Water outlet temperature control method, electronic device, and storage medium

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of water purification equipment, and specifically provides a water outlet temperature control method, an electronic device and a storage medium, aiming to solve the problem that the existing water purifier cannot realize accurate control of the water outlet temperature and cannot meet the needs of users for low-temperature water and boiling water and for instant cold and hot water outlet. To this end, the present application is provided with a water pump and a heater between the water purification tank and the water outlet of the water purifier, and a high-temperature branch, a low-temperature branch and a medium-temperature branch are connected in parallel between the water purification tank and the heater, the user's preset water outlet temperature is obtained as the target temperature, and in the case that the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the on-off of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch and the medium-temperature branch and the switching of the water pump and the heater are controlled according to the preset control strategy, thus realizing accurate control of the water outlet temperature and instant cold and hot water outlet, ensuring the accuracy of the water outlet temperature, increasing the adjustment range of the water outlet temperature and further improving the user experience.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of water purification equipment, and specifically provides a water outlet temperature control method, an electronic device and a computer readable storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] A water purifier is a water treatment device that performs deep filtration and purification treatment on water according to water use requirements.

[0003] At present, the water purifier on the market can only control the water outlet temperature of some commonly used water temperature ranges through gear temperature control, so it cannot realize accurate control of the water outlet temperature, and thus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the water outlet temperature. In addition, the water outlet temperature of the water purifier is mostly between 25 DEG C and 90 DEG C, so it cannot meet the user's demand for low-temperature water such as 0 DEG C and boiling water of 100 DEG C; further, the water purifier needs to set the water outlet temperature in advance when the water is discharged, and needs to wait for a period of time before the water is discharged, so it cannot meet the user's demand for instant cold and hot water, resulting in poor user experience.

[0004] Correspondingly, there is a need in the art for a new water outlet temperature control method to solve the above problems. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application aims to solve the above technical problems, i.e., to solve the problem that the existing water purifier cannot realize accurate control of the water outlet temperature and cannot meet the user's demand for low-temperature water and boiling water and for instant cold and hot water.

[0006] The present application provides a water outlet temperature control method applied to a water purifier, the water purifier comprising a water purification tank, a water outlet, a water pump and a heater arranged in sequence between the water purification tank and the water outlet, and a high-temperature branch, a low-temperature branch and a medium-temperature branch arranged in parallel between the water purification tank and the heater, wherein the high-temperature branch is provided with a heat accumulator and a first on-off valve, the low-temperature branch is provided with a cold accumulator and a second on-off valve, and the medium-temperature branch is a bypass branch and is provided with a third on-off valve, the water outlet temperature control method comprising: obtaining a target temperature and determining whether the target temperature is within a preset temperature range, wherein the target temperature is a water outlet temperature preset by a user; when the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, controlling the on-off of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch and the medium-temperature branch and the on-off of the water pump and the heater according to a preset control strategy, so that the water outlet temperature of the water purifier is equal to the target temperature.

[0007] In some embodiments, the preset temperature range includes a first temperature range, and when the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the opening and closing of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch and the medium-temperature branch, and the switching of the water pump and the heater are controlled according to the preset control strategy, including: when the target temperature is within the first temperature range, the third switch valve is opened, and the first switch valve and the second switch valve are closed, and the water pump and the heater are turned on, so that the purified water flowing out of the purified water tank flows through the bypass branch to the heater and flows out of the water outlet after being heated by the heater.

[0008] In some embodiments, the preset temperature range further includes a second temperature range, and when the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the opening and closing of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch and the medium-temperature branch, and the switching of the water pump and the heater are controlled according to the preset control strategy, including: when the target temperature is within the second temperature range, the first switch valve is opened, and the second switch valve and the third switch valve are closed, and the water pump and the heater are turned on, so that the purified water from the purified water tank flows through the heat accumulator to the heater and flows out of the water outlet after being further heated by the heater.

[0009] In some embodiments, the preset temperature range further includes a third temperature range, and when the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the opening and closing of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch and the medium-temperature branch, and the switching of the water pump and the heater are controlled according to the preset control strategy, including: when the target temperature is within the third temperature range, the second switch valve is opened, and the first switch valve and the third switch valve are closed, and the water pump and the heater are turned on, so that the purified water from the purified water tank flows through the cold accumulator to the heater and flows out of the water outlet after being further heated by the heater.

