High-performance hot water heater module for water purifier

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a hot water heater module for a water purifier, in which introduced water is heated while moving along a flow path and hot water is discharged, comprises: a case part in which an accommodation space is provided; a water inlet part through which water outside the case part is introduced; a water inlet valve provided on a flow path through which the water introduced into the water inlet part moves, and opening or closing the flow path; a fluid supply part for pumping the water such that the water passes through the water inlet valve and moves along the flow path; a heater part for heating the water supplied from the fluid supply part; and a water outlet part through which the water heated by the heater part is discharged.

Description

High-performance hot water heater module for water purifiers

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a high-performance hot water heater module for a water purifier that stably maintains the water output flow rate and improves hot water output performance by driving a flow supply unit and a heater unit in a low-pressure environment.

[0002] Water purifiers are home appliances used to improve the quality of drinking water and are widely utilized in various locations, including homes, offices, and public facilities. Generally, water purifiers use tap water or groundwater as an input source to remove or reduce impurities, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals. To achieve this, various filtration and purification technologies are employed.

[0003] In modern society, water purifier systems have established themselves as essential devices in various environments, including homes, offices, and public places. In particular, the demand for water purifiers that provide both hot and cold water is surging due to the maximum user convenience they offer. However, the hot water module of water purifiers has a structural limitation in that it is highly sensitive to the water pressure conditions of the usage environment.

[0004] A water purifier can generally be composed of an input section, a filtration section, a storage section, and an output section. The input section is the part that receives water from the outside, and water is usually introduced through a connected tap water line. The input section is equipped with an initial filter to primarily remove large particles or impurities. Additionally, it may include a valve or a pressure regulator to control the amount of water flowing in.

[0005] The filtration unit is the core component of a water purifier, employing various filtration media and technologies. The most commonly used filtration media or technologies include activated carbon filters, which remove chlorine, odors, and organic substances from water; reverse osmosis (RO) filters, which remove very fine particles and dissolved substances through semipermeable membranes; UF (ultrafine filtration) filters, which remove microparticles such as bacteria and viruses; and UV sterilization technology, which enhances safety by killing microorganisms with ultraviolet light.

[0006] The storage unit may be configured to store filtered water in a storage tank. The storage unit is designed with a sealed structure to prevent contamination of the purified water, and some high-end water purifiers may include an additional sterilization function.

[0007] The stored water is supplied through the output unit when the user needs it. The output unit may include a button or lever to selectively provide hot, cold, or room-temperature water.

[0008] Water purifiers generally operate using electricity, supported by components such as pumps that move water from the internal input to the output, UV lamps, heater modules, and cooling devices.

[0009] The continuous advancement of water purifiers is moving toward enhancing consumer convenience and providing higher-quality drinking water. Accordingly, the development of components such as efficient hot water heater modules is emerging as a crucial factor in strengthening the performance and competitiveness of water purifiers.

[0010] Meanwhile, while the hot water module operates normally in regions with stable, high water pressure, such as the metropolitan area, problems may arise where the module fails to function properly due to low water pressure in rural areas or overseas regions with poor water supply facilities. Specifically, if the water pressure falls below the set threshold, the flow rate supplied to the heater unit is significantly reduced, preventing the heater unit from releasing heat properly and potentially leading to an overheating state. This may result in damage to the heater unit's materials or, in severe cases, breakage. Alternatively, if the water pressure drops below the set threshold, the water supply itself may become insufficient, making it impossible to accurately control the hot water temperature and causing inconvenience to the user.

[0011] In addition, conventional direct-flow water purifiers can be used in high-pressure environments by controlling the flow rate using a pressure reducing valve, but they have the problem of being impossible to install in low-pressure environments. If a water purifier is installed in a low-pressure environment, the heater may malfunction or, furthermore, high-temperature water may splash out, leading to safety accidents and resulting liability issues.

[0012] Therefore, there is a need to develop technology related to hot water heater modules that can enable water purifiers to operate stably even in low-pressure environments, prevent damage to the module, and improve user satisfaction by precisely controlling the temperature of the hot water.

