A method for determining the water quantity of a washing machine, an electronic device and a washing machine
By establishing a mapping relationship between water pressure, water level, water inlet time, and water inlet flow rate in the washing machine, the high cost and instability problems caused by flow meters in the existing technology are solved, and high-precision water consumption monitoring and control are achieved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE INC OF ZHUHAI
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Current methods for monitoring water consumption in washing machines rely on flow meters, which are costly, prone to damage, and complex to maintain. Furthermore, fluctuations in water pressure affect the accuracy of water consumption readings.
By obtaining the initial water level setting and initial water inlet duration in the laundry processing tank, and combining the water pressure and inlet valve flow model, the inlet flow rate and water consumption are determined, and a mapping relationship between water pressure, water level, inlet time, and inlet flow rate is established to avoid the use of flow meters.
It achieves high-precision water consumption monitoring under different water pressure and load conditions, reduces hardware costs, avoids the risk of flow meter clogging and wear, and improves the stability of the washing machine and the accuracy of water consumption.
Smart Images
Figure CN122147657A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to the technical field of controlling household appliances, and more particularly to a method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine, an electronic device, and a washing machine. Background Technology
[0002] In daily life, most users find it difficult to assess the actual water consumption of washing machines under different washing modes and load conditions. This lack of information leads to unreasonable usage behaviors such as "using a lot of water for a small amount of laundry" or "using too little water for a large amount of laundry," resulting in wasted water resources or poor cleaning results.
[0003] Current technologies often employ the method of installing a flow meter in the washing machine's water inlet pipe to achieve real-time monitoring and accurate statistics of water consumption. However, this method has significant drawbacks: impurities in the water flow can easily cause blockage or wear on the flow meter, leading to inaccurate measurements; furthermore, the flow meter itself is costly and difficult to maintain. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a new method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine. Summary of the Invention
[0004] To overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this disclosure provides a method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine, a water inlet control method, a water replenishment control method, a water-saving assessment method, an energy consumption assessment method, an electronic device, and a washing machine.
[0005] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine is provided, comprising: obtaining an initial water level setting value and an initial water inlet duration in the clothes handling tub, wherein the initial water inlet duration is the duration from the start of water inlet to the moment when the water level in the clothes handling tub reaches the initial water level setting value; determining the water inlet flow rate of a water inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting value and the initial water inlet duration, wherein the water inlet valve is used to supply water to the clothes handling tub; and determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water inlet flow rate of the water inlet valve and the water inlet duration of the water inlet valve.
[0006] In some embodiments, the inlet valve includes a first inlet valve, and determining the inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting value and the initial inlet duration includes: determining the inlet duration intervals corresponding to multiple different inlet water pressure intervals for the first inlet valve based on the initial water level setting value; and determining the inlet flow rate of the first inlet valve based on the initial inlet duration and the multiple inlet duration intervals.
[0007] In some embodiments, determining the inlet flow rate of the first inlet valve based on the initial inlet duration and a plurality of inlet duration intervals includes: determining that the initial inlet duration is located within a target inlet duration interval, wherein the target inlet duration interval is one of the plurality of inlet duration intervals; and determining a first flow rate configured in the target inlet duration interval as the flow rate of the first inlet valve.
[0008] In some embodiments, the inlet valve includes a second inlet valve, and the step of determining the inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting value and the initial inlet duration includes: determining the inlet duration intervals corresponding to multiple different inlet water pressure intervals of the first inlet valve based on the initial water level setting value; determining the target inlet water pressure interval based on the initial inlet duration and the multiple inlet duration intervals; and determining the second flow rate configured in the target inlet water pressure interval as the flow rate of the second inlet valve.
[0009] In some embodiments, determining the target water pressure range based on the initial water inlet duration and multiple water inlet duration intervals includes: determining that the initial water inlet duration is located within a target water inlet duration interval, wherein the target water inlet duration interval is one of multiple water inlet duration intervals; and determining the water pressure range corresponding to the target water inlet duration interval as the target water pressure range.
[0010] In some embodiments, determining the water inlet duration intervals corresponding to the first inlet valve in multiple different water inlet pressure intervals based on the initial water level setting value includes: inputting the initial water level setting value into a prediction model configured for the first inlet valve under each water inlet pressure to obtain the predicted water inlet duration of the first inlet valve under each water inlet pressure, wherein each two adjacent water inlet pressures determine a water inlet pressure interval, and each two adjacent water inlet pressures correspond to a predicted water inlet duration interval, and the prediction model is used to characterize the configuration relationship between different water level values and different water inlet durations.
