Water Purifier Branch-Flow Electrolysis for In-Place Filter Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water purifiers with reverse osmosis filters face issues of oversized systems, pump noise, limited processing capacity of ion exchange resin filters, and the need for separate electrolytic systems for cleaning, leading to inefficiencies and potential oversizing.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier design incorporating a pre-treatment filter, auxiliary filter with ion exchange resin, membrane filter, post-treatment filter, and an electrolysis module in a branch flow path, with opening/closing valves to control water flow for purification and regeneration, allowing for miniaturization and automatic regeneration based on TDS levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a large capacity reverse osmosis filter is applied to improve filter life, then the treatment capacity is improved, but the system becomes oversized and pump noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is divided into multiple smaller filter elements (first through fourth filter elements) that can be arranged in series or parallel configurations. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the required total treatment capacity without using a single large filter, thereby reducing system size and pump noise while maintaining filter life through distributed filtration capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary filter with ion exchange resin serves multiple functions: it pre-treats water by removing ions before the RO filter, and can be regenerated in place to extend its service life. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate large-capacity filters, allowing the system to achieve high treatment capacity with smaller components.
2Productivity
If a large pump is applied to apply appropriate pressure to the filter, then the treatment capacity is improved, but pump noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into multiple filter elements that can be arranged to optimize pressure distribution. This allows the use of smaller pumps with lower noise levels while maintaining adequate pressure across each filter element, as the total treatment capacity is achieved through the combined capacity of multiple smaller units rather than a single large unit requiring high pressure.
3Reliability
If ion exchange resin filters are used to remove ions, then water purification is improved, but the processing capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple filter elements (both RO filters and ion exchange resin filters) into a integrated filtration train. This combination allows the system to achieve both high purification effectiveness (through the complementary action of RO and ion exchange) and high processing capacity (through parallel or series arrangements of multiple elements), overcoming the limitations of single-filter designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The ion exchange resin filters are positioned as preliminary treatment stages before the RO filters. This preliminary action removes ions and reduces the load on subsequent RO filters, allowing the overall system to handle higher processing capacities while maintaining high purification effectiveness, as each filter stage operates within its optimal capacity range.
4Reliability
If a separate electrolyzer and salt injection system are used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is merged with the existing filtration system by using the same filter housings and flow paths for both filtration and cleaning operations. The regeneration valve enables the system to switch between filtration and cleaning modes without requiring separate electrolyzer equipment, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness while significantly reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the primary filtration pathway and as the cleaning pathway. The regeneration valve controls water flow to enable in-place cleaning of filter elements using the existing water supply, eliminating the need for separate cleaning equipment and simplifying the overall system while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
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 achieves efficient purification and miniaturization by eliminating the need for separate electrolyzers and salt injection, enabling continuous cleaning of auxiliary filters and reducing system size while optimizing filter life through automatic regeneration.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolysis module arrangeable along the branch flow path so that while the electrolysis module is arranged along the branch flow path the electrolysis module electrolyzes the water
Implementation Method 2
an auxiliary filter including a filter cap and a filter body, which includes an ion exchange resin that removes ions contained in the water introduced through the inlet flow path
Implementation Method 3
a membrane filter including a filter cap and a filter body to filter out foreign substances contained in the water that has passed through the auxiliary filter
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier comprising a pre-treatment filter connectable to an inlet flow path; an auxiliary filter including a filter cap and a filter body, connectable to a first connection flow path; a membrane filter including a filter cap and a filter body, so that water discharged from the auxiliary filter is introduced through a second connection flow path; a post-treatment filter including a filter cap and a filter body, so that water discharged from the membrane filter is introduced through a third connection flow path; a branch flow path that branches off from an upstream side of the first connection flow path and merges on a downstream side of the first connection flow path; an electrolysis module arrangeable along the branch flow path; and an opening/closing valve arrangeable along the first connection flow path so that water flows to the first connection flow path or the branch flow path.