Water Purifier Flow Control for Direct Multi-Temperature Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purifiers require mixing of hot and cold water to achieve desired temperatures, leading to increased energy consumption and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier design that heats hot water to a medium temperature and allows for instant heating of high-temperature water when needed, with separate cold and hot water modules and controlled flow channels to achieve desired temperatures without mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If hot water is always heated to high temperature to maintain preset temperature, then the preset hot water temperature is maintained, but energy costs increase due to constant heating
Solution Approach 1:
The heater operates periodically rather than continuously. The control unit activates the heater only when the hot water temperature falls below the medium temperature threshold, rather than maintaining constant high temperature heating. This periodic heating cycle reduces energy consumption while still providing hot water at required temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of hot water dynamically. Instead of maintaining a fixed high temperature, the hot water temperature is allowed to fluctuate between medium temperature (when heater is off) and high temperature (when heater is activated). This parameter change enables energy savings while still meeting user needs.
2Temperature
If hot water is always heated to high temperature, then high temperature hot water is available, but mixing with cold water is required to provide lukewarm water, causing inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The hot water body is divided into different temperature zones. The upper portion maintains medium temperature for direct dispensing, while the lower portion can be heated to high temperature when needed. This local quality differentiation allows the system to provide both medium and high temperature water without requiring user mixing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-heats hot water to medium temperature in advance and maintains it in the upper portion of the hot water body. This preliminary action ensures that medium temperature hot water is always available for direct dispensing, eliminating the need for users to perform mixing operations to achieve lukewarm water.
3Temperature
If hot water is maintained only at preset high temperature, then high temperature hot water is provided, but medium temperature hot water requires mixing with cold water, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The hot water body is segmented into different regions with different temperature characteristics. The upper portion stores medium temperature hot water while the lower portion can be heated to high temperature. This segmentation allows the system to provide multiple temperature levels without requiring complex mixing mechanisms or additional components.
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
Provides user-specified temperature water efficiently, reduces energy costs by avoiding constant high-temperature heating, and minimizes the purifier's size by eliminating the need for a separate purified water tank.
Implementation Method 1
a hot water module including a heater for heating the purified water to provide hot water
Implementation Method 2
a cold water module for cooling the purified water to provide cold water
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier includes: a water outlet unit; a water temperature sensor; a filter; a cold water module for cooling the purified water to provide cold water; a hot water module including a heater for heating water, and a hot water body providing a space which receives the hot water or through which the hot water flows; a flow channel connected to the water outlet unit, the filter, the cold water module, and the hot water module to provide a passage through which the purified water, the cold water, the hot water, and discharge water flow; a valve module that are selectively opened/closed to control the flow of water in the flow channel; and a controller for controlling the valve module such that a temperature of the water discharged from the water outlet unit measured by the water temperature sensor is a target temperature.