[0013] In particular, in environments with low water pressure, such as Southeast Asian countries, it is impossible to install water purifiers other than the storage type due to water pressure issues. Therefore, there is a need to develop hot water heater module technology that can stably dispense water while preserving the heater module even in low-pressure environments by controlling not only high pressure but also low pressure.

[0014] The problem to be solved in the present disclosure is a low-pressure environment (1 kg / cm²). 3The present invention provides a water heater module for a water purifier that can extract instantaneous hot water of 40 to 95°C even in the following)

[0015] In addition, the invention provides a water heater module for a water purifier that enables reliable hot water supply under various regional conditions by ensuring that the water heater module of the water purifier operates stably and smoothly.

[0016] In particular, the purpose is to provide a hot water heater module for a water purifier that is designed to supply a sufficient flow rate to the heater unit even at low water pressure, thereby preventing damage to the heater unit, extending the lifespan of the device, and improving safety.

[0017] In addition, another objective of the present invention is to implement a hot water heater module capable of stably providing hot water that meets a target temperature set by the user, thereby enabling precise temperature control of the hot water to maximize user convenience and satisfaction.

[0018] However, the problems that the embodiments of the present invention aim to solve are not limited to the problems described above and can be expanded in various ways within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a water heater module for a water purifier, wherein water is heated as it moves along a flow path and hot water is discharged, comprises: a case portion having a receiving space; an inlet portion into which water is received from outside the case portion; an inlet valve provided in a flow path through which water received from the inlet portion moves, which opens or closes the flow path; a fluid supply portion pumping the water to pass through the inlet valve and move along the flow path; a heater portion heating the water supplied from the fluid supply portion; and a discharge portion into which the water heated in the heater portion is discharged.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fluid supply unit moves the water to the heater unit by generating a fluid flow using at least one of mechanical or electrical force, and the inlet valve can open or close the flow path by detecting a pressure change in the flow path generated by the fluid supply unit.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fluid supply unit may be provided in the lower part of the receiving space of the case unit, such that its length direction corresponds to the width direction of the case unit.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater portion may include a cylindrical substrate with open top and bottom ends, a heating layer formed on at least one of the inner or outer surface of the cylindrical substrate, an insulating layer provided between the substrate and the heating layer and providing electrical insulation, and an electrode connected to the heating layer to allow current to flow.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heating layer may be provided in a plurality along the axial direction of the cylindrical substrate.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heating layer comprises a first heating layer and a second heating layer provided on the upper portion of the first heating layer with respect to the axial direction, and the first heating layer may have a greater resistance than the second heating layer.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater portion may be provided inside the case portion and may be provided above the fluid supply portion.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater portion may be provided at an angle inside the case portion.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater portion may be provided on one side edge inside the case portion, such that its length direction corresponds to the height direction of the case portion.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of water discharged from the discharge portion may be further included.

[0029] According to the embodiments, the hot water heater module for a water purifier according to the present disclosure enables the hot water heater module of the water purifier to operate stably and smoothly even in a low-pressure environment, thereby enabling reliable hot water supply under various regional conditions.

[0030] In addition, it is designed so that a sufficient flow rate can be supplied to the heater unit even at low water pressure, which prevents damage to the heater unit, extends the lifespan of the device, and improves safety.

[0031] In addition, it can reliably provide hot water that meets the target temperature set by the user, and can maximize user convenience and satisfaction by precisely controlling the temperature of the hot water.

[0032] Conventional direct-flow water purifiers currently on the market use hot water modules such as ceramic or plate-type ones and utilize functions to dispense water at 91 to 93°C, referred to as boiling water. However, when actually dispensing water at that temperature, one must wait for about 10 seconds or more after pressing the button for the water to be dispensed, and since dispensing is possible only after a short delay, usability has been significantly reduced.

[0033] However, the hot water heater module according to the present disclosure can immediately dispense water at 93-96°C with rapid high-temperature dispensing. However, despite this advantage, conventionally, there was a problem that made commercialization difficult due to bubbles or bubble issues that occurred during instantaneous heating. The hot water heater module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure solves the problem of bubble issues through modularization and at the same time possesses overwhelming performance capable of immediately dispensing water at 93 to 96°C.

