A mineralized water device with sterilization function, a control method, and a water dispenser

Abstract

This invention provides a mineralized water device with sterilization function, a control method, and a water dispenser. The mineralized water device includes: a pure water tank for storing purified water to be heated; a water pump installed after the pure water tank, with one end connected to the pure water tank and the other end connected to a mineralization filter element; a flow meter installed on the outlet pipe and upstream of the instant heating module; a mineralization filter element installed after the water pump and connected to the mineralized water tank; a TDS sensor installed inside the mineralization filter element to detect the total solubility of water in the filter element; an outlet pipe connected to the mineralized water tank; an ultraviolet disinfection diode installed on the outlet pipe and upstream of the outlet; an instant heating module installed on the outlet pipe and located between the flow meter and the ultraviolet disinfection diode; and a control module for acquiring the detection data from the flow meter and the TDS sensor, and automatically selecting different sterilization programs based on downtime and water quality parameters. According to this invention, sterilization can be performed precisely, effectively controlling microorganisms.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of drinking water mineralization technology, specifically to a mineralized water device and control method with sterilization function, and a water dispenser. Background Technology

[0002] Water is an indispensable basic resource for human daily life. As people's living standards continue to improve, higher demands are being placed on the safety and health benefits of drinking water. Modern water treatment technologies not only focus on removing harmful substances and residual chlorine, but also tend to enhance the health value of water through deep purification and functional additives.

[0003] However, after removing traditional disinfectants (such as chlorine), the resulting purified or remineralized water lacks effective means to inhibit microbial growth, making it highly susceptible to microbial contamination during storage and transportation, which can lead to secondary pollution and public health safety issues. Therefore, while improving water quality, it is essential to focus on the dynamic control of microorganisms throughout the entire water supply system to ensure the biological stability of water quality throughout its entire lifecycle.

[0004] Currently, commonly used ultraviolet sterilization technologies mainly rely on low-pressure mercury lamps. However, these devices are bulky, energy-intensive, have limited lifespans, and pose environmental risks due to mercury content. Although UV-LED (ultraviolet light-emitting diode) technology has seen some development in recent years, offering advantages such as adjustable wavelength and fast response, it still faces challenges in practical applications, including high cost and limited sterilization efficiency. Furthermore, these technologies are mostly "point-based sterilization," making it difficult to achieve continuous and comprehensive microbial control of the entire water system.

[0005] Therefore, a technical solution is needed that is compact, cost-effective, and suitable for systematic deployment of water quality preservation and sterilization control technology to meet the growing demand for high-quality water and effectively ensure the safety and hygiene of end-use water. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention aims to provide a mineralized water device and control method with sterilization function. By embedding environmental antibacterial, interception sterilization and spot sterilization technologies in different cycles of microbial growth, and with precise sterilization performance design, it achieves the safe killing and control effect of microorganisms in water purified by the mineralized water device under the premise of economy and compactness.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a mineralized water device with sterilization function is provided, the mineralized water device comprising a pure water tank, a water pump, a flow meter, a TDS sensor, a mineralized filter element, a mineralized water tank, a water outlet pipeline, an ultraviolet disinfection diode, an instant heating module, a water outlet, a drain valve, a drain outlet, and a control module, wherein:

[0008] The pure water tank is used to store purified water to be heated;

[0009] The water pump is located after the pure water tank, with one end of the water pump connected to the pure water tank and the other end connected to the mineralization filter element.

[0010] The flow meter is installed on the water outlet pipe and located upstream of the instant heating module, and is used to detect the water flow velocity and time the zero flow time.

[0011] The mineralization filter element is located at the rear end of the water pump and connected to the mineralized water tank. The TDS sensor is located inside the mineralization filter element and is used to detect the total solubility of water in the mineralization filter element.

[0012] The outlet pipe is connected to the mineralized water tank;

[0013] The ultraviolet disinfection diode is installed on the water outlet pipe and located upstream of the water outlet to perform flow-through ultraviolet sterilization of the water flow.

[0014] The instant heating module is installed on the water outlet pipe and located between the flow meter and the ultraviolet disinfection diode, and is used to sterilize the water flow at high temperature.

[0015] When the drain valve is opened, it discharges the water stored in the water outlet pipe through the drain port.

[0016] The control module is used to acquire the detection data of the flow meter and the TDS sensor, and automatically select different disinfection programs according to the downtime and water quality parameters.

