Cold water generating apparatus and water purifier having the same

A cold water generating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a tank having an inlet port and an outlet port, a cooling module coupled to the tank to cool purified water introduced into the tank through the inlet port, and an internal passage unit formed inside the tank to guide the purified water from the inlet port to the outlet port, wherein a part of the purified water is phase-changed into ice within the tank by the cooling module, and another part of the purified water flows along the internal passage unit to be brought into contact with the ice so as to be discharged through the outlet port.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Application No. 10-2016-0131474, filed on Oct. 11, 2016, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for generating cold water (i.e., a cold water generating apparatus) for cooling drinkable purified water, and a water purifier having the same.

A water purifier may be a device that filters water by physical and/or chemical methods to remove impurities and then supplies the purified water to a user. Water purifiers may be categorized, for example, as a natural filtration type, a direct filtration type, an ion exchange water type, a distillation type, a reverse osmosis type, etc. according to an employed purification method.

The water purifiers may also be categorized as one of a storage water purifier or a direct-type water purifier. In the storage water purifier, water is purified through a filter and stored in a water storage tank, and the stored water from the storage tank may then be heated or cooled upon discharge from the tank and provided to a user. In the direct-type water purifier, water is purified through a filter and heated or cooled when provided to a user without storing the purified water in a water storage tank. Thus, the direct-type water purifier does not store a relatively large amount of the purified water as compared with the storage type water purifier. Accordingly, the direct-type water purifier can typically be relatively lighter and smaller, and the purified water in the direct-type water purifier may be less likely to become contaminated during storage. The direct-type water purifier has a further effect of reducing power consumption associated with continuously heating or cooling the relatively large amount of water contained in the water storage tank at a desired temperature.

However, the direct-type water purifier should heat or cool the purified water to desired temperatures within a relatively short time after starting to discharge water, while also continuing to heat or cool the purified water at the desired temperatures to discharge a relatively continuous supply of the cold water or the hot water. To this end, the direct-type water purifier may include a tank or a passage which receives a predetermined amount of the purified water that is heated or cooled through a heat-exchange. In order to increase a continuous flow rate of the cooled purified water, a size of the tank or the passage may be increased, but increasing the tank or the passage would also increase the overall volume and weight of the water purifier.

A direct-type water purifier may include a cooling or heating module employing a thermoelectric element for quickly generating cold water and hot water. The thermoelectric element may absorb or generate heat using electric energy. The thermoelectric element provides a relatively high response speed and while generating relatively less noise and vibration in comparison to other water heating and cooling components. Furthermore, the thermoelectric element tends to be relatively light in weight and small in size. However, the thermoelectric element generally tends to have high power consumption due to relatively low thermal efficiency.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description will now be given in detail of a water purifier and a cold water generating apparatus according to exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, a “water purifier” may generally refer to a device to generate clean water (hereinafter, ‘purified water’) by filtering foreign materials from water received from a water supply, such as a tap, through a filter assembly. In addition, the water purifier may heat or cool the purified water and provide the hot or cold purified water in response to a user input. The water purifier may be an independent device or may be a component included in another home appliance, such as a refrigerator.

In this specification, the cold water generating apparatus may function to cool the purified water filtered by the water purifier to form “cold water.” The cold water generating apparatus may be may be a separate device, a part of the water purifier, or a part of a home appliance that is separate from the water purifier, such as a refrigerator. For example, the water purifier may generate purified water though a filter assembly and supply the purified water to the refrigerator. The purified water received at the refrigerator may then be cooled through the cold water generating apparatus that is coupled to or included in the refrigerator, and the cold water is supplied to a user through a water supply device (e.g., dispenser).

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure, andFIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the cold water generating apparatus100illustrated inFIG. 1. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure includes a tank110, a cooling module120, and an internal passage unit130.

The tank110provides an internal space through which purified water flows and is cooled to generate cold water. For this purpose, the tank110is provided with an inlet port111and an outlet port112. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the tank110may have a rectangular shape with a relatively large surface area in one direction. Purified water is introduced into the tank110through the inlet port111, and cold water is discharged through the outlet port112after the purified water is cooled within the tank110. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, that the inlet port111and the outlet port112are located on one relatively large planer surface of the tank110(e.g., the external exposed front surface of the tank110that is opposite to an internal surface facing the cooling module120).

