Dishwasher having a sorption drying device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwasher moisture-absorption devices face issues with thermal damage, reduced heat transfer efficiency, and increased power consumption due to the placement of heaters close to moisture absorbents and the use of separate support plates for air flow distribution.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design with a sorption drying device where the heater is positioned in a linear air flow path at a downward inclination, allowing air to collide with the moisture absorbent at a minimized flow resistance, and the heater is bent parallel to the air flow direction to enhance heat transfer efficiency and prevent thermal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the heater is disposed rightly under and very close to the moisture absorbent, then the heating efficiency is improved, but thermal damage and thermal deformation are likely to occur locally in a lower area of the moisture absorbent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar heater arrangement to a three-dimensional serpentine configuration that extends along the flow direction. This spatial transformation allows the heater to maintain close proximity to the moisture absorbent for efficient heating while distributing thermal load across multiple zones, preventing localized thermal damage through dimensional expansion of the heating architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The serpentine heater creates localized heating zones along its extended path, where different sections of the heater serve specific regions of the moisture absorbent. This local quality approach ensures uniform heat distribution across the entire absorbent surface rather than concentrating thermal energy in a single spot, thereby improving overall heating efficiency while preventing thermal deformation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the heater extends and is bent in a direction intersecting a flow direction of air, then the heater can be supported on a separate support plate, but the heat transfer efficiency to air decreases and thermal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is configured to extend in the flow direction (longitudinal dimension) rather than intersecting it, creating a three-dimensional serpentine path that aligns with the air flow. This dimensional reorientation maximizes the heater's exposure to flowing air along its entire length, significantly improving convective heat transfer efficiency while maintaining structural support through the same support plate architecture.
3Ease of operation
If a plurality of slots for distribution of the air heated by the heater are formed in the support plate, then air can be distributed, but flow resistance of the air increases and power consumption of a fan motor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air distribution function from the support plate by eliminating the slot structure. Instead of forming multiple narrow slots in the support plate, the design allows heated air to flow directly through the heater assembly and moisture absorbent region, removing the flow resistance barrier and reducing fan motor power consumption while maintaining effective air distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate structure is merged with the heater assembly, eliminating the need for separate air distribution slots. The heater and support structure are integrated into a unified design where air flow paths are optimized to minimize resistance, combining structural support and thermal processing functions into a single efficient system.
4Ease of manufacture
If a separate support plate is used to support the heater, then the heater can be positioned, but the thermal efficiency of the heater deteriorates due to heat conduction to the plate
Solution Approach 1:
The heater assembly is merged with the support plate into an integrated unit, eliminating the interface between separate components. This integration reduces thermal conduction losses to the support plate by minimizing contact area and improving the overall thermal efficiency of the heating system while maintaining stable heater positioning through the unified structure.
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 design improves heating efficiency, minimizes thermal deformation, and reduces power consumption by ensuring even air distribution and maximizing the introduction area for the moisture absorbent, maintaining high drying and regeneration efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heater (831) disposed in the flow path of the air flow (F) between the blow fan (82) and the moisture absorbent (85), and configured to heat the air flow (F) to be supplied to the moisture absorbent (85)
Implementation Method 2
a moisture absorbent (85) disposed downstream of the blow fan (82) in a flow direction of an air flow (F) generated by the blow fan (82), and configured to absorb moisture from the air flow (F)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed is a dishwasher including a sorption drying device in which a heater is disposed in a linear air flow path extending in a downward inclination angle, at least a portion of air that has passed through the linear air flow path collides with a bottom surface of a moisture absorbent receiving portion and thus is introduced to a lower side of the moisture absorbent, so that a separate means for flow distribution is omitted, and heated air through the heater is evenly introduced to the moisture absorbent at a minimized flow resistance.