[0017] According to some embodiments, a thermistor temperature sensor is also included, which is disposed in the pure water tank.

[0018] According to some embodiments, it also includes a reversing valve, which is connected to the water intake passage and the water discharge passage respectively, and controls the direction of water flow through the reversing valve.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the mineralized filter element has an inner and outer nested structure, including an outer mineral material layer and an inner inorganic bactericidal material activated carbon rod, thereby achieving a combination of physical filtration and antibacterial functions through the outer mineral material layer and the inner inorganic bactericidal material activated carbon rod.

[0020] According to some embodiments, the inorganic bactericidal material includes silver-loaded activated carbon.

[0021] According to some embodiments, it also includes: a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a third solenoid valve, a fourth solenoid valve, and a fifth solenoid valve, wherein:

[0022] The No. 1 solenoid valve is located at the water inlet and serves as the main switch.

[0023] The third solenoid valve is a three-way solenoid valve. The water pump is connected to the third solenoid valve, then to the reversing valve via the fourth solenoid valve, and finally to the fifth solenoid valve via the reversing valve, and then to the pure water tank via the second solenoid valve, forming a disinfection closed-loop circuit.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the control module is configured as follows:

[0025] If the zero-flow-rate duration is greater than the first threshold and the TDS sensor detects that the total dissolved substance value of the water in the mineralized filter cartridge is less than the second threshold, the second disinfection procedure is initiated.

[0026] The second disinfection procedure includes:

[0027] Start the drain valve to drain the water from the pipeline;

[0028] After the water in the pipeline is drained, the drain valve is closed and the disinfection closed-loop circuit is opened;

[0029] Start the water pump, and when the flow meter detects that the water flow rate is greater than zero, start the instant heating module;

[0030] When the thermistor temperature sensor in the pure water tank detects that the water temperature is higher than the preset temperature, the instant heating module will be shut off after maintaining the temperature for a first preset time.

[0031] The water pump delivers the heated and sterilized purified water to the mineralization filter element for mineralization treatment via the No. 3 solenoid valve.

[0032] According to some embodiments, the control module is configured as follows:

[0033] When the TDS sensor detects that the total dissolved substance value of the water stored in the mineralized filter cartridge is greater than the second threshold, the third disinfection procedure is initiated.

[0034] The third disinfection procedure includes:

[0035] Start the drain valve to drain the water from the pipeline;

[0036] After the water in the pipeline is drained, the drain valve is closed and the disinfection closed-loop circuit is opened;

[0037] Start the water pump, and when the flow meter detects that the water flow rate is greater than zero, activate the ultraviolet disinfection diode;

[0038] After maintaining the water flow for a second set time, the ultraviolet disinfection diode is turned off.

[0039] The water pump delivers the heated and sterilized purified water to the mineralization filter element for mineralization treatment via the No. 3 solenoid valve.

[0040] According to another aspect of the present invention, a water dispenser is provided, comprising the mineralized water device as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0041] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mineralized water device, by installing a mineralization filter element at the rear end of the water pump, can not only adjust the water quality to be rich in minerals beneficial to the human body, but also inhibit the growth of bacteria in the water path. The ultraviolet disinfection diode located at the front end of the outlet can perform flow-through ultraviolet sterilization of the water flow, effectively killing any remaining microorganisms and ensuring the safety of the final effluent. The instant heating module, located between the flow meter and the ultraviolet disinfection diode, can heat the water, using high temperature to further enhance the sterilization effect, forming multiple sterilization barriers.

[0042] According to some embodiments, the control module dynamically adjusts the operating status of each sterilization module by real-time monitoring data from the flow meter, total dissolved substance (TDS) sensor, and thermistor temperature sensor, achieving energy-efficient and on-demand sterilization. Solenoid valves control the water flow path, allowing the system to flexibly switch the water flow direction according to the current operating mode, such as direct water supply, mineralization treatment, or sterilization treatment, improving the system's adaptability and efficiency. The flow meter and TDS sensor can monitor the water flow status in real time and feed the data back to the control module, enabling the system to dynamically adjust the operating mode according to actual needs, such as starting or stopping specific sterilization programs. Based on the data provided by the flow meter and TDS sensor, the control module can execute corresponding sterilization strategies, ensuring optimal sterilization effects in different usage scenarios while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.

