Vacuum Sewage System With Parallel Separator Pumps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum sewage systems require significant space and have low efficiency due to the need for large volume collecting tanks and inefficient transport of sewage and air mixtures in existing solutions.

Innovation Solution

An on-line vacuum sewage system with a separator device and two pumps connected in parallel, where a vacuum pump generates vacuum and separates air, and a liquid pump efficiently handles sewage and air, ensuring continuous separation and reducing space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large volume collecting tank is used to maintain vacuum, then vacuum can be provided for the vacuum sewer piping, but the system requires a lot of space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum maintenanceVSAvoidcollecting tank volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the vacuum maintenance function from the sewage collection function by using a small-volume collecting tank and a separate vacuum pump. The vacuum pump continuously maintains vacuum in the sewer piping independently, while the small collecting tank only needs to hold sewage temporarily before pumping, eliminating the need for a large vacuum-maintaining tank.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum pump serves multiple functions: it maintains vacuum in the sewer piping for sewage transport and also enables the emptying of the collecting tank. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate large-volume vacuum maintenance systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If sewage and air are transported together in vacuum piping, then the system can operate continuously, but the efficiency is low due to large amount of air being pumped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidsewage transport efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and removes the harmful element (excessive air) from the sewage transport stream. The vacuum pump is configured to primarily evacuate air from the sewer piping, while sewage is separately managed in the collecting tank and pumped out efficiently, preventing air from reducing transport efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary vacuum evacuation of the sewer piping before sewage discharge, ensuring that air is removed in advance. This preliminary action prepares the piping for efficient sewage transport by minimizing air interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a single pump is used to generate vacuum and pump sewage, then device complexity is reduced, but the pump is vulnerable to humidity and requires intricate control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump arrangementVSAvoidpump performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the pump functions into a vacuum pump for air evacuation and a sewage pump for liquid removal. This separation protects the vacuum pump from humidity exposure while maintaining continuous operation capability, as each pump handles its designated medium independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If flush water is used to transport sewage in vacuum piping, then sewage can be moved effectively, but a large amount of air is sucked into the piping reducing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesewage transportVSAvoidair volume in piping
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and removes excess air from the piping system using the vacuum pump, preventing air from accumulating and reducing transport efficiency. This allows flush water to effectively transport sewage without the detrimental effect of large air volumes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 separates and transports sewage and air, improving efficiency and reducing space needs by utilizing each pump for its designed medium, maintaining continuous operation and avoiding liquid accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

a first pump means in the form of a vacuum pump generates vacuum in the vacuum sewer piping and evacuates air from the sewage flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

an on-line separator device in the vacuum sewer piping, where a sewage flow is transported through the vacuum sewer piping. The on-line separator device separates air from sewage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2092129B1Vacuum sewage system
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 EVAC OY
  • EP2092129B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2092129B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2092129B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum sewage system, which includes a sanitary unit, such as a toilet unit, vacuum sewer piping (200) connected to the sanitary unit, a discharge valve between the sanitary unit and the vacuum sewer piping, and a vacuum generating device for generating vacuum in the vacuum sewer piping. The system comprises an on-line separator device (1) in the vacuum sewer piping (200, 201) and a first pump means (2) and a second pump means (3) connected in parallel with the on-line separator device (1). The first pump means (2) is a vacuum pump for generating vacuum in the vacuum sewer piping (200, 201) and for evacuating air from the sewage flow flowing into the on-line separator device (1) and the second pump means (3) is arranged for pumping mainly sewage from the sewage flow flowing into the on-line separator device (1).