Suction Pump Sampling for Water Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In water treatment systems, handling samples from wastewater treatment plants is challenging due to the fragility of flocs formed by chemicals, which can break during sampling, leading to inaccurate representation of water stream properties.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a sample analysis vessel with a suction pump positioned downstream, using a laminar flow to transport water samples from upstream of a solid-liquid separation unit, and a backflushing mechanism with fresh water to maintain sample integrity and cleanliness, allowing for accurate reflection of water properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional sampling methods are used to take water samples from the water stream, then samples can be obtained for analysis, but the flocs formed in the water stream are easily broken during sampling, causing the sample to no longer correctly reflect the properties of the water stream

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample representation accuracyVSAvoidfloc breakage during sampling

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sampling system is divided into separate functional components: a sampling probe that extracts water without breaking flocs, a sample line that transports the sample, and a sample analysis vessel that receives the intact sample. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, preventing floc breakage while maintaining sample representativeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A sample line acts as an intermediary between the water stream and the analysis vessel, transporting the water sample without direct contact between the sampling mechanism and the fragile flocs. The sample line serves as a protective medium that carries the sample from the sampling point to the analysis point without causing floc breakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a suction pump is positioned after the sample analysis vessel to suck water samples, then samples can be transported without breaking flocs, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample integrityVSAvoidpump positioning and sample line configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning the pump before the sample analysis vessel (conventional approach), the pump is inverted to be positioned after the vessel. This inversion allows the pump to create suction that pulls the sample through the system, preventing floc breakage by avoiding direct pump contact with the sample in the vessel while still achieving reliable sample transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If chemical dosing is controlled based on water samples, then chemical dosing can be optimized, but the handling of samples becomes challenging due to floc fragility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical dosing efficiencyVSAvoidsample handling difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The conventional mechanical sampling method that directly contacts and breaks flocs is replaced with a suction-based system that gently draws samples through a sample line. This substitution eliminates the mechanical stress that causes floc breakage while maintaining the ability to obtain samples for chemical dosing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 method effectively preserves flocs during sampling, ensuring accurate representation of water properties and maintaining sample line cleanliness, enabling precise control of chemical dosing in water treatment processes.

Implementation Method 1

a suction pump, positioned after the sample analysis vessel, sucking the water sample from the sampling point to the sample analysis vessel via a sample line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

using a laminar flow to transport water samples from upstream of a solid-liquid separation unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaminar flow: Laminar Flow

Implementation Method 3

a backflushing mechanism with fresh water to maintain sample integrity and cleanliness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBackflushing:

Data Source

PatentUS20240219271A1A Method and system for water treatment

Publication Date: 2024.07.04 KEMIRA OY

AI summary

A method in which a sample analysis vessel is provided with a water sample from a sampling point upstream of a solid-liquid separation unit. Said providing a sample analysis vessel with a water sample comprises sucking the sample into the sample analysis vessel via a sample line by a suction pump positioned after the sample analysis vessel.