Coagulant Dosing for Laundry Water Recycling With Clarification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treatment appliances face limitations in recycling wash water, particularly in areas where clean water is scarce, as previous methods mainly focus on reusing water from final rinse cycles that are already clean, whereas this disclosure aims to clarify and recycle water with soils and chemicals using chemical treatments followed by physical processes.
Innovation Solution
A system for recirculating wash liquid through household appliances, utilizing a coagulant dosing system that includes a user-replaceable cartridge with a dosing pump for delivering coagulants into a recycling tank, which separates solid impurities from wash water using a combination of chemical treatments and physical processes, allowing for the reuse of most wash water in the cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water recycling focuses on reusing water from final rinse cycles that are already clean, then the water quality for reuse is maintained, but the amount of water that can be recycled is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The water recycling system segments the washing process into distinct phases (pre-wash, main wash, rinse cycles) and recycles water from each phase separately after appropriate treatment. This allows soils and chemicals to be removed through coagulation and sedimentation before reuse, enabling recycling of water that would otherwise be discarded, thereby increasing the quantity of recyclable water while maintaining quality through phase-specific treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary chemical treatment (coagulation) and physical separation (sedimentation) on wash water before it is reused. By adding coagulants to precipitate soils and chemicals, and allowing solids to settle in a sedimentation tank, the water is pre-treated to remove impurities before being recycled, ensuring quality is maintained while enabling broader recycling of water from all washing phases
2Ease of operation
If coagulant is stored in an open system, then access and dosing is simplified, but the coagulant may solidify due to exposure to air
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary substance (food-grade mineral oil) that forms a protective layer over the coagulant in the storage tank. This oil layer acts as a barrier preventing air contact with the coagulant, thereby preventing solidification and maintaining coagulant stability and reliability, while the dosing pump system ensures easy access and controlled delivery of the coagulant
3Reliability
If airtight system is implemented to prevent coagulant solidification, then coagulant stability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses food-grade mineral oil as an intermediary barrier layer over the coagulant, creating a simple yet effective airtight seal without complex mechanical components. This approach maintains coagulant stability by preventing air contact while avoiding the need for complex pressurized or vacuum systems, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The oil layer automatically self-seals the coagulant surface, creating a passive airtight barrier that requires no active control systems, motors, or sensors. The system maintains itself through the physical properties of the oil layer, which naturally conforms to the coagulant surface and prevents air ingress, thereby achieving coagulant stability with minimal added complexity
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 approach reduces overall water consumption by effectively recycling wash water with soils and chemicals, enabling the reuse of clarified water in subsequent cycles, thereby conserving water resources.
Implementation Method 1
a coagulant dosing system for treating water for recycling
Implementation Method 2
separates solid impurities from wash water using a combination of chemical treatments and physical processes
Data Source
AI summary
Laundry treatment appliances for use in a typical household include a tub that has an opening to provide access to the interior and at least partially defines a treating chamber into which fabric items such as clothes, towels, or linens can be placed to undergo a washing operation. A system can be provided for recirculating wash liquid through the tub to reduce water consumption. At least one tank or reservoir and a coagulant dosing system can be included for the chemical treatment of wash water as part of the wash liquid recirculation system. The tank can also serve to separate coagulated solids from the wash water.