Potable Water Line Flushing Using Temperature Profile Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for automatic flushing of potable water lines do not reliably prevent bacterial growth, such as Pseudomonas and Legionella, and often result in unnecessary water consumption and disturbance to occupants, as they cannot adapt to varying usage patterns and temperature conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method that measures and evaluates the temperature profile of fluid lines to optimize flushing behavior, adapting the frequency and duration based on temperature data to ensure effective disinfection and minimize water usage, using temperature sensors to determine viable microorganism presence and usage patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flushing frequency is increased to guarantee improved hygiene, then bacterial growth prevention is improved, but water consumption increases and disturbance to occupants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of flushing frequency dynamically based on temperature measurements. Instead of fixed frequent flushing, the system adjusts flushing intervals according to actual temperature conditions, flushing more frequently when temperatures favor bacterial growth and reducing frequency when temperatures are unfavorable for bacterial proliferation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously measuring temperature in the fluid line and using this information to adjust flushing behavior. The temperature data feeds back to the control logic, which then determines optimal flushing timing, creating a closed-loop system that responds to actual conditions rather than following a fixed schedule.
2Reliability
If flushing frequency is increased to guarantee improved hygiene, then bacterial growth prevention is improved, but disturbance to occupants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of flushing timing based on temperature conditions and inferred usage patterns. By analyzing temperature profiles, the system determines when flushing is truly necessary and schedules it accordingly, avoiding unnecessary flushing during nighttime or periods when occupants are present and sensitive to disturbance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary temperature measurement and evaluation before triggering flushing. By assessing temperature conditions in advance, the system determines whether flushing is necessary and can schedule it at appropriate times, preventing unnecessary flushing that would disturb occupants while still ensuring hygiene when actually needed.
3Loss of substance
If temperature-based adaptive flushing is implemented, then water consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical flushing control with electronic temperature sensing and software-based decision logic. Temperature sensors provide automated input to a control algorithm that determines flushing timing, substituting mechanical complexity with simpler electronic measurement and computational evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring through temperature sensors and self-adjustment through automated control logic. The flushing system serves itself by automatically determining when flushing is needed based on temperature data, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex external control systems.
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
This approach ensures improved hygiene by ensuring that fluid lines are disinfected only when necessary, reducing water consumption and minimizing disturbance, by adjusting flushing based on temperature thresholds and usage patterns, thereby maintaining pipe system purity and reducing bacterial growth.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature profile of the fluid is measured
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for automatic flushing of fluid lines, in particular potable water lines. The invention further relates to a device for automatic flushing of fluid lines, in particular potable water lines. The invention is based on the technical problem to provide a method and a device for automatic flushing which allows a flushing behaviour that is better-suited to the circumstances and more reliable. The technical problem is solved by a method for automatic flushing of at least one fluid line, in particular a potable water line, in which a temperature profile of the fluid is measured, in which the measured data are evaluated and in which the automatic flushing of the at least one fluid line is influenced by an outcome of the evaluation.