Water Dispenser Temperature Mixing Assembly for Precise Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water dispensers struggle to deliver precise water temperatures due to variations in tank water temperatures and the limitations of on-the-fly mixing systems, often resulting in inaccurate dispensed water temperatures and potential water waste.
Innovation Solution
A variable temperature control assembly that includes multiple water tanks (hot, cold, and optionally ambient) with solenoids and a processor to calculate and adjust the water ratios in real-time to achieve the desired temperature, eliminating the need for feedback loops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If on-the-fly variable mixing of hot and cold water is used, then water temperature can be adjusted, but temperature precision deteriorates due to feedback loop lag and wide temperature range
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-mixes hot and cold water in a mixing chamber before dispensing, rather than mixing at the moment of dispensing. This preliminary action allows the feedback loop to operate on a larger volume of water, reducing temperature fluctuations and improving precision. The pre-mixed water is stored temporarily in a buffer chamber, ensuring stable temperature delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
A mixing chamber acts as an intermediary between the hot and cold water sources and the dispensing system. This intermediary chamber allows for controlled mixing of waters and provides a buffer that stabilizes the temperature before water is dispensed, reducing the impact of feedback loop lag.
2Device complexity
If fixed ratios of hot, cold or ambient temperature water are mixed, then system complexity is reduced, but temperature precision deteriorates because tank water temperatures vary
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor the temperature of water in the hot tank, cold tank, and mixing chamber. The control processor receives this feedback and dynamically adjusts the solenoid valve openings to maintain the desired dispensed water temperature, compensating for variations in tank water temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from fixed mixing ratios to dynamic, continuously adjustable mixing ratios. The solenoid valves can vary their opening degrees in real-time based on feedback from temperature sensors, allowing the system to adapt to changing tank temperatures and maintain precision.
3Device complexity
If trial-and-error temperature adjustment is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but water waste increases due to multiple attempts to achieve desired temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-mixes the correct ratio of hot and cold water in the mixing chamber based on the desired temperature and current tank temperatures. This preliminary mixing ensures that the first dispensed water is at the correct temperature, eliminating the need for multiple trial attempts and reducing water waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The control processor automatically calculates the required mixing ratio and adjusts the solenoid valves without user intervention. The system self-regulates the mixing process based on sensor feedback, eliminating the trial-and-error approach where users would need to manually adjust settings and waste water in the process.
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
Enables precise control over water temperature selection, ensuring the dispensed water matches the user's request without lag or waste.
Implementation Method 1
a hot water system, which includes a hot water tank and a hot water solenoid, where the hot water solenoid is in communication with the hot water tank; a cold water system, which includes a cold water tank and a cold water solenoid
Implementation Method 2
the processor determines the temperature of water in the hot water tank and the temperature of the water in the cold water tank and using the determined temperatures... calculates the ratio of hot water and cold water required to deliver water at the temperature selected
Data Source
AI summary
A variable temperature control assembly for a water dispenser, using a variable water temperature selector, that delivers water to the consumer at the temperature requested on the variable temperature selector by calculating the required ratio of hot water, cold water and ambient water needed to deliver water at the temperature requested.