A control method of a water purifier

Abstract

This application discloses a control method for a water purifier, relating to the technical field of water purifiers. The water purifier includes an inlet water path, a pure water path, an outlet water path, and a filter element. A return water path is provided between the inlet water path and the pure water path. A booster pump is installed in the inlet water path, and the return water path is connected to the inlet end of the booster pump. The control method for the water purifier includes: acquiring the outlet water temperature from a user command; determining a first output power based on the target flow rate corresponding to the outlet water temperature; controlling the booster pump to operate according to the first output power to control the water purifier to enter a water production mode; in the water production mode, acquiring water quality data fed back from the inlet water path and the pure water path respectively; adjusting the output power of the booster pump based on the water quality data and the target flow rate; and controlling the booster pump to continue operating based on the adjusted output power. Therefore, this application has the advantages of reducing noise, improving pure water quality, and making the water purifier more intelligent and reliable in operation.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Currently, integrated water purifiers and heaters on the market include tankless instant water purifiers. These types of instant water purifiers typically use a combination of a flow restrictor and a flow meter to dispense water at a flow rate lower than that required for a specified outlet water temperature. When the filter's pure water production rate remains relatively constant, some pure water will flow back to the booster pump. When the outlet water flow rate is too low and the pure water backflow is too high, the excessive flow velocity at the filter's inlet will lead to excessive pressure in front of the filter membrane, causing increased overall machine power and noise, ultimately shortening the filter's lifespan and negatively impacting the user experience.

[0003] However, it is unreasonable to excessively pursue a decrease or increase in the pressure before the filter membrane. When the pressure before the filter membrane is too low, the pure water conversion rate will also decrease accordingly. When the salt permeability of the filter element remains basically constant, a lower pure water flow rate will lead to poor pure water quality or poor desalination rate. On the other hand, increasing the pressure before the filter membrane without limit not only has the aforementioned drawbacks such as excessive noise, but also easily leads to an abnormal increase in salt permeability due to concentration polarization.

[0004] Therefore, when adjusting the pressure in front of the filter membrane, how to reasonably balance the performance of pure water quality with power reduction and noise reduction has become a key research direction in the working scenario of water purifiers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a control method for a water purifier, which can improve the problem of excessive noise when the water purifier is working and can improve the quality of pure water. Therefore, this application has the advantages of reducing noise, improving the quality of pure water, and making the water purifier work more intelligently and reliably.

[0006] The embodiments of this application are implemented as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a control method for a water purifier. The water purifier includes an inlet water path, a pure water path, an outlet water path, and a filter element. A return water path is provided between the inlet water path and the pure water path. A booster pump is provided in the inlet water path. The return water path is connected to the inlet end of the booster pump. The control method for the water purifier includes: acquiring the outlet water temperature in a user command; determining a first output power based on the target flow rate corresponding to the outlet water temperature; controlling the booster pump to operate according to the first output power to control the water purifier to enter a water production mode; in the water production mode, acquiring water quality data fed back from the inlet water path and the pure water path respectively; adjusting the output power of the booster pump based on the water quality data and the target flow rate; and controlling the booster pump to continue operating based on the adjusted output power.

[0008] In some embodiments, acquiring water quality data fed back from the inlet water path and the pure water path respectively, and adjusting the output power of the booster pump based on the water quality data and the target flow rate, includes: in water production mode, determining whether the water quality data fed back from the inlet water path and the pure water path meet preset conditions; if they meet the preset conditions, controlling the booster pump to operate at a first output power based on the target flow rate; if they do not meet the preset conditions, gradually increasing the output power of the booster pump from the first output power until the water quality data meets the preset conditions, using the current output power of the booster pump as the second output power, and controlling the booster pump to continuously operate at the second output power.

[0009] In some embodiments, during the adjustment of the booster pump's output power, when the output power reaches the booster pump's rated output power, or when the filter element's membrane pressure reaches a preset pressure threshold, the adjustment of the booster pump's output power is stopped, and the current water quality data is recorded.

[0010] In some embodiments, a pure water flow meter is provided in the pure water circuit. In the water production mode, the control method of the water purifier further includes: updating the target pumping speed of the booster pump based on the PID algorithm, the target flow rate and the real-time pure water flow rate fed back by the pure water flow meter; and adjusting the target output power of the booster pump based on the latest target pumping speed.

[0011] In some embodiments, updating the target pumping speed of the booster pump based on the PID algorithm, the target flow rate, and the real-time pure water flow rate fed back by the pure water flow meter includes: updating the pure water flow rate deviation based on the real-time pure water flow rate and the target flow rate; if the pure water flow rate deviation is less than a preset deviation threshold, outputting the target pumping speed based on the integral control algorithm; if the pure water flow rate deviation is greater than or equal to the preset deviation threshold, outputting the target pumping speed based on the full proportional control algorithm.

