Surface Water Drainage Device with Segmented Salt Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drainage devices cannot effectively separate and filter surface water from traffic areas to prevent high de-icing salt contamination from reaching urban planting pits, which is harmful to plants and trees, while also not efficiently directing low-salt water for irrigation purposes.
Innovation Solution
A drainage device with an inlet channel section and an overflow channel section, each equipped with a filter substrate, where the overflow channel is isolated from direct inflow during high salt concentrations, allowing filtered water with low de-icing salt to be diverted to planting pits and high-salt water to be directed to the sewer system, utilizing a system that operates independently without electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If surface water is directed into planting pits for irrigation, then the strain on the sewer system decreases and flooding is avoided, but high de-icing salt concentrations become harmful and toxic to plants and trees
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage device is divided into two separate channel sections: an inlet channel section for collecting surface water and an overflow channel section for discharging excess water. This segmentation allows differentiated treatment of water flows based on their salt content and volume, enabling safe irrigation when possible and sewer discharge when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
A filter substrate is introduced as an intermediary element between the inlet channel and the planting pit. This filter substrate removes de-icing salt residues from the surface water through filtration, transforming the harmful high-salt water into safe irrigation water that benefits plants without causing salt toxicity.
2Reliability
If a filter element is integrated into the channel unit, then surface water is cleaned of filterable substances, mineral hydrocarbons, zinc, and copper particles, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is merged with the channel unit by integrating the filter substrate directly into the channel structure. The inlet channel section and overflow channel section are combined into a single unified channel unit, eliminating the need for separate filtration components and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter substrate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it filters pollutants and heavy metals from surface water, reduces de-icing salt concentrations, and prevents clogging of planting pit soil. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate treatment devices, simplifying the overall system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If overflow channel section is separated from direct inflow, then high-salt water is prevented from reaching planting pits, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel unit is segmented into an inlet channel section and an overflow channel section that are spatially separated. The overflow channel section is positioned and configured to receive water only after the inlet channel is full, preventing direct inflow of high-salt surface water into the overflow section and subsequently into planting pits.
Solution Approach 2:
The overflow opening is positioned at a specific elevation level, creating an equipotential surface that controls water flow. When the water level in the inlet channel reaches this elevation, water overflows into the overflow channel section. This elevation-based control mechanism automatically separates high-salt water (inlet channel) from low-salt water (overflow channel) without requiring additional active control devices.
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 device effectively filters pollutants and heavy metals, ensuring that only low-salt water is used for irrigation, reducing soil salinity and maintaining soil drainage, thereby protecting urban trees and reducing the burden on the sewer system.
Implementation Method 1
The filter element can clean the surface water of filterable substances (FS), mineral hydrocarbons (MOH), zinc, and copper particles by allowing the surface water to enter the channel unit, percolate through the filter substrate
Implementation Method 2
a wall with at least one water-permeable wall which forms an overflow opening
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
Devices for draining surface water from traffic areas are already known in the art. In these devices, the surface water is purified of certain pollutants down to a specific particle size and of heavy metals via a filter substrate. However, de-icing salt residues remain in the surface water, making it toxic to certain plants. The present invention solves this problem by providing a device in which the surface water is separated between an inlet and an overflow channel section by an overflow opening, depending on the de-icing salt content and the intensity and amount of rainfall. Simultaneously, the water is freed from heavy metals and pollutants by means of filter substrates, making it suitable for irrigating planting pits.