Granular Filter Cell for Rainwater Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rainwater collection systems face challenges in maintaining water quality due to the inability of fine-meshed sieve filters to retain finer particles and dissolved impurities, leading to sedimentation and putrid smells, and require complex and costly maintenance, especially when retrofitting old systems.
Innovation Solution
A filter device with a granule-filled filter cell connected to a rainwater collection pipe, where the pump is flow-connected to the extraction line, allowing for efficient flushing and removal of impurities without complex valve circuits, and utilizing a grain mass bed with separate layers for enhanced filtration and self-cleaning, which can be easily retrofitted or installed with minimal effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fine-meshed sieve filters are used to retain particles, then particle retention is improved, but finer particles and dissolved impurities still pass through to the storage tank
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-layer filter bed composed of porous granular materials with varying pore sizes and filtration capabilities. The filter bed includes layers of different materials (e.g., anthracite, sand, gravel) that work together to capture particles of various sizes and break down dissolved impurities through biological and physical processes, thereby achieving both particle retention and high water quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system uses a composite structure combining multiple filter materials in stratified layers. Each layer has specific properties tailored to different filtration needs: upper layers with larger pores for coarse particles, middle layers with intermediate pores for fine particles, and lower layers with smaller pores for dissolved impurities. This composite approach enables simultaneous retention of particles and breakdown of dissolved contaminants.
2Reliability
If additional installations like calmed inlet and floating suction line are added to avoid sediment zones, then water quality is improved, but the usable volume of the cistern is reduced to 60-70% of total volume
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device performs preliminary filtration and purification of rainwater before it enters the storage tank. By removing particles and breaking down dissolved impurities in advance, the filter prevents sedimentation and putrefaction processes within the tank, eliminating the need for calmed inlets and floating suction lines, thereby maximizing the usable volume of the cistern.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system extracts and removes harmful impurities (particles and dissolved contaminants) from the rainwater before storage. This extraction of contaminants eliminates the formation of sediment and scum layers, allowing the entire tank volume to be used for storing clean, high-quality water without requiring additional installations to avoid contaminated zones.
3Ease of operation
If screen filters are designed for self-cleaning with inflow, then maintenance effort is reduced, but the degree of self-cleaning varies greatly and fine sieves still require regular cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system incorporates a periodic backwashing mechanism that automatically reverses the flow direction through the filter bed at regular intervals. During backwashing, water flows upward through the granular layers, loosening and removing accumulated particles from the filter media. This periodic self-cleaning action maintains consistent filtration performance without requiring manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between reduced maintenance effort and reliable filtration.
4Manufacturing precision
If sinter plates integrated into concrete cisterns are used to retain particles, then particle retention is improved, but the retained particles must be removed at regular intervals with considerable manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device is designed with automatic backwashing capability that enables self-service cleaning. The system periodically reverses flow through the filter bed to remove accumulated particles without requiring manual disassembly or cleaning operations. This self-cleaning function maintains particle retention performance while eliminating the need for considerable manual effort, directly addressing the contradiction between effective filtration and ease of maintenance.
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 solution effectively retains solids, breaks down contaminants, and is maintenance-free, reducing acquisition and operational costs while ensuring high water quality, with the ability to be easily integrated into existing systems without significant effort, and automatically adjusts the rinsing process to prevent overloading and maintain filter efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a grain mass bed which serves as a filter for the rainwater
Implementation Method 2
the amount of rinsing water is adjusted in such a way that the grain mass bed expands into the free space and is fluidized
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The mechanism has a filter cell (F1.0) connected to a rain water collecting pipe (R) over an inlet (F1.6) and a feed line (F0.7). The feed line feeds cleaned rain water over an outlet pipe (F1.2) e.g. stand pipe, of the filter cell and an outlet (F1.8) to a rain water collector container (Z). A pump (SP) is attached to the filter cell, and is fluidically connected with the outlet pipe. The pump is fluidically connected by a line (SF) with the outlet pipe. The line and the outlet pipe form a coil line for the filter cell.