Water Dispenser Ozonation and Drip Tray Cleaning Cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water dispensers often fail to thoroughly clean all components that come into contact with drinking water, including the drip tray, leading to stagnation and bacterial growth, which can hinder performance and safety.
Innovation Solution
A water-dispensing device with a cold water tank, ozone generator, and controller that ozonates water, empties it through the spigot into a drip tray connected to a drain, and refills the tank, ensuring comprehensive cleaning and preventing stagnation, with optional wireless scheduling and malfunction detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ozonated water is introduced to the cold water storage tank, then sanitization is achieved, but the drip tray is not cleaned and bacteria growth occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process is segmented into distinct phases: first introducing ozonated water to sanitize the storage tank, then draining and refilling to clean the drip tray and tubing separately. This ensures comprehensive sanitization of all components that come into contact with water.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs continuous water cycling through the dispenser system, maintaining flow through the tubing and drip tray to prevent stagnation and bacterial growth. The controller automatically cycles water through the system at scheduled intervals to ensure ongoing sanitation.
2Ease of operation
If water is not dispensed regularly, then stagnation occurs in tank and filters, but user convenience is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The water dispenser performs self-maintenance through automated water cycling and cleaning operations. The controller monitors usage patterns and automatically initiates cleaning cycles when stagnation is detected, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining water quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic water cycling and cleaning operations at scheduled intervals or based on usage detection. This periodic action prevents stagnation by regularly moving water through the system, maintaining reliability without requiring constant user attention.
3Reliability
If cleaning operations are performed during user presence, then thorough cleaning is achieved, but water consumption is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs cleaning operations in advance during periods of non-use, such as overnight or between usage periods. By completing thorough cleaning before users need water, the system maintains water quality without delaying consumption when users are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning schedule is dynamic and adapts based on usage patterns. The controller monitors when water is dispensed and schedules cleaning operations during identified non-use periods, optimizing both cleaning thoroughness and user convenience by performing cleaning when it least impacts water consumption.
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 ensures thorough sanitization and maintenance of the water dispenser, preventing bacterial growth and performance decline by regularly cycling and cleaning all components, even during non-use periods, maintaining fresh and safe drinking water.
Implementation Method 1
activating the ozone generator to ozonate water stored in the cold water tank
Data Source
AI summary
A water-dispensing device includes a cold water tank and a fill valve. The tank is in selective fluid communication with a water intake via the fill valve. The device further includes a cold dispensing valve, a spigot in selective fluid communication with the tank via the cold dispensing valve, an ozone generator in fluid communication with the tank, and a drip tray positioned beneath the spigot. The drip tray is in fluid communication with a drain via a drain hose. A controller is configured to perform a cleaning operation by: (i) activating the ozone generator to ozonate water stored in the tank, (ii) opening the cold dispensing valve to empty the tank by dispensing the ozonated water from the tank through the spigot and into the drip tray, and (iii) upon determining the tank is empty, opening the fill valve to refill the tank.