Dishwasher Air Deflector Layout for Uniform Fast Drying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial dishwashers face challenges in drying items quickly due to their short cycle times, as existing drying methods from domestic dishwashers are not suitable for the faster wash cycles in commercial settings.
Innovation Solution
A commercial dishwasher design featuring an air inlet below the door and an air outlet above, with a fan creating an air stream that passes through the spray chamber to dry items, utilizing deflectors for uniform air distribution and a recirculation system to enhance drying efficiency, along with a control apparatus to manage air flow and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If domestic dishwasher drying methods are used in commercial dishwashers, then drying can occur inside the dishwasher, but the drying time becomes too long (10-30 minutes) for commercial cycle times (1-6 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector arrangement is pre-positioned in the air inlet passage to optimally distribute air flow across the spray chamber before the drying cycle begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the drying cycle starts, the air stream is already optimally directed through the item region, enabling rapid drying within the compressed 1-6 minute commercial cycle time
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the air flow parameters by using a fan to create a directed air stream with specific velocity and distribution characteristics. The deflector arrangement modifies these parameters to achieve uniform air distribution through the item region, enabling effective drying in the reduced time frame required for commercial dishwasher productivity
2Productivity
If air is circulated through the spray chamber to dry items, then drying efficiency improves, but air flow uniformity across the item region may be insufficient without proper distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector arrangement segments the incoming air stream into multiple smaller flow paths that are distributed across different zones of the spray chamber. This segmentation ensures uniform air flow coverage over the entire item region, preventing concentrated flow in specific areas while maintaining high overall drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector arrangement acts as an intermediary element between the fan and the item region. It receives the air stream from the fan and redistributes it uniformly across the spray chamber, mediating the transformation from a concentrated air source to a distributed air flow pattern that ensures even drying across all items
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 effective drying of items in under 5 minutes, allowing immediate use without additional waiting time, with improved uniformity and prevention of steam escape when the door is opened, enhancing workflow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an air stream (20) passing through the spray chamber (4) to dry items (6) which have been washed
Implementation Method 2
a fan (18) for producing an air stream (20) along an air path (21) extending from the air inlet (14), through the spray chamber (4), to the air outlet (16)
Data Source
AI summary
A commercial dishwasher (2) has a spray chamber (4) for holding items (6) to be washed and is designed for loading and unloading batches of items (6) to be washed into and from a region (12) for items to be washed. The dishwasher (2) has a fan (18) for producing an air stream (20) which passes from an air inlet (14) below the region (12) for items to be washed, through the spray chamber (4), to an air outlet (16), with the air stream (20) in the spray chamber (4) being passed through the region (12) for items to be washed in order to dry the items (6) which have been washed. A deflector arrangement (22) acts on the air stream (20) entering the spray chamber (4) through the air inlet (14) in order for the air stream (20) to enter the region (12) for items to be washed in a uniformly distributed manner from below.