The cooling module120coupled with the tank110may cool the purified water in the tank110through a heat-exchange with the tank110. The cooling module120may be provided with a thermoelectric element121to be described later in order to cool the purified water within the tank110. A detailed structure and function of the cooling module120provided with the thermoelectric element121will be described later in detail. However, the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure may employ various cooling methods in addition to or alternatively to using the thermoelectric element121.

The internal passage unit130is positioned within the tank110and guides the purified water from the inlet port111to the outlet port112. In the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure, when purified water passing through the tank110flows out through the outlet port112, the purified water is cooled to a preset temperature. Therefore, the internal passage unit130may be configured such that the purified water remains on the tank110for a sufficient time for the heat-exchange to achieve the desired temperature.

Meanwhile, the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure that includes the tank110, the cooling module120, and the internal passage unit130described above may be configured to freeze a part of purified water into ice. That is, the cooling module120may be controlled to cool a part of purified water introduced into the tank110through the inlet port111down to a temperature lower than a target temperature for cold water and cause a phase change of a portion of the purified water in the tank110into ice10(see,FIG. 3). The phase-changed ice10may remain within the tank110. Another part of the purified water introduced into the tank110through the inlet port111is brought into contact with the ice10along the internal passage unit130and exchanges heat with the ice10to cool the purified water. The cooled purified water then flows into the outlet port112. In this way, when cooling the purified water, the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure may freeze a portion of the purified water within the tank110into the ice10, and the ice10may then help cool the remaining, non-frozen portion of the purified water, thereby enhancing the cooling efficiency of the cold water generating apparatus100.

In detail, rather than cooling purified water down to a target temperature, discharging the cooled purified water, and then having to again cool newly-introduced purified water, the inside of the tank110of the present disclosure is continuously maintained in a low temperature state due to the ice10, and any newly introduced purified water directly exchanges heat with the ice10so as to be rapidly cooled. In other words, the ice10functions as a thermal buffer to maintain a relatively cold temperature within the tank110and to absorb heat from the liquid purified water. This configuration may result in reducing a recovery time for cooling newly introduced purified water to a target temperature value within the tank110after a predetermined amount of cold water is discharged. According to this aspect of the cold water generating apparatus100, a length of the internal passage unit130and/or a volume of the tank110can be reduced such that the cold water generating apparatus100can be reduced in size while still providing similar cooling performance as other, larger water cooling device that do not generate the ice10.

FIG. 3is a sectional view taken along the line AA′ ofFIG. 1. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a detailed structure of the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure to generate the ice10, with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3. First, the tank110may be provided with a cooling sidewall113having one relatively large surface facing the cooling module120. As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the cooling module120may be coupled to and/or contact an outside side surface of the cooling sidewall113. For example, the cooling sidewall113may include one or more protrusions that extend from the outer side surface, and an adjacent facing surfacing of the cooling module120may include corresponding recesses to receive the protrusions.

With the connecting structure, the cooling sidewall113directly exchanges heat with the cooling module120, and purified water within the tank110is cooled, starting from a portion of the purified water contacting an inner surface of the cooling sidewall113. Accordingly, a part of the purified water inside the tank110is frozen into ice10in a plate shape, which is generated from an inner surface of the cooling sidewall113. Another part of the purified water flows through a remaining space of the tank110to a side of the ice10(e.g., a portion of the inside of the tank110positioned away from the inner surface of the cooling sidewall113). While flowing through the space, the other part of the purified water performs the heat-exchange with the ice10and, thus, is discharged as cold water through the outlet port112.

This structure facilitates the construction of the internal passage unit130, in which the purified water exchanges heat for an extended time with the plate-like ice10generated along the one inside surface of the tank110, and allows for control of a size (or thickness) of the ice10. In order to control the size (or thickness) of the ice10generated on the inner surface of the cooling sidewall113, the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure may further include a temperature sensor140.

