Two-Zone Large Water-Body Treatment for Lower-Cost Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming pool technologies are inefficient in removing microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebas, microalgae, and parasites from both small and large water bodies, leading to recreational water illnesses, and require high capital and operational costs, while partially treated larger water bodies pose significant sanitary risks due to incomplete disinfection and filtration.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost system and method that divides a large water body into two zones: a sedimentation zone for settling and inactivating microorganisms using a CT index and flocculant composition, and a dissipation zone for continuous disinfection with a chlorine residual, allowing a Contamination Reduction Index (CRI) through natural and injected water flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional swimming pool technology is applied to large water bodies, then complete water volume disinfection and filtration is achieved, but capital costs, operational costs, energy consumption, and chemical usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The large water body is divided into multiple zones with different treatment intensities. The first zone receives intensive treatment with disinfectants and filtration, while the second zone receives minimal or no treatment, relying on natural processes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve overall disinfection effectiveness without applying intensive treatment to the entire water volume, thereby reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones within the large water body are assigned different water quality characteristics based on their intended use. The first zone is maintained with high disinfection levels and clarity suitable for direct contact recreation, while the second zone allows natural variations in quality. This local differentiation enables effective disinfection where needed without wasting resources treating the entire body uniformly.
2Reliability
If conventional swimming pool technology is applied to large water bodies, then complete water volume disinfection is achieved, but capital costs and chemical usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The large water body is divided into multiple zones with different treatment intensities. The first zone receives intensive treatment with disinfectants and filtration, while the second zone receives minimal or no treatment, relying on natural processes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve overall disinfection effectiveness without applying intensive treatment to the entire water volume, thereby reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones within the large water body are assigned different water quality characteristics based on their intended use. The first zone is maintained with high disinfection levels and clarity suitable for direct contact recreation, while the second zone allows natural variations in quality. This local differentiation enables effective disinfection where needed without wasting resources treating the entire body uniformly.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If large water bodies are partially treated to reduce costs, then capital and operational costs decrease, but sanitary risks increase due to incomplete disinfection
Solution Approach 1:
The large water body is divided into multiple zones with different treatment intensities. The first zone receives intensive treatment with disinfectants and filtration, while the second zone receives minimal or no treatment, relying on natural processes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve overall disinfection effectiveness without applying intensive treatment to the entire water volume, thereby reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
A biological community or natural processes act as an intermediary between the treated and untreated zones, facilitating natural disinfection and water quality maintenance in the second zone without requiring intensive chemical treatment. This intermediary approach reduces operational costs while maintaining acceptable sanitary conditions through natural mechanisms.
4Reliability
If conventional swimming pool technology is applied to large water bodies, then complete filtration is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The large water body is divided into multiple zones with different treatment intensities. The first zone receives intensive treatment with disinfectants and filtration, while the second zone receives minimal or no treatment, relying on natural processes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve overall disinfection effectiveness without applying intensive treatment to the entire water volume, thereby reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The second zone relies on natural self-cleaning processes, including natural filtration through bottom substrates, microbial degradation of contaminants, and physical settling. This self-service approach eliminates or reduces the need for complex mechanical filtration systems in portions of the water body, thereby reducing device complexity and maintenance requirements while maintaining acceptable water quality.
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 system effectively minimizes the risk of contamination by maintaining safe and sanitary conditions in large water bodies for recreational use, ensuring rapid inactivation and removal of harmful microorganisms, thus reducing the likelihood of recreational water illnesses.
Implementation Method 1
a first zone, called a sedimentation zone (1), intended mainly for secondary non-direct recreational contact purposes, and configured to inactivate, flocculate and eliminate dangerous microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
applying an efficient amount of a flocculant composition into the sedimentation zone (1) that aids in the settling of different microorganisms and/or contaminants
Implementation Method 3
injecting water to the dissipation zone (2) by means of one or more inlet nozzles (26) that —along with the natural influence of water currents produced by winds and/or the horizontal and vertical water temperature differences of the water body (3)—establish the current or flow (14) from the dissipation zone (2) into the sedimentation zone (1)
Implementation Method 4
maintaining a permanent chlorine residual in the dissipation zone (2) water volume, and adding an efficient amount of a chlorine disinfectant into the dissipation zone (2)
Implementation Method 5
applying an efficient amount of a flocculant composition into the sedimentation zone (1) that aids in the settling of different microorganisms and/or contaminants
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment for a large body of water to make the water suitable for recreational purposes is disclosed. A sedimentation zone and a dissipation zone are designated in the water body. A disinfection method based on a CT index and a flocculant composition are utilized in the sedimentation zone to aid in the settling of different microorganisms and/or contaminants. Also, the water in the sedimentation zone is minimally disturbed to facilitate the sedimentation process. A permanent chlorine residual is maintained in the dissipation zone by adding an efficient amount of a chlorine disinfectant such that at least a 0.5 mg/L free chlorine level is maintained in the water volume. Water is injected into the dissipation zone by means of one or more inlet nozzles. Along with natural currents produced by winds and water temperature differences, a water dissipation pattern from within the dissipation zone into the sedimentation zone is generated.