Filtration Operator with Positive Charge and Forced Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surface water treatment plants are inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful due to the need for large infrastructure, disposal of solids, and inability to remove all parasites and chemicals, with existing filters not effectively neutralizing negatively charged impurities and requiring frequent backwashing.
Innovation Solution
A filtration system with multiple units that includes a positive charge application and forced air introduction to neutralize negatively charged impurities, allowing for efficient filtration and disinfection of water, with selective backwashing capabilities to maintain filtration efficiency without external clear water sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If rapid sand filters are used to remove smaller impurities, then filtration efficiency is improved, but the filters become clogged frequently requiring periodic backwashing with large quantities of clean water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes particles from water during the clarification process before filtration, preventing them from clogging the sand filters. This is achieved through a mixing chamber that separates heavy solids and particles from water, extracting them before the water enters the rapid sand filters, thereby reducing the frequency of backwashing required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary clarification action in the mixing chamber before water enters the rapid sand filters. By pre-removing particles and solids through chemical coagulation and sedimentation in the mixing chamber, the filters are protected from clogging, reducing the need for frequent backwashing operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If polymers, lime, alum or other particle binding media are introduced into water to bind particulate impurities, then clarification efficiency is improved, but environmental legislation prohibits discharging these materials into the pre-filtered water supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful discharged materials into a benefit by using them for their intended purpose of binding particles, then properly managing the resulting sludge. The chemical media bind particles effectively for clarification, and the combined sludge is disposed of according to environmental regulations, transforming a regulatory problem into an effective treatment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the particle-binding media and bound impurities together as sludge rather than discharging them separately into the water supply. The media and particles are separated from the treated water and removed as a combined waste stream, complying with environmental legislation while maintaining clarification efficiency.
3Reliability
If disinfectant chemicals are introduced into filtered water to kill parasites, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but some parasites remain in the water presenting health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary physical filtration and removal of parasites through the rapid sand filters and clarification process before chemical disinfection. By removing parasites mechanically in advance, the subsequent chemical disinfection becomes more effective, and any remaining parasites are eliminated by the disinfectant, achieving comprehensive parasite removal.
4Productivity
If large settling basins and elaborate intake structures are installed to conduct water to treatment plants, then water treatment capacity is improved, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the water treatment process into distinct functional units: a mixing chamber for clarification, rapid sand filters for filtration, and a disinfection system. This modular segmentation allows for efficient water treatment capacity while reducing overall infrastructure complexity compared to traditional large settling basins and elaborate intake structures.
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 achieves efficient filtration and disinfection of water by neutralizing negatively charged impurities and reducing the need for frequent backwashing, while minimizing environmental impact and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a positive electrical charge may be applied to the housing in conjunction with the introduction of forced air into a raw water chamber, to neutralize negatively charged impurities in the raw incoming water flowing through the filter media
Implementation Method 2
the introduction of forced air into a raw water chamber, to neutralize negatively charged impurities
Data Source
AI summary
A filtration operator for filtering raw water, comprising a plurality of filtration units, a raw water reservoir, a conduit for conveying raw water from the raw water reservoir to individual ones of the filtration units, filter medium provided in each of the filtration units for filtering raw water, a respective raw water chamber configured to be in water communication with the raw water reservoir, the filtration units, and a pump chamber, a sludge filtering and recycling chamber for receiving sludge from the filtration units during a backwash cycle, and at least one positively charged bar disposed in each of the raw water chambers, as well as in a sludge receiving chamber associated with the sludge filtering and recycling chamber.