Float Valve Microalgae Culturing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing microalgae culturing systems require multiple water level sensors and solenoid valves, leading to increased equipment costs and complex wiring, and manual operation of U-shaped pipes is cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A culturing system with a supply device that uses first float valves to automatically stop the supply of culturing solution by closing supply pipes as liquid surfaces rise, eliminating the need for water level sensors and simplifying the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water level sensors and solenoid valves are used to control culturing solution supply, then water level control is achieved, but equipment cost increases and wiring becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the water level sensor and solenoid valve components from the system by implementing a passive float valve mechanism that inherently controls water level through buoyancy-based automatic opening and closing, thereby removing the need for electrical wiring while maintaining water level control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve system performs self-service water level control by automatically opening when the water level drops and closing when the water level rises, without requiring external electrical control signals or sensors, thus eliminating complex wiring while maintaining reliable water level management
2Measurement precision
If multiple water level sensors are installed in multiple accommodation sections, then water level monitoring is improved, but equipment investment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes water level sensors from each accommodation section and replaces them with passive float valves that provide inherent water level monitoring and control through their mechanical buoyancy-based operation, thereby eliminating the need for multiple sensors while maintaining water level monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
Each float valve autonomously monitors and responds to water level changes in its accommodation section through automatic opening and closing based on buoyancy principles, providing self-service water level monitoring without requiring external sensors or electrical components
3Reliability
If U-shaped pipe inclination angle is changed manually, then water level control is achieved, but operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The float valve system automatically responds to water level changes through buoyancy-based mechanical operation, opening when water level drops and closing when water level rises, thereby eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining reliable water level control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of U-shaped pipes with an automatic float valve mechanism that uses buoyancy forces to drive the opening and closing actions, substituting manual mechanical control with automatic mechanical response
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 configuration reduces equipment costs and simplifies the system by allowing automatic control of solution supply without the need for water level sensors, while maintaining efficient microalgae cultivation.
Implementation Method 1
first floats constituting the respective first float valves close the supply pipes by moving upward in a depth direction of the plurality of accommodation sections as liquid surfaces of the culturing solution rise in the depth direction
Data Source
AI summary
A culturing system is equipped with a culturing tank and a supply device for supplying a culturing solution to the culturing tank. The culturing tank includes a plurality of accommodation sections capable of accommodating the culturing solution. The supply device includes a liquid delivery device for delivering the culturing solution to the plurality of accommodation sections, and supply pipes for supplying the culturing solution to the plurality of accommodation sections, respectively. The culturing system includes first float valves that can open and close the supply pipes. The first float valves each include a first float.