Stepper Motor Water Temperature Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water temperature control methods are inefficient in quickly and instantly reaching the desired water temperature, relying on adjusting cold and hot water flow rates based on pressure, which is not effective for rapid temperature adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A water temperature control system comprising a thermostatic spool, temperature sensor, and stepper motor, where the temperature sensor senses the current water temperature and provides a signal to the controller, which adjusts the flow rates of cold and hot water using a stepper motor to achieve the desired temperature quickly, with a step frequency greater than the sensing frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If water pressure is used to control water discharge capacity, then the control method is simple, but the response speed is slow and cannot quickly reach desired temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical water pressure control system with an electromagnetic stepper motor system. The stepper motor drives the thermostatic spool through electromagnetic action, enabling precise and rapid adjustment of hot and cold water flow rates. This substitution of mechanical pressure control with electromagnetic actuation achieves fast response speed while maintaining controllable complexity through digital control signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from water pressure to stepper motor step frequency. By controlling the step frequency of the stepper motor, the system can rapidly adjust the flow rates of hot and cold water, thereby quickly achieving the desired mixing temperature. This parameter change enables dynamic and rapid temperature control compared to static pressure-based methods.
2Speed
If stepper motor adjusts flow rates frequently to reach desired temperature quickly, then temperature control speed improves, but stepper motor may overheat from excessive adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where a temperature sensor continuously monitors the mixing water temperature and sends signals to the controller. The controller compares the detected temperature with the target temperature and only activates the stepper motor when adjustment is needed. This feedback loop prevents unnecessary frequent adjustments, allowing the stepper motor to operate at high speed when needed while avoiding excessive energy consumption and overheating from redundant operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by having the stepper motor operate only when temperature adjustment is required, rather than continuously. The motor performs adjustments in controlled steps based on the temperature difference between current and target values, avoiding excessive continuous operation that would lead to overheating, while still achieving rapid temperature control when needed.
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
Enables rapid and precise adjustment of water temperature by controlling the flow rates of cold and hot water, allowing the system to quickly reach the desired temperature set by users, while protecting the stepper motor from overheating by avoiding unnecessary adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
The thermostatic spool is configured to receive water at a first temperature through the first water inlet, receive water at a second temperature through the second water inlet, mix the water at the first temperature and the water at the second temperature to produce output water
Implementation Method 2
The temperature sensor is configured to sense a current water temperature of the output water based on a sensing frequency, so as to provide a current water temperature signal
Implementation Method 3
Based on a step frequency, the stepper motor is configured to provide a step number according to a step number control signal, so as to adjust a flow rate of the water at the first temperature and a flow rate of the water at the second temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A water temperature control system and a water temperature control method are provided. The water temperature control system includes a thermostatic spool, a temperature sensor, a controller, and a stepper motor. The thermostatic spool is configured to mix water at a first temperature and water at a second temperature to produce output water. The temperature sensor is configured to sense a current water temperature of the output water based on a sensing frequency to provide a current water temperature signal. The controller is configured to provide a step number control signal according to a target water temperature signal and a current water temperature signal. Based on a step frequency greater than the sensing frequency, the stepper motor is configured to provide a step number according to a step number control signal to adjust a flow rate of the water at the first temperature and a flow rate of the water at the second temperature.