Catalytic Cleaning Layout for Self-Regenerating Household Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficiency of photocatalysts in household appliances is reduced due to undesirable deposits that impair their effectiveness in breaking down organic contaminants in process air or water.
Innovation Solution
A device with a circulation system, steam generator, and heat pump arrangement that introduces steam directly to catalytic contact surfaces, combined with a UV light source for activating the photocatalyst, to enhance cleaning and regeneration of the catalyst surfaces, thereby maintaining their efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If photocatalyst is used to break down organic contaminants in process air or water, then air and water treatment efficiency is improved, but catalyst surfaces become covered with undesirable deposits that reduce effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own process steam to clean the catalyst surfaces automatically during normal operation. The steam is introduced into the circulation system where it condenses on the catalyst surfaces, flushing away deposits without requiring external cleaning systems or stopping operation. This self-cleaning mechanism maintains catalyst effectiveness continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers the cleaning function by using process steam that would otherwise be wasted. The steam is directed through the catalyst housing to clean surfaces, then the condensed water is collected and can be reused in the process. This transforms a waste stream into a useful cleaning agent, maintaining catalyst performance while improving overall efficiency.
2Reliability
If catalyst surfaces are cleaned more frequently to maintain effectiveness, then catalyst reliability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation system serves dual functions: it processes the air/water through the catalyst for contamination breakdown, and simultaneously cleans the catalyst surfaces by directing steam through the same circulation path. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cleaning systems, maintaining simplicity while ensuring continuous catalyst effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The catalyst cleaning occurs continuously during normal operation rather than requiring periodic shutdowns for maintenance. The steam is continuously introduced into the circulation system, providing ongoing surface cleaning that maintains catalyst effectiveness without interrupting the air or water treatment process.
3Reliability
If steam is introduced into the circulation system to clean catalyst surfaces, then deposit removal is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts waste heat and waste steam into a useful cleaning function. The steam that would otherwise be discarded is redirected through the catalyst housing to clean surfaces. By utilizing this waste energy stream, the system maintains catalyst effectiveness without requiring additional energy input beyond what is already consumed for the primary air/water treatment 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
The described method effectively cleans and regenerates photocatalyst surfaces, preventing deposit buildup and maintaining their effectiveness in breaking down organic compounds, thus extending their operational life and maintaining air and water treatment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a light source with which laundry in the drum can be exposed to UV light. The light is used to activate photocatalytic chemical reactions which remove organic contaminants on the tissues
Implementation Method 2
A circulation system for circulating a process medium and a conveying device for generating a directed flow of the process medium in the circulation system
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A household appliance is described comprising a circulation system (12, 16, 14, 15, 26) for circulating a process medium, a conveying device (141) for generating a directed flow of the process medium, a steam generator (137), one or more contact surfaces (143) arranged in the circulation system and coated with catalyst material, and a usable space (12) arranged in the circulation system for external loading, which has a discharge opening (125) for the process medium. The steam generator (137) has an outlet (138, 140) that opens into the circulation system in the flow direction between the discharge opening of the usable space (12) and the position of the one or more contact surfaces (143) in the circulation system.