Dryer Absolute Humidity Difference Sensor for Accurate Drying Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washer/dryers lack accurate humidity detection, leading to overdrying or insufficient drying due to indirect humidity detection methods and limited space for mounting humidity sensors, resulting in damaged clothing and inefficient drying processes.
Innovation Solution
A dryer equipped with a humidity difference sensor that includes a first humidity detection sensor for supply air and a second humidity detection sensor for exhaust air, both installed at the same location, allowing for direct detection of absolute humidity differences and facilitating easy installation and accurate drying control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If indirect humidity detection using temperature sensor and correspondence table is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the indirect mechanical/electrical system (temperature sensor + correspondence table) with a direct sensing system (humidity detection sensor) that directly measures humidity parameters, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining acceptable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a humidity detection sensor as an intermediary device that directly interacts with the air environment to obtain accurate humidity measurements, serving as a mediator between the air and the control system
2Measurement precision
If humidity sensor is mounted in supply path or discharge path, then humidity detection is enabled, but device complexity increases and ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sensor mounting structure universal by designing it to accommodate humidity sensors at multiple locations (supply path, discharge path, or other positions) without requiring complex modifications, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the humidity detection function from the main dryer body by using an independent sensor mounting structure that can be separately installed and configured, simplifying the overall manufacturing process
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
The solution enables precise determination of the drying state, preventing overdrying and ensuring proper completion of the drying cycle, while also simplifying sensor installation and reducing space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a first humidity detection sensor configured to detect first humidity as humidity of the supply air, and a second humidity detection sensor configured to detect second humidity as humidity of the exhaust air
Implementation Method 2
a heater system and a heat pump system are well-known... air heated by a heater (heating section) is fed to a drying drum
Implementation Method 3
When the compressor compresses the refrigerant, temperature of the heating-side heat exchanger (heating section) is increased by compression heat
Implementation Method 4
The air discharged from the drying drum is fed to a cooling pipe section (cooling section) through a discharge path. As a result, dew condensation occurs and the moisture is removed from the air
Data Source
AI summary
In a dryer, humidity of supply air in a supply path of a heat pump dryer unit is directly detected by a first humidity detection sensor, and humidity of exhaust air in a discharge path is directly detected by a second humidity detection sensor. The first and second humidity detection sensors are collectively installed at one place, and a first conduit or a second conduit that guides the supply air or the exhaust air to a position of the corresponding sensor is provided. The sensors may be collectively disposed at one place in the supply path or the discharge path. This facilitates mounting of the sensor and saves a mounting space. Because environment temperatures of the two humidity sensors can be regarded as equal to each other when using relative humidity sensors, temperature detection for conversion into absolute humidity can be performed at one place.