[0043] According to some embodiments, the control method for the mineralized water device automatically selects the disinfection program based on downtime and water quality parameters through a control module, providing a flexible and efficient disinfection strategy. Instead of using a uniform, fixed disinfection process, the disinfection intensity and method are dynamically adjusted according to actual needs. For example, only the first disinfection program is activated under low-risk conditions, while a more effective second or third disinfection program is used under high-risk conditions. This on-demand energy allocation method helps to significantly reduce overall energy consumption and achieve the goals of energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0044] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and do not limit the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0045] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below.

[0046] Figure 1A schematic diagram of a mineralized water apparatus with sterilization function according to an example embodiment is shown.

[0047] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the composition of a mineralized filter element according to an example embodiment is shown.

[0048] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a control method for a mineralized water apparatus with sterilization function according to an example embodiment is shown.

[0049] Figure 4 A block diagram of a computing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0050] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that the invention will be thorough and complete, and the concept of the exemplary embodiments will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted.

[0051] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to give a full understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, apparatuses, steps, etc., can be employed. In other instances, well-known methods, apparatuses, implementations, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the invention.

[0052] The block diagrams shown in the accompanying drawings are merely functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically independent entities. That is, these functional entities can be implemented in software, in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different network and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0053] The flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative and do not necessarily include all content and operations / steps, nor do they necessarily have to be performed in the described order. For example, some operations / steps can be broken down, while others can be combined or partially combined; therefore, the actual execution order may change depending on the specific circumstances.

[0054] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, the first component discussed below may be referred to as the second component without departing from the teachings of the present invention. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes all combinations of any one and more of the associated listed items.

[0055] The user information (including but not limited to user device information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, data stored, data displayed, etc.) involved in this invention are all information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties. Furthermore, the collection, use and processing of related data must comply with the relevant laws, regulations and standards of the relevant countries and regions, and corresponding operation entry points are provided for users to choose to authorize or refuse.

[0056] Those skilled in the art will understand that the accompanying drawings are merely schematic diagrams of exemplary embodiments, and the modules or processes in the drawings are not necessarily essential for implementing the present invention, and therefore cannot be used to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0057] Water is an indispensable part of human life, and as living standards improve, there is an increasing demand for advanced water treatment and added health benefits. However, purified or remineralized water, obtained after removing disinfectants, is more susceptible to microbial invasion and growth, exacerbating hygiene problems. Therefore, while purifying and adding beneficial additives, it is crucial to consider the control of microorganisms in the entire water environment.

[0058] Existing ultraviolet germicidal mercury lamps are bulky and expensive, while UV-LED technology is inefficient but also costly, and both are point-based sterilization control systems, failing to meet the requirements for systematic microbial control. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an economical, efficient, and compact water quality preservation and sterilization control technology.

[0059] Therefore, the present invention provides a mineralized water device and control method with sterilization function, as well as a water dispenser. By embedding environmental antibacterial, interception sterilization and spot sterilization technologies in different cycles of microbial growth, and with precise performance design, the purified mineralized water device achieves the system's safe sterilization and control effect on microorganisms under the premise of economy and compactness.

[0060] Before describing the embodiments of the present invention, some terms or concepts involved in the embodiments of the present invention will be explained.

[0061] TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is commonly referred to as "total dissolved solids" or "total dissolved matter." TDS refers to the total amount of all inorganic and organic matter dissolved in water, including minerals, salts, metal ions, and other tiny suspended particles.

[0062] NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) is a thermistor whose resistance decreases as temperature increases. This characteristic makes NTC thermistors applicable to temperature measurement, temperature compensation, and overheat protection.

[0063] UV-LED (Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diode) is a semiconductor light source that emits ultraviolet light.

[0064] PID control is a feedback control mechanism widely used in industrial control systems. It adjusts the controller's output by calculating the error between the setpoint (target value) and the actual output value, thereby achieving precise control. The PID controller gets its name from the three mathematical operations it uses: proportional (P), integral (I), and derivative (D). The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0065] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a mineralized water device with sterilization function according to an example embodiment is shown.

[0066] See Figure 1 The figure shows a mineralized water device with sterilization function. The device includes a control module 100, a reversing valve 001, an ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) 003, an instant heating module 005, a flow meter 007, a pure water tank 009, a water pump 011, a mineralization filter element 013, a mineralized water tank 015, and multiple solenoid valves. These solenoid valves include solenoid valve 101, solenoid valve 102, solenoid valve 103, solenoid valve 104, solenoid valve 105, and a drain valve 106. Purified water flows into the mineralized water device through the inlet, and the mineralized water, after being heated, flows out through the outlet. To minimize the impact on the taste of the water, a drain outlet is provided in the water system to discharge stagnant water that has not flowed for a long time, reducing the total number of bacterial colonies in the effluent.