The temperature sensor140, as illustrated inFIG. 3, may be positioned to be spaced apart from the inner surface of the cooling sidewall113by a preset interval. In one implementation, the preset interval may correspond to a thickness of the ice10to be maintained (e.g., a desired thickness for the ice10). Specifically, the thickness of the ice10may gradually increase as some of the purified water changes phase into the ice10and accumulates on the inner surface of the cooling sidewall113. While the temperature sensor140contacts the liquid purified water, a temperature detected by the temperature sensor140generally remains at or above a freezing point (e.g., zero degree Celsius) because the liquid purified water functions as a thermal buffer. When a width of the ice10becomes larger than the preset interval such that the ice10surrounds or otherwise contacts the temperature sensor140, a temperature detected by the temperature sensor140may drop relatively rapidly below the freezing point. The temperature sensor140may detect the temperature change due to the phase change and use this detected temperature change to determine when the ice10has a thickness corresponding to the preset interval and contacts the temperature sensor. For example, a rapid temperature drop detected by the temperature sensor140may generally indicate that the ice10has grown to the preset interval, while a temperature increase detected by the temperature sensor140may generally indicate that the ice10has shrunk to be thinner than the preset interval.

Since the thickness of the ice10can be detected and controlled in the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure (as described in greater detail below), an amount of the ice10that is generated within the tank110can be set and maintained. Supplying a controlled amount of the ice10may enable the cold water generating apparatus100to continuously discharge cold water since the ice10may quickly cool the purified water passing through the tank110.

Further, the temperature sensor140may serve to detect the thickness of the ice10so that the cold water generating apparatus100may maintain a predetermined amount (or desired thickness) of the ice10. For example, the cold water generating apparatus100may maintain a sufficiently large amount of the ice10such that the purified water can be rapidly cooled while passing in the tank110between the inlet port111to the outlet port112. For example, the ice10may be maintained at a sufficient thickness such that the purified water contacts the ice through a desired portion of the passage in the tank110. At the same time, the cold water generating apparatus100may prevent the generation of an excessive amount (or thickness) of the ice10that may undesirably reduce or even block the flow of the purified water through the tank110.

For example, when the ice10has grown to a thickness corresponding to the preset interval from the cooling sidewall113such that the ice10can detected by the temperature sensor140, the cooling module120may be controlled to operate at a warmer temperature or to be powered off. Accordingly, the ice10does continue to grow away from the cooling sidewall113, and the thickness of the ice10may be gradually reduced due to a phase change when cooling new purified water introduced through the inlet port111.

Although a single temperature sensor140is depicted inFIG. 3, multiple temperature sensors140may be provided in the tank110in certain implementations. For example, temperature sensors140may be installed at different positions within the tank110to sense temperatures at a plurality of positions. Accordingly, when one of the temperature sensors140fails and does not accurately detect a temperature drop in the ice10due to a phase change, the thickness of the ice10can be controlled using the readings from one or more other temperatures sensors140. In another example, the temperature sensors140may detect when relatively thicker section of the ice10is formed in a portion of the tank110or when a portion of the ice10breaks away from a portion of the tank110and travels to another portion of the tank110. This may result in ensuring a more reliable operation of the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure.

In addition, the plurality of temperature sensors140may be arranged to have different respective intervals from the cooling sidewall113. With this arrangement, the thickness of the ice10within the tank110can be controlled more precisely by setting an upper limit (or thickness) value and a lower limit (or thickness) value. For example, the cooling module120may be activated while the ice10is thinner than an upper limit value (e.g., a first subset of the temperature sensors140that is spaced relatively further from the cooling sidewall113does not contact the ice10), and purified water may be introduced into the tank110to be cooled when the ice10is wider than an lower upper limit value (e.g., a second subset of the temperature sensors140that is spaced relatively closer to the cooling sidewall113contacts the ice10).

One or more of the temperature sensors140may be installed additionally or alternatively on a cooling block122or a heat dissipation block123to be explained later. That is, a temperature value can be measured at a position other than the inside of the tank110, and this other temperature measurement may be used to control the module to provide an accurate cold water temperature and a desired outputted flow rate of the cold water.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a configuration that accomplishes an effective heat exchange through a structure including the inlet port111, the outlet port112, and the internal passage unit130. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3, the cooling by the cooling module120may be performed through the cooling sidewall113formed on a side surface of the tank110. Therefore, when the inlet port111and the outlet port112are arranged vertically, the heat exchange may sufficiently be performed between purified water and the ice10formed on the inner surface of the cooling sidewall113.