[0012] In some embodiments, adjusting the target output power of the booster pump based on the latest target pumping speed includes: determining the pumping output power corresponding to the target pumping speed based on the target pumping speed; if the pumping output power is less than the minimum starting power of the booster pump, adjusting the target output power to the minimum starting power; if the pumping output power reaches the minimum starting power of the booster pump, adjusting the target output power to the pumping output power.

[0013] In some embodiments, the control method of the water purifier further includes: determining the water production mode of the water purifier according to the outlet water temperature; when the water production mode is the instant hot water production mode, opening the return water path, determining the hot water outlet flow rate in the outlet water path according to the outlet water temperature, obtaining the preset return flow rate, and adding the hot water outlet flow rate and the return flow rate to obtain the target flow rate.

[0014] In some embodiments, the water purifier also includes an instant heating element, and the hot water flow rate in the outlet water path is determined according to the outlet water temperature, including: calculating the hot water flow rate based on the temperature difference between the raw water temperature and the outlet water temperature in the inlet water path, and the heating power of the instant heating element corresponding to the outlet water temperature.

[0015] In some embodiments, the control method of the water purifier further includes: when the water production mode is the ambient temperature water production mode, using the rated output power of the booster pump as the target output power, and outputting pure water to the outlet water path at the ambient temperature water production flow rate corresponding to the rated output power.

[0016] In some embodiments, the water purifier further includes a backflow rinsing mode, and the control method of the water purifier further includes: a raw water quality sensor is provided in the water inlet circuit; in the backflow rinsing mode, the pure water backflow rinsing time and / or the output power of the booster pump are adjusted based on the water quality data fed back by the raw water quality sensor; a water pressure sensor is provided in the water inlet circuit, and the water pressure sensor is located on one side of the inlet end of the booster pump; in the backflow rinsing mode, the output power of the booster pump is adjusted based on the real-time water pressure detection value fed back by the water pressure sensor; the larger the real-time water pressure detection value, the smaller the output power of the booster pump.

[0017] The advantages of this application compared to the prior art are:

[0018] This application addresses the issue of excessive noise during water purifier operation, and the purified water quality in the embodiments of this application typically exhibits good performance. The embodiments of this application determine the first output power based on the target flow rate corresponding to the outlet water temperature specified in the user command, and control the booster pump operation according to the first output power. This allows for reasonable adjustment of the pumping speed required for the water purifier to produce purified water, thereby reducing the pressure before the filter membrane and decreasing noise. In water purification mode, the embodiments of this application adjust the output power of the booster pump based on water quality data and the target flow rate, which can improve or maintain the quality of the purified water produced by the filter at a good level. This allows the water purifier to balance noise reduction and good purified water quality, making the water purifier more intelligent and reliable, and effectively improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0019] 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.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit structure of a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 2This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a control method for a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a control method for a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure labeling: 1-Water purifier; 110-Inlet water circuit; 120-Pure water circuit; 130-Return water circuit; 140-Outlet water circuit; 141-Ambient temperature outlet water circuit; 142-Instant hot water outlet water circuit; 150-Concentrate discharge water circuit; 201-Filter element; 202-Pre-filter element; 211-Inlet valve; 212-Outlet valve; 213-Concentrate valve; 221-Booster pump; 222-Water pump; 231-Check valve; 232-Flow restrictor valve; 241-Raw water quality sensor; 242-Pure water quality sensor; 251-First flow meter; 252-Second flow meter; 260-Water faucet. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures. Furthermore, in the description of this application, terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[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 260, an inlet water path 110, a pure water path 120, an outlet water path 140, a return water path 130, and a concentrated water discharge path 150. One end of the pure water path 120 is connected to the inlet water path 110 via a filter element 201, which filters out salts and impurities from the raw water to produce pure water. The other end of the pure water path 120 is reconnected to the inlet water path 110 via the return water path 130. One end of the outlet water path 140 is connected to the pure water path 120, and the other end is connected to the faucet 260.

[0028] The inlet water path 110 can be sequentially equipped with a pre-filter 202, a raw water quality sensor 241, an inlet valve 211, and a booster pump 221. The return water path 130 connects to the inlet water path 110 at the inlet side of the booster pump 221. The raw water quality sensor 241 can be located at the outlet side of the pre-filter 202; it can also be located at the inlet side of the pre-filter 202. The raw water quality sensor 241 is used to detect the water quality of raw water that has not yet been filtered by the filter 201. Furthermore, the return water path 130 is equipped with a check valve 231, which restricts the flow of pure water in the return water path 130, preventing raw water in the inlet water path 110 from entering the pure water path 120 or the outlet water path 140 through the return water path 130.

[0029] One end of the pure water path 120 is connected to the inlet water path 110 via a filter element 201, and the other end is connected to the outlet water path 140 and the return water path 130. A pure water quality sensor 242 and a first flow meter 251 may be installed on the pure water path 120. The first flow meter 251 is used to detect the pure water flow rate within the pure water path 120, and the pure water quality sensor 242 is used to detect the water quality value of the pure water obtained after filtration by the filter element 201. In this embodiment, both the raw water quality sensor 241 and the pure water quality sensor 242 can be TDS probes. The water quality sensors are used to detect the water quality of the raw water or pure water in their respective water paths, and the TDS value indicates the quality of the water.

