Effluent Distribution Network for Building Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wastewater treatment plants face challenges in efficiently utilizing effluent as a renewable energy source and in managing stormwater overflow, leading to environmental pollution and resource inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system utilizes effluent from wastewater treatment plants to provide thermal energy to buildings through a heat-pump apparatus and distributes it via an effluent-distribution system, which also fertilizes vegetation in ecological recharge basins, reducing the need for aquatic habitat discharge and enhancing groundwater recharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If effluent is discharged directly into aquatic habitats, then the wastewater treatment plant handles peak flow during storms, but oxygen levels deplete and salt-water incursions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously harmful effluent discharge into a beneficial resource by routing effluent through ecological recharge basins where vegetation absorbs nutrients and filters water, transforming pollution into groundwater recharge and fertilizer application
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ecological recharge basins as intermediary systems between the wastewater treatment plant and aquatic habitats, using vegetation and soil as natural filters to remove pollutants before water returns to the environment
2Loss of energy
If effluent is reused for heating and cooling buildings, then thermal energy is recovered and resources are conserved, but the effluent distribution system requires complex infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional effluent distribution system that simultaneously provides thermal energy for buildings, fertilizes vegetation through ecological recharge basins, and recharges groundwater, allowing one infrastructure to serve multiple purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines previously separate systems (effluent disposal, building heating/cooling, and groundwater recharge) into an integrated effluent distribution network that handles multiple functions through a unified infrastructure
3Object-affected harmful factors
If effluent is distributed to vegetation for fertilization, then nitrogen compounds are absorbed and water is filtered into groundwater, but the system requires ecological recharge basins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service principles by using naturally occurring vegetation and soil processes to absorb nitrogen compounds and filter water, eliminating the need for mechanical treatment systems and reducing operational 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
This approach converts effluent into a continuous, year-round thermal energy source, reduces environmental pollution, and conserves resources by recycling thermal energy and nitrogen compounds, while allowing for flexible WWTP placement and stormwater management.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-pump apparatus in a building that absorbs heat from effluent in winter and deposits heat in effluent in summer
Implementation Method 2
an effluent-distribution system (EDS) comprising pipes (or 'mains,' as in 'gas mains' or 'sewer mains'), which can be below grade
Implementation Method 3
the vegetation can absorb nitrogen from the effluent and thereby filter water into groundwater tables
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of using effluent from a wastewater treatment plant are provided, where treated wastewater can exploit geothermal energy while delivering usable thermal energy to buildings by passing through an effluent distribution system including mains. The effluent distribution system mains can also recover the effluent used in each building and return the thermally exploited effluent to one or more ecological recharge basins, where at each basin the mains can join an infrastructure to distribute effluent to vegetation or exploit geothermal energy throughout the basin before redistributing the geothermally regulated effluent to buildings, or export the effluent to a network of EDS, or import effluent from a network of EDS.