Cold water module and water purifier

By using a combination of water pumps and semiconductor coolers in the chilled water module, the problem of icing at the cold end of the cooling components was solved, improving cooling efficiency and user experience.

CN223759678UActive Publication Date: 2026-01-06ZHEJIANG SUPOR KITCHEN & BATHROOM APPLIANCE CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202423291205.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-12-30
Publication Date
2026-01-06
Estimated Expiration
2034-12-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In existing technologies, the rapid temperature drop at the cold end of the refrigeration component leads to ice condensation, which affects thermal conductivity, resulting in longer waiting times for users and increased energy consumption.

Method used

By using a water pump to circulate water in the cold water chamber when the refrigeration components are working, higher temperature water is ensured to reach the cold end, preventing the cold end from freezing, and the refrigeration efficiency is improved through semiconductor coolers and heat sinks.

Benefits of technology

It effectively prevents icing at the cold end, improves the cooling efficiency of the refrigeration components, and reduces user waiting time and energy consumption.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The cold water module is provided with a water supplementing opening and a cold water outlet, the cold water module comprises a cold container, a water pump and a one-way valve, the cold container comprises a cold water cavity and a refrigeration assembly used for refrigerating water in the cold water cavity, and the cold water cavity comprises a cold container water inlet, a cold container water outlet and a cold container circulation opening; the cold container water inlet is connected to the water replenishing port through a water replenishing pipeline, and the cold container water outlet is connected to the cold water outlet; the water pump is arranged on the water supplementing pipeline in series, a water inlet of the water pump is connected to the cold container circulation opening through a circulation pipeline, a water inlet of the circulation pipeline is connected to the cold container circulation opening, and a water outlet of the circulation pipeline is connected to the water inlet of the water pump. The one-way valve is arranged on the circulation pipeline in series. The water pump works when the refrigeration assembly works. In this way, water with low temperature around the cold end of the refrigeration assembly can be far away from the cold end, water with high temperature around the cold end can reach the cold end, and therefore the situation that the water temperature of the cold end of the refrigeration assembly is too low to freeze and affect the heat conduction performance is prevented.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of water treatment technology, specifically to a cold water module and a water purifier. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of the times, people have increasingly higher requirements for drinking water quality, and simply providing room temperature water is no longer sufficient to meet users' needs. Currently, many water purifiers and water dispensers on the market can provide processed water such as cold and hot water, thereby improving people's drinking water experience.

[0003] Currently, there are two main methods for producing chilled water: one uses a compressor and refrigerant circulation piping, where the refrigerant absorbs heat at the cold end and releases it at the hot end. This method is highly efficient and can provide chilled water at lower temperatures, but it is usually noisier and requires continuous operation for a period of time to reach its maximum efficiency. The other method uses a thermoelectric cooler. The thermoelectric cooler is smaller and quieter, but its cooling efficiency is lower, and it can provide chilled water at higher temperatures than the compressor-based method.

[0004] Regardless of the chosen approach, the cold end of the refrigeration unit needs to exchange heat with the water to be cooled. During the cooling process, if the temperature of the cold end of the refrigeration unit drops too quickly, a layer of ice may condense on the contact surface with the cold water. Ice has poor thermal conductivity, causing the surrounding cold water to take longer to cool to the desired intake temperature, resulting in longer waiting times for users and greater energy consumption by the equipment. Utility Model Content

[0005] To at least partially address the problems existing in the prior art, some embodiments of this utility model provide a cold water module having a water inlet and a cold water outlet, and further including a cold tank, the cold tank including a cold water cavity and a refrigeration component for cooling the water in the cold water cavity, the cold water cavity including a cold tank inlet, a cold tank outlet, and a cold tank circulation port, the cold tank inlet being connected to the water inlet via a water inlet pipe, the cold tank outlet being connected to the cold water outlet; a water pump, the water pump being connected in series on the water inlet pipe, the water pump inlet being connected to the cold tank circulation port via a circulation pipe, wherein the inlet of the circulation pipe is connected to the cold tank circulation port, and the outlet of the circulation pipe is connected to the water pump inlet; and a one-way valve, the one-way valve being connected in series on the circulation pipe, wherein the water pump operates when the refrigeration component is working. In the above technical solution, when the refrigeration component is working, a water pump circulates the cold water in the cold water chamber. This keeps the cooler water around the cold end of the refrigeration component away from the cold end, while allowing the warmer water to reach the cold end. This prevents the water at the cold end of the refrigeration component from freezing due to excessively low temperature, which would affect its thermal conductivity. This also ensures that the cold end consistently cools the warmer water, reducing the temperature difference between the cold and hot ends of the refrigeration component over a longer period, further improving the refrigeration efficiency of the refrigeration component.

