V-Shaped Diffuser Trough for Floating Media Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media filtration systems experience undesirable 'dirty burps' of cloudy water due to entrained solids during the backwashing stage, which affects water quality and limits their application in pristine water treatment needs, such as swimming pools and drinking water treatment, as finer solids escape and mix with influent water before reaching the media bed.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a V-shaped diffuser trough that directs influent flow in a predominantly upward direction, minimizing eddy currents and turbulence, and using baffles to control influent velocity, ensuring that the media bed is cleaned effectively without re-suspending solids, thus preventing the 'dirty burp' phenomenon.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional diffusers are used to introduce influent beneath the media bed, then the filtration process can operate, but eddy currents and turbulence are generated that cause finer solids to escape and mix with influent water, creating 'dirty burps' and reducing effluent quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional downward diffuser approach by using an upward-facing diffuser that introduces influent from below the media bed in an upward direction. This reversal of flow direction eliminates the generation of eddy currents and turbulence that occur with downward-flowing influent, thereby preventing finer solids from being resuspended and mixing with the influent water that causes dirty burps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow direction parameter from downward to upward by positioning the diffuser to face upward beneath the media bed. This parameter change fundamentally alters the flow characteristics, eliminating turbulence and eddy currents while maintaining effective filtration operation, thus resolving the dirty burp issue without sacrificing productivity.
2Productivity
If influent flow velocity is high to maintain filtration efficiency, then treatment capacity is improved, but solids are re-suspended and mixed with influent water, creating cloudy effluent
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the diffuser orientation to face upward, the patent enables influent to flow upward through the media bed rather than downward. This inversion allows for better control of flow velocity distribution, maintaining high treatment capacity while preventing the high-velocity-induced resuspension of solids that degrades effluent quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The upward-facing diffuser creates localized upward flow regions that distribute influent more evenly through the media bed. This local quality improvement ensures that high flow velocities do not cause widespread solids resuspension, thereby maintaining both treatment capacity and effluent quality.
3Ease of repair
If downward-flowing influent is used to clean the media bed, then backwashing can occur, but turbulence and eddy currents prevent effective separation of solids from water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by using upward-flowing influent instead of downward-flowing influent for media bed cleaning during backwashing. This upward flow direction effectively lifts and separates solids from the water matrix, enabling proper settling and removal of entrained solids, thereby eliminating cloudy water in the effluent while maintaining effective media bed cleaning.
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 design enhances the filtration process by maintaining a cleaner effluent quality by preventing the re-suspension of solids and ensuring a consistent upward flow through the media bed, reducing the occurrence of 'dirty burps and improving the overall efficiency and aesthetic quality of the treated water.
Implementation Method 1
a diffusor trough (20) extending across a width of the filter chamber (3) and having an upper edge (21), a midpoint (22), and a bottom edge (23). The lower surface (13) of the media bed (12) is at about the midpoint (22) of the diffuser trough (20).
Implementation Method 2
The implementation of a V-shaped diffuser trough that directs influent flow in a predominantly upward direction, minimizing eddy currents and turbulence
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A floating media filter including a filter housing having an influent inlet and an effluent outlet. A floating media is positioned in the housing and forms a static media bed when the filter is in a filtration stage. A diffuser trough is positioned in the filter housing such that the lower surface of the media bed, when the filter is in the filtration stage, is below the upper edge of the diffuser trough. A backwashing mechanism causes dispersion of the media bed during the backwashing stage.