Bioretention Swale Overflow Filter for Peak Flow Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Bioretention swales face challenges in efficiently processing storm water runoff during peak flows, leading to potential flooding and inadequate pollutant removal, as they struggle with gross pollutants and debris accumulation, which increases maintenance needs and can result in pollutants being passed into subsequent drainage systems.
Innovation Solution
A pollutant retention device associated with bioretention cells, featuring an upper framework with angled side surfaces and perforations for fluid flow, connected to an underground drainage system, which allows for adjustable ponding depth and retention of gross pollutants without impeding peak flow, thereby enhancing hydraulic and filtering performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bioretention swales are used to filter storm water runoff, then pollutant removal is improved, but during peak flows the swales cannot process large quantities of fluid leading to flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides storm water management into two pathways: a bioretention swale for pollutant filtration and an underground drainage basin for peak flow diversion. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of storm water management, resolving the contradiction between filtration effectiveness and peak flow processing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
An overflow filter structure serves as an intermediary component connecting the bioretention swale to the underground drainage basin. It captures floatables and gross pollutants from overflow water before it enters the drainage system, enabling the swale to focus on filtration while the drainage system handles volume management.
2Reliability
If swales are designed to handle estimated runoff, then filtration is maintained, but during heavy rain events they cannot process all storm water causing backups and localized flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow filter is pre-positioned at the outlet of the bioretiction swale to capture floatables and gross pollutants before they can cause flooding or enter the drainage system. This preliminary action prevents harmful effects before they occur during heavy rain events.
3Reliability
If swales continuously process storm water, then pollutant removal is maintained, but gross pollutants and debris accumulate increasing maintenance needs
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow filter extracts floatables, trash, and gross pollutants from the storm water flow before they enter the bioretention swale. By removing these materials in advance, the swale only needs to handle finer sediments, significantly reducing maintenance frequency and complexity while maintaining continuous pollutant removal effectiveness.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If underground drainage basin systems are used to catch overflow, then flood risk is reduced, but trash and debris accumulate and are released into drain and piping systems
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow filter acts as an intermediary barrier between the bioretention swale and the underground drainage basin. It captures floatables and gross pollutants from the overflow water, allowing the drainage basin to reduce flood risk without becoming clogged with debris that would otherwise be released into the piping 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
The device effectively processes storm water during peak flows, reducing the workload on swales by retaining sediment and pollutants, ensuring cleaner water enters the drainage infrastructure and extending the life span of swales by minimizing the need for frequent overhauls.
Implementation Method 1
an upper framework comprising angled side surfaces, perforations along at least one angled side surface, wherein the perforations are sized to allow for fluid flow from the bioretention swale
Implementation Method 2
Swales function as soil and vegetation-based filtration systems, removing pollutants through a variety of physical, biological, and chemical treatment processes
Implementation Method 3
The interaction of fluid with vegetation in the swale promotes a more even distribution of the fluid and retention of sediments
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for use in conjunction with grassy swales to collect and filter or otherwise treat dirty or polluted storm water runoff or other fluid is disclosed. The swale overflow screen device is used in connection with a catch basin. One or more swale overflow screen devices are installed within a bioretention swale, such that during periods of routine flow, at least a portion of storm water runoff or other passing fluids can enter the swale overflow screen device, through the catch basin, and be released to a drainage system.