Mineralized Water Dispensing with Local Distillation and Capsule Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The distribution of bottled mineral water, especially to remote areas, is costly and environmentally impactful due to transportation emissions and pollution, and storage issues such as plastic leaching and glass fragility, while consumer preferences for taste and purity are not adequately met by alternative methods like sterilized water tablets.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for distributing mineralized water involving an inlet, distillation unit, mineralization unit, and water distributor to mix distilled water with a mineralized fluid solution or powder from a capsule, ensuring purity and taste, with optional UV sterilization and cooling units to address environmental and storage concerns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bottled mineral water is distributed to remote areas, then consumption needs are met, but distribution costs and environmental impact increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mineral content from bottled water and separates it from the water itself. The distillation unit produces pure water locally, and the mineralization unit adds back only the essential minerals, eliminating the need to transport heavy bottled water while maintaining the beneficial mineral properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the bottled water into two components: pure water (produced locally via distillation) and mineral content (added via mineralization). This segmentation allows local production of water while separately managing mineral supplementation, reducing transportation needs.
2Ease of operation
If plastic bottles are used for mineral water storage, then distribution is easier, but plastic leaching and environmental pollution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses disposable capsules containing mineral powder instead of reusable plastic bottles. These capsules are small, lightweight, and biodegradable, eliminating the need for large plastic storage containers while providing convenient portability and eliminating plastic leaching concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of minerals from dissolved (in bottled water) to powdered form (in capsules). This parameter change allows minerals to be stored in a compact, lightweight, and environmentally friendly format that can be easily transported and disposed of without plastic contamination.
3Reliability
If glass bottles are used for mineral water storage, then plastic leaching is avoided, but weight and fragility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces heavy glass bottles with lightweight disposable capsules. These capsules are designed for single use, eliminating the need for durable heavy containers while maintaining storage safety through their sealed design and providing the same protection against contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the water storage function (handled by local distillation) from the mineral storage function (handled by lightweight capsules). This segmentation eliminates the need for heavy glass bottles that were required to store both water and minerals together safely.
4Reliability
If sterilizing tablets are used to purify water, then water safety is improved, but taste and consumer acceptance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical form of minerals from dissolved salts (which can affect taste) to fine powder that is suspended and then dissolved in controlled amounts. This parameter change allows for precise control of mineral content and taste, avoiding the unpleasant flavors associated with traditional sterilizing tablets.
Solution Approach 2:
The distillation process acts as an intermediary between raw water and the final product, producing pure water that is then mineralized. This two-step process with distillation as the intermediary ensures complete purification without introducing the chemical byproducts and unpleasant tastes associated with direct chemical sterilization.
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 device provides a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and consumer-preferred method for distributing mineralized water, ensuring purity and taste without the drawbacks of bottled water, while reducing plastic waste and emissions.
Implementation Method 1
a heater (4) configured for providing heat in an amount sufficient to heat the amount of water at least up to a boiling temperature
Implementation Method 2
a distillation unit (2), connected to the inlet (3) and configured to provide a distillation of an amount of water at least partially through heating
Implementation Method 3
a cooling unit (8) interposed between the distillation unit (2) and the mineralization unit (7), the cooling unit (8) being configured to cool down water exiting from the distillation unit (2) and/or configured for allowing condensation thereof
Implementation Method 4
a mineralization unit (7) interposed between the distillation unit (2) and the outlet nozzle or aperture (6), said mineralization unit (7) being configured for accessing the inner cavity of a disposable capsule (20), containing a mineralized fluid solution or powder (M)
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) for distributing mineralized water, said device comprising:an inlet (3), for loading water from an external source (100);a distillation unit (2), connected to the inlet (3) and configured to provide a distillation of an amount of water at least partially through heating, wherein said distillation unit (2) in turn comprises, or is operatively connected to, at least an heater (4) configured for providing heat in an amount sufficient to heat the amount of water at least up to a boiling temperature;a water distributor (5) configured for transferring a predetermined amount of distilled water (D) extracted from the distillation unit (2), to a removable container (10), the water distributor (5) being provided with an outlet nozzle or aperture (6) configured to face in use on said container (10);a mineralization unit (7) interposed between the distillation unit (2) and the outlet nozzle or aperture (6), said mineralization unit (7) being configured for accessing the inner cavity of a disposable capsule (20), containing a mineralized fluid solution or powder (M) in said cavity, for extracting at least part of said mineralized fluid solution or powder (M) from the capsule (20) and/or being configured for emptying the capsule (20) from the mineralized fluid solution or powder (M), and transferring at least part of the mineralized fluid solution or powder (M) from the capsule (20) to the water distributor (5);the device, optionally through the water distributor (5), being configured to mix the mineralized fluid solution or powder (M) with the predetermined amount of distilled water (D) transferred by the water distributor (5) to the removable container (10).