Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier Flow Path Valve Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water treatment apparatuses using reverse osmosis filters face limitations in discharging purified water due to reduced pressure, which restricts the location of discharge members and can lead to counterpressure on the filter, reducing flow rates and filtering efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A water treatment apparatus with a flow path changing valve that allows unpurified water to flow into a storage member when purified water is stored, and vice versa, preventing counterpressure on the reverse osmosis filter and enabling easy external discharge of purified water without flow rate reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a reverse osmosis filter is used to filter purified water, then the purity of water is improved, but the pressure of purified water is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A surge tank is introduced as an intermediary device between the reverse osmosis filter and the discharge point. The surge tank receives low-pressure purified water from the filter and uses its internal structure to maintain pressure, allowing the water to be discharged at higher pressure without requiring additional pumping equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The surge tank changes the pressure parameter of the purified water. By designing the tank with specific volume and structural characteristics, the system transforms low-pressure water from the reverse osmosis filter into high-pressure discharge water, enabling flexible discharge locations without compromising water purity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a surge tank is used to maintain pressure for purified water discharge, then the discharge location flexibility is improved, but counterpressure acts on the reverse osmosis filter, reducing flow rate and filtering efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the reverse osmosis filter section and the surge tank section. A one-way valve is placed at the inlet of the surge tank to create unidirectional flow control, preventing backflow and counterpressure from the surge tank from reaching the reverse osmosis filter, thus maintaining high flow rate and filtering efficiency while still enabling flexible discharge locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-way valve acts as a mediator between the reverse osmosis filter and the surge tank. It allows purified water to flow from the filter to the tank while blocking any reverse flow, effectively isolating the filter from counterpressure generated by the surge tank's pressure-maintaining function.
3Ease of operation
If the discharge member is located below the low-water level of the water tank, then purified water can be easily discharged, but the location of discharge members is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The surge tank changes the pressure parameter of discharged water, enabling the discharge member to be positioned at various locations (including above the water tank) without relying solely on gravity-driven flow. This pressure enhancement maintains ease of operation while significantly improving location flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The surge tank serves as a pressure-maintaining intermediary between the low-pressure reverse osmosis filter output and the discharge point, enabling the discharge member to be positioned flexibly without compromising discharge ease.
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
Enables flexible discharge of purified water without limiting the location of discharge members and maintains high filtering efficiency by preventing counterpressure on the reverse osmosis filter, ensuring consistent flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
a reverse osmosis filter (210) to supply purified water filtered from raw water by the reverse osmosis filer (210) to a purified water line (LPW) and to supply unpurified water unable to be filtered from the raw water by the reverse osmosis filer (210) to an unpurified water line (LLW)
Data Source
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AI summary
A water treatment apparatus is disclosed. The water treatment apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, may comprise: a filter unit comprising a reverse osmosis filter for supplying purified water filtered from raw water, and residential water which could not be filtered from raw water; a storage unit connected to the filter unit and comprising a storage member in which purified water is stored, then discharged, and a housing within which the storage member is provided, and through which residential water inflows and outflows; and a flow path changing valve connected to the filter unit and the storage unit, and which allows residential water to outflow from the housing as purified water is stored in the storage member, or allows purified water to be discharged from the storage member as residential water inflows into the housing.