Automatic Flushing Device for Municipal Water Dead Ends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic flushing systems for municipal water systems are complex, time-consuming, and expensive to install and service, and they pose difficulties in removing and servicing, limiting their use and effectiveness, especially in maintaining water quality at dead ends.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing featuring a diffuser for lateral water expulsion and a control valve system that includes an inlet for pressurized water, an outlet for discharging water, and a mountable structure for easy installation and removal from underground systems, allowing for automatic flushing while maintaining water quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex automatic flushing systems are installed in municipal water systems, then water quality maintenance at dead ends is improved, but device complexity, installation time, and servicing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a control valve assembly, a flush outlet, and a mountable structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies installation and maintenance by enabling separate servicing of individual parts rather than the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valve and flush outlet are extracted as removable components from the mountable structure. This extraction enables the valve and outlet to be serviced, replaced, or adjusted without removing the entire device from the water system, significantly reducing maintenance complexity and downtime.
2Reliability
If traditional flushing systems are used, then water quality at dead ends can be maintained, but the time and effort required for installation and servicing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mountable structure is pre-configured with mounting attachments and connection interfaces before installation. This preliminary preparation allows the device to be quickly installed by simply attaching it to the water system without complex assembly procedures on-site, significantly reducing installation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates removable and adjustable components that can be easily configured during installation and quickly adjusted during servicing. The control valve and flush outlet can be removed and reinstalled without specialized tools or procedures, making the system dynamic and adaptable to maintenance needs.
3Productivity
If existing automatic flushing devices are installed, then flushing functionality is achieved, but difficulty in removing and servicing the devices increases expense
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a permanent mountable structure and removable serviceable components (control valve, flush outlet). This segmentation allows the mounting structure to remain installed while only the components requiring service are removed, enabling maintenance without full device removal and reducing servicing expense.
Solution Approach 2:
The mountable structure serves as an intermediary between the water system and the control valve/flush outlet components. This intermediary structure provides stable installation while allowing easy access to and removal of the components that need servicing, facilitating maintenance without compromising flushing functionality.
4Reliability
If frequent flushing is performed to maintain water quality, then water quality at dead ends is improved, but water loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve is configured to perform periodic flushing operations at predetermined intervals rather than continuously or on-demand. This periodic action maintains water quality by regularly clearing dead ends while minimizing water loss by flushing only when necessary, optimizing the balance between water quality maintenance and water conservation.
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 simplifies the installation and servicing of automatic flushing systems, ensuring effective water quality maintenance at dead ends by allowing for easy removal and reinstallation, reducing complexity and cost, and enabling efficient flushing with controlled water discharge patterns.
Implementation Method 1
an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet conduit for discharging pressurized water from the inlet
Implementation Method 2
a control valve for controlling the flow of pressurized water between the inlet and the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A device for automatically flushing a dead-end of an underground municipal water distribution system includes an inlet for receiving pressurized water from the water distribution system, an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet conduit for discharging pressurized water from the inlet, and a control valve for controlling the flow of pressurized water between the inlet and the outlet. A housing surrounding the outlet redirects the water radially outwardly. An upper mounting plate locates the device within the housing. The upper mounting plate is mounted to an in-ground enclosure; releasing the upper mounting plate from the enclosure allows pulling the device from the underground water distribution system entirely from above.