Transfer Learning Monitoring for Heavy Metal Wastewater Anomalies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for heavy metal wastewater treatment struggle to accurately recognize abnormal working conditions due to uncertainties in wastewater sources, leading to inefficiencies and potential process disruptions.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent monitoring method using transfer learning and dictionary learning to construct offline and augmented dictionaries for heavy metal wastewater treatment, enabling accurate recognition of abnormal conditions by fusing data from different sources and adapting to uncertain factors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual treatment manner is used based on technical personnel experience, then operation flexibility is maintained, but working condition recognition accuracy is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking condition recognition accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical judgment system based on technical personnel experience with an automated intelligent monitoring system using machine learning algorithms. The system automatically collects process data, performs feature extraction, and identifies abnormal working conditions through computational models, eliminating subjective human factors and significantly improving recognition accuracy while maintaining operational flexibility through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces data processing intermediaries including feature extraction modules, machine learning models, and analysis algorithms that serve as mediators between raw process data and working condition judgments. These intermediaries transform complex multivariate process data into actionable insights, enabling accurate abnormal condition detection without requiring direct human interpretation of complex datasets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional monitoring methods are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different wastewater sources is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different wastewater sourcesVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptability by designing a monitoring system that can adjust its parameters and models based on different wastewater sources. The system uses historical data from multiple sources to train machine learning models, enabling it to dynamically adapt to varying ion concentration distributions, pH levels, and treatment characteristics of different wastewater types without requiring complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal monitoring framework that can handle multiple wastewater sources and treatment scenarios through a single integrated system. The platform processes diverse data types (process parameters, water quality indicators, operational data) and applies generalized machine learning algorithms that work across different wastewater characteristics, achieving multi-functional adaptability while managing data processing complexity through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If offline tests are conducted for each wastewater source, then treatment effect accuracy is improved, but time consumption and operational efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effect measurement accuracyVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by conducting comprehensive offline tests and data collection during the system setup and model training phases. Historical data from various wastewater sources are pre-processed, analyzed, and used to train machine learning models in advance. This preliminary work enables the system to make accurate real-time judgments during operation without requiring repeated offline tests, significantly improving operational efficiency while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates virtual copies of offline test scenarios through machine learning models and simulations. Instead of conducting physical offline tests for each new wastewater source, the system uses trained models to predict treatment effects and identify abnormal conditions based on patterns learned from historical data. This digital copying approach maintains the accuracy benefits of thorough testing while eliminating the time and resource constraints of physical replication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12578694B2Intelligent monitoring method and apparatus for abnormal working conditions in heavy metal wastewater treatment process based on transfer learning and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.17 CENT SOUTH UNIV
  • US12578694B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An intelligent monitoring method and apparatus for abnormal working conditions in a heavy metal wastewater treatment process based on transfer learning and a storage medium are provided. During an intelligent monitoring, the abnormal working conditions can be automatically and intelligently recognized by fusing data in the treatment process of the heavy metal wastewater different in source; specifically, a normal sample YSD in the treatment process of the heavy metal wastewater with fixed sources and a small number of normal samples YTD in the treatment process of the heavy metal wastewater with unknown sources are utilized; and first, a data representation dictionary DSD of YSD is obtained through learning on YSD, and then considering different distribution of YSD and YTD, a transfer learning method is adopted to fuse characters of YTD into a dictionary learning process to obtain a dictionary DTD with higher generalization ability.