Multi-tank Water Sterilization via Automated Drainage and Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water treatment systems with multiple tanks face challenges in efficiently sterilizing and cleaning tanks and flow passages, particularly due to the inconvenience of manual chemical injection, uneven chemical concentration, and potential health hazards from residual sterilizing chemicals, as well as the degradation of reliability over time.
Innovation Solution
A method for sterilizing a water treatment apparatus with a sterilizing module that generates or receives sterilized water, involving a sterilization preparation process to drain purified water from one tank to another, followed by a sterilizing process to sterilize the tanks using the sterilized water, and a cleaning process to remove residual sterilized water, thereby minimizing chemical diffusion and ensuring thorough tank sterilization and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sterilizing chemicals are manually injected into tanks, then sterilization effect is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to periodic manual intervention required
Solution Approach 1:
The water treatment apparatus automatically performs sterilization by injecting sterilizing water into tanks without requiring periodic manual intervention. The system self-manages the sterilization process, eliminating the need for users to repeatedly add chemicals while maintaining effective sterilization.
2Reliability
If sterilizing chemicals are injected, then sterilization effect is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to residual chemicals remaining in the water purifier
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes residual sterilizing chemicals from the water purifier through automatic drainage. After sterilization, the apparatus drains the sterilizing water and any remaining chemicals from tanks and flow passages, preventing harmful residues from contaminating the purified water supply.
3Reliability
If sterilizing chemicals are injected, then sterilization effect is improved, but loss of time worsens due to multiple rinsing processes required
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines sterilization and rinsing into a continuous automatic process. The apparatus sterilizes tanks and flow passages with sterilizing water, then automatically drains and rinses without requiring separate manual operations, reducing total time while maintaining effective sterilization.
4Ease of operation
If sterilizing chemicals are automatically injected, then ease of operation is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to potential excessive chemical concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect the presence and concentration of sterilizing chemicals in real-time. Based on feedback from these detections, the apparatus automatically adjusts the injection amount and timing of sterilizing water, preventing excessive chemical concentration while maintaining effective sterilization.
5Reliability
If multiple tanks are sterilized separately, then sterilization completeness is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges sterilization of multiple tanks into a single integrated process. By circulating sterilizing water through all tanks and flow passages in sequence, the apparatus achieves comprehensive sterilization of multiple tanks simultaneously, improving efficiency while maintaining completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for sterilizing a water treatment apparatus having a plurality of tanks. The method includes, performing a sterilization preparation process to drain purified water from the first tank until a first amount of purified water is left, performing a sterilizing process to sterilize the first tank by supplying the sterilized water supplied from the sterilizing module, to drain water from the first tank through a first water outlet pipe until a second amount of water is left in the first tank, and to drain the second amount of water remaining in the first tank into the second tank through a second water outlet pipe.