[0006] For example, the water pump is configured to be in a water flow cut-off state when it stops working. In addition to connecting to the water pump's inlet and the circulation pipe's outlet, the water inlet can also be connected to a faucet, a room temperature water tank, a hot water tank, etc. When the water purification module connected to the water inlet replenishes water to these structures, the water pump stops working, allowing all purified water to enter the structure requiring replenishment. When the user takes cold water, or when the cold water tank needs replenishment, the water pump starts, drawing purified water to replenish the cold water chamber.

[0007] For example, the water inlet of the cold tank is located at the top of the cold tank, and the water circulation port is located at the bottom of the cold tank. As a result, the water circulation path within the cold tank is longer, which can make the water temperature more uniform throughout the cold tank, thereby further preventing the water temperature at the cold end of the refrigeration unit from getting too low and freezing.

[0008] For example, the cold water outlet is located at the top of the cold water tank. Therefore, the cold water chamber is always full during cooling and when supplying cold water to the user, eliminating the need for a water level detection device and simplifying the control logic. This also prevents the cold water chamber from running dry, thus avoiding situations where the cooling components are not cooling properly.

[0009] For example, the refrigeration assembly includes a cooling fin that extends into the cooling tank and is located between the cooling tank inlet and the cooling tank circulation port. When the water pump is operating, water flows through and washes the cooling fin, causing the cooler water around the cooling fin to move away from the cooling fin, while warmer water reaches the area around the cooling fin, preventing the cooling fin from becoming too cold and freezing.

[0010] For example, the cooling assembly further includes: a thermoelectric cooler having a cold end and a hot end, with a heatsink thermally connected to the cold end; and a heat sink for dissipating heat from the hot end. The thermoelectric cooler is small in size and produces almost no noise during operation. It requires no refrigerant, has no moving parts, has a long service life, requires no maintenance, and is low in cost. The thermoelectric cooler is typically plate-shaped, with the cold and hot ends usually constructed as flat surfaces that can be attached to the flat surfaces of the heatsink and the heatsink, respectively. The gaps can be filled with thermally conductive grease or adhesive. This simplifies the shape of the heatsink and the heatsink, further reducing the cost of the cooling assembly and improving its reliability.

[0011] For example, a heat sink includes one or more of a heat sink fin, a fan, and a water-cooled heat pipe. Air cooling is simpler, while water cooling is more complex, but it offers better cooling performance and lower noise. Using a heat sink improves the cooling efficiency of the cooling components.

[0012] For example, the cooling fins are multiple and arranged parallel to each other, with the cold water inlet and circulation outlet positioned opposite each other on either side of the cooling fins along their extension direction. This ensures that water flow is not obstructed by the cooling fins, preventing ice buildup in the gaps where water does not flow. This further improves the uniformity of water temperature within the cold water chamber, enhancing the cooling effect.

[0013] For example, the cooling tank also includes a temperature sensor for detecting the water temperature inside the cold water chamber and at the refrigeration components; the water pump operates when the water temperature is below a preset temperature. In the initial cooling phase, when the water temperature is high throughout the cold water chamber, there is no immediate risk of ice formation on the surface of the refrigeration components, so the water pump does not need to be turned on to reduce noise. Ice formation begins when the water temperature reaches 0 degrees Celsius; therefore, the water pump can circulate the water in the cold water chamber to prevent ice formation on the surface of the refrigeration components.

[0014] Another aspect of this application provides a water purifier, which includes: a water purification module; the aforementioned cold water module; and a control module, the control module being further configured to control the water purification module to produce water in response to a user's water dispensing operation.

[0015] This utility model description introduces a series of simplified concepts, which will be further explained in detail in the detailed description section. This utility model description is not intended to limit the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor is it intended to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0016] The advantages and features of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The following drawings, which are incorporated herein by reference as part of this invention, are provided for understanding the invention. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and their descriptions, serving to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,

[0018] Figure 1 This is a water circuit diagram of a chilled water module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 Here is a water circuit diagram of a chilled water module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 Here is a water circuit diagram of a chilled water module according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 Here is a water circuit diagram of a water purifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 A perspective view of a cooling liner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 According to Figure 5 Exploded view of the cooling chamber of the exemplary embodiment shown.

