Water Conditioning System With Dynamic Valve Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water conditioning systems lack feedback mechanisms and operational modes that enhance usability and efficiency, limiting their utility in providing conditioned water for cleaning tasks.
Innovation Solution
The proposed water conditioning system includes a series of conditioning stages with a pure water valve and boost valve configuration, along with optional features like a one-way valve, water counter, pump control, and remote control, allowing for selective operation and high-pressure dispensing, enabling efficient and flexible water treatment and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If water flows through the reverse osmosis stage and post-filter stage (pure water mode), then water purity is improved, but water flow rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes using pure water and boost valves. In pure water mode, water flows through the reverse osmosis membrane and post-filter for high purity (≤300 L/hr). In boost mode, the pure water valve closes and boost valve opens, allowing water to bypass the reverse osmosis and post-filter stages, achieving high flow rate (≥600 L/hr) though with lower purity. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between purity and flow rate.
2Productivity
If water flows directly from feed pump to outlet (boost mode), then water flow rate is improved, but water purity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes using pure water and boost valves. In pure water mode, water flows through the reverse osmosis membrane and post-filter for high purity (≤300 L/hr). In boost mode, the pure water valve closes and boost valve opens, allowing water to bypass the reverse osmosis and post-filter stages, achieving high flow rate (≥600 L/hr) though with lower purity. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between purity and flow rate.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system includes multiple conditioning stages and valves, then operational flexibility is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The water conditioner is designed with multi-functionality to resolve the contradiction between operational flexibility and system complexity. The system integrates two distinct operational modes (pure water mode and boost mode) within a single device, allowing it to serve both high-purity water needs and high-flow rate needs. The pure water valve and boost valve work together to route water through different paths, enabling the same physical system to deliver both purified water (through reverse osmosis and post-filter) and high-pressure water (bypassing filtration stages). This universal design allows one device to replace what would otherwise require separate systems.
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 provides enhanced operational flexibility, allowing for both low-pressure pure water and high-pressure boost modes, improving water treatment efficiency and usability, particularly in portable and semi-portable applications, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
a reverse osmosis stage
Data Source
AI summary
Water conditioning systems are shown and described. The water conditioning systems include a water conditioner having a plurality of conditioning stages along a flow path between an inlet and an outlet that are configured to condition water. The plurality of conditioning stages include a pre-filter stage, a feed pump, a reverse osmosis stage, and a post-filter stage. A pure water valve is arranged between the feed pump and the reverse osmosis stage and a boost valve is arranged between the feed pump and the outlet. The pure water valve is configured to selectively allow water to flow from the feed pump, through the reverse osmosis stage and the post-filter stage, prior to exiting through the outlet, and the boost valve is configured to selectively allow water to flow from the boost pump directly to the outlet and bypassing the reverse osmosis stage and the post-filter.