Matrix Completion for Water Quality Reuse Decisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining water quality in industries lead to the unnecessary rejection of reusable water flows due to errors in measurement and simple comparison/extrapolation, resulting in low water reuse efficiency and high management costs.

Innovation Solution

A method involving matrix completion algorithms to process water quality parameter data, minimizing errors by reconstructing missing or erroneous values, allowing for more precise determination of water quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If simple comparison and extrapolation methods are used to determine water quality, then the process is simple and fast, but many reusable water flows are incorrectly rejected due to measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater reuse efficiencyVSAvoidwater quality determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a matrix completion algorithm as an intermediary processing step between raw measurement data and water quality determination. This algorithm reconstructs missing or erroneous parameters by leveraging correlations among multiple water quality parameters, thereby improving determination accuracy without sacrificing operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the simple mechanical comparison/extrapolation method with a data-driven matrix completion approach. Instead of directly comparing measured parameters against thresholds, the system uses mathematical algorithms to reconstruct the complete parameter set, substituting a computational process for the simpler but less accurate mechanical method

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If exhaustive water quality control methodologies are implemented to improve accuracy, then more water flows can be correctly identified for reuse, but the complexity of the determination process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater quality determination accuracyVSAvoidcontrol methodology complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The matrix completion algorithm serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reconstructs missing parameters, corrects erroneous measurements, identifies parameter correlations, and provides confidence assessments. This multi-functionality allows exhaustive analysis to be achieved through a single integrated process rather than multiple separate complex procedures

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the water quality determination problem by changing from direct parameter comparison to matrix-based parameter reconstruction. By representing water quality data as a matrix and applying completion algorithms, the system handles missing and erroneous data systematically, converting a complex qualitative assessment into a structured mathematical problem

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If direct comparison of measured parameters with threshold values is used, then the method is simple to implement, but measurement errors lead to considerable determination errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemethod implementation simplicityVSAvoidwater quality parameter accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary data processing and parameter reconstruction before the actual water quality determination. By completing the parameter matrix and correcting errors in advance, the system ensures that the subsequent threshold comparison is based on accurate, complete data, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4632373A1Method for the qualitative determination of water quality
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 UNIVERSIDAD DE NAVARRA ESCUELA DE INGENIERIA (TECNUN)
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  • EP4632373A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4632373A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining whether water quality is suitable for subsequent use, comprising the steps of: - measuring a plurality of quality parameters of different water samples at different time points, obtaining a matrix of measured values of parameters for the different time points; - processing the matrix of measured values to obtain a matrix of processed values such that the difference between said matrices is minimal with the condition that the value of the rank of the matrix of processed values approximates or is equal to a predetermined value less than the rank of the matrix of measured values, the rank of the matrix of processed values preferably being equal to 2 or 3; - determining water quality by comparing values from the matrix of processed values with predetermined acceptance thresholds for water quality parameters.