Spa Water Irrigation with Fresh Refill for Low-Chemical Sanitizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hot tubs require strong sanitizing chemicals like chlorine or bromine due to recirculated water, which can harm users, and there is a need to utilize spa water for irrigation while replenishing it with fresh water for effective sanitizing and fertilization.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation system that utilizes tempered spa water for irrigation and replenishes it with fresh water, incorporating a water softening unit, fertilizer injector, and skin conditioning substances, controlled via a smartphone application, with sensors for fault detection and alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strong sanitizing chemicals like chlorine or bromine are used in the hot tub, then water sanitation is improved, but user skin and eye safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the water from the hot tub and redirects it to the irrigation system, removing the need to maintain high chemical concentrations in the hot tub water. The irrigation system handles the water that would otherwise require continuous chemical treatment, allowing the hot tub to use minimal sanitizing chemicals.
Solution Approach 2:
The water from the hot tub serves dual purposes: it is used for irrigation purposes and the hot tub simultaneously receives fresh water replenishment. This multi-functionality allows the same water resource to serve both irrigation needs and hot tub operation without requiring harsh chemicals.
2Reliability
If fresh water is continuously added to the hot tub, then water quality is improved, but water waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the hot tub water to the drain, the system recovers it and redirects it to the irrigation system. This recovery process eliminates water waste while maintaining hot tub water quality through continuous fresh water replenishment.
3Ease of operation
If the irrigation system uses cold city-line water, then irrigation function is provided, but plant benefit is reduced compared to tempered water
Solution Approach 1:
The hot tub water serves as an intermediary medium, receiving fresh water to maintain quality while providing tempered water to the irrigation system. This intermediary role allows the irrigation system to deliver beneficial tempered water to plants without compromising irrigation functionality.
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
This system eliminates the need for harsh sanitizing chemicals in the spa, allows for fertilization and skin conditioning, and provides efficient water management with smartphone control and fault alerts, enhancing user safety and water utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a water softening unit disposed therealong for reducing hard minerals within the water entering the irrigation system through the source line
Implementation Method 2
an irrigation pump in fluid communication with the spa through a first irrigation line adapted to pump tempered water out of the spa and into a second irrigation line that has at least one irrigation head
Implementation Method 3
a pressure sensor adapted for sensing a pressure drop in the second irrigation line when the irrigation pump is activated
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation system for use with a spa includes a water heating circuit, an automatic water fill valve connected to a water source, and an irrigation pump in fluid communication with the spa through a first irrigation line and electrically connected to a power source through a switch arrangement. The irrigation pump is adapted to pump water to at least one irrigation head. The automatic water fill valve then refills the spa from the water source. The system may include a fertilizer injector, a skin-product injector, a water softener, and various sensors running through an irrigation application on a smart phone to control the irrigation system and operation of the spa.