[0067] According to the example embodiment, the water pump 011 is installed downstream of the pure water tank 009, which stores purified water to be heated. One end of the water pump 011 is connected to the pure water tank 009, and the other end is connected to the mineralization filter element 013. The flow meter 007 is installed on the outlet pipe and upstream of the instant heating module 005, used to detect the water flow rate and time the zero flow duration. The mineralization filter element 013 is installed downstream of the water pump 011 and connected to the mineralization water tank 015, used to inhibit the growth of bacteria in the water path. The outlet pipe is connected to the mineralization water tank 015. The UV-LED module 003 is installed on the outlet pipe and at the front end of the outlet, performing flow-through UV sterilization on the water flow. The instant heating module 005 is installed between the flow meter 007 and the UV-LED module 003, used for high-temperature sterilization of the water.

[0068] The control module 100 acquires detection data from the flow meter and the TDS sensor, and automatically selects different disinfection programs based on downtime and water quality parameters. The reversing valve 001 is located at the front end of the outlet and the rear end of the ultraviolet disinfection diode 003. The reversing valve 001 connects to both the water intake and drainage paths, controlling the water flow direction. In water intake mode, the reversing valve 001 controls the flow of the water intake path, allowing water to flow out of the outlet. In disinfection mode, the reversing valve 001 controls the flow of the drainage path, allowing water to circulate along the disinfection closed-loop circuit. This dynamic water path design, achieved through components such as the reversing valve, allows for flexible changes in the water flow path, preventing the formation of stagnant water zones and timely removal of residual water from the system, thereby reducing the risk of secondary contamination. This strategy ensures that the total bacterial count in the final effluent is below 10 CFU / mL, meeting or even exceeding many stringent drinking water hygiene standards. It guarantees the provision of high-quality, safe drinking water even in complex operating environments.

[0069] According to the embodiment, the plurality of solenoid valve mineralization water device includes a first solenoid valve 101, a second solenoid valve 102, a third solenoid valve 103, a fourth solenoid valve 104, a fifth solenoid valve 105, and a drain valve 106. The first solenoid valve 101 is located at the water inlet and serves as the main switch. The drain valve 106 is located at the front end of the drain outlet and is used to periodically discharge water that has not flowed for a long time. The second solenoid valve 102 to the fifth solenoid valve 105 form a disinfection closed loop.

[0070] According to some embodiments, the drain valve is used for negative pressure drainage with a response time of less than 3 seconds. It opens rapidly when drainage is needed, creating a negative pressure drainage channel to discharge stagnant water that has not flowed for a long time, preventing bacterial growth. The drain valve ensures that there is no stagnant water remaining in the pipeline for extended periods, reducing the risk of bacterial proliferation.

[0071] By combining and controlling solenoid valves No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5, a closed-loop water circuit can be formed, allowing water to circulate within a specific path. Solenoid valve No. 3 is a three-way solenoid valve, while solenoid valves No. 2 and No. 5 are one-way solenoid valves in the circuit. The water pump is connected to solenoid valve No. 3, then to the directional valve via solenoid valve No. 4, and finally to the pure water tank via solenoid valve No. 5, forming a disinfection closed-loop circuit. During the disinfection process, this ensures that the water flow fully passes through the UV-LED module and the instant heating module, achieving highly efficient sterilization.

[0072] According to some embodiments, each of the pure water tanks 009 is equipped with an NTC temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the purified water in the tank in real time. The control module includes a PID temperature control module, an instant heating module, and closed-loop control of the fluid state. When the flow rate is >0L / min, the PID temperature control module is triggered. When the water temperature in the pure water tank has not reached the set temperature of the outlet water, the pure water pumped by the pump flows to the instant heating module through the No. 3 and No. 4 solenoid valves for heating. During the heating process, the reversing valve opens the drain water path, the drain valve closes, and the purified water flows back to the pure water tank through the No. 5 and No. 2 solenoid valves. The NTC sensor monitors the temperature of the pure water tank in real time. When the water temperature in the pure water tank reaches the set temperature of the outlet water, the purified water pumped by the pump flows into the mineralization filter element through the No. 3 solenoid valve for mineralization. The mineralized pure water is stored in the mineralized water tank. The control module can maintain a precise temperature control strategy of 75℃±2℃ for 15 seconds.

