Variable Volume Tank for Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reverse osmosis water treatment systems for home use face issues such as reduced flow-rate, space occupation due to expansion vessels, hydraulic tightness risks, electrical and fire hazards from UV lamps, and inefficient water temperature management, along with maintenance complexities.
Innovation Solution
A reverse osmosis filtration apparatus featuring a tank with two adjacent chambers of variable volume, eliminating the need for pressurized air chambers and electric power, using quick-connection cartridges and integrated hydraulic circuits to maximize flow-rate and minimize space, and incorporating post-filtration stages for microbiological safety without UV lamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional expansion vessels with pressurized air chamber are used for water accumulation, then the system can maintain hydraulic pressure, but the useful volume of treated water is reduced to one half or one quarter of the total vessel volume
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the pressurized air chamber from the expansion vessel, extracting the problematic component that was occupying valuable space. The air chamber is completely eliminated and replaced by an alternative pressurization mechanism using a separate concentrate reservoir, allowing the entire vessel volume to be dedicated to treated water storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the expansion vessel dedicated solely to water storage, and a separate concentrate reservoir for maintaining hydraulic pressure. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function without the space-wasting air chamber interfering with water capacity.
2Reliability
If conventional expansion vessels with air chamber are used, then hydraulic pressure can be maintained, but periodic maintenance is required to check and top up preloading pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The air chamber requiring periodic pressure checks and top-ups is completely removed from the system. The maintenance burden associated with monitoring and refilling precharged air is eliminated by using an alternative hydraulic pressurization approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentrate reservoir automatically maintains hydraulic pressure through its own weight and volume, providing self-regulating pressurization without requiring user intervention for pressure monitoring or adjustment.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional accumulation tanks are used, then water can be stored under pressure, but the flow-rate at service decreases progressively as pressure drops during delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a flow regulator that responds to pressure changes in real-time. When pressure drops during water delivery, the regulator automatically adjusts the concentrate discharge to restore optimal pressure levels, maintaining consistent flow-rate throughout the dispensing cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentrate reservoir automatically compensates for pressure drops by discharging concentrate to maintain hydraulic pressure, providing self-regulating flow control without external intervention.
4Productivity
If conventional accumulation systems are used, then water treatment can be performed, but flow regulator settings are independent from operational steps and cannot maximize service flow-rate
Solution Approach 1:
The flow regulator is designed with dynamic adjustment capability that responds to operational conditions. The regulator automatically modifies concentrate discharge based on whether the system is in filling or dispensing mode, optimizing service flow-rate during each operational phase without requiring complex manual configuration.
5Ease of manufacture
If unions and pipes are used for hydraulic connection of components, then the system can be assembled, but hydraulic tightness risks and assembly risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hydraulic connection points and sealing functions are integrated into a single monoblock component. This consolidation eliminates multiple union joints and pipe connections, reducing the number of potential leakage points while simplifying assembly to a single integrated unit installation.
6Reliability
If UV ray lamp is used for germicidal action, then microbiological safety can be ensured, but electrical and fire risks are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical UV lamp system is replaced with a mechanical or chemical filtration approach that ensures microbiological safety without introducing electrical components. This substitution eliminates fire and electrical shock risks while maintaining water sterilization effectiveness.
7Reliability
If UV ray lamp is used for sterilization, then germicidal action is provided, but water temperature increases to more than 30°C which is unpleasant for users
Solution Approach 1:
The UV lamp heating effect is eliminated by replacing the electrical sterilization method with an alternative approach that does not generate thermal energy in the water, maintaining comfortable water temperature while achieving microbiological safety.
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 apparatus achieves full tank capacity for treated water, reduces concentrate flow-rate, eliminates hydraulic and electrical risks, and simplifies maintenance, ensuring effective and safe water treatment with enhanced flow and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the water to be treated encounters an osmosis membrane that separates the permeate from the waste
Implementation Method 2
a reverse osmosis filtration device provided with at least one inlet associated with a line for supplying the liquid to be treated
Implementation Method 3
after passing through an activated carbon pre-filter in order to remove organic pollutants and chlorine-based compounds
Implementation Method 4
a post-filtration device provided with at least one outlet associated with a line for dispensing the treated liquid
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An apparatus for treating water or liquids in general, including a reverse osmosis filtration device (2) provided with at least one inlet (3) associated with a line for supplying the liquid to be treated (4), at least one outlet (5) of the permeate associated with a line for dispensing the treated liquid (6) and at least one concentrate outlet (7) associated with a line for discharging the waste (8). The particularity of the present invention resides in that it includes, downstream of the filtration device (2), at least one tank (9) that forms inside it two adjacent chambers (9a, 9b) with a mutually variable volume, in which one chamber (9a) is connected to the delivery line (6) while the other chamber (9b) is connected to the discharge line (8).