Foldable Rainwater Delay Device for Cloud Burst Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban areas with hard surfaces face significant flood risks due to cloud bursts, as existing drainage systems are not equipped to handle sudden large water volumes, leading to infrastructure damage and costly sewer system expansions.
Innovation Solution
A foldable rainwater delay device that can be easily connected to existing rainwater distribution conduits, featuring a flexible bag with inlet and outlet valves, a bypass valve unit, and communication systems to manage water flow and pressure, allowing rainwater to be stored above-ground and released when necessary, thereby reducing flood peaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sewer systems are re-dimensioned and expanded to handle cloud burst volumes, then flood peak risk is reduced, but construction cost and inconvenience increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the flood protection function into two parts: the existing sewer system handles normal flow, while a separate above-ground delay device handles cloud burst volumes. This segmentation avoids the need to redesign the entire sewer system, reducing construction cost and inconvenience while maintaining flood peak risk reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The delay device acts as an intermediary between the rainwater distribution conduit and the sewer system. It temporarily stores excess rainwater during cloud bursts and releases it gradually, mediating the mismatch between sudden large volumes and the sewer system's limited capacity, thereby reducing flood peak risk without requiring sewer expansion.
2Productivity
If drainage systems are designed for high flow capacity, then water can be led away quickly, but the systems become expensive and require extensive infrastructure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The delay device provides dynamic flow regulation: during normal conditions, it allows free flow through the sewer system; during cloud bursts, it activates to store excess water and release it gradually. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to handle high flow demands without requiring permanent infrastructure changes or increased drainage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow rate parameter over time: high flow is permitted during normal conditions, while during cloud bursts, the delay device reduces the flow rate to manageable levels by temporarily storing water and releasing it gradually, avoiding the need for permanently high-capacity infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If above-ground storage solutions are used, then deployment is simplified, but space requirements and visual impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The delay device uses a flexible bladder made of thin film material that can be collapsed when not in use and expanded when needed. This flexible shell design minimizes above-ground space occupation during normal conditions while providing sufficient storage capacity during cloud bursts, balancing deployment simplicity with space 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
The device effectively minimizes flood peak risks by storing rainwater above-ground, reducing the burden on drainage systems during heavy rainfall events, and can be easily deployed and retrofitted without extensive infrastructure changes, providing real-time relief and protecting buildings from water damage.
Implementation Method 1
a foldable closed bag (2) made of a flexible material and having a first inlet (3) and a first outlet (4) and an internal volume V I
Implementation Method 2
the outlet valve unit (10) being arranged in the first outlet (4)... the outlet valve unit may be configured to provide a flow when the rainwater present in the foldable closed bag is above a predetermined level... above a predetermined pressure
Implementation Method 3
the bypass valve unit (8) being connectable to the rainwater distribution conduit (21)... the movable member may be configured to switch from the first position to the second position when a pressure and/or flow in the rainwater distribution conduit are/is higher than a predetermined pressure and/or flow
Implementation Method 4
the movable member may be connected with a spring having a spring force, the spring force being equal to the predetermined pressure and/or flow so that the spring maintains the movable member in the first position until the pressure and/or flow in the rainwater distribution conduit are/is higher than the predetermined pressure and/or flow
Implementation Method 5
The flexible material may be foldable and/or rollable... polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), butyl rubber (BR), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polychloroprene (CR), polyethylene (PE)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a foldable rainwater delay device (1) for minimising a flood-peak risk caused by a cloud burst in an area having a hard face (40), the foldable rainwater device (1) being configured to be connected with a rainwater distribution conduit (21), such as a drainpipe, configured to lead rainwater away from the hard face, comprising a foldable closed bag (2, 2') made of a flexible material and having a first inlet (3) and a first outlet (4) and an internal volume (V1), a hose (5) having a first end (6) and a second end (7), the first end of the hose being connectable to the first inlet (3), a bypass valve unit (8) connectable to the rainwater distribution conduit (21) and to the second end (7) of the hose, and an outlet valve unit (10) arranged in the first outlet (4).