Ecological Pipe Gallery Layout for Air Quality and Sewage Filtration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional comprehensive pipe galleries face issues with poor air quality, unpleasant appearance, and leakage of water supply pipes, which affect maintenance and safety, and are not designed to handle natural sunlight or sewage filtration effectively.

Innovation Solution

An ecological comprehensive pipe gallery design incorporating a lighting system to supplement natural sunlight, a landscaped pedestrian passage, an ecological gutterway system for sewage filtration, and integrated air and water monitoring systems to improve air quality and safety, featuring a pipe system with supports and buttresses, a lighting system with sunlight introduction and solar power, and a control room for monitoring and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the pipe gallery is located underground to accommodate multiple utility pipelines, then centralized management and regulated operation are achieved, but ventilation is poor and air quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized management capabilityVSAvoidair quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful accumulation of gases and pollutants from the enclosed pipe gallery space by introducing a ventilation system with air inlets and outlets positioned at different heights. This creates directed airflow that removes harmful substances while maintaining the centralized management function of the underground structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation system serves multiple functions: it improves air quality by removing pollutants, provides natural cooling through temperature-driven convection, and enhances the overall environmental quality of the pipe gallery. The green walls and water features simultaneously provide aesthetic improvement and microclimate regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the pipe gallery structure is enclosed to protect pipelines, then safety and protection are improved, but the appearance becomes unpleasant and visual experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepipeline protectionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by incorporating green walls with vegetation, water features, and artistic installations at specific locations within the pipe gallery. These localized aesthetic improvements transform the enclosed space from unpleasant to visually appealing while maintaining the protective enclosure function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of the enclosed structure (creating an unpleasant appearance) into a benefit by using the enclosed space to house aesthetic elements like green walls and water features. The enclosure that originally caused visual degradation now serves as a container for environmental art that enhances the overall experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If water supply and drainage pipes are arranged in the pipe gallery, then intensive management is achieved, but leakage and burst risks increase causing property loss and personal injury

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintensive management efficiencyVSAvoidleakage and burst risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through monitoring systems that detect leakage and burst conditions in real-time. Sensors positioned within the pipe gallery continuously monitor the state of water supply and drainage pipes, providing immediate feedback that enables rapid response to prevent property loss and personal injury while maintaining intensive management of the pipeline system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary protective measures between the water pipes and the surrounding environment, including protective casings, drainage channels, and monitoring systems. These intermediaries detect and mitigate leakage risks before they cause significant harm, allowing intensive management of multiple pipelines while reducing the harmful effects of potential failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If sewage and drainage water are discharged directly in the pipe gallery, then simple discharge is achieved, but water accumulation occurs and environmental quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful discharge of sewage and drainage water into a beneficial environmental feature by channeling this water through green walls and water features. The discharged water nourishes vegetation, creates aesthetic water displays, and improves the microclimate through evaporation, transforming a harmful waste stream into an environmental asset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the discharged water by passing it through filtration systems, green wall substrates, and aeration devices. These processes transform the water quality from polluted to cleaner, converting harmful sewage into a resource that can support vegetation and enhance the environmental quality of the pipe gallery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design enhances the environment and safety of maintenance personnel by improving air quality, filtering and purifying sewage, and providing real-time monitoring of water pipes, reducing the risk of leakage and burst, while beautifying the underground space.

Implementation Method 1

the lighting system can provide lighting in the pipe gallery and supplement the sunlight required for photosynthesis of plants in the pipe gallery, which purifies the air therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotosynthesis: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 2

the ecological gutterway system introduces the concept of 'sponge city' to purify and then discharge the sewage, leakage and drainage in the pipe gallery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4133935B1Ecological integrated pipe gallery
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 CHINA RAILWAY ERYUAN ENGINEERING GROUP CO LTD
  • EP4133935B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4133935B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4133935B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention discloses an ecological comprehensive pipe gallery that comprises a pipe system, a lighting system, a landscaped pedestrian passage, an ecological gutterway system and a pipe gallery control room; the pipe system comprises a support and a buttress; the lighting system comprises a sunlight introducing system, a solar system and a lamp; the landscaped pedestrian passage comprises a pedestrian passage plate, an ecological support and an ecological decorative plate; the ecological gutterway system comprises a grass planting ditch and a catch basin; the pipe galley is further provided with an air quality monitoring system and a water monitoring system therein. The ecological comprehensive pipe gallery according to the invention can be used to supplement natural sunlight from the outside, improve air quality, and filter and purify sewage, which improves the environment in the pipe galley, maximizes the comfort for maintenance personnel therein and greatly enhances the safety of the ecological comprehensive pipe gallery. Therefore, it is suitable for underground space, especially for underground comprehensive pipe gallery.