Washing Machine Using CO2-Additive Mixture for Low-Pressure Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid CO2 washing machines require high pressures (50 bar or higher) to operate, making them bulky, heavy, and unsafe for household use, while they are limited to washing oil-soluble contaminants due to the non-polar nature of CO2.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design that mixes carbon dioxide with an additive to maintain a liquid state at pressures of 10 bar or lower, using a storage chamber, mixing chamber, washing chamber, and distillation chamber to create and separate the mixed solution, allowing for a smaller, lighter, and safer system capable of washing various contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pressure (50 bar or higher) is used to maintain CO2 in liquid state, then CO2 can be used as washing solvent, but the system becomes bulky, heavy, and unsafe for household use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from conventional high pressure (50 bar or higher) to low pressure (10 bar or lower) by introducing additives that modify the phase behavior of CO2, allowing liquid state stability at reduced pressure conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite washing solution by mixing CO2 with specific additives (such as alcohols, esters, or ethers) to form a mixed solvent system that maintains liquid state at low pressure, combining the properties of both components
2Device complexity
If pure CO2 is used as washing solvent, then the system is simple, but it can only wash oil-soluble contaminants due to non-polar nature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite washing solution by mixing CO2 with specific additives (such as alcohols, esters, or ethers) to form a mixed solvent system that maintains liquid state at low pressure, combining the properties of both components
Solution Approach 2:
The additive mixture enables the washing solution to handle multiple types of contaminants (both oil-soluble and water-soluble) with a single system, expanding the functional versatility without requiring separate washing systems
3Reliability
If high pressure system is used, then CO2 remains liquid, but driving energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from conventional high pressure (50 bar or higher) to low pressure (10 bar or lower) by introducing additives that modify the phase behavior of CO2, allowing liquid state stability at reduced pressure conditions
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 achieves a smaller, lighter, and energy-efficient washing machine that can handle both oil- and water-soluble contaminants, suitable for household use by maintaining the mixed solution in a liquid state at low pressures, enhancing washing power and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the additive lowers a vapor pressure of the mixed solution to maintain the mixed solution in a liquid state at a pressure of 10 bar or less
Implementation Method 2
a distillation chamber configured to collect the mixed solution discharged from the washing chamber and vaporize the carbon dioxide from the mixed solution therein
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a washing machine including: a storage chamber configured to store carbon dioxide in a gaseous state; an additive container configured to store an additive; a mixing chamber configured to mix the carbon dioxide in the gaseous state supplied from the storage chamber with the additive supplied from the additive container and pressurize the carbon dioxide and the additive, which are mixed with each other, to generate a mixed solution in a liquid state; a washing chamber configured to wash laundry using the mixed solution supplied from the mixing chamber; and a distillation chamber configured to accommodate the mixed solution discharged from the washing chamber and vaporize the carbon dioxide from the mixed solution therein, wherein the additive lowers a vapor pressure of the mixed solution to maintain the mixed solution in a liquid state at pressures of 10 bar or less.