Water dispenser temperature control method, water dispenser and computer readable storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a water dispenser temperature control method, a water dispenser and a computer readable storage medium, and relates to the technical field of water dispensers. The water dispenser comprises a hot water pump. The water dispenser temperature control method comprises the following steps: determining a hot water flow difference value according to a target water outlet temperature of the water dispenser, a current cold water temperature, a current cold water flow, a current hot water temperature and a current hot water flow; determining a target duty cycle of the hot water pump according to the hot water flow difference value; and controlling the hot water pump to operate based on the target duty cycle, so as to reduce the temperature difference between the actual water outlet temperature of the water dispenser and the target water outlet temperature. The application solves the technical problem of poor water outlet temperature control precision of the current water dispenser.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of water dispenser technology, and in particular to a water dispenser temperature control method, a water dispenser, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, water dispensers are becoming increasingly feature-rich. For those with heating functions, they typically mix cold and hot water to dispense warm water. However, due to different application scenarios—such as high-rise buildings, low-rise buildings, villas, and large apartments—water pressure will vary. Water pressure affects water flow, which in turn affects water temperature, leading to unstable water temperatures, such as being too high or too low, thus impacting the user's water experience.

[0003] The information disclosed in this background section is only for understanding the background technology of the present application concept, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main purpose of this application is to provide a water dispenser temperature control method, a water dispenser, and a computer-readable storage medium, aiming to solve the technical problem of poor water temperature control accuracy in current water dispensers.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a water dispenser temperature control method, applied to a water dispenser, wherein the water dispenser includes a hot water pump, and the water dispenser temperature control method includes:

[0006] The hot water flow rate difference is determined based on the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser.

[0007] The target duty cycle of the hot water pump is determined based on the hot water flow rate difference.

[0008] The hot water pump is controlled based on the target duty cycle to reduce the temperature difference between the actual outlet water temperature and the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser.

[0009] In one embodiment, before the step of determining the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate, the method further includes:

[0010] Obtain the current duty cycle of the hot water pump and the current hot water temperature of the water dispenser;

[0011] The current duty cycle and the current hot water temperature are substituted into a preset hot water flow rate fitting function to obtain the current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser. The hot water flow rate fitting function is used to represent the correlation between the duty cycle of the hot water pump, the hot water temperature, and the hot water flow rate.

[0012] In one embodiment, the method further includes:

[0013] Obtain hot water flow data corresponding to various preset duty cycles during the operation of the hot water pump;

[0014] Obtain hot water flow data for the hot water pump under various water temperatures during operation;

[0015] The hot water flow rate data under various preset duty cycles and various water temperatures are fitted to obtain the hot water flow rate fitting function.

[0016] In one embodiment, the step of determining the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate includes:

[0017] The target hot water flow rate of the water dispenser is obtained by substituting the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, and current hot water temperature of the water dispenser into a preset heat exchange function.

[0018] The difference in hot water flow rate is obtained based on the target hot water flow rate and the current hot water flow rate.

[0019] In one embodiment, the step of determining the target duty cycle of the hot water pump based on the hot water flow rate difference includes:

[0020] The target duty cycle of the hot water pump is obtained by substituting the hot water flow difference into a preset proportional-integral control function.

[0021] In one embodiment, after the step of determining the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate, the method further includes:

[0022] Determine whether the absolute value of the hot water flow rate difference is greater than a preset flow rate difference;

[0023] If it is greater than the value, then proceed to the following step: determine the target duty cycle of the hot water pump based on the difference in hot water flow rate;

[0024] If it is less than or equal to, then the duty cycle of the hot water pump remains unchanged.

[0025] In one embodiment, prior to the step of controlling the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle, the method further includes:

[0026] The duty cycle adjustment range is determined based on the target duty cycle and the current duty cycle of the hot water pump.

[0027] If the absolute value of the duty cycle adjustment amplitude is less than the first adjustment amplitude, then the updated target duty cycle is determined based on the current duty cycle and the first adjustment amplitude.

[0028] If the absolute value of the duty cycle adjustment magnitude is greater than the second adjustment magnitude, then the updated target duty cycle is determined based on the current duty cycle and the second adjustment magnitude.

