Motorized Stormwater Valve for Emergency Pollution Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stormwater valve systems are inadequate for efficiently blocking contaminated stormwater runoff at drainage inlets and within pipe networks, particularly lacking automated motorized control and suitable design for blocking polluted discharges before they reach water bodies.
Innovation Solution
A novel emergency valve system comprising a valve body, frame, cover, closing plate, baffle plates, and an actuator screw, which can be electrically or manually operated. The system includes a motor and battery for electrical operation or an external adjusting screw for manual operation, allowing quick blockage of contaminated stormwater runoff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a passive float valve assembly is used for flow control, then the device complexity is reduced, but the extent of automation is insufficient for emergency blockage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical passive float valve assembly with an electromechanical system that includes a motorized actuator, control circuitry, and sensor feedback. This substitution enables automated emergency blockage while maintaining the mechanical valve closing mechanism, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates sensors that automatically detect contaminated stormwater conditions and trigger the motorized actuator to close the valve without human intervention. This self-service capability enables the system to respond autonomously to emergencies while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through integrated control logic.
2Extent of automation
If a motorized actuator is added for automated control, then the extent of automation is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized actuator is designed to serve multiple functions: automated emergency closure, manual operation mode, and positioning control. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving high extent of automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control circuit as an intermediary between the sensor detection system and the motorized actuator. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the control logic, managing the complexity of coordinating sensors, motor control, and valve actuation in a unified manner.
3Productivity
If the valve is designed for quick emergency blockage, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is pre-positioned in a normal open state with the closing mechanism ready for immediate activation. The motorized actuator and control system are pre-configured to execute rapid closure upon detecting contaminated stormwater, enabling quick emergency blockage without requiring complex real-time decision-making during the emergency response.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system employs periodic sensing and monitoring to detect contaminated conditions, triggering the emergency closure sequence. This periodic action approach allows the system to maintain readiness for quick blockage while using simple, repeatable control cycles that limit the overall complexity of the control mechanism.
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 emergency valve system effectively regulates and blocks contaminated stormwater runoff, preventing it from entering water bodies, and can be installed without invasive modifications to existing drainage infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
a motor inserted between the valve body and the valve cover, engaged to the actuator screw, to rotate the said actuator screw and therefore raising or lowering the closing plate
Implementation Method 2
a battery to power the motor
Data Source
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AI summary
001. Emergency valve system for blocking contaminated stormwater volumes exiting drainage inlets, or flowing through pipe networks. The invention includes: a valve body, valve frame, valve cover, closing plate, baffle plates, actuator screw, protection cover. The emergency valve system may be: a) electrically operated by including a motor inserted between the valve body and the valve cover, engaged to the actuator screw, to rotate the said actuator screw and therefore raising or lowering the closing plate; or b) manually operated by including an external adjusting screw engaged with the actuator screw, so that the closing plate can be raised or lowered by rotating the said external adjusting screw. In the case of an electrically operated emergency valve system, the invention may include a battery to power the motor, and/or a power cord to power the motor from an external power supply system. The invention may also include one on several water sensor probes attached to the valve body to monitor the water quality.