[0073] The combination of transient high temperature and UV-LED technology achieves complementary sterilization in both time and space. Transient high temperature can quickly and effectively kill microorganisms with poor heat resistance, while UV-LED can destroy DNA structure to eliminate microorganisms with some heat resistance. The combined use of these two technologies can achieve highly efficient sterilization under various conditions, reaching a sterilization rate of 99.999%, making it particularly suitable for applications requiring extremely high hygiene standards. The mineralized water device in this embodiment achieves a heat exchange efficiency of over 88% at a flow rate of 0.8 L / min, saving 24% more energy than conventional instantaneous heating systems.

[0074] The control module automatically cuts off unnecessary water flow when the flow meter detects zero flow, thereby reducing unnecessary water branching, further reducing the volume of dead space in the pipeline, and lowering the possibility of bacterial growth.

[0075] The combination design of the solenoid valve in this example embodiment can reduce the dead space volume of the pipeline to less than 5mL. By precisely controlling the working state of the solenoid valve and optimizing the water circuit design, the dead space volume of the entire system pipeline is significantly reduced, reducing the space for bacterial growth and reducing colony residue by two orders of magnitude.

[0076] By combining dynamic water path management with efficient disinfection procedures, the residual bacterial count within the system is significantly reduced, improving water safety and reliability. Water enters the system through the inlet, and purified water is stored in a pure water tank for later use. The water then flows through an instant heating module to be heated to over 75°C, using high-temperature sterilization to kill most bacteria. The heated water continues to flow to a UV-LED module for ultraviolet sterilization, further ensuring water safety. Mineralized water, after being treated by a mineralization filter, is stored in a mineralized water tank. When a user needs water, a reversing valve opens the outlet, allowing the stored mineralized water to flow out. Finally, the sterilized mineralized water is supplied to the user through the outlet.

[0077] This invention is based on a solenoid valve array for dynamic water circuit management. By precisely controlling the working state of multiple solenoid valves, dynamic control of the water circuit is achieved, reducing the volume of dead space in the pipeline and bacterial colony residue, which can effectively prevent secondary pollution of the drinking water system.

[0078] According to some embodiments, the structure of the mineralized filter element is shown below. Figure 2 The mineralized filter element has an inner and outer nested structure, including an outer mineral material layer 201, an inner inorganic bactericidal material activated carbon rod 203, an inlet water channel 021, an outlet water channel 023, and a TDS sensor 205.

[0079] The outer mineral material layer 201 is composed of characteristic minerals with ion exchange and mineralization functions. Through ion exchange, it removes harmful ions from the water and releases beneficial minerals, enhancing the mineralization level of the water and improving the taste and health value of the drinking water. The inner inorganic bactericidal material activated carbon rod 203 is composed of silver-loaded activated carbon material, which slowly releases silver ions. Silver ions have strong antibacterial properties and can effectively inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria. The silver-loaded activated carbon rod not only adsorbs organic matter and odors but also achieves a long-lasting antibacterial effect through the slow release of silver ions. The inorganic bactericidal material includes silver-loaded activated carbon. The outer characteristic mineral layer and the middle silver-loaded activated carbon layer form a multi-dimensional gradient distribution, allowing the water to complete the two key steps of mineralization and antibacterial action sequentially as it passes through the filter core, improving treatment efficiency and effectiveness.

[0080] Traditional mineralized filter cartridges are prone to bacterial growth during use, leading to secondary pollution. This embodiment combines a characteristic mineral material layer 201 with an inorganic bactericidal activated carbon rod 203 to achieve a combination of physical filtration and antibacterial functions, effectively inhibiting the proliferation of bacteria in the composite filter cartridge.

[0081] Water flowing from the pure water tank enters the mineralization filter element through the inlet. It first passes through the middle layer of silver-loaded activated carbon in the inlet channel 021, where it adsorbs and slowly releases silver ions to achieve an antibacterial effect. The water then permeates into the outer layer of characteristic minerals for mineralization. Through ion exchange and mineralization, the mineral materials improve water quality. The treated water flows out through the outlet channel 023. A TDS sensor 205 monitors water quality parameters to ensure the quality of the output water.