[0029] Wherein, the first adjustment amplitude is smaller than the second adjustment amplitude, and the updated target duty cycle is used to control the operation of the hot water pump.

[0030] In one embodiment, after the step of controlling the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle, the method further includes:

[0031] After a preset time, return to the execution steps: determine the hot water flow difference based on the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser, until the temperature difference between the outlet water temperature of the water dispenser and the target outlet water temperature is lower than the preset temperature difference threshold.

[0032] In addition, this application also provides a water dispenser, which includes at least a hot water pump and a control unit. The control unit includes at least a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. The computer program is configured to implement the steps of the water dispenser temperature control method applied to the water dispenser as described above.

[0033] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the water dispenser temperature control method described above.

[0034] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the water dispenser temperature control method described above.

[0035] This application provides a water dispenser temperature control method, applied to a water dispenser including a hot water pump. The water dispenser temperature control method includes: first, determining a hot water flow difference based on the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser. This hot water flow difference reflects the difference in hot water flow rate that the water dispenser needs to adjust to reach the target outlet water temperature. Then, determining a target duty cycle of the hot water pump based on the hot water flow difference to adjust the hot water flow rate through the hot water pump. Finally, controlling the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle to reduce the temperature difference between the actual outlet water temperature and the target outlet water temperature. The technical solution of this application adjusts the hot water flow rate by adjusting the duty cycle of the hot water pump, thereby changing the hot water flow rate in the cold and hot water mixture and thus adjusting the outlet water temperature. This overcomes the defect of unstable outlet water temperature caused by different water flow rates in different application scenarios, making the outlet water temperature of the water dispenser closer to the target outlet water temperature and improving the user's drinking experience. Attached Figure Description

[0036] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0037] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a water dispenser temperature control method applied to a water dispenser in this application.

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the temperature control water circuit principle of a water dispenser in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between the duty cycle of the hot water pump and the water flow rate data in an embodiment of this application.

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between temperature and water flow rate in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a feasible water dispenser temperature control process in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the equipment structure of the hardware operating environment involved in the water dispenser temperature control method in the embodiments of this application.

[0044] The purpose, features, and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0046] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0047] To better understand the technical solution of this application, a detailed description will be provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0048] The water dispenser in this embodiment can be a water purifier and heater integrated water dispenser, which is a water drinking device that integrates water purification and heating functions. Its advantages mainly include convenience, health and safety, energy saving and environmental protection, multi-functionality, and aesthetics. In actual use, when the water purifier is used in different scenarios such as high-rise buildings, villas, and large apartments, if the temperature of the warm water is much lower than the set value when the user uses the warm water setting, it will affect the user experience; if the temperature of the warm water is much higher than the set value, it will cause scalding to the user. At present, mainstream water purifier products generally lack heating functions, and the water temperature of the warm water setting is unstable, which cannot meet the user's warm water needs. Moreover, the current industry practice is to achieve the warm water setting by directly mixing cold and hot water, which results in insufficient stability of the water temperature due to the inability to adjust the water pump flow.

[0049] To overcome the aforementioned technical deficiencies, this application provides a water dispenser temperature control method for use in water dispensers, wherein the water dispenser includes a hot water pump, as described above. Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the water dispenser temperature control method of this application. The water dispenser temperature control method includes:

[0050] Step S10: Determine the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate;

[0051] It should be noted that the water dispenser can be a water purifier (i.e., a machine that integrates water purification and hot water functions), and the hot water pump can be a heat-resistant diaphragm pump. This is because centrifugal pumps are more sensitive to water temperature and pressure at high speeds, resulting in poor flow accuracy and inconsistent stability in the heating system. Therefore, a heat-resistant flow meter is needed to provide real-time feedback of the current flow information. In this embodiment, a heat-resistant diaphragm pump is used as the hot water pump, which significantly improves both flow accuracy and stability, eliminating the need for a separate hot water flow meter and reducing hardware costs. Furthermore, the water dispenser is equipped with a flow meter and temperature sensor in the cold water circuit, and a temperature sensor in the hot water circuit to collect the corresponding water temperature and flow rate.

