Water Container Header Volume Maintains Filter Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water containers for military and humanitarian operations lack a smaller capacity option, posing challenges for children who need to fetch and carry water, and existing filtration technologies are not as effective in providing sterile drinking water due to limitations in filter efficiency and portability.
Innovation Solution
A portable water container with a removable fibre membrane filter cartridge that operates under pressure differential, housed in a plastic container with a header volume to maintain maximum filter efficiency, and a manually operated piston pump for efficient water filtration, capable of removing bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a smaller capacity water container is provided for children, then portability and ease of carrying is improved, but the filtration efficiency and pathogen retention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a fibre membrane filter cartridge containing multiple fibre membranes with specific pore structures that effectively trap pathogens while allowing water to pass through. This porous material approach enables the compact container to maintain high filtration efficiency (greater than 99.9996% retention of bacteria, cysts, parasites and fungi, and greater than 99.99% of viruses) despite the reduced 1-6 litre capacity, resolving the contradiction between portability and filtration reliability.
2Reliability
If fibre membrane filtration elements are used, then water filtration capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into a removable filter cartridge that can be independently handled, installed, and maintained. This segmentation simplifies the overall device complexity by allowing the complex fibre membrane filtration element to be pre-assembled and tested separately, then easily installed in the container without requiring complex integration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attempting to simplify the fibre membrane structure itself, the patent inverts the approach by designing the support cage and housing to be simple and easy to manufacture, while accepting the inherent complexity of the fibre membrane element as a standardized component. The base incorporates a seat that receives the filter cartridge to resist lateral movement, providing simple structural support for the complex filtration element.
3Ease of operation
If the container capacity is reduced for portability, then ease of operation by children is improved, but the volume of water that can be filtered at once deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism enables continuous filtration action, allowing users to quickly filter water multiple times in succession. While the container holds only 1-6 litres for easy carrying by children, the continuous pumping action allows a family to filter multiple containers of water in a short period, effectively compensating for the reduced single-container volume while maintaining portability.
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 provides a compact, efficient, and effective water filtration system that maintains filter efficiency, ensuring safe drinking water with a high retention rate of pathogens, even in small capacities, and allows for convenient filling and dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
fibre membranes which are effective to pass water in preference to air under the influence of a pressure differential
Implementation Method 2
a pump for raising the internal pressure of the container housing
Data Source
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AI summary
A container (10) for water comprising: a container housing(11)for holding water, the housing having a base, side walls and a top wall;a water filter (19) comprising one or more membranes (22) which are effective to pass water in preference to air under the influence of a pressure differential; an output valve (20) coupled to the water filter(19); and,a pump (18) for establishing a pressure differential across the walls of the container housing,wherein the container housing comprises a main volume (MV) within which the water filter (19)extends and a header volume (HV) above the water filter. For a given internal capacity of a water container of the present invention, the provision of a header volume ensures that the surface area of the water filter in contact with water in the main volume is constant so long as there is water within the header volume. This keeps the membranes of the water filter working at maximum efficiency for longer than they would otherwise. In a preferred embodiment, the container has a capacity of between 1 and 6 litres, more preferably between and 6 litres. Preferably, the ratio of the header volume to the main volume is at least 1:6, more preferably at least 1:5.