[0082] The composite filter design of this example embodiment aims to effectively remove most microorganisms and other contaminants from water through physical filtration, adsorption, and possible preliminary chemical or biological treatment, thereby significantly reducing the burden on subsequent disinfection processes. This not only improves the overall system's treatment efficiency but also reduces energy consumption and maintenance costs.

[0083] This invention combines mineralization and antibacterial functions. The mineralization filter cartridge can effectively inhibit bacterial growth while mineralizing water, achieving a bacterial inhibition rate of over 92%. This significantly improves the safety and reliability of water quality, providing users with safe and healthy drinking water.

[0084] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a control method for a mineralized water apparatus with sterilization function according to an example embodiment is shown.

[0085] The mineralized water device of this invention employs a tiered triggering intelligent disinfection control algorithm, which uses a control module combined with corresponding downtime and control logic to disinfect the entire module. See also... Figure 3 The control module automatically selects the disinfection program based on the downtime and water quality parameters.

[0086] In S101, if the zero flow rate duration is less than a first threshold when the user takes water, the first disinfection procedure is initiated.

[0087] According to some embodiments, the water flow velocity is detected by a flow meter, and the time T during which the flow rate is 0 L / min is detected by the flow meter is set to 2 hours. When T < 2h, only the first disinfection program is activated when the user takes water. The first disinfection program only performs sterilization through the UV-LED module.

[0088] In S103, if the zero flow rate duration is greater than the first threshold and the TDS sensor detects that the total dissolved substance value of the water in the mineralized filter cartridge is less than the second threshold, the second disinfection procedure is initiated.

[0089] According to some embodiments, the water flow velocity is detected by a flow meter. When the flow meter detects a flow velocity of 0 L / min for a time T, if T > 2 h, the second threshold is set to 1000 ppm. If the TDS value is < 1000 ppm, the second disinfection procedure is started.

[0090] The second disinfection procedure involves activating the drain valve to empty the water in the pipeline. After the water is drained, the drain valve is closed, and solenoid valves No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 are activated to open the disinfection closed-loop circuit. The water pump is then started. When the flow meter detects a water flow rate greater than 0 L / min, the instant heating module is activated. When the NTC temperature sensor in the pure water tank detects a water temperature greater than 75°C, the module is maintained for 15 seconds and then shut off. The water pump, through solenoid valve No. 3, delivers the heated and disinfected purified water to the mineralization filter element for mineralization treatment.

[0091] In S105, if the zero flow rate duration is greater than the first threshold and the TDS sensor detects that the total dissolved substance value of the water in the mineralized filter cartridge is greater than the second threshold, the third disinfection procedure is initiated.

[0092] According to some embodiments, the TDS sensor detects the TDS value of the water stored in the filter cartridge, the second threshold is set to 1000ppm, and when the TDS value is >1000ppm, the third disinfection procedure is started.

[0093] The third disinfection procedure involves starting the drain valve to empty the water in the pipeline. After the water in the pipeline is emptied, the drain valve is closed, and solenoid valves No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 are opened to open the disinfection closed loop. The water pump is started, and when the flow meter detects a water flow rate greater than 0 L / min, the UV-LED module is activated. The UV-LED module is then turned off after maintaining the water flow for 10 minutes. The water pump then delivers the heated and disinfected purified water to the mineralization filter element for mineralization treatment through the No. 3 solenoid valve.

[0094] The method in this embodiment adopts an innovative tiered triggering mechanism. By combining the multi-parameter collaborative judgment of the flow meter (T parameter) and the TDS sensor, it achieves accurate assessment of water pollution risk and sets up a three-level dynamic disinfection method accordingly.

[0095] The first disinfection procedure is a low-intensity disinfection. When the time displayed on the flow meter (parameter T) is less than 2 hours, only the UV-LED is activated for disinfection. This method is suitable for relatively clean water bodies used for short periods of time, and can reduce energy consumption.

[0096] The second disinfection procedure is a medium-intensity disinfection. When the time displayed by the flow meter (parameter T) exceeds 2 hours, the water is first drained, followed by high-temperature instantaneous sterilization. This method is for water bodies that have remained in the system for a long time and may have a certain degree of microbial growth, thus requiring a stronger sterilization method.

[0097] The third disinfection procedure is a high-intensity disinfection. When the TDS value exceeds 1000 ppm, not only is the stored water drained, but a continuous UV disinfection process is also initiated. A high TDS value may indicate that the water contains a high concentration of minerals or pollutants, increasing the risk of biofilm formation. Therefore, the most stringent disinfection measures must be taken to ensure water quality safety.

