Brewing Machine Standby Switching for Near-Zero Power Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing devices, such as coffee machines, consume significant electrical energy in standby mode due to the need to maintain high water temperatures and incomplete disconnection of main power consumers from the grid, leading to high energy wastage and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A brewing device with an electronic switching module that completely disconnects all main power consumers, including the instantaneous water heater and sensors, from the mains during standby mode, utilizing heat-insulating external insulation to maintain operational readiness with minimal energy consumption, and a programmable control circuit for flexible operation and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device maintains high water temperature continuously to ensure readiness, then the operational readiness is improved, but the energy consumption in standby mode increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary heating of water before standby mode is activated. The instantaneous water heater pre-heats water to the required temperature, and thermal insulation maintains this temperature during standby, eliminating the need for continuous heating and reducing energy consumption while ensuring operational readiness is immediately available
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heating function from continuous operation and concentrates it into an instantaneous water heater that operates only when needed. The heating element is separated from the water storage, allowing the water to be heated on-demand rather than maintaining continuous high temperature, thus reducing standby energy consumption while preserving readiness
2Use of energy by moving object
If the device completely disconnects all power consumers during standby, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the reactivation time increases due to preheating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating actions before complete shutdown. Water is pre-heated to the required temperature and stored in an insulated container, so when the device is reactivated from standby, the hot water is immediately available without requiring full preheating, thus minimizing reactivation time while maintaining complete disconnection during standby
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal insulation acts as an intermediary between the instantaneous water heater and the environment. It retains heat in the water during standby mode, allowing the system to be completely disconnected from power while maintaining the thermal energy needed for immediate reactivation, thus resolving the contradiction between complete disconnection and fast reactivation
3Speed
If the device uses a control loop with instantaneous water heater to achieve high temperatures quickly, then the heating speed is improved, but the energy consumption cannot be reduced satisfactorily
Solution Approach 1:
The control loop operates periodically rather than continuously. The instantaneous water heater activates only when hot water is needed, heats water rapidly to the required temperature, and then shuts off. The system alternates between heating cycles and standby periods, maintaining fast heating capability while dramatically reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves an almost energy-free standby mode with reduced power consumption to as low as 0.3 watts, allowing for rapid reactivation and minimizing waiting times, while ensuring ease of use, operational reliability, and ease of manufacturing and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an instantaneous water heater (4) with a small heat capacity... which contains a coiled heating wire
Implementation Method 2
heat-insulating external insulation whose heat transfer coefficient is at most 2 W/m 2 K
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The device has an electric pump (3) conveying liquid through a brewing chamber (1). A continuous flow heater (4) heats the fluid. Electric consumers, sensors such as temperature sensor (8), and operation elements e.g. LEDs (25 26), are provided. The device is switched into a standby mode by an electronic switch module (5) after expiration of preset time, after completion of a brewing process and/or after actuation of the operation elements. The heater and the pump are switched-off and do not consume electric energy in the standby mode. The LED displays the status of the machine.