In the cold water generating apparatus100according to one embodiment, the outlet port112provided in the tank110may be provided higher than the inlet port111. When the outlet port112is provided above the inlet port111, the purified water introduced into the inlet port111is filled in the tank110, starting from a lower portion of the tank, due to gravity, and then flows toward the outlet port112. This configuration may allow the purified water to be more evenly distributed in the tank110and to stay in the tank100for a relatively longer time, which may result in a more effective heat-exchange between the purified water and the ice10, as compared to a different configuration in which the inlet port111is provided above the outlet port112.

In the cold water generating apparatus100according to the present disclosure, the internal passage unit130plays a role of promoting the heat exchange between the purified water and the ice10in the tank110. To this end, the internal passage unit130may include a plurality of partition walls (or horizontal walls)131and a plurality of penetration portions (or openings)132.

FIG. 4is an enlarged view of an area B of the internal passage unit130illustrated inFIG. 2. As illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 4, the plurality of partition walls131extend substantially parallel in directions (or planes) that intersect a line between the inlet port111and the outlet port112, and the partition walls131are spaced apart from each other at preset intervals between the inlet port111and the outlet port112. In this embodiment, the plurality of partition walls131may extend in a right-left (or substantially horizontal) direction perpendicularly intersecting with an up-and-down (or substantially vertical) direction between the inlet port111and the outlet port112.

In addition, each partition wall131may include a penetrating portion132through which purified water flows. In this embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4, the penetrating portion132may be a space in the partition wall131which is recessed from a side surface at a lateral end portion of the partition wall131. When the internal passage unit130is located within the tank110, the penetration portion132may be a space by which the purified water flows through each of the partition walls131when flowing along the inner surface of the tank110. However, the penetrating portion132, although shown as being inwardly recessed at the end portion of the partition wall131inFIG. 4, may be a space formed at another point of the partition wall131, such as a location positioned away from an end portion of the partition wall131.

The penetrating portions132may be positioned in an alternating manner in the plurality of partition walls131. For example, the penetrating portions132may be positioned at respective opposite lateral ends of adjacent pairs of the partition walls131. This configuration allows the purified water to flow along a continuous extended path formed in a space between the partition walls131. In this manner, the internal passage unit130of the cold water generating apparatus100according to one embodiment can be provided with the partition walls131such that the purified water can flow in a zigzag path within the tank110, so as to maximize heat exchange time and area to thereby enhance the performance and efficiency of generating the cold water while also enabling the apparatus to remain relatively small.

In this configuration of the internal passage unit130in which the partition walls131and the penetrating portions132combine to form the zigzag path through the tank110, the tank110may have a structure in which the inlet port111is located lower than the outlet port112to enable a more effective heat-exchange in comparison to a structure in which the outlet port112is located lower than the inlet port111. In detail, when the inlet port111is positioned relatively higher than the output port112, the purified water drops with relatively low resistance due to gravity to flow down through the penetrating portion132. On the other hand, when the purified water is introduced into the lower portion of the tank110through a lower positioned inlet port111, the purified water flows upwardly against gravity in a zigzag manner through the penetrating portions132. Also, the purified water is less likely to flow into a space between adjacent two partition walls131through the penetrating portion132without fully filling the space between the adjacent partition walls131while flowing upward along the partition walls131. By virtue of this upward zigzag flow through the penetrating portions132of the partition walls131, the purified water flowing inside the tank110can pass through a relatively longer path for a greater amount of time for an improved heat exchange with the ice10within the tank110.

Meanwhile, the internal passage unit130of the present disclosure may further include a plurality of connection walls (or vertical walls)133coupled to the plurality of partition walls131. The plurality of connection walls133may be provided to connect the plurality of partition walls131together. In particular, the plurality of partition walls131and connection walls133, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, may be connected in a bent manner to form an integral form. That is, in this embodiment, the internal passage unit130may be integrally formed in a manner that the partition walls131and the connection walls133, which extend at respective different angles, are provided in an alternating manner. For instance, adjacent pairs of the connection walls133may be provided at alternate side edges of a common partition wall131(e.g., a first edge of the partition wall131, that is adjacent to the cooling sidewall113, may be coupled to a first connection wall133that extends from first edge in a first vertical direction, and a second edge of the partition wall131, that is opposite to the cooling sidewall113, may be coupled to a second connection wall133that extends from second edge in a second vertical direction). Thus, the internal passage unit130can be easily fabricated from one plate in an accordion-like structure to improve a durability of the internal passage unit130.