[0034] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description in the claims.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating the structure of a hot water heater module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 2(a) is a drawing illustrating a heater part according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2(b) is a drawing illustrating a heater part according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 3 is a drawing showing the AA' cross-section of the heater section illustrated in Figure 2(a).

[0038] FIG. 4(a) is a drawing showing a heater unit arranged horizontally according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4(b) is a drawing showing a heater unit arranged at an angle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the structure of a hot water heater module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0041] To clearly explain the present invention, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components throughout the specification.

[0042] Furthermore, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are depicted arbitrarily for convenience of explanation, and thus the present invention is not necessarily limited to what is illustrated. Thicknesses have been enlarged in the drawings to clearly represent various layers and regions. Additionally, for convenience of explanation, the thickness of some layers and regions has been exaggerated in the drawings.

[0043] Furthermore, when it is said that one component is "above" or "above" another component, this includes not only the case where it is "directly above" another part, but also the case where there is another component in between. Conversely, when it is said that one component is "directly above" another component, it means that there is no other part in between. Also, saying that one is "above" or "on" a reference part means that one is located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean that one is located "above" or "on" facing the opposite direction of gravity.

[0044] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is described as "including" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0045] Additionally, throughout the specification, "planar" means when the subject part is viewed from above, and "cross-sectional" means when the cross-section obtained by vertically cutting the subject part is viewed from the side.

[0046] Additionally, terms such as "first" or "second" as used in this application may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0047] Furthermore, words indicating directions such as upper and lower in this application are defined arbitrarily within the specification for convenience, and the scope of rights is not limited to these names.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating the structure of a hot water heater module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in a water heater module for a water purifier in which water is heated as it moves along a flow path as shown in FIG. 1 and hot water is discharged, the water heater module comprises a case part (100), an inlet part (200), an inlet valve (300), a fluid supply part (400), a heater part (500), and an outlet part (600).

[0050] More specifically, the apparatus includes a case section (100) in which a receiving space is provided, an inlet section (200) in which water is received from outside the case section (100), an inlet valve (300) provided in a path where the water received through the inlet section (200) moves, and which opens or closes the path, and a fluid supply section (400) that pumps the water so that it passes through the inlet valve (300) and moves along the path. Additionally, the apparatus includes a heater section (500) that heats the water supplied from the fluid supply section (400) and an outlet section (600) in which the water heated by the heater section (500) is discharged.

[0051] According to embodiments, a hot water heater module for a water purifier according to the present disclosure includes a fluid supply unit (400) that separately pumps water within the hot water heater module, and has a low water pressure (1 kg / cm²). 3 The water heater module of the water purifier can operate stably and smoothly even in the environment described below.

[0052] In addition, the fluid supply unit (400) is designed so that a sufficient flow rate can be supplied to the heater unit (500) even when the water pressure is low, thereby preventing damage to the heater unit (500), extending the lifespan of the device, and improving safety.

[0053] In addition, the hot water heater module for a water purifier according to the present disclosure includes a control unit (700) that controls the operation of the fluid supply unit (400) and the heating of the heater unit (500). By doing so, it is possible to stably provide hot water that meets the target temperature set by the user, and to precisely control the temperature of the hot water to maximize user convenience and satisfaction.

[0054] Hereinafter, each component of a temperature heater module for a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0055] Referring further to FIG. 1, the inlet portion (200) may be provided at a height less than halfway point in the height direction (Y direction) of the case portion (100). Additionally, the outlet portion (600) may be provided above the inlet portion (200), but at a height exceeding halfway point in the height direction of the case portion (100).

[0056] The fluid supply unit (400) can move the water to the heater unit (500) by generating a fluid flow using at least one of mechanical or electrical force.

[0057] The fluid supply unit (400) is separately provided within the hot water heater module as described above, and may be for generating an additional flow of water within the hot water heater module in addition to the pump that generates the flow of fluid throughout the water purifier.

[0058] The fluid supply unit (400) may be, for example, a micro pump. A micro pump is a miniaturized pump that can control or move fine fluids.

