Modular Water Purifier Filter Core for Low-Cost Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current household water purifiers require complete replacement of the filter core when a single stage reaches its service life, leading to increased maintenance and use costs, and there are no systems that combine the advantages of electric and non-electric drive purifiers effectively.
Innovation Solution
A household water purifier with a split structure filter element and an expansion unit, allowing the filter element to be replaced individually and enabling both non-electric and electric drive modes, utilizing a composite filter core with a filter bottle and filter element, and a booster pump in the expansion unit for pressurization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter element is replaced as a whole when a single stage reaches service life, then the purification function is maintained, but the maintenance cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is divided into multiple independently replaceable stages (first stage, second stage, third stage). Each stage can be replaced separately when it reaches service life, rather than replacing the entire filter element. This segmentation allows selective replacement of only the failed or expired stage, reducing maintenance time and cost while maintaining the purification function.
2Reliability
If the filter element is replaced as a whole, then the purification function is maintained, but the maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is divided into multiple independently replaceable stages. Each stage can be replaced separately when it reaches service life, allowing users to replace only the necessary part rather than the entire filter element. This significantly reduces material consumption and maintenance cost while ensuring the purification function remains effective.
3Device complexity
If only non-electric drive mode is used, then the structure remains simple and price is low, but the water pressure requirement is high and use effect is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The water purifier is designed with dynamic configurability, allowing it to operate in two modes: non-electric drive mode (simple structure, low price) and electric drive mode (enhanced adaptability). Users can switch between modes based on their specific needs and conditions, making the device adaptable to different water pressure scenarios while maintaining structural flexibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If electric drive mode is used, then water pressure requirements are reduced and use effect is improved, but the structure becomes complex and price increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water purifier incorporates electric drive components (booster pump, control system) that can be activated when enhanced adaptability is needed, while allowing operation in a simpler non-electric mode when basic functionality suffices. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different water pressure conditions without permanently increasing structural 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
Facilitates convenient and cost-effective maintenance by allowing selective replacement of failed components, reduces overall costs, and enhances adaptability by providing two operational modes.
Implementation Method 1
The reverse osmosis is the most precise membrane liquid separation technology. An operating pressure is applied on the inlet water (concentrated solution) side to overcome natural osmotic pressure. When the operating pressure higher than the natural osmotic pressure is applied to the concentrated solution side, a flow direction of the water molecules permeating naturally, will be reversed
Implementation Method 2
An operating pressure is applied on the inlet water (concentrated solution) side to overcome natural osmotic pressure
Implementation Method 3
The booster pump pressurizes the water to achieve an optimum water pressure required by reverse osmosis membrane
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A household water purifier includes a main unit and a filter assembly arranged in the main unit. The filter assembly includes a composite filter core. The composite filter core includes a filter bottle and a filter element located in the filter bottle. In the household water purifier, the filter element is located in the filer bottle; during use, when the filter element needs to be replaced, the filter element can be directly taken out of the filter bottle for replacement; Furthermore, the filter element itself is of a split structure. It is no need to replace the filter element as a whole, just some failed components of the filter element need to be replaced, which further improves convenience of replacement and maintenance of the filter core of the water purifier, and saves maintenance and use costs of the water purifier. The household water purifier includes a removable pump expansion unit to pressurize the raw water through the filter. The purifier can be operated with or without the pump expansion unit, this last in case the raw water pressure from the network is sufficient.