Grow Table Washdown Filtration for Water Reuse and Runoff Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively collect and separate hazardous liquids from wastewater, particularly in environments where water runoff from vehicle washing and plant growing facilities is prohibited from entering sewers or groundwater, necessitating a system that can filter and reuse water for cleaning and irrigation.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system comprising a non-porous mat with offset grid layers and a roller table, combined with nozzles for spraying and filtering liquids, followed by a separation tank for sedimentation and filtration, allowing for the separation and reuse of contaminated water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If water runoff from vehicle washing and plant growing facilities is discharged directly into sewers or groundwater, then disposal is simple and low-cost, but environmental pollution occurs and regulatory compliance is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wastewater treatment process into multiple distinct stages: coarse filtration through screens, sedimentation in tanks, and final discharge. This segmentation allows each stage to handle specific contaminants effectively, transforming a complex regulatory compliance problem into manageable processing steps that achieve both pollution removal and simple operational flow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate treatment components (filtration screens, sedimentation tanks) as mediators between the wastewater source and the environment. These intermediaries capture and retain contaminants, allowing the water to be discharged or reused without direct environmental harm, thus resolving the contradiction between simple disposal and pollution prevention
2Loss of substance
If contaminated water is collected and filtered for reuse in cleaning and irrigation, then water costs are reduced and environmental compliance is achieved, but system complexity and initial investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to serve multiple functions: it filters wastewater for reuse in both cleaning operations and plant irrigation, captures sediment for potential fertilizer use, and provides regulatory compliance. This multi-functionality justifies the system complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single integrated installation, reducing overall water consumption across different operational areas
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers valuable resources from contaminated wastewater: clean water is retained for reuse in cleaning and irrigation, while sediment is captured and can be used as fertilizer. This recovery approach transforms waste streams into useful resources, offsetting the initial system complexity investment through ongoing operational savings and resource valorization
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple layers of corrugated membranes are used for separation, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into multiple layers of corrugated membranes with progressively finer filtration capabilities. Each layer targets specific particle sizes and contaminant types, achieving comprehensive filtration effectiveness. The segmented design allows for modular manufacturing and assembly, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining high filtration performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs composite structures combining multiple layers of corrugated membranes with different pore sizes and material properties. This composite approach achieves superior filtration effectiveness by leveraging the complementary strengths of each layer, while the standardized composite design facilitates streamlined manufacturing processes and reduces production complexity
4Object-affected harmful factors
If protective suits and thorough cleansing procedures are used for hazardous substance removal, then worker safety is improved, but cleaning time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates preliminary containment and collection mechanisms that capture hazardous substances at the source before they require manual handling. Pre-filtration and automated collection reduce the amount of hazardous material requiring manual removal, thereby maintaining worker safety through protective equipment while reducing the time required for thorough cleansing procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service cleaning through automated mechanisms that handle hazardous substance removal without requiring extensive manual intervention. The automated collection and containment systems perform the hazardous cleanup tasks themselves, maintaining worker safety by minimizing human exposure while reducing overall cleaning time by eliminating manual labor requirements
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 efficiently separates contaminants from water, enabling its reuse for cleaning and irrigation, reducing environmental pollution and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
Each nozzle is interfaced to a pump for receiving and spraying a liquid from the pump downwardly towards the grow table
Implementation Method 2
The liquid and impurities (e.g., soil, leaves) fall to the upper layer and through the plurality of holes for cleaning and filtering the liquid
Implementation Method 3
followed by a separation tank for sedimentation and filtration
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning system includes a planar material beneath a soiled grow table. The planar material is non-porous except for a drain. Above the planar material is a plate layer including at least two layers of runners arranged in a grid where each successive layer is offset at an angle with respect to the grid of a previous layer. The plate layer rests upon the non-porous material. An upper layer covers the plate layer and has a plurality of holes. A roller table is provided for slideably supporting the grow table. Nozzles are positioned over the grow table and is/are interfaced to a pump for receiving and spraying liquid from the pump downwardly towards the grow table. The liquid and impurities (e.g., soil, leaves) fall to the upper layer and through the plurality of holes for cleaning and filtering the liquid before the liquid is returned to the pump.