Meanwhile, the cooling module120of the cold water generating apparatus100according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may employ a cooling method using the thermoelectric element121, as described above. Referring toFIG. 3, the cooling module120may include a thermoelectric element (or cooling element)121, a cooling block122, and a heat dissipation block123.

The thermoelectric element121is a device that performs cooling or heating by using a Peltier effect in which heat generation or heat absorption occurs at a connected point of conducting wires made of different materials when a potential difference is caused in a closed circuit. The thermoelectric element121employed in this embodiment may be fabricated in a form of a thin film. Heat absorption is generated at one side of the thermoelectric element121, and heat generation is generated at another side thereof when an electric signal is inputted to the thermoelectric element121. In the example shown inFIG. 3, a right side of the thermoelectric element121(facing the tank110) may be a side where temperature is lowered due to the heat absorption, and a left side thereof (opposite to the tank110) may be a side where temperature rises due to the heat generation.

In other implementations, the thermoelectric element121may be omitted, and the cooling block122may be cooled through a different cooling technology, such as a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant undergoes heat exchanges and phase changes to remove heat from a space. The refrigeration cycle may typically include, for example, a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, and an evaporator.

The cooling block122may be mounted on one side of the thermoelectric element121. The cooling block122is cooled by the heat absorption occurred at the one side of the thermoelectric element121so as to cool the tank110. In detail, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the cooling block122may include a first block122aand a second block122b. The first block122amay cover the exterior side surface of the cooling sidewall113forming one surface of the tank110, and the second block122bmay cover one side of the thermoelectric element121facing the cooling sidewall113. The cooling block122may thus be thermally and physically connected to the cooling sidewall113of the tank110and the thermoelectric element121, such that heat is exchanged between the tank and the thermoelectric element121.

Planer sizes of the first block122aand the second block122bmay be set to match, respectively, the planar sizes of contacting surfaces of the cooling sidewall113and the thermoelectric element121. This structure may allow heat to be absorbed uniformly from the cooling sidewall113, such that the inner surface of the cooling sidewall113is cooled more uniformly. Accordingly, the ice10generated on the inner surface of the cooling sidewall113may have a more constant thickness.

The heat dissipation block123may be mounted on the other side of the thermoelectric element121(opposite the cooling sidewall113of the tank110). When the one side of the thermoelectric element121is operated to absorb heat to cool the tank110, the other side thereof dispenses the absorbed heat, and the heat dissipation block123is provided to perform the heat dissipation. The heat dissipation block123may include a plurality of heat dissipation fins123aprotruding from an exterior side (right inFIG. 3) that is opposite the side of the heat dissipation block123which is coupled to the thermoelectric element121. The structure including the heat dissipation fins123ais a structure capable of increasing a contact area with air to help heat dissipation by a convective heat transfer. When the thermoelectric element121is not used and the cold water generating apparatus100uses a different cooling technology, such as a refrigeration cycle, the heat dissipation block123may be used to cool components where heat is generated (such as a compressor or a condenser).

The cold water generating apparatus100according to certain implementation described in the present disclosure may generate less noise and vibration by cooling purified water using the thermoelectric element121and the generated the ice10while reducing the size of the cooling module120. Thus, the structure may reduce a size and a weight of the cold water generating apparatus100.

Hereinafter, a water purifier1000having the cold water generating apparatus100of the present disclosure will be described.FIG. 5is a conceptual view of the water purifier1000according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The water purifier1000according to the present disclosure may include a filter unit (or filter)200, a cold water introduction passage unit180, the cold water generating apparatus100, and a cold water discharge passage unit190.

The filter unit200serves to generate the purified water by purifying raw water (e.g., water from a tap) to have certain desired purity or taste qualities for drinking water. The filter unit200is connected to a flow path into which the raw water is introduced. As illustrated inFIG. 5, a pressure reducing valve201may be provided at a front end of the filter unit200, so that the raw water can be introduced into the filter unit200with suitable water pressure.