[0010] In some embodiments, the preset temperature range further includes a fourth temperature range, and when the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the opening and closing of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch and the medium-temperature branch, and the switching of the water pump and the heater are controlled according to the preset control strategy, including: when the target temperature is within the fourth temperature range, the second switch valve is opened, and the first switch valve and the third switch valve are closed, and the water pump is turned on, and the heater is turned off, so that the purified water from the purified water tank flows through the cold accumulator to the heater and flows out of the water outlet.

[0011] In some embodiments, the water outlet temperature control method further includes adjusting the rotating speed of the water pump to control the water flow of the purified water flowing through the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch or the medium-temperature branch.

[0012] In some embodiments, the heat accumulator is a hot tank, and / or the cold accumulator is an ice tank, and / or the heater is an electric heating body.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first switch valve and the second switch valve are normally closed solenoid valves, and / or the third switch valve is a normally open solenoid valve.

[0014] The present application also provides an electronic device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor implements the steps of the method according to any one of the above technical solutions when executing the computer program.

[0015] The present application also provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, wherein the computer program implements the steps of the method according to any one of the above technical solutions when executed by a processor.

[0016] It can be understood by those skilled in the art that, in the case of using the above technical solution, the present application sets a water pump and a heater between the water purification tank and the water outlet of the water purifier, and sets a high-temperature branch, a low-temperature branch and a medium-temperature branch in parallel between the water purification tank and the heater, and obtains the water outlet temperature preset by the user as a target temperature, and in the case that the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, controls the on-off of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch and the medium-temperature branch and the switching of the water pump and the heater according to the preset control strategy, so that the water outlet temperature of the water purifier is equal to the target temperature, thus realizing accurate control of the water outlet temperature and instant heating and instant cooling of the water outlet, ensuring the accuracy of the water outlet temperature, increasing the adjustment range of the water outlet temperature, and further improving the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall architecture of the system involved in the practical application scenario of the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a water outlet temperature control method according to the present application;

[0019] Figure 3 is a flowchart of another water outlet temperature control method according to the present application;

[0020] Figure 4 is a structural diagram of an electronic device according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Some embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only used to explain the technical principles of the present application and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application.

[0022] In the description of the present application, the ordinal numbers such as "first", "second" and the like are only used to describe different technical features of the same type, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In addition, the technical solutions or technical means between various embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other, as long as the person skilled in the art can realize it, when the combination of technical solutions appears contradictory or unachievable, it should be considered that the combination of technical solutions does not exist, nor within the scope of protection required by the present application.

[0023] In the description of the present application, "module" and "processor" can include hardware, software or a combination of the two. A module can include hardware circuit, various suitable sensors, communication port, memory, and can also include software part such as program code, and can be a combination of software and hardware. The processor can be a central processor, microprocessor, digital signal processor or any other suitable processor. The processor has data and / or signal processing function. The processor can be implemented in software, hardware or a combination of both. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes any suitable medium that can store program code, such as magnetic disk, hard disk, optical disk, flash memory, read-only memory, random access memory, etc. The term "A and / or B" means all possible combinations of A and B, such as only A, only B or A and B. The term "at least one of A or B" or "at least one of A and B" has similar meaning as "A and / or B", which can include only A, only B or A and B. The singular form of the term "one", "this" can also include plural forms.

[0024] The water purifier can filter and purify the water body through the filter element to achieve the purpose of clean water body or direct drinking. In the use process of the water purifier, since the existing water purifier can only set several fixed gears to ensure the outlet water temperature of some commonly used water temperature sections, the accurate control of the outlet water temperature cannot be realized, so as to ensure the accuracy of the outlet water temperature. In addition, the outlet water temperature of the water purifier is mostly between 25℃ and 90℃, so it cannot meet the needs of users for low-temperature water such as 0℃ and boiling water of 100℃; further, the water purifier needs to set the outlet water temperature in advance when the water is discharged, and needs to wait for a period of time before the water is discharged, so it cannot meet the needs of users for instant cold and hot water.

[0025] Therefore, current water purifiers primarily rely on temperature setting controls for outlet water temperature. While some water purifiers on the market use instant heating, these are highly susceptible to environmental and raw water temperature variations, resulting in unstable outlet water temperature and slow flow rate. Therefore, a solution is needed that can precisely control the outlet water temperature to ensure accurate temperature, fast flow rate, and a wide temperature adjustment range.

[0026] The system architecture of an embodiment of the present invention in a practical application scenario is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall system architecture involved in the practical application scenario of this invention. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the system architecture mainly includes: a clean water tank 10, a water outlet 11, a water pump 12, a heater 13, at least one temperature sensor 14, a high-temperature branch 101, a low-temperature branch 102, a medium-temperature branch 103, a heat accumulator 1011, a first switching valve 1012, a temperature sensor 1013, a cold storage accumulator 1021, a second switching valve 1022, a temperature sensor 1023, and a third switching valve 1031.

