Water Purifier Ice-Making Control for Consistent Cold Water Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water purifiers using the ice water accumulation method struggle to maintain a consistent supply of cold water, as the amount of ice formed can be insufficient or excessive, and fail to meet user demands for cold water within a reference time.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier system that includes a water tank with a cold water path, a coolant, an evaporator, a compressor, a temperature sensor, and an agitator, where the controller coordinates the operation of the compressor and agitator to optimize ice formation and maintain a consistent cold water supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the agitator operates continuously to agitate the coolant, then the coolant temperature becomes uniform, but the ice-making amount becomes unstable (insufficient or excessive)
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator operates periodically rather than continuously. It agitates the coolant at specific intervals (when coolant temperature exceeds the first reference temperature) to maintain temperature uniformity, then stops to allow ice to form stably around the evaporator. This periodic operation resolves the contradiction by providing agitation only when needed for temperature uniformity while avoiding continuous agitation that disrupts ice formation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the compressor operates alone to cool the coolant, then ice formation is stable, but the coolant temperature takes too long to reach the required level
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator performs preliminary action by agitating the coolant before the compressor starts cooling. When the coolant temperature rises above the first reference temperature, the agitator mixes the coolant to create a uniform temperature distribution throughout the water tank. This preliminary agitation ensures that when the compressor subsequently cools the coolant, the cooling process is more efficient and reaches the target temperature faster, while still maintaining stable ice formation.
3Productivity
If the agitator operates to increase ice-making speed, then cold water supply response improves, but the ice amount becomes uncontrolled (excessive or insufficient)
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the coolant temperature and uses feedback control to determine agitator operation. When the coolant temperature exceeds the first reference temperature, the feedback signal triggers the agitator to operate, accelerating ice-making. When the temperature drops below the reference level, the feedback signal stops the agitator, preventing excessive ice formation. This feedback-based control resolves the contradiction by dynamically adjusting agitation based on real-time temperature conditions.
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 ensures continuous supply of cold water within a preset reference temperature range, enhancing user satisfaction and product marketability by effectively managing ice formation and meeting user demands.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device including an evaporator inside the water tank and through which a refrigerant flows... the cooling device configured to cool the coolant
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator inside the water tank and through which a refrigerant flows... compress the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a compressor that is operable to compress the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
an agitator that is operable to agitate the coolant
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier includes a water tank having a cold water path inside the tank, a coolant inside the water tank, a cooling device including an evaporator inside the water tank and through which a refrigerant flows, and a compressor that is operable to compress the refrigerant. The cooling device is configured to cool the coolant to cool water flowing through a temperature sensor, which is configured to detect a temperature of the coolant and output coolant temperature information about the detected temperature of the coolant. The purifier also includes an agitator operable to agitate the coolant and a controller configured to control the compressor and the agitator to operate simultaneously and control the agitator to stop operating while the compressor is controlled to continue operating based on preset ice-making temperature information and the coolant temperature information. There is also a method of controlling a compressor and an agitator.