Parallel Water Softening Channels for Continuous Supply During Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-softening systems lack the ability to determine when to supply water to consumption sites and may degrade in performance due to foreign matter accumulation, leading to impurities in the water supply, especially during treatment processes.
Innovation Solution
A water-softening system with filter units and supply valves that use electro-deionization to remove ionic matter, controlled by a processor to ensure continuous water supply and alternating treatment modes for the filter units, maintaining water availability even 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 must be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water supply network into multiple parallel supply channels (first supply channel with first filter unit, second supply channel with second filter unit). During treatment of one filter unit, water can be supplied through the other channel, ensuring continuous water supply while maintaining soft water production capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a raw water channel that can serve as an intermediary supply path when filter units are undergoing treatment. The raw water channel allows water to reach the consumption site even when treated water supply is interrupted, bridging the gap between treatment needs and continuous supply requirements
2Productivity
If the system determines water usage at the consumption site, then treatment can be performed without interrupting service, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a processor that receives signals from water supply valves to detect water usage at the consumption site. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor whether water is being used and adjust treatment operations accordingly, enabling treatment during low-usage periods without interrupting service
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing water supply infrastructure and valve signals to automatically determine water usage patterns. By leveraging the self-generated operational data from the water supply valves, the system can make autonomous decisions about when to perform treatment, reducing the need for additional complex monitoring equipment
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
Ensures consistent delivery of soft water to consumption sites by detecting water usage and alternating filter unit operations, preventing degradation and impurities, thus maintaining system performance.
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.