Water purifier and flushing control method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a water purifier and a flushing control method thereof, and relates to the technical field of water purifiers. The flushing control method comprises the following steps: after the water purifier stops water output, the water purifier is controlled to enter a raw water flushing state; after the raw water flushing state ends, a water quality detection value of raw water in the water purifier is checked; and if the water quality detection value meets a first preset condition, the water purifier is controlled to enter a pure water backflow flushing state. Therefore, the application has the advantages of improving water output quality of the water purifier, improving flushing control intelligence, and improving user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of water purifiers, and more specifically, to a water purifier and its flushing control method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently available water purifiers (or integrated water purifiers and heaters) generally use RO membranes, based on reverse osmosis technology, to filter municipal raw water. They are widely used in homes, public places, and various offices. In ordinary RO machines, after the initial water production, high TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) water from the filter wastewater end gradually seeps into the pure water end, causing the pure water quality to deteriorate. The first cup of water the user takes each time is of poor quality. Water purifiers, on the other hand, require multiple water production cycles over a period of time to reduce the TDS value of the pure water. Therefore, the pure water obtained by users from water purifiers sometimes has a high TDS concentration, which can affect user experience and health. To ensure the service life of the water purifier and the quality of the pure water produced, the filter cartridge used for pure water production needs to be flushed frequently to reduce the ion concentration on the surface of the reverse osmosis membrane and slow down the clogging of the membrane surface by impurities. Current water purifier flushing methods are relatively simple, typically only flushing the filter cartridge once with raw water before or after the user takes water, and then discharging the corresponding concentrated water.

[0003] However, due to varying geological conditions and infrastructure across different cities and regions, these factors significantly impact the quality of raw water for municipal water supply. Therefore, existing water purifiers may still struggle to guarantee the quality of their output water using only the aforementioned rinsing methods. For instance, water purifiers installed in areas with severe water pollution or coastal cities, even with existing rinsing methods, may still produce poor-quality water after purification (e.g., high TDS values). Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a water purifier and its flushing control method, which can control the water purifier to enter a pure water recirculation flushing state after the raw water flushing state ends and the raw water quality detection value meets a first preset condition, so as to realize the re-flushing of the water purifier. This application improves the output water quality and flushing control intelligence of the water purifier by using raw water quality detection and pure water recirculation and pure water-raw water mixed flow flushing, effectively enhancing the user experience.

[0005] The embodiments of this application are implemented as follows:

[0006] The first aspect of this application provides a flushing control method for a water purifier, comprising: controlling the water purifier to enter a raw water flushing state after the water purifier stops discharging water; checking the water quality test value of the raw water in the water purifier after the raw water flushing state ends; and controlling the water purifier to enter a pure water recirculation flushing state if the water quality test value meets a first preset condition.

[0007] In one embodiment, the first preset condition is: the water quality detection value reaches the first detection threshold. Before the water quality detection value meets the first preset condition and the water purifier is controlled to enter the pure water reflux rinsing state, the method further includes: determining the target working state and / or working duration of the water purifier based on the water quality detection value and the first detection threshold; the target working state includes the pure water reflux rinsing state.

[0008] In one embodiment, determining the target operating state and / or operating duration of the water purifier based on the water quality detection value and a first detection threshold includes: determining whether the water quality detection value reaches the first detection threshold; if the water quality detection value does not reach the first detection threshold, determining the target operating state of the water purifier as a standby state; if the water quality detection value reaches the first detection threshold, determining the target operating state of the water purifier as a pure water backflow rinsing state, and determining whether the water quality detection value reaches a second detection threshold; if the water quality detection value does not reach the second detection threshold, determining the operating duration corresponding to the pure water backflow rinsing state as a first preset duration; if the water quality detection value reaches the second detection threshold, determining the operating duration corresponding to the pure water backflow rinsing state as a second preset duration; the second preset duration is greater than the first preset duration.

[0009] In one embodiment, the water purifier includes an inlet water path, a pure water path, and a wastewater path. One end of the inlet water path and the pure water path are connected through a filter element, and a booster pump is provided on the inlet water path. The wastewater outlet of the filter element is connected to the wastewater path. The other end of the pure water path is connected back to the inlet water path. Controlling the water purifier to enter the pure water backflow flushing state includes: controlling the booster pump to open and connect the inlet water path, and shutting off the wastewater path, so that the pure water in the pure water path flows back to the inlet water path and flushes the filter element; after the wastewater path is shut off for a certain period of time, controlling the wastewater path to open.

[0010] In one embodiment, the water purifier further includes a water outlet path, in which a flow meter is installed. One end of the water outlet path is connected to a pure water path. After the water purifier is controlled to enter the pure water backflow rinsing state, the method further includes: when the wastewater path is turned off, acquiring the flow information detected by the flow meter; and based on the flow information and preset leakage conditions, determining whether the water purifier leaks water in the pure water backflow rinsing state.

