Method for saving energy in a water treatment system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for maintaining hygienic water quality in piping systems, such as UV light and heating, are inefficient and costly due to incomplete microorganism destruction, energy expenditure, and recontamination risks, especially in standing or circulating water, which can lead to health risks and non-compliance with regulatory standards.
Innovation Solution
A system with a circulation line, an ultrafiltration unit in a bypass line, and a heating device, where the ultrafiltration unit is used only when necessary, allowing for demand-oriented treatment and continuous monitoring to maintain permissible microorganism levels, reducing energy consumption and preventing recontamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV light is used to kill microorganisms, then microorganism destruction is achieved, but dead microorganism parts remain in water causing toxic or allergenic effects and requiring additional filtration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes dead microorganism parts from the water using ultrafiltration membranes. The membranes physically separate and retain the dead microorganism debris while allowing clean water to pass through, eliminating the toxic or allergenic effects without requiring additional chemical treatment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrafiltration membrane acts as an intermediary between the UV irradiation process and the final water output. It captures and retains dead microorganism parts that would otherwise remain in the water, providing a physical barrier that prevents harmful substances from reaching the consumer while allowing beneficial water flow.
2Reliability
If heating water to 60-70°C is used to denature microorganisms, then microorganism destruction is achieved, but high energy expenditure is required and water must be cooled again for cold water applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal mechanical system (heating and cooling) with a mechanical filtration system (ultrafiltration membranes). Instead of using heat to denature microorganisms and then cooling the water, the system uses membrane filtration to physically separate and remove microorganisms and their debris, eliminating the need for energy-intensive heating and cooling cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and removes microorganisms and their debris through ultrafiltration membranes without requiring thermal processing. This direct mechanical separation approach eliminates the need to heat water to high temperatures and subsequently cool it down, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective microorganism removal.
3Reliability
If multiple sequential UV irradiation devices are used to ensure complete microorganism destruction, then microorganism destruction efficiency is improved, but time and energy expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrafiltration membrane serves as an intermediary that captures and retains dead microorganism parts in a single pass through the system. This eliminates the need for multiple sequential UV irradiation devices, reducing both time and energy expenditure while ensuring complete removal of microorganism debris through the physical barrier provided by the membrane.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and removes microorganism debris through a single ultrafiltration stage rather than requiring multiple UV irradiation passes. This streamlined approach reduces processing time and energy consumption while achieving complete microorganism destruction and removal in one continuous operation.
4Reliability
If ultrafiltration systems are used to remove microorganisms, then microorganism removal is achieved, but recontamination can occur in standing water downstream requiring periodic chemical cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation system performs multiple functions: it continuously circulates water to prevent stagnation, maintains pressure to prevent backflow and recontamination, and works in conjunction with the ultrafiltration membrane to provide ongoing protection. This multi-functional approach addresses recontamination risks without requiring periodic chemical cleaning interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous water circulation through the ultrafiltration membrane, ensuring that water does not stagnate downstream and that any potential recontamination is immediately addressed by the continuous filtration action. This continuous operation eliminates the need for periodic chemical cleaning by maintaining constant protective action.
5Manufacturing precision
If reverse osmosis or electro-deionization is used to remove soluble substances, then separation efficiency is improved, but chemical composition of water changes making it unsuitable for human consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrafiltration membrane provides localized separation at the molecular level, allowing water molecules to pass through while retaining larger microorganism and debris particles. This selective local filtration maintains the natural chemical composition of water suitable for human consumption while effectively removing harmful contaminants, avoiding the broad chemical changes caused by reverse osmosis or electro-deionization.
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 effectively controls microorganism contamination, reduces energy usage by lowering heating temperatures, and ensures compliance with regulatory standards, potentially saving terawatt hours of energy annually by maintaining water quality within acceptable limits.
Implementation Method 1
a single ultrafiltration unit for the mechanical separation of microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
a device for heating, through which the circulation line runs for heating the liquid guided in it
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates generally to the field of water supply. In particular, the invention relates to a system for circulating a liquid, especially an aqueous liquid such as water, and for controlling the microbial load of the circulating liquid, as well as a corresponding method using the same. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for effective energy savings in the context of supplying a heated liquid for sanitary purposes while controlling the recommended, permissible, or acceptable guideline values for microorganisms.