[0052] The water dispenser in this embodiment also outputs warm water at a target outlet temperature by mixing hot and cold water. The target outlet temperature can be user-defined. The current cold water temperature and flow rate are collected by a flow meter and a sensor. The current hot water temperature is collected by a sensor, while the current hot water flow rate can be directly collected by the flow meter. Alternatively, instead of installing a flow meter in the hot water circuit, the current hot water flow rate can be predicted using the duty cycle of the hot water pump and the current hot water temperature. The prediction process requires pre-collected data on the duty cycle, hot water flow rate, and hot water temperature, as well as the correlations between various data points captured from these data. The hot water flow rate difference represents the difference between the current hot water flow rate and the target hot water flow rate, where the target hot water flow rate represents the required hot water flow rate to make the current outlet water temperature meet the target outlet temperature.

[0053] Step S20: Determine the target duty cycle of the hot water pump based on the difference in hot water flow rate;

[0054] The duty cycle of the hot water pump determines its output power. Understandably, a higher duty cycle results in a higher hot water flow rate. Once the current hot water flow rate difference is determined, a target duty cycle can be set to adjust the current hot water flow rate, bringing the flow rate difference closer to zero. This ensures the temperature of the warm water output from the water dispenser approaches the target outlet temperature.

[0055] When determining the target duty cycle of a hot water pump based on the difference in hot water flow rate, it can be based on the PI (Proportional Integral) control formula commonly used in the current control field, or determined by engineers through experiments and other means to establish the correspondence between the difference in hot water flow rate and the target duty cycle.

[0056] Step S30: Control the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle to reduce the temperature difference between the actual outlet water temperature and the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser.

[0057] After determining the target duty cycle, a control command can be sent to the hot water pump to adjust its duty cycle to the target duty cycle. Since the target duty cycle corresponds to the difference in hot water flow rate, it can make the current hot water flow rate of the hot water pump tend to the target hot water flow rate, thereby making the water temperature of the water dispenser as close as possible to the target water temperature, reducing the temperature difference between the water temperature and the target water temperature, and improving the user experience.

[0058] For example, the temperature control water circuit of the water dispenser in the embodiments of this application is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, a cold water pump, a cold water flow meter, and a cold water sensor are installed in the cold water flow path, while a hot water pump (diaphragm heat pump) and a hot water sensor are installed in the hot water flow path. The two types of water are mixed to form warm water, which is then output to the outside through a faucet. The water dispenser's control board can obtain the cold water temperature T from the cold water temperature sensor. 冷 The current hot water temperature T is obtained through a hot water temperature sensor. 热 The real-time cold water flow rate q is obtained through a cold water flow meter. 冷 In addition, the control motherboard obtains the user-set target outlet water temperature T via communication or the cloud. 目标 .

[0059] This application provides a water dispenser temperature control method, applied to a water dispenser including a hot water pump. The method includes: first, determining a hot water flow difference based on the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate. This hot water flow difference reflects the difference in hot water flow rate required to reach the target outlet water temperature. Then, determining a target duty cycle for the hot water pump based on the hot water flow difference, thereby adjusting the hot water flow rate through the pump. Finally, controlling the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle to reduce the temperature difference between the actual outlet water temperature and the target outlet water temperature. This application's solution adjusts the hot water flow rate by regulating the hot water pump's duty cycle, changing the hot water flow rate in the cold and hot water mixture, thus regulating the outlet water temperature. This overcomes the defect of unstable outlet water temperature caused by different water flow rates in different application scenarios, making the water dispenser's outlet water temperature closer to the target outlet water temperature and improving the user's drinking experience.

[0060] Furthermore, in a feasible embodiment, before the step of determining the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate, the method may further include:

[0061] Step A10: Obtain the current duty cycle of the hot water pump and the current hot water temperature of the water dispenser;

[0062] Step A20: Substitute the current duty cycle and current hot water temperature into the preset hot water flow fitting function to obtain the current hot water flow of the water dispenser. The hot water flow fitting function is used to represent the correlation between the duty cycle of the hot water pump, the hot water temperature, and the hot water flow.

[0063] This application provides a method for determining the hot water flow rate of a water dispenser through function fitting, which eliminates the need to install a flow meter in the hot water circuit and saves hardware costs.