[0024] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0025] 10. Water inlet; 20. Cold water outlet; 100. Cold water tank; 110. Cold water cavity; 111. Cold water tank inlet; 112. Cold water tank outlet; 113. Cold water tank circulation port; 114. Vent; 121. Cooling fin; 122. Semiconductor cooler; 123. Radiator; 1231. Fan; 1232. Heat sink; 200. Water supply pipe; 210. Water pump; 300. Circulation pipe; 310. Check valve; 400. Water purification module; 500. Cold water pipe; 510. Cold water pump. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the following description, numerous details are provided to enable a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description merely illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, which may be practiced without one or more of these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion with the present invention, some technical features well-known in the art have not been described in detail.

[0027] To fully understand the embodiments of this utility model, a detailed structure will be presented in the following description. Obviously, the implementation of the embodiments of this utility model is not limited to the specific details familiar to those skilled in the art. Preferred embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below; however, in addition to these detailed descriptions, this utility model may have other embodiments.

[0028] This utility model provides a cold water module. The cold water module according to an embodiment of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 As shown, the chilled water module has a water inlet 10 and a chilled water outlet 20. The water inlet 10 can be connected to the water purification module 400 for replenishing purified water. In some embodiments, the chilled water module can cooperate with peripheral components such as a housing to construct a chiller or the like. In this case, the water inlet 10 can be used to connect to the water purifier. The chilled water outlet 20 can provide chilled water to the user. The chilled water module may also include a chilled tank 100, which may include a chilled water cavity 110 disposed therein. Optionally, the chilled water cavity 110 may have a shape substantially the same as the main body of the chilled tank 100, and be cubic in shape. Optionally, a tortuous pipe may be formed inside the chilled tank 100, and the chilled water cavity 110 is formed by the inner cavity of the pipe, thereby increasing the inner surface area of ​​the chilled water cavity 110. The chilled tank 100 may also include a refrigeration component for cooling the water in the chilled water cavity 110. The refrigeration component may include a compressor-type refrigeration component, a semiconductor refrigeration component, or other existing or future refrigeration components. The cold water chamber 110 may include a cold water inlet 111, a cold water outlet 112, and a cold water circulation port 113. The cold water inlet 111 is connected to the water supply port 10 via a water supply pipe 200, and the cold water outlet 112 is connected to the cold water outlet 20. Regardless of the type of refrigeration component, heat is generated during the refrigeration process, causing one part of the refrigeration component to form a hot end and the other part to form a cold end. The cold end of the refrigeration component can exchange heat with the cold water chamber 110, thereby cooling the water in the cold water chamber 110. The hot end of the refrigeration component can be equipped with a heat dissipation component as described in detail below, thereby achieving efficient refrigeration.

[0029] The chilled water module includes a water pump 210, which is connected in series on the water supply pipe 200. The inlet of the water pump 210 is also connected to the cooling tank circulation port 113 via a circulation pipe 300. The inlet of the circulation pipe 300 is connected to the cooling tank circulation port 113, and the outlet of the circulation pipe 300 is connected to the inlet of the water pump 210. The water pump 210 may include one or more of a diaphragm pump, a peristaltic pump, and a centrifugal pump. The chilled water module also includes a one-way valve 310, which is connected in series on the circulation pipe 300. The water pump 210 operates when the refrigeration unit is working. Specifically, the water pump 210 can start operating as soon as the refrigeration unit begins operating; alternatively, the water pump 210 can start operating after the refrigeration unit has been operating for a period of time. In short, in the circulation mode where the water pump 210 circulates water within the chilled water chamber 110, the refrigeration unit is always in operation.

