Automatic Flushing Device for Drain Trap with Secondary Siphon
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing automatic flushing device for drain-siphons is prone to defusing due to degassing bubbles, can be fouled by calcite or iron oxide deposits, and is affected by climatic and hydraulic changes, leading to inconsistent operation.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a secondary siphon with an auxiliary outlet for slow flow, a widened charge accumulator zone acting as a buffer, and a safety tank to maintain water levels, along with treatment additives to prevent clogging, ensuring two-stage emptying and stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the siphon operates at high flow rate to evacuate liquid efficiently, then productivity is improved, but the siphon may reach critical flow rate causing bubbles to accumulate and defuse the siphon, worsening reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in periodic cycles: during the first phase, the siphon evacuates liquid at high flow rate; when bubbles accumulate and reach critical level, the siphon automatically stops and then reprimes through turbulence generated by water level changes in the charge accumulator. This periodic operation prevents continuous operation at critical flow rate while maintaining high productivity during active phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge accumulator acts as a feedback mechanism that automatically detects when the siphon needs repriming. As water level in the charge accumulator rises during liquid evacuation, it eventually reaches a threshold that generates turbulence in the ascending branch, automatically eliminating accumulated bubbles and repriming the siphon without external intervention.
2Productivity
If the siphon operates continuously to maintain drainage, then productivity is improved, but bubbles accumulate over time causing defusing, worsening reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous drainage capability through automatic cyclic operation. The siphon continuously evacuates liquid during its active phase, and when bubbles cause defusing, the system automatically reprimes through the charge accumulator mechanism, ensuring continuous useful action without manual intervention or system停机.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge accumulator and ascending branch configuration enable the system to self-service by automatically eliminating bubbles and repriming the siphon. The rising water level in the charge accumulator naturally generates turbulence in the ascending branch, which eliminates accumulated bubbles and restores siphon priming without external intervention.
3Loss of time
If the charge accumulator is positioned close to the siphon outlet to enable rapid response, then response time is improved, but degassing bubbles can be sucked into the bell causing premature defusing, worsening reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet orifice of the downstream end of the main siphon acts as an intermediary element that is remotely positioned relative to the bell. This remote positioning prevents direct suction of degassing bubbles into the bell while still allowing the charge accumulator to effectively respond to bubble accumulation in the siphon through the water level rise mechanism.
4Reliability
If the siphon operates at high velocity to prevent bubble accumulation, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases, worsening energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining continuously high velocity, the system uses periodic high-velocity phases during liquid evacuation followed by automatic repriming phases. The high velocity is activated only when needed for bubble elimination, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliability during active drainage periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the energy of rising water in the charge accumulator to automatically generate turbulence and eliminate bubbles, rather than requiring continuous external energy input to maintain high siphon velocity. The repriming action is self-driven by the hydraulic head difference, improving energy efficiency.
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 design prevents premature defusing, allows complete degassing, and maintains consistent operation despite climatic and hydraulic variations, ensuring efficient drainage and preventing pipe clogging.
Implementation Method 1
This drainage can be carried out by various techniques such as by pumping, by gravity evacuation, by siphoning. The invention applies to this latter technique, namely performing pumping by means of a siphoning pipe or siphon
Implementation Method 2
this load accumulator being pumped by a secondary siphon whose downstream end ends in a main outlet
Implementation Method 3
They are then subjected to opposing forces: on the one hand to Archimedes' thrust tending to cause the bubbles to rise inside the siphon 3
Implementation Method 4
the upstream end of said secondary siphon communicating with the atmosphere through a control duct
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The automatic flushing device (CA) according to the invention is characterized in that the secondary trap (5) comprises, in addition to said main outlet (52), an auxiliary outlet (54) which is smaller than the main outlet (52), which is located at a lower level than the main outlet (52), and which is arranged to generate a slow flow rate, in that said head pressure accumulator (4) comprises a broadened area (43) into which the tank (36), with which the downstream end (34) of the main trap (3) is in communication, is built, said broadened area (43) constituting a buffer reserve which is added to the tank (36) and which extends above a reference plane (PR) up to a buffer level (NT), and in that said main outlet (52) is located at the same level as said buffer level (NT) and said auxiliary outlet (54) is located below said reference plane (PR).