A dishwasher with improved drying performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face challenges in achieving effective drying at lower temperatures while minimizing energy consumption, leading to residual water droplets on kitchenware and potential issues like rusting due to uncontrollable vapor dispersion.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design that utilizes a guiding means to mix and circulate air from the tub with outside environment air, using a valve and actuation mechanism to control air discharge and recirculation based on temperature and humidity, enhancing drying performance while reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If rinsing temperature is decreased to reduce energy consumption, then energy consumption is reduced, but drying performance deteriorates and water droplets remain on kitchenware
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is segmented into two distinct phases: a first drying phase where the drying chamber is sealed and heating elements evaporate moisture from kitchenware, and a second drying phase where the chamber is ventilated to the external environment to remove humid air. This segmentation allows each phase to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying process employs periodic action by alternating between sealed heating periods and ventilated moisture removal periods. The sealing means closes the drying chamber during moisture evaporation, then opens it for ventilation, creating a cyclic process that efficiently removes water droplets while maintaining low energy consumption.
2Reliability
If hot and humid air is discharged outside during drying, then drying performance improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful hot and humid air is extracted and discharged to the external environment through the ventilation means during the second drying phase. This extraction removes the moisture-laden air that would otherwise condense and wet the kitchenware, improving drying performance while the system recovers by allowing ambient air to replace it.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards the hot humid air to the external environment to prevent condensation, then recovers by allowing ambient air to enter and replace it. This discarding and recovering cycle maintains drying effectiveness while managing energy consumption through the periodic sealed-ventilated operation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If ambient air is continuously circulated during drying, then energy consumption is reduced, but water vapor condenses and wets the kitchenware
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing means dynamically transitions between sealed and open states based on the drying phase. During the first phase, the chamber is sealed to trap heat and maximize moisture evaporation. During the second phase, it opens to allow humid air escape. This dynamic adjustment prevents condensation while managing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying process maintains continuous useful action by seamlessly transitioning between the sealed heating phase and the ventilated moisture removal phase. The heating elements continue to operate throughout, but their effectiveness is maximized during the sealed phase while the ventilated phase continuously removes moisture, preventing condensation.
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 solution achieves high drying performance at low temperatures, preventing energy consumption increases and eliminating issues like wetting and rusting by controlling air circulation and condensation, thereby ensuring efficient and energy-efficient drying.
Implementation Method 1
a fan that enables hot and humid air to be sucked from a suction channel opening into the tub during a drying process and to be mixed with dry air from the outside environment in a certain ratio
Implementation Method 2
cooling surfaces are arranged inside the suction channel in order to provide condensation of the circulated air
Implementation Method 3
the valve is actuated by a thermal pusher and a gear mechanism or a crankshaft-piston rod mechanism that operate depending on the temperature of the circulated air
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a tub (2) wherein the washing items are washed, rinsed and dried, a fan (4) that enables the hot and humid air to be sucked from a suction channel (3) opening into the tub (2) during the drying process and to be mixed with the dry air from the outside environment in a certain ratio, an outlet port (5) that directs the air blown by the fan (4), a discharge channel (6) that is connected to the outlet port (5) of the fan (4) and that enables the air blown by the outlet port (5) of the fan (4) to be delivered to the outside environment, and a return channel (7) that enables the air blown by the outlet port (5) to be redelivered into the tub (2).