dehumidifier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dehumidifiers increase the temperature of discharged air, causing user discomfort and require time for refrigeration cycle stabilization, which prolongs dehumidification time.

Innovation Solution

A dehumidifier design featuring a two-way suction fan, a dehumidification module with a membrane, and a heat exchanger, utilizing a vacuum pump to separate and condense moisture without a refrigeration cycle, with airflow directions perpendicular to each other and partitioned sections for efficient moisture removal and heat exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a conventional refrigeration cycle is used for dehumidification, then moisture can be removed from air, but the discharged air temperature increases causing user discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture removalVSAvoiddischarged air temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the air flow into two separate streams: a main flow that passes through the dehumidification module for moisture removal, and a secondary flow that passes through the heat exchanger for temperature control. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each stream's function, enabling moisture removal without excessive temperature increase in the discharged air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary device that pre-cools the incoming air or recovers heat from the dehumidified air. By introducing this intermediate heat exchange step, the system can control the temperature of air entering the dehumidification module, thereby controlling the final discharged air temperature while maintaining effective moisture removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If a refrigeration cycle is used for dehumidification, then moisture can be removed, but time for refrigeration cycle stabilization is required which prolongs dehumidification time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture removalVSAvoiddehumidification time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the complex refrigeration cycle (which requires stabilization time) with a membrane-based dehumidification module that operates immediately upon air flow initiation. The membrane module uses physical separation rather than phase change cycles, eliminating the need for stabilization time and enabling immediate moisture removal when the system starts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If air flow direction is not optimized, then moisture separation performance is reduced, but system complexity increases with optimized flow paths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture separation performanceVSAvoidair flow path configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs asymmetric flow path design where the main air flow and secondary air flow follow different trajectories through the housing. The main flow passes directly through the dehumidification module while the secondary flow passes through the heat exchanger. This asymmetric configuration optimizes moisture separation by ensuring proper flow directions without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, achieving high performance with simple fixed geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Achieves constant temperature dehumidification, reduces dehumidification time, and improves moisture separation performance by using a two-way suction fan and vacuum pump to efficiently separate and condense moisture without increasing indoor space temperature.

Implementation Method 1

selectively separating moisture in the air passing through the dehumidification module without increasing the temperature of an indoor space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMembrane separation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

moving water vapor in the air passing through the dehumidification module to the inside of the membrane by generating a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the membrane using a vacuum pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the separated water vapor falls in the direction of gravity, making it easy to collect water vapor and forming a compact piping connected to a vacuum pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4600575B1dehumidifier
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4600575B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4600575B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4600575B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a dehumidifier. The dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a fan that generates a first suction flow and a second suction flow, and a dehumidification module provided on one side of the fan and selectively separating moisture in the first suction flow. The dehumidifier may include a first suction part through which the first suction flow passes and a second suction part through which the second suction flow passes, and the first surface on which the first suction part is formed and the second surface on which the second suction part is formed may form surfaces that face each other