The filter unit200may include various types of filters, and may be connected to define flow paths through which the raw water can be introduced into each filter in a sequential manner. In one exemplarily filter configuration for purifying raw water, the raw water may first flows through a sediment filter that removes rust, sand or the like, and then passes through a pre-carbon filter that removes impurities such as chlorine and the like and odor. Then, the water may then be passed through a ultrafiltration (UF) membrane filter or a reverse osmosis filter to remove impurities such as bacteria, radioactive materials and the like. Afterwards, a post-carbon filter may be installed to remove gas and odor. By passing the raw water through at least some of those filters within the filter unit200, the raw water can be purified to be suitable for human and pet consumption.

To output the purified water without heating or cooling (e.g., at room temperature), the purified water generated through the filter unit200may pass through a feed valve202, a flow rate sensor203, and the like, or may be supplied in the purified state according to the opening or closing of a discharge valve204.

Alternatively, the water purifier1000according to certain embodiments may be configured to discharge the cold water by causing the purified water to flow into the cold water generating apparatus100through the cold water introduction passage unit180and then directing the cold water from the cold water generating apparatus100through the cold water discharge passage unit190. For example, as described above, the cold water generating apparatus100generates the ice10inside the tank110using a part of the purified water, and then cools another part of the purified water using the ice10.

More specifically, the cold water introduction passage unit180may include a cold water introduction passage181connected to the cold water generating apparatus100from the filter unit200and the like, and a cold water introduction valve182provided to open and close the cold water introduction passage181. The cold water discharge passage unit190may include a cold water discharge passage191connected to an outside from the cold water generating apparatus100, and a cold water discharge valve192provided to open or close the cold water discharge passage191.

The process of phase-changing a part of purified water to the ice10in the tank110starts by opening the cold water introduction valve182while the cold water discharge valve192is closed to fill the tank110with the purified water. The cold water introduction valve182may be closed after the tank110is filled with the purified water. After a part of the purified water is cooled into the ice of a preset thickness within the tank110, the cold water introduction valve182remains closed to be in a standby state. When a user starts a cold water discharge operation, the cold water introduction valve182and the cold water discharge valve192may be simultaneously opened so as to perform a direct-type water discharge operation in which new purified water is supplied to the tank110to be cooled by the ice10and the cold water is outputted from the tank110.

When the purified water is cooled while both the cold water introduction valve182and the cold water discharge valve192are closed, the cold water generating apparatus100may be affected by pressure due to an expansion of the purified water during the phase-change from a liquid form into the ice10. Accordingly, the tank110constituting the cold water generating apparatus100may be likely to be expanded or the internal passage unit130may be likely to be structurally deformed, and a structural damage or deterioration of heat exchange capability may result. In order to address such problems, the cold water discharge passage unit190of the water purifier1000according to the present disclosure may further include a drain passage193and a drain valve194.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the drain passage193may be branched out from the cold water discharge passage191, and the drain valve194may be mounted to open and close the drain passage193. The drain passage193is formed such that purified water can flow out due to a volume expansion when the ice10is generated in the tank110while the cold water introduction valve182and the cold water discharge valve192are both closed. Particularly, the drain passage191may be provided above the tank110so that the purified water in the tank110does not generally flow out of the tank110, and only an amount of purified water corresponding to the volume expansion of the ice10is discharged to outside. Therefore, the drain passage193and the drain valve194provided in the present disclosure may prevent the structural deformation and damage of the internal passage unit130or the tank110due to the expansion caused by the phase change in the cooled purified water.

Meanwhile, the water purifier1000according to the present disclosure, as illustrated inFIG. 5, may further include a hot water generating module (or heater)300. In other words, the purified water generated by the filter unit200may be supplied to be cooled into cold water through the cold water generating apparatus100described above, or supplied to the hot water generating module300to be heated into hot water.

The purified water in the hot water generating module300may be heated to generate hot water relatively quickly in a small space by, for example, induction heating (IH). A flow rate control valve301for controlling a flow rate of hot water may be installed between the hot water generating module300and the filter unit200. Similar to the configuration of discharging cold water, a hot water introduction valve302and a hot water discharge valve303may be provided to adjust an amount of water to be introduced to the hot water generating module300and an amount of the hot water to be discharged from the hot water generating module300. In addition, the hot water generating module300may include a steam discharge passage304for discharging steam that may be generated during a process of heating the purified water. A safety valve305may be installed in the steam discharge passage304to discharge the steam safely.

