Clothes Dryer Temperature-Based Venting Control to Reduce Drying Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Closed-loop clothes drying systems have longer drying times compared to open-loop systems, and there is a need for a solution that allows controlled venting to quickly remove moist air and reduce drying time without requiring major infrastructure changes.
Innovation Solution
A clothes drying system with a drying air circuit, a condenser, and temperature sensor that controls the venting of heated air, fan speed, and heat provision based on external temperature, using cooled tap water for moisture removal and adjustable vent air control, fan, and heater operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a closed-loop drying system is used, then infrastructure requirements are reduced (no vent needed), but drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the vent air control valve position based on real-time temperature sensor feedback. When the room temperature difference is favorable (cooler room), the system opens the vent valve to allow moisture-laden air to escape, accelerating drying. When temperature conditions are unfavorable, the system closes the vent and operates in closed-loop mode. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by adapting the system configuration to environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (vent valve opening degree, fan speed, heater power) based on detected temperature conditions. The controller monitors room temperature and adjusts these parameters to optimize drying performance under different thermal environments, transforming the fixed closed-loop system into an adaptive system that can achieve fast drying when conditions permit.
2Loss of time
If open-loop venting is used, then drying time is reduced, but infrastructure changes are required (vent installation)
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic operational flexibility by switching between closed-loop and controlled venting modes based on temperature conditions. This eliminates the need for permanent infrastructure modifications while retaining the ability to vent when beneficial, as the existing vent can be dynamically opened or closed by the control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses ambient temperature conditions to self-determine when venting is beneficial, eliminating the need for user intervention or complex infrastructure planning. The temperature sensors and controller automatically assess environmental suitability for venting and adjust operations accordingly.
3Productivity
If uncontrolled venting is used, then moisture removal is accelerated, but energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs temperature sensors to continuously monitor room temperature and provides feedback to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller intelligently adjusts the vent air control valve position, fan speed, and heater power to optimize the balance between moisture removal rate and energy consumption, venting only when thermally beneficial.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts venting intensity and associated operational parameters based on real-time temperature conditions. When the room is cooler than the dryer air, venting is activated at optimized levels to maximize moisture removal while minimizing energy loss. When temperatures are unfavorable, venting is reduced or stopped to conserve energy.
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 system reduces drying time by optimizing air flow and heat management based on environmental temperature, offering a compromise between open and closed-loop systems by allowing controlled venting and efficient moisture removal.
Implementation Method 1
A temperature sensor provides a signal indicative of a temperature of an environment outside the apparatus
Implementation Method 2
The condenser includes a cooled water inlet that directs cooled water into the heated air to remove moisture from the heated air
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
A clothes drying system (100) includes an apparatus (10) that comprises a drying air circuit. A temperature sensor (90) provides a signal indicative of a temperature of an environment outside the apparatus. A memory and processing circuitry is coupled to the memory. The memory includes logic that, when executed by the processing circuitry, directs at least one of: (i) a vent air control valve (28) to change an amount of heated air flowing from the drum (16) through the vent air control valve and into the environment based on the signal from the temperature sensor, (ii) a fan (27) to change a flow rate of air flowing through the drying air circuit based on the signal from the temperature sensor, and (iii) a heater (24) to change an amount of heat provided to the air flowing through the drying air circuit based on the signal from the temperature sensor.