Drinking water equipment control method and device, drinking water equipment, storage medium and program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a drinking water equipment control method and device, drinking water equipment, a computer readable storage medium and a computer program product. After the drinking water equipment enters a deicing mode, a cold water way and a hot water way are controlled to be communicated to be in an internal circulation state, and the temperature of hot water in a water way on the rear side of a heating element is obtained; under the condition that ice blockage of the cold water path is determined according to the hot water temperature, the heating element is controlled to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature until the hot water temperature is stabilized at the set water temperature, the deicing mode is quitted, and the cold water path and the hot water path are controlled to be communicated with the water intake to be in an external circulation state. The internal cold water path and the hot water path are communicated to be in an internal circulation state, an indirect parameter of the temperature of hot water on the rear side of the heating element is combined, an additional deicing device does not need to be added, the blockage condition of the cold water path can be diagnosed, blocked ice blocks can be melted through hot water in the hot water path, the ice blockage phenomenon is effectively eliminated, and the water path is restored to be smooth.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of refrigerated water, in particular to a water drinking equipment control method and device, a water drinking equipment, a computer readable storage medium and a computer program product. BACKGROUND

[0002] Modern household and commercial water drinking equipment usually integrates heating and refrigeration functions to meet the instant access needs of users for cold and hot water. To achieve the refrigeration function, the current water drinking equipment generally adopts an internal ice tank combined with a semiconductor refrigeration module. Specifically, a sealed ice tank for storing cold water is arranged inside the equipment, the hot end of the semiconductor refrigeration piece is connected to a heat dissipation system, and the cold end is in close contact with the outer wall of the ice tank through a heat conduction component, thereby continuously absorbing the heat of the water in the ice tank to reduce the water temperature and maintain it at a set low temperature. When the user takes cold water, the cold water flows out of the ice tank, and normal temperature water is supplemented into the ice tank for cooling, and the cycle continues.

[0003] However, in the above-mentioned continuous refrigeration scheme based on the ice tank, in a low-temperature environment or a long-time insulation working condition, the water temperature in the ice tank may gradually decrease to near 0℃ ice point. At this time, the stored water in the waterway pipeline connected with the ice tank is prone to freeze first, forming an ice plug to block the flow channel. The "ice blockage" phenomenon will cause the waterway to be interrupted, the water in the ice tank cannot be normally discharged, the refrigeration function of the equipment is lost, and there is a risk of damage to the pipeline components due to the expansion of the ice volume. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a water drinking equipment control method, device, water drinking equipment, computer readable storage medium and computer program product to solve the technical problem of the "ice blockage" phenomenon in the above-mentioned refrigeration function.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a water drinking equipment control method applied to a water drinking equipment including a cold water waterway and a hot water waterway, wherein the hot water waterway is provided with a heating element;

[0006] The method comprises:

[0007] After the water drinking equipment enters the ice removal mode, the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are controlled to be in an internal circulation state in communication;

[0008] The hot water temperature in the rear side waterway of the heating element is acquired;

[0009] In a case where it is determined according to the hot water temperature that the cold water waterway is blocked by ice, the heating element is controlled to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature until the hot water temperature is stabilized at a set water temperature, the ice removal mode is exited, and the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are controlled to be in an external circulation state in communication with a water outlet, respectively.

[0010] In one of the embodiments, the intermittent operation of the heating element is controlled based on the hot water temperature, including:

[0011] In the case where the hot water temperature changes to exceed the first preset water temperature, the heating element is controlled to stop operating;

[0012] In the case where the hot water temperature changes to be lower than the second preset water temperature, the heating element is controlled to start operating;

[0013] The second preset water temperature is less than the set water temperature, and the set water temperature is less than the first preset water temperature.

[0014] In one of the embodiments, the ice blocking of the cold water path is determined according to the hot water temperature, including:

[0015] In the case where the hot water temperature changes to exceed the set water temperature, it is determined that the cold water path is blocked by ice.

[0016] In one of the embodiments, after the water dispenser enters the ice removal mode, the method further includes:

[0017] In the case where the hot water temperature is stable at the set water temperature, it is determined that the cold water path is not blocked by ice, the ice removal mode is exited, and the cold water path and the hot water path are controlled to be in the external circulation state by being respectively communicated with the water outlet.

[0018] In one of the embodiments, the method further includes:

[0019] In the case where the ice removal mode switching instruction is received, the water dispenser is controlled to enter the ice removal mode;

[0020] Or

[0021] In the case where the obtained cold water temperature of the cold water path is lower than the third preset water temperature, the water dispenser is controlled to enter the ice removal mode.

[0022] In one of the embodiments, the water dispenser further includes a three-way valve and a cold water electromagnetic valve, the cold water electromagnetic valve is arranged in the cold water path, the hot water path is communicated to a water inlet of the three-way valve, a first water outlet of the three-way valve is communicated to the cold water path in front of the cold water electromagnetic valve, and a second water outlet of the three-way valve is communicated to the water outlet.

[0023] The control of the communication of the cold water path and the hot water path to the internal circulation state includes:

[0024] The cold water electromagnetic valve is controlled to be turned off, and the three-way valve is controlled to be switched to a first communication state, the first communication state being a state where the water inlet and the first water outlet are communicated;

[0025] The control of the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway respectively with the water inlet is communicated as the external circulation state, comprising:

[0026] The cold water electromagnetic valve is controlled to be turned on, and the three-way valve is controlled to be switched to the second communication state, and the second communication state is a state that the water inlet is communicated with the second water outlet.

[0027] In a second aspect, the application further provides a water drinking equipment control device applied to a water drinking equipment including a cold water waterway and a hot water waterway, and the hot water waterway is provided with a heating element;

[0028] The device comprises:

[0029] The waterway control module is configured to control the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway to be communicated as an internal circulation state after the water drinking equipment enters the deicing mode.

