under gravitational flow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A system, that may be portable, for purifying liquid flowing gravitationally from a source/reservoir into a purified liquid receptacle is described. The system comprises a housing with a generally horizontal filtering space. More than one liquid inlets at a top portion of the filter are provided as well as one or more liquid outlets at a bottom portion. The liquid flows in a generally lateral direction through the liquid treatment medium. Two or more first walls extending upwardly into the filtering space from a bottom wall thereof and ending with an apex are provided inside the device. One or more second walls downwardly extending into the filtering space from a top wall thereof are also provided. Each of said walls defines a closed path. The first and second walls jointly cause the liquid to flow in a curvilinear flow path from the inlet to the outlet. Apexes of the first walls may be defined such that each apex more distal along the liquid flow path is at a lower level than an apex of a first wall more proximal along the flow path. One or more venting ports may be formed at a top wall portion of the housing for releasing gas from the filter.