[0011] In one embodiment, before viewing the water quality test value of the raw water in the water purifier, the method further includes: starting a timer after the raw water rinsing state ends, and detecting the water quality of the raw water in the water purifier when the timer duration reaches a third preset duration; or starting a timer and detecting the water quality of the raw water when the water purifier is controlled to enter the raw water rinsing state.

[0012] In one embodiment, before controlling the water purifier to enter the raw water flushing state, the method further includes: after the water purifier stops discharging water, determining whether the water purifier has activated the zero-stagnant water mode; if the zero-stagnant water mode is activated, determining whether the target working state corresponding to the zero-stagnant water mode is the raw water flushing state.

[0013] In one embodiment, after determining whether the water purifier has activated the zero-stagnant-water mode, the method further includes: if the zero-stagnant-water mode is not activated, determining the target operating state based on the historical water output information of the water purifier.

[0014] In one embodiment, determining the target operating state based on the historical water output information of the water purifier includes: viewing the historical water output information of the water purifier; the historical water output information includes at least one of the following: the continuous water output duration of the most recent water output, the cumulative water output duration, the cumulative number of water outputs since the most recent flush, and the interval between the current time and the most recent water output of the water purifier; and determining whether the target operating state of the water purifier is a flushing state based on at least one piece of historical water output information and its corresponding preset flushing conditions.

[0015] A second aspect of this application provides a water purifier, which includes an inlet water path, a pure water path, and a wastewater path. One end of the pure water path is connected to the inlet water path via a filter element, and the other end of the pure water path is connected back to the inlet water path. The wastewater path is connected to the wastewater outlet of the filter element. When the water purifier is in the raw water flushing state, the inlet water path and the wastewater path are connected, and the raw water in the inlet water path enters the wastewater path after flushing the filter element. When the water purifier is in the pure water return flushing state, the inlet water path is connected, the wastewater path is shut off, and the pure water in the pure water path flows back to the inlet water path to flush the filter element.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this application compared to existing technologies are: this application can solve problems such as ineffective raw water flushing and difficulty in improving the quality of water output from water purifiers due to differences in water quality in different regions. This application provides a water purifier and its flushing control method, which can control the water purifier to enter a pure water recirculation flushing state after the water purifier has finished the raw water flushing state and when the raw water quality detection value meets a first preset condition, so as to realize that the pure water produced by the water purifier is returned to flush the filter element again. This application effectively improves the water output quality and the intelligence of the flushing control of the water purifier, and effectively enhances the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit structure of a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a flushing control method for a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a flushing control method for a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Icons: 1 - Water purifier; 10 - Inlet water path; 101 - Secondary filter element; 102 - Inlet valve; 103 - Booster pump; 104 - Raw water quality detection element; 105 - Check valve; 11 - Filter element; 20 - Pure water path; 21 - Pure water branch path; 22 - Return branch path; 201 - Pure water quality detection element; 30 - Wastewater path; 301 - Wastewater valve; 40 - Outlet water path; 41 - First outlet branch path; 411 - Outlet valve; 42 - Second outlet branch path; 421 - Flow restrictor valve; 422 - Flow meter; 423 - Water pump; 50 - Faucet. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used only for distinguishing descriptions and do not indicate a sequence number, nor should they be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0023] Furthermore, terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," and "sag" do not imply that components must be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but rather that they can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0024] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "inner", "outer", "left", "right", "upper", "lower", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of this application is in use. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0025] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms “set up,” “install,” “connect,” and “link” shall be interpreted broadly, for example, as a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; as a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; as a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or as a connection within two components.

[0026] The technical solution of this application will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit structure of a water purifier 1 according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown, this application provides a water purifier 1, which includes a faucet 50, an inlet water path 10, a pure water path 20, an outlet water path 40, and a wastewater path 30. One end of the pure water path 20 is connected to the inlet water path 10 via a filter element 11, and the other end of the pure water path 20 is reconnected to the inlet water path 10. The wastewater path 30 is connected to the wastewater outlet of the filter element 11. One end of the outlet water path 40 is connected to the pure water path 20, and the other end of the outlet water path 40 is connected to the faucet 50.

[0028] The inlet water passage 10 is sequentially equipped with a secondary filter element 101, a raw water quality detection element 104, an inlet valve 102, and a booster pump 103. The other end of the pure water passage 20 is connected back to the inlet water passage 10 between the inlet valve 102 and the booster pump 103. The raw water quality detection element 104 is located on the outlet side of the secondary filter element 101. In one embodiment, the secondary filter element 101 is a PCP composite filter element, and the filter element 11 is a ROC composite filter element. Alternatively, the raw water quality monitoring element can also be located on the inlet side of the secondary filter element 101.

[0029] The pure water circuit 20 includes a pure water branch 21 and a return branch 22. One end of the pure water branch 21 is connected to the inlet water circuit 10 through a filter element 11, and the other end of the pure water branch 21 is connected to the outlet water circuit 40 and one end of the return branch 22. The pure water branch 21 is equipped with a pure water quality detection element 201. The other end of the return branch 22 is connected to the inlet water circuit 10 between the booster pump 103 and the inlet valve 102. The return branch 22 is equipped with a check valve 105.

