Cloud Chamber Nozzle Layout for Fast Hygroscopic Air Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household drying devices face challenges in achieving efficient and rapid drying due to the difficulty in separating small hygroscopic liquid droplets from dried air, which limits their effectiveness and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of multiple contact chambers with nozzles for nebulizing hygroscopic liquids, a pressure-generating unit for atomization, and movable nozzles to distribute the liquid evenly, along with a sprinkling chamber for separation, enhances the drying process by creating a large active surface and efficient mixing with drying air.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the contact surface between hygroscopic liquid and air is increased to improve drying efficiency, then drying effectiveness is improved, but the liquid forms smaller droplets that are harder to separate from the dried air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidseparation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drying system is divided into multiple contact chambers (first contact chamber, second contact chamber, third contact chamber) where different drying processes occur sequentially. Each chamber provides a specific function: pre-drying, main drying, and post-drying respectively. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high drying efficiency while managing the separation challenge by processing the air in stages across different chambers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separator is introduced as an intermediary component between the contact chambers and the storage depot. This separator specifically addresses the difficulty of separating fine droplets from dried air by providing a dedicated mechanism for droplet removal, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving fine atomization for high efficiency and the resulting separation difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple contact chambers are provided to enable separate drying processes, then drying effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of contact chambers
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drying system is divided into multiple contact chambers (first contact chamber, second contact chamber, third contact chamber) where different drying processes occur sequentially. Each chamber provides a specific function: pre-drying, main drying, and post-drying respectively. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high drying efficiency while managing the separation challenge by processing the air in stages across different chambers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contact chambers are designed to handle multiple functions within a unified structure. The chambers not only perform drying functions but also serve as separation zones and transition areas. The separator component serves multiple purposes by removing droplets while allowing dried air to pass through to the storage depot, thus reducing the need for additional dedicated separation equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 configuration allows for effective and rapid drying of air by generating a large active surface and ensuring optimal mixing of the hygroscopic liquid with drying air, leading to improved drying efficiency and reduced drying time.

Implementation Method 1

at least one nozzle is provided for nebulizing the hygroscopic liquid in the contact chamber and/or for sprinkling the contact chamber with the hygroscopic liquid. With the help of the nozzle or nozzles according to the invention, a particularly fine distribution of the hygroscopic liquid can be achieved without great effort, so that a very large active surface is generated.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNebulization/Atomization:

Implementation Method 2

The hygroscopic liquid can be formed as fine rain and/or mist or as vapor in the contact space. This brings about a particularly effective drying of the drying air to be dried in a relatively short time.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (physical): Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

A pressure generating unit or pump is provided for pressurizing the hygroscopic liquid. A particularly effective atomization or atomization of the hygroscopic liquid in the contact chamber can be realized by an advantageous application of pressure to the hygroscopic liquid or by the advantageous overpressure.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure generation: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 4

at least one movable nozzle or nozzles are provided. In this way, an advantageous distribution of the hygroscopic liquid in the contact space or in the drying air flow can also be realized with a single and, in a special way, with several movable nozzles.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid distribution through motion:

Implementation Method 5

a sprinkling chamber for sprinkling the aerosol with hygroscopic liquid is provided as a separating space for separating nebulized droplets from the drying air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational separation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2832280B1Cloud chamber
Publication Date: 2016.05.04 SANHUA AWECO APPLIANCE SYST GMBH
  • EP2832280B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A household appliance with a drying device, such as a dishwasher, a tumble dryer, a washing machine or the like, the drying device (8) having a contact chamber (8, 14) for contacting drying air originating from a working chamber (11) of the household appliance with drying air provided for drying hygroscopic liquid (4), proposed, in which effective drying is possible in a comparatively short time. According to the invention, this is achieved in that at least one nozzle (15, 16) for nebulizing the hygroscopic liquid (4) in the contact chamber (8, 14) and/or for sprinkling the contact chamber (8, 14) with the hygroscopic liquid (4) is provided.