Dishwasher Intermediate Store Drying to Prevent Wash Liquid Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for storing and reusing washing liquid in household appliances, such as automatic dishwashers, face contamination issues due to prolonged storage periods, leading to energy-intensive disinfection processes that may not fully offset water savings.
Innovation Solution
The intermediate store is dried before refilling with washing liquid, using an air flow, potentially heated by the washing chamber's residual heat, to eliminate biological substances and prevent recontamination, thus avoiding the need for additional water and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the intermediate store is used to store and reuse washing liquid, then water consumption is reduced, but the washing liquid becomes contaminated with germs after prolonged storage
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate store is dried in advance before refilling with fresh washing liquid. This preliminary drying action prevents germ contamination from occurring during storage, eliminating the need for subsequent disinfection while maintaining water savings benefits
2Reliability
If the intermediate store is disinfected by heating to 65°C or higher, then germ contamination is eliminated, but additional energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful liquid medium that supports germ growth is completely removed from the intermediate store through drying. By extracting the liquid and leaving only vapor/traces, the system eliminates germs without requiring energy-intensive thermal disinfection processes
3Reliability
If the intermediate store is disinfected using rinsing liquid, then germ contamination is eliminated, but the rinsing liquid supply is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using valuable rinsing liquid for disinfection, the system uses disposable heated air that flows through the intermediate store. This air acts as a temporary sterilizing medium that is discarded after use, preserving the rinsing liquid for its intended washing function
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 method effectively prevents contamination and reduces energy consumption by eliminating the breeding ground for biological substances, minimizing recontamination and odor formation, while maintaining water savings.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate store is dried before refilling with washing liquid, using an air flow, potentially heated by the washing chamber's residual heat
Implementation Method 2
an air flow, potentially heated by the washing chamber's residual heat
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a program-controlled household appliance (1), in particular an automatic dishwasher, in which washing liquid is removed from the household appliance (1), fed to an intermediate store (2) and stored there, and in which the washing liquid is fed to the intermediate store (2). is removed again at a later point in time, in particular for the purpose of reuse, in order to further develop a method of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that unwanted contamination of the intermediate container can be prevented, and this while at the same time maintaining the reduction in water consumption sought with the use of an intermediate storage (2), it is proposed with the invention that the intermediate reservoir (2) is dried before it is refilled with rinsing liquid.