[0030] The water temperature acquisition module is configured to acquire the hot water temperature in the rear side waterway of the heating element.

[0031] The heating control module is configured to control the heating element to intermittently operate based on the hot water temperature in the case that the cold water waterway is determined to be blocked by ice according to the hot water temperature.

[0032] The waterway control module is configured to exit the deicing mode and control the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway to be respectively communicated with the water inlet as an external circulation state in the case that the hot water temperature is stable at a set water temperature.

[0033] In a third aspect, the application further provides a water drinking equipment including a cold water waterway and a hot water waterway, and further including a controller and a heating element connected with the controller, the heating element is arranged in the hot water waterway, and the controller is configured to control the communication state of the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway and the operation state of the heating element according to the steps of the above method.

[0034] In a fourth aspect, the application further provides a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, and the computer program is executed by a processor to realize the steps of the above method.

[0035] In a fifth aspect, the application further provides a computer program product including a computer program, and the computer program is executed by a processor to realize the steps of the above method.

[0036] The water drinking equipment control method, device, water drinking equipment, computer readable storage medium and computer program product, after the water drinking equipment enters the deicing mode, the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are controlled to be in a communication state for internal circulation, and the hot water temperature in the waterway behind the heating element is obtained, and when it is determined that the cold water waterway is blocked according to the hot water temperature, the heating element is controlled to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature until the hot water temperature is stable at the set temperature, the deicing mode is exited, and the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are controlled to be in a communication state for external circulation with the water outlet. By connecting the internal cold water waterway and the hot water waterway to be in a communication state for internal circulation, and combining the hot water temperature behind the heating element as an indirect parameter, without adding an additional deicing device, the blockage of the cold water waterway can be diagnosed, and the hot water in the hot water waterway can be used to melt the blocked ice, effectively eliminating the ice blockage and restoring the waterway to be unobstructed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the related art, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments of the present application or the related art will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and other related drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0038] Figure 1 A partial structure schematic diagram of a water drinking equipment in an embodiment;

[0039] Figure 2 A flowchart of a water drinking equipment control method in an embodiment;

[0040] Figure 3 A flowchart of a step of controlling the intermittent operation of a heating element in an embodiment;

[0041] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a water drinking equipment in an embodiment;

[0042] Figure 5 A flowchart of a step of controlling the communication state of the internal waterway in an embodiment;

[0043] Figure 6 A flowchart of a water drinking equipment control method in another embodiment;

[0044] Figure 7 A structure block diagram of a water drinking equipment control device in an embodiment;

[0045] Figure 8 An internal structure diagram of a computer device in an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] In order to make the purposes, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and not intended to limit the present application.

[0047] The water drinking equipment control method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the water drinking equipment as shown in Figure 1 . The water drinking equipment includes a cold water path A and a hot water path B, a controller 1 and a heating element 2. The heating element 2 is arranged in the hot water path B. The controller 1 is connected to the heating element 2 and controls the communication state of the cold water path A and the hot water path B and the operation state of the heating element 2 according to the water drinking equipment control method provided by the embodiments of the present application. A data storage system can store the data required to be processed by the controller 1. The data storage system can be integrated on the controller 1 or placed on a cloud or other network server.

[0048] Specifically, after the controller 1 controls the water drinking equipment to enter the deicing mode, the controller 1 controls the cold water path A and the hot water path B to be in an internal circulation state. The controller 1 acquires the hot water temperature in the water path behind the heating element 2. When it is determined that the cold water path is blocked by ice according to the hot water temperature, the controller 1 controls the heating element 2 to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature until the hot water temperature is stable at a set temperature, the deicing mode is exited, and the cold water path A and the hot water path B are controlled to be in an external circulation state by being respectively communicated with a water outlet.

[0049] The controller 1 can be a control chip or a control circuit board arranged on the water drinking equipment, or an external control system realized based on wireless communication. The external control system can be realized through a terminal or a server, etc. The terminal can be, but is not limited to, various personal computers, notebook computers, smart phones, tablet computers, Internet of Things devices and portable wearable devices. The Internet of Things device can be a smart speaker, a smart television, a smart air conditioner, a smart vehicle device, a projection device, etc. The portable wearable device can be a smart watch, a smart bracelet, a head-mounted device, etc. The head-mounted device can be a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, smart glasses, etc. The server can be a stand-alone physical server, a server cluster or a distributed system composed of multiple physical servers, or a cloud server providing cloud computing services.

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figure 2 , a water drinking equipment control method is provided. The method is applied to the controller 1 in Figure 1 for example, and includes the following steps 202 to 206. Wherein:

[0051] At step 202, after the water dispenser enters the defrosting mode, the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are controlled to be in communication to be in an internal circulation state.

[0052] The cold water waterway refers to a pipeline path from a cold water source (such as a normal temperature water inlet or an ice tank outlet) to a water outlet. The hot water waterway refers to a pipeline path from a heating element (such as a hot tank or an instant heater) to the water outlet.

[0053] Specifically, the defrosting mode is a special working mode triggered by the controller. The purpose is to detect and eliminate the ice blockage that may exist in the cold water waterway. It can be understood that the trigger condition for the water dispenser to enter the defrosting mode is not limited. It can automatically enter after the refrigeration or heat preservation function continues to run for more than a preset time length (such as 12 hours) in a low temperature environment where the ambient temperature is lower than a preset temperature. It can also enter after receiving a defrosting mode switching instruction initiated by the user through an interactive interface (such as a key or an application associated with a user terminal). It can also automatically enter after the controller determines according to an abnormal sensor signal (such as a water flow signal or a water temperature signal) fed back by a sensor arranged on the cold water waterway.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the water dispenser control method further comprises: in the case of receiving a defrosting mode switching instruction, controlling the water dispenser to enter the defrosting mode.

