Stormwater System Concrete Perimeter Plastic Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stormwater management systems, such as GreenStorm ST, face challenges with accessibility for inspection and cleaning, and are susceptible to lateral forces, limiting their depth and stability.
Innovation Solution
A stormwater system comprising plastic modular elements with cross-shaped inspection channels, a concrete perimeter channel, and additional access manholes and channels for improved accessibility and stability, allowing for deeper installation and easier maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If plastic modular elements with large void ratio are used to increase storage capacity, then water storage volume is improved, but the system becomes susceptible to large lateral forces and cannot be constructed overly deep
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines plastic modular elements with concrete perimeter channels and concrete distribution channels to create a composite structure. The concrete channels provide structural strength and confinement to resist lateral forces acting on the plastic modules, while the plastic modules provide the necessary void ratio for water storage. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both high storage capacity and resistance to lateral forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic modular elements act as flexible containers that can be installed in an inverted configuration. The flexible plastic walls can deform to some extent under lateral forces while maintaining the necessary storage volume. The flexible nature of the plastic modules allows them to be installed deep underground while the concrete perimeter channels provide external confinement.
2Volume of stationary object
If plastic modular elements with large void ratio are used to increase storage capacity, then water storage volume is improved, but the system is limited in depth due to lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
The concrete perimeter channels and concrete distribution channels provide structural support that enables the plastic modular elements to be installed at greater depths. The concrete structure resists the increasing lateral forces that act on the plastic modules at deeper installations, thereby allowing the system to achieve both high storage capacity and deep installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inverted installation configuration of the flexible plastic modules allows them to be placed at greater depths where lateral forces are more significant. The flexible plastic walls can accommodate the confining pressures from the surrounding soil while maintaining the necessary void ratio for storage.
3Device complexity
If traditional inspection access points are used in modular systems, then device complexity is reduced, but accessibility for inspection and cleaning is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple modular elements that can be independently accessed. Concrete distribution channels are provided that extend through the modular elements, creating separate access pathways for inspection and cleaning. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access specific areas without disrupting the entire modular system.
Solution Approach 2:
Concrete distribution channels serve as intermediary structures that provide access pathways between the surface and the inverted plastic modular elements. These channels act as mediators that enable inspection and cleaning operations in the otherwise inaccessible inverted configuration of the modular system.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a stormwater system which includes plastic stormwater elements surrounded by a concrete perimeter channel. Distribution and low flow channels may extend perpendicular to each other, and through the stormwater elements, connected to the perimeter channel. Manholes and access shafts allow for access to the entire system for inspection and cleaning.