When the water purifier1000according to the present disclosure is configured to supply both cold water and hot water, the drain passage193for generating the ice10and the steam discharge passage304for generating hot water may be joined with each other. That is, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the drainage passage193branched out from the cold water discharge passage191and the steam discharge passage304having the safety valve305may be finally joined to each other so as to output excess hot or cold water outside the water purifier1000through one outlet port. According to this structure, since the hot and cold water discharge passages are shared, the water purifier1000can be protected while generating cold water and/or hot water, while an efficient spatial arrangement and an economical structure can be achieved.

The foregoing description is merely given of an embodiment for the cold water generating apparatus100and the water purifier1000having the cold water generating apparatus100. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment, but, on the contrary, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, an apparatus for generating cold water (i.e., a cold water generating apparatus) may covert a part of purified water in into ice and form cold water by heat-exchanging another part of the purified water with the ice. According to embodiments disclosed herein, a cold water generating apparatus discharges cold water by maximizing a heat-exchange between purified water and ice generated to cover one surface of a flow path such that the cold water can be generated through sufficient heat-exchange between the purified water and the ice.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, a water purifier may discharge purified water corresponding to a volume expanded during an ice generating step to prevent deformation of components due to the expansion resulting from a phase change of the purified water while a cold water generating apparatus operates to generate ice.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, a cold water generating apparatus may include a tank having an inlet port and an outlet port, a cooling module coupled to the tank to cool purified water introduced into the tank through the inlet port, and an internal passage unit formed inside the tank to guide the purified water from the inlet port to the outlet port, wherein a part of the purified water remains within the internal passage unit with being phase-changed into ice by the cooling module, and another part of the purified water is cooled due to a contact with the ice while passing through the internal passage unit and then discharged through the outlet port.

Also, the tank may further include a cooling sidewall brought into contact with the cooling module to cause a heat-exchange, and the ice may be formed to cover an inner surface of the cooling sidewall. The apparatus may further include a temperature sensor installed within the tank with being spaced apart from the inner surface of the cooling sidewall by a preset interval.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, a cold water generating apparatus may include a tank provided with an inlet port and an outlet port, a cooling module an inlet port and an outlet port, a cooling module coupled to the tank to cool purified water introduced into the tank through the inlet port, and an internal passage unit formed inside the tank to guide the purified water from the inlet port to the outlet port, wherein a part of the purified water remains within the internal passage unit with being phase-changed into ice by the cooling module, and another part of the purified water is cooled due to a contact with the ice while passing through the internal passage unit and then discharged through the outlet port. The tank may further include a cooling sidewall brought into contact with the cooling module to cause a heat-exchange, and the ice may be formed to cover an inner surface of the cooling sidewall. The outlet port may be arranged higher than the inlet port.

In addition, the internal passage unit may include a plurality of partition walls extending in a direction of intersecting with a direction from the inlet port toward the outlet port, and arranged toward the outlet port with being spaced apart from the inlet port by a preset interval, and penetrating portions formed through the plurality of partition walls in an alternating manner such that the purified water flows in a zigzag form within the tank. The internal passage unit may further include a plurality of connection walls connecting the plurality of partition walls together, and the partition walls and the connection walls may be integrally connected in a bent manner.

The cooling module may include a thermoelectric element that absorbs heat at one side thereof and generates heat at another side, and a cooling block interposed between the one side of the thermoelectric element and the tank, and cooled by the thermoelectric element to heat-exchange with the tank. In detail, the tank may further include a cooling sidewall brought into contact with the cooling module to perform a heat-exchange. The cooling block may include a first block covering the cooling sidewall, and a second block connected to the first block and covering the one side of the thermoelectric element. The cooling module may further include a heat dissipation block coupled to another side of the thermoelectric element and provided with heat dissipation fins.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, a water purifier may include a filter unit to purify raw water, a cold water introduction passage unit having a cold water introduction valve and connected in a manner that purified water generated through the filter unit is introduced therein, a cold water generating apparatus connected to the cold water introduction passage unit to allow an introduction of the purified water, and configured to generate cold water by cooling the introduced purified water, and a cold water discharge passage unit connected to the cold water generating apparatus such that the cold water is discharged therethrough, wherein the cold water generating apparatus generates ice by phase-changing a part of the introduced purified water, and cools another part of the introduced purified water to generate the cold water.