[0055] Specifically, the defrosting mode switching instruction refers to a control instruction for triggering the water dispenser to switch from the normal working mode to the defrosting mode. The source of the instruction can be automatically triggered by the controller itself after the trigger condition is met, or it can be generated by external input. After receiving the instruction, the controller converts the working mode of the device from the conventional refrigeration, heating or standby mode to the defrosting mode specially used for detecting and handling ice blockage in the cold water waterway.

[0056] In an exemplary embodiment, the water dispenser control method further comprises: in the case that the obtained cold water temperature of the cold water waterway is lower than a third preset water temperature, controlling the water dispenser to enter the defrosting mode.

[0057] Specifically, the cold water temperature of the cold water waterway refers to the real-time water temperature measured at a specific point in the cold water waterway. The measurement point is usually located near or downstream of the ice tank outlet, for directly monitoring the temperature of the supplied cold water. The third preset water temperature is a temperature threshold value stored in the memory in advance. The third preset water temperature can be set to a water temperature value close to the freezing point (for example, set to 1°C). When the obtained cold water temperature of the cold water waterway is lower than the third preset water temperature, it indicates that the waterway system has entered a critical dangerous state where ice blockage is likely to occur. At this time, the controller converts the working mode of the device from the conventional refrigeration, heating or standby mode to the defrosting mode specially used for detecting and handling ice blockage in the cold water waterway.

[0058] The way of judging whether the cold water temperature of the cold water path is lower than the third preset water temperature is not limited. In order to improve the anti-interference ability and prevent false triggering due to instantaneous water temperature fluctuation, the controller can set the corresponding judgment logic. For example, the controller periodically reads the cold water temperature of the temperature sensor installed in the cold water path. When the read cold water temperature is continuously (for example, for 3 consecutive sampling periods) lower than the third preset water temperature, it can be determined that the cold water temperature of the cold water path is lower than the third preset water temperature, and the ice melting mode is automatically triggered. For another example, the controller additionally sets a duration condition when judging that the cold water temperature is lower than the third preset water temperature. Only when the state that the cold water temperature is lower than the third preset water temperature is maintained for more than 1 minute, it can be determined that the cold water temperature of the cold water path is lower than the third preset water temperature, and the ice melting mode is automatically triggered.

[0059] Further, in the ice melting mode, the controller needs to control the cold water path and the hot water path to be in communication for internal circulation, that is, the two are in communication to form a closed circulation loop, and the water inside the device circulates in this circulation loop, and is temporarily disconnected with the external user water outlet. It can be understood that in the case that the cold water path and the hot water path are in communication for internal circulation, if there is indeed ice blockage, hot water in the hot water path can be used to melt the ice in the cold water path to achieve the purpose of ice melting.

[0060] The way of controlling the cold water path and the hot water path to be in communication for internal circulation can be realized by controlling the switching of the valves arranged on the water paths. For example, a three-way valve can be installed at the intersection of the cold water path and the hot water path, and the controller drives the three-way valve to change the valve core position, so as to connect the two water paths originally leading to the water outlet, and the cold water path and the hot water path are in communication for internal circulation. Also, a normally closed electromagnetic valve can be arranged at the water outlet of the cold water path and the hot water path respectively, a bypass water path is arranged between the cold water path and the hot water path, and a normally open electromagnetic valve is arranged on the bypass water path. The controller cooperatively controls the two normally closed electromagnetic valves and the normally open electromagnetic valve to make the cold water path and the hot water path communicate through the bypass water path, so as to be in communication for internal circulation.

[0061] Step 204, acquiring the hot water temperature in the back side water path of the heating element.

[0062] The heating element refers to a device arranged in the hot water path for heating. For example, the heating element is an instant heating pipe in the hot water path. In another embodiment, the heating element can also be a bidirectional constant temperature heater for maintaining the temperature of the hot water tank.

[0063] Specifically, the waterway behind the heating element refers to the hot water pipeline part downstream of the heating element along the water flow direction. Further, the hot water temperature in the waterway behind the heating element directly reflects the temperature of the hot water flowing out after being heated by the heating element. In the present embodiment, the hot water temperature in the waterway behind the heating element refers to the real-time water temperature measured downstream of the heating element after the water flowing through the heating element is heated under the condition that the waterway communication is in the internal circulation state in the defrosting mode.

[0064] It can be understood that the hot water temperature in the waterway behind the heating element can be measured by different temperature sensors arranged on the hot water pipeline downstream of the heating element. For example, a digital temperature sensor can be installed on the pipeline downstream of the heating element, and the data pin of the digital temperature sensor is directly connected to the I / O port of the controller, and the controller periodically reads the hot water temperature. A thermistor (such as NTC) can also be installed downstream of the heating element, and the resistance value of the thermistor changes with temperature. Correspondingly, the thermistor is used as part of a voltage divider circuit, and the analog voltage signal at the voltage division point of the voltage divider circuit is connected to the analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) pin of the controller, and the controller obtains the hot water temperature by sampling and table lookup calculation. Of course, an infrared non-contact measurement method can also be used, for example, an infrared temperature sensor is installed on the outer surface of the metal pipe wall downstream of the heating element, and the temperature of the outer surface of the pipe wall is detected to indirectly infer the temperature of the water flowing in the pipe. After processing, the signal is transmitted to the controller to obtain the hot water temperature.

[0065] In step 206, when it is determined that the ice blockage occurs in the cold water waterway according to the hot water temperature, the heating element is controlled to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature until the hot water temperature stabilizes at the set water temperature, the defrosting mode is exited, and the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are controlled to be in the external circulation state with the water outlet.