[0028] Specifically, the top of the purified water tank 10 is connected to an external water source via an inlet pipe, and the bottom of the purified water tank 10 is connected to a water supply pipe, so that the purified water flowing out of the purified water tank 10 flows out from the outlet 11 via the heater 13. Further, a high-temperature branch 101, a low-temperature branch 102, and a medium-temperature branch 103 are connected in parallel between the purified water tank 10 and the heater 13. The high-temperature branch 101 is equipped with a heat accumulator 1011 and a first switching valve 1012, and at least one temperature sensor 1013 is installed on the heat accumulator 1011. The low-temperature branch 102 is equipped with a cold accumulator 1021 and a second switching valve 1022, and a temperature sensor 1023 is installed on the cold accumulator 1021. The medium-temperature branch 103 is a bypass branch and is equipped with a third switching valve 1031. In addition, a water pump 12 and a temperature sensor 14 are installed between the water tank 10 and the heater 13, and a temperature sensor 14 is installed between the heater 13 and the water outlet 11.

[0029] Furthermore, the heat accumulator 1011 is used to store purified water from the purified water tank 10 and heat the purified water; the first switching valve 1012 is used to control the purified water flowing through the high-temperature branch 101. When the first switching valve 1012 is open and the second switching valve 1022 and the third switching valve 1031 are closed, the heated purified water flowing out of the heat accumulator 1011 flows to the heater 13 through the high-temperature branch 101. The cold accumulator 1021 is used to store purified water from the purified water tank 10 and cool the purified water; the second switching valve 1022 is used to control the purified water flowing through the low-temperature branch 102. When the second switching valve 1022 is open and the first switching valve 1012 and the third switching valve 1031 are closed, the cooled purified water flowing out of the cold accumulator 1021 flows to the heater 13 through the low-temperature branch 102. The third switch valve 1031 is used to control the purified water flowing through the medium temperature branch 103. When the third switch valve 1031 is open and the first switch valve 1012 and the second switch valve 1022 are closed, the purified water flowing out of the purified water tank 10 flows to the heater 13 through the medium temperature branch 103.

[0030] It should be noted that the specific types, quantities, positions, and combinations of the water pump 12, the first switching valve 1012, the second switching valve 1022, the third switching valve 1031, the temperature sensor 1013, the temperature sensor 1023, and the temperature sensor 14 can be adjusted according to the actual needs of the application scenario, and the embodiments of the present invention do not impose any restrictions on this.

[0031] Next, a method and apparatus for controlling the outlet water temperature according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart of a water outlet temperature control method according to the present invention. Figure 2 The method for controlling the outlet water temperature can be executed by the server, by the water purifier, or by both the server and the water purifier.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, the outlet water temperature control method is applied to a water purifier, which includes a purified water tank, an outlet, a water pump and a heater sequentially arranged between the purified water tank and the outlet, and a high-temperature branch, a low-temperature branch, and a medium-temperature branch connected in parallel between the purified water tank and the heater. The high-temperature branch includes a heat accumulator and a first switching valve; the low-temperature branch includes a cold accumulator and a second switching valve; and the medium-temperature branch is a bypass branch and includes a third switching valve. The outlet water temperature control method includes:

[0034] S201, Obtain the target temperature and determine whether the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, where the target temperature is the user-preset outlet water temperature;

[0035] S202, when the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, according to the preset control strategy, control the on / off of the high temperature branch, low temperature branch and medium temperature branch, as well as the on / off of the water pump and heater, so that the water outlet temperature of the water purifier is equal to the target temperature.

[0036] Specifically, taking a water purifier as an example, after receiving the target temperature input by the user through the water purifier's touchscreen or terminal device, the water purifier determines whether the target temperature is within the preset temperature range. If the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the water purifier controls the on / off state of the high-temperature branch, low-temperature branch, and medium-temperature branch, as well as the on / off state of the water pump and heater, according to the preset control strategy, so that the outlet water temperature after passing through the heater is equal to the target temperature; if the target temperature is not within the preset temperature range, the water purifier sends an error reminder message to the user.

[0037] Here, the server can be a server that provides various services, such as a backend server that receives requests sent by terminal devices with which it has established communication connections. This backend server can receive and analyze the requests sent by the terminal devices and generate processing results. The server can be a single server, a server cluster consisting of several servers, or a cloud computing service center; this embodiment of the invention does not limit this.

