Grey Water Tank Filter Wall With Vacuum Self-Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grey water tanks in vehicles face issues with filter wall blockages due to contaminants, leading to loss of functionality and requiring expensive cleaning processes when partially blocked.
Innovation Solution
A grey water tank design with a filter wall comprising different permeable and impermeable portions, along with an air flow limiting element, ensures effective detachment and removal of contaminants by managing pressure differences during vacuum discharge, minimizing adherence to the filter wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter wall is used to filter contaminants from grey water, then the quality of transferred grey water is improved, but the filter wall becomes blocked by contaminants leading to loss of functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The filter wall is divided into a first permeable portion and a second impermeable portion, each serving different functions. The permeable portion filters contaminants while the impermeable portion prevents contamination adherence, resolving the contradiction by segmenting the filter wall into functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the filter wall are assigned different properties: the first portion is permeable for filtering, while the second portion is impermeable to prevent contamination adherence. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain filtering functionality while avoiding blockage.
2Productivity
If vacuum discharge system is used to remove grey water, then the discharge efficiency is improved, but air flow into the tank chamber causes contaminants to adhere to the filter wall
Solution Approach 1:
The filter wall is segmented into permeable and impermeable portions, allowing the system to maintain efficient vacuum discharge while preventing contaminant adherence through the impermeable barrier portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum discharge process, which initially causes harmful contaminant adherence, is converted into a beneficial cleaning mechanism. The pressure difference generated during vacuum discharge actively removes contaminants from the permeable filter wall portion, transforming the harmful effect into a self-cleaning benefit.
3Reliability
If the filter wall is cleaned manually when blocked, then the functionality is restored, but the vehicle must be parked and expensive cleaning processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-cleaning during the normal vacuum discharge operation. The pressure difference automatically detaches and removes contaminants from the filter wall, eliminating the need for manual intervention, parking, or expensive external cleaning services.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning action occurs continuously during each vacuum discharge cycle, maintaining the filter wall's functionality without interruption to the grey water system's operation. This eliminates downtime and maintains continuous useful action of the system.
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 design effectively cleans the filter wall, ensuring reliable functionality by detaching and flushing contaminants, reducing the need for extensive cleaning efforts and maintaining the tank's operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a waste water tank (34) for receiving the grey water, a vacuum discharge system containing a waste water line (36) for discharging the grey water from the grey water tank (20) into the waste water tank (34) by means of a vacuum in the waste water tank (34) and in the waste water line (36)
Implementation Method 2
An air flow limiting element (53) is arranged in the connection (16a) for the grey water inlet line (16). The element is configured to limit an air flow from the grey water inlet line (16) into the inner tank chamber (25) within the filter wall (22) during a process of grey water discharge by means of the vacuum discharge system (34-40).
Implementation Method 3
Owing to this modified pressure ratio, the air flow from the grey water transfer line is drawn more powerfully from the outer tank chamber to the inner tank chamber, and can thus even flow through a blocked part of the filter wall. As a result, the contamination can thereby be more effectively detached from the filter wall and flushed into the outflowing grey water
Data Source
AI summary
A grey water tank for vehicles. The grey water tank includes a tank housing having an interior for holding grey water, a filter wall inside the tank housing, an inner tank chamber provided inside the filter wall and an outer tank chamber being provided between the filter wall and the tank housing side wall. A fill level sensor is provided for detecting a fill level of the tank housing. A connection is provided on the tank housing cover in the region of the inner tank chamber for a grey water inlet from a washing device. A connection is provided on the tank housing for a grey water transfer line to a toilet requiring flushing liquid. In order to empty and clean the grey water tank, a connection for a waste water line for discharging the grey water present in the tank housing by a vacuum discharge system is also provided.