Temperature adjusting method for instant heating or cooling with an energy-saving water dispenser and water dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084702-B2
Application number	US-201916377220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2019
Priority date	Feb 1, 2019
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed is a temperature adjusting method for instant heating or cooling with an energy-saving water dispenser, the method including: installing a water dispenser, which includes a heating device, a control processor, etc.; coupling a water inlet to a tap water pipe and heating the water to 100° C., where the produced boiling water is split into two branches, one flows out from a high-temperature water outlet; the other branch flows through a preheater and performs heat exchange with cold water to achieve a temperature drop thus forming warm boiled water, which enters a refrigeration unit to be cooled to 5° C. When the user sets a single-time output water temperature and amount within an effective range, the control processor automatically matches the corresponding working mode and provides an accurate output according to the user-set single-time output water temperature and amount. There is further disclosed a water dispenser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A temperature adjusting method for instant heating or cooling with an energy-saving water dispenser, the water dispenser comprising a water inlet, a water filter, a preheater, a flow meter, a heating device, a medium and low temperature water outlet, and a high temperature water outlet that are connected in series through a pipeline, the water dispenser further comprising a control processor, and an evaporator, a compressor, an air-cooled condenser, an expansion valve, a manual valve F, an electric valve FD, a solenoid valve FC, and a temperature sensor W that are controlled by the control processor, the temperature adjusting method comprising:
S1: coupling the water inlet of the water dispenser to a tap water pipe, and connecting the water filter, the preheater, and the flow meter to the heating device in sequence through the pipeline;
S2: setting, by a user, a single-time output water temperature and output water amount within an effective range, and automatically selecting, by the control processor, a corresponding matching working mode using a built-in program according to the user-set single-time output water temperature and output water amount, and controlling the water dispenser to operate according to the selected working mode;
S3: heating, by the heating device, inflowing tap water to 100° C., where water vapor produced by the heating is discharged from an exhaust port through an exhaust valve FC 2 , and the boiling water is split into two branches, one of which flows out from a high temperature outlet to directly provide high temperature boiling water for the user;
S4: making the other branch flow through a boiled water side passage of the preheater to perform heat exchange with unboiled water in a unboiled water side passage thus achieving a temperature drop and form warm boiled water, while heating the unboiled water at the same time; where the warm boiled water coming out from the preheater enters the evaporative cooler to be cooled by a refrigeration unit comprising the evaporative cooler, the compressor, the air-cooled condenser, and the expansion valve;
S5: automatically selecting, by the control processor, a corresponding matching working mode using the built-in program according to the user-set single-time output water temperature and output water amount, and computing and controlling opening and closing durations as well as an opening degree of the electric valve FD 1 to control a water flow rate and water flow amount making a flow amount measured by the flow meter be the corresponding preset output water amount, and making the tap water of the output water amount boil and continue boiling for a preset period of time when flowing through the heating device; and
S6: controlling, by the control processor, the opening and closing durations as well as the opening degree of the electric valve FD 1 according to a set flow amount value, to control the water flow rate thereby controlling a heating time of the water in the heating device to ensure the water boils and continues boiling for a set time, while making the water amount output at a single time be the output water amount preset by the user, then controlling the heated water to be output through different pipelines, thereby enabling the temperature of the boiled drinking water to be adjustable through cooperation of the heating device, the preheater and the refrigeration unit, and enabling the boiled drinking water to be accurately output according to the user-set single-time output water amount and temperature.

2. The temperature adjusting method of claim 1 , wherein the operation S4 further comprises:
the water dispenser has three working modes, which are automatically selected by the control processor according to the user-set output water amount and output water temperature, and the control processor controls the water dispenser to perform the following operations:
high temperature boiled water output mode: the heating device is operating while the preheater does not perform heat exchanger and the refrigeration unit stays idle;
medium and high temperature boiled water output mode: the heating device is started to operate while the preheater performs heat exchange and the refrigeration unit stays idle;
medium and low temperature boiled water output mode: the heating device is started to operate while the preheater performs heat exchange and the refrigeration unit is started to operate.

3. The temperature adjusting method of claim 2 , wherein the operation S4 comprises:
S51: high-temperature boiled water output mode: when the user sets the output water temperature to Wc=100° C. using a temperature button and sets the output water amount to Lc 1 using an amount button, and presses the temperature button and the amount button and manually opens valve F 2 to trigger a switch that sets the water dispenser to start working, the control processor automatically selects the matching high-temperature boiled water output mode to be enabled, and sets the heating device into operation according to the user-set single-time output water temperature and output water amount: in the case that a pipeline length and a power of the heating device are determined, the opening degree as well as opening and closing durations of the electric valve FD 1 are controlled by a built-in program in order that a cumulative flow amount measured by the flow meter is the corresponding preset output water amount Lc 1 thereby ensuring that the tap water is able to boil and continue boiling for a set duration when flowing through the heating device and that the amount is the set output water amount Lc 1 ; meanwhile the exhaust valve FC 2 is opened, and the solenoid three-way valve FC 1 opens a valve leading to the high temperature water outlet of the water dispenser, and closes a valve leading to the medium and low temperature water outlet of the water dispenser, at which time the refrigeration unit stays idle; the boiled water is discharged from the high temperature water outlet of the water dispenser; after the electric valve FD 1 is closed, the exhaust valve FC 2 is closed after being delayed for a set time; during this period of time, since the exhaust valve FC 2 is in an open state, a boiling water passage in the heating device is open to the atmosphere, and the boiling water in the boiling water passage totally flows out under the action of gravity to prevent bacteria from being trapped and therefore growing in the flow passage, which also avoids affecting the temperature and flow amount of water output at a next time.

4. The temperature adjusting method of claim 2 , wherein the operation S4 further comprises:
S52: when the user sets the output water temperature to 65° C.<Wc<100° C. using a temperature button and sets the output water amount to Lc 2 using an amount button, and presses the temperature button and the amount button and manually opens valve F 3 to trigger a switch that sets the water dispenser to start working, the medium-high temperature boiled water mode is enabled, the control processor sets the heating device into operation according to the user-set output water temperature and output water amount Lc 2 ; in the case that a pipeline length and a power of the heating device are determined, the opening degree as well as opening and closing durations of the electric valve FD 1 are controlled by a built-in program in order that a cumulative flow amount measured by the flow meter is the corresponding preset output water amount Lc 2 thereby ensuring that the tap water is able to boil and continue boiling for the set duration when flowing through the heating device; meanwhile, the exhaust valve FC 2 is opened, and the solenoid three-way valve FC 1 opens a valve leading to a medium and low temperature water outlet of the water dispenser, and closes a valve leadin

Assignees

• Univ Dongguan Technology

Inventors

• Chen Baiman

Classifications

• B67D1/0884 Primary

  Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure · CPC title

• A47J31/545

  Control or safety devices · CPC title

• B67D2210/0001

  for liquid · CPC title

• B67D1/0862

  in the form of a cold plate or a cooling block · CPC title

• B67D1/0861

  the evaporator acting through an intermediate heat transfer means · CPC title