Automatic Faucet Electrolyzed Water Corrosion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water faucet devices that discharge electrolyzed water face challenges in maintaining the disinfecting function while preventing corrosion of metal components, as the concentration of electrolyzed water is often restricted to avoid corrosion, limiting its effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A water faucet device with a functional water generation part, a discharge part, and a controller that initially discharges electrolyzed water at a higher concentration and then switches to a lower concentration, using normal water to dilute it within the flow path, thereby preventing corrosion without restricting the electrolyzed water's concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the concentration of electrolyzed water is maintained at a high level to ensure disinfecting function, then the disinfecting effectiveness is improved, but corrosion of metal components in the flow path occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by supplying low-concentration functional water before discharging high-concentration functional water, and then supplies low-concentration water again after discharge. This preliminary and follow-up action prevents corrosion by ensuring the flow path is coated with protective low-concentration water before and after exposure to corrosive high-concentration water.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action by alternately supplying high-concentration functional water for disinfection and low-concentration functional water for protection. The controller switches between different concentrations in a periodic manner, maintaining both disinfecting effectiveness and preventing corrosion through rhythmic concentration variation.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the concentration of electrolyzed water is restricted to prevent corrosion, then the flow path durability is improved, but the disinfecting function becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by pre-flushing the flow path with low-concentration functional water before introducing high-concentration water, and then follows up with low-concentration water after discharge. This ensures the flow path remains protected while allowing high-concentration water to be used for effective disinfection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter of functional water dynamically based on operational requirements. The controller adjusts water concentration from low to high and back to low, optimizing both disinfection effectiveness and flow path protection by varying this critical parameter at different operational stages.
3Reliability
If high-concentration electrolyzed water is continuously supplied to maintain disinfecting function, then the disinfection effectiveness is improved, but corrosion damage accumulates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by cycling between high-concentration and low-concentration functional water supply. During high-concentration phases, disinfection effectiveness is maximized; during low-concentration phases, corrosion is prevented. This periodic switching allows the system to maintain both high disinfection performance and extended flow path service life over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary protective action by supplying low-concentration water before high-concentration water to prepare the flow path, and follows up with low-concentration water after discharge. This preliminary and follow-up protection prevents cumulative corrosion damage while allowing effective disinfection to occur during high-concentration discharge phases.
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
This approach allows for the effective application of electrolyzed water with various concentrations without corroding the flow path, ensuring the disinfecting function is maintained while preventing degradation, thus simplifying the device configuration and enhancing its operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the functional water generation part is configured to reform water by electrolysis to generate the functional water
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic water faucet device 1 includes: an electrolysis tank 37 that electrolyzes water to generate electrolyzed water; a second water discharge part 13 for discharging the electrolyzed water, a second flow path 18 that extends from the electrolysis tank 37 to the second water discharge part 13; a second solenoid valve 28 that switches between supply and blocking of normal water with respect to the electrolysis tank 37, and a controller 40 that controls the electrolysis tank 37 and the second solenoid valve 28. The controller 40 energizes the electrolysis tank 37 to discharge the electrolyzed water and thereafter stops the energization of the electrolysis tank 37 and maintains an open state of the second solenoid valve 28, to stop the supply of the electrolyzed water to the second flow path 18 and to supply normal water to the second flow path 18.