Floating Chlorine Dispenser With Sensor-Controlled Dissolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for dispensing chlorine into swimming pool water are not suitable for solid compounds and require human intervention to adjust the rate of dissolution or circulation.
Innovation Solution
A floating, energy-autonomous device that circulates liquid to dissolve a solid compound, such as chlorine pellets, and adjusts the flow rate based on sensor measurements or wireless signals to minimize human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a device uses a pre-existing liquid circulation circuit to dissolve and distribute solid compound, then the dissolution rate can be controlled, but the device cannot operate without a pre-existing circulation zone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the liquid circulation function and solid compound dissolution function into a single integrated device. The pump circulates liquid through the reservoir containing solid compound, dissolving it and distributing the solution back into the pool water. This eliminates the need for separate pre-existing circulation zones while maintaining controlled dissolution rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions: it pumps liquid, stores solid compound, dissolves the compound, and distributes the solution. By making the device multi-functional, it can operate independently without requiring external circulation infrastructure, thus reducing installation complexity while maintaining dissolution control.
2Device complexity
If manual adjustment of circulation rate is used to control dissolution, then the system is simple, but human intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates sensors that monitor pool water parameters (such as chlorine levels, temperature, or flow rate) and automatically adjust the pump's circulation rate accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables autonomous operation, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining optimal dissolution rates based on real-time water conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device monitors its own operating conditions and automatically adjusts its circulation rate to maintain optimal dissolution. The system serves itself by detecting when more or less solid compound needs to be dissolved and adjusting the liquid flow through the reservoir accordingly, without requiring human intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device is placed in a skimmer zone for water circulation, then dissolution can occur, but the device cannot be used in pools without skimmers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the water circulation pump with the solid compound dissolution reservoir in a single floating device. This integration allows the device to create its own circulation pattern in the water, eliminating the need for external skimmer infrastructure. The device can be deployed in any pool regardless of whether skimmers are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating device dynamically adapts to different pool environments by using its onboard pump to create circulation patterns suited to the specific pool geometry and water conditions. The device can operate in pools with or without skimmers, adjusting its operation based on the ambient water flow conditions.
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 device effectively dispenses solid compounds into swimming pool water without a pre-existing liquid circulation circuit, allowing for autonomous operation and precise control of chlorine levels.
Implementation Method 1
a circulating flow of the liquid coming from the volume of liquid and entering the reservoir via the intake orifice washes over at least part of the reserve of solid compound and dissolves and carries a flow of dissolved solid compound
Implementation Method 2
The device is configured to float freely at a surface separating the volume of liquid from a gaseous environment
Data Source
AI summary
A floating and energy-autonomous device (1) configured to dispense a solid compound (2) into a volume (3v) of liquid. The device (1) includes a reservoir (9) of solid compound (2), and a pump (13) configured to generate a circulating flow of the liquid (3) coining from the volume (3v) of liquid and passing through the reservoir (9) before returning to the volume (3v) of liquid. The device (1) includes a sensor (17) configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of a parameter of the volume (3v) of liquid or of a gaseous environment (4) of the device (1), and/or an antenna (18) configured to receive a radio signal, and to generate an antenna signal. The device (1) includes a microcontroller (19) configured to command the pump (13) and to regulate the circulating flow rate of the liquid (3) on the basis of the sensor signal and/or of the antenna signal.