Dishwasher Drying Process Control Using External Humidity Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwashers operate for a fixed drying time regardless of external environment, leading to inadequate drying in humid conditions and over-drying in dry conditions.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher system that includes a controller to adjust the drying process based on external humidity information, altering the operation of rinsing and drying processes by changing settings such as water temperature, fan and heater times, and door opening, using communication circuitry to receive humidity data from appliances or servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed drying time is used regardless of external environment, then the drying process is simple to control, but drying performance deteriorates in humid conditions and energy is wasted in dry conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives external humidity information from communication circuitry and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust drying process settings. The controller modifies drying time, heater power, and fan operation based on the received humidity data, ensuring optimal drying performance while adapting to environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying process parameters are made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller adjusts drying time, heating power, and fan speed based on real-time external humidity conditions, allowing the system to adapt its operation to match environmental requirements and maintain consistent drying performance.
2Reliability
If drying time is increased to ensure adequate drying in humid conditions, then drying performance improves, but energy consumption increases and over-drying occurs in dry conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses external humidity information as feedback to determine appropriate drying parameters. When humidity is high, the controller increases drying time and heater power; when humidity is low, it reduces these parameters, preventing energy waste while ensuring adequate drying when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically changes drying process parameters including drying time, heater power level, and fan speed based on external humidity conditions. This parameter adjustment ensures energy-efficient operation by matching drying intensity to actual environmental requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external humidity information is received and used to adjust drying settings, then drying performance is maintained across different environments, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions: it receives external humidity information via communication circuitry, processes this information, and automatically adjusts drying parameters. This multi-functional approach enables environmental adaptability without requiring separate manual adjustment mechanisms for each condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts its own drying parameters based on received humidity information without requiring user intervention. The controller self-regulates drying time, heater power, and fan operation, making the system adaptable to environmental conditions while keeping the user interface simple.
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
Maintains consistent drying performance by adapting to varying environmental conditions, ensuring dishes are adequately dried without over-drying.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat the air circulated by the fan
Implementation Method 2
a fan configured to circulate air in the tub
Implementation Method 3
based on the external humidity information, change a temperature of washing water of the dishwasher in the rinsing process
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher may include: a user interface device; communication circuitry; and a controller configured to: receive, through the communication circuitry, external humidity information detected by an appliance in an environment of the appliance, based on the received external humidity information and a washing course of the dishwasher that is input via the user interface device, change setting information related to an operation of at least one of a rinsing process of the washing course or a drying process of the washing course, and based on the changed setting information, control the operation of the at least one of the rinsing process of the washing course or the drying process of the washing course.