Ubiquitous, embedded surface-cleansing devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hot water recirculation systems in plumbing face challenges such as lag in hot water delivery due to long pipe lengths and the need for continuous heating, leading to energy and water wastage, while antiseptic surfaces often require manual cleaning which can be inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A plumbing system that recaptures and reuses hot water by retracting it into an insulated tank after use, using a control system to manage energy and water efficiently, and integrates self-sterilizing surfaces with antiseptic compositions that automatically rinse and disinfect handles and fixtures upon use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If long pipe lengths are used to deliver hot water to fixtures, then the hot water can reach distant locations, but substantial hot water service lag occurs and energy is wasted heating water that sits in pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers hot water that has been delivered to fixtures and discarded into drains by capturing it through drain lines and returning it to the water heater tank, thereby recovering thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted and reducing the energy required to heat new water
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous circulation of hot water through the use of recirculation pumps and continuous heating modes, ensuring that hot water is always available in the pipes without requiring users to wait for lag time, while the continuous operation optimizes thermal efficiency
2Loss of time
If hot water recirculation systems continuously supply hot water to eliminate lag, then user convenience is improved, but energy and water wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic recirculation cycles controlled by timers or sensors rather than continuous circulation, activating pumps and heating elements only when hot water is needed or when water in the pipes has cooled below a certain temperature threshold, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining acceptable service response time
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors and control systems that monitor water temperature in the pipes and activate heating or recirculation only when necessary to maintain hot water availability, optimizing energy usage based on real-time conditions rather than operating continuously
3Reliability
If manual cleaning is used for antiseptic surfaces, then hygiene can be maintained, but cleaning efficiency is low and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables surfaces to self-clean through integrated mechanisms such as electrostatic attraction that draws particles onto charged surfaces, UV irradiation that sterilizes and breaks down organic matter, and hydrophobic coatings that repel water and contaminants, thereby maintaining hygiene automatically without requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical cleaning with automated physical and chemical mechanisms including electrostatic fields, ultrasonic vibrations, UV light irradiation, and chemical treatments, thereby maintaining or improving cleaning effectiveness while dramatically increasing productivity and reducing labor requirements
Data Source
AI summary
New forms of self-cleansing surfaces are provided. In some embodiments, a self-cleansing surface is provided, which is configured to be handled by a human user, as a user interface. The self-cleansing surface may comprise one or more surface device(s), with surface-covering pores configured to release a cleanser upon physical contact or actuation of the user interface, and configured to clean the self-cleansing surface. In some embodiments, the release is mediated by a physical trigger. In some embodiments, the surface device includes a control system that monitors surface handling with a sensor, and mediates the release with an actuator. The invention may be provided on or in any form of user interface that may be physically touched by a user. For example, in some embodiments, the invention may be provided on door handles or controls, appliance handles or controls, and any other user interfaces bearing a risk of carrying microbes.