Dryer operating method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dryers face inefficiencies in power consumption, heat exchange, and condensation issues, particularly in electric-heating and heat-pump types, necessitating a method to improve dryer performance and reduce initial heating while preventing condensed water accumulation in heat exchangers.
Innovation Solution
A dryer operating method incorporating a heating device, tumbler, fan, heat exchanger, and compressor, with a gas-liquid separator and control valves to manage pressure and steam proportion, facilitating counter-flow heat exchange and efficient steam regeneration, thereby reducing power consumption and preventing condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electric heating is used to heat the working fluid, then the heating effect is strong and rapid, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the compressor and heat exchanger into an integrated unit where the compressor discharge line is directly connected to the heat exchanger inlet. This merging allows the compression heat to be directly utilized for heating the working fluid, reducing the need for additional electric heating while maintaining effective temperature rise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the waste heat generated during compression into a useful heating resource. The compression process, which generates excess heat, is utilized to preheat the working fluid in the heat exchanger, transforming what would be wasted energy into a beneficial thermal input that reduces overall power consumption.
2Reliability
If the heat exchanger is positioned at the lowest point of the circulation line, then condensed water drains naturally, but condensed water accumulates in the heat exchanger and reduces heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gas-liquid separator as a dedicated component to remove condensed water from the working fluid before it enters the heat exchanger. This separate extraction function prevents condensed water accumulation in the heat exchanger while maintaining proper drainage through the circulation line positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas-liquid separator performs preliminary removal of condensed water from the working fluid before it reaches the heat exchanger. This preliminary action prevents the formation of water pockets that would interfere with heat exchange, ensuring the heat exchanger operates with dry, efficient heat transfer surfaces.
3Reliability
If the compressor inlet is positioned at the lowest point, then condensed water drains to the inlet, but condensed water enters the compressor and causes damage
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-liquid separator acts as an intermediary component between the circulation line and the compressor inlet. It intercepts and removes condensed water from the working fluid before the fluid can reach the compressor, allowing the compressor inlet to remain at the lowest point for drainage purposes without risking water entry into the compressor.
4Productivity
If counter-flow heat exchange is implemented, then heat exchange efficiency increases, but the system complexity increases due to additional flow path management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the counter-flow heat exchange function into the existing compressor-discharge-to-heat-exchanger path. The working fluid flows through the heat exchanger in the opposite direction to the compressed fluid, creating counter-flow heat exchange without requiring separate, complex flow path infrastructure. The integration with the compression system simplifies the overall configuration.
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 method enhances heat exchange efficiency, reduces power consumption, and prevents condensed water accumulation, improving overall dryer performance and efficiency by optimizing steam usage and heat exchange processes.
Implementation Method 1
heating the working fluid using the heating device
Implementation Method 2
reducing the pressure in the tumbler by discharging a portion of the working fluid in the circulation line to outside using the compressor
Implementation Method 3
in which counter-flow heat exchange occurs in a heat exchanger in order to improve heat exchange efficiency
Implementation Method 4
effectively preventing condensed water from collecting in a heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a dryer operating method that is useful in a 5G environment provided for the Internet of Things. The dryer of the disclosure includes a heating device, a tumbler connected to the exit of the heating device, a fan connected to the exit of the tumbler, a heat exchanger disposed in a flow line of a working fluid connected to the exit of the fan, and a compressor having an entrance connected to the flow line connected to the exit of the fan and an exit connected to the entrance of the heat exchanger. The method of the disclosure includes heating the working fluid using the heating device, reducing the pressure in the tumbler by discharging a portion of the working fluid in a circulation line to outside using the compressor, drying an object to be dried received in the tumbler, and cooling the object to be dried.