[0098] This method employs adaptive energy consumption optimization control based on pollution risk levels. By monitoring and analyzing data such as flow meter T-parameters and TDS values ​​in real time, the control module can automatically adjust the disinfection strategy according to the actual pollution risk of the current water quality. This precise control not only ensures water quality safety but also avoids excessive wear and tear on the filter cartridges caused by unnecessary high-intensity treatments, thereby extending the filter cartridge's lifespan by up to 32%. It not only saves on filter cartridge replacement costs but also reduces waste generation, making it more environmentally friendly.

[0099] Compared to traditional timed disinfection methods, intelligent management of mineralized water systems with sterilization functions enables adaptive energy consumption optimization control based on pollution risk levels, achieving energy savings of up to 37%. A high-intensity disinfection program is only activated when an increased potential pollution risk is detected, thus reducing ineffective energy use. This avoids unnecessary energy consumption and achieves the goals of energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0100] This invention utilizes a composite filter to reduce the basic bacterial population and leverages intelligent algorithms to optimize the disinfection process, ensuring both water quality and extending equipment lifespan. It employs both transient high temperature and UV-LED dual protection to achieve extremely high sterilization efficiency. Dynamic water path management thoroughly eliminates potential secondary pollution sources, ensuring the quality of the final water output. This provides users with a healthier and safer water experience. Different levels of disinfection measures correspond to different pollution risk levels, ensuring appropriate water quality protection in both daily use and special circumstances, greatly improving the safety of the water supply system.

[0101] In summary, the tiered triggering intelligent disinfection control algorithm, by integrating multiple sensing technologies and intelligent decision-making logic, not only significantly improves disinfection efficiency and water quality safety but also effectively reduces energy consumption, demonstrating an important direction of advancement in modern water purification technology. This system is particularly suitable for applications with strict water quality requirements and a pursuit of high efficiency, such as household drinking water purification equipment and commercial water treatment systems.

[0102] Figure 4A block diagram of a computing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0103] like Figure 4 As shown, the computing device 30 includes a processor 12 and a memory 14. The computing device 30 may also include a bus 22, a DPU smart network interface card 16, and an I / O interface 18. The processor 12, memory 14, DPU smart network interface card 16, and I / O interface 18 can communicate with each other via the bus 22.

[0104] Processor 12 may include one or more general-purpose CPUs (Central Processing Units), microprocessors, or application-specific integrated circuits, for executing relevant program instructions. According to some embodiments, computing device 30 may also include a high-performance display adapter (GPU) 20 for accelerating processor 12.

[0105] Memory 14 may include a machine system readable medium in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and / or cache memory. Memory 14 is used to store one or more programs containing instructions, as well as data. Processor 12 may read the instructions stored in memory 14 to perform the methods described above according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0106] The computing device 30 can also communicate with one or more networks via the DPU smart network interface card 16. The DPU smart network interface card is used for data processing or external communication, and the central processing unit is used for processing data scheduled by the DPU smart network interface card. The DPU smart network interface card includes a root system-on-a-chip (SoC) and multiple interfaces, through which the SoC performs data communication. The SoC includes a processor and a memory, on which a computer program is stored. When the processor runs the computer program stored in the memory, it implements the method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0107] Bus 22 can include address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. Bus 22 provides a path for exchanging information between components.

[0108] It should be noted that, in specific implementations, the computing device 30 may also include other components necessary for normal operation. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the device described above may only include the components necessary for implementing the embodiments of this specification, and not necessarily all the components shown in the figures.

[0109] The present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the above-described method. The computer-readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, any type of disk, including floppy disks, optical disks, DVDs, CD-ROMs, microdrives, as well as magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flash memory devices, magnetic cards or optical cards, nanosystems (including molecular memory ICs), network storage devices, cloud storage devices, or any type of medium or device suitable for storing instructions and / or data.

[0110] This invention also provides a computer program product comprising a computer program operable to cause a computer to perform some or all of the steps of any of the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0111] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the technical solutions of the present invention can be implemented by means of software and / or hardware. In this specification, "unit" and "module" refer to software and / or hardware capable of independently performing or cooperating with other components to perform a specific function, wherein the hardware may be, for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an integrated circuit, etc.

[0112] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the described order of actions, because according to the present invention, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to the present invention.

[0113] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0114] In the several embodiments provided by this invention, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some service interface; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical or other forms.

