Urinal Sanitation Device Using Self-Service Chemical Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional urinals face challenges in maintaining sanitation without excessive water usage, particularly in low-frequency usage scenarios where bacterial multiplication and ammonia production lead to odor and urine scale issues, necessitating efficient chemical agent management.
Innovation Solution
A urinal with a sanitation device featuring an interchangeable trap unit using a chemical agent, where the amount of liquid agent and chemical agent is adjusted based on usage frequency to inhibit bacterial growth and urine scale formation, with a control unit managing the ejection of these agents to optimize sanitation while conserving resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If urine is retained in the trap to form a water seal without water supply, then water conservation is improved, but ammonia smell and urine scale generation occur due to bacterial multiplication
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses urine from actual users to automatically dissolve the chemical agent and supply it to the trap, eliminating the need for external water supply or manual intervention. The trap unit self-regulates sanitation by utilizing the resource (urine) that is already present in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
A chemical agent (citric acid) is introduced as an intermediary substance between urine and bacteria. The chemical agent dissolves in urine to form a sanitizing solution that inhibits bacterial multiplication, thereby preventing ammonia smell and urine scale while maintaining the water seal function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If chemical agent is supplied into the trap using urine from users, then sanitation is improved, but the chemical agent may be depleted during low usage periods such as weekends
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical agent is pre-loaded into the trap unit in sufficient quantity to cover extended periods without usage. This preliminary preparation ensures that even during weekends or low-usage periods, the chemical agent remains available to maintain sanitation when urine flow resumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to varying usage patterns. During high-usage periods, the chemical agent is consumed faster but replenished through frequent urine flow. During low-usage periods, consumption slows down, allowing the pre-loaded chemical agent to sustain sanitation effectiveness throughout the interval.
3Ease of manufacture
If the trap unit is designed to be interchangeable and low cost, then ease of replacement is improved, but frequent replacement is needed when chemical agent depletes or urine scale accumulates
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical agent is pre-loaded into the trap unit in sufficient quantity to extend the interval between replacements. This preliminary preparation of adequate chemical agent supply reduces the frequency of trap unit replacements while maintaining the interchangeability and cost-effectiveness of the design.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If water is supplied to flush urine in the bowl and trap, then sanitation is improved, but a large amount of water is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for external water supply by using urine from users to dissolve and transport the chemical agent to the trap. This self-service mechanism achieves sanitation without consuming additional water resources.
Solution Approach 2:
Urine serves as an intermediary medium to dissolve the chemical agent and deliver it to the trap, replacing the traditional water flushing mechanism. This intermediary use of urine enables sanitation functionality while conserving water.
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 effectively prevents odor and urine scale formation across varying usage frequencies, reducing chemical and liquid agent consumption, and minimizing the need for trap unit replacements, thus maintaining a high level of sanitation while conserving water and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
A chemical agent such as citric acid is disposed at such a position as to contact urine flowing into the trap, and a part of the chemical agent dissolved by contact with the urine flows into the trap together with the urine.
Implementation Method 2
The trap described in National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2007-518005 is designed to supply a chemical agent into the trap by utilizing urine from a user in order to inhibit multiplication of various bacteria in urine retained in the trap
Implementation Method 3
a liquid agent ejection unit for ejecting to the urinal a liquid agent for dissolving a chemical agent capable of inhibiting generation of an ammonia smell and urine scale from urine
Implementation Method 4
Water filling the trap functions as a water seal to prevent a backflow of a smell from the drain tube.
Data Source
AI summary
A urinal with a sanitation device capable of preventing the generation of a smell and urine scale with reliability without reducing a water conservation effect. In the urinal US, a liquid agent is ejected in different modes by predetermined timing according to areas on the urinal US.