Self-Sealing Distributing Pipe for Drainage-Free Wastewater Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planted wastewater treatment systems without drainage face challenges due to the high cost and maintenance requirements of septic tanks, as well as accessibility issues with clogged feeding pipes, which are difficult to access once buried.
Innovation Solution
The system eliminates the need for a septic tank by using a flexible, self-sealing distributing pipe with elastic lips and a biomass layer of straw bales, which allows for easier access and maintenance, and incorporates a mesh reinforcement to secure the pipe and prevent root intrusion, while using willow and alder plantings to enhance purification and decomposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a septic tank is used in the wastewater treatment system, then the treatment reliability is improved, but the operational cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the septic tank component from the traditional wastewater treatment system. Instead of using a septic tank followed by a drainage layer, the invention employs a distributing pipe with elastic lips that directly introduces wastewater to the biomass layer, eliminating the need for a septic tank and its associated maintenance requirements while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic lips on the distributing pipe automatically seal when not in use, preventing root intrusion and debris clogging without requiring manual intervention. The system is designed to be self-maintaining, where the elastic material continuously returns to its original position to close openings, eliminating the need for regular emptying and maintenance that characterizes septic tank systems.
2Productivity
If the feeding pipe is sunk deeply to supply wastewater at the bottom, then the treatment efficiency is improved, but the accessibility for maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of sinking the feeding pipe vertically to the bottom layer, the patent positions the distributing pipe horizontally at an intermediate depth where it can efficiently distribute wastewater across the biomass layer. The elastic lips provide the necessary sealing function at this elevated position, maintaining treatment efficiency while dramatically improving accessibility for inspection and maintenance.
3Ease of manufacture
If circular holes are used in the distributing pipe, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to pass solid contamination parts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static circular holes with dynamic elastic lips that can open and close. These lips are designed to flex outward to accommodate solid particles during wastewater flow, then return to their original closed position to prevent root intrusion. This dynamic behavior provides both particle passage capability and manufacturing feasibility using elastic materials.
4Stability of the object's composition
If plastic cassettes are used to line the excavation, then the structural stability is improved, but the environmental impact from non-biodegradable materials worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces permanent plastic cassettes with a biodegradable lining system consisting of fiber cloth and natural biomass materials. The fiber cloth provides initial structural stability during installation, then gradually degrades over time, allowing the system to transition to a fully natural, biodegradable structure that minimizes environmental impact while maintaining excavation integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Planted biological system without drainage for treatment of contaminated water. The installation comprises a central excavation part filled with a selected biomass (4), a pump, which is designed to grind solid impurities in the contaminated water and at least one distributing pipe (13), which is connected to the pump. The distributing pipe (13) is designed to supply the contaminated water to the upper side of the selected biomass. The installation furthermore comprises a planting (31) of one or more tree species.