[0030] The concentrate discharge water passage 150 is connected to the wastewater outlet of the filter element 201. The concentrate discharge water passage 150 is equipped with a concentrate valve 213, which is used to control the opening and closing of the concentrate discharge water passage 150. In some embodiments, the concentrate valve 213 may still have a small hole in the closed state to allow a small amount of concentrate to be discharged.

[0031] The water purifier 1 can operate in standby mode, water dispensing mode, and flushing mode. The water dispensing mode can include a room temperature water dispensing mode and an instant hot water dispensing mode. Correspondingly, the water dispensing path 140 can include a room temperature water dispensing path 141 and an instant hot water dispensing path 142. One end of each of the two water dispensing paths 140 is connected to the pure water path 120 and the return water path 130, and the other end of each is connected to the water tap 260. The room temperature water dispensing path 141 is equipped with a water dispensing valve 212, and the instant hot water dispensing path 142 is equipped with a flow limiting valve 232, a second flow meter 252, and a water pump 222. The instant hot water dispensing path 142 heats pure water through an instant heating element and pumps the heated pure water to the water tap 260 via the water pump 222.

[0032] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 2This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a control method for a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 As shown, this application provides a control method for a water purifier. This method can be applied to any water purifier provided in any embodiment of this application, as well as to other water purifiers or water circuit products. The control method for the water purifier includes the following steps S110 to S120.

[0033] S110: Obtain the outlet water temperature from the user command, determine the first output power based on the target flow rate corresponding to the outlet water temperature, and control the booster pump to run according to the first output power so as to control the water purifier to enter the water production mode.

[0034] When using a water purifier, users typically select either room temperature or a specified temperature for the water output. The water purifier responds to user input by displaying the desired temperature. Because the heating rate at which the instant heating element in the purifier heats the water to different temperatures per unit time varies, the corresponding water flow rate differs for each temperature. Since the rate at which the filter cartridge produces pure water per unit time depends on the return flow rate in the return path and the output flow rate, with a fixed return flow rate, the target flow rate for different output temperatures can differ. The target flow rate refers to the pure water flow rate within the pure water path, which can also be understood as the rate at which the filter cartridge produces pure water. When the rate at which the filter cartridge produces pure water needs to be changed, the pump volume per unit time must also be adjusted accordingly to meet the pure water production requirements. Therefore, the output power of the booster pump must also change accordingly to meet the target flow rate of pure water production. In other words, the water purifier should control the booster pump to operate at the first output power corresponding to the target flow rate.

[0035] In this step, after receiving a user command carrying the outlet water temperature, the water purifier searches for or calculates the target flow rate that the pure water in the pure water path should reach based on the outlet water temperature. Then, based on the target flow rate, it calculates or searches for the output power that can drive the booster pump to operate and ensure that the pumped water volume after the booster pump is running meets the requirements of the filter element to produce pure water at the target flow rate. This power is then used as the first output power to control the booster pump to operate, thereby controlling the booster pump to enter the water production mode. In the embodiments of this application, the target flow rate and the first output power corresponding to the outlet water temperature can be pre-stored in the water purifier's memory. When searching for the target flow rate or the first output power, the water purifier can directly call them based on the outlet water temperature. Alternatively, the water purifier can use a calculation model for calculating the target flow rate and the first output power, and then input the outlet water temperature to directly obtain the target flow rate and the first output power output by the calculation model.

[0036] S120: In water production mode, it acquires water quality data from the inlet water circuit and the pure water circuit respectively, adjusts the output power of the booster pump based on the water quality data and the target flow rate, and controls the booster pump to run continuously based on the adjusted output power.

[0037] The water purification mode refers to the state in which the water purifier continuously produces pure water through the filter element and outputs water according to the outlet water temperature. Both the inlet water circuit and the pure water circuit are equipped with water quality sensors for detecting water quality. In this embodiment, the water purifier not only controls the booster pump to operate at the first output power according to the outlet water temperature, but also adjusts the output power of the booster pump based on real-time monitored raw water quality data and pure water quality data after the booster pump starts operating. This ensures that the pure water produced by the water purifier maintains a good level or improves upon it, thus balancing the needs of noise reduction and good water quality.

[0038] In the above technical solution, the water purifier controls the booster pump to operate at the first output power corresponding to the target flow rate based on the outlet water temperature, which can reasonably reduce the pressure value in front of the filter membrane. When the outlet water temperature is high, the water purifier cannot heat the high-flow-rate pure water to that temperature in a short time. It needs to reduce the pure water flow rate in the instant hot water path to fully heat the pure water. With the pure water flow rate in the return water path fixed, the speed at which the filter element prepares pure water per unit time can also be appropriately reduced. Therefore, the booster pump usually does not need to operate at full power to pump water to the filter element, but only needs to operate at the first output power corresponding to the outlet water temperature or target flow rate. The reduction in the pressure in front of the filter membrane reduces the noise level of the water purifier when preparing pure water. In water purification mode, the water purifier further adjusts the output power of the booster pump based on water quality data and target flow rate, which can improve or maintain the quality of the pure water produced by the filter cartridge at a good level. The water purifier's pure water speed and output speed are more precise and reliable, thus enabling the water purifier to meet the needs of noise reduction and good pure water quality. The water purifier works more intelligently and reliably, effectively improving the user experience.

