Shower Floor Drain Valve for Water Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water recirculation shower systems face challenges in effectively utilizing drain water due to potential odor and bacterial issues, and existing retrofit solutions are costly and inconvenient for existing shower installations.
Innovation Solution
A drain valve device with a movable impeding part and overflow drain part configured to create a temporary, low-level water reservoir at the shower floor, allowing used shower water to be recirculated by positioning outlet apertures between 3 and 30 mm above the pump suction inlet area, enabling efficient water recirculation without excessive water accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water reservoir is provided below the shower floor level, then water recirculation is enabled, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the water reservoir below the shower floor as in conventional systems, this invention inverts the approach by creating a temporary reservoir above the drain using the shower floor surface itself. The impeding part blocks the drain to allow water accumulation on the shower floor, eliminating the need for complex below-floor reservoir installation while enabling water recirculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shower floor surface itself serves as the water reservoir, utilizing the existing structure rather than requiring additional dedicated components. The system uses the shower floor's natural surface to hold water temporarily, making the existing structure serve dual purposes (showering surface and water reservoir).
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a drain trap is used, then odor and bacterial issues are addressed, but water quality for recirculation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the water accumulation function from the drain trap system. Instead of relying on the drain trap to hold water (which degrades in quality), the system accumulates water temporarily on the shower floor surface before recirculation, separating the odor prevention function (drain trap) from the water storage function (shower floor reservoir).
Solution Approach 2:
The impeding part acts as an intermediary between the shower floor and the drain. It controls water flow to create a temporary reservoir on the shower floor surface, mediating between the need for water accumulation and the need to maintain water quality by preventing contact with the drain trap environment.
3Quantity of substance
If outlet apertures are positioned high above the pump inlet, then water reservoir volume increases, but pump priming becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the vertical positioning parameter of the outlet apertures, placing them at a specific elevation (3-30 mm above pump inlet) rather than arbitrarily high or low. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient water volume accumulation while maintaining adequate water level above the pump inlet for effective self-priming operation.
4Quantity of substance
If excessive water accumulates on the shower floor, then recirculation volume increases, but shower comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls the water accumulation depth by positioning outlet apertures at a specific height (3-30 mm above pump inlet). This parameter control ensures that only a shallow layer of water accumulates on the shower floor, providing sufficient volume for recirculation while maintaining shower comfort by preventing excessive water depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a localized shallow water reservoir at the drain area with controlled depth, rather than allowing uniform water accumulation across the entire shower floor. This localized approach concentrates the recirculation water volume in a specific area while keeping the rest of the shower floor relatively dry and comfortable.
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
Facilitates cost-effective recirculation of shower water, reducing hot water and energy consumption by providing a self-priming pump with a low-level water reservoir that can be easily activated and deactivated, promoting efficient water reuse while maintaining a clean and comfortable showering experience.
Implementation Method 1
controlling a water level of a shower floor of a water recirculation shower system comprising a pump inlet above the shower floor, wherein the method comprises impeding water entering the drain by means of an impeding part of a drain valve device, such that the water level is forced to raise
Implementation Method 2
The one or more outlet apertures are configured to provide communication from the shower floor to the drain and being configured to be provided at an elevation of between 3 and 30 mm in relation to a pump suction inlet area of the shower floor
Data Source
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AI summary
A drain valve device (102) for a drain (108) of a shower floor (106) of a water recirculation shower system (100) and a method for controlling a water level of such shower floor (106). A water recirculation shower system (100) comprising such drain valve device (102). The method comprising impeding water from entering the drain (108) by means of an impeding part of a drain valve device (102), such that the water level is forced to raise in order for the water to enter the drain (108) via an overflow drain part (103) provided at an elevation of between 3 and 30 mm in relation to a pump suction inlet area (113) of the shower floor (106).