Tea Brewing Machine with Periodic Heating to Reduce Standby Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tea preparation methods consume excessive electrical energy and involve complex handling processes, often resulting in a loss of taste due to limited brewing time and unnecessary heating, which also leads to high standby current consumption.
Innovation Solution
A machine that automatically prepares tea from powder or tea bags, allowing for remote control via a smartphone app, optimizing energy use by minimizing brewing time and eliminating manual handling, with customizable brew parameters for different tea types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the heating element is continuously maintained at an elevated temperature to minimize temperature difference, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the standby current consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element operates periodically rather than continuously. The control unit activates the heating element only when water needs to be heated to a specific temperature, then deactivates it. This periodic operation eliminates the need for continuous high-temperature maintenance, thereby reducing standby current consumption while maintaining heating efficiency when needed.
2Ease of operation
If more water than required is heated, then the heating process is simplified, but unnecessary electrical energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system heats only the specific amount of water required for each tea preparation, rather than heating a fixed large volume. The control unit calculates and heats precisely the needed water quantity based on the selected tea type and preparation parameters, eliminating energy waste from heating excess water while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the water heating parameters (temperature and volume) according to the specific tea type and preparation mode selected. Different tea types require different water temperatures and quantities, and the control unit optimizes these parameters for each case, preventing energy waste from using fixed, excessive heating parameters.
3Productivity
If the brewing time is limited to minimize preparation duration, then the preparation speed is improved, but the tea quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing time is dynamically adjusted based on the specific tea type and desired preparation mode rather than using a fixed limited time. The control unit selects optimal brewing durations from predefined ranges for different tea types (e.g., green tea, black tea, herbal tea), allowing sufficient extraction time for each tea variety while maintaining efficient overall preparation through automated control.
4Device complexity
If the machine requires physical presence for operation, then the control system is simple, but the ease of operation from remote location is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical/physical interaction requirement is replaced with wireless communication technology. The control unit includes a wireless communication module that receives commands and transmits status information via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, allowing users to operate the tea preparation machine remotely through a smartphone application without physical presence, while the added complexity remains manageable through standardized communication protocols.
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 machine significantly reduces electrical energy consumption, maintains high tea quality, and simplifies the preparation process by automating the brewing and serving of tea, ensuring efficient and convenient tea preparation.
Implementation Method 1
all machines which contain a heater or are disposed to heat a predetermined amount of water in the shortest possible time contain a heating element which is continuously maintained at an elevated temperature
Implementation Method 2
The pump (16) is switched on in the "synchronized mode" with a clocking frequency of 100 ms-400 ms
Implementation Method 3
The water is pumped through the heating system (15), where it is heated up to the set temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for the preparation of tea includes a housing; a brewing container; a water permeable, refillable infusing sieve receivable within the brewing container and adapted to receive one or more tea bags, tea leaves, or tea powder; a water container or a tap water connection; a pump adapted to pump water; a heating system adapted to heat the brewing container or the water being pumped; a drain adapted to discharge prepared tea from the brewing container into a beverage container, and an electrically actuatable drain valve moveable from an open state to a closed state, wherein in the closed state the drain valve prevents the flow of tea therethrough; a water outlet adapted to deliver water to the brewing container; a control panel configured to receive tea preparation information; and a control unit configured to control the pump, the heating system, and the drain valve so that the amount of water, the water temperature, and the amount of time the water is in the brewing container can be adjusted in response to the tea preparation information.