Specifically, the cold water discharge passage unit may include a cold water discharge passage having a cold water discharge valve, a drain passage communicating with the cold water discharge passage, and a drain valve mounted in the drain passage and opening and closing the drain passage when generating the ice.

The water purifier may further include a hot water module configured to generate hot water by heating the purified water generated through the filter unit, and provided with a steam discharge passage through which steam is discharged upon the generation of the hot water. The drain passage may be connected to be joined with the steam discharge passage.

According, a cold water generating apparatus according to the present disclosure can change a part of purified water introduced into a tank into ice and cool another part of the purified water through heat exchange with the ice, so as to enhance capability of generating cold water relative to a volume of the apparatus. In detail, rather than continuously cooling newly-introduced purified water, the inside of the tank is continuously maintained in a low temperature state due to the ice remaining within the tank. This configuration may result in fast cooling introduced purified water and also reducing a size of the apparatus. According to the present disclosure, ice in a plate-like shape can grow as one surface of the tank is cooled, which may facilitate a formation of an internal passage unit to enable a heat-exchange of purified water for an extended time and allow an easy control of a thickness of the ice.

The present disclosure may employ a temperature sensor for detecting a change in a thickness of ice formed on an inner surface of the tank. Accordingly, a preset amount of ice can be maintained and adjusted, which may result in a continuous discharge of cold water.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, cold water generating apparatus may include a passage formed from a lower side to an upper side such that purified water to be cooled can flow therealong (starting at the low side and passing upwards to the upper side). This configuration may increase a time or area that the purified water to be cooled is brought into contact with a cooling module or ice to be heat-exchanged with it, thereby improving efficiency of generating cold water.

Also, an internal passage unit according to the present disclosure can be provided with partition walls by which purified water can flows in a zigzag manner within a tank. This may maximize heat-exchange time and area, thereby enhancing cold water generating performance and efficiency. Also, a size-reduction of the apparatus can be implemented. In addition, the internal passage unit may be provided with connection walls integrally connected with the partition walls, which may facilitate a formation of the internal passage unit from one plate and secure durability. Meanwhile, the present disclosure can cool purified water using a thermoelectric element, thereby generating less noise or vibration and reducing weight and size of the apparatus.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, a water purifier can be provided with a drain passage and a drain valve for draining purified water by being open when a part of the purified water is phase-changed into ice by a cooling module, thereby preventing a structural damage of an internal passage unit or tank due to an expansion caused by the phase change. In addition, the water purifier can share a pipe in a manner that a steam discharge passage and a drain passage provided in a hot water generating module are joined with each other, thereby enhancing reliability upon an operation of generating hot or cold water and also achieving an efficient spatial arrangement and an economical structure.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, a cold water generating apparatus comprises a tank having an inlet port to receive water and an outlet port; a cooling block coupled to the tank to perform a heat exchange; and an internal passage formed inside the tank to guide water from the inlet port to the outlet port, wherein a portion of the water is phase-changed into ice within the internal passage by the heat exchange, another portion of the water is cooled by contact with the ice while passing through the internal passage to generate the cold water, and the cold water is discharged through the outlet port.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, the cold water generating apparatus is included in a water purifier, the water purifier comprising: a filter to purify the water supplied to the inlet port; a cold water introduction passage that has a cold water introduction valve and connects the filter to the inlet port; and a cold water discharge passage that is connected to the outlet port to receive the cold water is discharged therethrough.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, a cold water generating apparatus comprises a tank that receives water; and a cooling block coupled to the tank to perform a heat exchange; wherein the tank includes a sidewall having an outer surface contacting the cooling block for the heat-exchange and an inner surface, and wherein the heat exchange causes a portion of the water to be phase-changed into ice formed on the inner surface of the sidewall, and another portion of the water is cooled by contact with the ice while passing through the tank to generate the cold water.