Water Purifier Controller Cooling via Tube Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Water purifiers with hot water discharge functions often lack effective heat dissipation units, leading to performance deterioration and safety concerns, especially in miniaturized designs where natural or air cooling is insufficient.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier design where at least a portion of the hot water tube passes through the controller, allowing raw or purified water to preheat and dissipate heat generated in the controller through water cooling, eliminating the need for a separate heat dissipation unit and enhancing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate heat dissipation unit (such as a blowing fan) is provided to solve heat generation of the controller, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but device complexity increases and space utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat dissipation function with the existing water flow system by routing the water discharge tube through the controller housing. The water flowing through the tube acts as a cooling medium for the controller, eliminating the need for separate heat dissipation units like fans or heat sinks. This integration resolves the contradiction by achieving effective heat dissipation without adding device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The water discharge tube serves dual functions: it discharges purified water from the system and simultaneously acts as a heat dissipation conduit for the controller. By making the water discharge tube multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated heat dissipation components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective temperature control.
2Device complexity
If natural cooling or air cooling is used for the controller, then device complexity is reduced, but heat dissipation effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydraulic cooling by circulating water through a tube that passes through the controller housing. The flowing water absorbs heat from the controller more effectively than air cooling or natural convection, achieving superior temperature control without increasing device complexity. This hydraulic approach resolves the contradiction between simple system design and effective heat dissipation.
3Volume of moving object
If the water purifier is miniaturized to reduce space, then compactness is improved, but mounting separate heat dissipation units becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water discharge function and heat dissipation function into a single integrated structure. The water discharge tube is routed through the controller housing, serving both to discharge purified water and to cool the controller. This merging allows miniaturization without compromising heat dissipation capability, as no separate heat dissipation units need to be mounted.
Solution Approach 2:
The water discharge tube performs multiple functions within the miniaturized device: it transports purified water from the filter to the discharge point and simultaneously serves as a heat dissipation conduit for the controller. This multi-functionality enables compact design while maintaining effective thermal management without requiring additional space for separate cooling components.
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 effectively dissipates heat, improves energy efficiency by reusing heat for preheating water, and prevents safety accidents by containing heat within the purifier, while also minimizing the device's size and eliminating the need for external cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the water discharge tube or the hot water tube passes through the controller and is heat-exchanged with the controller
Implementation Method 2
heat dissipation of a controller is performed in a water cooling type to more surely dissipate the heat
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier includes a water supply tube into which water is introduced, a filter member purifying water passing through the water supply tube, a water discharge tube supplying water to the outside of the water purifier, a hot water tube branched from the water discharge tube, a hot water module including a hot water tank provided on the hot water tube to accommodate purified water and a heat generation unit heating the water accommodated in the hot water tank, a controller spaced apart from the hot water tank or the heat generation unit to control the heat generation unit, and a water discharge nozzle supplying the water passing through the water discharge tube and the hot water tube to the outside of the water purifier. At least a portion of the hot water tube or the water discharge tube passes through the controller and is heat-exchanged with the controller.