Underground Membrane Venting for High-Pressure Water Pipelines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing air from underground water and wastewater pipelines require frequent installation of aboveground air release valves, which occupy valuable space and are prone to vandalism, and existing membranes cannot withstand the high pressure of water mains.
Innovation Solution
A selectively permeable membrane system is placed underground, allowing air and gas to escape while preventing water from exiting, secured with anchoring rims and optionally a rigid conduit, and can withstand pressures up to 17 bar, using materials like PVDF and PTFE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aboveground air release valves are installed along the pipeline, then air can be released from the pipeline, but valuable space is occupied and the valves are prone to vandalism
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air release function from the aboveground valve and relocates it to an underground selectively permeable membrane. The membrane is integrated into the pipeline system underground, eliminating the need for aboveground valve structures while maintaining the air release function. This resolves the contradiction by removing the harmful aboveground components that occupy space and are vulnerable to vandalism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a selectively permeable membrane as a thin film structure that allows air to pass through while blocking water. This flexible membrane can be installed underground without requiring rigid aboveground valve housings, enclosures, or fencing structures, thereby eliminating the space occupation and vulnerability issues associated with traditional aboveground air release valves.
2Stress or pressure
If traditional membranes are used for air release, then air can pass through, but they cannot withstand high water main pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the membrane material to achieve both high pressure resistance and selective permeability. The membrane is designed with specific pore sizes (0.01-10 micrometers), hydrophobicity characteristics (contact angle 90-150 degrees), and material composition (PVDF, PTFE, PDMS, or composite materials) that enable it to withstand water main pressures of 5-17 bar while maintaining air permeability. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing material parameters to simultaneously achieve pressure resistance and air release function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite membrane structures combining different materials such as PVDF, PTFE, and PDMS to achieve both mechanical strength for pressure resistance and selective permeability for air release. The composite material structure allows the membrane to withstand high water pressures while maintaining its air permeability function, resolving the contradiction between pressure resistance and air release reliability.
3Productivity
If aboveground air release valves are installed frequently, then air release is effective, but maintenance and protection costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The underground selectively permeable membrane operates autonomously without requiring manual intervention, maintenance, or protection. The membrane passively allows air to escape through its selective permeability while blocking water, eliminating the need for operational intervention that would be required for aboveground valves. This resolves the contradiction by creating a self-service system that maintains air release efficiency without incurring maintenance and protection costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the maintenance and protection requirements from the air release system by relocating the air release function underground to a passive membrane structure. This eliminates the need for aboveground valve maintenance, inspection, and protection measures, thereby reducing operational costs while maintaining effective air release through the underground membrane 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 solution reduces the need for aboveground valves, saving space and energy by allowing continuous passive release of air and gases from underground pipelines without water leakage, and can be installed at longer intervals along the pipeline.
Implementation Method 1
a selectively permeable membrane, located underground and secured in fluid and vapor communication with an underground pipeline, wherein the selectively permeable membrane allows passage of air and gas therethrough, while substantially prevents passage of aqueous fluids therethrough
Implementation Method 2
the selectively permeable membrane is a porous hydrophobic membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a system for underground release of air or gas from underground pipelines. The system comprises a selectively permeable membrane, located underground and secured in fluid and vapor communication with an underground pipeline. The selectively permeable membrane allows passage of air and gas therethrough, while substantially prevents passage of aqueous fluids therethrough.