[0030] It should be noted that the water inlet 10 is not connected to the atmosphere. In one exemplary embodiment, when a user takes cold water, the water purification module 400 connected to the water inlet 10 can provide purified water. The purified water can flow under pressure through the water pump 210, causing the water in the cold water chamber 110 to flow out from the main outlet and be provided to the user. Optionally, the water pump 210 can also operate to draw purified water from the water purification module 400 connected to the water inlet 10, causing the cold water in the cold water chamber 110 to flow out from the main outlet. In the above embodiments, the cold water chamber 110 may be connected to the atmosphere only through the main outlet. In other embodiments, the cold water chamber 110 may also include a vent 114 connected to the atmosphere. When providing cold water to the user, cold water can be provided to the user through the cold water pump 510 installed on the cold water pipeline 500 between the cold water chamber 110 and the main outlet, and when the water volume in the cold water chamber 110 is insufficient, water to be cooled can be added to the cold water chamber 110 through the water inlet 10. When the user stops drawing cold water, the water purification module 400 connected to the water inlet 10 stops providing purified water and disconnects the water inlet 10 from the atmosphere. Optionally, the water purification module 400 can provide purified water when the user draws water or when the cold water chamber 110 needs replenishment, via wired or wireless connection, and stop outputting purified water when no cold water is needed or when no water needs to be replenished to the cold water chamber 110. In circulation mode, the water purification module 400 can stop outputting purified water to prevent water from overflowing from the cold water chamber 110. The operation of the water pump 210 can generate negative pressure, causing the one-way valve 310 on the circulation pipeline 300 to open. As a result, water in the cold water chamber 110 can reach the water pump 210 from the cold tank circulation port 113, and then flow back into the cold water chamber 110 from the cold tank inlet 111. When the water purification module 400 provides purified water through the water inlet 10, the purified water will not enter the cold water chamber 110 through the one-way valve 310, but can only enter the cold water chamber 110 through the pipeline where the water pump 210 is located, and the flow rate is controllable.

[0031] In the above technical solution, when the refrigeration component is working, the cold water in the cold water chamber 110 can be circulated by the water pump 210. This allows the water with a lower temperature around the cold end of the refrigeration component to move away from the cold end, while the water with a higher temperature can reach the cold end, thus preventing the water at the cold end of the refrigeration component from freezing due to excessively low temperature, which would affect the thermal conductivity. This also ensures that the cold end always cools the water with a higher temperature, reducing the temperature difference between the cold and hot ends of the refrigeration component for a longer period of time, further improving the refrigeration efficiency of the refrigeration component.

[0032] For example, the water pump 210 is configured to be in a water flow cut-off state when it stops working. In other words, when the water pump 210 is not working, even if there is a certain pressure at the inlet, no water will flow out of the outlet of the water pump 210. Therefore, in addition to being connected to the inlet of the water pump 210 and the outlet of the circulation pipe 300, the water supply port 10 can also be connected to a faucet, a normal temperature water tank, a hot water tank, etc. When the water purification module 400 connected to the water supply port 10 replenishes water to these structures, the water pump 210 stops working, so that all the purified water enters the structure that needs water replenishment. When the user takes cold water, or when the cold tank 100 needs water replenishment, the water pump 210 turns on and draws purified water to replenish the cold water chamber 110.

[0033] Exemplarily, the cold water inlet 111 is located at the top of the cold water tank 100, and the cold water circulation port 113 is located at the bottom of the cold water tank 100. In some embodiments, the cold water tank 100 can be connected to the atmosphere, and the cold water tank 100 supplies cold water to the main outlet through the cold water outlet 112 located at the bottom. In this case, a cold water pump 510 can be installed on the cold water pipeline 500 connecting the cold water outlet 112 and the main outlet. In the circulation mode with the water pump 210 turned on, the water pump 210 can transport the lower temperature water at the bottom of the cold water tank 100 from the upper part of the cold water chamber 110 back to the cold water chamber 110, so that the higher temperature water at the top of the cold water chamber 110 and the lower temperature water input further form a hot and cold convection. When a user draws cold water, the refrigeration components typically stop working, and the water pump 210 also stops operating. The warmer and cooler water in the cold water chamber 110 then separates into layers. The cold water outlet 112 can prioritize supplying the user with the cooler water located below the cold water chamber 100. Alternatively, when a user draws cold water, water can be added to the cold water chamber 100 through the cold water inlet 111. This added water is warmer and located at the top of the cold water chamber 100, thus having a smaller impact on the user's water temperature.

[0034] In the above technical solution, the cold tank inlet 111 is located at the top of the cold tank 100, and the cold tank circulation port 113 is located at the bottom of the cold tank 100. As a result, the water circulation path within the cold tank 100 is relatively long, which can make the water temperature within the entire cold tank 100 more uniform, thereby further preventing the water temperature at the cold end of the refrigeration component from being too low and freezing.