[0115] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0116] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0117] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage device. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a memory 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 the present invention.

[0118] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0119] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been specifically shown and described above. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the detailed structures, arrangements, or implementations described herein; rather, the present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements contained within the spirit and scope of the appended provisions.

Claims

1. A mineralized water device with sterilization function, characterized in that, The mineralized water device includes a pure water tank, a water pump, a flow meter, a TDS sensor, a mineralized filter element, a mineralized water tank, an outlet pipeline, an ultraviolet disinfection diode, an instant heating module, an outlet, a drain valve, a drain outlet, a control module, and five solenoid valves: [List of valves would be inserted here] The pure water tank is used to store purified water to be heated; The water pump is located after the pure water tank, with one end of the water pump connected to the pure water tank and the other end connected to the mineralization filter element. The flow meter is installed on the water outlet pipe and located upstream of the instant heating module, and is used to detect the water flow velocity and time the zero flow time. The mineralization filter element is located at the rear end of the water pump and connected to the mineralized water tank. The TDS sensor is located inside the mineralization filter element and is used to detect the total solubility of water in the mineralization filter element. The outlet pipe is connected to the mineralized water tank; The ultraviolet disinfection diode is installed on the water outlet pipe and located upstream of the water outlet to perform flow-through ultraviolet sterilization of the water flow. The instant heating module is installed on the water outlet pipe and located between the flow meter and the ultraviolet disinfection diode, and is used to sterilize the water flow at high temperature. When the drain valve is opened, it discharges the water stored in the water outlet pipe through the drain port. The No. 1 solenoid valve is located at the water inlet and serves as the main switch. The third solenoid valve is a three-way solenoid valve. The water pump is connected to the third solenoid valve, then to the reversing valve via the fourth solenoid valve, then to the fifth solenoid valve via the reversing valve, and finally to the pure water tank via the second solenoid valve, forming a disinfection closed loop. The control module is used to acquire detection data from the flow meter and the TDS sensor, and automatically select different disinfection programs based on the downtime and water quality parameters. The control module is configured as follows: If the zero-flow-rate duration is greater than the first threshold and the TDS sensor detects that the total dissolved substance value of the water in the mineralized filter cartridge is less than the second threshold, the second disinfection procedure is initiated. The second disinfection procedure includes: Start the drain valve to drain the water from the pipeline; After the water in the pipeline is drained, the drain valve is closed and the disinfection closed-loop circuit is opened; Start the water pump, and when the flow meter detects that the water flow rate is greater than zero, start the instant heating module; When the thermistor temperature sensor in the pure water tank detects that the water temperature is higher than the preset temperature, the instant heating module will be shut off after maintaining the temperature for a first preset time. The water pump delivers the heated and sterilized purified water to the mineralization filter element for mineralization treatment via the No. 3 solenoid valve.

2. The mineralized water device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a thermistor temperature sensor, which is installed in the pure water tank.

3. The mineralized water device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a reversing valve, which is connected to the water intake circuit and the water discharge circuit respectively, and controls the direction of water flow through the reversing valve.

4. The mineralized water device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mineralized filter element has a nested structure, including an outer layer of mineral material and an inner layer of inorganic bactericidal activated carbon rod. The combination of physical filtration and antibacterial function is achieved through the outer layer of mineral material and the inner layer of inorganic bactericidal activated carbon rod.

5. The mineralized water apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inorganic bactericidal material includes silver-loaded activated carbon.

6. The mineralized water apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module is configured as follows: If the zero flow period is less than a first threshold when a user draws water, the first disinfection procedure is initiated. The first disinfection procedure uses only ultraviolet disinfection diodes for sterilization.

7. The mineralized water apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module is configured as follows: When the TDS sensor detects that the total dissolved substance value of the water stored in the mineralized filter cartridge is greater than the second threshold, the third disinfection procedure is initiated. The third disinfection procedure includes: Start the drain valve to drain the water from the pipeline; After the water in the pipeline is drained, the drain valve is closed and the disinfection closed-loop circuit is opened; Start the water pump, and when the flow meter detects that the water flow rate is greater than zero, activate the ultraviolet disinfection diode; After maintaining the water flow for a second set time, the ultraviolet disinfection diode is turned off. The water pump delivers the heated and sterilized purified water to the mineralization filter element for mineralization treatment via the No. 3 solenoid valve.

8. A water dispenser, characterized in that, Its features are, Includes a mineralized water apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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