[0038] It should be noted that a server can be either hardware or software. When the server is hardware, it can be various electronic devices that provide various services to terminal devices. When the server is software, it can be multiple software programs or software modules that provide various services to terminal devices, or it can be a single software program or software module that provides various services to terminal devices. This embodiment of the invention does not impose any limitations on this.

[0039] The terminal device can be either hardware or software. When the terminal device is hardware, it can be various electronic devices with a display screen that support communication with a server, including but not limited to smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers; when the terminal device is software, it can be installed in the electronic devices described above. The terminal device can be implemented as multiple software programs or software modules, or as a single software program or software module; this embodiment of the invention does not impose any limitations on this.

[0040] A water pump is a machine that transports or pressurizes liquids. It transfers the mechanical energy of a prime mover or other external energy to the liquid, increasing the liquid's energy. It is mainly used to transport liquids including water, oil, acid and alkali solutions, emulsions, suspensions, and liquid metals. In this embodiment of the invention, the water pump is a water pump.

[0041] A heater is a heating device used to heat, maintain, or maintain the temperature of flowing liquid or gaseous media. When the heating medium passes through the heater's heating chamber under pressure, the principles of fluid thermodynamics are used to uniformly remove the enormous heat generated by the electric heating element during operation, bringing the temperature of the heated medium to the user's process requirements. Heaters can include, but are not limited to, electric heaters, air heaters, and thermal oil heaters. In this embodiment of the invention, the heater is an electric heating element, i.e., an electric heater.

[0042] A thermal accumulator, also known as a steam accumulator, is a steam container that uses water as the heat storage medium. Thermal accumulators are highly efficient, energy-saving, and emission-reducing devices that improve the reliability and economy of steam use. Thermal accumulators can be divided into steam accumulators and feedwater accumulators. A steam accumulator is a type of variable-pressure accumulator, while a feedwater accumulator is a type of constant-pressure accumulator. In this embodiment of the invention, the thermal accumulator is a heat tank.

[0043] A cold accumulator, also known as a regenerative heat exchanger, is a type of regenerative heat exchanger in which the fluid undergoes periodic alternating flow, with hot and cold fluids exchanging heat with the cold storage medium in the heat exchanger. In low-temperature cycles, the cold accumulator achieves the purpose of accumulating cold energy through heat exchange. In this embodiment of the invention, the cold accumulator is an ice chamber.

[0044] A switching valve is a switch that acts as a shut-off switch, controlling the fluid flow rate by controlling the valve opening degree. In this embodiment of the invention, the first and second switching valves are normally closed solenoid valves, and the third switching valve is a normally open solenoid valve. Here, the normally closed solenoid valve is suitable for actuators that use steam as the heat medium for automatic temperature control. The normally closed solenoid valve can provide two-position automatic and remote control for boiler steam pipelines in steam equipment such as steam heaters, radiators, and dryers, as well as various temperature controllers, steam setting machines, steam engines, and steam rehumidifiers. The normally open solenoid valve is a type of solenoid valve characterized by closing when the coil is energized and opening when the coil is de-energized. For situations where the solenoid valve in the pipeline is always open and only occasionally closed, a normally open type should be selected.

[0045] The target temperature refers to the water temperature that the user sets and expects the water purifier to achieve. Since each user has their own specific temperature sensing habits—for example, some users prefer cold water, some prefer room temperature water, and some prefer boiling water—the target temperature of the water purifier can be customized for each user based on their different temperature sensing habits to meet their varying needs for water temperature.

[0046] The preset temperature range refers to the range of outlet water temperature set. The preset temperature range can be a temperature range pre-set based on empirical data, or a temperature range obtained by adjusting a pre-set temperature range according to actual needs. This embodiment of the invention does not limit this. For example, the preset temperature range can be 0℃ to 5℃, 5℃ to 25℃, 10℃ to 45℃, 25℃ to 60℃, 25℃ to 75℃, 30℃ to 60℃, 50℃ to 75℃, 60℃ to 100℃, 0℃ to 100℃, etc. Preferably, in this embodiment of the invention, the preset temperature range is 0℃ to 100℃.

[0047] A preset control strategy refers to regulating the outlet water temperature of a water purifier through a temperature control device. The preset control strategy can be a control strategy pre-set based on experience, or a control strategy obtained by adjusting an existing control strategy according to actual needs. This embodiment of the invention does not impose any limitations on this. For example, a preset control strategy could be to open the third switch valve and close the first and second switch valves, and start the water pump and heater, when the target temperature is between 20°C and 60°C; it could be to open the first switch valve and close the second and third switch valves, and start the water pump and heater, when the target temperature is between 60°C and 100°C; or it could be to open the second switch valve and close the first and third switch valves, and start the water pump, etc., when the target temperature is between 0°C and 5°C.