[0066] It can be understood that when the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are in the internal circulation state, if the waterway is unobstructed, the hot water heated by the heating element can circulate smoothly to the entire circuit, and the hot water temperature in the waterway behind the heating element will be relatively stable. If there is ice blockage in the cold water waterway, the circulation is blocked, and heat will accumulate on the hot water waterway side, which will cause the hot water temperature in the waterway behind the heating element to rise abnormally or reach an extremely high value.

[0067] Based on this, after entering the defrosting mode, it can be determined whether the ice blockage indeed occurs in the cold water waterway according to the change of the hot water temperature, so as to avoid the situation that the drinking water equipment cannot normally take water due to misoperation or fault. Correspondingly, the controller can determine whether the cold water waterway is blocked by built-in algorithm logic according to the obtained hot water temperature and its change trend.

[0068] Specifically, in the case that the ice blockage in the cold water waterway is determined according to the hot water temperature, the controller can take the hot water temperature as a core feedback parameter, dynamically turn on or off the working power supply of the heating element, so that the heating element does not continuously heat, but operates in an intermittent working mode of "heating-pause-heating", to avoid damage caused by continuous work of the heating element.

[0069] Further, in the case that the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are communicated to be in the internal circulation state, if the hot water temperature at the rear side of the heating element can be stably maintained at the set temperature after intermittent heating control, it indicates that the waterway is unobstructed, and the hot water heated by the heating element can be smoothly circulated to the entire circuit, and the ice blockage in the cold water waterway has been melted. The above-mentioned set temperature can be understood as a target temperature set by the controller for the heating element, and the heating element needs to heat the water flowing through the inside thereof to the set temperature and then deliver the water to the hot water waterway. The value of the set temperature is not limited, and can be set according to actual technical requirements. For example, the set temperature in the embodiment can be set to 80 DEG C.

[0070] When the controller maintains the hot water temperature in the set temperature range for a preset stable time through the above-mentioned intermittent control, it is determined that the ice blockage has been sufficiently melted, and the waterway is unobstructed, and the ice melting mode can be exited. Subsequently, the controller sends an instruction to switch the waterway valve back to the external circulation state, and controls the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway to be communicated with the water outlet respectively to be in the external circulation state, to supply normal water. It can be understood that the external circulation state is a state opposite to the internal circulation state, which means that the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are restored to the normal water supply state, and the two are independent of each other. In one example, in the case that the water drinking device comprises a cold water outlet and a hot water outlet respectively, the cold water waterway can be communicated to the cold water outlet, and the hot water waterway is communicated to the hot water outlet.

[0071] For example, the way of controlling the heating element to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature can be to control the heating element to operate by using a PWM signal, and to dynamically adjust the duty ratio of the PWM signal according to the difference between the real-time hot water temperature and the set temperature. When the water temperature is low, the duty ratio is increased, the heating time is increased, when the water temperature approaches the set temperature, the duty ratio is reduced or even zero, to stop heating, to realize smooth intermittent heating and accurate temperature control. It can also be to set a target temperature interval, when the hot water temperature is lower than the lower limit value of the target temperature interval, the controller connects the heating element to full power heating, when the water temperature rises to the upper limit value of the target temperature interval, the heating element is turned off, and when the water temperature naturally drops below the lower limit value of the target temperature interval, the heating element is started again. Repeat this process to form intermittent operation.

[0072] In one exemplary embodiment, the step 206 of determining the ice blockage in the cold water waterway according to the hot water temperature comprises: in the case that the hot water temperature changes to exceed the set temperature, determining that the ice blockage in the cold water waterway occurs.

[0073] It can be understood that when the internal waterway of the drinking water equipment is in communication and the heating element is working, if the waterway is unobstructed, the heated water flow can carry heat throughout the circuit, and the heat can be relatively uniformly dispersed, and the hot water temperature in the waterway behind the heating element will be relatively stable. On the contrary, if the cold water waterway is ice blocked, the circulation passage is blocked or severely limited, and the heat generated by the heating element cannot be effectively carried away by the water flow, which will cause the heat to be sharply accumulated in the local waterway behind the heating element, thereby showing that the hot water temperature rises abnormally or reaches an extremely high value.

[0074] Correspondingly, the change of the hot water temperature refers to the change process of the hot water temperature in the waterway behind the heating element relative to time or relative to its initial value after the internal circulation state and the heating element start working. It can be embodied as the rising rate of the water temperature, the rising amplitude, or the time required to reach a certain specific temperature value. And the change of the hot water temperature is more than the set water temperature, which indicates that the heat generated by the heating element cannot be effectively carried away by the water flow, resulting in sharp accumulation of heat in the local waterway behind the heating element, and the hot water temperature rises rapidly to a water temperature value that exceeds the set water temperature. Further, in this case, the controller can determine that the cold water waterway is ice blocked.

[0075] In an exemplary embodiment, in order to optimize the energy efficiency of the drinking water equipment and avoid unnecessary heating operation when there is no ice blockage, the above-mentioned drinking water equipment control method further comprises: when the hot water temperature is stable at the set water temperature, determining that the cold water waterway is not ice blocked, exiting the ice removal mode, and controlling the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway to be respectively communicated with the water outlet in the external circulation state.

[0076] Specifically, within a period of time after the drinking water equipment enters the ice removal mode, the hot water temperature is stable at the set water temperature, indicating that the waterway is unobstructed, and the hot water heated by the heating element can circulate smoothly throughout the circuit. At this time, the cold water waterway may not be ice blocked, and it may be caused by misoperation or fault to enter the ice removal mode. Further, the controller can control to exit the ice removal mode, send instructions to switch the waterway valve back to the external circulation state, and control the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway to be respectively communicated with the water outlet in the external circulation state for normal water taking.

