Dishwasher Wash Liquid Segmentation for Cleaner Water Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contemporary dishwashers face inefficiencies due to the reuse of wash liquids containing entrained particles, which can degrade wash efficiency and lead to increased food soil levels, affecting the effectiveness of subsequent wash cycles.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented to recirculate and separate wash liquids into distinct portions, primarily capturing the second portion with reduced entrained particles, which is then stored for reuse, thereby minimizing soil content and extending the liquid's cleaning capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If wash liquid is reused in subsequent cycles, then water consumption is reduced, but wash efficiency degrades due to accumulated soil particles
Solution Approach 1:
The drain liquid is divided into three sequential portions based on soil content concentration. The first portion contains high sedimented soil particles, the second portion contains moderate entrained soil particles, and the third portion contains low suspended soil particles. By segmenting the drain liquid into these portions, the system can selectively reuse only the cleaner second portion while discarding the more contaminated first portion, thus maintaining wash efficiency while still achieving water conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of liquid quality by monitoring and separating different portions of drain liquid based on their soil particle content characteristics. The controller identifies the second portion which has reduced entrained particles compared to the first portion, and selectively routes this portion for reuse. This parameter-based selection ensures that reused water maintains sufficient cleaning capability.
2Loss of substance
If all drain liquid is captured for reuse, then water savings are maximized, but contaminant levels increase in the reuse tank
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the first portion of drain liquid which contains the highest concentration of sedimented soil particles, preventing these contaminants from entering the reuse tank. By taking out this highly contaminated portion before capture, the system maximizes water savings from the remaining portions while minimizing the contaminant load in the reuse tank, thereby extending the usable life of stored liquid.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards the first portion of drain liquid that is too contaminated for reuse, while recovering and storing the second portion which has acceptable soil levels. This selective discard and recover approach balances water conservation goals with maintaining adequate water quality for effective washing, preventing excessive contaminant accumulation in the reuse tank.
3Productivity
If wash liquid with high soil content is reused, then water usage efficiency improves, but microorganism growth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary separation of drain liquid into portions before storage, removing the first portion with high soil content that would promote microorganism growth. By taking this preliminary action to reduce organic contaminants before the water is stored and reused, the system creates a more favorable condition for subsequent wash cycles while still achieving improved water usage efficiency through selective reuse of cleaner portions.
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 approach enhances wash efficiency by reducing the likelihood of microorganism growth and maintaining cleaner water for subsequent cycles, while minimizing the reintroduction of contaminants, thus optimizing water reuse and maintaining wash performance.
Implementation Method 1
removing the wash liquid from the treating chamber in sequential portions comprising a first portion primarily containing sedimented soil particles
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a dishwasher having a treating chamber for washing utensils for draining, capturing, and storing a portion of a wash liquid for subsequent use.