Sanitary Hydrant Venturi Evacuation Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing freeze-proof hydrants face challenges in balancing freeze protection and sanitation, as they often allow contaminated groundwater to penetrate, and current solutions like venturi systems with vacuum breakers and backflow preventers create backpressure issues that hinder fluid flow and require manual diversion, leading to inefficient water evacuation.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary and freeze-proof hydrant design that employs a unique venturi configuration with a nozzle and throat geometry optimized for operation with double check backflow preventers, eliminating the need for fluid diversion and maintaining user-friendly operation by allowing water to flow through vacuum breakers or double check backflow preventers without manual intervention, while achieving sufficient suction for reservoir evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum breakers or backflow preventers are used to prevent contamination, then sanitation is improved, but backpressure increases which reduces fluid flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve transitions from a static component to a dynamic one that automatically adjusts its opening degree based on flow rate and pressure conditions. At high flow rates during normal operation, the valve opens wider to minimize backpressure. At low flow rates during evacuation, it maintains sufficient suction while preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the backflow prevention device by optimizing the check valve's pressure differential requirements and opening characteristics to balance contamination prevention with fluid flow efficiency.
2Productivity
If manual diverters are used to achieve sufficient venturi suction, then reservoir evacuation is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs reservoir evacuation automatically without requiring manual intervention. The venturi and check valve work together to create sufficient suction to evacuate the reservoir, eliminating the need for manual diverters or user actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the manual diverter component from the system entirely, replacing it with an automated check valve mechanism that achieves the same evacuation function without requiring user intervention or adding complexity.
3Reliability
If spring-biased check valves are used in vacuum breakers, then contamination prevention is improved, but fluid flow is hindered due to backpressure
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve is designed to dynamically adjust its opening based on flow conditions, opening wider at high flow rates to reduce backpressure while maintaining contamination prevention at low flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve allows partial opening during normal operation to maintain sufficient flow while providing adequate backpressure for contamination prevention, rather than requiring full opening or complete closure.
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 design ensures efficient water evacuation and freeze resistance without manual diverter operation, maintaining high flow rates and meeting code requirements, while being environmentally friendly by conserving resources and reducing backpressure, thus addressing the contamination and freezing issues effectively.
Implementation Method 1
A venturi comprises a nozzle and a decreased diameter throat. When fluid flows through the venturi a pressure drop occurs at the throat that is used to suction water from the reservoir.
Data Source
AI summary
A freeze resistant sanitary hydrant is provided that employs a reservoir for storage of fluid under the frost line or in an area not prone to freezing. To evacuate this reservoir, a means for altering pressure is provided that is able to function in hydrant systems that employ a vacuum breaker.