[0077] The water drinking equipment control method, after the water drinking equipment enters the deicing mode, controls the cold water channel and the hot water channel to be in communication in an internal circulation state, and obtains the hot water temperature in the water channel at the rear side of the heating element; in the case that the cold water channel is blocked according to the hot water temperature, the heating element is controlled to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature until the hot water temperature is stable at the set water temperature, the deicing mode is exited, and the cold water channel and the hot water channel are controlled to be in communication with the water outlet in an external circulation state. By connecting the internal cold water channel and the hot water channel in an internal circulation state, and combining the hot water temperature at the rear side of the heating element as an indirect parameter, without adding an additional deicing device, the blockage of the cold water channel can be diagnosed, and the hot water in the hot water channel can be used to melt the blocked ice, so that the ice blocking phenomenon is effectively eliminated and the water channel is unobstructed.

[0078] In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the step 206 of controlling the heating element to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature includes the following steps 302 to 304. Wherein: Figure 3

[0079] Step 302, in the case that the hot water temperature changes to exceed the first preset water temperature, the heating element is controlled to stop operating;

[0080] Step 304, in the case that the hot water temperature changes to be lower than the second preset water temperature, the heating element is controlled to start operating; wherein the second preset water temperature is less than the set water temperature, and the set water temperature is less than the first preset water temperature.

[0081] Specifically, the first preset water temperature is a pre-set upper temperature threshold. Its physical meaning is that when the hot water temperature reaches or exceeds this first preset water temperature, it indicates that the local water temperature near the heating element has reached a very high temperature, in order to avoid the system pressure increasing due to the water temperature being too high, and also to avoid energy waste or damage to the heating element due to dry burning, the heating needs to be stopped immediately.

[0082] The second preset water temperature is a pre-set lower temperature threshold, and satisfies the second preset water temperature < the set water temperature < the first preset water temperature. Its physical meaning is that when the hot water temperature drops to or is lower than this second preset water temperature, it indicates that the heat accumulated before has been taken away by the circulating water flow (for ice melting or heat dissipation), in order to maintain an effective deicing temperature, the heating element needs to be restarted for heating.

[0083] The specific values of the first preset water temperature and the second preset water temperature are not limited, and can be set according to actual technical requirements. For example, in this embodiment, the first preset water temperature can be set to 95℃, and the second preset water temperature can be set to 50℃. Correspondingly, the control of the heating element to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature can include: in the case that the hot water temperature changes to exceed 95℃, the heating element is controlled to stop operating; in the case that the hot water temperature changes to be lower than 50℃, the heating element is controlled to start operating.

[0084] ​In one example, the controller can control the heating element to stop / start operation by cutting off or connecting the power supply to the heating element through the driving circuit or switching element, so as to stop heating or start heating. Specifically, a software comparator with hysteresis characteristic can be configured in the controller. The comparator compares the real-time hot water temperature with the first preset water temperature and the second preset water temperature. When the hot water temperature rises to equal or higher than the first preset water temperature, the comparator outputs a high signal, and the controller controls the heating element to stop operation accordingly. When the hot water temperature naturally drops to equal or lower than the second preset water temperature due to the stop of heating, the comparator outputs a low signal, and the controller controls the heating element to start operation accordingly. In this way, an automatic cycle of "heating-warming-stopping-cooling-reheating" is formed, which is simple and reliable.

[0085] In the present embodiment, by forming an intermittent heating cycle, heat is periodically input into the internal circulating water path, which can not only provide continuous heat energy for ice block melting, but also allow heat to diffuse to the ice block area during the forced stop stage, while avoiding the problem of excessively high local temperature of the heating element and its adjacent water path caused by continuous operation of the heating element, effectively preventing the risk of dry burning, and achieving a safe and energy-saving ice melting process.

[0086] In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figure 4 The water dispensing device further comprises a three-way valve 3 and a cold water electromagnetic valve 4. The cold water electromagnetic valve 4 is arranged in the cold water path A. The hot water path B is connected to the water inlet of the three-way valve 3. The first water outlet of the three-way valve 3 is connected to the cold water path A in front of the cold water electromagnetic valve 4. The second water outlet of the three-way valve 3 is connected to the water outlet.

[0087] The three-way valve 3 is an inlet and outlet valve with one water inlet, one first water outlet and one second water outlet. The internal valve core can switch positions to change the flow path of the fluid through the instructions sent by the controller. The cold water electromagnetic valve 4 is a normally closed electromagnetic valve, which is installed in series in the cold water path A between the cold water source (such as the ice tank outlet) and the water outlet, and is used to control the opening and closing of the cold water path A.

[0088] Specifically, the output end of the hot water path B is connected to the water inlet of the three-way valve 3, i.e. the hot water flowing out of the heating element is collected to the water inlet of the three-way valve 3. The first water outlet of the three-way valve 3 can be connected to the cold water path A in front of the cold water electromagnetic valve 4 through a bypass pipe. This connection point is located on the water inlet side of the cold water electromagnetic valve 4, i.e. between the cold water electromagnetic valve 4 and the cold water source. The second water outlet of the three-way valve 3 is directly connected to the water outlet (i.e. the user's water outlet) of the water dispensing device through a pipe. In addition, the cold water path at the rear end of the cold water electromagnetic valve 4 also finally flows to the water outlet. Therefore, the water flow received by the water outlet can come from the second water outlet of the three-way valve 3 (hot water) or from the rear end of the cold water electromagnetic valve 4 (cold water), depending on the state of the two valves.