[0039] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a control method for a water purifier according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, this application provides a method for controlling a water purifier. This method can be applied to any water purifier provided in any embodiment of this application, as well as to other water purifiers or water circuit products. The method for controlling the water purifier includes the following steps S201 to S240.

[0040] S201: When a user's water dispensing command is received, the water temperature is obtained.

[0041] When users use a water purifier to get room temperature or hot water, they usually click or touch the buttons on the water purifier to select the water temperature, or manually enter the desired water temperature. The interactive module in the water purifier responds to the user's water-taking operation and can generate a user water-taking command carrying the water temperature. When the control module (controller) in the water purifier receives the user water-taking command sent by the interactive module, it obtains the water temperature carried in the user water-taking command.

[0042] S202: Determine the water production mode of the water purifier based on the outlet water temperature.

[0043] A water purifier may include a temperature sensor, which can be installed on the purifier's body or in its water circuit. This sensor detects the current air temperature or the temperature of the unheated raw water or purified water within the purifier's water circuit. The water purifier's production modes may include instant hot water mode and room temperature water mode. In instant hot water mode, the purifier filters the raw water to produce purified water, which is then heated by an instant heating element in the instant hot water outlet circuit before flowing out of the faucet. In room temperature water mode, the purifier filters the raw water to produce purified water, which then flows directly out of the faucet through the room temperature water outlet circuit. In this step, the water purifier obtains the room temperature water temperature through the temperature sensor and then determines the water production mode based on a comparison between the outlet water temperature and the room temperature water temperature. If the outlet water temperature is higher than the room temperature water temperature, the water purifier is in instant hot water mode; if the outlet water temperature is not higher than the room temperature water temperature, the water purifier is in room temperature water mode.

[0044] S210: In the instant hot water production mode, the return water circuit is opened, the first output power is determined according to the outlet water temperature, and the booster pump is controlled to operate according to the first output power.

[0045] Taking a water purifier with a purified water flow rate of 800G as an example, when the water outlet temperature of the water purifier is at room temperature (25℃), and the booster pump is running at full power, the maximum speed at which the filter element can produce pure water is the rated pure water flow rate (i.e., the maximum flow rate that pure water can achieve in the pure water circuit). Taking a rated pure water flow rate of 2000ml / min as an example, when the water outlet temperature of the water purifier is 100℃, the maximum flow rate that the instant heating element in the instant hot water circuit can support when heating pure water is approximately 400ml / min. Without using a pressure reduction and power reduction water production method, the pure water flow rate in the return water circuit can reach as high as 1600ml / min when the booster pump is running at full power.

[0046] When the outlet water temperature is high, the maximum outlet flow rate that the instant hot water circuit can support is limited. If the booster pump still operates at full power at this time, it will cause the pure water flow rate in the return circuit to be too high, increasing the pressure in front of the filter membrane, noise, and overall power consumption. Therefore, in the instant hot water mode, the output power of the booster pump can be appropriately reduced, thereby reducing the speed at which the filter produces pure water and the return flow rate in the return circuit. In the instant hot water mode, the speed at which the filter produces pure water in the water circuit of the water purifier is the target flow rate corresponding to the outlet water temperature. Generally, the higher the outlet water temperature, the lower the target flow rate, and the lower the initial output power. To reduce the probability of the water purifier blowing air and scalding users when dispensing hot water, the water purifier needs to adjust the pumping speed (output power) of the booster pump so that at least part of the pure water produced by the filter can continuously flow back to the inlet water circuit through the return circuit at a fixed flow rate. Therefore, the return flow rate can be preset to a specified value.

[0047] Therefore, in this embodiment, the hot water flow rate in the instant hot water path can be determined based on the outlet water temperature, and then the pure water flow rate (i.e., the target flow rate) in the pure water path can be calculated based on the hot water flow rate and the preset return flow rate, so as to further determine the first output power corresponding to the target flow rate. Step S210 includes sub-steps S211 to S213, the specific contents of which are as follows.

[0048] S211: In instant hot water mode, turn on the return water circuit.

[0049] In this embodiment, a reflux valve can be installed on the reflux water path to control the opening and closing of the reflux water path. Furthermore, the water purifier can open the reflux water path by controlling the reflux valve to open. Alternatively, the reflux water path may only have a check valve. The water purifier can control the booster pump to operate at an appropriate power according to the outlet water temperature, thereby regulating the target flow rate of the pure water produced by the filter element, so that after some pure water flows into the instant hot water outlet path, some pure water can re-enter the inlet water path via the reflux water path.