[0064] First, the current duty cycle of the hot water pump can be directly obtained based on the control signal of the hot water pump, and the current hot water temperature in the hot water circuit of the water dispenser can be collected through the temperature sensor.

[0065] It should be noted that the hot water flow rate fitting function is a function that represents the correlation between the duty cycle of the hot water pump, the hot water temperature, and the hot water flow rate, determined in advance through experimental testing and data fitting. It can predict the current hot water flow rate based on the input current duty cycle of the hot water pump and the current hot water temperature. For example, the hot water flow rate fitting function can be expressed as:

[0066]

[0067] In the formula, T is the fitted flow rate value for hot water. 热 Where is the hot water temperature, and D is the duty cycle output value.

[0068] Furthermore, in one feasible embodiment, the method further includes:

[0069] Step B10: Obtain hot water flow data corresponding to various preset duty cycles during the operation of the hot water pump;

[0070] Step B20: Obtain hot water flow data for the hot water pump under various water temperatures during operation;

[0071] Step B30: Fit the hot water flow data corresponding to various preset duty cycles and various water temperatures to obtain the hot water flow fitting function.

[0072] This application provides a method for obtaining a hot water flow fitting function based on data such as the duty cycle, hot water flow rate, and water temperature of a water dispenser during operation.

[0073] It should be noted that the main factors affecting the flow rate of a diaphragm pump are the hot water temperature and the pump speed, with the pump speed determined by the duty cycle.

[0074] For example, the pump speed is controlled by adjusting the duty cycle. The relationship between duty cycle and flow rate can be obtained by testing experimental data, as shown in the table below:

[0075]

[0076] Furthermore, the table above is presented using statistical charts, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the horizontal axis represents the duty cycle, and the vertical axis represents the flow rate. Fitting the relationship between the duty cycle and the flow rate yields a polynomial that can be expressed as: y = -2E-05x 3 +0.0015x 2 +0.411x-1.0655, where x is the x-coordinate and y is the y-coordinate.

[0077] Furthermore, to fit the impact of the large number of bubbles generated during hot water boiling on the calculation of the diaphragm pump flow rate, experimental data from full-load operation of the pump at different hot water temperatures were used to obtain the attenuation relationship between hot water temperature and flow rate. For example, the relationship between hot water temperature and flow rate under full-load start-up of the diaphragm pump is shown in the table below.

[0078] Hot water temperature (°C) Flow rate (ml / s) 99 10 97 13 95 16 90 26 80 30 70 31 60 31 50 32 40 33 30 34

[0079] Furthermore, the above data relationships are represented using statistical graphs, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the horizontal axis represents temperature, and the vertical axis represents flow rate (ml / s). The fitted polynomial is expressed as: y = -9E-06x 4 +0.0019x 3 -0.1529x 2 +5.0099x-24.023, where x is the x-coordinate and y is the y-coordinate.

[0080] Finally, by combining the data on the correlation between duty cycle and flow rate, as well as the correlation between water temperature and flow rate, a mathematical function fitting method is used to fit the above data, and finally a hot water flow rate fitting function is obtained to reflect the correlation between the duty cycle of the hot water pump, the hot water temperature, and the hot water flow rate.

[0081] In one feasible embodiment, the step of determining the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate may include:

[0082] Step S11: Substitute the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, and current hot water temperature of the water dispenser into the preset heat exchange function to obtain the target hot water flow rate of the water dispenser.

[0083] Step S12: Obtain the hot water flow difference based on the target hot water flow rate and the current hot water flow rate.

[0084] In the water dispenser temperature control method of this application embodiment, the target hot water flow rate is used as the control target, and the difference between the target and the actual hot water flow rate (i.e., the hot water flow rate difference) is controlled by PI (Proportion Integral). Specifically, the control board achieves different flow rate control by applying different duty cycles and / or frequencies to the hot water pump (diaphragm pump), thereby maintaining a constant temperature for the hot water outlet.