[0089] Further, when the user needs to take cold water, the controller controls the cold water electromagnetic valve 4 to open, and controls the three-way valve 3 to switch to a state in which the second water outlet thereof is in communication with the water taking port. At this time, cold water flows through the opened cold water electromagnetic valve 4 and reaches the water taking port; the hot water path is blocked by the three-way valve 3 or is not in communication with the water taking port and cannot flow out. When the user needs to take hot water, the controller controls the cold water electromagnetic valve 4 to close, and controls the three-way valve 3 to switch to a state in which the water inlet thereof is in communication with the second water outlet. At this time, hot water flows to the water taking port through the three-way valve 3, and the cold water path is blocked by the cold water electromagnetic valve 4.

[0090] Correspondingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the control of the cold water path and the hot water path in communication in step 202 to the internal circulation state includes step 402: controlling the cold water electromagnetic valve to be closed, and controlling the three-way valve to switch to the first communication state, the first communication state being a state in which the water inlet is in communication with the first water outlet. Figure 5

[0091] The first communication state is a state in which the internal passage of the three-way valve is in communication with the water inlet and the first water outlet. In this state, the second water outlet of the three-way valve is usually closed or disconnected from the water inlet.

[0092] Specifically, when the cold water path and the hot water path are controlled to be in communication in the internal circulation state, the controller sends a closing instruction (such as disconnecting the power supply of the coil) to the driving circuit of the cold water electromagnetic valve, so that the valve changes from the normally closed state or the last state to the closed state, thereby cutting off the water supply from the cold water source (such as an ice tank) to the downstream of the cold water path. The controller simultaneously or sequentially sends a control instruction to the driving mechanism (such as a motor or a coil) of the three-way valve, so that the valve core moves to establish a flow path from the water inlet to the first water outlet.

[0093] Further, after the above control is completed, the water path state is that hot water flows out from the hot water path, enters the water inlet of the three-way valve, and flows into the cold water path at the front end of the cold water electromagnetic valve through the first water outlet thereof. Since the cold water electromagnetic valve has been closed, the water flow cannot continue to flow downstream (the water taking port), but flows in the opposite direction to the cold water source (such as an ice tank) under the action of the pressure stabilizing pump in the water path. When the heating element is started in the subsequent steps, the heat generated by the heating element can be transmitted to the cold water path area through the hot water, so as to realize heat introduction to melt the ice blockage.

[0094] Continuing to refer to Figure 5 The control of the cold water path and the hot water path in communication in step 202 to the internal circulation state includes step 402: controlling the cold water electromagnetic valve to be closed, and controlling the three-way valve to switch to the first communication state, the first communication state being a state in which the water inlet is in communication with the first water outlet.

[0095] ​The second communication state is a state in which the internal passage of the three-way valve communicates the water inlet with the second water outlet. In this state, the first water outlet of the three-way valve is usually in a closed or disconnected state with the water inlet.

[0096] Specifically, when the cold water waterway and the hot water waterway are controlled to be respectively communicated with the water inlet to be in the external circulation state, the controller sends an opening instruction (such as turning on the coil power supply) to the cold water electromagnetic valve to open the valve and restore the normal water supply path of the cold water source to the cold water water inlet. The controller sends a control instruction to the three-way valve to actuate the valve core to establish a flow path from the water inlet to the second water outlet, so that the hot water waterway is communicated with the water inlet.

[0097] Further, after the above control is completed, the drinking water equipment returns to the normal standby or water taking state. The cold water waterway (through the opened cold water electromagnetic valve) and the hot water waterway (through the three-way valve in the second communication state) are independently and selectively communicated with the water inlet, and the user can take cold water or hot water as needed.

[0098] In the embodiment, by multiplexing the internal circulation waterway (including the three-way valve, the pipeline connection and the heating element) provided for the high-temperature sterilization function in the drinking water equipment, the same hardware architecture can carry the sterilization and ice removal functions at the same time through the upgrade of the software and the control logic, which avoids the need to add a dedicated heater, additional sensors and complex wiring for ice removal alone. This greatly simplifies the product structure, reduces the material cost and assembly complexity, and improves the integration and reliability of the system.

[0099] The water temperature in the internal circulation waterway is monitored as the core feedback signal. By obtaining and analyzing the hot water temperature and its change trend in the rear waterway of the heating element, the controller can intelligently judge whether ice blockage occurs, evaluate the ice removal progress, and dynamically control the intermittent operation of the heating element. This closed-loop control based on direct physical quantity (water temperature) replaces the open-loop and fixed-time extensive heating mode in the original technology. It can ensure that the heating energy is accurately and efficiently used to melt the ice blockage, avoid energy waste, and also stop working in time after the ice blockage is completely removed to prevent over-heating, thereby achieving substantial improvement in both ice removal efficiency and energy consumption reduction.

[0100] In a specific embodiment, for a drinking water equipment as shown in Figure 4 , a drinking water equipment control method is provided, and the specific steps are shown in the flowchart of Figure 6 . As shown in Figure 4 , the drinking water equipment includes a heating element 2, a three-way valve 3, a cold water electromagnetic valve 4, a constant pressure pump 5, an ice tank 6 and a water tank 7.

[0101] Specifically, when the user operates the device to enter the deicing mode, the internal circulation water path can be detected first to determine whether there is ice blocking phenomenon. First, start the water pump 5, open the water circulation, flow water into the heating element 2 and simultaneously open the heating function, and start heating the water to 80°C (set water temperature) according to the internal preset program, and prepare the water flowing into the next part of the water path. If the cold water path A has ice blocking phenomenon, because the internal circulation water path is blocked, the water flow is blocked and cannot flow out of the heating element 2. The water flow is repeatedly heated in the heating element 2, and finally the hot water temperature at the back side of the heating element 2 will exceed the preset 80°C. If the water in the heating element 2 can flow out of the heating element 2 at the preset 80°C, it represents that the internal circulation water path is not blocked and ice blocking does not occur, and the drinking water device can automatically exit the deicing mode.