[0059] As such, when the fluid supply unit (400) according to the present disclosure includes a micro pump, the pump can be miniaturized and installed inside the hot water heater module. That is, unlike a pump installed to generate fluid flow within a conventional water purifier, according to the present disclosure, by installing a miniaturized pump-type fluid supply unit (400) inside the hot water heater module, hot water can be discharged smoothly even in low-pressure situations, and errors such as the cessation of hot water discharge can be prevented due to the supply of an appropriate flow rate. Furthermore, damage to the heater unit (500) can be minimized by preventing fuzzying phenomena caused by hot water discharge time and hot water bubbles. In addition, there is an advantage of being able to control the flow rate very accurately for heating water and discharging hot water at an accurate set temperature.

[0060] If the above fluid supply unit (400) is a micro pump, the fluid can be moved using an external force. For example, the fluid can be moved by the vibration of a diaphragm and driven by a change in pressure, or it can be a method of moving the fluid through the reciprocating motion of a piston or a rotating gear. Alternatively, it can be an electroosmotic method that moves the fluid through an electric field, an electromagnetic method that moves the fluid using electromagnetic force, etc., but is not necessarily limited thereto, and it can be a pump capable of smoothly supplying fluid for hot water heating and water discharge in a low-pressure environment.

[0061] The fluid supply unit (400) can discharge a flow rate per minute at a set rpm for each desired temperature range set or entered by the user, regardless of whether the water pressure of the inlet unit (200) is high or low. To this end, the control unit (700) controls the operation of the fluid supply unit (400) based on the set temperature received and can control the flow rate of water discharged from the heater unit (500).

[0062] For example, the hot water heater module according to the present disclosure has a raw water pressure of 0.3 kg / cm² 3 ~ 1.0 kg / cm3 In the case of low water pressure, when the set or desired temperature is 45℃, 65℃, or 95℃, the flow rate per minute may be 652 ml / min (LPM), 632 ml / min, and 430 ml / min, respectively. In the case of a conventional hot water module that does not include a micro pump fluid supply unit (400) and does not include an inlet valve (300) which is a negative pressure valve, the hot water operation may stop due to an error, or water may be discharged at a flow rate of 350 ml / min or less.

[0063] In addition, the hot water heater module according to the present disclosure has a raw water pressure of 1.5 kg / cm² 3 ~ 3.0 kg / cm 3 In this case, when the set or desired temperature is 45℃, 65℃, or 95℃, the flow rate per minute may be 626 ml / min (LPM), 610 ml / min, and 408 ml / min, respectively. That is, according to the present disclosure, the water flow rate per minute can be stably discharged at the set rpm for each temperature range of the micro pump, regardless of whether the water pressure is high or low.

[0064] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inlet valve (300) can open or close the flow path by detecting a pressure change in the flow path caused by the fluid supply unit (400).

[0065] The inlet valve (300) can close the flow path when the fluid supply unit (400) is not operating. On the other hand, when the above-described fluid supply unit (400) is operating, a vacuum can be generated within the flow path, and the inlet valve (300) can operate due to the pressure change, causing the valve to open.

[0066] That is, the inlet valve (300) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can maintain a balanced pressure by introducing an external fluid when the pressure in the inner path (or system) of the valve becomes lower than that in the outer path (or system) of the valve (vacuum state). By doing so, the inlet valve (300) can prevent structural damage to the front and rear components of the inlet valve (300) due to excessive vacuum.

[0067] Here, the inner valve path may refer to the path (or system) on the heater section (500) side relative to the inlet valve (300), and the outer valve path may refer to the path (or system) on the inlet section (200) side relative to the inlet valve (300).

[0068] More specifically, the inlet valve (300) may be opened when the pressure in the inner path (or system) drops below a set negative pressure limit. Meanwhile, the valve may be closed again when the internal pressure is balanced as air from the outer path (or system) flows in.

[0069] The inlet valve (300) may be, for example, a vacuum relief valve. The inlet valve (300) may include a valve housing, a diaphragm, a spring, and a valve seat.

[0070] The valve housing may be made of metal or high-strength plastic and may serve to block internal pressure from the external environment. The diaphragm may be a membrane formed of a thin, flexible material and may be a configuration that responds sensitively to changes in pressure. The diaphragm may open or close the valve when negative pressure occurs. The diaphragm may directly detect pressure differences and perform the function of opening or closing the valve. The material of the diaphragm may be made of rubber, a composite, or metal.

