Submerged Intake Conduit with Rotary Cleaning for Water Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water purification technologies are expensive and energy-intensive, making them inaccessible for drinking and irrigation in many regions, where affordable and energy-efficient solutions are needed.

Innovation Solution

A submerged conduit with a semipermeable surface that utilizes hydrostatic pressure to purify water, featuring a semipermeable membrane with controlled perforations and a rotary mechanism to clear obstructions, allowing water pressure to force water through the membrane while preventing particulates from entering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional water purification technology is used, then water purification is achieved, but the cost and energy consumption are prohibitively high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidwater purification effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the natural hydrostatic pressure of the water body itself to drive the purification process through the semipermeable membrane, eliminating the need for external high-energy pumping systems. The water body serves its own pressure needs, making the system self-service and energy-efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes hydraulic pressure (hydrostatic pressure) from the water body to force water through the semipermeable membrane for purification. This hydraulic approach replaces energy-intensive mechanical pumping systems with natural water pressure dynamics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If a semipermeable membrane is used for filtration, then particulates are removed, but the membrane becomes obstructed by debris

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidcontinuous operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The intake conduit is designed to rotate, transforming a static filtration system into a dynamic one. This rotation continuously exposes different portions of the semipermeable membrane to the clearance elements (brushes or blades), preventing permanent obstruction and maintaining continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The clearance elements (brushes or blades) physically remove accumulated debris from the semipermeable membrane surface during rotation. The discarded debris is washed away by the water flow, while the membrane is recovered and restored to its filtration function, maintaining continuous productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Stress or pressure

If the intake conduit is submerged deeper to increase hydrostatic pressure, then purification efficiency improves, but the energy required to retrieve water increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrostatic pressureVSAvoidenergy to retrieve water

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the hydrostatic pressure generated by the water body itself at the submerged depth to drive water through the membrane. The pump only needs to overcome the pressure differential to retrieve water, not to create the pressure from scratch, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective purification pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This approach enables cost-effective and energy-efficient water purification, leveraging hydrostatic pressure to provide clean water for irrigation and human consumption without excessive energy expenditure, suitable for impoverished regions and maritime applications.

Implementation Method 1

a semipermeable surface adapted to utilize water pressure to purify the water that permeates said surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the semipermeable surface includes a plurality of perforations through a perimetral surface of the intake conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure that is exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure increases in proportion to depth measured from the surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrostatic pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

a source of rotary motion operatively associated with the intake conduit so that the intake conduit rotates at between approximately 20 and 30 revolutions per minute; and a clearance element disposed along a portion of the semipermeable surface so that each revolution of the intake conduit urges the semipermeable surface against the clearance element, wherein the clearance element is a brush or a blade

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical abrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS11649179B2Water purification system

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 GRIMES SAMUEL STEPHEN

AI summary

A water purification system and method embodying a submerged conduit with a semipermeable surface, thereby leveraging water pressure to cost-effectively and energy-efficiently purify the water that permeates the semipermeable surface. A intake conduit may provide the semipermeable surface, wherein the system contemplates rotating the intake conduit so that as it rotates it engages brushes or blades that clear the semipermeable surface of obstructions.