Dialysis Water Purification Control System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dialysis water systems face challenges in ensuring proper backwashing and regeneration of filtration tanks, leading to potential contamination and safety hazards due to inadequate monitoring and simultaneous operation of multiple tanks, which can result in insufficient contaminant removal and suboptimal water quality for dialysis.
Innovation Solution
A control system with sensors and a controller that monitors and adjusts the backwash, rinse, and regeneration cycles of filtration tanks, ensuring proper flow rates and cycle durations, and provides alarms for any deviations, while also managing the oxidation-reduction potential and pH levels of the water supply to maintain consistent de-chlorination and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If timer-actuated control valves are used to automatically backwash filtration tanks at set time periods, then the backwash operation can occur without operator presence, but there is no way to verify that the appropriate backwash operation actually occurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through sensors that detect flow direction and control systems that monitor backwash operations. The system receives signals from flow sensors to verify when backwash occurs and provides feedback to the control panel to alert operators of operational status, ensuring verification of automatic backwash operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the automatic timer-actuated valves and the operator. It receives timing signals, verifies actual backwash occurrence through sensor feedback, and communicates status to operators, bridging the gap between automated operation and human verification.
2Productivity
If multiple filtration tanks are backwashed simultaneously to improve efficiency, then more tanks can be cleaned in less time, but the water flow rate to each tank becomes insufficient to provide proper contaminant removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backwash operation into sequential phases and assigns dedicated control valves to individual tanks. Each tank can be backwashed independently with sufficient flow rate, and the system manages multiple tanks by dividing the operation into discrete, controllable segments rather than simultaneous operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically manages backwash operations by adjusting valve positions and flow distribution in real-time. It can switch between backwashing different tanks based on operational needs, optimizing flow rates dynamically to ensure each tank receives adequate water flow for effective contaminant removal while maintaining overall system productivity.
3Ease of operation
If timer-actuated backwash operation is used to schedule cleaning during off-hours, then dialysis stations remain unaffected, but operators cannot determine if incorrect backwash operation has occurred
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to operators through the control panel indicating when backwash operations occur and their status. Sensors detect flow conditions and communicate back to the control system, which alerts operators to any abnormal conditions or failures, ensuring reliability even when operations occur during off-hours without operator presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification of backwash operations through integrated sensors and control logic. It automatically detects whether backwash flow occurred as scheduled and can trigger alerts or corrective actions without requiring constant operator monitoring, maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.
4Measurement precision
If manual sampling and testing of water is performed frequently to monitor contaminant levels, then water quality can be verified, but the process is time-consuming and requires operator intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical sampling and laboratory testing with electronic sensors that continuously or periodically monitor water quality parameters. These sensors automatically detect contaminant levels and communicate results to the control system, eliminating the need for manual sampling operations and significantly reducing verification time while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises a control system for monitoring and operating an existing supply water pre-treatment system for supplying de-chlorinated water to dialysis purification systems. The invention includes a controller and an operator interface for programming and interacting with said control systems. The invention further includes an injection assembly having a flow turbine sensor, a reducing agent injector, and an ORP/pH sensor for monitoring and controlling ORP/pH levels of said supply water.