Batch-type warewasher with energy retaining curtain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial batch-type warewashers experience significant energy losses due to the escape of warm, moist air when the door is opened during load changes, increasing the energy required to maintain a comfortable kitchen environment.
Innovation Solution
A curtain structure is mounted on the warewasher, remaining in position behind the door when it is open to partially cover the chamber access opening, retaining hot moist air within the chamber during load changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is opened to remove clean wares and insert new soiled wares, then load changes can be performed, but warm moist air escapes the chamber causing significant energy losses
Solution Approach 1:
A curtain structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the chamber interior and the external environment. The curtain remains in position when the door is open, partially covering the chamber access opening and serving as a mediator that allows operational access while reducing thermal exchange between the chamber and surrounding air
Solution Approach 2:
The curtain structure utilizes a flexible material that can be positioned to cover the chamber opening while allowing wares to be moved in and out. This flexible barrier effectively reduces energy loss by trapping warm moist air within the chamber during load changes, without requiring a rigid structural modification
2Ease of operation
If the door is opened for load changes, then wares can be moved in and out of the chamber, but hot air exposure to operators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curtain structure serves as a protective intermediary that remains in position when the door is open, creating a thermal barrier between the hot chamber interior and the operators in the surrounding environment. This allows operators to safely perform load changes with reduced hot air exposure
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
The curtain structure effectively reduces energy losses by retaining heat and moisture, improving energy efficiency by 5% or more and expediting the drying process by maintaining higher thermal energy in wares, while reducing hot air exposure to operators.
Implementation Method 1
The curtain structure at least partially covers an upper part of the chamber access opening when the door is in the open position, the curtain structure including a flexible material that enables wares to be moved in and out of the chamber access opening past the curtain structure
Implementation Method 2
retaining hot moist air within the chamber when the door is moved to the open position upon completion of a ware cleaning cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A batch-type warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares to be cleaned, the chamber having a chamber access opening and a single spray zone, with at least one spray system for spraying liquid onto wares in the single spray zone. A door is movable between a closed position covering the chamber access opening and an open position away from the chamber access opening to allow wares to be moved in and out of the chamber. A curtain structure is mounted on the machine, the curtain structure located behind the door when the door is in the closed position. The curtain structure remains in position and at least partially covers the chamber access opening when the door is in the open position so as to retain hot moist air within the chamber when the door is moved to the open position upon completion of a ware cleaning cycle.