Sensor-Guided Toilet Flushing for Water Waste and Clog Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dual flush toilets lack the ability to automatically determine the contents of the toilet bowl and adjust water usage accordingly, leading to inefficient water usage and potential malfunctions such as continuous flushing or clogging, which results in water waste and maintenance issues.
Innovation Solution
A connected sanitaryware system equipped with sensors and a controller that detects parameters like bowl contents, usage patterns, and external data to automatically adjust flush volume and initiate maintenance actions, such as closing valves or sending service tickets, to optimize water usage and prevent malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If dual flush technology is used to provide discrete low and high volume options, then water conservation is improved, but the selection is limited to two fixed volumes and user discretion may lead to suboptimal water usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flush volume based on real-time sensor data about bowl contents, transitioning from static fixed-volume options to adaptive variable-volume flushing. The controller continuously monitors sensor inputs and adjusts the flush valve operation accordingly, enabling the system to optimize water usage for each specific condition rather than relying on predetermined discrete volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect bowl contents and provide feedback to the controller, which then adjusts the flush volume accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to respond to actual conditions in the bowl and select the appropriate flush volume, eliminating the need for user discretion and preventing both over-flushing and under-flushing.
2Reliability
If constant flushing is performed to address malfunctions like clogs or failures, then the toilet may clear blockages, but water is wasted continuously and damage may occur to the toilet and building
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor bowl conditions and provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts flushing operations based on detected anomalies such as clogs or continuous flush conditions. When a malfunction is detected, the system can initiate targeted flushing sequences to clear blockages and then automatically stop when the condition is resolved, preventing both unnecessary water waste and potential damage from uncontrolled constant flushing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of malfunction conditions through sensors before implementing corrective flushing actions. By detecting clogs or abnormal conditions early, the system can initiate targeted flushing sequences that address the specific problem, rather than resorting to continuous flushing that would waste water and potentially cause damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A sanitaryware system may include sensors to determine a status or condition of one or more sanitaryware fixtures in the sanitaryware system and perform a particular function, such as, for example performing a flush, closing the flush valve and/or angle stop, sending an alert, initiating a service ticket. The sanitaryware system may automatically perform the function. The sanitaryware system may communicate the status or condition to an internet connected device and/or user, the device may perform the function or may instruct the sanitaryware to perform the function. The sensed information, sanitaryware system status or condition, and/or initiated response may be logged and monitored to improve the overall efficiency and operation of the sanitaryware system and the sanitaryware fixtures within the system.