Infiltration Sewer Vertical Conduit Rainwater Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infiltration and transport sewers (IT sewers) often lack sufficient capacity during heavy rainfall, leading to overflow into surface water or wastewater sewers, contaminating clean rainwater and incurring unnecessary costs.

Innovation Solution

The IT sewer system includes a vertical conduit part that allows infiltration into a deeper ground layer, combined with an elongate sleeve inlet part for rainwater filtration and easy cleaning, ensuring high capacity and compatibility with existing systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a traditional horizontal conduit system is used, then the structure is simple and easy to install, but the infiltration capacity is insufficient during heavy rainfall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfiltration capacityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the traditional horizontal conduit system by adding vertical conduit parts that extend downward from the horizontal conduits. This dimensional expansion allows the system to access deeper soil layers for infiltration, significantly increasing the overall infiltration capacity without requiring an overly complex horizontal network expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The infiltration system is segmented into multiple functional components: horizontal conduits for water collection and transport, vertical conduits for deep infiltration, perforations for water discharge, and geotextile layers for filtration. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system manageability and installation feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If rainwater is discharged to surface water or overflowed to wastewater sewer, then the immediate capacity problem is solved, but water quality deteriorates and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater quality maintenanceVSAvoidrainfall management capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the infiltration system by extending conduit depth through vertical components and increasing the total surface area of perforations. This parameter expansion enables the system to handle higher volumes of rainwater while maintaining infiltration quality, eliminating the need for overflow discharge and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the vertical conduit part is added to increase infiltration capacity, then the rainfall management capability improves, but the installation complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverainfall management capacityVSAvoidinstallation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The vertical conduit parts serve multiple functions: they provide a pathway for deep infiltration, structurally support the horizontal conduits above, and can be integrated with existing groundwater management systems. This multi-functionality justifies the additional installation effort by delivering multiple benefits from a single structural addition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If permeable fabric membrane and geotextile layers are added for filtration, then water quality is maintained, but the system complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater quality maintenanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs porous materials including geotextile layers and permeable fabric membranes that allow water passage while filtering out contaminants. These materials are integrated into the conduit structure, providing filtration functionality without requiring separate complex filtration systems, thus maintaining relative simplicity while ensuring water quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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

This configuration enables the absorption of rainwater into the ground without overflow, maintaining water quality and reducing costs by efficiently managing rainfall runoff.

Implementation Method 1

a horizontal conduit part (2) provided with perforations (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfiltration: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

at least one vertical conduit part (8)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational flow: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2397615B1Infiltration and transport sewer
Publication Date: 2019.02.13 HENK VAN TONGEREN WATER & TECHNIEK BV
  • EP2397615B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Infiltration and transport sewer, comprising at least one horizontal conduit part provided with perforations for transporting water and infiltrating a first ground layer with at least a first part of the water transported through this conduit part, and at least one vertical conduit part (8) for the purpose of infiltrating a second ground layer located lower than the first ground layer with at least a second part of the water transported through the horizontal part.