[0011] In some embodiments, the water inlet duration includes a first water inlet duration during which water enters through a single water inlet valve. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water inlet flow rate of the single-opened water inlet valve and the water inlet duration includes: determining a first water inlet volume based on the water inlet flow rate of the single-opened water inlet valve and the first water inlet duration, wherein the water consumption includes the first water inlet volume.
[0012] In some embodiments, the water inlet duration includes a second water inlet duration during which multiple water inlet valves simultaneously introduce water. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water inlet flow rate of the multiple water inlet valves and the water inlet duration includes: determining the maximum value among the water inlet flow rates of the multiple water inlet valves as the water inlet flow rate of the second water inlet duration; and determining a second water inlet amount based on the water inlet flow rate of the second water inlet duration and the second water inlet duration, wherein the water consumption includes the second water inlet amount.
[0013] In some embodiments, the water inlet duration includes a first water inlet duration and a second water inlet duration. During the first water inlet duration, a single water inlet valve introduces water individually, while during the second water inlet duration, multiple water inlet valves introduce water simultaneously. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water inlet flow rate of the water inlet valve and the water inlet duration includes: during the first water inlet duration, determining a first water inlet amount based on the water inlet flow rate of the individually opened water inlet valve and the first water inlet duration; during the second water inlet duration, determining the maximum value among the water inlet flow rates of the multiple simultaneously opened water inlet valves as the water inlet flow rate of the second water inlet duration; determining a second water inlet amount based on the water inlet flow rate of the second water inlet duration and the second water inlet duration; and determining the sum of the first water inlet amount and the second water inlet amount as the water consumption of the washing machine.
[0014] In some embodiments, the method further includes: when the first inlet valve supplies water to the laundry treatment tub alone, obtaining the water inlet duration corresponding to different water level values in the laundry treatment tub under different inlet water pressures; for each inlet water pressure, constructing a regression equation for the first inlet valve based on different water level values and their corresponding water inlet durations, wherein the regression equation characterizes the functional relationship between the water inlet duration and the water level value, and the prediction model includes the regression equation.
[0015] In some embodiments, the water inlet time is the average time required for the first water inlet valve to fill the laundry processing tub with water to the same water level multiple times under the same water pressure and different gradient load conditions of the clothes in the tub.
[0016] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a water inlet control method for a washing machine is provided, comprising: determining a target water consumption based on the weight and / or material of the fabric to be washed before the washing machine starts inleting water; calculating the current water consumption based on the water consumption determination method described above during the water inlet process; and ending the water inlet process when the current water consumption equals the target water consumption.
[0017] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a water replenishment control method for a washing machine is provided, comprising: determining a target water replenishment amount during the washing process of the washing machine; calculating the current water intake amount based on the washing machine water consumption determination method described above; and ending the water replenishment when the current water intake amount is equal to the target water replenishment amount.
[0018] According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, a water-saving assessment method for a washing machine is provided, comprising: after the washing machine finishes washing, calculating the total water consumption during the entire washing process according to the method for determining the water consumption of the washing machine described in any one of the above claims; and assessing the water-saving performance of the washing machine based on the total water consumption data for each of one or more washes.
[0019] According to the fifth aspect of this disclosure, a method for assessing the energy consumption of a washing machine is provided, comprising: after the washing machine finishes washing, calculating the total water consumption during the entire washing process according to the method for determining the water consumption of the washing machine described in any one of the above claims; and assessing the energy consumption of the washing machine based on the total water consumption data for each of one or more washes.
[0020] According to a sixth aspect of this disclosure, an electronic device is provided, comprising a memory for storing one or more computer instructions, and a processor for calling and executing the computer instructions stored in the memory, thereby implementing the washing machine water consumption determination method described in any of the preceding claims.
[0021] According to a seventh aspect of this disclosure, a washing machine is provided, including a drum and the aforementioned electronic equipment.