[0085] Furthermore, when determining the target hot water flow rate for a water dispenser, it is necessary to consider parameters such as the target outlet water temperature, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate. This is because the target hot water flow rate is a target control quantity that makes the water dispenser's outlet water temperature closer to the target outlet water temperature. To determine this target control quantity, it is necessary to base it on the principle of heat exchange between the hot and cold water inside the water dispenser.

[0086] For example, the formula for thermal energy can be expressed as: Q=c*m*Δt;

[0087] Where Q is heat, c is specific heat capacity, m is mass, and Δt is the temperature change amplitude.

[0088] During the mixing of cold and hot water, the cold water absorbs heat and the hot water releases heat. The target is to achieve the desired outlet water temperature T after mixing. 目标 According to the law of conservation of energy, the amount of heat absorbed by cold water is equal to the amount of heat released by hot water, expressed mathematically as follows:

[0089] c*m 冷 *(T 目标 -T 冷 )=c*m 热 *(T 热 -T 目标 );

[0090] Where, m 冷 It refers to the quality of cold water, T. 冷 The temperature of the cold water before heat absorption is m. 热 For hot water quality, T 热 The temperature of the hot water before heat release.

[0091] During the stable water dispensing process of the water dispenser, it can be determined that m = q * t, where m is the water dispensing command, q is the water flow rate, and t is the water dispensing time. Therefore, the above formula can be transformed into:

[0092] q 冷 *(T 目标 -T 冷 )=q 热 *(T 热 -T 目标 );

[0093] According to this formula, the target outlet water temperature T can be input. 目标 (User settings), Current cold water temperature T 冷 (Temperature sensor data), current cold water flow rate q 冷 (Flow meter data), Current hot water temperature T 热 The target hot water flow rate is calculated from parameters such as (temperature sensor data).

[0094] Finally, calculate the target hot water flow rate. With the current hot water flow rate q 热 The difference between (determined by the fitting function) is used to obtain the hot water flow difference Δq, which is then used for feedback control with the hot water flow as the control target.

[0095] Furthermore, in one feasible embodiment, the step of determining the target duty cycle of the hot water pump based on the hot water flow difference may include:

[0096] Step S21: Substitute the hot water flow difference into the preset proportional-integral control function to obtain the target duty cycle of the hot water pump.

[0097] Specifically, a hot water pump (diaphragm pump) can adjust the hot water flow rate by adjusting its own duty cycle data. During the control process, the current duty cycle input D of the pump is used as the target control quantity, and the difference in hot water flow rate Δq is used as the input quantity for difference control.

[0098] For example, the control formula can be expressed as:

[0099]

[0100] The above control formula is a commonly used PI control formula in the field of control, where K p T t The control parameters are obtained by engineers through laboratory testing of the water dispenser and are pre-set in the water dispenser's control unit.

[0101] In one feasible embodiment, the control unit of the water dispenser starts adjusting the duty cycle of the hot water pump after the hot and cold water are mixed, and performs control adjustment at a preset frequency, with an execution time interval of Δg between each two executions.

[0102] Furthermore, in one feasible embodiment, after the step of determining the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate, the method further includes:

[0103] Step S13: Determine whether the absolute value of the hot water flow rate difference is greater than the preset flow rate difference;

[0104] If the value is greater than the target value in step S14, then proceed to step S20: determine the target duty cycle of the hot water pump based on the difference in hot water flow rate.

[0105] Step S15: If it is less than or equal to, then keep the duty cycle of the hot water pump unchanged.

[0106] Based on the aforementioned embodiments, after the water dispenser system stabilizes its water output, the theoretical target hot water flow rate is first determined. Then, determine the current actual hot water flow rate based on the aforementioned hot water flow rate fitting function. By comparing these values, the difference in hot water flow rate at this moment is obtained as Δq.

[0107] Furthermore, to avoid frequent adjustments to the duty cycle of the hot water pump by the water dispenser system, the aforementioned hot water flow difference Δq can be compared with a preset flow difference value, which can also be understood as the minimum adjustable flow value of the hot water pump. It can be set according to the actual situation.

[0108] For example, if Then the next step of temperature adjustment can be performed, the duty cycle of the hot water pump is re-determined, and step S20 is executed. If Then there is no need to adjust the temperature. Keep the duty cycle of the hot water pump unchanged, skip steps S20 and S30, and return to step S10 after waiting for the preset time interval.

