Washing machine comprising a water purification system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household washing processes generate significant greywater that is not efficiently treated for reuse due to high detergent and particulate matter content, leading to water wastage, especially in regions with acute water shortages.
Innovation Solution
A program-controlled washing apparatus with a water purification system that uses flocculation to remove detergents and suspended soil from wash liquor, where the amount of flocculant is controlled based on water and detergent input to minimize usage and ensure effective purification, allowing for multiple purification cycles within a wash cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If flocculation treatment is applied to purify greywater for reuse, then water can be reused for cleaning processes, but the amount of flocculant required increases with each successive purification cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary flocculation treatment on greywater before it enters the washing machine, removing a significant portion of detergent and particulate matter in advance. This preliminary action reduces the burden on subsequent purification cycles, thereby decreasing the total flocculant consumption while maintaining water reuse effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically adjusts flocculant dosage based on detected parameters such as water turbidity, detergent concentration, and cycle number. By changing the dosage parameter adaptively rather than using fixed amounts, the system optimizes flocculant usage across multiple purification cycles, reducing total consumption while maintaining purification efficacy
2Reliability
If multiple purification cycles are performed to produce adequate rinsing water, then water quality for rinsing is improved, but the total processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Greywater is treated with flocculant in advance before the washing cycle begins, performing preliminary purification that reduces detergent and particulate content. This advance treatment ensures that subsequent rinsing cycles use pre-purified water, maintaining high water quality without extending the actual washing time
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously recirculates and purifies greywater throughout the washing process, maintaining a continuous supply of purified rinsing water. This continuous purification approach ensures adequate water quality for rinsing while integrating the purification process into the existing wash cycle timeline, avoiding additional time delays
3Reliability
If flocculant dosage is increased to ensure adequate purification, then purification effectiveness is improved, but the cost and environmental impact of chemical usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors purification effectiveness through sensors that detect water quality parameters such as turbidity and detergent concentration. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts flocculant dosage to maintain adequate purification while avoiding excessive chemical usage, thereby reducing both cost and environmental impact
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes flocculant dosage parameters based on detected water quality conditions, cycle number, and purification effectiveness. By adapting the dosage parameter to actual conditions rather than using fixed high doses, the system maintains purification effectiveness while minimizing chemical consumption and waste
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 efficiently produces rinsing water for reuse, reducing the need for external water supply and minimizing flocculant use, while maintaining adequate purification by adjusting flocculant dosage based on detergent concentration and cycle number.
Implementation Method 1
a water purification treatment function that purifies the water containing added detergent by means of flocculation
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a program-controlled apparatus (1) for washing items that is equipped with a water purification system (8) for purifying the wash liquor by removing detergent and suspended soil, which purification system (8) utilizes addition of flocculant, wherein the amount of flocculant that is added is controlled to minimize the total amount of flocculant used without compromising the efficacy of the purification treatment.