Drain Trap Cleaning via Pressurized Liquid Impingement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain systems face challenges in preventing the formation of biofilm and bacterial growth within drain traps, and in effectively removing debris and existing biofilm, due to low water pressure and inadequate flow direction.
Innovation Solution
A drain cleaning and maintenance system that includes a drain trap with a first inlet connected to a plumbing fixture and a second inlet connected to the drain trap, along with a cleaning and maintenance assembly. This assembly features a maintenance-assembly inlet connected to a source of pressurized liquid, a maintenance-assembly outlet connected to the second inlet, and an electronic valve controlled by an electronic controller to direct the pressurized liquid flow into the drain trap for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is poured down the drain portal into the trap for cleaning, then the trap can be rinsed, but the water pressure is relatively low and the flow direction does not impinge directly on the bacteria growth or dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cleaning function by introducing a separate cleaning inlet (second inlet) distinct from the normal drain inlet (first inlet). This allows pressurized cleaning liquid to be introduced independently from the normal drainage flow, enabling direct impingement on biofilm and debris without relying on the low-pressure flow from the drain portal.
Solution Approach 2:
A T-piece connector acts as an intermediary component that merges the pressurized cleaning liquid flow from the second inlet with the drainage flow from the first inlet. This intermediary structure enables the high-pressure cleaning flow to maintain its pressure and directionality while combining with the normal drainage path, solving the problem of insufficient pressure and improper flow direction.
2Productivity
If water flows through the drain trap, then debris can be carried away, but the flow is insufficient to replace all the liquid within the trap, leaving stagnant liquid to develop new bacteria growth
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by introducing pressurized cleaning liquid before normal drainage occurs. The high-pressure flow pre-cleans the trap interior, dislodging and removing biofilm and debris, and replaces stagnant liquid with fresh cleaning solution. This preliminary cleaning action prevents new bacteria growth by eliminating the nutrient-rich stagnant liquid environment before regular drainage resumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles by introducing pressurized liquid through the second inlet to create high-velocity flow that forcefully removes debris and replaces stagnant liquid. The pressurized flow generates sufficient shear stress and turbulence to detach biofilm from trap surfaces and flush it through the drainage system, ensuring complete liquid replacement and preventing new bacterial colonization.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the drain trap retains liquid to seal the drain pipe, then sewer gases are prevented from reentering, but the retained liquid becomes stagnant and encourages biofilm formation and bacterial accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by automatically or manually initiating pressurized cleaning cycles at regular intervals. Between cleaning cycles, the trap maintains its liquid seal for gas prevention. During cleaning cycles, pressurized liquid flows through the trap to remove biofilm and bacteria. This periodic cleaning maintains the liquid seal's gas-blocking function while preventing the stagnation that leads to biofilm formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining the liquid seal in the trap for continuous sewer gas prevention, while periodically interrupting this state to perform cleaning. The pressurized cleaning flow continuously replaces stagnant liquid with fresh liquid, ensuring that the seal function is restored and maintained without interruption of the overall protective function, while eliminating the conditions for biofilm formation.
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 effectively prevents biofilm and bacterial growth by ensuring high-pressure liquid flow directly impinges on the interior walls of the drain trap, efficiently removing debris and biofilm, and maintaining a clean environment within the drain system.
Implementation Method 1
liquid flows from the source to the drain trap via the second inlet to impinge on interior walls of the drain trap to clean the walls of the drain trap
Data Source
AI summary
A drain cleaning and maintenance system, including a drain trap, having a first inlet in fluid communication with a drain of a plumbing fixture, a second inlet in fluid communication with the drain trap and a cleaning and maintenance assembly. The assembly includes a maintenance-assembly inlet in fluid communication with a source of pressurized liquid, and a maintenance-assembly outlet in fluid communication with the second inlet. An electronic valve has an open state allowing flow of liquid, from the maintenance-assembly inlet to the maintenance-assembly outlet, and a closed state blocking flow of liquid from the maintenance-assembly inlet to the maintenance-assembly outlet. An electronic controller is adapted to transition the electronic valve between the open state and the closed state, to allow liquid flow from the source to the drain trap via the second inlet.