[0030] In the embodiments of this application, both the raw water quality detection element 104 and the pure water quality detection element 201 adopt TDS probes. The water quality detection elements are configured to detect the water quality of the raw water or pure water in the water circuit where they are located, and the water quality is expressed by the TDS detection value.

[0031] The water outlet path 40 includes a first water outlet branch 41 and a second water outlet branch 42. One end of each water outlet branch is connected to the pure water branch 21 and the return branch 22, and the other end of each water outlet branch is connected to the water tap 50. The first water outlet branch 41 is equipped with a water outlet valve 411, and the second water outlet branch 42 is equipped with a flow limiting valve 421, a flow meter 422, and a water pump 423 in sequence. The water pump 423 is located between the flow meter 422 and the water tap 50.

[0032] Wastewater valve 301 is installed on wastewater circuit 30. When the wastewater valve 301 is closed, a small hole is left for a small amount of wastewater to be discharged.

[0033] The working states of water purifier 1 include standby state, water dispensing state, and flushing state. Among them, the flushing state includes raw water flushing state, pure water recirculation flushing state, and pressurized flushing state; the water dispensing state includes the first water dispensing state (commonly used for room temperature water dispensing) and the second water dispensing state (commonly used for instant hot water dispensing or flow-limited water dispensing).

[0034] When the water purifier 1 is in standby mode, the inlet valve 102, outlet valve 411, and wastewater valve 301 are all closed. The inlet water path 10, wastewater path 30, and outlet water path 40 are closed. The pump 423 and booster pump 103 are shut off. The flow limiting valve 421 is opened to the maximum flow limiting position (limiting the flow rate) to prevent the pure water produced by the water purifier 1 from flowing into the second outlet branch 42.

[0035] When the water purifier 1 is in the raw water flushing state, the inlet valve 102 and the wastewater valve 301 are opened, the booster pump 103 and the water pump 423 are closed, and the inlet water passage 10 and the wastewater passage 30 are connected. The raw water in the inlet water passage 10 is discharged through the wastewater passage 30 after normal flushing of the filter element 11 (that is, the filter element 11 is flushed by tap water pressure).

[0036] When the water purifier 1 is in the pure water backflow flushing state, the inlet valve 102 and the booster pump 103 are open, while the wastewater valve 301, the outlet valve 411, and the pump 423 are closed, thus connecting the inlet water path 10 and shutting off the wastewater path 30 and the outlet water path 40. The raw water in the inlet water path 10 is purified by the filter element 11 and introduced into the pure water branch 21. The pure water then flows through the pure water branch 21 and the return branch 22 back into the inlet water path 10 to mix with the raw water and flush the filter element 11. After a preset time of pure water backflow flushing (i.e., after the wastewater valve 301 has been closed for the preset time), the wastewater valve 301 is opened to connect the wastewater path 30, and the mixed raw water and pure water (i.e., the returned pure water) are flushed through the wastewater path. The wastewater is discharged through the 30th channel, which allows the filter element 11 to be fully rinsed and the wastewater end to be replaced by a mixture of pure water and raw water. When the water purifier 1 is in the pressurized rinsing state, the booster pump 103, the inlet valve 102, and the wastewater valve 301 are opened, while the outlet valve 411 and the pump 423 are closed, so as to connect the inlet water path 10 and the wastewater path 30 and close the outlet water path 40. The raw water in the inlet water path 10 is fully rinsed after being pressurized and discharged through the wastewater path 30.

[0037] When the water purifier 1 is in pure water reflux mode, the flow meter 422 located on one side of the flow limiting valve 421 can also monitor whether there is water leakage or seepage in the water circuit due to excessive pressure. If the water purifier 1 detects a pulse signal through the flow meter 422, it indicates that there may be water leakage or seepage in the water circuit due to excessive pressure or failure of the flow limiting valve 421 (when the flow limiting valve 421 is normally opened to the maximum position, it should block any pure water from passing through; failure of the flow limiting valve 421 indicates that it is unable to block the water flow).

[0038] When the water purifier 1 enters the water outlet state, the inlet valve 102 and the outlet valve 411 (or the water pump 423) open first, the booster pump 103 opens after a 500ms delay, and the wastewater valve 301 closes. The raw water in the inlet water path 10 is filtered by the filter element 11 and made into pure water, which then flows through the first outlet branch 41 or the second outlet branch 42. When the water purifier 1 is in the second water outlet state, the flow limiting valve 421's flow limiting position corresponds to the pumping power of the water pump 423, so as to ensure that the pure water in the pure water branch 21 enters the water faucet 50 as evenly and stably as possible through the cooperation of the flow limiting valve 421 and the water pump 423, and is then heated by the heating element inside the water faucet 50 before being discharged.

[0039] When the water purifier 1 switches from the water outlet state to the standby state where water outlet is stopped, the booster pump 103 is turned off first, and after a delay of 500ms, the inlet valve 102 and the outlet valve 411 (or the water pump 423) are closed. The flow limiting valve 421 is set to the maximum opening position of the outlet valve 411, blocking any water flow.