[0050] In some embodiments, the water purifier can adjust the output power of the booster pump in advance according to the outlet water temperature, and then control the booster pump to output water at a first output power. In other embodiments, the water purifier can first control the booster pump to operate at full power, and then determine the first output power based on the outlet water temperature, and adjust the output power of the booster pump from the rated output power to the first output power. In instant hot water mode, the water purifier can first control the inlet valve to open, control the booster pump to operate at the first output power or full power, and then control the flow limiting valve and the water pump in the instant hot water outlet circuit to open, thereby achieving instant hot water at a specified temperature.

[0051] S212: Determine the hot water outlet flow rate in the outlet water path based on the outlet water temperature, obtain the preset return flow rate, and add the hot water outlet flow rate and the return flow rate to obtain the target flow rate.

[0052] The pure water produced by filtration in the water purifier is divided into two parts: part enters the instant hot water outlet circuit, and the other part flows back to the inlet circuit via the return circuit. Therefore, the target flow rate should be the sum of the hot water outlet flow rate and the return flow rate in the instant hot water outlet circuit. The hot water outlet flow rate in the instant hot water outlet circuit depends on the outlet water temperature. In this step, the water purifier can find or calculate the hot water outlet flow rate in the instant hot water outlet circuit based on the outlet water temperature, and then obtain the pre-set return flow rate in the instant hot water production mode, and finally add the two together to obtain the target flow rate.

[0053] Specifically, the water purifier determines the hot water flow rate in the outlet water path based on the outlet water temperature, including: calculating the hot water flow rate based on the temperature difference between the raw water temperature and the outlet water temperature in the inlet water path, and the heating power of the instantaneous heating element corresponding to the outlet water temperature. For specific reference formulas, please refer to the following formulas (1)-(2).

[0054] Q=K×P×t=c×m×deltaT; (1)

[0055] m=(K×P×t) / (c×deltaT); (2)

[0056] Where Q is the energy required for the instantaneous heating element to heat the pure water in the instantaneous hot water outlet circuit to the outlet temperature, in joules (J); P is the heating power of the instantaneous heating element under the rated voltage AC220V, in W; t is the heating time of the instantaneous heating element, usually taken as 60s (1min); c is the specific heat capacity of water, in J / (kg·℃); m is the hot water flow rate in the instantaneous hot water outlet circuit, in ml / min; deltaT is the temperature difference between the unheated raw water temperature or pure water temperature and the outlet water temperature, in degrees Celsius (℃); K is the heating conversion efficiency of the instantaneous heating element, which can be 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, etc.

[0057] Furthermore, the water purifier adds the preset reflux flow rate to the hot water outlet flow rate to obtain the target flow rate. The reflux flow rate cannot be too small; that is, the target flow rate for purified water produced by the filter cartridge should be greater than the hot water outlet flow rate in the instant hot water circuit to reduce the risk of dry running in the instant hot water circuit and the probability of jetting when water comes out of the faucet. The reflux flow rate is also usually not too large to reduce the pressure in front of the filter cartridge membrane, thereby achieving the purpose of energy saving and noise reduction. In the embodiments of this application, the water purifier can adaptively adjust the set value of the reflux flow rate according to the outlet water temperature carried in the water dispensing command. Alternatively, the reflux flow rate can also be stored in the water purifier's memory as a fixed value for calculation when the water purifier determines the target flow rate based on the hot water outlet temperature. In some embodiments, the reflux flow rate can be set to a fixed value, such as 600ml / min, 700ml / min, 800ml / min, 900ml / min, etc.

[0058] In the embodiments of this application, different outlet water temperatures can correspond to different instantaneous heating power and reflux flow rates. Correspondingly, the target flow rate calculated by the water purifier based on the outlet water temperature also corresponds to different values. Please refer to Table (1) below. Table (1) shows the parameters such as instantaneous heating power and target flow rate corresponding to different outlet water temperatures provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0059] Table (1):

[0060]

[0061] S213: Determine the first output power based on the target flow rate, and control the booster pump to operate according to the first output power.

[0062] After calculating or finding the target flow rate corresponding to the outlet water temperature, the water purifier can determine the first output power based on the target flow rate. The water purifier can calculate the first output power based on the target flow rate, or it can call a data relationship table stored in its memory to find the first output power corresponding to the target flow rate. Furthermore, the water purifier adjusts the output power of the booster pump to the first output power to control the booster pump to continuously pump water according to the first output power. Normally, the first output power is lower than the rated power to significantly reduce the noise of the water purifier during water production.

[0063] S220: In normal temperature water production mode, the preset output power is used as the target output power, and the booster pump is controlled to operate according to the preset output power.

[0064] In ambient temperature water purification mode, the water purifier controls the outlet valve to open, allowing a large amount of purified water to flow through the ambient temperature outlet water path and the faucet. This effectively releases the pressure at the rear end of the filter element, and the pressure before the membrane is generally low. Therefore, the water purifier can control the booster pump to operate at a higher preset output power to maximize the ambient temperature outlet water flow rate and improve overall machine performance. In this embodiment, the preset output power does not exceed the rated output power, and the filter element outputs purified water to the ambient temperature outlet water path at the ambient temperature water purification flow rate corresponding to the preset output power.