[0102] Further, if the hot water temperature at the back side of the heating element 2 exceeds 80°C, it represents that there is ice blocking, and the next action is entered. The hot water temperature at the back side of the heating element 2 is continuously monitored. In order to avoid the heating element 2 dry burning caused by the water in the heating element 2 being heated for a long time, a maximum limit temperature value 95°C can be set for heating, and when the hot water temperature at the back side of the heating element 2 exceeds the preset maximum limit temperature value 95°C, the heating element 2 is immediately turned off to prevent dry burning, and the water pump 5 is operated to make the hot water circulate in the internal circulation water path, and gradually melt the ice layer by using the heat conduction effect. Because the heat conduction efficiency is low at low temperature, in order to ensure the deicing rate and effect, the water in circulation needs to be kept above 50°C. Therefore, a minimum temperature limit value 50°C can be set. When the hot water temperature at the back side of the heating element 2 drops to 50°C, the heating element 2 is restarted to heat the water in the internal circulation water path to 95°C. This process constitutes a deicing cycle period. The system repeats the above heating-closing-reheating cycle process, and gradually melts the ice layer each time, until the hot water temperature at the back side of the heating element 2 stabilizes around 80°C, at which time the system determines that the ice blocking has been completely removed, and the deicing mode is ended and the normal operation state is restored.

[0103] In this embodiment, the existing hot water circulation system is used to automatically deice based on the structure of the existing model, which is suitable for drinking water devices that may have ice blocking in low temperature environment. Through accurate temperature threshold setting and circulation control mechanism, automatic control of the deicing process is realized, and internal protection is effectively realized to prevent the heater from dry burning, thereby improving the safety and deicing efficiency of the system.

[0104] It should be understood that although the steps in the flowcharts involved in the embodiments described above are shown in sequence according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless otherwise specified herein, the execution of these steps is not strictly limited in sequence, and these steps can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some of the steps in the flowcharts involved in the embodiments described above can include multiple steps or multiple stages, which are not necessarily executed at the same time, but can be executed at different times, and the execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be alternately executed with at least part of other steps or stages.

[0105] Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present application also provide a water drinking equipment control device for implementing the above-mentioned water drinking equipment control method. The implementation scheme for solving the problem provided by the device is similar to the implementation scheme described in the above method, so the specific limitations in one or more water drinking equipment control device embodiments provided below can refer to the limitations of the water drinking equipment control method described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0106] In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figure 7 A water drinking equipment control device is provided, applied to a water drinking equipment including a cold water path and a hot water path, and the hot water path is provided with a heating element;

[0107] The water drinking equipment control device includes a water path control module 101, a water temperature acquisition module 102, and a heating control module 103, wherein:

[0108] The water path control module 101 is configured to control the cold water path and the hot water path to be in an internal circulation state after the water drinking equipment enters an ice removal mode;

[0109] The water temperature acquisition module 102 is configured to acquire the hot water temperature in the water path at the rear side of the heating element;

[0110] The heating control module 103 is configured to control the heating element to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature in a case where it is determined that the cold water path is blocked by ice according to the hot water temperature;

[0111] The water path control module 101 is configured to exit the ice removal mode and control the cold water path and the hot water path to be in an external circulation state by being communicated with a water outlet, respectively, in a case where the hot water temperature is stable at a set water temperature.

[0112] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating control module 103 is further configured to

[0113] In a case where the hot water temperature changes to be greater than a first preset water temperature, control the heating element to stop operating.

[0114] In a case where the hot water temperature changes to be lower than the second preset water temperature, the heating element is controlled to start running.

[0115] The second preset water temperature is less than the set water temperature, and the set water temperature is less than the first preset water temperature.

[0116] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating control module 103 is further configured to determine that the cold water circuit is blocked by ice in a case where the hot water temperature changes to be higher than the set water temperature.

[0117] In an exemplary embodiment, the water circuit control module 101 is further configured to

[0118] After the water dispenser enters the ice removal mode, if the hot water temperature is stable at the set water temperature, it is determined that the cold water circuit is not blocked by ice, the ice removal mode is exited, and the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit are controlled to be in the external circulation state respectively.

[0119] In an exemplary embodiment, the water dispenser control device further comprises:

[0120] The mode control module is configured to control the water dispenser to enter the ice removal mode in a case where the ice removal mode switching instruction is received.

[0121] In an exemplary embodiment, the mode control module is further configured to control the water dispenser to enter the ice removal mode in a case where the obtained cold water temperature of the cold water circuit is lower than a third preset water temperature.

[0122] In an exemplary embodiment, the water dispenser further comprises a three-way valve and a cold water electromagnetic valve, the cold water electromagnetic valve is arranged in the cold water circuit, the hot water circuit is connected to a water inlet of the three-way valve, a first water outlet of the three-way valve is connected to the cold water circuit in front of the cold water electromagnetic valve, and a second water outlet of the three-way valve is connected to the water outlet.

[0123] The water circuit control module 101 is further configured to control the cold water electromagnetic valve to be turned off and control the three-way valve to be switched to a first communication state, the first communication state being a state in which the water inlet and the first water outlet are connected.

[0124] The water circuit control module 101 is further configured to control the cold water electromagnetic valve to be turned on and control the three-way valve to be switched to a second communication state, the second communication state being a state in which the water inlet and the second water outlet are connected.

[0125] The above-mentioned various modules in the water dispenser control device can be realized by software, hardware, and combinations thereof, in whole or in part. The above-mentioned various modules can be embedded in or independent of the processor in the computer device in hardware form, or can be stored in the memory in the computer device in software form, so as to be called and executed by the processor to perform the operations corresponding to the above-mentioned various modules.

