Modular Wetland Stormwater System with Vertical Stacked Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stormwater treatment systems face challenges in effectively managing high volumes and flow rates, as well as removing pollutants and contaminants from urban areas, where space constraints and high pollutant levels require innovative solutions for efficient drainage and treatment.
Innovation Solution
A modular stormwater management system that integrates a wetlands treatment system with multi-level and multi-stage filtration, including a catch basin, screening, primary filtering devices, and a vegetative submerged bed, allowing for variable discharge rates and internal bypasses to handle high flows, thereby capturing and treating pollutants and particulate matter effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional stormwater treatment systems are used, then pollutant removal is achieved, but the system occupies excessive space and cannot handle high flow rates effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from horizontal expansion to vertical development by stacking multiple treatment chambers (screening chamber, sedimentation chamber, wetlands chamber, filtration chamber) one above another. This multi-level configuration allows the system to handle high flow rates through increased treatment capacity while minimizing ground footprint, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and area occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment system is divided into multiple functional segments or chambers (screening, sedimentation, wetlands, filtration) that operate in sequence. Each chamber handles specific treatment tasks, allowing the system to process high volumes efficiently through distributed functionality while maintaining a compact overall structure that reduces space requirements.
2Reliability
If multi-level treatment is implemented to remove pollutants effectively, then treatment efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides complex treatment processes into separate functional chambers (screening, sedimentation, wetlands, filtration), where each segment handles a specific treatment task. This modular segmentation achieves comprehensive pollutant removal through multiple mechanisms while managing complexity by isolating functions into distinct, manageable units.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple treatment functions (screening, sedimentation, biological treatment in wetlands, and filtration) are combined into a single integrated vertical structure. This merging achieves high reliability through comprehensive treatment while managing complexity by consolidating functions into one unified system rather than separate distributed structures.
3Productivity
If the system is designed to handle high volumes and flow rates, then drainage capacity increases, but the system becomes less adaptable to space-constrained urban environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the vertical dimension to accommodate high drainage capacity infrastructure that would traditionally require extensive horizontal space. By stacking treatment chambers vertically, the system achieves urban-scale drainage capacity while fitting into the limited footprint available in constrained urban environments, simultaneously improving productivity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates adjustable flow distribution mechanisms and modular chamber configurations that can be adapted to varying flow rates and space constraints. This dynamic design allows the system to maintain high drainage capacity while being flexible enough to adapt to different urban installation scenarios and space limitations.
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 system provides reliable, low-maintenance, and effective treatment of stormwater runoff, capable of removing a wide range of pollutants and contaminants, adaptable to urban environments, and suitable for various locations, including parking lots and other constrained spaces, with adjustable discharge rates to meet hydromodification requirements.
Implementation Method 1
sufficient sedimentation to remove sediment to a level sufficient to maximize the use of the wetlands
Implementation Method 2
screening to remove trash and debris
Implementation Method 3
These mechanisms include sedimentation, filtration, absorption, adsorption, flocculation, stripping, leaching, bioremediation, and chemical process including oxidation reduction, ion exchange, and precipitation
Implementation Method 4
These mechanisms include sedimentation, filtration, absorption, adsorption, flocculation, stripping, leaching, bioremediation, and chemical process including oxidation reduction, ion exchange, and precipitation
Implementation Method 5
These mechanisms include sedimentation, filtration, absorption, adsorption, flocculation, stripping, leaching, bioremediation, and chemical process including oxidation reduction, ion exchange, and precipitation
Implementation Method 6
control of peak flows and/or volumes and the rate at which they can be discharged into existing water ways or drainage infrastructures
Implementation Method 7
Filtration utilizes a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes
Implementation Method 8
chemical process including oxidation reduction, ion exchange, and precipitation
Implementation Method 9
chemical process including oxidation reduction, ion exchange, and precipitation
Data Source
AI summary
A complete storm water management system and process which performs both drainage and treatment tasks and incorporates a wetlands water treatment system. This system creates an infrastructure, flow control which is multi-level and multi-stage. This system incorporates a self-contained wetlands treatment system. This is a modular system which includes three or more linear chambers through which the storm water or other influent passes and is cleaned. The influent which flows into a storm drain, curb inlet, or inflow pipe into the system is directed first into a screening type catch basin inset filter within the first chamber of the system. The wetlands chamber is composed of one or more modular segments which may be made in various depths, lengths and widths. The influent is treated within the first chamber before it passes out of this chamber into the incorporated wetlands system. The water flows through the wetlands chamber where it is further filtered and decontaminated through both an aerobic and anaerobic process. In situations of high runoff there is a bypass component which runs directly from the first chamber and bypasses the wetlands chamber dumping the pretreated water into the discharge final chamber. This system is fitted with a variable level treatment component designed in such a way to offer variable discharge rates and thus vary the level of treatments over a wide range of flow rates. The system can be placed underground, and below concrete, such as in parking lots or park areas.