Parallel Electro-deionization Valves for Continuous Soft Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-softening systems of the Point of Entry type lack the ability to determine when water is being used at a consumption site, leading to potential degradation in soft water production and mixing of impurities, especially during maintenance treatments.
Innovation Solution
A water-softening system that includes filter units for electro-deionization, supply valves to control water flow, and a processor to determine water usage and manage treatment processes, ensuring continuous water supply and maintenance during treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the water-softening system performs treatment to remove accumulated foreign matter, then the capability to produce soft water is restored, but water supply to the consumption site may be interrupted or impurities may mix with soft water
Solution Approach 1:
The supply channels are divided into multiple parallel channels, allowing the system to segment water flow paths. During treatment of one channel, other channels can continue supplying water to the consumption site, preventing complete interruption and reducing the risk of impurity mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
A bypass channel is introduced as an intermediary path that allows water to flow around the filter units during treatment. This mediator enables continuous water supply while treatment substances are applied to the filter units, preventing both interruption and impurity contamination.
2Reliability
If the system determines water usage to maintain continuous supply during treatment, then water supply reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the water flow itself as the detection mechanism. When water flows through the supply channels, it naturally carries information about usage status, eliminating the need for complex external sensors or monitoring devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor receives feedback about water flow conditions and automatically adjusts valve operations and treatment timing based on this information, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains reliability without excessive 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
The system effectively maintains water supply to consumption sites by determining water usage and controlling treatment processes, preventing degradation and impurity mixing, even during maintenance, thus ensuring consistent soft water delivery.
Implementation Method 1
filter units that are provided in at least some of a plurality of supply channels arranged in parallel to supply raw water to a consumption site and that remove at least part of ionic matter contained in supplied raw water by electro-deionization
Data Source
AI summary
A water-softening system includes a filter device including filter units that are provided in at least some of a plurality of supply channels arranged in parallel to supply raw water to a consumption site and that remove at least part of ionic matter contained in supplied raw water by electro-deionization and discharge soft water containing less ionic matter than the raw water, a plurality of supply valves provided in the plurality of supply channels to open or close the supply channels, and a processor connected to the filter device and the plurality of supply valves. The processor determines whether water is supplied to the consumption site and controls at least one of the plurality of supply valves to remain open to maintain a state in which water is allowed to be supplied to the consumption site, when it is determined that no water is supplied to the consumption site.