[0022] The technical solution provided in this disclosure can include the following beneficial effects: Without the aid of a flow meter, this disclosure obtains the initial water level setting and initial water inlet duration in the laundry tub, and determines the water inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting and the initial water inlet duration. Then, based on the water inlet flow rate and the water inlet duration of the inlet valve, the water consumption of the washing machine is determined. Furthermore, this disclosure can determine the water inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting and the initial water inlet duration, thus considering the influence of different water pressures on the water inlet flow rate. This effectively improves the accuracy of determining the washing machine's water consumption using the water inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure.
[0023] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description
[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the technical solutions of this disclosure.
[0025] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.
[0026] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the determination of water consumption using a model according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation
[0027] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.
[0028] Because most users lack a clear understanding of washing machine water consumption and find it difficult to assess actual water usage under different washing modes and load conditions, they are prone to unreasonable usage behaviors such as "using a lot of water for a small amount of laundry" or "using too little water for a large amount of laundry," resulting in wasted water resources or poor cleaning results. If washing machine water consumption could be calculated and displayed, users would be able to intuitively understand the actual water consumption under different loads and washing modes (such as quick wash, mixed wash, and large item wash). Based on this, users could proactively choose more energy-efficient and water-saving operating modes according to the amount of laundry and cleaning needs, thereby improving their water conservation awareness.
[0029] Currently, washing machine water consumption calculations primarily rely on flow meters for real-time monitoring. The core of this method is to measure the water flow using a flow meter installed in the inlet pipe, thereby achieving accurate statistics on the washing machine's water usage. However, this method has the following problems: 1. High cost: The flow meter increases the overall cost of the machine; 2. Easily damaged: Impurities in the water flow may clog or wear down the flow meter, leading to inaccurate measurements or even failure; 3. Complex maintenance: Damaged flow meters require replacement, increasing the difficulty for users and providing after-sales service.
[0030] In the absence of a flow meter, water intake control can be achieved through time-based control or preset water volume. However, due to significant water pressure fluctuations in actual use, the inlet flow rate becomes unstable, affecting the accuracy of water consumption monitoring. Furthermore, these methods are susceptible to load variations, making precise control difficult. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a water consumption determination method that does not rely on a flow meter and can comprehensively consider the effects of load and water pressure, in order to achieve high-precision, low-cost, and highly reliable water monitoring.
[0031] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine. The present disclosure obtains the initial water level setting value and the initial water inlet duration in the laundry tub, and determines the water inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting value and the initial water inlet duration; then, based on the water inlet flow rate and the water inlet duration of the inlet valve, the water consumption of the washing machine is determined. It can be seen that the present disclosure can accurately determine the water consumption of the washing machine without relying on a flow meter. Furthermore, since the present disclosure does not rely on an additional flow meter, it can save corresponding hardware costs and avoid the risk of failure caused by flow meter blockage, wear, or malfunction, thereby improving the overall stability of the washing machine. The present disclosure can be applied to various types of washing machines.
[0032] The following embodiments will illustrate the specific implementation process of this disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0033] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 1 As shown, the method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine provided in this disclosure includes the following steps 101 to 103.
[0034] In step 101, the initial water level setting value and the initial water inlet duration in the clothing treatment tank are obtained.
[0035] Different washing modes in a washing machine typically correspond to different water level settings. The initial water level setting refers to the water level setting corresponding to the washing mode when the washing mode is confirmed.
[0036] The initial water intake time is the time from the start of water intake to the time when the water level in the laundry treatment tank reaches the initial water level setting value.
[0037] In step 102, the inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure is determined based on the initial water level setting value and the initial water inlet duration.
[0038] Since the inlet water pressure is inversely proportional to the inlet water duration, the same initial set water level corresponds to different inlet water durations under different inlet water pressures. This embodiment can pre-construct a functional relationship between inlet water duration and water level for each inlet water pressure, mapping the continuous range of inlet water pressure values to the continuous range of inlet water time values, thereby forming inlet water duration intervals corresponding to inlet water pressure intervals. Then, corresponding inlet water flow rates are configured for different inlet water duration intervals. Given the initial water level setpoint and initial inlet water duration, the inlet water flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure can be determined.
[0039] The water inlet valve is used to supply water to the clothing processing bucket.
[0040] In step 103, the water consumption of the washing machine is determined based on the water inlet flow rate and the water inlet duration of the water inlet valve.
[0041] It should be noted that, since different types of clothing have different absorbency, even if the initial water level setting in the laundry tub is known, the actual water consumption cannot be determined. Therefore, the water consumption of the washing machine needs to be determined through this disclosure.
