Milk Powder Brewer Waterway Structure for Rapid Heating and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional milk powder brewing machines face challenges in temperature control, cooling efficiency, and energy-saving, leading to inconsistent milk quality and potential scalding or indigestion issues in infants due to difficulties in maintaining optimal water temperature and energy usage.
Innovation Solution
The proposed waterway structure includes a water storage tank, first cooling pipes, a thick-film heater, and a constant-temperature bin, with a spiral cooling pipe and pipeline switching unit to enhance cooling and heating efficiency, allowing for instant heating and energy reuse by utilizing heat exchange and adjustable cooling modes based on ambient temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cooling pipe is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple first cooling pipes with second spiral pipes inside them, creating a segmented cooling structure that improves cooling efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The second spiral cooling pipes are nested inside the first cooling pipes, creating a nested structure where one cooling element is placed within another, significantly enhancing the cooling effect without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Device complexity
If ordinary heating wires are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heating speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ordinary heating wires with a thick-film heater, which uses thick-film heating technology to achieve rapid heating while maintaining a relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element parameters are changed from thin wire to thick-film configuration, which provides faster heating response and higher power density while keeping the overall device complexity manageable
3Device complexity
If no energy reuse mechanism is implemented, then the device complexity is reduced, but the energy-saving effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat from the cooling process into a useful resource by routing the cooled water back through the heating system, transforming energy loss into energy reuse and improving overall energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the cooled water after cooling, the system recovers it and routes it back through the heating element, recovering thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted and improving energy efficiency
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 design ensures precise temperature control, improves cooling efficiency, and significantly enhances energy-saving by reusing energy, resulting in a more consistent and safe milk brewing process.
Implementation Method 1
the water flows into the thick-film heater to be heated
Implementation Method 2
the hot water flowing out from the thick-film heater flows into the second spiral pipe to be cooled
Implementation Method 3
a first spiral cooling pipe is connected between the second spiral pipe and the outlet of the thick-film heater
Data Source
AI summary
A waterway structure of the milk powder brewing machine comprising a water storage tank, a plurality of cooling pipes, a thick-film heater and a constant-temperature bin. A water inlet and outlet are formed in the water storage tank, and a spiral pipe is arranged in each cooling pipe. Water flowing from the water outlet is divided and respectively flows into water inlet of each cooling pipe of the plurality of cooling pipes. After the water flowing out from water outlets of the plurality of cooling pipes join together, the water flows into the thick-film heater to be heated to a temperature of 90-100° C. The hot water flows into the spiral pipe to be cooled and flows into the constant-temperature bin after being cooled to a preset temperature. The waterway structure of the present disclosure enhances the cooling effect, realizes instant heating, achieves reuse of energy, and improves the energy-saving effect.