[0065] In some embodiments, the water purifier can use the rated output power of the booster pump as the target output power, and the filter cartridge outputs pure water to the room temperature outlet water path at a flow rate corresponding to the rated output power. The water purifier opens the inlet and outlet valves and controls the booster pump to operate at full power. At the same time, the water purifier can also display the pure water production rate based on the first flow rate feedback from the first flow meter (installed in the pure water path), thereby improving the user experience.

[0066] In this embodiment, when the water purifier controls the booster pump to operate at a target output power (first output power or preset output power) based on the outlet water temperature, it can also adaptively adjust the output power of the booster pump in a timely manner based on parameter information detected during the water purification process. Steps S230 to S240 below provide two methods for adjusting the booster pump output power: adjustment based on water quality detection and adjustment based on actual detected flow rate. In this embodiment, the water purifier can adjust based solely on water quality (i.e., only step S230), adjust based solely on actual flow rate (i.e., only step S240), or adjust based on both water quality and actual flow rate simultaneously. Furthermore, when the water purifier adjusts the booster pump output power based on both water quality and actual flow rate, the target output power redefined based on water quality can be used as the preferred adjustment target to maximize the quality of the water output from the water purifier, thereby enhancing the user experience.

[0067] S230: Based on water quality data and target flow rate, adjust the output power of the booster pump, and control the booster pump to run continuously based on the adjusted output power.

[0068] Water quality refers to the performance of the purified water produced by the filter cartridge after filtering raw water in either ambient temperature or instant hot water production mode. Water quality can be expressed as a desalination rate or simply as the TDS value of the purified water. Water quality sensors can be installed in both the inlet and purified water circuits of the water purifier to detect the quality of the raw water and purified water respectively.

[0069] In some embodiments, the water purifier can acquire water quality data from the inlet water path (the raw water quality sensor in the inlet water path) and the pure water path (the pure water quality sensor in the pure water path) in either ambient temperature water production mode or instant hot water production mode. Based on the water quality data and the target flow rate, the purifier adjusts the output power of the booster pump and controls its continuous operation based on the adjusted output power. Specifically, the water purifier can determine whether the water quality data meets preset conditions based on the real-time received raw water quality and pure water quality detection values. If the preset conditions are met, the water purifier controls the booster pump to continue operating at the target output power. For example, in instant hot water production mode, the water purifier controls the booster pump to continue operating at a first output power based on the target flow rate. If the preset conditions are not met, the water purifier can gradually increase or decrease the output power of the booster pump (usually gradually increasing) until the water quality data meets the preset conditions. Then, the water purifier uses the current output power of the booster pump when the water quality data meets the preset conditions as the second output power, that is, as the new target output power, to control the booster pump to continue to run according to the second output power.

[0070] In the embodiments of this application, the preset conditions can be set as follows: the TDS value of pure water is less than a preset TDS threshold, or the water quality level of pure water meets a preset level, or the pollution level of pure water or raw water is lower than a preset pollution level, etc.

[0071] Whether water quality data meets preset conditions can be assessed using the desalination rate. For example, when both raw water quality sensors and pure water quality sensors are used to detect TDS values, the desalination rate is calculated using the formula: Desalination rate = (TDS) / (TDS) 原水 –TDS 纯水 ) / TDS 原水 When the desalination rate is less than the preset ratio (e.g., 90%), the water purifier determines that the water quality data does not meet the preset conditions. In this case, the water purifier can gradually increase the output power of the booster pump to increase the pure water flow rate and return flow rate in the pure water circuit, thereby attempting to improve the filtration effect and improve the pure water quality performance.

[0072] To determine whether water quality data meets preset conditions, the water purifier can also assess the performance using pure water quality test values. For example, when a pure water quality sensor is used to detect TDS values, the water purifier determines whether the detected value exceeds a preset TDS threshold. If the detected value exceeds the preset TDS threshold, the water purifier determines that the pure water quality does not meet the preset conditions. In this case, the water purifier can gradually increase the output power of the booster pump to increase the pure water flow rate and return flow rate in the pure water circuit, thereby attempting to improve the filtration effect and enhance the pure water quality performance.

[0073] In some embodiments, if adjusting the output power of the booster pump step by step fails to improve the quality of the pure water produced by the water purifier, or if the desalination rate or water quality test value of the pure water produced still fails to meet the standard when the output power of the booster pump has been increased to the rated output power, it indicates that the filter element or water quality sensor may be faulty. The water purifier can record the current pure water quality data and raw water quality data, and notify the user after the water production is completed, so that the user can check and repair.

[0074] S240: Based on the PID algorithm, target flow rate, and real-time pure water flow rate feedback from the pure water flow meter, update the target pumping speed of the booster pump, and adjust the target output power of the booster pump based on the latest target pumping speed.