[0042] The washing machine in this embodiment may include at least one water inlet valve. Specifically, a washing machine including one water inlet valve is referred to as a first-type washing machine, and a washing machine including one main water inlet valve and at least one other water inlet valve is referred to as a second-type washing machine. The calculation processes for water consumption are somewhat similar between the two types of washing machines. Therefore, for ease of description, this embodiment refers to the water inlet valve in the first-type washing machine and the main water inlet valve in the second-type washing machine as the first water inlet valve, and the other water inlet valves in the second-type washing machine besides the main water inlet valve as the second water inlet valve.
[0043] To facilitate understanding, this embodiment will first explain the model involved in the calculation process.
[0044] The solution provided in this disclosure involves a mapping relationship between inlet water pressure, water level, inlet time, and inlet flow rate during the calculation process. In some embodiments, the configuration relationship between inlet water pressure, water level, inlet time, and inlet flow rate can be stored as a flow rate model, which can effectively reflect the mapping relationship between inlet time and inlet flow rate under different water pressures. In other embodiments, the configuration relationship representing different water levels and different inlet durations can be stored as a prediction model. In one embodiment, the prediction model includes a regression equation for representing the functional relationship between inlet duration and water level.
[0045] The regression equation can be constructed in the following way: when the first inlet valve supplies water to the laundry processing tank alone, obtain the water inlet time corresponding to different water level values in the laundry processing tank under different inlet water pressures; for each inlet water pressure, construct the regression equation of the first inlet valve according to the different water level values and their corresponding water inlet times.
[0046] It should be noted that the water inlet time is the average time required for the first water inlet valve to fill the laundry tub with water to the same level multiple times under the same water pressure and different load gradients of the clothes inside the tub. This embodiment effectively eliminates the deviation caused by load differences by collecting data under different load gradients (e.g., no load, half load, full load).
[0047] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the determination of water consumption using a model according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, with reference to... Figure 2The data collection and model building processes are explained.
[0048] During the data acquisition phase, multiple water pressure values can be selected, such as 0.05MPa, 0.1MPa, 0.15MPa, 0.2MPa, 0.25MPa, and 0.3MPa, and different load ranges (e.g., empty drum, half-load, full load) can be set to cover various usage scenarios and improve data accuracy. Simultaneously, ensure the washing machine is in standard operating condition to avoid interference from other water inlet or drainage operations. Subsequently, a data acquisition experiment is conducted. Taking water inlet valve 1 as an example, under each water pressure and load combination, a normal water inlet process is simulated and water is continuously introduced, recording multiple water levels and the time taken to reach each level. The average water inlet time measured under various loads is taken as the standard time at that water level. This embodiment can use a high-precision flow rate acquisition device to simultaneously record the actual water inlet volume under each water pressure. The water flow rate can be determined by the actual water inlet volume and inlet time. This stage of data acquisition is the foundation for establishing a predictive model; therefore, the accuracy and representativeness of the data must be guaranteed.
[0049] During the model building phase, the collected data was organized into a structured dataset. Water level was used as x, and the average inflow time for different loads was used as y. This yielded a quadratic regression equation between water level and inflow time for each inflow pressure. (If any...) , … Given n different water pressures, there are n quadratic regression equations relating water level values to water inflow time: , … .
[0050] Each pair of adjacent inlet water pressures defines an inlet water pressure interval, and the predicted inlet water duration corresponding to each pair of adjacent inlet water pressures defines an inlet water duration interval. That is, the inlet water time y is divided into intervals: (0, ... ]、( , ]、…、( , ]、( The water pressure corresponding to (+∞) is [ (+∞), [ , ), ..., [ , ), [ , The average measured flow rate within each interval is taken as the influent flow rate for that interval. .
[0051] If the washing machine includes other inlet valves besides the first inlet valve, these other inlet valves need to be opened individually under various water pressures. Experimental equipment should be used to measure the actual flow rate, and the average of the measured flow rates within each water pressure range should be taken as the inlet flow rate for that range. For example, the inlet flow rate of valve 2 is denoted as... The inlet flow rate of valve 3 is recorded as Similarly, the inlet flow rate of the inlet valve (valve n) is... .
[0052] The following examples will illustrate the process of determining the inlet flow rate of different inlet valves.
