Automated Spa Water Testing System with Replaceable Reagent Cartridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for testing spa and pool water quality require manual intervention and are not fully automated, lacking efficient methods for acquiring and analyzing water samples to determine parameters like pH, free chlorine, and total alkalinity.
Innovation Solution
A spa tub system with a built-in circulation pump, replaceable reagent cartridge, and water test assembly that mixes water samples with chemical reagents and uses optical sensors to perform tests, including a cooling assembly to maintain reagent stability and a discharge filter to remove reagents after testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual water testing is performed, then user control and simplicity are maintained, but automation and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system is divided into modular components: a reusable housing with circulation pump and optical sensors, and replaceable test cartridges containing reagents and test chambers. This segmentation allows automated functionality while keeping individual components simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-testing by automatically circulating water through the test cartridge, mixing reagents, measuring parameters optically, and disposing of chemicals without requiring manual intervention for each testing step.
2Measurement precision
If chemical reagents are used for water testing, then accurate parameter measurement is achieved, but chemical stability and safe disposal become concerns
Solution Approach 1:
Chemical reagents are extracted from the main system and contained within sealed pouches inside replaceable test cartridges. This isolation protects the stability of chemicals while enabling precise delivery to the test chamber when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses disposable test cartridges that contain pre-measured reagents. After use, the entire cartridge is discarded, eliminating the need for complex chemical storage, stability management, and disposal systems in the main unit.
3Productivity
If water samples are continuously circulated for testing, then testing efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump operates periodically rather than continuously - activating only when a test cartridge is installed and needed for testing. This provides efficient testing capability while minimizing energy consumption during idle periods.
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
Automates the water testing process, providing accurate and efficient analysis of water quality parameters with minimal user intervention, ensuring chemical stability and safe reagent disposal.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation pump disposed within the housing, the circulation pump being configured to acquire the water samples from the volume of water
Implementation Method 2
the water test assembly is configured to mix the water samples and the chemical reagent and perform the water quality tests on the mixed water samples and chemical reagent
Implementation Method 3
Different types of colorimetric, photometric, and spectrometric water tests are currently available. These tests involve mixing a fluid reagent to a water sample from the pool or spa to cause a color change.
Implementation Method 4
including a cooling assembly to maintain reagent stability
Implementation Method 5
and a discharge filter to remove reagents after testing
Data Source
AI summary
A spa tub includes a spa shell configured to contain a volume of water; a circulation system configured to create a flow of the water to and from the spa shell; and a testing system configured to acquire water samples from the volume of water and to perform water quality tests on the water samples. The testing system includes a housing; a circulation pump disposed within the housing configured to acquire the water samples from the volume of water; a replaceable reagent cartridge removably received within the housing; and a water test assembly disposed within the housing. The water test assembly is configured to receive the water samples acquired by the circulation pump and a reagent from the reagent cartridge. The water test assembly is configured to mix the water samples and the reagent and to perform the water quality tests on the mixed water samples and reagent.