Liquid Dispenser Dosing Chamber Air Lock Venting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional disinfectant systems in aerobic wastewater treatment systems often fail to ensure sufficient contact time between disinfectants and wastewater, leading to inefficient disinfection, excessive disinfectant usage, and system plugging due to fine solids.

Innovation Solution

A treatment system with a pump tank and a liquid dispenser that uses a dosing chamber with a vent system and valves to control the flow of disinfectant, ensuring it is introduced into the wastewater only when the pump is off, allowing for extended residence time and precise dosing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If a Venturi system is used to introduce disinfectant into the pump tank while the pump is discharging liquid, then the disinfectant is introduced into the source liquid, but the desired degree of residence or contact time between the disinfectant and source liquid may not be realized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact time between disinfectant and source liquidVSAvoiddisinfection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces the disinfectant into the pump tank before the pump discharges the source liquid, allowing the disinfectant to be mixed with the source liquid in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the source liquid is pre-disinfected before being discharged, thereby achieving the desired contact time without compromising disinfection efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If a Venturi system is used to introduce disinfectant into the source liquid, then the disinfectant is delivered to the source liquid, but an excessive amount of disinfectant is introduced resulting in waste and damage to vegetation or wildlife

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of disinfectant introducedVSAvoiddamage to vegetation or wildlife

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where the pump's operation status controls the disinfectant introduction. The disinfectant is introduced only when the pump is not discharging source liquid, preventing excessive disinfectant addition that would occur with continuous Venturi-based introduction. This feedback control ensures the disinfectant amount is appropriate for the actual discharge volume, avoiding waste and environmental damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If a Venturi system is used to introduce disinfectant into the source liquid, then the disinfectant is delivered, but the system is prone to plugging from fine solids carried over from the aerobic treatment tank

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfectant delivery reliabilityVSAvoidsystem plugging resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the disinfectant introduction mechanism from the source liquid discharge flow path. Instead of using a Venturi system that operates within the discharge flow and is susceptible to plugging by fine solids, the disinfectant is introduced separately into the pump tank when the pump is not discharging. This separation removes the vulnerability to plugging while maintaining reliable disinfectant delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This approach ensures effective disinfection with reduced disinfectant waste, prevents system plugging, and allows for accurate monitoring of residual disinfectant levels in the treated water.

Implementation Method 1

The dosing chamber has a vent system which breaks any air lock in the dosing chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir lock breaking:

Implementation Method 2

a first valve operatively connected to the upper portion of the dosing chamber, the first valve having a first valve element which is floatable in the treating liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

When the pump is activated, source liquid in the holding tank flows through the at least one conduit. This flow of source liquid results in an increased pressure acting against the second valve element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS8038874B2Treatment system

Publication Date: 2011.10.18 MCKINNEY JERRY L

AI summary

A treatment system comprising a holding tank for a source liquid, a pump having a pump inlet for the intake of source liquid and a pump discharge, at least one conduit connected to the pump discharge and a liquid dispenser connected to the one conduit, the dispenser comprising a container for treating liquid, a feed conduit, a dosing chamber for receiving treating liquid via the feed conduit, a vent for breaking an airlock in the dosing chamber, a first valve connected to the dosing chamber for controlling flow of treating liquid through the first valve, a second valve connected to the first valve, the second valve being operative in response to pressure resulting from the pumping of source liquid through the at least one conduit to close the second valve and open the first valve, stopping of the pump resulting in opening of the second valve and introduction of the treating liquid from the dosing chamber and into the source liquid.