Automated Water Quality Detection and Diversion System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water recycling systems are inefficient, expensive, and require constant maintenance, as they fail to distinguish between clean and dirty water, leading to potential contamination and waste, especially in gray water recycling for irrigation, which can cause soil damage and health issues due to incorrect water separation and lack of bacteria and residue removal.
Innovation Solution
An integrated automated system that uses sensor housing with multiple sensors to differentiate between clean and dirty water based on characteristics like pH, temperature, and turbidity, diverting clean water to a storage tank for recycling and dirty water to the city drain, incorporating bio-filtration and ultraviolet light for purification, ensuring water quality meets recycling standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional gray water recycling systems are used to collect all drain water, then water conservation is achieved, but clean water is wasted and mixed with dirty water causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments drain water into clean water and dirty water streams using sensors and a diverting valve. Clean water is directed to a storage tank for recycling while dirty water is directed to the sewer line, preventing contamination and enabling selective water reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of sensors, a controller, and a diverting valve between the drain and the storage tank. This intermediary infrastructure automatically separates clean from dirty water based on real-time water quality detection.
2Loss of substance
If manual gray water systems are implemented requiring habit changes, then water conservation is achieved, but system complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service through automated operation. Sensors continuously monitor water quality and the controller automatically operates the diverting valve without user intervention, eliminating the need for habit changes while maintaining water conservation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated control system. The controller uses sensor data to automatically actuate the diverting valve, substituting human manual control with an automated electromechanical system that reduces complexity in operation.
3Productivity
If gray water is stored for irrigation without proper separation and purification, then water reuse is achieved, but soil damage and health contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary separation and purification actions before water is stored for irrigation. By detecting and diverting dirty water before it enters the storage tank, and by filtering and disinfecting clean water beforehand, the system prevents harmful substances from reaching the irrigation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors and responds to changes in water quality parameters such as pH, temperature, and turbidity. When parameters indicate dirty water, the system changes the flow direction to divert to sewer; when parameters indicate clean water, it directs to storage for irrigation.
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
This system effectively saves up to 40% of water for irrigation and reduces energy consumption at wastewater treatment plants by ensuring chemically and biologically clean water is recycled, reducing the risk of contamination and soil damage, while maintaining water quality for irrigation purposes.
Implementation Method 1
at least one drain water sensor sensing at least one drain water characteristic
Implementation Method 2
differentiate between clean and dirty water based on characteristics like pH, temperature, and turbidity
Implementation Method 3
a diverting valve in fluid communication with the sensor housing and positionable to either a first position or a second position, the position of the diverting valve controllable by the controller
Implementation Method 4
an ultraviolet light source in the sensor housing to kill bacteria in the collected water
Implementation Method 5
incorporating bio-filtration and ultraviolet light for purification
Data Source
AI summary
A water conservation and recycling system where an integrated automated system comprising a sensor housing with at least one sensor, a diverting valve and controller, the system used to separate water based on quality parameters (for example, temperature, acidity (pH), dissolved oxygen, electrical conductance and/or turbidity). In one example, physical bio-filtration is used to remove debris particles from clean water and ultraviolet light and ionization is used for bacterial eradication of clean water. Separated clean water is stored and recycled for agriculture and toilet purposes resulting in up to 40% reduction in residential and commercial water consumption. Municipal water supply line pressure is used to pressurize storage tanks to provide intermittent irrigation water supply.