[0109] In one feasible embodiment, prior to the step of controlling the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle, the water dispenser temperature control method may further include:

[0110] Step C10: Determine the duty cycle adjustment range based on the target duty cycle and the current duty cycle of the hot water pump;

[0111] Step C20: If the absolute value of the duty cycle adjustment amplitude is less than the first adjustment amplitude, then determine the updated target duty cycle based on the current duty cycle and the first adjustment amplitude.

[0112] Step C30: If the absolute value of the duty cycle adjustment amplitude is greater than the second adjustment amplitude, then determine the updated target duty cycle based on the current duty cycle and the second adjustment amplitude.

[0113] The first adjustment amplitude is smaller than the second adjustment amplitude, and the updated target duty cycle is used to control the operation of the hot water pump.

[0114] After determining the target duty cycle of the water dispenser's hot water pump, the difference between the two can be calculated by combining the current duty cycle of the hot water pump, thereby determining the required adjustment range of the duty cycle. It's understood that during the adjustment process, the system pre-sets a minimum (i.e., the first adjustment range) and a maximum (i.e., the second adjustment range) for a single change in the duty cycle. Therefore, the adjustment range of the hot water pump's duty cycle cannot exceed the range corresponding to the minimum and maximum values ​​of a single change in the duty cycle.

[0115] Therefore, after determining the duty cycle adjustment amplitude ΔD, if the absolute value of ΔD is within [D... min D max Within this range, the duty cycle of the hot water pump is adjusted based on ΔD to make the adjusted duty cycle the target duty cycle. If ΔD is less than D... min Then based on D min The duty cycle of the hot water pump is adjusted according to the value of ΔD. If ΔD is positive, then D is added to the current duty cycle. min Once the updated target duty cycle is obtained, if ΔD is negative, then subtract D from the current duty cycle. min The updated target duty cycle is obtained. Similarly, if ΔD is greater than D... max Then based on D max The duty cycle of the hot water pump is adjusted according to the value of ΔD. If ΔD is positive, then D is added to the current duty cycle. max Once the updated target duty cycle is obtained, if ΔD is negative, then subtract D from the current duty cycle. max The updated target duty cycle is obtained.

[0116] Finally, the operation of the hot water pump is controlled based on the updated target duty cycle, so that the hot water flow rate of the water dispenser approaches the target hot water flow rate.

[0117] In one feasible embodiment, after the step of controlling the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle, the method further includes:

[0118] Step S40: After a preset time, return to step S10: Determine the hot water flow difference based on the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser until the temperature difference between the outlet water temperature and the target outlet water temperature is lower than the preset temperature difference threshold.

[0119] In the water dispenser temperature control method provided in this application embodiment, the control unit of the water dispenser can cyclically execute steps S10 to S30. That is, after step S30, after a preset time interval, it returns to step S10 again, and then executes steps S20 and S30 sequentially, so that the difference between the current hot water flow rate and the target hot water flow rate becomes smaller and smaller. At the same time, the temperature difference between the current outlet water temperature and the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser also becomes smaller and smaller, thereby improving the water temperature control accuracy of the water dispenser and the user's water experience. The preset temperature difference threshold can be set according to actual needs. If the outlet water temperature accuracy requirement is relatively high, the preset temperature difference threshold can be set smaller; if the outlet water temperature accuracy requirement is relatively low, the preset temperature difference threshold can be set larger. The minimum preset temperature difference threshold can be set to 0.

[0120] For ease of understanding, and in conjunction with the content of the foregoing embodiments, a feasible water dispenser temperature control process is as follows: Figure 5 As shown. First, after the user sets the water temperature, if the user is currently taking warm water, the water dispenser's control unit calculates the theoretical target hot water flow rate based on a formula. Refit calculation of actual hot water flow Determine the difference Δq between the two values, and then determine whether the difference meets the temperature control conditions. If not, it remains unchanged; if yes, the difference Δq is substituted into the preset PI temperature control formula to calculate the current duty cycle adjustment amplitude ΔD, based on the preset range of the duty cycle adjustment amplitude (e.g., D). min D max After limiting the duty cycle adjustment amplitude ΔD, the current duty cycle of the hot water pump is adjusted to obtain the target duty cycle. Finally, the operation of the hot water pump is controlled based on the target duty cycle to achieve the adjustment of the hot water flow rate.