[0040] After water purifier 1 switches from water output mode to standby mode (no water output), the concentrated water from the wastewater end of filter element 11 gradually permeates to the pure water end of filter element 11, increasing the water quality detection value (i.e., TDS value) at the pure water end. As the standby time increases, the TDS value in the pure water branch 21 will slowly rise to its maximum. According to experimental data, the TDS value at the pure water end reaches its maximum after 30 minutes of inactivity. Therefore, in areas with poor water quality, the TDS value of the first cup of water dispensed by water purifier 1 may be relatively high and not meet drinking requirements.

[0041] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a flushing control method for a water purifier. After flushing the filter element 11 with raw water, the water quality test value of the raw water is checked. If the raw water quality is poor, pure water is controlled to flow back to the inlet of the booster pump 103 and mix with the raw water. This displaces the raw water in the filter element 11 and discharges wastewater, maintaining the output water quality of the filter element 11 at a low TDS concentration, thereby improving the pure water quality when the water purifier 1 produces water again. This application effectively improves the output water quality of the water purifier 1 and enhances the user experience. For the specific control process of the flushing control method for the water purifier, please refer to the following embodiments.

[0042] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a flushing control method for a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 As shown, this application provides a flushing control method for a water purifier. This method can be applied to the water purifier 1 provided in any embodiment of this application, or to other water purifiers or water circuit products that can implement the flushing control method provided in this application. The flushing control method for the water purifier provided in this application can be executed by the control device in the water purifier 1 (or simply executed by the water purifier 1), or it can be executed by other external control devices after being electrically connected to the various components in the water purifier 1 or water circuit. The flushing control method includes the following steps S110 to S130.

[0043] S110: After the water purifier stops discharging water, control the water purifier to enter the raw water flushing state.

[0044] The raw water flushing state refers to the process in which the water purifier only uses tap water pressure to flush the filter element 11, and the raw water in the inlet water path 10 is discharged through the wastewater path 30 after flushing the filter element 11.

[0045] The water purifier controls the inlet valve 102, booster pump 103, and outlet valve 411 (or pump 423) to open according to the user's water intake command. Raw water in the inlet water path 10 is purified by the filter element 11 and then flows through the pure water branch 21 and outlet water path 40 to the faucet 50, thus dispensing purified water. The water purifier can determine its current operating state based on the working status and changes of the various components in the water path. For example, when the booster pump 103 and outlet valve 411 (or pump 423) switch from open to closed, or when the inlet valve 102 and outlet valve 411 (or pump 423) switch from open to closed, the water purifier determines its current operating state as "water dispensing has just been completed and dispensing has stopped."

[0046] In this step, after the water flow stops, the water purifier controls the opening of the inlet valve 102 and the wastewater valve 301, so that the raw water in the inlet water path 10 rinses the filter element 11 and is then discharged through the wastewater path 30. After the user finishes taking water and stops the water flow, the water purifier enters the raw water rinsing state, realizing the automatic rinsing function of the filter element 11 after the water purifier produces pure water.

[0047] S120: After the raw water flushing state ends, check the water quality test value of the raw water in the water purifier.

[0048] Ending the raw water flushing state refers to the switching of the inlet valve 102 and wastewater valve 301 in the water purifier's control water circuit from open to closed. In this embodiment, the water quality detection value refers to the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) detection value. Considering the different water quality conditions in different regions, water purifiers installed in areas with good water quality only need to automatically perform one raw water flush after the user takes water to ensure that the output water quality meets the standards; while water purifiers installed in areas with poor water quality need to thoroughly flush the filter element 11 again by mixing pure water with the raw water after the raw water flushing ends, so that the water quality of the pure water produced by the filter element 11 after flushing is significantly improved.

[0049] Therefore, in this step, after the water purifier finishes the raw water flushing state, it needs to check the water quality test value (i.e., TDS test value) of the raw water in the inlet water path 10. In the following steps, when the water quality test value meets the first preset condition, it enters the pure water reflux flushing state to further flush the filter element 11 thoroughly to improve the water quality of the produced pure water.

[0050] S130: If the water quality test value meets the first preset condition, control the water purifier to enter the pure water backflow flushing state.

[0051] The first preset condition refers to a situation where the raw water quality, as indicated by the water quality test value, is poor, requiring the water purifier to thoroughly rinse the filter element 11 using a pure water backflow flushing method. In this step, if the water quality test value meets the first preset condition, it indicates that the water supply quality in the area where the water purifier is located is poor. After the user takes water, simply rinsing the filter element 11 with raw water is insufficient to effectively improve the quality of the output water. At this time, the water purifier controls the inlet valve 102 and the booster pump 103 to open and controls the wastewater valve 301 to close, allowing the water purifier to enter the pure water backflow flushing state to thoroughly rinse the filter element 11 and effectively improve the pure water quality when the water purifier outputs water for the next time.

[0052] In one embodiment, the first preset condition is: the water quality detection value reaches the first detection threshold, which can be 100 PPM or other baseline values ​​that meet the user's direct drinking water quality standards.