[0035] For example, the cold water outlet 112 can be located at the top of the cold water tank 100. In this case, the cold water chamber 110 can only supply cold water to the main outlet when it is full. Optionally, the height of the cold water outlet 112 can be higher than the height of the cold water inlet 111. During the initial water replenishment, air in the cold water chamber 110 can be discharged from the cold water outlet 112 and will not accumulate inside the cold water tank 100. Optionally, the cold water inlet 111 can be guided to the lower part of the cold water chamber 110 through a pipeline, thereby moving it away from the cold water outlet 112. Thus, the cold water chamber 110 is always full of water when cooling and supplying cold water to the user, thereby eliminating the need for a water level detection device and simplifying the control logic. This also prevents the situation where the cold water chamber 110 is short of water, causing the refrigeration unit to cool dry.

[0036] Exemplarily, the refrigeration assembly includes a cooling fin 121 that extends into the cold water chamber 100 and is located between the cold water inlet 111 and the cold water circulation port 113. In some embodiments, the refrigeration assembly includes a compressor and a refrigerant circulation pipeline 300, with the cooling fin 121 disposed at the cold end of the refrigerant circulation pipeline 300. Specifically, for example, fins are provided on this pipeline to increase the contact area with the water in the cold water chamber 110. Optionally, the pipeline at the cold end can be coiled outside the cold water chamber 100, extending into the cold water chamber 100 only through the cooling fin 121. When the water pump 210 is operating, water can flow through and flush the cooling fin 121, causing the cooler water around the cooling fin 121 to move away from the cooling fin 121, while warmer water reaches around the cooling fin 121, preventing the cooling fin 121 from becoming too cold and freezing.

[0037] Exemplarily, the cooling assembly includes a thermoelectric cooler 122 having a cold end and a hot end, with a heatsink 121 thermally conductively connected to the cold end. The cooling assembly may also include a heat sink 123 for dissipating heat from the hot end. As described above, the thermoelectric cooler 122 is small in size and produces almost no noise during operation. Furthermore, it requires no refrigerant, has no moving parts, has a long service life, requires no maintenance, and is low in cost. The thermoelectric cooler 122 is typically sheet-shaped, with the cold and hot ends usually constructed as flat surfaces that can be attached to the flat surfaces of the heatsink 1232 and the heatsink 121, respectively. The gaps can be filled with thermally conductive grease or adhesive. This simplifies the shapes of the heatsink 1232 and the heatsink 121, further reducing the cost of the cooling assembly and improving its reliability.

[0038] For example, the heat sink 123 may include one or more of the following: a heat sink 1232, a fan 1231, and a water-cooled heat pipe. For any existing type of cooling component, the cooling efficiency decreases when the temperature difference between its hot and cold ends is too large. Taking semiconductor refrigeration as an example, when the temperature difference between its hot and cold ends reaches more than 50 degrees Celsius, its cooling effect drops significantly, causing the water temperature in the cold water chamber 110 to stop decreasing, making it difficult to provide the required temperature of cold water. Therefore, the hot end of the cooling component needs to be cooled.

[0039] The hot end of the cooling component can be passively cooled via heat sink 1232, or it can be forced into air cooling by combining heat sink 1232 with fan 1231. This allows a large amount of air to quickly remove heat, effectively improving cooling efficiency. In the embodiment where radiator 123 uses water-cooled heat pipes, since water has a much higher specific heat capacity than air, the temperature rise of the same volume of water is much less than that of the same volume of air. Therefore, only a very small flow rate of cooling water is needed to achieve the same cooling effect as a larger flow rate of air. In summary, air cooling is simpler, while water cooling is more complex, but it provides better cooling and lower noise. Cooling via radiator 123 improves the cooling efficiency of the cooling component.

[0040] For example, the cooling fins 121 are multiple and arranged parallel to each other. The cold water inlet 111 and the cold water circulation inlet 113 are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the cooling fins 121 along the extending direction of the cooling fins 121. Therefore, when water flows through the cooling fins 121, it is not obstructed by the cooling fins 121, preventing ice formation in the gaps of the cooling fins 121 that are not being flowed through. This also further improves the uniformity of water temperature in the cold water chamber 110, enhancing the cooling effect.

