Dishwasher Recirculating Rinse Tank Pump Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dishwashers consume significant amounts of rinsing liquid and energy for heating, particularly due to inefficiencies in recirculating and using rinsing liquid, leading to high operating costs and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design that includes a recirculating rinse tank and a pump to accurately control the quantity of reused rinsing liquid, allowing for reduced consumption of clean final-rinse liquid and optimized space in the recirculating rinse tank, thereby saving rinsing liquid and energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If rinsing liquid is recirculated in a recirculating rinse tank, then rinsing liquid consumption is reduced, but the first rinsing liquid which is dirtiest contaminates the tank and requires more space
Solution Approach 1:
The rinsing process is divided into multiple phases: a pre-rinse phase using dirty rinsing liquid from the recirculating tank, and a final-rinse phase using clean rinsing liquid. This segmentation allows the system to use contaminated liquid for less critical washing tasks while reserving clean liquid for final cleaning, thereby reducing overall consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and recirculates used rinsing liquid in the recirculating rinse tank for use in subsequent pre-rinse phases. By discarding only the dirtiest first rinsing liquid and recovering the cleaner used liquid for reuse, the system minimizes the quantity of clean rinsing liquid needed while maintaining effective cleaning.
2Reliability
If a float valve with delayed opening is used to prevent first pre-rinse liquid from entering the recirculating rinse tank, then the recirculating liquid stays cleaner, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the rinse pump itself to control the timing and routing of rinsing liquid. The pump automatically switches between drawing from the recirculating rinse tank during pre-rinse phases and from the fresh water supply during final-rinse phases, eliminating the need for separate float valves or delayed-opening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches the source of rinsing liquid based on the washing phase. The rinse pump adaptively draws from different sources (recirculating tank vs. fresh water supply) according to operational requirements, providing flexible control without complex mechanical valve systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If more clean final-rinse liquid is supplied to ensure proper rinsing, then wash quality improves, but rinsing liquid consumption and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies rinsing liquid in a staged manner: first using recirculated liquid for preliminary rinsing (partial action), then using clean liquid only for the final rinse phase (excessive action only where necessary). This ensures adequate wash quality while minimizing overall consumption of clean rinsing liquid and associated energy costs.
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 reduces rinsing liquid consumption, energy usage, and chemical costs while maintaining a better wash result, offering both economic and environmental benefits.
Implementation Method 1
a pump, which is arranged to pump used rinsing liquid from the collecting device to the recirculating rinse tank
Implementation Method 2
spray members for spraying out washing liquid and rinsing liquid
Implementation Method 3
it to contain a drying agent, which reduces the surface tension of the rinsing liquid and thus makes it easier for the rinsing liquid to run off the wash items
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A dishwasher (10) for the batch washing of wash items (20) comprises a wash chamber (24), which is arranged to accommodate wash items (20) and in which spray members (34a-b) for spraying out washing liquid and rinsing liquid are disposed; a wash tank (28), which is arranged to contain washing liquid which during a wash phase shall be supplied to the wash chamber (24) via the spray members (34a-b); a recirculating rinse tank (52), which is arranged to contain used rinsing liquid which during a rinse phase shall be supplied to the wash chamber (24) via the spray members (34a-b); members (62) for supplying final-rinse liquid which during a final-rinse phase shall be supplied to the wash chamber (24) via the spray members (34a-b); a collecting device (42, 46), which is arranged to collect liquid which has been sprayed out into the wash chamber (24) via the spray members (34a-b); and a pump (48), which is arranged to pump used rinsing liquid from the collecting device (42, 46) to the recirculating rinse tank (52).