Dishwasher Ion Exchanger Flushing After Regeneration Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dishwashers, interrupting the regeneration step during a washing program can lead to salt residue remaining in the machine, risking corrosion of metal components when the next program is initiated, as existing technologies do not adequately address the issue of salt exposure to these components.
Innovation Solution
The dishwasher design includes a control card that ensures the ion exchanger is washed with fresh water and the salty water is discharged immediately upon cancellation of the regeneration step, preventing prolonged contact between salt and metal components, and integrates this process with the water discharge to avoid additional time expenditure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the regeneration step is interrupted by user cancellation during the washing program, then the user can stop the washing program at any time, but salt remains in the machine and corrodes metal components during the interval until the next program
Solution Approach 1:
The control card automatically initiates the ion exchanger washing process with fresh water immediately upon detecting program cancellation during regeneration, before the user would normally wait for the next program. This preliminary action removes salt from the system proactively, preventing corrosion damage while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The salt solution that would normally cause corrosion damage during the idle period is instead used to drive the washing process. The control card utilizes the salt concentration gradient to automatically flush the ion exchanger with fresh water, converting the harmful salt presence into a useful flushing mechanism that protects metal components.
2Reliability
If the ion exchanger is washed with fresh water after regeneration to remove salt, then salt residue is removed from the ion exchanger, but this process takes additional time that prolongs the washing program
Solution Approach 1:
The control card merges the ion exchanger washing step with the water discharge phase of the washing program. By coordinating these two processes to occur simultaneously rather than sequentially, the salt removal function is integrated into the existing program structure, eliminating additional time expenditure while ensuring metal component protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing of the ion exchanger is performed continuously during the water discharge phase without interrupting the overall program flow. This continuous action ensures that salt is removed from the system throughout the discharge period, maintaining protection of metal components while utilizing the existing time window efficiently.
3Productivity
If the salt solution is discharged without washing the ion exchanger first, then the salty water can be discharged quickly, but the salt damages metal components such as the heater through prolonged contact
Solution Approach 1:
Fresh water acts as an intermediary substance between the salt solution and the metal components. The control card introduces fresh water to wash the ion exchanger, creating a barrier that prevents direct contact between salt and metal components like the heater, thereby protecting them while maintaining regeneration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-protection by automatically initiating the ion exchanger washing process upon program cancellation. The control card detects the cancellation event and autonomously activates the fresh water supply to flush the ion exchanger, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring metal component protection without user awareness.
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 solution effectively prevents salt from damaging metal components by ensuring the ion exchanger is cleansed before the machine stops, ensuring the next washing program starts with fresh water, enhancing washing performance and avoiding corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
the water used in washing is first passed through an ion exchanger, for example a resin. The ion exchanger receives these ions from the water and gives off sodium ions (Na+) instead.
Implementation Method 2
the ion exchanger is kept in a salt (for example NaCl) solution to extract the calcium and magnesium ions and to increase its sodium ion concentration.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A dishwasher (1) that provides cleaning of the dishes in accordance with a washing program comprising of at least some of the various steps such as prewashing ,main washing, rinsing, drying, regeneration and comprising: washing chamber (4) wherein the dishes to be washed are emplaced,- an ion exchanger (6) adapted to reduce the hardness of water to be delivered into the washing chamber; a salt reservoir (5) containing the salt required for the regeneration of the ion exchamnger and being in communication with the ion exchanger (6) , and at least one button (2) used for the selection of functions and charachterized in that, in case a washing program including a regeneration step is cancelled by the user while the regeneration step is being carried out , the ion exchanger (6) containing a salt solution is adapted to be washed with water to cleanse off the salt before the program is fully stopped.