Clothes Dryer Chemistry Dilution Control for Small Laundry Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clothes dryers often result in the buildup of residue from treating chemistry on interior surfaces, which can transfer to laundry and cause unwanted spot concentrations or discoloration, especially with smaller loads where overspray is more pronounced.
Innovation Solution
A clothes dryer system that automatically determines the laundry load size, calculates the appropriate amount of treating chemistry, and forms a treating solution with a controlled application concentration by mixing concentrated chemistry with a diluent, ensuring efficient distribution within the dryer chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If treating chemistry is dispensed to treat the laundry load, then the laundry treatment effectiveness is improved, but residue buildup on the interior surfaces increases causing transfer to laundry and spot concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the concentration parameter of the treating solution based on detected load size. For smaller loads, the controller increases the dilution ratio to reduce the concentration of treating chemistry dispensed, thereby reducing residue buildup on interior surfaces while maintaining adequate treatment effectiveness for the smaller load
2Quantity of substance
If the amount of treating chemistry is increased to ensure adequate treatment, then the laundry treatment coverage is improved, but the residue buildup and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses feedback from the load size detection system to automatically adjust the amount of treating chemistry dispensed. By measuring the actual load size and comparing it to expected values, the system optimizes the treating chemistry application rate to match the actual treatment need, avoiding both over-application (which increases energy consumption and residue) and under-application (which reduces treatment effectiveness)
3Productivity
If the treating chemistry concentration is increased to reduce overspray, then the treatment efficiency is improved, but the residue transfer to laundry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the concentration parameter of the treating solution based on load size detection. For smaller loads where overspray is more pronounced, the controller increases dilution to reduce concentration, thereby reducing residue transfer to laundry while maintaining adequate treatment efficiency for the smaller load
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 reduces residue buildup on the dryer's interior surfaces and prevents unwanted transfer to laundry, maintaining fabric quality and reducing energy consumption by optimizing treating chemistry application based on load size.
Implementation Method 1
forming a treating solution by mixing a concentrated form of the amount of treating chemistry with a diluent such that the treating solution has an application concentration of the treating chemistry
Implementation Method 2
A clothes dryer having a rotating treating chamber into which heated air may be provided to dry a wet laundry load within the treating chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes dryer and method for forming and supplying a treating chemistry solution to a laundry load located in the treating chamber of the clothes dryer.