[0053] When the inlet valve includes a first inlet valve, determining the inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting value and the initial inlet duration includes: determining the inlet duration intervals corresponding to multiple different inlet water pressure intervals for the first inlet valve based on the initial water level setting value; and determining the inlet flow rate of the first inlet valve based on the initial inlet duration and the multiple inlet duration intervals.
[0054] Substituting the initial water level setpoint into a pre-constructed functional relationship between water level and inlet duration, multiple inlet durations are obtained. The inlet duration interval to which each of these intervals belongs is determined, resulting in multiple inlet duration intervals. The initial inlet duration is matched with these multiple inlet duration intervals to determine the target inlet duration interval, and the inlet flow rate corresponding to the target inlet duration interval is determined as the inlet flow rate of the first inlet valve.
[0055] In some embodiments, determining the inlet flow rate of the first inlet valve based on the initial inlet duration and multiple inlet duration intervals may include: determining a target inlet duration interval corresponding to the initial inlet duration based on the initial inlet duration and multiple inlet duration intervals, wherein the target inlet duration interval is one of the multiple inlet duration intervals; and determining a first flow rate configured in the target inlet duration interval as the flow rate of the first inlet valve.
[0056] For example, the multiple water inflow duration intervals are (0, ... ]、( , ]、…、( , ]、( Given (+∞), determine the water intake duration interval to which the initial water intake duration belongs. For example, if the initial water intake duration is located in the interval (+∞), then... , Within ], then, the interval ( , The target water inlet duration interval is determined, and the first flow rate configured for the target water inlet duration interval is determined as the flow rate of the first water inlet valve.
[0057] When the inlet valve includes a second inlet valve, determining the inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting value and the initial inlet duration includes: determining the inlet duration intervals corresponding to multiple different inlet water pressure intervals for the first inlet valve based on the initial water level setting value; determining the target inlet water pressure interval based on the initial inlet duration and the multiple inlet duration intervals; and determining the second flow rate configured in the target inlet water pressure interval as the flow rate of the second inlet valve.
[0058] Continuing the previous example, the inlet water pressure ranges corresponding to the multiple inlet water duration intervals are [ (+∞), [ , ), ..., [ , ), [ , Determine the initial water intake duration to belong to the water intake duration interval, and then determine the corresponding water pressure interval. For example, if the initial water intake duration is located in interval (... , Within ], then, the interval ( , The target water inflow duration range is defined as the water inflow pressure range corresponding to this target water inflow duration range. , This represents the target inlet water pressure range, which is [...]. , The second flow rate configured is determined to be the flow rate of the second inlet valve.
[0059] Those skilled in the art should understand that the second inlet valve in this embodiment is a general term for all inlet valves other than the main inlet valve. Therefore, the second flow rate is a general term for the inlet flow rate of all inlet valves other than the main inlet valve.
[0060] In some embodiments, determining the target water pressure range based on the initial water intake duration and multiple water intake duration intervals includes: determining a target water intake duration interval corresponding to the initial water intake duration based on the initial water intake duration and multiple water intake duration intervals, wherein the target water intake duration interval is one of the multiple water intake duration intervals; and determining the water pressure range corresponding to the target water intake duration interval as the target water pressure range.
[0061] In this embodiment, the correspondence between the water inlet duration interval, the water inlet pressure interval, and the water inlet flow rate is pre-established. Subsequently, the target water inlet duration interval can be determined based on the initial water inlet duration, and the water inlet pressure interval corresponding to the target water inlet duration interval is the target water inlet duration interval.
[0062] In some embodiments, determining the water inlet duration intervals corresponding to the first inlet valve in multiple different water inlet pressure intervals based on the initial water level setting value includes: inputting the initial water level setting value into a prediction model configured for the first inlet valve under each water inlet pressure to obtain the predicted water inlet duration of the first inlet valve under each water inlet pressure, wherein each two adjacent water inlet pressures determine a water inlet pressure interval, and each two adjacent water inlet pressures correspond to a predicted water inlet duration interval, and the prediction model is used to characterize the configuration relationship between different water level values and different water inlet durations.
[0063] Reference Figure 2 As shown, in practical applications, when the washing machine is running normally, the initial water level setpoint x is collected and substituted into the prediction model to calculate... , … The initial water inflow duration (i.e., the actual water inflow duration) s is compared with each y value to find the corresponding water inflow duration interval, thereby obtaining the water inflow rate for that water inflow duration interval. Furthermore, the corresponding inlet water pressure range can be obtained. In the case of other inlet valves, the corresponding inlet water flow rate is obtained based on the inlet water pressure range corresponding to the inlet water duration range. , … The value of .