[0071] The spring may be a component that provides pressure set in the diaphragm and can maintain a closed state until the inlet valve (300) reaches the set pressure. The strength of the spring can be adjusted according to the pressure setting value according to the user's needs. The valve seat contacts the diaphragm and can maintain a seal when the inlet valve (300) is closed and prevent the inflow of unnecessary external air.

[0072] If the above fluid supply unit (400) is a micro pump and the inlet valve (300) is configured as a negative pressure valve, structural deformation or collapse of the device can be prevented even if a vacuum state is formed by the fluid supply unit (400). In particular, damage to the hot water heater module that may occur due to excessive vacuum of the fluid supply unit (400) can be prevented. In addition, it can be operated automatically according to the set pressure without separate operation.

[0073] The operation of the fluid supply unit (400) and the inlet valve (300) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

[0074] First, when the fluid supply unit (400) is operated, the internal pressure may be reduced as the fluid is moved to the heater unit (500) or the outlet unit (600) by the pumping action, and a negative pressure state may be reached.

[0075] The inlet valve (300) continuously detects the internal pressure of the valve's inner path (or system), and when the pressure drops below a set negative pressure threshold, the valve's diaphragm may deform.

[0076] Due to the deformation of the diaphragm, the valve may be opened, and water may flow into the interior through the valve from the valve's external path (or system). If water is continuously flowing in, the internal pressure may be balanced again, the pressure may be restored to a set normal range, and the fluid supply unit (400) may continue to operate to move the fluid.

[0077] Next, when the fluid supply unit (400) stops, fluid movement is stopped, and as a result, the internal pressure can be maintained in a stable state without further decreasing. When the internal pressure returns to a normal range, the negative pressure condition is relieved, and the diaphragm of the inlet valve (300) returns to its original position, so that the valve closes and the inflow of fluid can be blocked. In this way, with the inlet valve (300) closed, the hot water heater module maintains a sealed state, and the inflow of water from the inlet unit (200) can be blocked.

[0078] Thus, the hot water heater module according to the present disclosure can maximize fluid supply efficiency by including a fluid supply unit (400) that provides a compact, powerful, and precise pressure.

[0079] In addition, structural damage to the heater unit (500) and the fluid supply unit (400) can be prevented through the inlet valve (300), and pressure balance can be maintained by responding quickly to pressure changes through combination with the fluid supply unit (400).

[0080] In addition, through a system that uses the fluid supply unit (400) and the inlet valve (300) together, pressure stability and hot water heating and water discharge efficiency can be improved simultaneously, and the device can be miniaturized.

[0081] To explain in more detail, in the case of a conventional water purifier hot water heater module, water was transported and hot water was dispensed by being equipped with a configuration including an inlet water temperature sensor, an inlet water flow sensor, a solenoid valve, and an automatic flow control valve.

[0082] On the other hand, according to the present disclosure, the hot water heater module can simplify the structure and significantly reduce costs by stably supplying fluid through the aforementioned inlet valve (300) and fluid supply unit (400) without the configuration of an inlet temperature sensor, an inlet flow sensor, a solenoid valve, an automatic flow control valve, etc.

[0083] In addition, low pressure area (0.3 kg / cm²) 3It is possible to provide a hot water heater module that allows for a stable flow rate (output per minute) and hot water set temperature even at 250 ml or less per minute (0.25 LPM).

[0084] Referring further to FIG. 1, the fluid supply unit (400) is provided in the lower part of the receiving space of the case unit (100), and its length direction may correspond to the width direction of the case unit (100). Here, the length direction (L direction) being provided to correspond to the width direction (X direction) of the case unit (100) may mean that they are provided in alignment or parallel, and may mean that the fluid supply unit (400) is provided in a lying position at the bottom of the case unit (100).

[0085] By providing a fluid supply unit (400) at the bottom of the receiving space of the case unit (100), the fluid supply unit (400) and the water inlet unit (200) can easily form a water inlet path at the bottom of the case unit (100). In addition, by providing the length direction of the fluid supply unit (400) to correspond to the width direction of the case unit (100), the placement efficiency within the hot water heater module can be maximized in relation to the heater unit (500) to be described later.