[0126] In one exemplary embodiment, a computer device is provided, which may be a terminal, and its internal structure diagram may be as follows: Figure 8 As shown, the computer device includes a processor, memory, input / output interface, communication interface, display unit, and input device. The processor, memory, and input / output interface are connected via a system bus, and the communication interface, display unit, and input device are also connected to the system bus via the input / output interface. The processor provides computing and control capabilities. The memory includes non-volatile storage media and internal memory. The non-volatile storage media stores the operating system and computer programs. The internal memory provides an environment for the operation of the operating system and computer programs in the non-volatile storage media. The input / output interface is used for exchanging information between the processor and external devices. The communication interface is used for wired or wireless communication with external terminals; wireless communication can be achieved through Wi-Fi, mobile cellular networks, Near Field Communication (NFC), or other technologies. When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements a method for controlling a drinking water device. The display unit is used to form a visually visible image and can be a display screen, a projection device, or a virtual reality imaging device. The display screen can be an LCD screen or an e-ink screen. The input device of the computer device can be a touch layer covering the display screen, or buttons, trackballs, or touchpads set on the casing of the computer device, or external keyboards, touchpads, or mice, etc.

[0127] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 8 The structure shown is merely a block diagram of a portion of the structure related to the present application and does not constitute a limitation on the computer device to which the present application is applied. Specific computer devices may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0128] In one exemplary embodiment, a computer device is provided, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the steps in the above-described method embodiments.

[0129] In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium is provided having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the above-described method embodiments.

[0130] In one exemplary embodiment, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the above-described method embodiments.

[0131] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiment methods can be completed by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer readable storage medium, and when executed, can include the processes of the above-mentioned embodiment methods. Any reference to memory, database or other medium used in the embodiments provided in the present application can include at least one of non-volatile memory and volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, optical storage, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive random access memory (ReRAM), magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. The volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. As an illustration but not limitation, the RAM can be in various forms, such as static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM), etc. The database involved in the embodiments provided in the present application can include at least one of a relational database and a non-relational database. The non-relational database can include a distributed database based on a block chain, etc., without being limited thereto. The processor involved in the embodiments provided in the present application can be a general-purpose processor, a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device, a data processing logic device based on quantum computing, an artificial intelligence (AI) processor, etc., without being limited thereto.

[0132] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any manner. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described, however, as long as the combinations of the technical features do not exist contradictions, they should be considered as the scope of the present application.

[0133] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of several embodiments of the present application, and the description is relatively specific and detailed, but should not be understood as a limitation on the scope of the patent. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, a number of modifications and improvements can be made, which are all within the scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a drinking water device, characterized in that, A drinking water device that includes a cold water circuit and a hot water circuit, wherein the hot water circuit is equipped with a heating element; The method includes: After the water dispenser enters the defrosting mode, it controls the connection between the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit to enter an internal circulation state. Obtain the temperature of the hot water in the water channel behind the heating element; If ice blockage is detected in the cold water circuit based on the hot water temperature, the heating element is controlled to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature until the hot water temperature stabilizes at the set temperature. Then, the de-icing mode is exited, and the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit are respectively connected to the water inlet in an external circulation state.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Controlling the intermittent operation of the heating element based on the hot water temperature includes: If the hot water temperature changes to exceed the first preset water temperature, the heating element will be controlled to stop operating. When the hot water temperature drops below the second preset temperature, the heating element is controlled to start operating. Wherein, the second preset water temperature is lower than the set water temperature, and the set water temperature is lower than the first preset water temperature.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining that the cold water circuit is blocked by ice based on the hot water temperature includes: If the hot water temperature changes to a level exceeding the set temperature, it is determined that the cold water circuit is blocked by ice.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, After the water dispenser enters the defrosting mode, the method further includes: When the hot water temperature is stable at the set water temperature, and it is determined that there is no ice blockage in the cold water circuit, the de-icing mode is exited, and the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit are respectively connected to the water inlet in an external circulation state.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: Upon receiving a de-icing mode switching command, the water dispenser is controlled to enter the de-icing mode; or If the cold water temperature of the cold water circuit is lower than the third preset water temperature, the drinking water device is controlled to enter the de-icing mode.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drinking water equipment also includes a three-way valve and a cold water solenoid valve. The cold water solenoid valve is installed in the cold water circuit. The hot water circuit is connected to the inlet of the three-way valve. The first outlet of the three-way valve is connected to the cold water circuit at the front end of the cold water solenoid valve. The second outlet of the three-way valve is connected to the water intake port. The control of the connection between the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit to an internal circulation state includes: The cold water solenoid valve is turned off, and the three-way valve is switched to the first connected state, where the inlet and the outlet are connected. The control of the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit to be connected to the water intake in an external circulation state includes: The cold water solenoid valve is turned on, and the three-way valve is switched to the second connected state, which is the state in which the inlet and the second outlet are connected.

7. A drinking water equipment control device, characterized in that, A drinking water device that includes a cold water circuit and a hot water circuit, wherein the hot water circuit is equipped with a heating element; The device includes: The water circuit control module is used to control the connection between the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit to an internal circulation state after the drinking water equipment enters the defrosting mode; A water temperature acquisition module is used to acquire the hot water temperature in the water circuit behind the heating element; The heating control module is used to control the heating element to operate intermittently based on the hot water temperature when it is determined that ice blockage has occurred in the cold water circuit according to the hot water temperature. The water circuit control module is used to exit the defrosting mode when the hot water temperature is stable at the set water temperature, and to control the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit to be connected to the water inlet in an external circulation state.

8. A drinking water device, characterized in that, It includes a cold water circuit and a hot water circuit; it also includes a controller and a heating element connected to the controller, the heating element being disposed in the hot water circuit, the controller being used to control the connection state of the cold water circuit and the hot water circuit, and to control the operating state of the heating element, according to the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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