[0064] For a washing machine with one inlet valve, water enters through that valve. For a washing machine with two or more inlet valves, water can enter through any one of the valves individually, simultaneously, or alternate between entering through a single valve and entering through multiple valves simultaneously. For ease of distinction, the water entering through a single valve is referred to as the first water entering time, and the water entering through multiple valves simultaneously is referred to as the second water entering time.
[0065] The following examples will illustrate the process of determining water consumption under the different water inlet methods described above.
[0066] In some embodiments, the water inlet duration includes a first water inlet duration during which water enters through a single water inlet valve. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water inlet flow rate of the single-opened water inlet valve and the water inlet duration includes: determining a first water inlet volume based on the water inlet flow rate of the single-opened water inlet valve and the first water inlet duration, wherein the water consumption includes the first water inlet volume.
[0067] In other embodiments, the water inlet duration includes a second water inlet duration during which multiple water inlet valves simultaneously introduce water. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water inlet flow rate and the water inlet duration of each valve includes: The maximum value among the inlet flow rates of multiple inlet valves is determined as the inlet flow rate for the second inlet duration; The second water intake is determined based on the water intake flow rate and the second water intake duration, and the water consumption includes the second water intake.
[0068] In this embodiment, only the maximum inlet flow rate is taken when multiple inlet valves are opened at the same time, avoiding repeated calculations and more closely reflecting the actual water flow state.
[0069] In some other embodiments, the water inlet duration includes a first water inlet duration and a second water inlet duration. During the first water inlet duration, a single water inlet valve introduces water individually, while during the second water inlet duration, multiple water inlet valves introduce water simultaneously. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water flow rate and water inlet duration of each valve includes: Within the first water inlet duration, the first water inlet volume is determined based on the water inlet flow rate of the individually opened water inlet valve and the first water inlet duration; During the second water inlet duration, the maximum value among the water inlet flow rates of the multiple water inlet valves that are opened simultaneously is determined as the water inlet flow rate during the second water inlet duration. The second water intake volume is determined based on the water intake flow rate and the second water intake duration. The sum of the first water intake and the second water intake is determined as the water consumption of the washing machine.
[0070] In other words, the washing machine records the opening time of each inlet valve during operation, including the total time each inlet valve is open individually during operation and the time when two or more inlet valves are open simultaneously. (Refer to...) Figure 2 The water flow rate corresponding to the inlet valve is multiplied by the individual opening time, and the sum is obtained to get the water consumption of the valve when it is open alone. If two or more inlet valves are open at the same time during operation, the maximum flow rate is taken as the inlet flow rate at the current moment, and multiplied by the common opening time to calculate the water consumption during that time. Figure 2The water consumption in the middle has the same meaning as the water consumption in the examples.
[0071] For example, the total water consumption can be calculated using formula (1).
[0072] Formula (1) In equation (1), the first summation term represents the sum of water consumption when each inlet valve is opened individually, and n is the number of inlet valves activated during the operation of the washing machine; the second summation term represents the sum of water consumption when two or more inlet valves are opened simultaneously, and m is the number of times two or more inlet valves are opened simultaneously. This represents the set of inlet flow rates of several inlet valves that are opened simultaneously on the j-th occasion. This represents the maximum inlet flow rate among the inlet valves that are opened simultaneously in the j-th instance. This indicates the duration of water intake when the inlet valves open simultaneously for the jth time.
[0073] This method avoids redundant calculations. When multiple inlet valves are open simultaneously, it only calculates the maximum flow rate, preventing the cumulative error caused by the simultaneous operation of multiple inlet valves. By selecting the maximum inlet flow rate, it more closely approximates the actual water flow conditions, improving accuracy. This method is suitable for complex control scenarios and can calculate the water usage of washing machine control systems with multiple inlet valves working in tandem. Furthermore, this method accurately reflects the water usage of the washing machine under different load and water pressure conditions, and is unaffected by the load's water absorption capacity, exhibiting high practicality and stability.