[0086] Next, a heater part (500) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0087] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the heater unit (500) may be configured to heat water supplied from the fluid supply unit (400). The heater unit (500) includes a heater inlet (500a) into which water enters the heater unit (500) and a heater outlet (500b) into which water is discharged after heating is completed.

[0088] At this time, the control unit (700) can control the heating of the heater unit (500) based on the input set temperature. For example, if the user sets the hot water temperature as needed within the range of 40℃ to 95℃, the control unit (700) can control the heating of the heater unit (500) by calculating the voltage to be applied, the resistance of the heater unit (500), and the heating time.

[0089] Alternatively, the control unit (700) can control the heating of the heater unit (500) based on the water outlet temperature value received from the temperature sensor (800) and the received set temperature. That is, the control unit (700) can determine the voltage, current, and heating time based on the calculated value of the amount of heat (or power consumption) of the heater unit (500) based on the set temperature. However, if the value measured by the actual temperature sensor falls short of or exceeds the set temperature, a feedback process may be performed to change the voltage, current, and heating time in order to achieve the set temperature.

[0090] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the heater unit (500) may include a substrate (510), a heating layer (520), an insulating layer (530), and an electrode (540). More specifically, the heater unit (500) may include a cylindrical substrate (510) with open top and bottom ends, a heating layer (520) formed on at least one of the inner or outer surface of the cylindrical substrate (510), an insulating layer (530) provided between the substrate (510) and the heating layer (520) to provide electrical insulation, and an electrode (540) connected to the heating layer (520) to allow current to flow.

[0091] At this time, the control unit (700) can control the voltage or current applied to the heating layer (520) of the heater unit (500).

[0092] The heater unit (500) may be, for example, a thick film heater. The heater unit (500) may be a miniaturized heater that generates heat by thickly coating a special resistive material on a surface such as ceramic, metal, or glass. The heater unit (500) according to the present disclosure can convert electrical energy into thermal energy to provide fast and uniform heat distribution.

[0093] The substrate (510) may include a heat-resistant material such as alumina, stainless steel, quartz, or glass to ensure high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical strength.

[0094] In particular, when formed as a cylindrical substrate (510) as in the present disclosure, heat can be transferred in all directions of 360 degrees, allowing the water or fluid inside the heater to be heated evenly. In addition, since the fluid adheres to the curved surface, the heat transfer efficiency is high and heat loss can be minimized.

[0095] In addition, due to the structure of the cylindrical substrate (510) and the thin and closely adhering heating layer (520) (resistance layer), high temperatures can be reached in a short time, and heat transfer can be carried out quickly, thereby improving efficiency. Furthermore, in the case of the cylindrical structure, the design is compact and can be placed in a narrow space, thus maximizing space efficiency. When the heater unit (500) is configured using the cylindrical substrate (510) in this way, it can provide many advantages in terms of efficiency, space utilization, and uniformity of heat transfer in situations where water needs to be heated or the temperature needs to be maintained.

[0096] In addition, the heater portion (500) according to the present disclosure may include a heating layer (520) (resistive layer), and the heating layer (520) may be composed of a thick film having electrical resistance characteristics to generate heat. An insulating layer (530) is located between the substrate (510) and the heating layer (520) and provides electrical insulation and can prevent current leakage when heating. An electrode (540) is connected to the heating layer (520) to allow current to flow.

[0097] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 2(b), according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the heating layer (520) may be provided in multiple numbers along the axial direction (Y direction) of the cylindrical substrate (510). When the heating layer (520) is provided in multiple numbers in this manner, the heating layer (520) can be controlled individually according to the user's needs, and the amount of heat, heating speed, heating time, etc., can be efficiently adjusted.

[0098] To explain in more detail, the heating layer (520) may include a first heating layer (520-1) and a second heating layer (520-2) provided on the upper side of the first heating layer (520-1) with respect to the axial direction. (See Fig. 2(b)) In this case, the first heating layer (520-1) may have a greater resistance than the second heating layer (520-2).

