Partitioned Storm Drain Filter with Upflow Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Storm water drain systems fail to effectively remove a wide range of pollutants, including hydrocarbons, suspended solids, and dissolved materials from runoff water before they enter water bodies, leading to environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
An in-line storm water filtration system with separation chambers and an upflow filter is installed within storm drain pipes, featuring a hydrocarbon-absorbing boom and filter media that captures fine particulates and organics, utilizing water pressure to drive the filtration process without requiring a fall between inflow and outflow pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional storm water drain system is used, then the system structure is simple, but it fails to effectively remove a wide range of pollutants including hydrocarbons, suspended solids, and dissolved materials
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the filtration process into multiple distinct chambers: a separation chamber for larger particles, a hydrocarbon collection chamber with boom for oil hydrocarbons, and an upflow filter chamber for fine particulates and dissolved materials. Each chamber performs a specific filtration function, collectively achieving comprehensive pollutant removal while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If an upflow filter is added to remove fine particulates and organics, then the filtration effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upflow filter chamber is integrated with the separation chambers to form a unified filtration system. The filter media is positioned within the same housing structure, and water flow is directed through multiple chambers in sequence. This merging of functions into a single integrated unit achieves effective fine particulate removal while avoiding the complexity of entirely separate filtration systems.
3Reliability
If a hydrocarbon-absorbing boom is added to the system, then hydrocarbon removal capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrocarbon collection chamber serves multiple functions: it collects oil hydrocarbons using the boom, separates larger particles through the separation chamber, and prepares water for the upflow filter. This multi-functional design achieves effective hydrocarbon removal while minimizing overall system complexity by combining multiple filtration stages in a single integrated chamber structure.
4Reliability
If separation chambers are added to collect sediment, then the prevention of clogging is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separation chambers are positioned at the inlet of the filtration system to perform preliminary removal of larger particles and sediment before water enters the upflow filter chamber. This preliminary action prevents clogging of the fine filter media by interceptating larger particulates earlier in the flow path, while the modular chamber design keeps the complexity manageable.
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 efficiently removes larger and smaller pollutants, including hydrocarbons, nutrients, metals, and bacteria, preventing clogging and ensuring pretreated water is discharged into lakes, ponds, or retention areas, thereby minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The media is a filter that removes fine TSS, nutrients, metals, bacteria, and emulsified hydrocarbons from the drain water as it flows upward through the last separation chamber
Implementation Method 2
A hydrocarbon collecting boom in a cage is placed at the last separation baffle on the influent side to absorb hydrocarbons
Implementation Method 3
The internal weir, located on the side of the up flow filter opposite of the outflow pipe allows water pressure to build behind it which drives water through the up flow filter
Data Source
AI summary
An improved system designed to control and filter runoff water in storm drains is presented. Drain water frequently carries trash, organic matter, suspended solids, hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients and bacteria collected from streets and parking lots into a storm drain inlet, which enters storm water drain pipe systems.The present invention supplies a series of baffle boxes inserted in the drain water stream with a final box possessing a selection from a collection of upflow filters, including a hydrocarbon-absorbing boom. The system can also support a storm flow bypass that directs high-flow storm runoff water directly to the outlet to protect the filter system.