[0121] In the water dispenser temperature control method of this application embodiment, the current hot water flow rate is continuously corrected based on the difference between the fitted hot water flow rate value and the target hot water flow rate value, so that the hot water flow rate difference tends to 0, and the final effect is that the actual water temperature continuously approaches the warm water temperature set by the user, thereby achieving the purpose of precise temperature control.

[0122] This application also provides a water dispenser, which includes at least a hot water pump and a control unit. The hot water pump can be a diaphragm pump. The control unit includes: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor. The memory stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor, and the instructions are executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the water dispenser temperature control method in the above embodiments.

[0123] The following is for reference. Figure 6 It shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a control unit suitable for implementing the embodiments of this application. Figure 6The control unit shown is merely an example and should not be construed as limiting the functionality and scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0124] like Figure 6 As shown, the control unit may include a processing device 101 (e.g., a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, etc.), which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in read-only memory (ROM) 102 or a program loaded from storage device 103 into random access memory (RAM) 104. RAM 104 also stores various programs and data required for the operation of the control unit. The processing device 101, ROM 102, and RAM 104 are interconnected via bus 105. Input / output (I / O) interface 106 is also connected to the bus. Typically, the following systems can be connected to I / O interface 106: input devices 107 including, for example, touchscreens, touchpads, keyboards, mice, image sensors, microphones, accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.; output devices 108 including, for example, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), speakers, vibrators, etc.; storage devices 103 including, for example, magnetic tapes, hard disks, etc.; and communication devices 109. Communication device 109 allows the control unit to communicate wirelessly or wiredly with other devices to exchange data. Although the diagram shows control units with various systems, it should be understood that it is not required to implement or have all of the systems shown. More or fewer systems may be implemented alternatively.

[0125] In particular, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the processes described above with reference to the flowcharts can be implemented as computer software programs. For example, embodiments of this disclosure include a computer program product comprising a computer program carried on a computer-readable medium, the computer program containing program code for performing the methods shown in the flowcharts. In such embodiments, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via a communication device, or installed from storage device 103, or installed from ROM 102. When the computer program is executed by processing device 101, it performs the functions defined in the methods of the embodiments of this application.

[0126] The water dispenser provided in this application uses the water dispenser temperature control method described in the above embodiments, which can solve the technical problem of poor water temperature control accuracy in current water dispensers. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the water dispenser provided in this application are the same as those of the water dispenser temperature control method described in the above embodiments, and other technical features of this water dispenser are the same as those disclosed in the methods of the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0127] It should be understood that various parts of the embodiments of this application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the description of the above embodiments, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0128] The above description is merely a specific implementation of the embodiments of this application, but the protection scope of the embodiments of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of this application should be determined by the protection scope of the above claims.

[0129] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that can run on a processor, the computer program being used to execute the water dispenser temperature control method in the above embodiments.

[0130] The computer-readable storage medium provided in this application embodiment may be, for example, a USB flash drive, but is not limited to, electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems or devices, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to: electrical connections having one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof. In this embodiment, the computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium containing or storing a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, system, or device. The program code contained on the computer-readable storage medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to: wires, optical cables, RF (Radio Frequency), etc., or any suitable combination thereof.

[0131] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium may be included in the water dispenser; or it may exist independently and not assembled into the water dispenser.

[0132] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium carries one or more programs that, when executed by the water dispenser, cause the water dispenser to: determine a hot water flow rate difference based on the water dispenser's target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate; determine a target duty cycle for the hot water pump based on the hot water flow rate difference; and control the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle to reduce the temperature difference between the water dispenser's outlet water temperature and the target outlet water temperature.

[0133] Computer program code for performing the operations of this disclosure can be written in one or more programming languages ​​or a combination thereof, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, Smalltalk, and C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" language or similar programming languages. The program code can be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In cases involving remote computers, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer via any type of network—including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN)—or can be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0134] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of this application. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions indicated in the blocks may occur in a different order than those indicated in the drawings. For example, two consecutively indicated blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or operation, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0135] The modules described in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in software or hardware. The names of the modules do not necessarily limit the functionality of the unit itself.