[0099] The magnitude of the resistance in the heating device or heating layer (520) can have a direct effect on the heating rate and the amount of heat generated. According to Joule's Law, if the resistance is high, the amount of heat generated may decrease because the current decreases when the same voltage is applied. In addition, if the resistance is high, heat may be generated slowly.

[0100] The first heating layer (520-1) and the second heating layer (520-2) can be connected in parallel, and the applied voltage can be constant. In this case, the first heating layer (520-1) may be a high-resistance heating element, and the second heating layer (520-2) may be a low-resistance heating element.

[0101] According to the present disclosure, the first heating layer (520-1) may be placed in the path before the second heating layer (520-2). In this case, the high-resistance heating element generates heat slowly with less current flowing at the same voltage, thereby enabling it to gradually raise the temperature of the water in the initial stage. Subsequently, the second heating layer (520-2), which is a low-resistance heating element, can rapidly supply additional heat even at high temperatures to reach the target temperature, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the temperature rise and reducing energy loss.

[0102] If the second heating layer (520-2), which is a low-resistance heating element, is placed first, there is a possibility that the water will reach a high temperature instantaneously, which may compromise the stability of the hot water heater module due to overheating or increased scale formation. On the other hand, if the first heating layer (520-1), which is a high-resistance heating element, is placed first in the path, the temperature of the section where the water first enters is relatively low, so a rapid rise in temperature can be prevented by heating slowly first with the high-resistance heating element.

[0103] In addition, while low-resistance heating elements allow for high current and can generate rapid heat, they exhibit higher efficiency when operating on water that has already reached a temperature. Therefore, placing a second heating element at the rear of the path can maximize heating efficiency by providing additional heat to the preheated water.

[0104] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of heater units (500) are arranged in the width direction (X direction) inside the case unit (100), and the fluid supply unit (400) can supply water to the plurality of heater units (500).

[0105] More specifically, the heater unit (500) may include a first heater unit (500-1) and a second heater unit (500-2) arranged in the width direction (X-direction) inside the case unit (100), and the first heater unit (500-1) and the second heater unit (500-2) may be electrically connected in parallel. Thus, the on / off or heat output of each heater unit (500) can be individually controlled, and they can be formed to be heating elements having different resistances. In addition, since a plurality of heater units (500) are provided, maintenance and fault response can be easily performed.

[0106] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater unit (500) is provided inside the case unit (100) and may be provided above the fluid supply unit (400). By providing the heater unit (500) above the fluid supply unit (400), pores caused by bubbles formed by boiling water can be easily discharged.

[0107] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4(b), the heater unit (500) may be provided at an angle inside the case unit (100). In the case of the heater unit (500), due to its high temperature characteristics, if water comes into contact with the heater unit (500) or the heating layer (520), it may instantly rise to a high temperature of 100 degrees or higher. At this time, damage to the heater unit (500) may occur due to the temperature difference with the surface to which the water comes into contact, so the heater unit (500) may be provided at an angle so that the water can pass evenly over the heater surface. For example, the heater unit (500) may be provided to form an angle greater than 0 and less than or equal to 90 degrees with the fluid supply unit (400) inside the case unit (100).

[0108] Additionally, the heater portion (500) may be provided on one side edge inside the case portion (100), such that its length direction corresponds to the height direction (Y direction) of the case portion (100). Here, one side edge may refer to the side edge of the case portion (100), and the provision that the length direction of the heater portion (500) corresponds to the height direction of the case portion (100) may mean that the heater portion (500) is positioned upright inside the case portion (100) or is provided along the Y direction. That is, the heater inlet (500a) may be located at the bottom, and the heater outlet (500b) may be located relatively above the heater inlet (500a).

[0109] Referring to FIG. 4, when water passes over the inner surface of the heater unit (500), the high output of the heater unit (500) may cause water to boil and bubbles to form on the top of the heater unit (500), and a splashing phenomenon may occur along with instantaneous high temperature (100 degrees) steam. Additionally, bubbles (A) caused by the bubbles may form on the surface of the heater unit (500), and a temperature difference may be formed on the surface of the heater unit (500), which may cause damage to the heater unit (500).