[0053] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a flushing control method for a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, this application provides a flushing control method for a water purifier. This method can be applied to the water purifier provided in any embodiment of this application, or to other water purifiers or water circuit products that can implement the flushing control method provided in this application. The flushing control method includes the following steps S200 to S244.

[0054] S200: Maintain standby mode.

[0055] The water purifier remains in standby mode most of the time. In standby mode, the inlet valve 102, outlet valve 411, water pump 423, wastewater valve 301, booster pump 103, etc. in the water circuit are all in the off state.

[0056] S210: Check if the user has taken water.

[0057] After receiving a user's water request, the water purifier controls the inlet valve 102 and outlet valve 411 (or water pump 423) to open, and after a 500ms delay, controls the booster pump 103 to open, connecting the inlet water path 10 and the outlet water path 40. This allows the raw water in the inlet water path 10 to be purified by the filter element 11, and then flow out from the faucet 50 via the pure water branch 21, the first outlet branch 41, or the second outlet branch 42. Therefore, by checking whether the booster pump 103 and outlet valve 411 (or water pump 423) are open simultaneously, or whether the inlet valve 102 and outlet valve 411 (or water pump 423) are open simultaneously, the water purifier can determine whether it is dispensing water, i.e., whether the user wants to collect water.

[0058] S211: Check if the water purifier has stopped dispensing water.

[0059] To switch the water purifier from a water-discharging state to a water-stopped state, the booster pump 103 must first be shut off, followed by a 500ms delay before closing the inlet valve 102 and the outlet valve 411 (or the pump 423). In this step, the water purifier determines whether to stop discharging water by checking the operating status of the booster pump 103 and / or the outlet valve 411. In one embodiment, if the booster pump 103 is shut off, the water purifier determines the current state as a water-stopped state; or, if the inlet valve 102 (or booster pump 103) and the outlet valve 411 (or pump 423) are both closed simultaneously, the water purifier determines the current state as a water-stopped state.

[0060] S220: Determines whether the water purifier has activated the zero-stagnant water mode after it stops dispensing water.

[0061] The zero-stagnant-water mode refers to the default operating procedure of the water purifier, which replaces the concentrated water at the front end of the RO membrane in filter element 11 with raw water or purified pure water after each water dispensing cycle. The zero-stagnant-water mode balances the osmotic pressure across the RO membrane, thereby reducing the TDS value of the pure water in the pure water branch 21. In this step, the water purifier checks whether the zero-stagnant-water mode is activated after each water dispensing cycle.

[0062] If the zero-stagnant-water mode is activated, the water purifier further determines whether the target working state corresponding to the zero-stagnant-water mode is the raw water flushing state, so as to automatically flush the filter element 11 based on the target working state; if the zero-stagnant-water mode is not activated, the water purifier checks at least one historical water output information, so as to determine whether the water purifier has entered the flushing state based on the historical water output information.

[0063] In one embodiment, the target working state corresponding to the zero-stagnant-water mode is always the raw water flushing state. After the water purifier stops discharging water, it determines whether to activate the zero-stagnant-water mode. If activated, it automatically enters the raw water flushing state.

[0064] S221: If the zero-staple water mode is activated, the system will enter the raw water rinsing state.

[0065] In this step, the water purifier controls the opening of the inlet valve 102 and the wastewater valve 301 to connect the inlet water path 10 and the wastewater path 30, allowing the filter element 11 to be flushed by tap water pressure. Raw water from the inlet water path 10 enters the filter element 11 and flushes the RO membrane; after flushing, it is discharged through the wastewater path 30. The operating time for the raw water flushing state is generally 30 seconds, but it can be set to other values ​​according to actual needs.

[0066] S222: Standby and check the timer duration.

[0067] The water purifier starts timing when it most recently stops dispensing water, enters the raw water flushing state, or ends the raw water flushing state. After the raw water flushing state ends, the water purifier enters standby mode and checks the interval between the current time and the most recent water dispensing time (the time when water dispensing stops is the start time of timing) or the most recent flushing time (the time when flushing ends is the start time of timing) at a preset frequency. This interval is the timing duration.

[0068] S223: Determine whether the timing duration has reached the third preset duration (third duration threshold);

[0069] Because the concentrated water from the wastewater end of filter element 11, after prolonged standing, will permeate through the RO membrane to the pure water end of filter element 11, causing the TDS value of the pure water in the pure water branch 21 to increase. Moreover, water purifiers installed in areas with poor water quality also have high raw water TDS values ​​in their inlet water circuit 10. Even if the system automatically enters the raw water flushing state corresponding to the zero-stagnant water mode after each user draws water, the raw water from the wastewater end of filter element 11 will still cause the pure water to have a high TDS value after permeating to the pure water end, which does not meet the user's drinking standards.

