Spraying Device Fine Droplet Segmentation Water Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shower and hand basin faucets waste significant amounts of water during the wetting and rinsing process, with up to 30-45 liters of water being wasted before soaping up, highlighting the inefficiency in water usage for personal hygiene.

Innovation Solution

A spray device that utilizes a high-pressure water pump to produce a fine jet of water, featuring adjustable nozzles and screens to refine droplets, ensuring a gentle wash while minimizing water flow, with a low flow rate of 0.5 to 3 liters per minute at pressures between 80 and 130 bar, effectively distributing water particles for efficient washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a traditional shower or hand basin faucet is used, then water flow is sufficient to wet the body or hands, but water consumption is excessive (30-45 liters per washing operation)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater consumptionVSAvoidwashing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The water jet is segmented into fine droplets using a nozzle and screen combination. The nozzle breaks the water stream into droplets, and the screen further refines them into fine particles. This segmentation allows the same water quantity to cover a larger surface area more effectively, reducing the total water needed for washing while maintaining wetting effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of water delivery by using high pressure (80-130 bar) to propel water through the nozzle and screen system. This pressure transformation converts a low flow rate (0.5-3 liters/minute) into a high-velocity fine droplet stream that achieves better distribution and washing effectiveness compared to traditional high-flow systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If high pressure is used to reduce water flow, then water consumption decreases, but the risk of skin injury from high-velocity water increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater flow rateVSAvoidskin injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The high-pressure water jet is segmented into fine droplets that disperse upon contact with the skin. This segmentation reduces the concentrated impact force that could cause injury, distributing the pressure across many smaller particles that gently wet the skin surface without causing harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The screen acts as an intermediary element between the high-pressure nozzle and the skin. It further refines the water droplets and dissipates the high velocity before water contacts the user, mediating the transition from high-pressure dangerous jet to safe fine spray.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If water is propelled at high pressure into fine droplets, then washing efficiency increases, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing efficiencyVSAvoidelectrical power requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses high pressure (80-130 bar) to propel water, which requires significant energy input from the pump. This parameter change enables the water to be delivered at high velocity and broken into fine droplets, achieving superior washing efficiency with minimal water consumption (0.5-3 liters/minute), thereby justifying the energy expenditure through substantial water savings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 device achieves a more effective wash with significantly less water consumption compared to traditional systems, reducing overall water usage and electrical power requirements, resulting in substantial savings and reduced pollution.

Implementation Method 1

uses a low flow of water which is sent by a high pressure pump (7), so as to obtain a powerful jet of fine droplets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

propelled at high pressure (> 80 bars) into a device spray to produce a stream of fine water droplets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 3

uses a nozzle (2) which has an outlet orifice such that at 130 bars of pressure the flow rate must be: 3 liters per minute

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical disruption: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 4

20 mm from the outlet of the nozzle is a first sieve (3) or stainless steel grid, each mesh of the sieve measures 0.5 mm on a side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2440713B1Spraying device for generating a water jet for washing
Publication Date: 2015.12.02 VERNET SA
  • EP2440713B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6

AI summary

A spraying device (1) for generating a water jet for washing the body or a part of the body, including a water inlet (11) connected to a high-pressure water pipe (6) and a water outlet. The device includes at least one nozzle (2) located at the water outlet, and at least one screen (3, 4) spaced apart from the nozzle by a distance d so as to sufficiently reduce the size of the water droplets of said water jet to provide a gentle washing.