[0075] A pure water flow meter is a flow meter installed in a pure water circuit to detect the flow rate of pure water produced by the filter element. Please refer to... Figure 1 As shown, the pure water flow meter is the first flow meter in the pure water circuit. Specifically, in the ambient temperature water production mode or the instantaneous hot water production mode, the water purifier can obtain the real-time pure water flow rate in the pure water circuit through the pure water flow meter. Then, the water purifier can update the pure water flow rate deviation based on the real-time pure water flow rate and the target flow rate; if the pure water flow rate deviation is less than a preset deviation threshold, the water purifier outputs the target pumping speed based on an integral control algorithm; if the pure water flow rate deviation is greater than or equal to the preset deviation threshold, the water purifier outputs the target pumping speed based on a full proportional control algorithm. Finally, the water purifier adjusts the target output power of the booster pump based on the latest target pumping speed and controls the booster pump to operate according to the new target output power. In some embodiments, when calculating the target pumping speed and adjusting the target output power of the booster pump, the water purifier can disable the controller's total interrupt to prevent accidental interruptions from disrupting the water purifier's control timing.

[0076] In the above technical solution, the water purifier introduces different algorithms based on whether the difference between the monitored real-time pure water flow rate and the target flow rate is less than a preset deviation threshold, so as to calculate the new target output power for controlling the operation of the booster pump, thereby controlling the booster pump to pump water and the filter to produce pure water more accurately and reliably.

[0077] In this embodiment, the output power of the booster pump should always reach the minimum starting power of the booster pump and not exceed the rated output power of the booster pump. Furthermore, the water purifier can also be equipped with a pressure sensor to detect the pre-membrane pressure value of the filter element. When the pre-membrane pressure value of the filter element reaches a preset pressure threshold, the water purifier should stop adjusting the output power of the booster pump and record the current water quality data. During the process of the water purifier determining the target output power based on the updated target pumping speed of the booster pump, the water purifier uses the pumping output power corresponding to the target pumping speed as the target output power. Specifically, if the pumping output power is less than the minimum starting power of the booster pump, the water purifier adjusts the target output power to the minimum starting power; if the pumping output power reaches the minimum starting power of the booster pump, the water purifier adjusts the target output power to the pumping output power.

[0078] In addition to the water purification mode, the water purifier can also adaptively adjust the output power of the booster pump in the backflow flushing mode to reduce noise during filter flushing, save water, or improve filter flushing quality. There are several ways to adjust the booster pump output power in backflow flushing mode, as detailed below.

[0079] First, the water purifier can be equipped with a raw water quality sensor in its inlet water circuit and a pure water quality sensor in its pure water circuit. In the backflow rinsing mode, the water purifier can adjust the pure water backflow rinsing time and / or the booster pump's output power based on the raw water quality data or pure water desalination rate fed back by the raw water quality sensor. In this technical solution, controlling the backflow rinsing time and booster pump output power based on the raw water quality detection value (raw water quality data) allows the water purifier to reasonably reduce noise and achieve thorough rinsing during the rinsing process.

[0080] For example, the water purifier can adjust the pure water backflow rinsing time based on the real-time TDS value of the raw water, fed back by a raw water quality sensor. When the raw water TDS value is <100, the water purifier does not set a pure water backflow rinsing time; when the raw water TDS value is ≥100 (250 > 100), the pure water backflow rinsing time is set to 30 seconds; when the raw water TDS value is ≥250, the pure water backflow rinsing time is set to 50 seconds. In pure water backflow rinsing mode, the booster pump can operate at full power, or it can adjust its output power to reduce power based on the real-time feedback of the pure water quality detection value, thereby maintaining good pure water quality while reducing the rinsing noise of the water purifier.

[0081] Secondly, a water pressure sensor can be installed in the water inlet circuit of the water purifier, and the water pressure sensor can be located on the inlet side of the booster pump. In the backflow flushing mode, the water purifier can adjust the output power of the booster pump based on the real-time water pressure detection value fed back by the water pressure sensor. The higher the real-time water pressure detection value, the lower the output power of the booster pump. In this embodiment, the water purifier adds a water pressure sensor between the inlet valve and the booster pump. Based on the water pressure detection value collected by the water pressure sensor, a closed-loop feedback control algorithm is used to control the booster pump to operate with reduced power, which can improve the reliability of maintaining a constant inlet water pressure, thereby achieving noise reduction.

[0082] Third, please refer to step S240. In the backflow rinsing mode, the water purifier can adjust the output power of the booster pump in real time according to the real-time pure water flow rate fed back by the pure water flow meter and the preset target pure water rinsing flow rate, so as to achieve closed-loop precise control of the pure water rinsing flow rate and achieve a booster pump output power adjustment method similar to the water production mode.

