Adjustable Storm Drain Filtration Frame with Porous Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current erosion and sediment control systems, such as silt fences, sandbag barriers, and storm drain inlet protections, are ineffective in filtering out sediment and contaminants from water, and they often suffer from poor installation, maintenance issues, and limited flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A water inlet protection system featuring an adjustable frame with tabs for secure attachment to storm drains, combined with a water-permeable filtration material that can be removably secured using magnets or s-clips, allowing for efficient sediment removal and high flow rates, with optional overflow protection to prevent flooding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silt fences are used for sediment control, then sediment can be captured through ponding and settling, but the fabric becomes blocked off with fine soil particles and provides minimal filtration in field conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous filtration material with specifically engineered pore sizes and distributions to allow water to pass through while capturing sediment particles. The material maintains its porosity and filtration effectiveness without becoming clogged, resolving the contradiction between sediment capture and water flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite filtration materials that combine different pore sizes, hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties, and structural characteristics to achieve both high sediment removal efficiency and sustained high flow rates, overcoming the limitations of single-material silt fences.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sandbag barriers are used to prevent contaminated water flow, then water flow can be diverted away from water sources, but they fail to provide filtration for removing contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flow diversion function of sandbag barriers with the filtration function of porous materials into a single integrated system. The filtration material is positioned to both divert contaminated water flow and simultaneously filter out sediment and contaminants, resolving the contradiction between diversion and removal effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If storm drain inlet protections with steel grates are used, then large items can be prevented from entering the drain, but they fail to prevent soil sediment and other contaminants from entering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces or supplements the solid steel grate with a porous filtration material that allows water to pass through while capturing sediment and contaminants. The porous material provides effective filtration without the complexity and limitations of traditional grate structures.
4Reliability
If fiber rolls are used for erosion control and sediment protection, then basic filtration can be provided, but they provide only minimal filtration and are not reusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses filtration materials with enhanced physical and chemical parameters including higher tensile strength, improved structural stability, and optimized pore size distributions that enable the material to be reused multiple times while maintaining effective filtration capability, overcoming the single-use limitation of fiber rolls.
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 effectively filters out sediment and contaminants with a high flow rate of approximately 190-240 gpm/ft² and 90% filtering efficiency, while being reusable and easy to maintain, addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a water-permeable filtration material that can be removably secured using magnets or s-clips, allowing for efficient sediment removal
Implementation Method 2
removably secured using magnets
Data Source
AI summary
A water inlet protection system and apparatus for removing sediment and/or chemical from water or other fluids is provided. The system may include a filtration material that is configured to be water permeable and to collect sediment within the water. The system may be configured to be removably secured to various types of storm drains or water inlets. The system may include a frame configured to be removably attached to a storm grate. The frame may also include a plurality of tabs extending from the frame and be slidably adjustable. The system may also include an s-clip member or magnets for removably securing the filtration material to a storm drain or water inlet. Furthermore, the water inlet protection system may include one or more over-flow protection openings. The over-flow protection openings may include a raised member or barrier to regulate the water level where over-flow occurs.