Rain Overflow Basin Retention Element for Passive Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rain overflow basins face challenges with pollutant retention and maintenance, as current purification systems are prone to clogging, require complex and costly motorized components, and do not effectively manage coarse materials, leading to reduced purification efficiency and increased maintenance needs.

Innovation Solution

A retention wall with a passage opening and a movement-fixed, water-permeable retention element is installed between the basin chamber and spillway, allowing water to flow through the retention element for purification, reducing maintenance needs and enhancing pollutant retention without the limitations of motorized components, and allowing for cost-effective retrofitting without altering the nonreturn height.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If motorized cleaning devices or rotatable screen drums are used for purification, then pollutant retention is improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant retentionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retention element is designed to be self-cleaning through the natural flow of water. Coarse materials are retained on the upstream side while water flows through to the downstream side, automatically clearing the retention element without requiring motorized cleaning devices or rotatable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The purification function is extracted from a complex motorized system and simplified to a passive retention element that relies on water flow dynamics. The retention element separates purified water from coarse materials without needing motors, bearings, or control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If rakes and screens are used for purification, then pollutant retention is improved, but maintenance needs increase due to clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant retentionVSAvoidmaintenance needs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The retention element automatically clears itself by allowing water to pass through while retaining coarse materials on the upstream side. This self-cleaning action prevents clogging and eliminates the need for manual cleaning or maintenance intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of actively cleaning the screen or rake as in conventional systems, the invention inverts the approach by allowing the water flow to naturally carry away retained materials, transforming the retention element into a self-cleaning structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If the retention element is made motorized or rotatable for continuous purification, then purification efficiency is improved, but cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurification efficiencyVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retention element maintains continuous purification efficiency through passive water flow dynamics. The natural flow of water continuously clears retained materials without requiring motors, power supply, or control systems, achieving high productivity at low cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces motorized mechanical systems with a passive hydraulic system that uses water flow dynamics to achieve continuous purification. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive motorized components while maintaining purification efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution improves pollutant retention and reduces maintenance costs by providing a robust, long-lasting purification system that maintains water permeability and prevents sedimentation, ensuring effective pollutant removal and extended operational duration.

Implementation Method 1

at least one at least regionally water-permeable, preferably elongated, movement-fixed retention element (11) is provided as a purification device, which extends into the basin chamber (5), so that the water draining from the basin chamber (5) through the passage opening (9) into the storage space (10) flows through the retention element (11) and is purified at this time of coarse materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10294653B2Rain overflow basin for collecting and storing water

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 AMIBLU TECH AS

AI summary

A rain overflow basin for collecting and storing rainwater, mixed water, or wastewater, has an inflow, an outflow, a basin chamber, a basin spillway, which is equipped with a weir threshold and is connected downstream of the basin chamber. A drain discharges the basin spillway, and a purification device purifies water flowing from the basin chamber to the basin spillway. A retention wall between the basin chamber and the basin spillway dams up water accumulating in the basin chamber. Water draining from the basin chamber is dammed up in a storage space is between the retention wall and the weir threshold, to reach the basin spillway via the weir threshold. The retention wall includes a passage opening. A purification device extends into the basin chamber such that water draining from the basin chamber through the passage opening into the storage space flows through the retention element.