[0083] Fourth, the water purifier can control the booster pump to operate according to a preset flushing output power, which is usually less than the rated output power; alternatively, the water purifier can drive the booster pump to operate according to a preset flushing voltage, where the pulse signal corresponding to the flushing voltage has a non-maximum duty cycle, thus enabling the water purifier to directly reduce the pressure of the booster pump. Both the preset flushing output power and the preset flushing voltage must be sufficient to support the water purifier in completing the backflow flushing operation between the minimum and maximum inlet water pressures (typically 0.1 MPa to 0.4 MPa).

[0084] This application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. The computer program can be executed by a main control chip or a controller to perform a control method for a water purifier.

[0085] If a function is implemented as a software module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0086] 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 control method for a water purifier, the water purifier comprising an inlet water path, a pure water path, an outlet water path, and a filter element, wherein the pure water path is connected to the inlet water path through the filter element, a return water path is provided between the inlet water path and the pure water path, a booster pump is provided in the inlet water path, and the return water path is connected to the inlet end of the booster pump, characterized in that, The control method for the water purifier includes: The system obtains the outlet water temperature from the user's command, determines the first output power based on the target flow rate corresponding to the outlet water temperature, and controls the booster pump to operate according to the first output power, so as to control the water purifier to enter the water production mode. In the water production mode, water quality data fed back from the inlet water circuit and the pure water circuit are acquired respectively. Based on the water quality data and the target flow rate, the output power of the booster pump is adjusted, and the booster pump is controlled to run continuously based on the adjusted output power. If the water quality data does not meet the preset conditions, the output power of the booster pump is gradually increased from the first output power until the water quality data meets the preset conditions. The current output power of the booster pump is then used as the second output power, and the booster pump is controlled to run continuously at the second output power.

2. The control method for a water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of adjusting the output power of the booster pump based on the water quality data and the target flow rate further includes: In the water production mode, it is determined whether the water quality data fed back by the inlet water circuit and the pure water circuit meet the preset conditions. If the preset conditions are met, the booster pump is controlled to operate at the first output power based on the target flow rate.

3. The control method for a water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the adjustment of the output power of the booster pump, when the output power reaches the rated output power of the booster pump, or when the membrane pressure value of the filter element reaches a preset pressure threshold, the adjustment of the output power of the booster pump is stopped and the current water quality data is recorded.

4. The control method for a water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pure water circuit is equipped with a pure water flow meter. In the water purification mode, the control method for the water purifier further includes: Based on the PID algorithm, the target flow rate, and the real-time pure water flow rate fed back by the pure water flow meter, the target pumping speed of the booster pump is updated. Based on the latest target pumping speed, adjust the target output power of the booster pump.

5. The control method for a water purifier according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of updating the target pumping speed of the booster pump based on the PID algorithm, the target flow rate, and the real-time pure water flow rate fed back by the pure water flow meter includes: Update the pure water flow rate deviation based on the real-time pure water flow rate and the target flow rate; If the deviation of the pure water flow rate is less than the preset deviation threshold, the target pumping speed is output based on the integral control algorithm; If the deviation of the pure water flow rate is greater than or equal to the preset deviation threshold, the target pumping speed is output based on the full proportional control algorithm.

6. The control method for a water purifier according to claim 4, characterized in that, The adjustment of the target output power of the booster pump based on the latest target pumping speed includes: Based on the target pumping speed, determine the pumping output power corresponding to the target pumping speed; If the pump output power is less than the minimum starting power of the booster pump, the target output power is adjusted to the minimum starting power; If the pump output power reaches the minimum starting power of the booster pump, the target output power is adjusted to the pump output power.

7. The control method for a water purifier according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The control method for the water purifier also includes: The water purification mode of the water purifier is determined based on the outlet water temperature; When the water production mode is instant hot water production mode, the return water path is opened, the hot water outlet flow rate in the outlet water path is determined according to the outlet water temperature, the preset return flow rate is obtained, and the hot water outlet flow rate and the return flow rate are added together to obtain the target flow rate.

8. The control method for a water purifier according to claim 7, wherein the water purifier further includes an instant heating element, characterized in that, Determining the hot water flow rate in the outlet water path based on the outlet water temperature includes: The hot water outlet flow rate is calculated based on the temperature difference between the raw water temperature and the outlet water temperature in the inlet water path, and the heating power of the instantaneous heating element corresponding to the outlet water temperature.

9. The control method for a water purifier according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control method for the water purifier also includes: When the water production mode is the ambient temperature water production mode, the rated output power of the booster pump is used as the target output power, and pure water is output to the outlet water circuit at the ambient temperature water production flow rate corresponding to the rated output power.

10. The control method for a water purifier according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The water purifier also includes a backflow flushing mode, and the control method of the water purifier further includes: The inlet water path is equipped with a raw water quality sensor. In the reflux rinsing mode, the pure water reflux rinsing time and / or the output power of the booster pump are adjusted based on the water quality data fed back by the raw water quality sensor. A water pressure sensor is installed in the water inlet path and is located on one side of the inlet end of the booster pump. In the backflow flushing mode, the output power of the booster pump is adjusted based on the real-time water pressure detection value fed back by the water pressure sensor; the larger the real-time water pressure detection value, the smaller the output power of the booster pump.

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