Water Filter with UV Reflection Plates and Silver-Coated Carbon

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-media water filters face challenges in maintaining high-quality water and extending filter life due to bacterial growth on activated carbon and inadequate UV sterilization, leading to reduced service life and water quality over time.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating UV light sources with reflection plates in the filter chambers and using electropositively charged nanofibers and REDOX agents across multiple filtration media to enhance UV sterilization and control microbial growth, ensuring longer filter life and improved water quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If activated carbon is used in multi-media water filters, then adsorption filtration is improved, but bacterial growth is promoted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration qualityVSAvoidbacterial growth
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies silver coating to activated carbon particles, converting the harmful effect of bacterial growth on activated carbon into a beneficial antibacterial effect. Silver ions released from the coating inhibit bacterial proliferation while maintaining the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon, thus resolving the contradiction between filtration quality and bacterial growth prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material by coating activated carbon particles with silver. This composite structure combines the adsorption properties of activated carbon with the antibacterial properties of silver, allowing the filter media to simultaneously achieve high filtration quality and prevent bacterial growth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If UV sterilization is added to water filters, then microbial control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrobial controlVSAvoidfilter structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the UV sterilization function with the existing filter housing structure. The UV emitter is integrated into the filter assembly, sharing the same housing and water flow path, which adds microbial control capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple filtration media layers are used, then water quality is improved, but pressure drop increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater qualityVSAvoidpressure drop
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using different particle sizes and types of filtration media in different layers of the filter. The top layer uses larger particles for coarse filtration, while deeper layers use progressively smaller particles for finer filtration. This gradient structure maintains water quality while optimizing pressure distribution across the filter media.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local 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 smart filter configuration achieves high-quality water treatment with simultaneous UV sterilization and REDOX-based purification, preventing microbial growth and extending the service life of filtration media, resulting in better cleaning efficiency and longer filter usability.

Implementation Method 1

UV sterilization of water, a filter in the filter housing can be equipped with UV emitters to protect against the growth of microorganisms

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUV sterilization: Radiation

Implementation Method 2

two parallel reflection plates are provided in the first chamber to increase the output of the UV sterilizer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

intermediate filters made of electropositively charged nanofibers are arranged

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 4

the first and last of the filtration media being based on oxidation-reduction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation-reduction: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 5

the other filtration media are adsorption filtration media

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3201136B1Device for water filtration
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 DELTACORE GMBH
  • EP3201136B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3201136B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3201136B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device is disclosed for filtering water, comprising a filter packet made of different filter arrangements and UV emitters for UV sterilization of the water. To process high quality water, contaminated water can be introduced through an inlet opening (1) into a first chamber, at least one UV light source is assigned to this chamber and two parallel reflection plates (4, 5) are provided in this chamber to increase the output of the UV sterilizer, at least one of the reflection plates is perforated to form a passage for the water through the plate. When viewed in the flow direction of the water, the filter packet made of different filter arrangements is provided in a housing (3) behind the perforated reflection plate (5), and, when viewed in the flow direction of the water, a second chamber is provided behind the filter packet, and an outlet opening (2) for purified water is assigned to the second chamber, and the second chamber is designed at least functionally as symmetrical to the first chamber.