Ice Storage Tank Water Purifier with Submerged Mixture Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing functional water purifiers face challenges in efficiently generating cold carbonated or oxygenized water due to low gas dissolution rates, high internal pressures, and the need for separate cooling systems, which increase costs and complicate gas mixing within the mixture tank.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier design that incorporates a single cooling system using an ice storage tank with a submerged mixture tank, where purified water is cooled and mixed with functional gas at low pressure, allowing for efficient gas dissolution and stable cold water production without requiring a high-pressure pump or additional driving sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If purified water and functional gas are mixed in a mixture tank at room temperature, then the device structure is simple, but the dissolution of functional gas is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from room temperature to cold temperature by introducing a cooling system. This temperature reduction increases the solubility of functional gas in purified water, thereby improving gas dissolution amount while maintaining a relatively simple device structure through efficient cooling design
2Reliability
If separate cooling systems are used to generate cold water and cold functional water, then cold water production is reliable, but fabrication costs and device volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function into a single integrated cooling system that serves both cold water production and cold functional water generation. The cooling system cools purified water in a heat exchanger, and the cooled water is then used to cool the mixture tank, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems while maintaining reliable cold water production
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed with multi-functionality, serving dual purposes: producing cold water for direct consumption and cooling the mixture tank to enable cold functional water generation. This universal cooling approach reduces device complexity and fabrication costs while maintaining reliability
3Quantity of substance
If high pressure tank or high pressure pump is used to supply functional gas to mixture tank, then gas supply is sufficient, but internal pressure increases causing gas and water mixing difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the high-pressure mechanical supply system with a low-pressure diffusion-based gas supply system. Functional gas is supplied to the mixture tank at low pressure, and the gas dissolves in the cold purified water through diffusion and concentration gradients, eliminating the need for high-pressure pumps and tanks while ensuring sufficient gas supply
4Quantity of substance
If high pressure is maintained in mixture tank, then gas supply is sufficient, but gas and purified water cannot be smoothly mixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high pressure to low pressure in the mixture tank. This pressure reduction allows purified water and functional gas to be smoothly mixed through diffusion and convection, improving mixing efficiency while maintaining sufficient gas supply through the low-pressure diffusion mechanism
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 generates cold functional water with improved solubility and stability, reducing internal pressures and fabrication costs, while ensuring efficient mixing and energy savings through controlled temperature management and reduced need for high-pressure equipment.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator for cooling iced water accommodated in the interior of the ice storage tank
Implementation Method 2
a purified water heat exchanger serving as a flow path of purified water supplied through the water flow line is provided in a lower portion of the ice storage tank
Implementation Method 3
a mixture tank allowing the cold water which has been cooled in the ice storage tank to be mixed with the gas received through the gas flow line
Data Source
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AI summary
A water purifier for stably supplying cold water and cold functional water through a single cooling system and a control method thereof are disclosed. The water purifier includes: a water flow line allowing purified water to move therethrough; a gas storage unit storing gas; a gas flow line (or a gas movement line) allowing the gas to flow from the gas storage unit; an ice storage tank heat-exchanging purified water provided through the water flow line with iced water to allow cold water to be discharged; and a mixture tank allowing the cold water which has been cooled in the ice storage tank to be mixed with the gas received through the gas flow line.