Sterilizing Water Module Voltage Control for Flow Rate Variations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water dispensing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a constant concentration of sterilizing water due to changes in the flow rate and total dissolved solids (TDS) of incoming water, leading to inconsistent sterilizing power and potential chlorine odor issues.
Innovation Solution
A water dispensing apparatus equipped with a sterilizing water module, flow rate sensor, and current detector, which adjusts the voltage applied to the electrode in real-time to maintain a constant current value, ensuring consistent sterilizing water concentration by monitoring and controlling the flow rate and TDS levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flow rate of supply water changes rapidly or TDS concentration varies, then the sterilizing water generation process continues, but the concentration of sterilizing water becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a feedback control mechanism where the controller continuously monitors the flow rate via flow rate sensor and adjusts the voltage applied to the electrode in the sterilizing water module accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures that despite variations in supply water flow rate or TDS concentration, the sterilizing water concentration remains constant by dynamically compensating for input variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of the sterilizing water module (specifically the voltage applied to the electrode) in response to detected variations in flow rate or TDS concentration. By adjusting this parameter in real-time, the system maintains consistent sterilizing water concentration despite changes in input water conditions.
2Reliability
If the amount of oxidizing mixture in sterilizing water is not constantly maintained, then the sterilizing power is lowered, but increasing concentration causes chlorine odor
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses feedback from the flow rate sensor to continuously adjust the voltage applied to the electrode, thereby maintaining the oxidizing mixture concentration within the optimal range. This prevents both insufficient sterilizing power (by ensuring minimum concentration) and excessive concentration (which causes chlorine odor).
Solution Approach 2:
By dynamically adjusting the voltage parameter applied to the electrode based on real-time flow rate monitoring, the system maintains the oxidizing mixture concentration at optimal levels, preventing both under-concentration (reduced sterilizing power) and over-concentration (chlorine odor).
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 apparatus effectively generates and dispenses sterilizing water with a consistent concentration, unaffected by changes in flow rate or TDS, thereby maintaining optimal sterilizing power and preventing chlorine odor issues.
Implementation Method 1
a flow rate sensor disposed at the source water pipe
Implementation Method 2
a sterilizing water module connected to the source water pipe and configured to receive the water from the source water pipe and generate sterilizing water
Implementation Method 3
a current detector configured to detect a current value output from the electrode of the sterilizing water module based on the voltage being applied to the electrode of the sterilizing water module
Implementation Method 4
a controller configured to set a target current value of the sterilizing water module based on at least one of flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor or the current value detected by the current detector
Data Source
AI summary
A water dispensing apparatus includes a source water pipe, a sterilizing water module connected to the source water pipe and configured to and generate sterilizing water, a sterilizing water pipe connected to the sterilizing water module and configured to provide the sterilizing water generated by the sterilizing water module to a user, a flow rate sensor disposed at the source water pipe, a power supply configured to apply a voltage to an electrode of the sterilizing water module, a current detector configured to detect a current value output from the electrode of the sterilizing water module based on the voltage being applied to the electrode of the sterilizing water module, and a controller configured to set a target current value of the sterilizing water module based on at least one of flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor or the current value detected by the current detector.