Portable Water Treatment Unit with Automatic Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water treatment systems are inadequate for dynamic environments, often requiring complex configurations and multiple components, making them difficult to adjust to varying water sources and conditions, leading to inefficiencies and limited accessibility to clean water, especially in remote or emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A portable water treatment unit with automatic flow control based on sensed effectiveness indicators, using ozone gas treatment and a feedback system to adjust flow rates and chemical concentrations, allowing for quick adaptation to different water sources and conditions while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If water treatment systems are designed for static environments with fixed configurations, then they can effectively treat specific contaminants, but they cannot adapt to rapidly changing conditions or variable water composition in dynamic environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a variable speed pump with feedback control that dynamically adjusts flow rate based on real-time sensor readings of water quality parameters (turbidity, pH, conductivity). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying water compositions without requiring physical reconfiguration of treatment components, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (flow rate, chemical dosing rates) based on sensed water quality indicators. By adjusting these parameters rather than physical components, the system achieves versatility across different water sources while maintaining a fixed, simple configuration, thus resolving the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If chemical treatment applicators control the amount and rate of treatment chemical added to water, then they can optimize treatment effectiveness, but they have difficulty adding correct amounts when flow rate changes due to pump failure or filter clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor water quality parameters and flow rate, and the controller automatically adjusts chemical dosing rates and pump speed in response to these measurements. This closed-loop feedback ensures reliable treatment effectiveness even when flow rate changes occur due to pump issues or filter clogging, while maintaining automatic operation without manual intervention.
3Use of energy by moving object
If treatment systems balance treatment effectiveness with power consumption, then they can conserve energy for locations of limited infrastructure, but they may reduce treatment capacity or speed
Solution Approach 1:
The variable speed pump dynamically adjusts its operation based on actual water quality conditions and flow rate requirements. When water quality is good or flow demand is low, the pump operates at lower speeds to conserve power. When treatment demand increases or water quality deteriorates, the pump automatically increases speed to maintain treatment effectiveness and output, thus balancing energy consumption with productivity based on real-time conditions.
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 provides effective and efficient treatment of water in diverse environments, ensuring safe consumption and reducing logistical burdens by automatically adjusting to changing conditions and water compositions, making it suitable for remote and emergency use.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor is connected to the tubing and located at the chemical treatment unit and/or downstream of the chemical treatment unit to measure an effectiveness value of an effectiveness indicator of the chemical treatment
Implementation Method 2
A pump connected to a tubing and capable of operating at multiple speeds to draw water at multiple flow rates through a source end of the tubing to a product end of the tubing
Implementation Method 3
A chemical treatment unit is connected to an interstitial section of the tubing, the chemical treatment unit including a chemical applicator used to deliver a treatment chemical to the water as the water flows through the tubing and past the chemical treatment unit
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method, a device and a system of automatic flow control based on sensed effectiveness indicators to produce effectively treated water with a portable water treatment unit. In one or more embodiments, a chemical treatment unit delivers a treatment chemical to water as the water flows at a flow rate induced by a pump capable of operating at multiple speeds. A sensor downstream of the chemical treatment unit measures an effectiveness indicator and a processor and/or a feedback circuit determines an effectiveness of the chemical treatment. A controller changes power to the pump in response to the determination, adjusting the flow rate to ensure efficient usage of a power source and/or to ensure effective production of potable water. One or more filters may be included, each having a bypass valve, and the pump may automatically adjust to changing filter configurations and/or source water composition.