[0070] Therefore, this application pre-sets a third preset time (or third time threshold) based on the settling time required for most of the concentrated wastewater to permeate to the pure water end. The water purifier determines whether the timing duration (or interval duration) has reached the third preset time, and further determines whether to enter the pure water reflux flushing mode to further flush the filter element 11 based on the raw water quality test value (TDS test value), so as to improve the TDS value of the pure water produced by the water purifier when the user takes water next time. In one embodiment, the third preset time (or third time threshold) is preferably 10 minutes, but the third preset time can also be set to other values ​​based on the concentrated wastewater permeation time.

[0071] In one embodiment, before step S231, the water purifier also needs to perform water quality testing on the raw water in the inlet water path 10 using the raw water quality detection element 104 (raw water TDS probe). The water purifier can test the raw water quality when it stops discharging water, when it enters or ends the raw water rinsing state, and when the timing reaches a third preset time. The water purifier can also test the raw water quality multiple times at various times before step S231 and calculate the average value, which is then used as the raw water quality test value. It should be noted that the raw water quality detection element 104 should be located on the inlet side of the inlet valve 102 or the inlet side of the secondary filter element to prevent the pure water produced by the water purifier from flowing back to the outlet side of the inlet valve 102, causing inaccurate raw water quality test values.

[0072] In this step, if the timeout period does not reach the third preset timeout period (or the third timeout threshold), the water purifier remains in standby mode and continues to execute step S222; if the timeout period reaches the third preset timeout period (or the third timeout threshold), the water purifier executes steps S231 to S234.

[0073] In steps S231 to S234 below, the water purifier determines its target operating state and / or operating duration based on the raw water quality test value and a preset detection threshold. The target operating state includes a pure water backflow rinsing state and a standby state; the preset detection threshold includes a first detection threshold and a second detection threshold. After acquiring or viewing the TDS test value of the raw water, the water purifier controls itself to enter the target operating state corresponding to the TDS test value, based on the TDS test value and the preset detection threshold.

[0074] S231: Determine whether the water quality test value has reached the first test threshold.

[0075] In this step, the water purifier determines whether the raw water quality test value reaches the first detection threshold. If the water quality test value does not reach the first detection threshold, it means that the raw water quality of the water purifier meets the user's drinking standards. After the water purifier stopped dispensing water recently, after the raw water flushing state corresponding to the zero stagnant water mode, the concentrated water at the wastewater end of filter element 11 has been replaced with raw water below the first detection threshold. The raw water at the wastewater end of filter element 11 will not have a negative impact on the pure water quality of the water purifier. Therefore, the target working state of the water purifier is determined to be the standby state, and the water purifier directly enters the standby state (entering step S200) to wait for the next user's water dispensing command.

[0076] If the water quality test value reaches the first detection threshold, it indicates that the raw water quality of the water purifier does not meet the user's drinking water standards. Even if the water purifier automatically flushes the raw water after the most recent water output, the raw water quality that permeates from the filter element 11 to the pure water end will still negatively affect the pure water in the pure water branch 21, resulting in poor water quality in the first cup of water when the water purifier outputs water next time, which does not meet the drinking water standards. Therefore, the water purifier determines the target working state as the pure water backflow flushing state and executes step S232 to flush the filter element 11 by mixing pure water and raw water, replacing the concentrated water at the wastewater end of the filter element 11 with pure water and raw water mixed flow water with a lower TDS test value than the raw water, so that the TDS value of the first cup of water taken by the user and the pure water produced by the water purifier can be effectively improved when the water purifier outputs water next time.

[0077] In one embodiment, the first detection threshold is 100 PPM, but it can also be other baseline values ​​that meet the user's drinking water quality standards.

[0078] S232: Determine whether the water quality test value has reached the second test threshold.

[0079] In this step, if the raw water quality test value is greater than the first detection threshold, the water purifier determines the target working state as pure water reflux rinsing state, and further determines whether the raw water quality test value reaches the second detection threshold in order to determine the working time corresponding to the pure water reflux rinsing state.

[0080] In one embodiment, the second detection threshold is 250 PPM, but the second detection threshold can also be set to other values ​​based on the rinsing requirements of the filter element 11.

[0081] S233: If the water quality test value does not reach the second test threshold, it enters the pure water reflux rinsing state and the working time is the first preset time.

[0082] S234: If the water quality test value reaches the second detection threshold, it enters the pure water reflux rinsing state and the working time is the second preset time.

[0083] In this embodiment, the second preset duration is longer than the first preset duration. In one embodiment, the first preset duration is 30s and the second preset duration is 50s. The first and second preset durations can also be set to other values ​​based on the requirements of pure water reflux rinsing the filter element 11.

[0084] In step S233 or S234 above, controlling the water purifier to enter the pure water backflow rinsing state includes: controlling the booster pump 103 and the inlet valve 102 to open to connect the inlet water path 10, and closing the wastewater valve 301 to shut off the wastewater path 30, so that the pure water in the pure water path 20 flows back to the inlet water path 10 between the inlet valve 102 and the booster pump 103 to mix with the raw water and rinse the filter element 11. When the wastewater valve 301 is closed, a small hole is left to slowly release the concentrated water discharged from the filter element 11 to reduce the water pressure, and the closing time of the wastewater valve 301 corresponds to the working time of the pure water backflow rinsing state; after the wastewater path 30 is shut off for the working time, the wastewater valve 301 is opened for 5 seconds to connect the wastewater path 30 and discharge the concentrated water from the wastewater end of the filter element 11. Then the water purifier executes step S200 and enters the standby state.

