Wastewater Modules With Flow-Deflecting Baffles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wastewater treatment systems are inadequate in developing countries and rural areas due to high infrastructure requirements and large land needs, leading to water pollution and public health issues, as well as inefficiencies in treating greywater and water scarcity areas.

Innovation Solution

Wastewater processing containers with flow-deflecting baffles that direct wastewater through circuitous bulk flow paths within a purification medium, increasing contact time and efficiency, and allowing for compact, transportable, and scalable treatment solutions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If constructed wetland systems are used to treat wastewater, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but land area requirement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewastewater treatment effectivenessVSAvoidland area requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The constructed wetland system is divided into multiple modular treatment units that can be stacked or arranged in series. Each module contains purification media and flow-deflecting baffles, allowing the system to achieve effective treatment in a compact, vertical configuration rather than requiring a single large horizontal basin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a traditional horizontal wetland basin to a vertical stacked module configuration. By utilizing the vertical dimension through stacked modules with multiple fluidly connected sections, the treatment system achieves the required treatment effectiveness without proportionally increasing land area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If conventional centralized wastewater treatment plants are built, then treatment capacity is improved, but infrastructure complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewastewater treatment capacityVSAvoidinfrastructure requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment plant is segmented into multiple identical or configurable modules that can be replicated to achieve desired treatment capacity. Each module is a self-contained unit with standardized components including flow-deflecting baffles and purification media, simplifying design, construction, and maintenance while scaling capacity through modular multiplication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular units are designed to be universally applicable across different settings and scales. Each module can handle various types of wastewater (greywater, blackwater, mixed streams) and can be configured in different arrangements (series, parallel, stacked) to meet diverse treatment capacity requirements without requiring custom infrastructure design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If treatment systems are designed for high contaminant removal efficiency, then purification quality is improved, but system footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant removal efficiencyVSAvoidsystem footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Flow-deflecting baffles with curved or serpentine configurations are used within each module to create extended circuitous flow paths. This curvature approach increases the contact time between wastewater and purification media, enhancing contaminant removal efficiency without requiring a proportionally larger system footprint, as the flow path lengthening is achieved within the existing module volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 solution effectively treats wastewater by increasing the contact time with purification media, enhancing contaminant removal efficiency and reducing the footprint of treatment systems, making them suitable for dense urban and remote areas.

Implementation Method 1

direct flow of the wastewater along a plurality of circuitous bulk flow paths through the interior volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCircuitous bulk flow paths:

Implementation Method 2

The purification medium is configured to sequester contaminants from the wastewater as the wastewater flows along the circuitous bulk flow paths

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSequestration: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS11945742B2Wastewater processing modules and wastewater treatment systems including the same

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 SANITARY GREEN INC

AI summary

Wastewater processing modules that include an interior surface defining an interior volume, one or more inlets configured to receive wastewater into the interior volume, one or more outlets configured to exhaust processed water from the interior volume, one or more flow-deflecting baffles positioned within the interior volume fluidly between the inlet(s) and the outlet(s) and that divide the interior volume into a plurality of fluidly connected sections, and a purification medium at least partially filing the plurality of fluidly connected sections. The flow-deflecting baffle(s) are configured to channel the wastewater to flow along a plurality of circuitous bulk flow paths through the purification medium. The purification medium is configured to sequester contaminants from the wastewater as it flows through the interior volume along the circuitous bulk flow paths to produce the processed water therefrom.