Water Purifier Flow Path Shifting Valve for Varying Water Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purifiers lack adaptability to varying water quality, particularly when dealing with groundwater or aged waterworks piping, leading to ineffective filtration and inability to maintain optimal purification standards.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier system equipped with a water quality sensor, a processor, and a flow path shifting valve that selectively routes water to either a direct-type filter or a reverse osmosis filter based on measured water quality, ensuring appropriate filtration methods are used to maintain predetermined purification standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single filter configuration is used in water purifiers, then the device structure is simple and cost is reduced, but the filtration effectiveness deteriorates when water quality varies (e.g., groundwater or aged waterworks piping)
Solution Approach 1:
The water purifier dynamically switches between different filter configurations based on detected water quality. The controller adjusts the filtration system from a single-filter mode to a dual-filter mode (pre-treatment filter + main filter) when poor water quality is detected, and vice versa. This dynamic adaptation ensures optimal filtration effectiveness for varying water sources while maintaining system simplicity through automated control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple filter configurations are provided to handle different water qualities, then adaptability to varying water quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water purifier employs a universal filter assembly design where the same physical filters can serve multiple functions depending on configuration. The pre-treatment filter and main filter are designed with compatible connection interfaces and can be selectively engaged or disengaged from the water flow path. This multi-functional design allows a single filter assembly to handle both good and poor water quality scenarios without requiring entirely separate filtration systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the pre-treatment filter as a separate, selectively engageable component from the main filtration system. When poor water quality is detected, the controller activates the pre-treatment filter in series with the main filter. When water quality is good, the pre-treatment filter is bypassed or removed from the active flow path. This extraction approach provides additional filtration capability only when needed, reducing normal operation complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Reliability
If water is always filtered through the most rigorous method (reverse osmosis), then purification quality is maximized, but energy consumption and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water purifier changes the filtration parameter (filtration intensity) based on water quality detection results. For good water quality, the system uses a lower-intensity filtration mode (single main filter). For poor water quality, the system switches to a higher-intensity mode (pre-treatment filter + main filter in series). This parameter adjustment ensures high purification quality when needed while reducing energy consumption during normal operation with good water sources.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a flow path shifting valve is added to selectively route water to different filters, then adaptability to water quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water purifier system performs self-diagnosis of water quality using an integrated sensor and automatically controls the flow path shifting valve without external intervention. The controller monitors water quality parameters, compares them against predefined thresholds, and autonomously switches between filtration modes. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual valve operation or complex external control systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining selective filtration functionality.
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 system effectively adapts to different water qualities by switching between filtration methods, ensuring purified water meets predetermined criteria regardless of the water source, thereby maintaining consistent filtration performance.
Implementation Method 1
a second filter configured to filter by a second method, wherein the first method is a direct-type water purification method, and the second method is a reverse osmosis water purification method
Implementation Method 2
The water quality sensor may measure electrical conductivity of the water supplied from the water supply source
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a water purifier (100). The water purifier (100) includes a water quality sensor (130) configured to measure quality of water that is supplied from a water supply source, a first filter (115) configured to filter by a first method, a second filter (117) configured to filter by a second method, a flow path shifting valve (150) configured to selectively supply water that is supplied from the water supply source to the first filter (115) or the second filter (117), and a processor (170) configured to control the flow path shifting valve (150) based on a water quality value that is measured by the water quality sensor (130).