[0048] Error notification messages can take various forms, including but not limited to voice messages, text messages, and vibration messages. For example, when the error notification is a voice message, the water purifier can push the error notification to the user via voice broadcast, such as "The temperature you entered is incorrect, please re-enter," or it can be a preset beeping tone, such as a warning sound. When the error notification is a text message, the water purifier can push the error notification to the user by displaying it on its screen or by popping up a floating window in the user interface of the terminal device, such as "Friendly reminder: The temperature you entered is incorrect, please re-enter!". When the error notification is a vibration message, the water purifier can push the error notification to the user via vibration, such as a preset vibration tone.

[0049] According to the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention, a water pump and a heater are installed between the water tank and the water outlet of the water purifier, and a high-temperature branch, a low-temperature branch and a medium-temperature branch are connected in parallel between the water tank and the heater. By obtaining the user's preset water outlet temperature as the target temperature, and determining that the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the on / off state of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch and the medium-temperature branch, as well as the on / off state of the water pump and the heater are controlled according to a preset control strategy, so that the water outlet temperature of the water purifier is equal to the target temperature. Therefore, precise control of the water outlet temperature and instant hot and cold water are achieved, ensuring the accuracy of the water outlet temperature, increasing the adjustment range of the water outlet temperature, and further improving the user experience.

[0050] In some embodiments, the preset temperature range includes a first temperature range. When the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the on / off state of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch, and the medium-temperature branch, as well as the on / off state of the water pump and the heater, are controlled according to a preset control strategy. This includes: when the target temperature is within the first temperature range, opening the third switch valve and closing the first switch valve and the second switch valve, and turning on the water pump and the heater so that the purified water flowing out of the purified water tank flows to the heater through the bypass branch and flows out of the outlet after being heated by the heater.

[0051] Specifically, the preset temperature range may include a first temperature range. Here, the first temperature range refers to the temperature range of normal temperature, typically 25°C to 60°C. That is, the temperature within the first temperature range should be greater than or equal to 25°C and less than or equal to 60°C.

[0052] After obtaining a target temperature such as 32℃, the water purifier determines that the target temperature is within the first temperature range. At this time, the water purifier opens the third switch valve and closes the first and second switch valves. At the same time, the water pump is turned on, so that the purified water flowing out of the water tank flows to the heater through the bypass branch. Since the purified water flowing out of the water tank is usually 25℃, in order to obtain purified water at 32℃, the heater needs to be turned on to further heat the purified water, so that the temperature of the heated purified water can reach 32℃.

[0053] According to the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention, by comparing the target temperature with the temperature within a preset temperature range, the temperature range to which the target temperature belongs can be quickly and accurately determined, and the corresponding control strategy can be determined based on the temperature range. Therefore, the water output speed is improved and the user experience is enhanced.

[0054] In some embodiments, the preset temperature range further includes a second temperature range. When the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the on / off state of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch, and the medium-temperature branch, as well as the on / off state of the water pump and the heater, are controlled according to a preset control strategy. This includes: when the target temperature is within the second temperature range, opening the first switch valve and closing the second and third switch valves, and turning on the water pump and the heater so that the purified water from the water tank flows through the heat storage device to the heater and flows out from the outlet after being further heated by the heater.

[0055] Specifically, the preset temperature range may include a second temperature range. Here, the second temperature range refers to a temperature range above normal temperature, typically 60°C to 100°C. That is, the temperature within the second temperature range should be greater than 60°C and less than or equal to 100°C.

[0056] After obtaining a target temperature such as 90℃, the water purifier determines that the target temperature is within a second temperature range. At this time, the water purifier opens the first switch valve and closes the second and third switch valves, while simultaneously turning on the water pump. This allows the purified water from the water tank to flow to the heater after being heated by the heat storage device. Since the purified water flowing out of the heat storage device is usually 75℃, in order to obtain purified water at 90℃, it is necessary to turn on the heater to further heat the purified water, so that the temperature of the heated purified water can reach 90℃.

[0057] According to the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention, by using a heat storage device and a heater together, the outlet water temperature of the water purifier can reach the temperature of boiling water, thus increasing the upper limit of the outlet water temperature adjustment and expanding the adjustment range of the outlet water temperature.

