Faucet Water Mixing Control for Stable Discharge Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Faucets struggle to maintain a constant discharge temperature due to changes in hot and cold water supply pressures, leading to user discomfort and safety issues with rapid temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
A faucet control device with sensors and a controller that adjusts the temperature of discharge water by controlling heaters and valves, using a combination of primary and secondary heating modules and temperature sensors to maintain a set temperature despite changes in supply pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single heater is used to heat water in the faucet, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature control precision deteriorates when supply pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into two independent heaters: a first heater for primary heating and a second heater for secondary heating. This segmentation allows each heater to operate at optimized power levels, with the first heater handling bulk heating and the second heater providing fine-tuned temperature control, thereby maintaining precision without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The first heater is designed to provide excessive heating capacity relative to immediate needs, pre-heating water to a temperature higher than the target discharge temperature. This allows the second heater to operate in a partial capacity mode, making small adjustments to achieve precise temperature control, which is more effective than using a single heater at full capacity
2Productivity
If hot water is stored in a water heater for later use, then the productivity of hot water supply is improved, but the temperature stability deteriorates due to heat loss over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of water to a temperature higher than the target discharge temperature before it reaches the mixing point. This pre-heating action compensates for potential heat losses during storage and transport, ensuring that the water maintains stable temperature characteristics when mixed with cold water
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the heating parameters (temperature and power) based on real-time feedback from temperature sensors. When hot water is stored, the heating temperature is set higher to compensate for heat loss; when water flows continuously, the heating temperature is adjusted to match the target discharge temperature, maintaining stability under varying conditions
3Use of energy by moving object
If the faucet relies solely on mixing hot and cold water to control temperature, then the use of energy is reduced, but the adaptability to supply pressure changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor the discharge water temperature and provide feedback to the control unit. When supply pressure changes cause temperature deviation, the control unit adjusts the power to the heaters based on this feedback, enabling the system to adapt to pressure changes while maintaining energy efficiency by only heating when necessary
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different heating modes and mixing ratios based on real-time conditions. When cold water supply pressure is high, the system relies more on mixing; when hot water supply pressure is high, the system increases heater output. This dynamic adaptation allows the faucet to maintain temperature stability across varying pressure conditions without excessive energy 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 system effectively maintains a consistent discharge temperature, ensuring user comfort and safety by adaptively adjusting to changes in water supply pressures.
Implementation Method 1
a heating water tank (140) including a heater (140a) therein, heats and stores hot water
Implementation Method 2
a heating module (145) including a heater (140b) therein, heats and discharges heated hot water
Implementation Method 3
a distributor (130d) distributing hot water supplied from a hot water pipe (1) to the heating water tank (140) and the heating module (145)
Implementation Method 4
an electronic valve (130c) mixing heated hot water supplied from the heating water tank (140), hot water supplied from a direct hot water pipe (10), and cold water supplied from a cold water pipe (2)
Data Source
AI summary
The faucet control device and method, and faucet are disclosed The faucet control device has a first and a second flow sensors measuring quantity of hot and cold water respectively, a first and a second temperature sensors measuring temperature of hot and cold water respectively, a heating tank heating hot water supplied from a hot water pile with a heater installed therein and storing heated water, a third temperature sensor measuring temperature of the heated water, a hot water direct supplying pipe outputting the hot water supplied from a hot water pipe, a electronic valve outputting mixed water by selectively mixing the heated water, the hot water and the cold water, and a controller controlling operation of the heater based on the temperature of the heated water and controlling opening amount of the electronic valve to make quantity and temperature of discharged water equal to target quantity and temperature.