Cooling Tank Separator for Water Purifier Ice Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purifiers face challenges in efficiently cooling and heating water while maintaining uniform temperature distribution and preventing ice formation from obstructing the flow of cooling water, which can lead to noise and damage to components.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier design that includes a cooling water tank with a separator dividing the internal space into two areas, allowing for the free movement of cooling water and isolating ice formation, preventing it from obstructing the cold water pipe and reducing noise and damage to components, using a stirring mechanism to maintain uniform temperature and a refrigerant-based cooling system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling water tank with evaporator is used to cool water, then cooling efficiency is improved, but ice formation can obstruct the flow of cooling water causing noise and component damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water tank is divided into a first space and a second space by a separator. The evaporator is positioned in the first space while the cold water pipe is in the second space. This segmentation prevents ice formed in the first space from obstructing water flow in the second space, while maintaining efficient cooling through the evaporator.
Solution Approach 2:
A separator is introduced as an intermediary structure between the evaporator space and the cold water pipe space. This separator allows thermal interaction for cooling while physically preventing ice from the evaporator side from moving to and obstructing the cold water pipe area.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a stirring member is used to maintain uniform temperature distribution, then temperature uniformity is improved, but ice can accumulate on the stirring member causing noise and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The separator divides the tank into distinct spaces, with the stirring member positioned in the second space and the evaporator in the first space. This segmentation prevents ice formed around the evaporator from accumulating on the stirring member, while the stirring member still effectively maintains temperature uniformity in its space.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the evaporator and cold water pipe are positioned close together, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but ice from the evaporator can obstruct the cold water pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The separator creates two adjacent but distinct spaces: the first space containing the evaporator and the second space containing the cold water pipe. This segmentation allows the components to be positioned close together for efficient heat exchange while preventing ice from the evaporator side from obstructing the cold water pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary structure that enables close positioning of the evaporator and cold water pipe for efficient thermal coupling, while simultaneously preventing direct contact between ice formed on the evaporator and the cold water pipe, thus avoiding flow obstruction.
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 design ensures efficient cooling and heating of water, maintains uniform temperature distribution, prevents ice from obstructing the flow, reduces noise, and protects the purifier's components from damage.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator that is provided in the cooling water tank to carry refrigerant to cool the cooling water in the tank
Implementation Method 2
A stirring member in the tank is operated to induce a water movement that accelerates the heat exchanges
Implementation Method 3
A refrigerant flows into the evaporator to cool the water within the tank through a first heat exchange
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier includes: a cooling water tank that keeps cooling water; a stirring member that is provided in the cooling water tank to stir cooling water; a cold water pipe that is provided in the cooling water tank; an evaporator that is provided in the cooling water tank; and a separator on which the evaporator is provided and that is provided over the cold water pipe to divide the internal space of the cooling water tank into a first space and a second space, in which the separator has: a bottom that is horizontally formed and has a center hole through which the stirring member is inserted; a first extension that extends upward from the edge of the center hole; and a plurality of separation walls that extend upward from the top of the bottom and are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other around the center hole.