Water Purifier Recirculation for Stable Outlet Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water purifiers face issues with temperature changes and energy inefficiency when hot or cold water remains in the flow passage after a long period of non-use, leading to user dissatisfaction and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier design with a tank part, discharge and circulation flow passage parts, and a power part to return residual fluid to the tank for reheating or recooling, controlled by a sensor and controller system to maintain preset temperatures without additional operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hot or cold water is discharged after a long period of non-use, then the water outlet cock can provide water, but the temperature deviates from preset temperature due to mixing with residual water in the flow passage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the residual water from the flow passage by introducing a circulation flow passage that redirects the residual water back to the tank part, separating it from the main water outlet flow. This prevents the residual water from mixing with freshly generated hot or cold water, thereby maintaining the preset temperature at the water outlet.
2Ease of operation
If the length of the flow passage connecting the water outlet cock with the device generating hot or cold water increases, then the water outlet function is maintained, but the temperature difference from preset temperature increases further
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation flow passage acts as an intermediary system that intercepts residual water in the flow passage before it can mix with the main water outlet flow. By providing this intermediate circulation path, the patent prevents the temperature deviation caused by residual water mixing, even when the flow passage length is increased.
3Temperature
If devices generate hot or cold water corresponding to the volume of residual water on the flow passage, then the water outlet temperature can be maintained, but the energy efficiency decreases and raw water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the residual water in the flow passage or generating additional hot/cold water to compensate for it, the patent recovers the residual water by redirecting it through the circulation flow passage back to the tank part. This recovery approach eliminates the need for additional energy-consuming heating or cooling operations while maintaining water outlet temperature.
4Temperature
If additional hot water tank and cold water tank are operated to extract hot or cold water after long period of non-use, then the temperature can be maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation flow passage serves multiple functions: it prevents residual water mixing, maintains water outlet temperature, and reduces energy consumption. By making the existing flow passage system multi-functional through the addition of the circulation path, the patent avoids the need for separate additional tanks or complex control systems while achieving temperature maintenance.
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
Minimizes temperature changes and energy consumption, ensures consistent fluid temperature, reduces discarded fluid, and enhances user satisfaction by automatically managing residual fluid without affecting the extraction process.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation flow passage part fluidly connected to the tank part and the discharge flow passage part to allow the fluid remaining in the discharge flow passage part to flow into the tank part
Implementation Method 2
a power part disposed in the discharge flow passage part or the circulation flow passage part to provide a conveying force to the fluid such that the fluid returns to the tank part
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier includes: a tank part that receives fluid from the outside and adjusts the temperature thereof; a discharge flow passage part fluidly connected to the tank part and the outside to form a flow passage through which the temperature-adjusted fluid flows out; a circulation flow passage part fluidly connected to the tank part and the discharge flow passage part to allow the fluid remaining in the discharge flow passage part to flow into the tank part; and a power part disposed in the discharge flow passage part or the circulation flow passage part to provide a conveying force to the fluid such that the fluid returns to the tank part. The circulation flow passage part may be fluidly connected to the discharge flow passage part on one side biased toward the downstream side of the discharge flow passage part.