[0074] As can be seen from the above embodiments, in order to solve the problems of high cost, poor reliability, and difficult maintenance caused by the reliance on flow meters in existing washing machines, as well as the inaccurate water volume statistics caused by relying solely on water level and time to estimate water volume while ignoring the influence of water pressure, this embodiment collects water inlet time data corresponding to different water level values under multiple water pressure conditions, and establishes a quadratic regression model between water pressure and water level-water inlet time by combining experimentally measured flow rates. This method can adapt to changes in water pressure and reduce calculation errors; moreover, this method does not affect the original control program and can be seamlessly integrated into the existing washing machine control system.
[0075] In some embodiments, this disclosure also provides a water inlet control method for a washing machine, comprising: Before the washing machine starts filling with water, determine the target water consumption based on the weight and / or material of the fabric to be washed; During the water intake process of the washing machine, the current water intake is calculated based on the water consumption determination method of any one of the above embodiments. When the current water intake is equal to the target water consumption, the water intake ends.
[0076] In some embodiments, this disclosure also provides a water replenishment control method for a washing machine, characterized in that it includes: During the washing process, the target water replenishment amount is determined, and the current water intake amount is calculated based on the washing machine water consumption determination method described in any of the above embodiments. When the current water intake amount is equal to the target water replenishment amount, the water replenishment ends.
[0077] In some embodiments, this disclosure also provides a water-saving assessment method for washing machines, including: After the washing machine finishes washing, the total water consumption during the entire washing process is calculated according to the method for determining the water consumption of the washing machine described in any of the above embodiments. The water-saving performance of a washing machine can be assessed based on the total water consumption data for each of one or more washes.
[0078] In some embodiments, this disclosure also provides a method for assessing the energy consumption of a washing machine, including: After the washing machine finishes washing, the total water consumption during the entire washing process is calculated according to the method for determining the water consumption of the washing machine described in any of the above embodiments. Assess the energy consumption of a washing machine based on the total water usage data for each of one or more washes.
[0079] In the above embodiments of this disclosure, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own emphasis. Parts not described in detail in a particular embodiment can be referred to in the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. The steps illustrated in the related flowcharts can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions. Furthermore, although a logical order is shown in the flowcharts, in some cases, the steps shown or described may be performed in a different order than that shown here. In other words, the order of steps described in the foregoing embodiments is merely an example. Reasonable adjustments to the order of steps based on the content of the embodiments of this disclosure are also within the protection scope of the embodiments of this disclosure.
[0080] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of one or more embodiments of this disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of one or more embodiments of this disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of one or more embodiments of this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of one or more embodiments of this disclosure.
Claims
1. A method for determining the water consumption of a washing machine, characterized in that, include: The initial water level setting value and the initial water inlet duration are obtained in the laundry processing tank. The initial water inlet duration is the time from the start of water inlet to the time when the water level in the laundry processing tank reaches the initial water level setting value. Based on the initial water level setting and the initial water inlet duration, the water inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure is determined. The inlet valve is used to supply water to the laundry treatment tub. The water consumption of the washing machine is determined based on the water inlet flow rate and the water inlet duration of the inlet valve.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet valve includes a first inlet valve. Determining the inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting and the initial inlet duration includes: Based on the initial water level setting value, the water inlet time intervals corresponding to the first water inlet valve in multiple different water inlet pressure intervals are determined respectively; The inlet flow rate of the first inlet valve is determined based on the initial inlet duration and multiple inlet duration intervals.
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the inlet flow rate of the first inlet valve based on the initial inlet duration and multiple inlet duration intervals includes: Based on the initial water intake duration and multiple water intake duration intervals, a target water intake duration interval corresponding to the initial water intake duration is determined, wherein the target water intake duration interval is one of the multiple water intake duration intervals; The first flow rate configured for the target water inlet duration interval is determined as the flow rate of the first water inlet valve.
4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet valve includes a second inlet valve. Determining the inlet flow rate of the inlet valve under the current water pressure based on the initial water level setting and the initial inlet duration includes: Based on the initial water level setting value, determine the water inlet time interval corresponding to the first water inlet valve in multiple different water inlet pressure intervals; The target water pressure range is determined based on the initial water intake duration and multiple water intake duration intervals. The second flow rate configured in the target inlet water pressure range is determined as the flow rate of the second inlet valve.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining the target inlet water pressure range based on the initial inlet water duration and multiple inlet water duration intervals includes: Based on the initial water intake duration and multiple water intake duration intervals, a target water intake duration interval corresponding to the initial water intake duration is determined, wherein the target water intake duration interval is one of the multiple water intake duration intervals; The water pressure range corresponding to the target water inlet duration range is determined as the target water inlet pressure range.