[0058] In some embodiments, the preset temperature range further includes a third temperature range. When the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the on / off state of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch, and the medium-temperature branch, as well as the on / off state of the water pump and the heater, are controlled according to a preset control strategy. This includes: when the target temperature is within the third temperature range, opening the second switch valve and closing the first switch valve and the third switch valve, and turning on the water pump and the heater so that the purified water from the water tank flows through the cold storage to the heater and flows out from the outlet after being further heated by the heater.

[0059] Specifically, the preset temperature range may include a third temperature range. Here, the third temperature range refers to a temperature range below normal temperature, typically 5°C to 25°C. That is, the temperature within the third temperature range should be greater than 5°C and less than 25°C.

[0060] After obtaining a target temperature such as 10℃, the water purifier determines that the target temperature is within the third temperature range. At this time, the water purifier opens the second switch valve and closes the first and third switch valves. At the same time, the water pump is turned on, so that the purified water from the water tank flows to the heater after being cooled by the cold storage. Since the purified water flowing out of the cold storage is usually 5℃, in order to obtain 10℃ purified water, the heater needs to be turned on to further heat the purified water, so that the temperature of the heated purified water can reach 10℃.

[0061] According to the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention, by using a cold storage device and a heater together, the outlet water temperature of the water purifier can reach the temperature of low-temperature water. Therefore, the lower limit of the outlet water temperature adjustment is increased, and the adjustment range of the outlet water temperature is expanded.

[0062] In some embodiments, the preset temperature range further includes a fourth temperature range. When the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the on / off state of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch, and the medium-temperature branch, as well as the on / off state of the water pump and the heater, are controlled according to a preset control strategy. This includes: when the target temperature is within the fourth temperature range, opening the second switch valve and closing the first switch valve and the third switch valve, turning on the water pump, and turning off the heater, so that the purified water from the water tank flows through the heater via the cold storage and flows out from the outlet.

[0063] Specifically, the preset temperature range may include a fourth temperature range. Here, the fourth temperature range refers to the temperature range close to that of ice water, typically from 0°C to 5°C. That is, the temperature within the fourth temperature range should be greater than or equal to 0°C and less than or equal to 5°C.

[0064] After obtaining a target temperature such as 0℃, the water purifier determines that the target temperature is within the fourth temperature range. At this time, the water purifier opens the second switch valve and closes the first and third switch valves. At the same time, the water pump is turned on, so that the purified water from the water tank flows to the heater after being cooled by the cold storage. Since the cold storage can cool the purified water to 0℃, in order to obtain purified water at 0℃, the purified water flowing out of the cold storage only needs to pass through the heater, without having to turn on the heater.

[0065] According to the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention, by using only a cold storage device, the outlet water temperature of the water purifier can reach the temperature of ice water, thus increasing the lower limit of the outlet water temperature adjustment and expanding the adjustment range of the outlet water temperature.

[0066] Optionally, in some embodiments, a temperature sensor can be installed on the heat accumulator and / or cold accumulator, or between the water pump and the heater, or between the heater and the outlet, to detect the temperature of the purified water flowing out of the heat accumulator, cold accumulator, and / or heater. In embodiments of the present invention, the temperature sensor can be a sensor with a negative temperature coefficient (NTC), i.e., an NTC temperature sensor, used for temperature measurement, temperature control, temperature compensation, etc. Here, NTC refers to the thermistor phenomenon and material that exhibits a negative temperature coefficient, where the resistance decreases exponentially with increasing temperature.

[0067] It should be noted that the decision to turn on the heater can be based on the detected temperature of the purified water flowing out of the heat accumulator, coolant accumulator, and / or heater. For example, the heat accumulator can heat the purified water to 75°C, but after a period of time, the temperature of the purified water will slowly decrease and eventually drop to 60°C. Therefore, if the user's target temperature is 70°C, and the current temperature of the purified water in the heat accumulator detected by the NTC temperature sensor installed on the heat accumulator is also 70°C, then the first switch valve can be opened and the second and third switch valves closed, the water pump can be turned on, and the heater can be turned off, allowing the purified water flowing out of the heat accumulator to flow through the heater and out of the outlet.

[0068] According to the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present invention, by using a temperature sensor, the temperature of purified water can be detected quickly and accurately, and the heater can be turned on based on the temperature of the purified water. Therefore, the service life of the heater is improved and the water output speed of the water purifier is increased.

