Programmable Water Flushing System for Stagnant Zone Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underground water distribution systems face challenges with low water flow and stagnant areas leading to poor water quality due to increased retention time, sedimentation, and contaminant deposits, which can result in health hazards and non-compliance with regulatory standards, and existing monitoring and flushing methods are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A programmable automatic water flushing system (PAWFS) that includes a processor-controlled apparatus for sampling and purging, capable of remote operation and data communication, which uses probes to measure water quality parameters and automatically flushes areas with poor quality water based on predefined parameters, reducing the need for manual intervention and enhancing automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual flushing operations are performed to address water quality degradation, then water quality in low flow areas can be improved, but labor costs and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic flushing operations through a microprocessor-controlled apparatus that autonomously monitors water quality parameters and initiates flushing when degradation is detected, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining reliable water quality in low flow areas
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates continuous monitoring of water quality parameters (such as disinfectant residual levels, turbidity, and temperature) and uses this feedback to automatically trigger flushing operations when quality thresholds are breached, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains water quality without manual oversight
2Reliability
If disinfectant levels are increased throughout the system to prevent bacterial regrowth, then microbiological water quality can be improved, but chemical safety risks and treatment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies disinfectant management locally by identifying specific low flow zones where bacterial regrowth risk exists and targeting flushing operations to those areas only, rather than increasing disinfectant levels throughout the entire distribution system, thereby maintaining microbiological quality while minimizing chemical exposure risks
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary flushing operations to remove stagnant water and sediment before bacterial regrowth becomes problematic, preventing the need for high disinfectant doses by addressing the root cause of microbiological degradation through proactive water renewal
Data Source
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AI summary
A programmable automated water flushing system (PAWFS) allows for two way communication and remote flushing unit management through a secure web access point or a secure interface in signal communication with a supervisory control and data acquisition system. The PAWFS is configurable to provide and log real time data. The PAWFS can be integrated with exterior water management devices. The PAWFS is configurable to cause flushing of water retention areas when disinfectant residual falls below selectable parameters. The PAWFS can be programmed to flush or clear liquids in accordance with at least one time-based function.