Appliance Heating Control for Power Supply Fluctuations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers face challenges in achieving optimal drying and heating performance due to fluctuations in electrical energy supply network characteristics, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage from excessive heat or energy wastage.
Innovation Solution
A control/monitoring unit is implemented to detect deviations in electrical energy supply network characteristics and generate control signals to adjust the operating parameters of air drying and fluid heating devices, ensuring consistent heat energy input within safe limits, thereby maintaining efficient and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heating power of electrical components is increased to improve drying and heating performance, then the drying efficiency and heating capability are improved, but the risk of overheating and energy wastage increases due to electrical network fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control/monitoring unit that continuously monitors electrical network characteristics (voltage, frequency) and adjusts the operating parameters of heating components in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures that the heating power is optimized according to actual network conditions, preventing both overheating from excessive power and underheating from insufficient power, thereby resolving the contradiction between drying performance and overheating risk
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating parameters of electrical components based on fluctuating electrical network characteristics. By making the heating power adaptive rather than fixed, the system can maintain optimal drying performance while automatically preventing overheating when network voltage spikes occur, thus resolving the contradiction between high productivity and safety
2Reliability
If the heating duration is extended to ensure sufficient heat energy input for drying, then the drying completeness is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control/monitoring unit uses feedback from electrical network monitoring to precisely control heating duration. When network voltage is high, the system reduces heating duration because less time is needed to achieve the required heat energy input. When voltage is low, the system extends heating duration to compensate. This ensures drying completeness is always achieved while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary extended heating periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters (heating duration, power level) of electrical components based on detected electrical network characteristics. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system ensures that the total heat energy input required for complete drying is achieved efficiently, preventing both incomplete drying and excessive energy consumption
3Device complexity
If the electrical component operating parameters are fixed to simplify control, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to adapt to electrical network fluctuations is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a control/monitoring unit that provides automated feedback control, eliminating the need for complex manual adjustment mechanisms. The system automatically detects electrical network characteristics and adjusts operating parameters accordingly, maintaining high adaptability while keeping the control system relatively simple through automated rather than manual control
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically monitoring its own operating conditions and electrical network characteristics, then autonomously modifying its operating parameters. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external intervention or complex control mechanisms, achieving high adaptability with minimal added complexity
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
This solution allows for precise adjustment of air drying and fluid heating processes, preventing overheating, energy wastage, and ensuring reliable performance even with fluctuations in electrical energy supply, thus maintaining appliance functionality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
its reversibly dehydratable sorption drying material is heated to very high temperatures by means of an air heating unit
Implementation Method 2
moisture being extracted from the air passing through due to condensation by its reversibly dehydratable sorption drying material
Implementation Method 3
Water stored in this sorption drying material then exits in the form of hot water vapor
Implementation Method 4
moist air from its wash compartment is conducted continuously by means of a fan through the sorption column
Implementation Method 5
rinse aid fluid, in particular water containing rinse aid, is generally heated in the preceding final rinse step with the aid for example of a flow-through heater
Implementation Method 6
heated in the preceding final rinse step with the aid for example of a flow-through heater or a heat exchanger
Implementation Method 7
The moist air thus produced is generally conducted by way of one of more condensation surfaces in the wash compartment, from which the moisture from the air condenses
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance, particularly a household dishwasher, washing machine, clothes dryer, or the like, includes an air drying device and/or fluid heating device, connected to an electrical energy supply network. At least one control/monitoring unit is provided to detect any deviation of an actual value of at least one characteristic of the electrical energy supply network from a target value and to generate at least one control signal for setting an electrical component of the member in response to a detected deviation of the actual value.