[0085] In one embodiment, after the water purifier stops discharging water, the water purifier controls the water pump 423 to shut off and the flow limiting valve 421 to open to the maximum flow limiting position, thereby preventing all pure water from entering the outlet water path 40. After the water purifier enters the pure water backflow flushing state, the flushing control method further includes: acquiring the flow monitoring data (also known as flow information) of the flow meter 422 when the wastewater water path 30 is shut off; and determining whether the water purifier has a leakage problem in the pure water backflow flushing state based on the flow monitoring data (flow information) and preset leakage conditions.

[0086] For example, if the flow detection data is displayed as a pulse signal, it means that water is flowing through the flow meter 422. The flow limiting valve 421 may fail due to excessive water pressure and be unable to shut off or block the water flow, resulting in seepage or leakage.

[0087] S240: If the zero-stagnant-water mode is not enabled, check at least one historical water output information of the water purifier.

[0088] In this step, if the zero-stagnant-water mode is not activated, the water purifier should determine whether further rinsing is needed based on historical water output information after each water dispensing stop. The water purifier determines whether there is any historical water output information that meets the preset rinsing conditions to determine whether the target operating state of the water purifier is the rinsing state. The preset rinsing conditions correspond one-to-one with the historical water output information. If there is historical water output information that meets the preset rinsing conditions, the water purifier enters the rinsing state, i.e., step S244 is executed; if there is no historical water output information that meets the preset rinsing conditions, the water purifier directly enters the standby state, i.e., step S200 is executed.

[0089] In the embodiments of this application, the historical water output information includes at least one of the following: the continuous water output duration of the most recent water output, the cumulative water output duration, the cumulative number of water outputs since the most recent flush, and the interval between the current time and the most recent water output of the water purifier.

[0090] S241: Based on whether the continuous water discharge duration reaches the first duration threshold, determine whether there is historical water discharge information that meets the preset flushing conditions.

[0091] In this step, the preset flushing condition is that the continuous water output time reaches a first time threshold. The water purifier determines whether the filter element 11 needs further flushing and timely discharge of wastewater based on whether the continuous water output time of the most recent water output reaches the first time threshold. If the continuous water output time reaches the first time threshold, the water purifier executes step S244 to enter the flushing state; if the continuous water output time does not reach the first time threshold, the water purifier executes step S242.

[0092] In one embodiment, the first duration threshold is 20 minutes. The first duration threshold can also be set to other values ​​based on the impact of the user's actual continuous water intake time on the filter element 11.

[0093] S242: Based on whether the cumulative number of water discharges has reached the threshold for the first time, determine whether there is historical water discharge information that meets the preset flushing conditions.

[0094] In this step, the preset flushing condition is that the cumulative number of water outputs reaches the first threshold. Based on whether the cumulative number of water outputs reaches the first threshold, the water purifier determines whether the filter element 11 has been used multiple times and needs further flushing. If the cumulative number of water outputs reaches the first threshold, the water purifier executes step S244 to enter the flushing state; if the cumulative number of water outputs does not reach the first threshold, the water purifier executes step S243.

[0095] In one embodiment, the first count threshold is 20 times. The first count threshold can also be set to other values ​​based on the impact of the user's actual water collection frequency on the filter cartridge 11.

[0096] S243: Based on whether the interval between the current time and the most recent water output from the water purifier reaches the second time threshold, determine again whether there is historical water output information that meets the preset flushing conditions.

[0097] In this step, the preset flushing condition is that the interval between the current time and the most recent water dispensing time reaches a second time threshold. The time of the most recent water dispensing time refers to the time when the water purifier stopped dispensing water. Based on whether the interval reaches the second time threshold, the water purifier determines whether the filter element 11 needs further flushing due to prolonged inactivity. If the interval reaches the second time threshold, the water purifier executes step S244 to enter the flushing state; if the interval does not reach the second time threshold, the water purifier executes step S200 to enter the standby state.

[0098] In one embodiment, the second duration threshold is 72h. The second duration threshold can be set to other values ​​based on the impact of the actual water intake interval of the user on the filter element 11.

[0099] S244: Entering flushing mode.

[0100] In one embodiment, if historical water output information meeting preset flushing conditions exists, the water purifier controls itself to enter a pressurized flushing state, that is, to open the booster pump 103, the inlet valve 102, and the wastewater valve 301 for continuous flushing for 30 seconds. In other embodiments of this application, the water purifier can enter a raw water flushing state or a pure water recirculation flushing state to flush the filter element 11, so as to improve the TDS detection value of the pure water in the pure water branch 21. After flushing is completed, the water purifier enters a standby state, that is, to execute step S200.

