Portable Gravity Filtration System for Pathogen Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating sterile water, such as high-temperature boiling, chemical oxidation, UV treatment, and filtration, are ineffective or impractical in regions with limited access to electricity, water, and resources, particularly in developing countries, where waterborne diseases are prevalent due to contaminated water sources.
Innovation Solution
A portable system utilizing a low-pressure-differential pathogen filtration device that uses gravity to filter water through a container with a built-in filtration mechanism, including a gas tube to maintain pressure and a filtration state monitoring system, allowing for pathogen-free water production without electrical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-temperature boiling is used for sterilization, then pathogen removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and equipment requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal sterilization (boiling) with a mechanical filtration system that uses a filtration membrane to physically remove pathogens from water. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature heating and boiling equipment, making the system suitable for remote areas without electricity or fuel sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sterilization function from thermal processes and implements it through a dedicated filtration membrane system. The filtration membrane selectively removes pathogens while allowing water to pass through, separating the pathogen removal function from conventional thermal sterilization methods.
2Reliability
If chemical oxidation with chlorine is used for sterilization, then pathogen removal effectiveness is improved, but harmful chemical residues and health risks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical oxidation sterilization with a physical filtration system. The filtration membrane mechanically removes pathogens through physical barrier action, eliminating the need for chlorine and other chemicals that leave harmful residues and cause health problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of chemical oxidation into a beneficial physical filtration process. Instead of using chemicals that create harmful residues, the system uses a filtration membrane that physically blocks pathogens, turning a harmful chemical process into a safe physical separation process.
3Reliability
If UV lamps are used for sterilization, then pathogen removal effectiveness is improved, but cost and power supply requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces UV sterilization with a passive filtration system that uses a filtration membrane. This substitution eliminates the need for electrical power supply and UV lamps, making the system suitable for remote areas without electricity while maintaining effective pathogen removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration system operates autonomously without requiring external power sources. The filtration membrane continuously removes pathogens from water flow through its physical barrier properties, providing self-service sterilization that does not depend on electricity or powered equipment.
4Reliability
If RO membrane filtration is used, then pathogen and virus removal effectiveness is improved, but water waste and energy consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a filtration membrane with optimized pore structure and selective permeability. The membrane's local quality (pore size and distribution) allows it to effectively remove pathogens and viruses while minimizing water waste through controlled filtration rather than complete rejection of water molecules.
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 effectively removes pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and cryptosporidium, achieving high removal efficiencies (>99.9999%) without the need for electricity, making it suitable for remote and resource-constrained areas, thereby reducing waterborne disease risks.
Implementation Method 1
a low-pressure-differential pathogen filtration device that uses gravity to filter water through a container with a built-in filtration mechanism
Implementation Method 2
including a gas tube to maintain pressure
Implementation Method 3
uses gravity to filter water through a container
Data Source
AI summary
A system for generating sterile water is provided, including: a liquid holding container having thereon a container outlet; a filtration device including therein a low-pressure-differential pathogen filtration portion, wherein the filtration device has a filtration inlet and a filtration outlet; and a gas tube; wherein the container outlet is connected to the filtration inlet; wherein the filtration inlet has a gas hole with one end connected to the gas hole and the other end having a buoy; wherein the sterile water is substantially pathogen-free.