[0069] In some embodiments, the heater determines the final outlet water temperature. Specifically, the factors affecting the outlet water temperature can be determined using formula (1):

[0070] C*M*ΔT=P*t(1),

[0071] Where C is the specific heat capacity constant, M is the mass of purified water flowing through the heater, ΔT is the temperature difference between the target temperature and the inlet water temperature before entering the heater, P is the heater power, and t is the heater operating time. Here, the heater power is in the range of 700W to 2100W.

[0072] Furthermore, since the mass of purified water M is the product of the purified water flow rate L and the operating time of the heater, i.e., M = L * t (2), substituting formula (2) into formula (1) yields:

[0073]

[0074] As can be seen from the above formula (3), when the power of the heater is fixed, the outlet water temperature is only related to the water flow rate of the purified water and the inlet water temperature of the purified water before entering the heater.

[0075] In some embodiments, the outlet water temperature control method further includes: adjusting the speed of the water pump to control the flow rate of purified water flowing through the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch, or the medium-temperature branch.

[0076] Specifically, before the purified water enters the heater, the water flow rate can be controlled by adjusting the speed of the water pumps set between the three parallel branches and the heater. Here, the water flow rate varies in the range of 0.3L / min to 2L / min.

[0077] It should be noted that the location of the water pump is not limited to the three parallel branches and the heater as described above. For example, it can also be located between the water purification tank and the three parallel branches. This embodiment of the invention does not limit this.

[0078] According to the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention, by adjusting the pump speed before the purified water enters the heater to control the change in the water flow rate of the purified water, the outlet water temperature can be finely adjusted based on the target temperature, thereby ensuring that the outlet water temperature is relatively constant. Therefore, precise control of the outlet water temperature is achieved, ensuring the accuracy of the outlet water temperature, and further improving the user experience.

[0079] All of the above-mentioned optional technical solutions can be combined in any way to form the optional embodiments of this application, and will not be described in detail here.

[0080] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of another method for controlling the outlet water temperature according to the present invention. Figure 3 The method for controlling the outlet water temperature can be executed by the server, by the water purifier, or by both the server and the water purifier.

[0081] like Figure 3 As shown, the outlet water temperature control method is applied to a water purifier, which includes a purified water tank, an outlet, a water pump and a heater sequentially arranged between the purified water tank and the outlet, and a high-temperature branch, a low-temperature branch, and a medium-temperature branch connected in parallel between the purified water tank and the heater. The high-temperature branch includes a heat accumulator and a first switching valve; the low-temperature branch includes a cold accumulator and a second switching valve; and the medium-temperature branch is a bypass branch and includes a third switching valve. The outlet water temperature control method includes:

[0082] S301, obtain the user-preset outlet water temperature as the target temperature;

[0083] S302, when the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, control the on / off state of the high temperature branch, low temperature branch and medium temperature branch, as well as the switching on and off of the water pump and heater according to the preset control strategy.

[0084] S303, adjust the speed of the water pump to control the flow rate of purified water flowing through the high-temperature branch, low-temperature branch or medium-temperature branch and before entering the heater, so that the temperature of the purified water flowing out of the heater is equal to the target temperature.

[0085] According to the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention, by acquiring the user-preset target temperature, and determining that the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the on / off state of the high-temperature branch, low-temperature branch, and medium-temperature branch, as well as the switching on and off of the water pump and heater, are controlled according to a preset control strategy. The water pump speed is also adjusted, ensuring that the temperature of the purified water flowing from the heater equals the target temperature. Therefore, the accuracy of the outlet water temperature is guaranteed, the adjustment range of the outlet water temperature is increased, and instant hot and cold water is achieved. Furthermore, by using the heater, heat accumulator, and cold accumulator in combination, the shortcomings of a single heater—excessive temperature control power and the inability to only heat purified water—can be overcome. Therefore, the performance of the water purifier is improved, precise control of the outlet water temperature is achieved, and the user experience is further enhanced.

[0086] It should be understood that the sequence number of each step in the above embodiments does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0087] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device 4 according to the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the electronic device 4 of this embodiment includes a processor 401, a memory 402, and a computer program 403 stored in the memory 402 and executable on the processor 401. When the processor 401 executes the computer program 403, it implements the steps in the various method embodiments described above. Alternatively, when the processor 401 executes the computer program 403, it implements the functions of each module / unit in the various device embodiments described above.

[0088] For example, computer program 403 may be divided into one or more modules / units, which are stored in memory 402 and executed by processor 401 to complete the present invention. The one or more modules / units may be a series of computer program instruction segments capable of performing a specific function, which describe the execution process of computer program 403 in electronic device 4.

