Automatic Odor Detector Using Downward Substitution Method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current water quality monitoring systems face challenges in detecting oil and mold odors in raw water, particularly mold odors produced by blue-green algae, which are not effectively sensed by conventional sensors and require manual sniffing, leading to increased costs and physical burden on water quality managers.
Innovation Solution
An automatic detector system that includes a vaporizing portion to heat and vaporize raw water, a dehumidifying portion to reduce humidity, and a sensor portion with tin oxide semiconductor and piezoelectric resonance sensors to detect odors using a downward substitution method, allowing for continuous, unattended monitoring of oil and mold odors within a compact and integrated device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual sniffing by water quality managers is used to detect mold odor, then detection capability is achieved, but labor burden and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual sniffing system with an automatic sensor-based detection system. The tin oxide semiconductor sensor and piezoelectric resonance sensor automatically detect mold odor substances (geosmin and 2-MIB) in raw water, eliminating the need for water quality managers to manually sniff the water. This substitution of manual mechanical detection with automated sensor technology resolves the contradiction by maintaining detection capability while eliminating labor burden.
2Measurement precision
If gas chromatography is used to detect mold odor, then detection precision is improved, but cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs relatively inexpensive, simple sensors (tin oxide semiconductor sensor and piezoelectric resonance sensor) that provide rapid detection results. These sensors are positioned as cost-effective alternatives to expensive gas chromatography equipment. The sensors deliver timely detection results without the several-hour delay inherent in gas chromatography analysis, thus resolving the contradiction between detection precision and time consumption by providing adequate precision through simpler, faster, and more economical means.
3Reliability
If continuous activated carbon treatment is applied to remove mold odor, then water quality is maintained, but operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based control system where sensor detection results directly control the activated carbon treatment process. When mold odor substances are detected above a predetermined threshold, the system automatically activates the odor removal process. When odor levels are below the threshold, the system remains inactive. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining water quality safety through targeted treatment only when needed, thereby reducing unnecessary operational complexity and costs associated with continuous treatment.
4Device complexity
If tin oxide semiconductor sensor is used to detect mold odor, then device simplicity is maintained, but detection capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two different sensor technologies into a single integrated system: a tin oxide semiconductor sensor and a piezoelectric resonance sensor. The tin oxide semiconductor sensor provides basic detection capability with simple construction, while the piezoelectric resonance sensor enhances detection precision for specific mold odor substances. By combining these complementary sensor types, the system achieves both device simplicity and adequate detection capability, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.
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 enables efficient detection of oil and mold odors, reducing labor and cost burdens by integrating odor detection into existing automatic poison monitors, ensuring safer tap water and reducing installation space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a vaporizing portion (1) that heats raw water in a raw water container to which the raw water is continuously supplied to thereby generate high-humidity air
Implementation Method 2
a dehumidifying portion (11) that turns the high-humidity air, which is generated by the vaporizing portion (1), into medium-humidity air
Implementation Method 3
a constant-temperature portion (16) that further turns the medium-humidity air, which is dehumidified by the dehumidifying portion (11), into low-humidity air
Implementation Method 4
a sensor portion (17) that detects an odor by exposing a sensor element provided at a bottom portion inside a sensor case to the low-humidity air, which is dehumidified by the constant-temperature portion (16), with a downward substitution method that substitutes, inside the sensor case, heavy odorous substance air to the bottom portion
Data Source
AI summary
The functions of the odor (smell, odor, reek etc. have the same meaning) detecting process with the same raw water includes two functions, that is: a function of detecting an odor by a downward substitution method that substitutes, in a sensor portion, heavy odorous substances to a bottom portion and light normal air to an upper portion by a four-stage humidity removal process in which high humidity air which is first generated in a vaporizing portion is made into medium-humidity air with a dehumidifying portion, which is then made into low-humidity air with a constant-temperature portion, and then two or more types of sensor elements are exposed to dry air at the sensor portion; and a second function of detecting poison using fish in a monitoring water tank, which is detected with another process such as surveillance camera, image processor, periphery controller and the like. The above two functions are compactly incorporated as an integrated type into a single cabinet.