[0101] In other embodiments of this application, the water purifier can also acquire the TDS value of the raw water in real time before checking whether the zero-stagnant-water flushing mode is activated (i.e., before step S220). If the TDS value of the raw water does not reach the first detection threshold, the water purifier continues to perform the corresponding work according to the above steps. If the TDS value of the raw water reaches the first detection threshold, the water purifier can also automatically activate the zero-stagnant-water flushing mode; or, if the TDS value of the raw water reaches the first detection threshold, the water purifier can also check whether the flushing state corresponding to step S244 is the pure water recirculation flushing state. If it is not the pure water recirculation flushing state, the water purifier automatically updates the flushing state in step S244 to the pure water recirculation flushing state to improve the flushing quality and output water quality of the water purifier 1.

[0102] This application addresses the problems of ineffective raw water flushing and difficulty in improving the quality of water from purifiers due to varying water quality in different regions. This application provides a water purifier and its flushing control method, which, after the water purifier finishes its raw water flushing state and when the raw water quality meets a first preset condition, controls the water purifier to enter a pure water recirculation flushing state, thereby enabling the pure water produced by the water purifier to be returned and used to flush the filter element 11 again. This application effectively improves the water quality and the intelligence of the flushing control of the water purifier 1, significantly enhancing the user experience.

[0103] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A flushing control method for a water purifier, characterized in that, include: After the water purifier stops discharging water, control the water purifier to enter the raw water flushing state; After the raw water rinsing process ends, check the water quality test value of the raw water in the water purifier; If the water quality test value meets the first preset condition, the water purifier is controlled to enter the pure water reflux flushing state. Before controlling the water purifier to enter the raw water flushing state, the method further includes: After the water purifier stops discharging water, it is determined whether the water purifier has activated the zero-stagnant water mode. The zero-stagnant water mode means that after each water discharge, the water purifier replaces the concentrated water at the front end of the RO membrane in the filter element with raw water or purified pure water to reduce the TDS detection value of the pure water in the pure water branch. If the zero-staple water mode is activated, the system will enter the raw water rinsing state; If the zero-stagnant-water mode is not activated, the target operating status is determined based on the historical water output information of the water purifier.

2. The flushing control method for a water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first preset condition is: the water quality detection value reaches a first detection threshold. Before controlling the water purifier to enter the pure water reflux flushing state if the water quality detection value meets the first preset condition, the method further includes: Based on the water quality test value and the first detection threshold, the target working state and / or working duration of the water purifier are determined; the target working state includes the pure water backflow rinsing state.

3. The flushing control method for a water purifier according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the target operating state and / or operating duration of the water purifier based on the water quality test value and the first detection threshold includes: Determine whether the water quality test value reaches the first detection threshold; If the water quality test value does not reach the first detection threshold, the target working state of the water purifier is determined to be standby state; If the water quality test value reaches the first detection threshold, the target working state of the water purifier is determined to be the pure water backflow rinsing state, and it is determined whether the water quality test value reaches the second detection threshold. If the water quality test value does not reach the second detection threshold, the working time corresponding to the pure water reflux rinsing state is determined to be the first preset time. If the water quality detection value reaches the second detection threshold, the working time corresponding to the pure water reflux rinsing state is determined to be the second preset time; the second preset time is greater than the first preset time.

4. The rinse control method of a water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water purifier includes an inlet water path, a pure water path, and a wastewater path. One end of the inlet water path and the pure water path are connected through a filter element, and a booster pump is installed on the inlet water path. The wastewater outlet of the filter element is connected to the wastewater path. The other end of the pure water path is connected back to the inlet water path. Controlling the water purifier to enter the pure water backflow flushing state includes: Control the booster pump to open and connect the inlet water circuit, and close the wastewater circuit, so that the pure water in the pure water circuit flows back to the inlet water circuit and rinses the filter element; After the wastewater circuit is shut off for a certain period of time, the wastewater circuit is reconnected.

5. The rinse control method of a water purifier according to claim 4, characterized in that, The water purifier further includes a water outlet path, which is equipped with a flow meter. One end of the water outlet path is connected to the pure water path. After controlling the water purifier to enter the pure water backflow flushing state, the method further includes: When the wastewater circuit is shut off, the flow information detected by the flow meter is acquired; Based on the flow information and preset leakage conditions, it is determined whether the water purifier leaks during the pure water backflow rinsing state.

6. The flushing control method for a water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before viewing the water quality test values ​​of the raw water in the water purifier, the method further includes: After the raw water rinsing process ends, a timer is started, and when the timer reaches a third preset duration, the water quality of the raw water in the water purifier is detected; or The timing begins when the water purifier enters the raw water flushing state, and the water quality of the raw water is detected.

7. The flushing control method for a water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the target operating status based on the historical water output information of the water purifier includes: View the historical water output information of the water purifier; the historical water output information includes at least one of the following: the continuous water output duration of the most recent water output, the cumulative water output duration, the cumulative number of water outputs since the most recent flush, and the interval between the current time and the most recent water output of the water purifier; Based on at least one of the historical water output information and its corresponding preset flushing conditions, determine whether the target working state of the water purifier is the flushing state.

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