[0110] To prevent this, according to the present disclosure, the heater portion (500) may be provided at an angle or provided to correspond to the height direction of the case portion (100). When provided as described above, the structure is such that the bubble (A) caused by the bubble generated on the surface of the heater portion (500) escapes directly upward, thereby minimizing the splashing of water caused by the bubble and damage to the heater portion (500) (see FIG. 4(b)). In addition, to achieve this, it may be designed to perform a fuzzy operation before hot water is discharged.

[0111] In addition, the heater unit (500) may be provided inside the case unit (100), and may be provided such that its length direction corresponds to the vertical direction. That is, when the length direction of the heater unit (500) is provided in the vertical direction, the direction of water flow goes from bottom to top, and the angle forms the vertical direction (90 degrees), thereby maximizing the discharge of bubbles (A) by the bubbles.

[0112] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the hot water heater module may further include a temperature sensor (800). The temperature sensor (800) can measure the temperature of the water discharged from the water outlet (600), calculate the heat output of the hot water heater module by checking the hot water discharge temperature, and feed back the heat output to the heater unit (500) described above by comparing the measured temperature with the set temperature. At this time, the calculation, comparison, and feedback of the heat output of the hot water heater module may be performed through the control unit (700).

[0113] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the hot water heater module electrically connects the control unit (700) and the heater unit (500), and may further include a safety member (900) that detects a current overload and cuts off the current.

[0114] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0115] [Explanation of the symbol]

[0116] 100: Case section

[0117] 200: Inlet

[0118] 300: Inlet valve

[0119] 400: Fluid supply unit

[0120] 500: Heater section

[0121] 500-1: 1st heater section

[0122] 500-2: Second heater section

[0123] 500a: Heater inlet

[0124] 500b: Heater outlet

[0125] 510: Substrate

[0126] 520: Heating layer

[0127] 520-1: First heating layer

[0128] 520-2: Second heating layer

[0129] 530: Insulating layer

[0130] 540: Electrode

[0131] 600: Outlet

[0132] 700: Control unit

[0133] 800: Temperature sensor

[0134] 900: Safety Absence

Claims

1. In a water heater module for a water purifier in which incoming water is heated as it moves along a path to produce hot water, A case section where a receiving space is provided; An inlet where water is introduced from the outside of the above-mentioned case part; An inlet valve provided in a channel through which water entering through the above-mentioned inlet moves, which opens or closes the said channel; A fluid supply unit that pumps the above water so that it passes through the inlet valve and moves along the flow path; A heater unit for heating water supplied from the above fluid supply unit; and A hot water heater module including a water outlet for discharging water heated in the heater section.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above fluid supply unit is, By generating a fluid flow using at least one of mechanical or electrical force, the water is moved to the heater unit, and The above inlet valve is, A hot water heater module that detects a pressure change within the fluid path generated by the above-mentioned fluid supply unit and opens or closes the fluid path.

3. In Paragraph 1 The above fluid supply unit is, Provided in the lower part of the receiving space of the above-mentioned case part, A hot water heater module provided such that the length direction corresponds to the width direction of the case portion.

4. In Paragraph 1, The above heater unit is, A cylindrical substrate with open top and bottom; A heating layer formed on at least one of the inner or outer surface of the above-mentioned cylindrical substrate; An insulating layer provided between the substrate and the heating layer and providing electrical insulation; and A hot water heater module including an electrode connected to the heating layer to allow current to flow.

5. In Paragraph 4, The above heating layer is, A plurality of hot water heater modules provided along the axial direction of the above-mentioned cylindrical substrate.

6. In Paragraph 5, The above heating layer is, First heating layer; and It includes a second heating layer provided on the upper part of the first heating layer based on the above-mentioned axial direction, and The first heating layer is, A hot water heater module characterized by having a resistance greater than that of the second heating layer.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above heater unit is, A hot water heater module provided inside the above-mentioned case portion, but located above the above-mentioned fluid supply portion.

8. In Paragraph 1, The above heater unit is, A hot water heater module installed at an angle inside the above-mentioned case.

9. In Paragraph 1, The above heater unit is, A hot water heater module provided on one side edge inside the above-mentioned case portion, wherein the length direction corresponds to the height direction of the above-mentioned case portion.

10. In Paragraph 1, A hot water heater module further comprising a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of water discharged from the above-mentioned outlet.

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