Self-Cleaning Water Filter with Backwashing Hand Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communities and individuals lacking access to clean water face challenges in securing filtered water due to the high cost and maintenance requirements of conventional water filters, which often require disassembly and clean water for effective cleaning, making them unsuitable for areas with limited resources.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost, self-cleaning water filtration apparatus that uses a hand pump connected to a filter, allowing for simultaneous filtration and backwashing without disassembly, capable of mounting to various containers and functioning via gravity or mechanical pumping, effectively removing contaminants and maintaining filter cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional water filters are used, then filtration function is provided, but maintenance requires disassembly and clean water which are not available in resource-limited areas
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is designed to be self-cleaning through backwashing. During normal filtration, a portion of the filtered water automatically flows back through the filter in the reverse direction to flush away accumulated contaminants. This eliminates the need for manual disassembly and cleaning with external clean water, allowing the filter to maintain itself using its own output.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function is merged with the filtration function. The same filter structure performs both filtration and self-cleaning operations. The backwashing mechanism integrates the cleaning process into the normal operation cycle, combining what would traditionally be separate functions (filtration and maintenance) into a unified system.
2Reliability
If replacement filters are purchased continuously, then filtration effectiveness is maintained, but cost burden increases for communities with limited funds
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the filter after it becomes clogged, the system recovers its functionality through backwashing. The filter media is regenerated by flushing it with backwash water, allowing the same filter to be used repeatedly over an extended period. This eliminates the need to continuously purchase replacement filters while maintaining filtration effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transforms the filter from a disposable component that needs frequent replacement into a durable, long-lasting component. By implementing self-cleaning capability, the filter's service life is extended dramatically, making it a cost-effective solution for resource-limited communities that cannot afford continuous purchases of replacement filters.
3Ease of repair
If typical cleaning processes are used, then filter is unclogged, but the process is cumbersome and requires clean water which is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cleans itself using a portion of its own filtered output. The backwashing system directs some of the cleaned water back through the filter in reverse flow to flush away contaminants. This eliminates the need for external clean water supplies and manual cleaning operations, making the process autonomous and suitable for areas without access to additional clean water.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process utilizes hydraulic principles by using water flow itself as the cleaning agent. The backwashing mechanism creates reverse water flow through the filter media, using the kinetic energy and pressure of the flowing water to dislodge and remove accumulated particles and contaminants from the filter structure.
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 apparatus provides a cost-effective solution for accessing clean water by efficiently filtering contaminants, achieving a 99% reduction in bacteria and turbidity reduction from 40 NTU to less than 1 NTU, with a flow rate sufficient for daily use, while being reusable and easy to maintain without clean water.
Implementation Method 1
a filter and a hand pump fluidly connected to the filter for filtering water
Implementation Method 2
a hand pump fluidly connected to the filter for filtering water from a container via gravity or a combination of gravity and mechanical pumping
Implementation Method 3
The filtration apparatus may be configured to filter water from the container during a first stroke of the hand pump and both exit filtered water and clean the filtration apparatus during a second stroke of the hand pump
Data Source
AI summary
A filtration apparatus for a container, the apparatus includes a connection portion for securing the apparatus to the container; a housing; a hand pump attached to the housing, the hand pump comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a user-operated actuator, the hand pump is configured to pass filtered water through the inlet in a first direction towards the outlet of the hand pump during a first stroke of the user-operated actuator, and in both the first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction during a second stroke of the user-operated actuator; and a filter fluidly connected to the inlet of the hand pump, the housing is configured to house the filter and at least part of the hand pump, the housing is configured to pass water, the filter is configured to be a two-way valve for regulating water flow between the housing and the hand pump.