6. The method according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that, The step of determining the water inlet duration intervals corresponding to multiple different water inlet pressure ranges for the first water inlet valve based on the initial water level setting includes: The initial water level setting value is input into the prediction model configured for the first inlet valve under each inlet water pressure to obtain the predicted inlet duration of the first inlet valve under each inlet water pressure. Here, each two adjacent inlet water pressures determine an inlet water pressure interval, and the predicted inlet duration corresponding to each two adjacent inlet water pressures determines an inlet duration interval. The prediction model is used to characterize the configuration relationship between different water level values and different inlet durations.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The water inlet duration includes a first water inlet duration, during which water enters through a single water inlet valve. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water inlet flow rate and the water inlet duration of the water inlet valve includes: The first water intake is determined based on the water flow rate of the individually opened inlet valve and the first water intake duration, and the water consumption includes the first water intake.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The water inlet duration includes a second water inlet duration, during which multiple water inlet valves simultaneously introduce water. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water inlet flow rate and the water inlet duration of each valve includes: The maximum value among the inlet flow rates of multiple inlet valves is determined as the inlet flow rate for the second inlet duration; The second water intake is determined based on the water intake flow rate and the second water intake duration, and the water consumption includes the second water intake.
9. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The water inlet duration includes a first water inlet duration and a second water inlet duration. During the first water inlet duration, a single water inlet valve introduces water individually, while during the second water inlet duration, multiple water inlet valves introduce water simultaneously. Determining the water consumption of the washing machine based on the water flow rate and water inlet duration of each valve includes: Within the first water inlet duration, the first water inlet volume is determined based on the water inlet flow rate of the individually opened water inlet valve and the first water inlet duration; During the second water inlet duration, the maximum value among the water inlet flow rates of the multiple water inlet valves that are opened simultaneously is determined as the water inlet flow rate during the second water inlet duration. The second water intake volume is determined based on the water intake flow rate and the second water intake duration. The sum of the first water intake and the second water intake is determined as the water consumption of the washing machine.
10. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the first inlet valve supplies water to the laundry treatment tub alone, the water inlet time corresponding to different water level values in the laundry treatment tub under different inlet water pressures is obtained. For each inlet water pressure, a regression equation for the first inlet valve is constructed based on different water level values and their corresponding inlet water durations. The regression equation characterizes the functional relationship between the inlet water duration and the water level value. The prediction model includes the regression equation.
11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The water inlet time is the average time required for the first water inlet valve to fill the laundry processing tub with water to the same level multiple times under the same water pressure and different gradient load conditions of the clothes in the tub.
12. A water inlet control method for a washing machine, characterized in that, include: Before the washing machine starts filling with water, determine the target water consumption based on the weight and / or material of the fabric to be washed; During the water intake process of the washing machine, the current water intake volume is calculated based on the method for determining the water consumption of the washing machine as described in any one of claims 1-11. When the current water intake volume is equal to the target water consumption volume, the water intake process ends.
13. A water replenishment control method for a washing machine, characterized in that, include: During the washing process, the target water replenishment amount is determined, and the current water intake amount is calculated based on the washing machine water consumption determination method as described in any one of claims 1-11. When the current water intake amount is equal to the target water replenishment amount, the water replenishment ends.
14. A method for evaluating the water-saving performance of a washing machine, characterized in that, include: After the washing machine finishes washing, the total water consumption during the entire washing process is calculated according to the method for determining the water consumption of the washing machine as described in any one of claims 1-11. The water-saving performance of a washing machine can be assessed based on the total water consumption data for each of one or more washes.
15. A method for assessing the energy consumption of a washing machine, characterized in that, include: After the washing machine finishes washing, the total water consumption during the entire washing process is calculated according to the method for determining the water consumption of the washing machine as described in any one of claims 1-11. Assess the energy consumption of a washing machine based on the total water usage data for each of one or more washes.
16. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: A memory for storing one or more computer instructions; A processor for calling and executing computer instructions stored in the memory to implement the washing machine water consumption determination method according to any one of claims 1-15.
17. A washing machine, characterized in that, It includes the roller and the electronic device as described in claim 16.