System, method, and apparatus for optimizing a timing of a flush valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flush valves in waste water systems, such as those for urinals and commodes, experience wear and maintenance issues, leading to inconsistent water usage and increased costs due to wear and variations in water pressure, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a flush valve with a solenoid, pressure sensors, and a controller that adjusts the flush time based on measured pressure and usage data to maintain consistent water volume, including static and dynamic pressure measurements, and usage tracking to optimize water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flush valve operates with a fixed flush time, then the system is simple and reliable, but the water usage becomes inconsistent due to valve wear and pressure variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates pressure sensors that continuously monitor water pressure during flushing and feed this information back to the controller. The controller dynamically adjusts the flush time based on real-time pressure data, ensuring consistent flush volume despite pressure variations or valve wear. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through adaptive control while accepting increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static, fixed flush time approach to a dynamic adjustment mechanism. The controller modifies the flush duration in real-time based on measured pressure conditions and valve usage history. This dynamic adaptation ensures consistent performance while accommodating wear and pressure changes, resolving the contradiction between reliability and simplicity.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the flush valve components wear over time, then the valve continues to operate, but the water usage increases and becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pressure sensors to detect changes in pressure profiles that indicate valve wear. By continuously monitoring pressure during flushing operations and comparing against baseline patterns, the controller identifies wear-related deviations. The system compensates for wear-induced water usage increases by dynamically adjusting flush parameters, thereby maintaining consistent water consumption throughout the valve's extended service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces purely mechanical wear-tolerance approaches with electronic sensing and control. Instead of relying on mechanical components to withstand wear, the system uses pressure sensors and algorithms to detect wear conditions and compensate through electronic control adjustments, maintaining efficient water usage despite extended mechanical component usage.
3Loss of energy
If the system dynamically adjusts flush time based on pressure and usage data, then water usage is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automated monitoring and adjustment. The pressure sensors and controller work autonomously to detect conditions, calculate optimal flush times, and execute adjustments without external intervention. This self-service capability optimizes water usage while the automation masks the underlying complexity from the user, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and perceived system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs multiple functions: monitoring pressure, tracking usage patterns, detecting wear conditions, calculating optimal flush times, and executing adjustments. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional controller, the system achieves water optimization while minimizing the number of separate components, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the sophisticated control algorithms employed.
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 ensures consistent flush volume and reduced water usage by dynamically adjusting the flush time, thereby minimizing wear and maintenance needs, and providing real-time monitoring for maintenance scheduling.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid configured to open the flush valve
Implementation Method 2
at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the flush valve
Data Source
AI summary
A system for optimizing a timing of a flush valve is provided. The system includes a flush valve comprising a flow area and a solenoid configured to open the flush valve, at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the flush valve, and at least one controller in communication with the at least one pressure sensor and the solenoid. The at least one controller is programmed or configured to control the solenoid to open the flush valve for a flush time in response to a flush request, measure a pressure in the flush valve to obtain at least one flush valve pressure, adjust the flush time based at least partially on the at least one flush valve pressure, resulting in an adjusted flush time, and control the solenoid to open the flush valve for the adjusted flush time in response to a flush request.