[0136] The computer-readable storage medium provided in this application embodiment stores computer-readable program instructions for executing the above-described water dispenser temperature control method, which can solve the technical problem of poor water temperature control accuracy in current water dispensers. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the computer-readable storage medium provided in this application embodiment are the same as the beneficial effects of the water dispenser temperature control method provided in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0137] This application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the water dispenser temperature control method described above.

[0138] The computer program product provided in this application can solve the technical problem of poor water temperature control accuracy in current water dispensers. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the computer program product provided in this application are the same as those of the water dispenser temperature control method provided in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0139] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and do not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for temperature control in a water dispenser, characterized in that, Applied to a water dispenser, the water dispenser includes a hot water pump, and the water dispenser temperature control method includes: The hot water flow rate difference is determined based on the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser. Substituting the hot water flow difference into a preset proportional-integral control function, the target duty cycle of the hot water pump is obtained; The hot water pump is controlled based on the target duty cycle to reduce the temperature difference between the actual outlet water temperature and the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser. The step of determining the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser includes: The target hot water flow rate of the water dispenser is obtained by substituting the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, and current hot water temperature of the water dispenser into a preset heat exchange function. The difference in hot water flow rate is obtained based on the target hot water flow rate and the current hot water flow rate.

2. The water dispenser temperature control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Before the step of determining the hot water flow difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate, the method further includes: Obtain the current duty cycle of the hot water pump and the current hot water temperature of the water dispenser; The current duty cycle and the current hot water temperature are substituted into a preset hot water flow rate fitting function to obtain the current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser. The hot water flow rate fitting function is used to represent the correlation between the duty cycle of the hot water pump, the hot water temperature, and the hot water flow rate.

3. The water dispenser temperature control method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain hot water flow data corresponding to various preset duty cycles during the operation of the hot water pump; Obtain hot water flow data for the hot water pump under various water temperatures during operation; The hot water flow rate data under various preset duty cycles and various water temperatures are fitted to obtain the hot water flow rate fitting function.

4. The water dispenser temperature control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After the step of determining the hot water flow rate difference based on the target outlet water temperature of the water dispenser, the current cold water temperature, the current cold water flow rate, the current hot water temperature, and the current hot water flow rate, the method further includes: Determine whether the absolute value of the hot water flow rate difference is greater than a preset flow rate difference; If it is greater than the value, then proceed to the following step: determine the target duty cycle of the hot water pump based on the difference in hot water flow rate; If it is less than or equal to, then the duty cycle of the hot water pump remains unchanged.

5. The water dispenser temperature control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Prior to the step of controlling the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle, the method further includes: The duty cycle adjustment range is determined based on the target duty cycle and the current duty cycle of the hot water pump. If the absolute value of the duty cycle adjustment amplitude is less than the first adjustment amplitude, then the updated target duty cycle is determined based on the current duty cycle and the first adjustment amplitude. If the absolute value of the duty cycle adjustment magnitude is greater than the second adjustment magnitude, then the updated target duty cycle is determined based on the current duty cycle and the second adjustment magnitude. Wherein, the first adjustment amplitude is smaller than the second adjustment amplitude, and the updated target duty cycle is used to control the operation of the hot water pump.

6. The water dispenser temperature control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, After the step of controlling the operation of the hot water pump based on the target duty cycle, the method further includes: After a preset time, return to the execution steps: determine the hot water flow difference based on the target outlet water temperature, current cold water temperature, current cold water flow rate, current hot water temperature, and current hot water flow rate of the water dispenser, until the temperature difference between the outlet water temperature of the water dispenser and the target outlet water temperature is lower than the preset temperature difference threshold.

7. A water dispenser, characterized in that, The water dispenser includes at least a hot water pump and a control unit. The control unit includes at least a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. The computer program is configured to implement the steps of the water dispenser temperature control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a program for implementing a water dispenser temperature control method, the program for implementing the water dispenser temperature control method being executed by a processor to implement the steps of the water dispenser temperature control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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