Filter Jug

Type / Coursework
Duration / 2.5 months
Category / Individual Design
Work Type / Individual

User Instruction

Target Group: Individuals and families seeking safe drinking water, particularly those living in areas with fluctuating water quality, such as students in university dormitories.
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User Pain Points: Traditional jugs often suffer from unstable water flow during pouring, lids that fall off easily, and a lack of clear information on when to replace the expensive filter cartridge.

Concept

Brief Description

A redesign of a household water filter jug featuring an integrated smart sensor system that accurately calculates water volume to ensure optimal filtration performance and user safety.

Core

Differential Pressure Sensing: Utilizes a differential pressure sensor to directly measure flow velocity and calculate precise water volume, providing a more reliable indicator than traditional time-based methods.
Visual Alert System: Features an integrated LED light strip that uses color-coded signals—Green (Good), Yellow (Optional change), and Red (Mandatory change)—to clearly notify the user of the filter cartridge's status.
Anatomical Ergonomics: The jug employs a concave cylindrical body for improved balance and a handle designed to match the palm's natural curve, reducing the effort required to lift and pour.
Modular Snap-Joining: Uses a snap-fit mechanism for the water measuring device and cartridge housing, providing intuitive assembly cues and allowing for tool-free maintenance.

Ideation

Manufacture & Iteration

Material Science: Selected food-grade Polypropylene (PP) for the main body and components due to its high abrasion resistance, safety profile, and suitability for repeated daily use.

Process Engineering: Identified Injection Stretch Blow Moulding (ISBM) as the optimal manufacturing process to achieve the high transparency and complex geometric precision required for the jug's body.

Functional Prototyping: Dynamic water flow simulations were performed to identify the specific spout angle and width that maintain a stable stream at varying pouring speeds.
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