[0041] Exemplarily, the cooling tank 100 also includes a temperature sensor for detecting the water temperature within the cooling chamber 110 and at the cooling component. The temperature sensor can include any existing or future temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple, platinum resistance thermometer, or semiconductor thermistor. Optionally, since the cooling component exchanges heat with the water in the cooling chamber 110 through a thermally conductive material (e.g., a metal cooling fin 121), the temperature of the cold end is almost identical to the water temperature at the cooling component. The temperature sensor can also detect the cold end temperature of the cooling component and determine the water temperature at the cooling component based on the cold end temperature. The water pump 210 can operate when the water temperature is below a preset temperature. Specifically, the preset temperature can be between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius, such as 1 degree, 2 degrees, or 0 degrees. Since freezing begins when the water temperature reaches 0 degrees, the water pump 210 can circulate the water in the cooling chamber 110 to prevent water from freezing on the surface of the cooling component. When the cooling capacity of the refrigeration unit is large, or when the contact area between the refrigeration unit and the water in the cold water chamber 110 is small, the preset temperature can be 1 degree or 2 degrees. This allows the water pump 210, which delivers warmer water from other parts of the cold water chamber 110 to the surface of the refrigeration unit before the water reaches 0 degrees and freezes, thus preventing freezing. During the initial cooling phase, when the water temperature is high throughout the cold water chamber 110, there is no immediate risk of ice forming on the surface of the refrigeration unit, and the water pump 210 can be left undisturbed to reduce noise.

[0042] Another aspect of this application provides a water purifier, which includes a water purification module 400 and a cold water module as described in any of the above embodiments. The water purifier may also include a control module, which is further configured to control the water purification module 400 to produce water in response to a user's water dispensing operation. The control module may be constructed using electronic components such as comparators, registers, and digital logic circuits, or implemented using processor chips such as microcontrollers, microprocessors, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and their peripheral circuits.

[0043] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional terms such as "front", "rear", "up", "down", "left", "right", "horizontal", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", and "bottom" indicate the orientation or positional relationship, which are usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model. The directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of each component itself.

[0044] For ease of description, relative terms such as "above," "over," "on the upper surface of," and "above" are used here to describe the regional positional relationship of one or more components or features shown in the figures to other components or features. It should be understood that relative terms include not only the orientation of the component as depicted in the figure but also different orientations during use or operation. For example, if the components in the figures are inverted as a whole, "above" or "above other components or features" will include cases where the component is "below" or "under" other components or features. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." Furthermore, these components or features may also be positioned at other different angles (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other angles), and this document intends to include all such cases.

[0045] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0046] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0047] This utility model has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the utility model to the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments, and many more variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of this utility model, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A cold water module having a make-up water inlet and a cold water outlet, characterized by, The water cooler comprises: a cold tank comprising a cold water cavity and a refrigeration assembly for refrigerating water in the cold water cavity, the cold water cavity comprising a cold tank water inlet, a cold tank water outlet and a cold tank circulation port, the cold tank water inlet being connected to the water supplement outlet through a water supplement pipeline, the cold tank water outlet being connected to the cold water outlet; a water pump arranged in series on the water supplement pipeline, a water inlet of the water pump being connected to the cold tank circulation port through a circulation pipeline, wherein a water inlet of the circulation pipeline is connected to the cold tank circulation port, and a water outlet of the circulation pipeline is connected to the water inlet of the water pump; and a one-way valve arranged in series on the circulation pipeline, wherein the water pump works when the refrigeration assembly works.

2. The cold water module of claim 1, wherein, The water pump is configured to be in a water flow cutoff state when it stops working.

3. The cold water module of claim 1, wherein, The cold tank water inlet is arranged at the top of the cold tank, and the cold tank circulation port is arranged at the bottom of the cold tank.

4. The cold water module of claim 1, wherein, The cold tank water outlet is arranged at the top of the cold tank.

5. The cold water module of claim 1, wherein, The refrigeration assembly comprises cooling fins, the cooling fins extending into the cold tank, and the cooling fins being located between the cold tank water inlet and the cold tank circulation port.

6. The cold water module of claim 5, wherein, The refrigeration assembly further comprises: a semiconductor refrigerator having a cold end and a hot end, the cooling fins being thermally conductively connected to the cold end; and a heat sink for dissipating heat from the hot end.

7. The cold water module of claim 6, wherein, The heat sink comprises one or more of cooling fins, a fan and a water-cooled heat dissipation pipe.

8. The cold water module of claim 5, wherein, The cooling fins are multiple and arranged in parallel with each other, The cold tank water inlet and the cold tank circulation port are oppositely arranged on both sides of the cooling fins along the extension direction of the cooling fins.

9. The cold water module of claim 1, wherein, The cold tank further comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the water temperature at the refrigeration assembly in the cold water cavity. The water pump works when the water temperature is lower than a preset temperature.

10. A water purifier characterized by comprising: The water purifier comprises: a water purification module; a cold water module as claimed in any one of claims 1-9; and a control module, the control module being further configured to control the water purification module to produce water in response to a user water taking operation.