Zonal Water Filtration System for Recreational Pools
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming pool technologies require high amounts of chemicals and energy for maintaining water quality, leading to high operational costs and environmental concerns due to the need for continuous chlorine buffers and frequent filtration of entire water volumes, which is not sustainable for large recreational water bodies.
Innovation Solution
A system that filters only a small fraction of the water volume and adjusts disinfectant levels based on temperature, using a low-cost filtration method and reducing chemical usage by up to 100 times compared to traditional systems, allowing for sustainable and low-energy treatment of large artificial bodies of water for recreational use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional swimming pool filtration systems filter the entire water volume multiple times per day to maintain high water quality, then water quality is improved, but energy consumption and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by filtering only a small fraction (1-10%) of the total water volume instead of the entire volume multiple times per day. The system filters water sequentially in zones, treating only the portion that has been most affected by contamination, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate water quality for recreational use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action by cycling through different zones of the water body, filtering water in one zone then moving to the next zone. This periodic filtration approach replaces continuous filtration of the entire volume, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining water quality through repeated cycles of filtration and recharge.
2Reliability
If continuous chlorine buffers are maintained at high concentrations to neutralize contaminants, then water quality and disinfection are improved, but chemical usage and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes contaminants from the water through filtration before they can cause contamination issues. By physically removing bacteria, algae, and other contaminants through the filtration system, the need for continuous chlorine buffering is reduced, thereby decreasing chemical usage while maintaining water quality and disinfection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by filtering and treating water in advance before contaminants can proliferate or cause issues. The filtration system operates proactively to remove potential contaminants, preventing the need for reactive chemical additions to maintain water quality, thus reducing overall chemical usage.
3Reliability
If centralized filtration units are used to filter entire water volumes frequently, then water quality is maintained, but installation and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the water body into multiple zones and implementing filtration in a distributed manner rather than using a single centralized unit. Each zone can be filtered independently using simpler, smaller filtration systems, reducing overall system complexity and installation costs while maintaining water quality through sequential treatment of each zone.
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 approach significantly reduces operational costs, energy consumption, and environmental impact by minimizing chemical use and filtration frequency, while maintaining water quality suitable for full-body contact bathing without the need for continuous chlorine buffers.
Implementation Method 1
the methods and system disclosed herein filter only a small fraction of the total water volume
Implementation Method 2
maintaining a permanent Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) on the water of at least 650 mV
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A system for treating and maintaining bodies of water for low density recreational use is disclosed. A system of the invention generally includes containing means (12), coordination means (1), chemical application means (6), non-intrusive mobile suction means (3), and filtration means (7). The coordinating means (1) can receive information regarding controlled water quality parameters, and timely activate the processes necessary to adjust the water quality parameters within their respective limits. The disclosed system filters only a small fraction of the total water volume, up to 200 times less per day than the flow filtered by conventional swimming pool filtration systems. The disclosed system also uses less chemicals than conventional swimming pool water treatment systems. The system of the present invention can be used to treat recreational water bodies and provide sustainable methods for producing water that meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for recreational water, for bathing with full body contact.