Shower Water Recycling with Optical Contamination Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower water recycling systems lack efficiency and reliability in controlling the recycling of water due to limitations in detecting and removing contaminants, particularly particulate and soluble contaminants, requiring significant energy input and user intervention.
Innovation Solution
A wastewater recycling system that combines an optical detector to identify non-filtered contaminants and a filter to remove larger contaminants, using multiple optical sources and detectors to determine contaminant presence based on wavelength-specific absorption signatures, and an automated directional device to direct water to recycling or discharge conduits, reducing the need for user input and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter with small pore size is used to remove all particulate contaminants, then contaminant removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly due to required pump power
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments contaminant removal into two distinct stages: (1) an optical detection stage that identifies specific contaminants in the liquid phase without requiring filtration, and (2) a mechanical filtration stage that removes only particulate matter. This segmentation allows the filter to operate with larger pore sizes while maintaining effective contaminant removal through the combined approach of optical detection and selective filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces purely mechanical filtration with a hybrid approach that substitutes optical detection for the mechanical filtration process. The optical detector identifies contaminants in the liquid phase, enabling the system to determine when filtration is necessary and when water can be directly recycled, thereby reducing the reliance on high-power pumps and fine-pore filters.
2Ease of operation
If manual user control is used to change outflow direction for water reuse, then system simplicity is maintained, but recycling efficiency and confidence in contamination detection are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback control where the optical detector continuously monitors water quality and provides real-time information to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the outflow direction and filtration operations, eliminating the need for manual user control while significantly improving recycling efficiency and confidence in contamination detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the recycling apparatus autonomously performs contaminant detection, decision-making, and water redirection without requiring user intervention. The optical detection system and control mechanisms work together to automatically manage the recycling process, improving both efficiency and reliability while maintaining ease of operation through automated functionality.
3Reliability
If filtration alone is used to recirculate all wastewater, then contaminant removal is achieved, but soluble contaminants cannot be removed and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces comprehensive mechanical filtration with optical detection that can identify both particulate and soluble contaminants in the liquid phase. This substitution allows the system to detect contaminant presence without the energy-intensive process of forcing water through fine-pore filters, while still achieving effective contaminant removal through selective filtration based on optical detection results.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameter from mechanical filtration (physical barrier) to optical absorption/emission characteristics of contaminants. By monitoring optical properties of the water, the system can identify both particulate and soluble contaminants without requiring high-pressure pumping through fine filters, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable contaminant detection and removal capability.
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 system efficiently recycles uncontaminated water while ensuring proper filtration and disinfection, reducing energy and fresh water consumption, and maintaining high confidence in the cleanliness of recycled water, overcoming the limitations of prior art systems.
Implementation Method 1
contaminants smaller than the filter pore are optically detected based on wavelength specific absorption/emission signatures
Implementation Method 2
A first optical source is provided that outputs a first optical signal at a first wavelength that passes through the fluid under test. The first wavelength is a wavelength for which at least one of the contaminants has a characteristic absorption
Implementation Method 3
a filter that removes large sized (filtered) contaminants
Data Source
AI summary
A domestic water recycling system using a combination of an optical detector to detect certain smaller sized (non-filtered) contaminants and a filter to remove larger sized (filtered) contaminants provides an efficient wastewater recycling system. Optical detection of contaminants determines whether water is discharged or filtered and recycled. The optical detection system can use several discrete optical wavelengths that are passed through the fluid, and can determine a relative presence of the contaminants based on the resulting wavelength response. A recycling shower using optical detection, an electronically actuated directional device and pump and a controller allows for automatic recycling or discharging of water without requiring user input. The system may include a turbulence reduction baffle in a collection chamber, and a disinfection unit for the recycled water.