Condensate Water-Level Control for Dryer Heat Exchanger Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses inadequately clean filters and heat exchangers due to insufficient condensate water, as cleaning is dependent on water generated during drying, without ensuring the required amount is collected, leading to incomplete cleaning when condensate water is insufficient.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a water-level sensing system that measures the condensate water level and supplies additional water from a discharger or external source when the level is low, and notifies the user to add water, ensuring sufficient water is available for cleaning, and prevents discarding condensate water to maintain cleaning during subsequent drying cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cleaning is performed using only condensate water generated during drying, then the system structure is simple, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient when condensate water amount is small
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by collecting and storing condensate water in advance during the drying process. A water-level sensor monitors the collected water amount, and when it reaches a predetermined level, the system automatically executes cleaning of the heat exchanger and filter assembly, ensuring cleaning effectiveness is maintained through advance preparation of sufficient cleaning water.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control through a water-level sensor that continuously monitors the amount of collected condensate water. When the water level reaches a predetermined threshold, the controller activates the cleaning operation. This feedback mechanism ensures that cleaning is performed only when sufficient water is available, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and reliable cleaning effectiveness.
2Reliability
If additional water supply systems are added to ensure sufficient cleaning water, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service principles by utilizing the condensate water generated during the drying process itself for cleaning purposes. The water-level sensor and controller work together to automatically determine when sufficient water has been collected and initiate cleaning without external intervention. This approach improves cleaning reliability while minimizing additional system complexity by using resources already produced by the system.
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 solution ensures thorough cleaning of filters and heat exchangers by ensuring adequate water levels are maintained, preventing incomplete cleaning and extending the interval between cleaning cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a water-level sensor that detects a water level of the water collector
Implementation Method 2
a first heat exchanger that cools air introduced into the duct from the drum to remove moisture included in the air
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus including: a water discharger supply pipe for supplying water stored in a water collector to a water discharger; a water supply pipe constructed to connect the water discharger and the water collector to each other; and a water collector water-level sensor for measuring a water-level inside the water collector, and a controller configured to control the laundry treating apparatus comprising: a water-level sensing operation in which the water collector water-level sensor measures the water-level of the water collector during a drying operation; and a cleaning water supply operation in which when the water-level of the water collector is lower than a predefined cleaning-related reference water-level, a water supply valve is controlled to supply water stored in the water discharger to the water collector.