[0089] Electronic device 4 can be a desktop computer, laptop, handheld computer, cloud server, or other electronic device. Electronic device 4 may include, but is not limited to, processor 401 and memory 402. Those skilled in the art will understand that...Figure 4 This is merely an example of electronic device 4 and does not constitute a limitation on electronic device 4. It may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or different components. For example, electronic device may also include input / output devices, network access devices, buses, etc.

[0090] Processor 401 can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0091] The memory 402 can be an internal storage unit of the electronic device 4, such as a hard disk or RAM. The memory 402 can also be an external storage device of the electronic device 4, such as a plug-in hard disk, Smart Media Card (SMC), Secure Digital (SD) card, or Flash Card. Furthermore, the memory 402 can include both internal and external storage units of the electronic device 4. The memory 402 is used to store computer programs and other programs and data required by the electronic device. The memory 402 can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output.

[0092] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the above-described division of functional units and modules is merely an example. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional units and modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional units or modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. The functional units and modules in the embodiments can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit. Furthermore, the specific names of the functional units and modules are only for easy differentiation and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. The specific working process of the units and modules in the above system can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0093] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail or recorded in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0094] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments of the invention herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of the invention.

[0095] In the embodiments provided by this invention, it should be understood that the disclosed devices / electronic devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device / electronic device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. Multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0096] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0097] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0098] If integrated modules / units are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed by a processor, it can implement the steps of the various method embodiments described above. The computer program may include computer program code, which can be in the form of source code, object code, executable files, or certain intermediate forms. Computer-readable media may include: any entity or device capable of carrying computer program code, recording media, USB flash drives, portable hard drives, magnetic disks, optical disks, computer memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrical carrier signals, telecommunication signals, and software distribution media, etc. It should be noted that the content included in a computer-readable medium may be appropriately added to or subtracted according to the requirements of legislation and patent practice in the jurisdiction. For example, in some jurisdictions, according to legislation and patent practice, computer-readable media may not include electrical carrier signals and telecommunication signals.

[0099] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the outlet water temperature, applied to a water purifier, characterized in that, The water purifier includes a purified water tank, a water outlet, a water pump and a heater sequentially arranged between the purified water tank and the water outlet, and a high-temperature branch, a low-temperature branch, and a medium-temperature branch connected in parallel between the purified water tank and the heater. The high-temperature branch includes a heat accumulator and a first switching valve; the low-temperature branch includes a cold accumulator and a second switching valve; and the medium-temperature branch is a bypass branch and includes a third switching valve. The method includes: Obtain the target temperature and determine whether the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, wherein the target temperature is the user-preset outlet water temperature; When the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, the on / off state of the high temperature branch, the low temperature branch and the medium temperature branch, as well as the on / off state of the water pump and the heater are controlled according to the preset control strategy, so that the outlet water temperature of the water purifier is equal to the target temperature. The preset temperature range includes a first temperature range, a second temperature range, a third temperature range, and a fourth temperature range; When the target temperature is within the preset temperature range, according to a preset control strategy, the on / off state of the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch, and the medium-temperature branch, as well as the switching on / off state of the water pump and the heater, are controlled, including: When the target temperature is within the first temperature range, the third switch valve is opened and the first switch valve and the second switch valve are closed. The water pump and the heater are turned on so that the purified water flowing out of the purified water tank flows to the heater through the bypass branch and flows out of the outlet after being heated by the heater. When the target temperature is within the second temperature range, the first switch valve is opened and the second switch valve and the third switch valve are closed, and the water pump and the heater are turned on so that the purified water from the water tank flows through the heat storage device to the heater and flows out from the outlet after being further heated by the heater. When the target temperature is within the third temperature range, the second switch valve is opened and the first switch valve and the third switch valve are closed, and the water pump and the heater are turned on so that the purified water from the water tank flows through the cold storage to the heater and flows out from the outlet after being further heated by the heater. When the target temperature is within the fourth temperature range, the second switch valve is opened and the first switch valve and the third switch valve are closed, the water pump is turned on, and the heater is turned off, so that the purified water from the water tank flows through the heater via the cold storage and flows out from the outlet.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Adjust the speed of the water pump to control the flow rate of purified water flowing through the high-temperature branch, the low-temperature branch, or the medium-temperature branch.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat accumulator is a hot tank, and / or the cold accumulator is an ice tank, and / or the heater is an electric heating element.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and second switching valves are normally closed solenoid valves, and / or the third switching valve is a normally open solenoid valve.

5. An electronic device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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